Thick stone pillars supported the dome, which was over ten feet high. The pillars were engraved with intricate patterns, depicting battlefields, palaces, wilderness, and gardens. In each picture, a tall and majestic man could be seen. If there were any old ministers from the previous dynasty here, they would recognize that the man was Xuanyuan Yu, the founding emperor of the Great Sheng Kingdom, who unified the Central Plains in the midst of chaos.
"Tap tap tap tap..."
A series of footsteps echoed in the spacious hall, bringing a touch of life to the otherwise cold and silent space.
Yu Ke and Ji Jue walked at the front, Li Molin and Liu Li carried A Hua in the middle, and Lang Yuan walked alone at the back. The three people and three demons slowly walked into the depths of the underground palace. After walking for more than ten zhang, the space gradually opened up before them. In the very center of the underground palace was a circular open space with a diameter of about ten zhang. In the center of the open space was a wooden platform about half a person's height. Supporting the platform was a whole piece of yellow rosewood as thick as a water bucket. The bark of the rosewood had been peeled off, and rows of small characters were carved on it. If you looked closely, you could see that they were small demon-subduing talismans.
The wooden platform was about the size of a washbasin and about a foot thick. The entire round platform was carved into the shape of a lotus flower, and a white jade box was placed at the heart of the lotus flower, which was surrounded by rings of pink lotus petals.
The entire wooden platform was enveloped in dazzling golden light, making it exceptionally eye-catching.
On the ground north of the wooden platform was a prayer mat, upon which sat a kind-faced old monk. The old monk sat cross-legged, his hands clasped together, his eyes closed, his eyebrows white, his face deeply wrinkled, a slight smile on his lips, and his expression gentle.
Further behind the old monk, in one corner of the underground palace, chests of gold and silver treasures were piled up. Some of the chests couldn't be closed, and the pearls, jade, gold, and silver inside shone brightly in the candlelight. It turned out that this underground palace, besides housing the Imperial Seal of the State, also contained many treasures looted during Emperor Yan's unification of various countries.
Just as Li Molin, Liu Li, and the other two demons were sizing up the old monk, footsteps grew louder from two other directions, and Shi Chan and the other four monks, along with Liang Yihan and Xuan Yuanhao, quickly approached.
Liuli looked up and saw that everyone was covered in dust and blood, looking quite disheveled. Her gaze finally settled on Shichan, and she looked him up and down. She noticed a golden footprint on Shichan's chest, and his complexion was not good. Liuli couldn't help but frown.
As Liuli was observing Shichan, Shichan was also observing her. Seeing that she was unharmed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up, met Liuli's gaze, and smiled gently.
As the crowd arrived, the old monk slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were as dark and bright as stars, with a wise and experienced light flashing within them, as if he could see through people's hearts at a glance.
"Namo Amitabha!" The old monk looked around at everyone, his gaze finally settling on Xuan Yuanhao. He spoke in a gentle voice, "If I am not mistaken, this must be a prince, right?"
Xuanyuan Hao bowed and replied, "Yes."
The old monk nodded and said gently, "You have all come here for the Imperial Seal of the State, haven't you?"
"Yes." Yuanjue stepped forward, put his palms together in a Buddhist salute, and asked, "May I ask who this senior is?"
The old monk slowly rose and said with a smile, "I am a disciple of Jinyuan Temple, and my Dharma name is Xinming."
Yuanjue was taken aback. The disciples of the Xin generation at Jinyuan Temple were a generation above his own master, the sect leader. Now, the Xin generation monks at Jinyuan Temple had either died after failing to reconstruct their golden bodies, or successfully ascended to the Western Paradise. Very few remained in the mortal world. He lowered his eyes and pondered for a while, then asked in confusion, "Forgive my ignorance, but how come I have never seen you before, senior?"
Xinming looked at Yuanjue and smiled, "You are... a disciple of the Yuan generation, right? Who is your master?"
Yuanjue bowed his head and replied, "My Dharma name is Yuanjue, and I am a disciple of Master Hongyin."
Xinming nodded and said, "Hongyin, you came here once many years ago after you were elected abbot of the temple... Little fellow, it is understandable that you have not seen this old monk. I have been entrusted by Emperor Yan to guard the Imperial Seal of the State here for nearly fifty years."
Upon hearing this, Yuanjue was filled with reverence. He bowed respectfully and said, "Yuanjue greets Grandmaster. May Grandmaster be well."
"Amitabha!" Xinming nodded, put his palms together and chanted a Buddhist prayer. He said solemnly, "Yuanjue, listen to what I have to say. The Imperial Seal is a treasure of the world. Those who cultivate should never have the thought of fighting over it. You should all leave quickly."
Yuanjue hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes."
He exchanged glances with Shi Ning, Hui Yan, and Shi Chan, and the three nodded in succession. Although the four monks agreed with Xin Ming's words, they did not leave but stayed to observe in silence.
Xinming then turned his gaze to Li Molin, Liuli, and the other two demons. He said with a smile, "Please listen to what I have to say, Your Excellencies. Since the Imperial Seal of the State was obtained by the Yellow Emperor, this treasure can only belong to the royal family of the mortal world. You should not try to fight against the will of Heaven, for you cannot win."
Li Molin scoffed and said dismissively, "No need to worry about it."
Xinming shook his head, and suddenly his body radiated a golden light. His figure, standing in the golden light, was solemn and dignified, looking like a Buddha at first glance.
Li Molin's expression changed. He exchanged a glance with Yu Ke, who lowered her voice and exclaimed in horror, "Golden Body!"
Xinming smiled amidst the golden light and said, "This old monk is no longer a mortal. I have only stayed here to keep a promise to Emperor Yan. Originally, this old monk should not have fought with you. But since this old monk has been entrusted with this task, if you want to seize the Imperial Seal, you will have to get past this old monk. Please."
Li Molin's expression was extremely ugly. The old monk in front of him had already reconstructed his golden body and was an existence capable of ascending to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Fight him? Was he out of his mind?
Xinming looked at the reactions of Li Molin and the other two demons, and with satisfaction, he withdrew his gaze and turned to Xuan Yuanhao, saying with a smile, "Although this young master is a member of the royal family, he still needs the Imperial Seal of the State to choose. If the Imperial Seal of the State recognizes you, you will become the Human Emperor. If the Imperial Seal of the State does not recognize you, then please return the way you came."
Xuanyuan Hao replied, "Yes, may I ask this eminent monk, how can I know whether the Imperial Seal of the State acknowledges me as its master?"
Xinming smiled and said, "It's very simple. Young master, you just need to take out the jade box from the lotus platform. If you can open the jade box, you will be the chosen owner of the Imperial Seal of the State."
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