"Such a sight, the Western Buddhist Kingdom truly deserves to be the place where the Buddha attained Nirvana and where Buddhism saves all sentient beings."
Feeling the all-encompassing Buddha light, Mu Qiuyao felt a sense of comfort in her body and mind.
"Salvation for all living beings? Pshaw!"
Shen Zhao interrupted her with a look of disdain.
"The Empress of the Immortal Dynasty doesn't even know what the Western Buddha Kingdom is?"
"Stop talking nonsense! The Western Buddhist Kingdom has produced many eminent monks. Don't think that just because you have some cultivation, you can speak disrespectfully to the Buddhist Kingdom."
Mu Qiuyao was very dissatisfied with Shen Zhao's attitude.
Shen Zhao snorted coldly and asked, "Then how much do you know about Buddhism?"
Mu Qiuyao said without hesitation: "Buddha saves all sentient beings with compassion and compassion, and rescues countless people from suffering."
Shen Zhao nodded, then pointed to the giant Buddha opposite him: "So you think this is what is meant by saving all living beings and having a compassionate heart?"
Mu Qiuyao looked in the direction Shen Zhao was pointing and saw a solemn Buddha head carved from white jade opposite her. The facial features were so lifelike that they inspired awe in those who saw it.
"The statue is solemn and the workmanship is exquisite, which is breathtaking."
Shen Zhao smiled dismissively: "Your answer truly proves the saying, 'A great roc spreads its wings for ninety thousand miles, yet cannot see the ants on the ground.'"
Mu Qiuyao's face turned cold: "What do you mean?"
Shen Zhao: "You only see the solemnity of this Buddha statue, but you haven't looked closely at how miserable the craftsmen who carved it were. Look more closely, how many people are struggling around these Buddha statues."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qiuyao looked closely and indeed found that beneath the enormous Buddha statue, countless laborers, like tiny specks of dust, were carrying heavy boulders on their backs, walking along the winding path towards the top of the Buddha statue.
Behind these laborers and craftsmen, a group of monks in yellow robes were constantly wielding whips, lashing them mercilessly.
Immediately, Mu Qiuyao was speechless, and her pale face turned even paler.
"Is this what you call equality for all beings?"
Shen Zhao said sarcastically.
Mu Qiuyao quickly shook her head and explained, "Perhaps this is just the national character of the Western Buddha Sect..."
"Ha, do you even believe that yourself?"
Shen Zhao interrupted Mu Qiuyao's weak and feeble explanation without hesitation, and then walked directly down the winding path without looking back.
Mu Qiuyao was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.
Halfway up the mountain, Shen Zhao encountered a group of ascetic monks chanting scriptures and devoutly prostrating themselves every three steps as they slowly climbed towards the summit.
Mu Qiuyao, sitting opposite, couldn't help but say, "The believers here are truly devout. If all the officials of my Immortal Dynasty were as loyal to me, we wouldn't have so many troubles."
As an emperor, she valued more how to control her own power and ensure the absolute loyalty of her officials and the people.
Faith may be a direction.
Seeing the piety of the believers in the Western Buddha Kingdom, I intend to introduce the Western Buddha Kingdom's faith into the Immortal Dynasty in order to balance the relationships between the various parties.
Shen Zhao remained indifferent to the actions of these people.
Because he knew perfectly well that these so-called "believers" were a bunch of beasts who did beastly things in the name of Buddha.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Mu Qiuyao, shaking his head with pity, and thought to himself:
"Naive Empress, with your beauty, if you didn't have the cultivation of an Emperor, you would probably have become a living lotus in the Western Buddhist Sect, and your remaining life would have been extremely miserable."
At this moment, Shen Zhao was unaware that Mu Qiuyao's cultivation had already been sealed due to his palm strike, making her no different from an ordinary person.
A monk bowed in worship, and when he stood up, he suddenly saw Mu Qiuyao standing not far away. His eyes lit up, and then more monks stopped and stood up straight, staring intently at her.
Mu Qiuyao felt her scalp tingle from being stared at, thinking that the monks disliked her attire. She quickly covered her exposed skin, then smiled and bowed to them.
But how could such a delicate and alluring figure be concealed by a black robe as thin as a cicada's wing?
Mu Qiuyao could clearly sense that the ascetic monks were breathing rapidly, and she couldn't help but frown slightly, a hint of vigilance and panic flashing through her mind.
"Hey! You monks, let me ask you, how do I get to Lion Camel Kingdom?"
A loud shout broke the eerie atmosphere.
The ascetic monk's gaze immediately shifted from Mu Qiuyao to Shen Zhao.
"May I ask where you come from, benefactor? And why are you going to the Lion Camel Kingdom?"
The leader, a believer with long hair, asked warily.
Shen Zhao smiled and said, "I am a rogue cultivator who enjoys traveling around the world to see the wonders of the land. I have heard that the Lion Camel Kingdom in the Western Buddha Sect is famous and I would like to go and experience it."
"Amitabha!"
The ascetic chanted a Buddhist prayer and smiled, "It seems you also learned about the Lion Camel Kingdom from that book?"
Shen Zhao nodded: "I would appreciate it if you could show me the way."
The ascetic monk said, "The Lion Camel Kingdom is eight thousand li west of here."
Thank you.
Then Shen Zhao glanced at Mu Qiuyao opposite him, gave her a meaningful look, and walked down the mountain path alone.
Mu Qiuyao also noticed the changes in the ascetic monks and quickly followed Shen Zhao down the steps.
Suddenly, a Bodhisattva sitting upside down appeared at the exit path, with his back to the field of laborers repairing the Buddha statue.
Shen Zhao glanced at the Buddha statue and saw that its eyes were closed and its expression was filled with helplessness and desolation, which was completely different from the unfinished towering Buddha.
After a moment of contemplation, he continued walking around the Buddha statue toward the exit.
As soon as the two landed, Mu Qiuyao immediately approached Shen Zhao and asked, "Why did those believers look at me like that all the way here?"
Shen Zhao chuckled and teased, "Your Majesty, any normal man would inevitably have thoughts about you when you're like this."
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