Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 365

Volume 3 - Chapter 83: He’s Not a Thief, He’s the Saint of Theft!

Upon hearing Li Hao's imposing voice, the Boundless Buddhist Lord’s expression remained unchanged. Still smiling, he said, “General Wu Tian may be a duke, but our Buddhist Sect exists outside the bounds of secular bureaucracy and is not subject to the court’s rigid protocols. Moreover, centuries ago, I achieved merits in subduing demons and was granted the Demon-Suppressing Medal by His Majesty, Emperor Yu. Even before the imperial court, I am exempt from bowing and other formalities.”

Li Hao squinted his eyes, his lips curling into a cold smile. “A Demon-Suppressing Medal? Achieving merits in subduing demons? What lofty titles indeed!”

“General Haotian,” the Boundless Buddhist Lord said softly, his gaze as gentle as ever. “It seems you harbor some misunderstandings about me. You’ve stormed in here, filled with anger—what for? Could it be that you’re here to exonerate that petty thief?”

The killing intent in Li Hao’s eyes surged as he replied icily, “He’s no petty thief—he’s the Saint of Theft!”

“A thief is a thief,” the Boundless Buddhist Lord retorted with a smile. “To crown him with the title of ‘Saint’ is an affront to all true saints. General Haotian, I urge you to weigh your words carefully. By defending an infamous scoundrel, even your monumental achievements in saving Liang Province and liberating Qingzhou might not shield you from public scorn. Though it may not cost you your title or rank, the sharp eyes of the people will not look kindly upon one who sides with a thief. Such associations lead to no good end.”

Li Hao’s sneer deepened as he stepped forward, his aura growing stronger with each step. “When you captured him, did you not know his relationship with me? If he hadn’t been defending Tianmen Pass on my behalf, do you think you could have taken him down? Your decision to execute him publicly—did you not anticipate my arrival? Spare me these empty words and tell me outright: is this aimed at me, or do you have another purpose?”

“If you covet fame and fortune, take them! Strip me of my rank—what does it matter? But even without a title or position, do you think it would be your turn to take the stage? If you wish for it, go and fight for it yourself!”

At this point, Lin Wujing and two other Bodhisattvas hurried into the hall. Seeing Li Hao confront the Boundless Buddhist Lord so directly, their expressions changed drastically. Lin Wujing couldn’t help but interject, “General Wu Tian, please moderate your tone! The Boundless Buddhist Lord’s virtue is boundless. Can your mere salvation of two provinces compare to the billions of lives saved by our Buddhist Sect? You ought to…”

“Silence!”

Before Lin Wujing could finish, Li Hao’s low roar cut him off. He didn’t even turn his head but took another step forward. The force radiating from him blasted outward like a heavy punch, sending the three approaching Bodhisattvas flying and spitting blood.

The Boundless Buddhist Lord’s expression finally shifted slightly as his serene gaze dimmed a fraction. “I thought you merely used this thief. I didn’t expect you to be so closely aligned with him. Don’t forget the Emperor’s grace upon you, nor the faith and trust the people have placed in you. You storm into my hall to denounce me for the sake of a thief. Have you no regard for the Emperor’s favor? For the people’s respect and trust?”

“If I didn’t come, that would truly betray His Majesty’s trust,” Li Hao countered coldly. “If I can’t stand by a friend in life or death, how could I ever protect the people?”

“There’s no one here besides your bald monks. Who are you performing this charade for?”

His voice was sharp. “Or do your Bodhisattvas not yet know the truth? Is this all an act for them?”

“General Haotian,” the Boundless Buddhist Lord said with a measured tone, “your offense against our Buddhist Sect is far too severe. Even as a duke, you won’t escape censure. I shall personally present a memorial to His Majesty regarding your actions.”

“Go ahead,” Li Hao replied indifferently. “My purpose today is singular—to see my friend. Where is he?”

...

The Boundless Buddhist Lord met Li Hao’s gaze. If not for Feng Lao still being held hostage by the Buddhist Sect, Li Hao would have already struck.

“It seems you’re determined,” the Boundless Buddhist Lord said calmly. “Would you truly make an enemy of the Buddhist Sect and oppose the people for the sake of one thief?”

“Stop invoking ‘the people’ at every turn!” Li Hao snarled. “Does your Buddhist Sect even deserve to speak of them? Hundreds of towns exist across Liang Province and Qingzhou. How many of them have your temples? Where were you when Liang Province was attacked? When Qingzhou was under siege? You call yourself virtuous—what virtue did you show then?”

The Boundless Buddhist Lord remained composed. “We sit atop our sacred mountain to oversee the greater picture, battling demons in the shadows. Should the border of one province face hardship, must all the armies of the other nineteen rush to its aid? Each has their duty. Boundless Mountain safeguards the surrounding five hundred miles, deterring demonic incursions. Is that not contribution enough?”

Li Hao sneered. “Your words may sound reasonable, but only you know whether you’ve done enough. Speech may deceive others, but not yourself! With your so-called supreme cultivation, claiming to be the strongest under Heaven’s Dao, could you truly not suppress such demonic forces?”

Li Hao sneered. “Your words may sound reasonable, but only you know whether you’ve done enough. Speech may deceive others, but not yourself! With your so-called supreme cultivation, claiming to be the strongest under Heaven’s Dao, could you truly not suppress such demonic forces?

“Boundless Mountain stands near the Qingzhou border, while Qingzhou itself has the Divine General Mansion. And yet, despite your proximity, the Dragon Gate and Sacred Palace dared to launch a full-scale invasion. After breaking through the border, they swept across the land with no defenses left behind. Were they not afraid of Boundless Mountain intervening? Or could it be you knew about the two avatars of the Desolate Gods in advance and chose not to act?”

“I did send warnings,” the Boundless Buddhist Lord replied calmly, “but by the time I realized the situation, Qingzhou had already fallen. The battlefield was chaotic, and even the disciples I dispatched were drawn into the conflict and lost contact.”

Li Hao laughed coldly. “Deceiving the common folk is one thing, but do you think there’s any point in putting on this act here? Do you take me for one of your naive disciples?”

“The world has its hierarchy of emperors, nobles, and commoners—who doesn’t understand that?” Li Hao’s voice grew harsher. “Merchants, for instance, seek profit through trade, and even the ruthless among them make their dealings clear: take it or leave it. That, at least, is honest! But you, you demand the people’s faith and exploit them under the guise of giving them solace. You claim to seek virtue, yet all you want is fame. If fame is your goal, just admit it! Don’t pretend to be compassionate. True kindness and malice only matter to the lowest of the low.”

The Boundless Buddhist Lord’s tone remained serene. “You are too stubborn, General Haotian. Though you are gifted, you are still young. Your understanding of the world is shallow. You’ve never listened to the true teachings of our Buddhist Sect, nor do you comprehend the myriad sufferings of the world. The sea of bitterness is vast, but only the truth of our Buddhist Sect can guide people across it to the other shore.”

“Under our faith, all beings are equal. There are no emperors or commoners—only human lives, each entitled to cross to the other shore.”

Li Hao scoffed. “Spare me your rhetoric! Bring Feng Lao out here immediately, or I won’t hesitate to send your Buddhist Sect to the ‘other shore’ myself.”

“General Haotian, must you truly sink into the sea of bitterness, refusing to turn back?” The Boundless Buddhist Lord’s gaze locked onto Li Hao, his calm expression faintly tinged with mockery. “You should know, the moment this incident becomes public, the world will judge you harshly.”

In the depths of the Boundless Buddhist Lord’s eyes, Li Hao discerned a faint trace of indifference, even derision, as though everything that was happening played perfectly into his hands.

Li Hao understood the stakes. Once he took this step, the merit he had earned for his past contributions would likely be smeared. Yet he didn’t care. What he couldn’t understand was why the Boundless Buddhist Lord seemed so invested in tarnishing his name.

“Let him go. Or do you wish for me to destroy your lotus throne and topple this temple?” Li Hao’s voice turned frigid.

The Boundless Buddhist Lord studied him silently for a moment before nodding slightly. “Pujie Bodhisattva, bring the thief here. Let the esteemed nobles see for themselves how far General Haotian will go to free a scoundrel.”

...

A chant resounded from outside the temple, and one of the Bodhisattvas swiftly departed. Li Hao’s eyes grew cold. It was clear that the Boundless Buddhist Lord had anticipated his arrival, even summoning the nobles ahead of time to witness his downfall.

“You sought to ruin my reputation. What do you stand to gain from this?” Li Hao demanded.

The Boundless Buddhist Lord replied serenely, “Had I known of your extraordinary talent earlier, I would have sent Puxian Bodhisattva to bring you to Boundless Mountain as a disciple. But you concealed your abilities too well in your youth.”

Li Hao sneered. “Spare me the pretense. Had I come to your mountain, it would have been to assassinate me under the guise of ‘guidance.’ Besides, your schemes started long ago. When I was barely two, you sent the poison pill disguised as divine blood to that madwoman, coaxing her into targeting me. Your aim was clear—to make Li Qianfeng inherit the Li family’s legacy and control the family’s power.”

The Boundless Buddhist Lord’s calm demeanor finally gave way to cold detachment. “It was never about control—only borrowing some influence. But now, with your departure from the Li family, no one can stop Li Qianfeng from becoming the True Dragon.”

Li Hao laughed bitterly. “You underestimated me, didn’t you? What puzzles me is why I was the one poisoned instead of someone else. Was it because I was an easier target, with no parental protection? Or did you confirm no one else carried divine blood to obstruct your plans?”

“It’s simple,” the Boundless Buddhist Lord replied. “Only you carried divine blood, inherited from your father, Li Tiangang. He thought he could hide it from me, but nothing escapes my sight.”

Hearing this, Li Hao’s expression turned grim. It was all clear now—the schemes, the manipulation, and the destruction all traced back to this man.

But he held back his rage. He couldn’t act recklessly, not while Feng Lao remained a pawn in the Buddhist Sect’s grasp. Moreover, the Boundless Buddhist Lord’s calculated provocations seemed aimed at goading him into action.

Was it to draw imperial scrutiny or force a break with the Great Yu Dynasty’s court? If the latter succeeded, the Buddhist Sect could align with the demons, leaving Li Hao as an isolated target.

Their gazes locked. Each seemed to pierce into the other’s heart...

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