Invited by Sakata Ginji, Jigen nodded to the ministers and quietly took a seat in a quiet corner.
Sakata Ginji stood up. He rose to his feet and introduced Jigen to each minister. "This is my teacher, Master Jigen! He's also an extraordinary enlightened monk! I'll never forget his guidance!"
Jigen had directly helped him eliminate Elder Daimyo and Shizhi Xiao! The memory would never leave him.
"Your Highness flatters me," Jigen nodded toward everyone, finally fixing his gaze on Sakata Ginji. "Lord Sakata, on that day you promised me that once the nation was formed, you would grant one wish. Do you still remember?"
"I naturally remember, though I'm unsure what my teacher's wish might be."
"I gaze upon this river, teeming with spring waters—though lively and green, it lacks the solemn peace of temple grounds. Today, I wish to build a Buddhist sanctuary across our great Hitsu no Kuni. What does Your Highness think?"
The surrounding ministers' expressions immediately changed.
Rights are divinely ordained!
Since ancient times, any country with religious sects has inevitably been bound by those sects' constraints. Though the king held supreme power, certain subtle matters still needed to bow to religious influences!
"Lord Sakata! This mustn't happen! Our country Hitsu no Kuni has never had sects—how can we establish one now, especially when you have just ascended the throne and your authority remains unstable? Establishing a religion at such a time would be extremely dangerous!" Immediately, one minister jumped out in opposition.
Sakata Ginji frowned slightly.
He understood these reasons well! However, Jigen was the very person who had helped him attain his position as Daimyo—he couldn't simply ignore his words.
Furthermore, if Jigen could elevate a good-for-nothing like him into becoming Daimyo, then equally, he could do the same for a beggar from the streets!
That day back at the Daimyo's mansion remained forever imprinted in Sakata Ginji's mind.
"Enough said! Since Master Jigen wishes to establish a religious sect, I shall comply."
"My Lord!"
The ministers tried to persuade further, but Sakata Ginji waved them off.
"Thank you, my Lord! I shall return to prepare immediately." After bidding farewell to Sakata Ginji, Jigen withdrew at once.
As he left, their eyes met with Ye Liang's, pupils flickering—no words exchanged, yet something unspoken passed between them. Ye Liang responded with a knowing look, as if reading between the lines.
Frowning slightly, Jigen hesitated momentarily before walking away.
"What did that old fellow really mean?"
Ye Liang had absolutely no idea what Jigen meant.
He simply noticed Jigen moving his eyes, so he followed suit...
After the banquet, everyone dispersed.
Citing physical discomfort as an excuse, Ye Liang returned alone to the courtyard.
Inside his room.
"Hmph, why would Jigen want to establish a religious sect? What reason could he possibly have?" Ye Liang didn't understand. At this point, Jigen should be doing everything he can to escape Ye Liang's assassins—not go out of his way to invite death.
Establishing a sect inside Hitsu no Kuni?
It practically screamed self-destruction!
"Well then, since you're looking for death, why should I hide from you?" Ye Liang gave a cold smirk.
At nightfall.
A shadow slipped silently into the courtyard.
"Rumi! Wake up!" The figure stood beside Ye Liang's bed.
Without that bright moonlight, Ye Liang might've thought he was seeing a ghost.
"Isshiki Otsutsuki... Jigen? No! Teacher Jigen, why are you here?" Seeing Isshiki Otsutsuki beside the bed, Ye Liang quickly corrected himself.
Killing Isshiki Otsutsuki would be extremely easy.
However, completely eradicating him wasn't so simple. So long as even one cell remained, he could still revive through another person—this was something Kaguya Hime had told him.
No need to tip off the snake yet.
"Teacher Jigen, you asked me to watch Sakata Ginji's movements. I've been paying attention. That guy has actually been quite well-behaved." Ye Liang already guessed Rumi's identity and naturally continued accordingly with Jigen's intentions.
"The plan has changed.
There's no need for you to monitor him anymore. Return to Yomi immediately."
Jigen suddenly attacked!
Taking Ye Liang by surprise, he directly swung his palm toward Ye Liang's shoulder.
Ye Liang was startled!
Instinctively, Ye Liang raised his shoulder to block. "Teacher Jigen, what are you doing!"
Jigen hesitated. Seeing his palm blocked by Ye Liang, he hurriedly counterattacked again.
Still blocked by Ye Liang.
"You're not Rumi! Right! You don't have any Death Qi on you! Who exactly are you!" The old monk suddenly panicked, staring at Ye Liang like a kid caught sneaking into a video game arcade.
Ye Liang stared coldly.
Realizing his disguise was blown, he didn't bother speaking further.
"Old monk, stop pretending!
Should I call you Jigen, or should I call you Isshiki Otsutsuki!" His gaze burned intensely, making Jigen feel a chill run down his spine.
"You... How do you know about Isshiki Otsutsuki!" Jigen stammered.
His current body appeared very weak—not only lacking the previous domineering aura during battle but also leaking none of his Ten-Tails' chakra.
"What's going on? You're really not Isshiki Otsutsuki?" Holding Jigen's hand, Ye Liang frowned.
"What are you saying! I am Senior Monk Jigen! How could I possibly be Isshiki Otsutsuki!" the monk shouted hastily.
"That's impossible! Kaguya clearly said you were Jigen! During our last fight, your strength was evident to all. Other than Jigen, who else could you be?"
"Don't make wild accusations, disciple. This old monk is truly the monk Jigen. I'm certainly not some demonic Isshiki Otsutsuki creature. Don't speak further."
After this heated argument, monk Jigen suddenly clutched his head. A streak of white light emerged from his eyes: "Old monk, let me out now!
Stop resisting!
You can't suppress me anymore."
Suddenly, Jigen screamed in pain.
He suddenly knelt violently and slammed his hands against his own head, the white light fading gradually from his eyes.
"Senior Brother, please stop committing evil deeds. I, an old monk, already made one mistake—I won't allow myself to make the same mistake twice."
The white glow vanished.
The old monk Jigen, muttering to himself, returned to normal.
"What the hell just happened!" Ye Liang stood there bewildered at the bizarre behavior from Jigen moments ago.
Multiple personalities?
Just now, Jigen looked exactly like someone suffering from dissociation—one moment the virtuous master, another moment Isshiki Otsutsuki!
[Sigh]
"Seeing that Ye Liang had noticed the situation, the monk could only sigh and started recounting, 'To be honest, there's indeed a dangerous cultivator hiding inside my body.'"
Indeed!
Isshiki otsutsuki was hiding inside the old monk's body.
"Old monk, what exactly happened?"
When Ye Liang asked, the old monk quickly replied, "A few days ago, I was heading toward the Ancestral Nation like usual. But when passing through a cave, I caught a whiff of a strong stench of blood!
As a monk, it was my duty to check it out.
Imagine my shock when, just as I entered the cave, I saw a headless figure suddenly stand up! He looked like he was still alive and slowly started moving toward me!"
"Naturally, I tried to flee! But the moment I turned around, I found I couldn't move at all!"
Ye Liang's expression turned grim.
This must have been the place where Isshiki otsutsuki was slain by Hiruzen that day.
"What happened next?" he asked.
"Then that cursed thing kept shrinking until finally, right before my eyes, it crawled into my ear."
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