Jiang Hòu's hospitality for Jing Lingshenmu and Guilingshenmu can be described as meticulous and energetic. She had already put out all the stops, even going so far as to apologize repeatedly for any shortcomings in her hosting, hoping that the two teachers could understand her intentions.
Jing Lingshenmu observed a faint unease in Jiang Hòu's countenance, though she couldn't discern much else. Inwardly sighing, she realized this was a consequence of saving Guilingshenmu over her own disciples.
She does not regret the choice she made at that time, but as a teacher, she is filled with remorse, feeling ashamed of not living up to her students' trust.
Little did she know that at that very moment, two male voices resided within Jiang Hòu's spiritual realm, which she struggled to suppress with all her might, causing her to endure immense suffering.
"Mother, your teacher only remembers her sister Guilingshenmu. When have they ever thought of you? They have been in the palace for so long, but have they asked even once whether you are at peace on the Star of the Invisible?”
"Yes, Mother, you are too kind. Everyone takes advantage of you, thinking you're weak. Listen to your son's advice, strike now and kill them all! If you're afraid of getting your hands dirty, we brothers will help you take care of it!"
Jiang Hòu roared in her spiritual realm, "Shut up! You all shut up! You are all evil thoughts, not my sons! My sons and the Magic Buddha were subdued by the Bontri Saint, and you are none of my sons!"
"Haha, Mother, I am Yin Jiao. How can I not be your son? When I was five years old, I fell in your sleeping palace. You were terrified at that time. Do you remember?"
"Big Brother is right, Mother. We are true mother and son. I am Yin Hong. Can't you recognize my voice anymore?"
Initially, the two male voices were very arrogant, but as they spoke on, they transformed into heartfelt pleas. They expressed their regret for what they had done in the past and hoped that their mother could save them from their current predicament.
Jiang Hòu's heart was shattering into a million pieces. She didn't know from where she had begun to nurture these two demons within her. Having been in the heavenly realm for years, she remained secluded in the gate of the Star of the Invisible, never wanting to give these demons any opportunity. Yet, today, Jing Lingshenmu and Guilingshenmu suddenly descended upon her without warning, and she was completely unprepared.
Jiang Hòu, as the queen consort of a king, must have an intelligent mind. By absorbing a vast amount of devotional power, her words and actions would inadvertently align with her divine role, eventually leading her to stop caring about her past entirely and becoming a true deity of devotion.
Now, she hasn't reached that level yet, and she doesn't have the qualifications to act as a deity in front of Jing Lingshenmu and Guilingshenmu.
However, in order to suppress the demonic thoughts in her spiritual realm, she feigned a polite but somewhat distant demeanor.
This made Jing Lingshenmu feel even more guilty.
After Jiang Hòu endured the formalities for half an hour, the real topic of their conversation finally began.
"Lunar Pearl?" At this moment, she finally understood the intentions of the two censors.
The evil thoughts troubled for a while before quietly disappearing.
Jiang Hòu breathed a secret sigh of relief inwardly. She thought for a moment and said with great respect, "Master, Uncle Master, there is indeed an item on the Star of the Invisible that emits extremely negative energy every August 15th. I am not sure if it is Uncle Master's Lunar Pearl."
In her time with the Zhaofang sect, her relationship with Guilingshenmu was merely ordinary; Guilingshenmu would not have said to her, "Nephew come here, I have a big treasure for you!"
Jiang Hòu had never seen the Lunar Pearl. With the Star of the Invisible being incredibly vast, there were even Buddhist forces present on this side, it was already a very intelligent observation to think of the anomaly on August 15th and associate it with the Lunar Pearl.
Guilingshenmu asked, "Is the light of August 15th like a silvery ribbon, with a trace of gold within the white glow, lasting for a quarter of an hour each time?"
"Exactly."
Guilingshenmu was overjoyed. This lost sacred artifact on the Star of the Invisible must certainly be his own Lunar Pearl.
She gave Jing Lingshenmu a nod of affirmation. Jing asked Jiang Hòu, "Then it must be your uncle's sacred artifact, do you know where that artifact is currently located?"
Jiang Hòu hesitated for a moment: "As a disciple, I rarely go out. The gem usually appears in the western part of the Star of the Invisible."
She still didn't want to leave the Yinyin Palace. Here, she had the divine role of the Yinyin Star King, which could effectively suppress evil thoughts. If she left this door, she wasn't sure if she could still keep them under control.
But Jing and Guilingshenmu were both looking at her, and she really had no reason not to go at this point.
"Disciple will lead the way for the master and uncle master."
She led the two of them out of the Yinyin Palace, riding clouds towards the western part of the Yinyin Star.
"Brother, we haven't been out for a long time."
"Yes, big brother, Mother always thinks of us as children, afraid that we might bump into something, and she's kept us locked up at home, not letting us see anyone."
"Brother, look over there, there are so many pagodas! Will there be those bald monks here as well?"
The demonic thoughts resembling Yin Hong fell silent, as the Buddhist light was too strong and overwhelming along the way, exerting a suppressive effect on them.
Jiang Hòu noticed their fear of Buddhism and was overjoyed. "If I had known you were so weak, I wouldn't have been suffering in the Yinyin Palace!" she thought to herself.
Her demeanor naturally lightened by two points, and Jing Lingshenmu felt quite satisfied, believing that it was her sincerity that had resolved the disciple's heartache.
They rode clouds through the Star of the Invisible, witnessing scattered abbeys and pagodas along the way. Compared to the prosperous human world and heavenly realm, they were far from ideal. However, when compared to what it used to be, the Star of the Invisible now had a hint of life.
Three thousand and more than a million miles away from Jiang Hòu's palace, the three descended from their clouds.
Jiang Hòu walked towards a temple with a signboard reading "Jiuwan Si."
"Jiang Yuan greets the venerable one. I am not sure which venerable is on duty today. I beg for the venerable's presence to descend, as there is something important to discuss."
The image of Maha Kassapa soon appeared in front of the temple.
Jiang Hòu called out silently in her heart, "Oh no! This 'honest' venerable is the worst and best to deal with. In this environment, I truly do not want to see him."
Buddhist disciples are different from Taoist disciples.
The Taoist sect is different from the Buddhist sect. In the Taoist sect, a teacher trains disciples, and they all benefit or suffer together. If the master falls into temptation, his disciples will automatically leave the Sect. Guanyin Guanyin becomes a Bodhisattva, Wenchang guards automatically leave Chuanqi Sect, Manjushri Guanyin becomes Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Jinzhazha joins Buddhism. The master is the most important, and the interests of the sect come after his own. After the Taoist sect becomes more organized, it has improved somewhat.
In Buddhism, the master is different. Here, the master is a teacher who passes on Dharma and solves confusion. If all disciples must choose a faithful object, it can only be Buddha, not the master.
Shelufa, Mahakasyapa, Anan, and the other ten disciples of the Moonlight Buddha listen to Dharma under the guidance of the Moonlight Buddha, which is like the Moonlight Buddha mentoring a few graduate students and doctoral candidates. Their dependence on the master is not as strong; they are not like sons or disciples. If one day the Moonlight Buddha were to escape, they would not be significantly affected.
Mahakasyapa bowed his hands in respect and said, "Excuse me, Your Lordship. I did not realize that You were descending from the heavens. I am sorry for not being able to welcome You in person at Your home. As You are here in my outer sanctuary, may I ask what business brings You?"
