Chapter 2813: The Silent Lotus World
Chapter 2813: The Silent Lotus World
Lin Mu smiled faintly, watching his companions settle. There would be discussions to be had—explanations, updates, maybe even interrogations from the locals. But for now, they had a moment.
A breath.
Soon, Lin Mu would need to make contact with the Silent Lotus authorities. There were things he needed to learn—rumors to verify, movements of the Holy See to investigate.
But not just yet.
For now, they were safe.
And in the quiet heart of the Silent Lotus World, they had earned a little rest.
As the warm tea began to soothe their nerves and fill their bellies with gentle heat, the group finally let themselves settle.
For a while, no one spoke. The distant chirp of birds and the soft burble of a nearby stream filled the silence in their place. It wasn't awkward—just restful.
Eventually, Lin Mu leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting across the open courtyard beyond the screen walls. "It really is hard to believe we're in such a peaceful world compared to the one before," he said quietly.
Monk Hushu nodded. "The Silent Lotus World has always been one of the more peaceful planes. High in Qi density, low in conflict. That's a rare thing."
"It's too quiet," Meng Bai mumbled, peeking around as if expecting a surprise ambush from the bushes. "Like the calm before a formation array explodes."
Daoist Chu chuckled again, folding his hands over his robe. "That's because you've spent too much time around the beasts. Constant motion. Danger. Exploding chickens."
"That was one time!" Meng Bai groaned, flopping back onto his cushion. "And it was only because the twins caused that spirit chicken to explode from stress," he added.
Lin Mu raised an eyebrow. "When did that happen?"
"Back in the Shanxi World when we went out. The twins bought a spirit chicken to cook but reckoned they could also play catch," Meng Bai spoke. "I never knew beasts could get Qi deviation from being tossed around and explode," he added with a hint of fear.
"Who knows, if the twins toss me around like that, I might explode too," Meng Bai said, shivering slightly.
The others laughed lightly.
Even the Saintess, who had finally seated herself in a shaded corner and stayed invisible, allowed a small smile to touch her lips. She hadn't spoken much during the journey, even to Lin Mu, but now that they had arrived, her shoulders seemed to relax ever so slightly. Of course, her laughter was still inaudible to everyone other than Lin Mu, and the same with her presence.
"So," Daoist Chu finally said, voice calm. "What's our next move, Lin Mu?"
The question hung in the air like incense smoke—delicate, yet with weight.
Lin Mu placed his teacup down slowly. "First, we make contact with whoever governs this region. A Prefecture Lord, most likely. We'll need their cooperation—both to inform them about the Osteri Divine Order's actions and to gather information about what has happened in these seven months," he stated.
"Hmm. The others who reached the Nubai World would have likely informed the Immortal Court already. And since seven months have passed, there should definitely be some news," Daoist Chu muttered.
"Amitabha, I'll get in contact with my temple as well. We'll probably get more information from them," Monk Hushu spoke.
"Speaking of that… how far are we from the temple?" Lin Mu asked.
"We're in the Lotus Prefecture, which is the closest region to the Green Lotus Temple. This is technically under our territory too, but we let other cultivators that live here handle the matters," Monk Hushu answered.
"So we're already inside it?" Meng Bai asked, feeling a lot better.
The nausea had disappeared already. It had lasted longer than usual despite the pill because they had been in the teleportation channel for over seven months. The longer the teleportation lasted, the longer the effects of nausea could be.
"Yes, though the temple is still around two hundred kilometers from here," Monk Hushu said as he stood up. "You can see the mountains from here already." He pointed in the distance.
Far away, faint peaks could be seen clouded by dense mist.
"Oh! That's the temple?" Meng Bai was surprised by it. "What's up with the mist though?" he asked.
"The color?" Monk Hushu asked.
"Yeah, why does it have a violet hue?" Meng Bai asked.
"That's due to the lakes and ponds around the mountains. They are filled with Urim Violet Petal Lotuses. Their petals dye the water violet, which evaporates and turns the mist like this," Monk Hushu explained.
"Is that why the sky looks strangely violet too?" Lin Mu had first thought it was just how it looked normally.
After all, Lin Mu had been in the Rust Sky World whose sky was well… rust-colored.
"Yes, the clouds and moisture in the air are dyed by it too," Monk Hushu confirmed. "Though if you leave the Lotus Prefecture, the sky will return to the normal blue color," he added.
"I see… and I'm guessing the rich Qi is due to it too?" Lin Mu asked.
"Yes, the Urim Violet Petal Lotuses are immortal herbs and are rich in Qi. They're one of the reasons the Green Lotus Temple was erected here," Monk Hushu explained.
"Huh… then why is it called Green Lotus Temple and not Violet Lotus Temple?" Meng Bai couldn't understand.
"That's because there is a Urim Green Petaled Lotus in the temple's main lake," Monk Hushu answered.
"What's that?" Meng Bai wondered, and so did Lin Mu.
"The Urim Green Petaled Lotus has been there since before the creation of the temple. It is probably the oldest existence in this region and has reached the Transcendent Immortal realm which caused its transformation," Monk Hushu revealed, surprising everyone.
"It's a Transcendent Plant?" Lin Mu raised his brows. "Does that mean it is…"
"Sentient? Yes," Monk Hushu nodded. "The lotus is part of our temple as much as we are its. It is a venerated plant that has basked and grown in the ambiance of incense and Buddhist chants all these years," he explained.