Chapter 40

Thank you to Du Tian and Luxifa for the 588 reward, and to Aiwo Dengxue for the 300 reward. During the new book period, I'm seeking collections, recommendations, and clicks of all kinds.

………………………………I am a pure dividing line……………………………………

The Shaolin Temple can endure.

For those who have renounced the world, if they cannot bear the loneliness, they have no right to enjoy the glory and prosperity of fame and fortune.

But the Shaolin Temple cannot endure forever.

Enduring for a time, the ultimate goal is to have a day when they can hold their heads high and breathe a sigh of relief.

However, if they continue to endure, being trampled by their mortal enemies, this would be a complete and utter disgrace for the Shaolin Temple.

Endurance should be valuable; endurance without value is foolish behavior.

And if the Mongols truly take control of Central China, who knows how long they will rule this land?

No one knows, except for Zhao Hao.

Zhaoxin naturally does not know either.

He may not be concerned about the safety of the Song Dynasty or the change of dynasties, but he is certainly very concerned about the future of the Shaolin Temple.

Clearly, Zhao Hao has had a significant impact on Zhaoxin.

Without a choice, the Shaolin Temple would continue to lie low.

Because there is no other way.

Then, they would quietly accumulate strength, and after a hundred years, the Shaolin Temple would still be the strongest.

Zhaoxin would not have thought that the seemingly invincible Mongol army would only rule this land for a mere hundred years.

No one could have thought of this, except for Zhao Hao.

And now, Zhao Hao has given the Shaolin Temple another choice.

Join the Song Dynasty, and if the Song Dynasty can resist the Mongol army, the Shaolin Temple will receive a great reward.

Zhaoxin has confidence in the Shaolin Temple.

The Shaolin Temple, which follows the law and closely aligns with the court, will certainly be favored by those in power.

What Zhaoxin lacks confidence in is whether the Song Dynasty can hold out.

This is a gamble, a high-stakes gamble.

The bet is on the future of the Shaolin Temple.

And the final decision can only be made by the abbot of the Shaolin Temple.

Zhaoxin feels a great sense of responsibility, but he cannot shirk it.

Zhao Hao does not know that Zhaoxin's position in the Shaolin Temple is even more special than he imagined.

"Your Highness, the Mongols are ultimately a foreign race, a people raised on horseback. The Shaolin Temple has been rooted in Central China for a thousand years, and its fate has long been closely tied to this land," Zhaoxin said.

Zhao Hao nodded.

Previously, when Zhao Hao said he did not believe in Daoism, he was not deceiving Zhaoxin; he truly did not believe in Daoism.

However, he does not believe in Buddhism either.

But Zhao Hao is very clear that, whether it is Buddhism or Daoism, the true audience is the people of Central China.

Any doctrine that can sustain continuous development must necessarily meet the needs of the ruler and the wishes of the people, and have its unique survival wisdom.

This is true for Daoism, and it is also true for Buddhism.

It is not advisable to either overly elevate or belittle them.

Throughout history, so-called state religions have always been established after the state, and these so-called state religions have always been dependent on the state.

In the face of the state, the power of these sects is actually pitifully weak.

Their most glorious times were merely as extensions of royal power.

Therefore, Zhao Hao is not worried that the Shaolin Temple will become too powerful to control.

As for the idea that the Shaolin Temple will cause the Song Dynasty to decline, all such notions are baseless.

Religion has never had such a significant impact, and dynasties have never been so fragile.

The Shaolin Temple would not be foolish enough to undermine itself.

If there is an opportunity, the Shaolin Temple would not mind investing in the Mongols.

Unfortunately, with the Esoteric School in the way, the Mongols would absolutely not accept the Shaolin Temple.

Moreover, the Buddha is not the Eternal Heaven. For the Mongols, changing their faith is absolutely out of the question.

Zhaoxin is certainly aware of this, which is why he is making this statement.

"However, some things, even if I have made up my mind, ultimately depend on the opinions of others," Zhaoxin said.

"I believe in the wisdom of the masters of the Shaolin Temple," Zhao Hao said with a light smile.

"Is there anything else Your Highness wishes to instruct?" Zhaoxin asked.

"To be honest, there is indeed one matter that requires the abbot's approval," Zhao Hao said.

"Please instruct, Your Highness?" Zhaoxin said respectfully.

"I would like to read your temple's 'Yi Jin Jing.' I wonder if the abbot can make an exception?" Zhao Hao said.

Upon hearing Zhao Hao's words, Zhaoxin's brows immediately furrowed.

There are many great martial arts in the world, but the 'Yi Jin Jing' has always been the top martial art of the Shaolin Temple.

This status has never been shaken.

No matter how the world changes, and no matter how much blood is shed over a martial arts manual, the Shaolin Temple remains calm and composed.

Because they believe that the 'Yi Jin Jing' is no less powerful than the great martial arts that are so highly praised in the world, and with the 'Yi Jin Jing,' they have the confidence to face any temptation.

The seventy-two unique skills of the Shaolin Temple are all invaluable martial arts for those in the martial arts world.

And the 'Yi Jin Jing' is the most valuable treasure of the Shaolin Temple.

Such a thing, of course, cannot be easily shown to others.

Even if Zhao Hao is the current crown prince.

However, giving the 'Yi Jin Jing' to Zhao Hao also has its benefits.

If they really intend to ally with the Song Dynasty, giving the 'Yi Jin Jing' to Zhao Hao would undoubtedly be a great favor.

Moreover, if Zhao Hao practices the 'Yi Jin Jing,' the Shaolin mark on his body will never be erased.

Zhao Hao is the only son of the current emperor and will definitely inherit the throne.

From this perspective, giving the 'Yi Jin Jing' to Zhao Hao is not a bad choice.

Zhao Hao saw Zhaoxin's hesitation and continued, "Abbot, to be frank, the reason the Shaolin Temple has been able to last for a thousand years is not truly because of the 'Yi Jin Jing.' I know the importance of the 'Yi Jin Jing' to the Shaolin Temple, so I propose to exchange a martial art of the same level as the 'Yi Jin Jing.' What do you think?"

"What martial art?" Zhaoxin asked.

"The 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing.' Would that be acceptable?" Zhao Hao said with a light smile.

Zhaoxin's eyes suddenly lit up.

In recent years, the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' has gained increasing fame, and almost everyone believes that the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' is the pinnacle of martial arts manuals.

As the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, Zhaoxin certainly knows about the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing,' and he cannot deny that the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' indeed has the qualifications to be mentioned alongside the 'Yi Jin Jing.'

Even in the eyes of most people today, the value of the 'Yi Jin Jing' is not as high as the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing.'

However, after weighing the pros and cons, Zhaoxin ultimately shook his head and said, "Your Highness, the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' is indeed a supreme martial arts manual, but it is of little use to us, the disciples of Buddhism."

The martial arts in the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' are all derived from Daoist texts and are incompatible with Buddhism.

For the vast majority of people in the world, the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' is a rare treasure. However, for the Shaolin Temple, the allure of the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing' is much less.

Zhao Hao secretly nodded; the little monk in front of him is indeed not an easy opponent.

He has always been very rational.

"Very well, if that is the case, I will offer another martial art in exchange. The Daoist school has the 'Jiu Yin Zhen Jing,' but the world does not know that the Buddhist school also has a martial art of the same level, called the 'Jiu Yang Shen Gong,'" Zhao Hao said calmly.

Taking something from the Shaolin Temple and then selling it back to them, it must be said, feels very satisfying.

PS: We are about 800 votes away from 20,000 recommendations. If we can break 20,000 today, there will be a third update. I've been a bit lazy lately, so give me some motivation to update more.

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