Chapter 82: News from Kunwu

Clad in dark blue robes and cloud-patterned shoes, with a Nanhua scarf bound to his head, the old monk had yet to take formal monastic vows or undergo the capping ceremony, and thus could not wear a proper Daoist crown. Consequently, he was still dressed as a young Daoist acolyte—though his advanced age made him look exceptionally bizarre.

The old monk was consumed by shame and fury, wishing the earth would swallow him up, but Liaochen remained entirely unperturbed. "What immense good fortune it is to take refuge in my Xuanguang Temple!" Liaochen said. "Countless people pray for such a blessing yet never find it; the senior acolyte should cherish it. If you continue to carry on with such a sullen and reluctant attitude, I wouldn't mind making a trip to Mount Wutai to demand an explanation from your senior martial brother! To obstruct another's path and harbor malicious intentions—you should have understood the heavy karmic consequences the moment you came!"

The old monk's face instantly flushed crimson, realization dawning on him that Liaochen had no intention of letting him go. His eyes bulged wide with the wrath of a Vajra. If only he could unleash a roar fierce enough to strike down this demon who had desecrated a disciple of the Buddha, the old monk would not have hesitated to embark on a killing spree, uncaring even if he were to plunge into the demonic realm and suffer the eternal torments of the abyss.

Liaochen had practically dragged the old monk all the way back to Xuanguang Temple on Mount Qingcheng. In the blink of an eye, nearly five years had passed, and the temple was now largely complete. A magnificent Daoist sanctuary towered over the peak where the humble little shrine once stood. Liaochen hauled the old monk straight into the main hall. The guarding Daoist priests naturally recognized this rarely seen immortal abbot, and at the sight of this spectacle, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads in utter astonishment.

For the abbot of the temple to suddenly "grace" the premises in such a fashion was a rather comical affair, yet it was par for the course at Xuanguang Temple. Because Liaochen was dedicated to pursuing the Dao and wandered far and wide, he was absent from the temple for most of the year. As a result, less than ten percent of the current residents had ever laid eyes on him. Truth be told, very few of the Daoists currently residing in Xuanguang Temple actually belonged to it; the vast majority were visiting monastics seeking temporary lodging or priests seconded from elsewhere. In the entire realm, across all monasteries and temples, this was truly a singular phenomenon.

No sooner had Liaochen arrived at the Hall of the Three Pure Ones with the old monk than the temple residents began to gather inside the main hall. A sea of unfamiliar faces filled the space, most of whom Liaochen had never seen before.

*Xuanguang Temple has practically become someone else's sanctuary!* Liaochen silently lamented with a heavy sense of self-reproach.

"May infinite blessings and longevity be upon you, Heavenly Venerable!" The assembly of Daoists paid their respects to the abbot first. Liaochen nodded, returned the courtesy, and said with a solemn expression, "Since our members have entered the gates of the Dao, we must strictly observe the Three Hall Precepts, taking care above all to renounce greed and uphold tranquility. We must master the ten states of truth: wisdom, compassion, endurance, meritorious practice, mental cultivation, virtuous karma, diligence, personal refinement, detachment from emotion, and a universal mind. All laws of the Three Realms are born from the Dao; those who seek the Dao must cultivate contemplative wisdom across all phenomena. This includes practicing mindfulness in movement, abandoning the transgression of idle speech, eliminating wicked thoughts, severing the roots of karma, banqueting sights and sounds, moderating desires, discarding playful habits, washing away filth, banqueting confusion, purging lustful thoughts, letting go of nostalgia, banqueting hesitation, and enduring the unendurable. Let it be known that whoever violates these tenets does so against this poor priest's forewarning!"

Seeing the severe tone of the abbot, and assuming he had discovered some illicit activity violating the monastic rules, the gathered Daoists instantly snapped to attention, bowing deeply as they answered, "We disciples shall naturally keep the Master's teachings close to heart and never dare to forget them!"

Only then did Liaochen withdraw his gaze and wave his hand, dismissing the assembly. He kept only the administrative priest he had personally appointed on his previous visit, pointed to the old monk—still attired as a Daoist acolyte—and instructed, "This is Chan Master Huiting of Mount Wutai, with whom I share a great karmic tie. Realizing that his early studies belonged to a heterodox path, he has willingly renounced Buddhism to enter the Dao, taking refuge beneath the gates of the Three Pure Ones. I have matters to attend to and will return later. You are to issue invitations far and wide, summoning practitioners from all across the realm—regardless of whether they follow the Dao or the Buddha—to attend Chan Master Huiting's initiation ceremony into the Dao. Furthermore, the Chan Master's inner demons have not yet been fully vanquished. During these coming days, you must keep a close watch on him, chanting a thousand volumes of Daoist scriptures to him daily to steady his spirit, quiet his mind, and dispel the demonic thoughts within. Do not let your guard down in the slightest!"

Liaochen's words were so infuriating that the old monk nearly blacked out right then and there.

What did he mean by a heterodox path? Was the Dharma a heterodox path?

What did he mean by willingly renouncing Buddhism to enter the Dao? When had he ever been willing?

What did he mean by unvanquished inner demons that required Daoist scriptures to pacify? Having cultivated the Buddhist Dharma all his life, how could he possibly need Daoist scriptures to calm his mind?

Setting aside how the old monk, "Chan Master Huiting," was driven to such fury that he felt as though a buddha had ascended and descended in rage while cursing inwardly at how the realm-renowned "Realized Person Liaochen" could be such a shameless scoundrel given to brazen falsehoods, even the administrative priests in the main hall wore expressions of profound shock.

"Master, this Huiting is a renowned eminent monk. Aren't you afraid this will provoke a conflict between the Dao and the Buddha?" Several managing Daoists voiced their concerns and cautioned Liaochen.

"There is no need for concern; simply do as I say. I mentioned before that there is a profound karmic destiny at work here, so we need not fear the Buddhists coming to debate principles. Should they dare to resort to force, this poor priest's magical sword shall be waiting," Liaochen replied. He glanced at the assembled Daoists in the hall and continued his instructions, "On the upcoming day of Shangyuan, when the Heavenly Official bestows blessings, you shall throw wide the gates of salvation within this hall. Anyone willing to observe our profound gate's precepts, study the orthodox laws of the Three Pure Ones, and harbor a sincere aspiration for the Dao may be examined and welcomed into our sect. Let Chan Master Huiting's initiation and precept-taking ceremony be scheduled for that very day!"

Seeing that the abbot's mind was made up, the Daoists dared not advise him further. After all, this abbot was a figure akin to a living immortal of the mortal world; how could ordinary mortals presume to fathom his intentions? They could only lower their heads, chant, "May infinite blessings and longevity be upon you, Heavenly Venerable!" and bow in obedience to the decree.

However, when the senior priests raised their heads once more, Liaochen had already vanished without a trace, leaving behind only an aged Daoist acolyte staring blankly into space.

cloaking himself in invisibility, immediately returned to his former grotto. After checking on the留守 fire fox and white monkey and offering them a few words of comfort, he entered his inner chamber, detached his spirit once more, and sped straight toward the divine kingdom.

These several journeys had cost Liaochen a full day's time. Fortunately, Zhong Kui was free to roam the divine kingdom at his leisure, so there was no particular haste.

"May infinite blessings and longevity be upon you, Heavenly Venerable! Apologies for keeping you waiting so long, Elder Brother; forgive me, forgive me!" Standing within the divine kingdom, Liaochen repeatedly apologized to his sworn brother, Zhong Kui.

"Between us brothers, there is no need for such formality. But my younger brother, this divine kingdom of yours is enough to fill anyone with envy! It is by no means inferior to those immortal mountains and blessed grottoes," Zhong Kui remarked with a sigh.

"Not at all, not at all. A divine kingdom is ultimately just a dwelling place for a deity; the laws of the Heavenly Dao are incomplete within it. Although the scenery is fine, it is of no benefit to the immortal path. How could it ever compare to a true blessed land of the immortals?" Liaochen chuckled.

"Younger brother, do not be overly modest. With such an immortal wonderland and a jade palace, you have attained an earthly paradise even before ascending to the immortal ranks. What more could you possibly wish for?" At the thought of his own netherworld residence, dark and plunged in perpetual night, Zhong Kui felt a surge of bitterness so intense he wanted to spew it all over the fellow across from him.

"Haha!" Liaochen offered an awkward laugh and wisely kept his silence.

"Ah, younger brother, when your avatar attained the divine throne, this elder brother was too rushed to prepare a congratulatory gift. However, several centuries ago, I happened to acquire a few clumps of spiritual herbs in the mountains. Now that I have missed the immortal path and entered the divine path instead, these herbs are of no further use to me. Since you are still seeking the immortal path, you will surely need to fire up your cauldron and refine pills. I might as well gift them to you so they find a proper home," Zhong Kui said. With that, he produced a jade box sealed with a spiritual talisman, placed it upon a white jade table, and pushed it toward Liaochen.

"Ah!" Liaochen truly had not expected that Zhong Kui not only came to return his subordinate judge but had also brought spiritual herbs as a congratulatory gift. He was genuinely startled. Any spiritual herb capable of catching the eye of Heavenly Master Zhong Kui could hardly be ordinary, and he quickly declined, "A spiritual herb of this caliber is far too precious. Your younger brother has already relied on Elder Brother's assistance time and again without any means to repay the favor; how could I possibly accept such a heavy gift on top of that?"

"I already told you, your elder brother has now entered the netherworld divine path, so what use do I have keeping these spiritual herbs? Wait until you attain the Dao and become an immortal someday, and then help your elder brother find a few fine treasures instead—consider that repayment for the favor!" Zhong Kui firmly shoved the jade box across the table and added with feigned displeasure, "Accept it!"

Unable to refuse further, Liaochen could only accept the jade box. When he removed the talisman on the spot and opened it, he froze in sheer astonishment.

"Could it be that several centuries ago, such spiritual herbs truly existed in the deep mountains of the mortal realm?" Liaochen asked in disbelief.

"Of course. I harvested these myself on Mount Kunlun. Haha!" Zhong Kui's casual remark stirred tumultuous waves within Liaochen's heart.