Wet viviparity

Chapter 910 The Third Test, Treasure Chest Hand
"Mother, as you and I both know, at our level, brute force is a low-level approach and a path to disaster."

The "fight" I speak of does not refer to armed conflict, but rather to three more sophisticated fighting methods, which can also be called a three-way test agreement.

"At that time, each sect and faction within Liling and each of your Tianteng Mountain will send representatives from their respective realms. If Taiping Mountain dares not accept the challenge, or accepts it but is defeated, its prestige will be damaged. Then, Taiping Mountain will find it difficult to shirk its responsibility for overseeing the merits."

The flames on the five bird heads of the Old Mother of Weide condensed slightly, clearly intrigued: "Which three tests?"

"Treasure hunting, testing one's strength, and performing rituals for the deceased."

Zen Master Caihu released his hand seal, raised a finger, and said, "If Taiping Mountain wants to promote the Taiping Treasure Coin, then this humble monk will compete with him to find a Taiping Treasure Coin in the three thousand six hundred and eighty-two treasure rooms in the East Sea Dragon Palace."

"This attempt is no different from finding a needle in a haystack!"

"That's what Old Mother Weide said."

Then, the old woman continued, "In my opinion, if Taiping Mountain agrees to set a three-test agreement, it will certainly impose many restrictions to prevent the contestants from relying on external forces. In that case, how can you, Zen Master, ensure your victory?"

The Zen master raised one arm high above his head, his five fingers naturally outstretched.

First, a slit appeared in the palm of the furry tiger's hand. Then, the slit opened, and one eyeball moved from side to side. From that gaze, a precious light slowly shone out, revealing a box filled with treasures such as coral, gold dust, and pearls.

It was clearly the Treasure Chest Hand, one of the Forty-Two Great Compassionate Hand Seals, a secret Buddhist mudra, but when Zen Master Caihu used it with his Black Tiger Palm, it felt inexplicably eerie and unsettling.

Then the Zen master raised his other arm, wielded his palm like a knife, and swiftly chopped off the arm of the treasure chest.

The tiger arm that held the treasure box flew to the old woman of Weide and said, "During the Grand Council, it is inconvenient for this humble monk and the disciples of Moyun Peak to appear directly. Therefore, this treasure box arm needs to be handed over to a disciple of Tianteng Mountain to take over."

A Buddhist saying goes: 'If there is a hidden treasure in the earth, it should be found in a precious box.'

This treasure chest hand technique is the result of 332 years of arduous chanting and Buddhist practice atop Mount Moyun. It is no easy feat. Whenever a treasure lies hidden underground, this technique will reveal it, making the search for a single precious coin a simple matter.

When the old woman of Weide heard about the time the Zen master spent practicing this hand seal, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "Zen master, you were born a demon among demons, why do you have to suppress your nature so much and go to seek the Buddha's fruit to practice this hand seal that you are not good at understanding and teaching? Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?"

The Zen master's forehead veins bulged. He could endure his mother's harsh words, but he could not tolerate the slander against his Buddhist teachings.

He meditated day and night on the summit of Moyun Peak, and every month he would devoutly recite the "Precious Box Hand" mantra 500,000 times, continuing for more than 300 years. During this time, he always kept the precepts, did not kill, and did not lie. Only in this way did he gain some efficacy.

"What does Mother mean?"

"Twenty years ago, my primordial spirit traveled to the West. On the way, I happened to encounter the primordial spirit of Venerable Ling Jixiang of Dajile Temple, and we discussed the Dao together in Daxiong Temple. During this time, I met several Buddhist disciples in the temple."

Among them are practitioners of the Treasure Chest Hand technique, and another, like you, is of demonic origin.

Among them, the most outstanding achieve great things in just sixty years. Zen Master, you have spent several times more time and effort than others, yet you remain complacent and unable to overcome the obstacles within. This shows how deeply you have strayed from the true path of Buddhism these past years.

"enough!"

The Zen master was so engrossed in his speech that he broke out in a cold sweat and shouted.

The five bird heads outside the fire well sneered repeatedly, thinking to themselves that their words were much sharper than the bird heads' witty remarks.

"Let's get back to the main topic."

"As it should be."

"This second test is a test of strength, which is skill and intelligence. It is to compete with Taiping Mountain in cutting divine clay."

Which kind of divine mud?

The five heads of the old mother, Wei De, widened their eyes in unison and said, "The calamity in Tiannan has just passed, and news about the mud roots in the Ancient Forbidden Mountain has not been completely blocked. Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?"

"You've gone mad! You dare to use such a forbidden thing as divine mud as a contest item?"

In ancient times, the great god Gun gathered the strength of all and cut divine clay at the Emperor's Netherworld Terrace, dividing it into nine pieces to create nine great mounds. This matter is an unspeakable taboo in the world. You have revealed this matter; are you not afraid that Heaven's will will be like a knife, cutting you down?

"Mother, you don't know, but according to a certain person who is destined to face the calamity, the Chaos God General that Lu Zhenjun has cultivated has the aura of divine mud and thick earth on his body."

This humble monk is using this item for a test, naturally to see if Lu Zhenjun's divine general's refinement is related to the forbidden mountain's mud root, and whether he possesses any cutting techniques.

With the grand undertaking of Taiping Mountain and its immeasurable merits preceding it, even the patriarchs of Taiping Mountain might not be able to maintain their original intentions. Even if it ultimately fails, this second test will still end in a draw.

As he spoke, the Zen master's physical body gradually turned into light, leaving only an echo.

"Old Mother, please remember to be extremely careful in choosing the person to compete with, lest they have been infected by the evil intentions planted by Lu Zhenjun. The chosen person should possess great wisdom, great courage, and great perseverance, because it is definitely Lingxu Xiaosheng who will appear in Taiping Mountain."

"And the third test?"

The old mother asked.

The Buddha said—it cannot be spoken.

As the light faded, the Zen master was nowhere to be seen. The old woman stared at the huge treasure chest and tiger hand that remained in place, and finally summoned the horse-headed auspicious bird among the three monsters and five birds.

If we were to say who she favored most in Tianteng Mountain, it would undoubtedly be the Crimson Phoenix Goddess among the Five Birds. But if we were to say who was the most accomplished, wisest, and courageous in the mountain, it would undoubtedly be the Horse-Headed Auspicious Bird, Zhu Tao. To this disciple, Tianteng Mountain was nothing more than a small pond.

In Zhu Tao's own words, he came to Tianteng Mountain to experience the feelings of a cultivator who rises from humble beginnings, thereby diminishing and defeating the arrogance and pride in his ego.

Before long, a ball of auspicious light appeared where the Zen master had disappeared. Within the light appeared a long-faced man, wearing a colorful brocade robe, with five wisps of smoke rolling around him, enveloping him like a birdcage.

Upon seeing the treasure chest and tiger arm, and hearing his mother mention the three trials of the Great Council, Zhu Tao did not show the eagerness his mother had expected.

Zhu Tao said in a deep voice: "Everyone knows that there are many treasures left by the great god Gun in the East Sea Dragon Palace. Among them is the Fortune Treasure Coin, which is known as 'money can make the devil turn the millstone.' It is in the Dragon Palace. The Five Fortune Talisman held by the Zen Master Zhao, the deputy commander, can be used to seize this treasure."

"Did Zen Master Caihu have ulterior motives in this test? And is Tianteng Mountain being used as a pawn?"

"No need to worry."

The old mother spoke in an equal and consultative tone: "When such people have a plan, it is always a series of interconnected steps. In this way, even if they fail here, they can succeed there. Only in this way can they avoid losing their reputation as immortals. The reason I agreed was simply to let Taiping Mountain know the attitude of Tianteng Mountain."

"Currently, there is intense resistance within Tianteng Mountain, which even I, as its master, find difficult to suppress. This serves as an outlet for that resistance."

“Since Master has made his decision, I agree.”

Zhu Tao took the treasure chest from Zen Master Caihu and said.

"Although Lingxu Xiaosheng has only been cultivating for nearly a hundred years, he is a top-notch variable in the world. In addition, with Lu Zhenjun backing him up, Tiannan will not be able to cause any major trouble in the future. You should act according to the situation. Success is gratifying, and failure is not a big deal."

Zhu Tao hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "If Mother really gives the order, everyone in the sect will calm down and not fight over temporary success or failure."

"Haha, no, no, only blood can be used to find true gold."

"A few deaths will yield some true gold seeds, and we'll gain some prestige. At the same time, my Tian Teng Mountain will enjoy some peace and quiet. Isn't that killing several birds with one stone?"

(End of this chapter)