Day and night tour

Chapter 424 The Thirty-Three-Story Tower

"You smell the elixir of immortality again?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

Li Changxun nodded repeatedly and said, "The smell is still a bit strong. Not only can I smell it, but you can see it too, Master."

Zhou Xuan looked at Yun Ziliang and saw that this old Taoist priest, just like Li Changxun, was sniffing the air constantly.

"How come you can all smell it? Why can't I smell it?"

Zhou Xuan glanced around. Apart from the mountain gate of Maha Temple, there was only a blue stone brick path and nothing else.

The scent he smelled was the fragrance of hibiscus trees planted near the temple, and the aroma of incense still burning beside the Buddha statue at the temple gate.

These tastes are all perfectly normal; where is the elixir flavor?

"What exactly is this 'elixir smell' you're talking about? It's in the steamed bun shop, and it's in this temple too. Could it be that you two are just hallucinating?"

Zhou Xuan had heard of the illusionary smell, which is the ability to detect scents that don't actually exist.

"Who knows."

Li Changxun walked forward, saying as he went, "This Huangyuan Prefecture is really strange."

The group continued their journey along the mountain path as usual.

Beyond the mountain gate, there was still a steep, rock-paved mountain path. The red-headed monk led the way, explaining to Zhou Xuan as he went.
"Sir, this Buddhist temple is extremely famous in our Huangyuan Prefecture. Its style and design are quite different from those of other prefectures."
Temples in outlying prefectures are mostly temple complexes, consisting of structures such as the Heavenly King Pavilion, the Great Buddha Hall, side halls, and wing rooms.
But our cliffside temple is a single, giant pagoda. The monks and disciples eat, drink, use the supplies, chant sutras, and worship all within this pagoda.”

As the red-headed monk spoke, Zhou Xuan also kept an eye on the passersby.

He discovered that there were very few worshippers at the temple, and the number of monks coming and going was also small, almost never seen. Occasionally, he would see one or two, but they all had their heads wrapped tightly in black cloths, and even when they were "seeing things," they would only look out through the black cloths.

"Master Chi, why are there no worshippers at this famous temple?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

Since it is a famous temple in Huangyuan Prefecture, there should be a constant stream of worshippers. It is not as deserted as it is here.

“Master, this is also what makes Maha Temple different from other temples,” the red-headed monk said. “Maha Temple has never received pilgrims, and even pilgrims are not allowed to kneel and worship at the foot of the mountain. After all, it is a place of spiritual treasures and cannot be disturbed by ordinary people from the foot of the mountain.”

Zhou Xuan added, "There are still pilgrims, just a small number."

“Those pilgrims who just passed by are all like you, Master, and their status is extraordinary. They are different from ordinary people from outside the mountains, and our temple will still receive them.”

The red-headed monk said with a simple smile.

"So the monks in this temple also treat people differently based on their status."

After silently complaining, Zhou Xuan asked, "Why do those monks who occasionally pass by cover their foreheads with veils?"

"Master, as I've already said, we disciples, whether we're chanting scriptures or eating and drinking, almost never leave that pagoda. Inside, it's pitch black; after ten or twenty years, our eyesight basically deteriorates, and our skin becomes deathly pale."
His appearance was quite terrifying, and fearing he might frighten passersby, he wrapped his head in a black veil.

As the red-headed monk spoke, he moved closer to Zhou Xuan and said, "Master, I haven't been in the temple for very long, but I've already developed an eye disease."

Zhou Xuan took a look and, sure enough, there were some white spots in the red-headed monk's pupils, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot.

"This is what happens when you stay in the tower for a long time."

After giving a wry smile, the red-headed monk continued to lead the group toward the Maha Pagoda.

Yun Ziliang then asked, "If it's really as you say, wouldn't the inside of the pagoda become a living hell?"

"It's like hell on earth."

The red-headed monk said, "Who would come to a temple to enjoy a life of luxury?"

"Are the monks of your Maha Temple really that noble?"

Yun Ziliang was very puzzled.

The entire Huangyuan Prefecture was a bandit-filled city within a bandit-filled city. The common people had very low moral standards; selling human flesh had become a legitimate business. Yun Ziliang even suspected that killing people in Huangyuan Prefecture was perhaps not illegal.

How can such a sinful place produce flowers of kindness?
As the red-headed monk walked, he spoke with great enthusiasm: "My master said that if we consider the nine prefectures of the Well Kingdom as a vast world, the suffering in this world is of a fixed number."

If we monks endure more hardship, then ordinary people will suffer less.

Living in a temple that is like purgatory, suffering day and night, is not in vain; it is suffering on behalf of all sentient beings.

“It’s too noble, so noble that it’s a bit… a bit…” Li Changxun said halfway through his sentence, then leaned close to Zhou Xuan’s ear and said, “It’s a bit fake.”

Zhou Xuan didn't spoil the red-headed monk's fun. He adopted a "seeking truth and understanding one's nature" attitude and said, "The truth cannot be hidden, and the false cannot be made true. Whether the monks of Maha Temple are hypocritical or noble, you will know once you enter the temple."

Zhou Xuan said this.

……

After navigating a winding mountain road, Zhou Xuan and his group finally saw the true face of the Maha Pagoda.

Maha Taqi is tall, towering into the clouds, and its belly is full. It stands on the mountainside like an enormous iron ball.

The climate of Huangyuan Prefecture is quite different from that of Mingjiang Prefecture.

It was already autumn in Mingjiang at this time. Even with a light jacket, let alone a thin coat, it was still chilly.

As for Huangyuan Prefecture, the weather was rather muggy; even wearing just a single layer of clothing, one could still be drenched in sweat.

However... even at its hottest, it's only the temperature at the end of the dog days in Mingjiang Prefecture. It's hot, but not too hot. Yet this Maha Pagoda is spewing out scorching heat waves. If the temperature were any higher, it would probably burn people's skin.

Why is the temperature of the hot air coming out of the tower so high?

Zhou Xuan asked.

"Isn't this what hell on earth looks like?"

The red-headed monk gave another wry smile. He led the group into the temple. Inside the temple tower, the temperature was even higher. Yun Ziliang was sweating profusely. After wiping himself with a handkerchief, he could wring water out of the handkerchief.

"It's so hot, how can you still stay here?"

Yun Ziliang complained.

Li Changxun was also unbearably hot, so he conjured a gust of wind and blew it towards himself. However, instead of lowering the temperature, the surrounding area felt like an oven, and the temperature rose sharply.

Zhou Xuan thought he was hallucinating. He saw that the wall not far away looked like red-hot iron.

"Changxun, what are you bragging about? The more you brag, the hotter it gets," Yun Ziliang scolded.

The red-headed monk also hurriedly advised Li Changxun, saying, "Li Shanzu, please stop this wind, it violates the taboo of the pagoda."

Li Changxun immediately stopped the wind. He asked in bewilderment, "Mountain Ancestor, this wind is started by incense, so why does it get hotter and hotter?"

The red-headed monk shrugged and said, "Mountain Ancestor, this pagoda is a purgatory. Since it's a purgatory, it's a place of suffering. The more you want to enjoy blessings, the greater the suffering in the purgatory will become."
If you can't bear the torment inside the tower, then wait outside. The town at the foot of the mountain may be simple, but if you're willing to spend money, you can always find plenty of enjoyable things.”

"Bullshit! If you bald monks can withstand the scorching heat, how could I, a god-level being of the Heavenly Void, be afraid of this? Let alone a temperature of tens of degrees, even if it were hundreds or thousands of degrees, the Mountain Ancestor could handle it."

When Li Changxun was provoked by the red-headed monk, a strange desire to win arose within him, and he became much more defiant.

The red-headed monk smiled without saying a word, and only asked Zhou Xuan: "Master, how many days do you intend to stay here? I will go and issue the corresponding number of room passes."

Zhou Xuan looked around and said, "I won't stay too long. I'll stay for two days first. I'll also learn some Buddhist teachings from you at the temple."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

The red-headed monk then led everyone to the "guest hall" on the second floor of the pagoda to register Zhou Xuan, Li Changxun, and Yun Ziliang.

When the monk in charge of the guest quarters saw the stranger, he was about to put on a veil, but in the end, he was too slow, and Zhou Xuan was quick to react.

Zhou Xuan saw the monk's true appearance clearly—his skin was covered in sores, his face looked as if it had been burned, and the scars on his face were stuck together, squeezing out his two white-dotted eyes.

He was aware of his ugly appearance and hurriedly put on the veil.

The thick veil seemed to give him a sense of security. Once he was completely wrapped up, his hands and feet were no longer as flustered as before. He bowed to Zhou Xuan with a generous air and said, "May I ask your name, sir? This humble monk will register you."

The red-headed monk said, "This is the chief monk of Mingjiang Prefecture."

"Oh, oh, it turns out to be a close friend of Zen Master Wuya. I am extremely fortunate to meet you."

The monk in charge of receiving guests dipped his brush in ink and drew up a room permit for Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan suddenly remembered: since we're here at Maha Temple, why not call Shang Yazi?

"However, for some reason, Zen Master Wuya has recently fallen into a deep sleep. He doesn't wake up, and calling Yazi over is of no use."

Zhou Xuan pondered to himself.

……

Inside Zhou's Jingyi Shop, Zhao Wuya was sitting by the record player, listening to a piece of film.

Just then, his gaze changed. His usual nonchalant attitude vanished, replaced by a wise and profound look. "Big Black, we should go."

Zen Master Wuya waved to the big black donkey outside the door, and the donkey bit open the reins and walked towards Zen Master Wuya.

Zen Master Wuya mounted his donkey and headed towards Huangyuan Prefecture.

……

"The entire stupa looks so much like it, it really does."

Inside the side room, the red-headed monk had gone to do his midday prayers, while Zhou Xuan, Yun Ziliang, and Li Changxun sat by the bed, chatting about what they had seen and heard that day.

Li Changxun asked, "Master, you said the pagoda looks too much like what?

"Like an alchemical furnace."

When Zhou Xuan arrived in the State of Jing, he had not read many alchemical texts, but in his previous life, he had visited many Taoist temples and seen what those alchemical furnaces looked like.

"Doesn't this pagoda resemble an alchemy furnace magnified countless times?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

Li Changxun thought for a moment and said, "It does look somewhat similar. The temperature inside a pill furnace is extremely high, and the temperature inside this temple is also extremely high. However, with such a large pill furnace, what are the people in this temple going to refine?"

"It's probably the relic on the top of that pagoda that's being refined."

Yun Ziliang pointed to the roof and said.

"Shall we go up to the top floor and take a look?"

Li Changxun had just spoken with the red-headed monk. The pagoda has a total of thirty-three floors, of which the bottom twenty-three floors are open to pilgrims, but those who want to go further up cannot go there.

“I can go. I have the ability to travel by day and the skill of breathing for a thousand years. I can come and go as I please.”

"I have the wind to seek out dragons, and I can come and go as I please."

Li Changxun, though usually timid, often displays a strange competitive spirit, like now.

Without waiting for Zhou Xuan's reply, he conjured a gust of wind and rode away.

Zhou Xuan then used the technique of breathing like a tortoise for a thousand years, hiding in the cracks of heaven and earth, and also ascended to the pavilion.

"Damn it, one can ride the wind, and the other can hide in the world. I, Old Yun, have no choice but to sleep."

Yun Ziliang did have a powerful stride, but no matter how exquisite his footwork was, he couldn't hide his whereabouts. He wouldn't be able to climb more than a few floors before the monks in the temple spotted him.

"It's nice to take a nap, but it's a bit hot."

Yun Ziliang lay on the bed, fanning himself with his sleeves.

……

A gust of wind, an invisible person—Zhou Xuan and Li Changxun—unnoticed, and they truly ascended to the "thirty-third floor."
However, to their great disappointment, they reached the top floor but encountered nothing of interest.

The Buddhist hall is still the same Buddhist hall, and the side rooms are still the same side rooms. As for the legendary spire that can produce relics, there is nothing but a pile of mud.

"This lump of mud, and the heavenly beings want it? Are we heavenly beings so ignorant?"

Li Changxun rode away on the wind in a huff.

Zhou Xuan also returned disappointed.

A gust of wind, an invisible person—all efforts were in vain.

But after they left the thirty-third floor, a sound came from the top floor, the previously empty Buddhist hall.

And this Buddhist hall was not empty—

—A monk dressed in a Taoist robe held a palm-leaf fan in his hand, gently fanning himself.
Beside him, several young monks were serving him fresh fruits and vegetables.

A middle-aged Confucian scholar with a head shaped like a fish stood not far from the Taoist monk. Zhou Xuan recognized this man; he was none other than Lu Xingzhou, the leader of the Bitter Ghosts.

"Master Yu, the eldest master and the others have left."

Lu Xingzhou gazed out of the Buddhist hall.

The Taoist monk was the "Master Yu" that Lu Xingzhou mentioned.

Master Yu opened his mouth, and the little monk quickly handed him a grape. He chewed it with juice dripping down his face and said, "Lu Xingzhou, I told you long ago, they can't find me."

"So what if he's the most sought-after master in Mingjiang Prefecture? So what if he was the invincible Master Yun who swept through the Daoist sect three hundred years ago? And what about that Heavenly God-level being? He's taken quite a few of my pills."

Lu Xingzhou paced back and forth, then said, "Master Yu, the eldest master came to Huangyuan Prefecture with only a few requests. He simply wants to know how Master Lu Xue resurrected his family members back then."
I advise you to just take out that method and hand it over to him.

What if I don't pay?

Master Yu glanced at Lu Xingzhou.

"You know what shady things are hidden in the Mahayana Temple. Quickly quell the Master's thoughts and let him leave the Mahayana Temple as soon as possible so that no one will expose your dirty secrets."

“But if you insist on going up against the Master, I’m afraid he’ll expose all your secrets.”

Master Yu ignored Lu Xingzhou's advice and said, "Old Lu, you've been the boss for so many years, but you've become more and more cowardly. I am a 'spirit,' he is a human. I don't want to see him. He will never see me in this lifetime, so why should I be afraid of him?"

"Moreover, the method Master Lu Xue used to save his family contained my dirty secrets. I'm not comfortable letting him know about my affairs."

Master Fish said.

Lu Xingzhou's face darkened, and he walked up to Master Yu, saying very seriously, "Master Yu is a man who responds to gentle persuasion but not to force—give me Master Lu Xue's method, and I will pass it on to him. I will also repeatedly tell him not to reveal anything about the method, and he will surely keep his promise and keep his mouth shut."

"No, no."

Master Yu said, "I am not afraid of little Zhou Xuan. It's only because you advised me that I didn't attack him. If it were my normal temper, and he came to my temple to cause trouble, I would have used this Refining God Tower to refine him."
He is a descendant of the Nuo god and has passed through five different temples; he must be able to refine some good elixirs.

"Fish Monk, you are truly stubborn and incorrigible."

Lu Xingzhou turned and walked away, but after a few steps he stopped, turned his head and said, "I have a feeling that you will die at Zhou Xuan's hands."

"Within the Tower of Divine Refinement, I am invincible among mortals."

Master Fish said arrogantly.

“Bi Fang also believed that his dream of becoming a Celestial Venerable was invincible in the human world. Your fate may not be better than Bi Fang’s.”

"If I can't be invincible, don't I still have you? Lu Xingzhou, if I fall, you won't have a good time either... Hehe... I've already taken over all the branches of Huangyuan Prefecture."

"You're welcome to try and see if I'll help you," Lu Xingzhou said, waving his fan with a hint of ruthlessness.

……

"What a waste of time. There's nothing upstairs, just a pile of mud."

Li Changxun said irritably.

Zhou Xuan, with his hands behind his head, lay on the bed and said, "It wasn't a complete waste of effort; at least it proves one thing."

"What's the matter?"

"The evil thing in this temple knows our abilities. Knowing that it can't prevent us from searching in this pagoda, it has covered up the unspeakable things in the pagoda in advance."

Zhou Xuan said.

Yun Ziliang asked, "How could he hide so well right under our noses?"

“The methods of the world’s masters are countless, and it’s not impossible for them to evade our eyes.”

Zhou Xuan said, "However, he may hide it as he pleases, but I have my own methods, and we will surely see the truth."

"What's your plan?"

"In harmony with Heaven".

Zhou Xuan said, "This mountain has a mountain spirit, and this pagoda has a pagoda spirit. My sixth level of magic is to sense the existence of those 'spirits' through the resonance of spiritual power."

I found the tower spirit; this thirty-three-story demon tower, whatever its secrets, had nowhere to hide.

Yun Ziliang asked, "What if the Tower Spirit doesn't tell you the truth?"

“That’s right, they’re not your pets, it’s normal for them not to cooperate,” Li Changxun chimed in.

“Then I’ll deceive the tower spirit,” Zhou Xuan said confidently.

Yun Ziliang and Li Changxun: "..."

The two elders seemed to have heard a tale from the East...

(End of this chapter)