Day and night tour

Chapter 501 The Layout of the Buddhist Kingdom
"How many people from the Buddhist kingdom did you guide? Ten? Twenty? A hundred?"

The dream deity deliberately spoke in a vague manner, as if in a provocative act.

After a series of numbers, the Dream God suddenly shook his head and said, "Too many, I can't remember them all, I can't remember them all!"
"The Kingdom of Jing is doomed. You all think the Kingdom of Jing is strong, with vast territory and abundant resources, but the people of the Kingdom of Buddha will show the Kingdom of Jing what a true galactic overlord is."

“If you hadn’t committed this heinous crime, I would have wanted to let you live, to let you open your eyes and see that the people of the Buddhist Kingdom are nothing more than this.”

"Is that so? Witch God, you are most like the 'Supreme Will,' but you are nothing more than a pitiful person who is not free... No matter how domineering you are, you are just a toad punching—with only such short arms and legs."
"You can't save the Kingdom of Jing."

The Dream God coldly said, "Do you think the people of the Buddhist Kingdom are only strong because of their strength? They know themselves and their enemy, and thus they are invincible in every battle."

"I know I cannot escape death today, so there are some things I am no longer afraid to say, and I will say them if I want to."

"Then I'm all ears," the sorcerer said, standing with his hands behind his back.

The Dream God said, "The Well Kingdom has many spaces and times, but in the final analysis, it is nothing more than three forces: the Heavenly Realm, the Human Realm, and the Netherworld."

"However, the will of the underworld has long since died. Those ghost messengers are usually quite obedient, doing nothing superfluous, simply silently guiding the souls of the dead and overseeing the six realms of reincarnation."

Therefore, the Kingdom of Well has been in a state of confrontation between the heavens and the human world for countless years.

"There is a will in the human realm—the 'Will of the Blood God,' oh, right, that name is too ancient; now, it should be called 'Heaven and Earth.'"

"The supreme will resides in the heavens for so long, solely to suppress the Heavenly Fire Clan above the heavens."
However, the "Supreme Will" has seen its oversight weaken in recent centuries, and rumors suggest it has died.

When the dream god spoke, he paid attention to the expression of the witch god, hoping to guess the life or death of the "supreme will" from the fleeting changes in the witch god's expression.

But the sorcerer remained calm and showed no sign of anything amiss.

The Dream God had no choice but to continue: "Without supervision, the Heavenly Fire Clan became restless. They wanted to descend to the mortal realm at any time and treat the people as livestock to be eaten whenever they wanted."

Why did the Skyfire Clan establish the Zoroastrian religion on Earth?

Isn't their plan simply to cultivate their own god-level being, so that they can coordinate with the Heavenly Fire Clan from within and without to launch a surprise attack on the mortal realm?

"Weren't you going to talk about the methods and schemes of the Buddhist Kingdom? Why are you bringing up the Heavenly Fire Clan?" the Witch God said.

The Dream God, however, ignored this and continued speaking.
"The Heavenly Fire Clan is the mortal enemy of the Jing Kingdom, and the mortals are no match for them—who can blame them for controlling the source of incense offerings?"

"Of course, the human world is not without resistance. There are nine ancient gods, as well as some newly promoted deities, such as incense-burning Taoist priests and the four great divine lords of the Time Realm."

The Dream God extended both fists and said, "Therefore, the Well Kingdom has two fists. The left fist represents the God-level being, and the right fist represents the Heavenly Fire Clan."
If the Buddhist Kingdom wants to conquer the Well Kingdom, it must cripple these two powerful forces.

"They can't be rendered useless."

"You've underestimated the living strength of the Kingdom of Well. There are gods, celestial beings, and the will of 'Heaven and Earth' on Earth. Even if the Buddha himself were to descend, what advantage could he possibly gain?"

"Heaven and Earth inherently harbor rebellious intentions; they were forcibly kept in the Kingdom of Well by the Supreme Will. If a war were to break out, whose side do you think they would take?"

"The Four Heavenly Venerables should concentrate their power to oversee 'Heaven and Earth.' If a war breaks out, they won't be of any help. The only ones the mortal realm can rely on are gods like myself."

The Celestial God of Dreams coldly laughed: "Celestials possess extraordinary strength, however—celestials have weaknesses. The strength of us celestials originates from the mortal wishes and power of the people."
This is where the strength of the Buddhist people comes in.

"Tell me in detail." The witch god's expression grew increasingly grim.

"In recent centuries, although there has been no oversight in the heavens, how have the people on earth fared?"

"Good...very good."

Unlike other celestial deities, the God of Witchcraft would periodically travel the human world in the body of the Wine Master.

He knew all too well whether the lives of ordinary people were filled with disasters or happiness.

In the last five hundred years, the imperial court and the common people have experienced tremendous upheavals, such as the overthrow of the former emperor of the Jing Kingdom, the seizure of real power by the Imperial Observatory, and the establishment of the Bureau of Parade of Gods in various prefectures...

However, the imperial court and the martial world belong to the disciples of cultivation, not to ordinary people.

The people were living a truly good life; the weather was favorable and the granaries were plentiful throughout the land.
Although there are natural disasters, kidnappings, and man-made calamities in the world, generally speaking, the merits outweigh the flaws.

In any case, the last five hundred years have indeed been the most peaceful era for ordinary people.

"Don't you think it's strange?"

The Dream God said,

"The oversight of the supreme will has clearly weakened. Among those god-level beings, some are restless, some harbor ulterior motives, and many more are indifferent to the fate of the world."

The gods failed in their oversight, while the most humble people lived in peace and prosperity.

When the plight of ordinary people was combined with the mindset of deities, the shaman sensed a "conspiracy."

"A monk from the Buddhist Kingdom, with only the cultivation of a three-fold Buddha, equivalent to three incense sticks in our Jing Kingdom, is such an insignificant figure. Yet, in just over thirty years, relying on Mr. Feng, he has built a gang in Mingjiang Prefecture that surpasses even the 'Master Thief's'."
This kind of person, can he be considered a notable figure?
But I want to tell you that within the Kingdom of Jing, there are countless peaceful monks who, together, have ensured the people of Jing enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests.

Upon hearing this, the shaman god fully awakened: "The infiltration of the Buddhist people has allowed the common people to live a peaceful and prosperous life—they are winning over the hearts of the people?"

"When the Buddhist Kingdom and the Well Kingdom go to war, those great philanthropists and good people who are usually kind and virtuous will raise their voices and the people's will will all turn to them."

"If the power of human vows in the Kingdom of Well falls into the hands of the Buddhists... wouldn't the celestial beings of the Kingdom of Well become nothing but turtle eggs! Utterly vulnerable turtle eggs!"

The witch god's face was extremely gloomy.

It turns out that such a great calamity was hidden in the seemingly prosperous and peaceful land of Jing.

The dream god continued, "The gods of the mortal realm are nothing to fear—as for the Heavenly Fire Clan!"

"The Heavenly Fire Clan is used to being high and mighty, but... this clan has been blinded by pills and their spirits have become morbid. This is the calamity of pills in the heavens."

"Now you can easily see that although the Heavenly Fire Clan's innate pleasure-seeking nature is a factor in this Dan disaster, the more important factor is that someone is fanning the flames."

The Dream God, already displaying the posture of a victor, said, "Witch God, listen to my words, what about the methods of the Buddhist Kingdom?"

"For hundreds of years, they cultivated the power of human desires to deal with celestial beings; they used the calamity of pills to disrupt the spirit of the Heavenly Fire Clan."

The Heavenly Fire Clan, even those at the Celestial God level, are utterly vulnerable...

"Then the boundless Buddha eye of the Buddha Kingdom will open in the sky of the Well Kingdom."

The dream deity seemed to have seen his own faith, raising his hands high as he spoke.

"The Kingdom of Jing! It's finished! The Buddha of the Buddhist Kingdom will surely descend upon the Kingdom of Jing and slaughter you, all you Celestial Venerables, Gods, and Wills!"

"The Kingdom of Jing... is doomed."

Suddenly, the sorcerer thought of someone—the name of that young man—which lingered in his mind, giving him the confidence to speak forcefully.

"A large ship from the Kingdom of Jing is sinking. How can it be saved? It cannot be saved... Don't try to save a sunken ship."

"Mingjiang Prefecture was once a sinking ship, but wasn't it saved by that young gentleman?"

Upon hearing these words from the Witch God, the Dream God also thought of Zhou Xuan—and even more so of that incredibly stunning sword strike!

That slash,
This made Zhou Xuan, a disciple with only seven incense sticks' worth of cultivation and low level of cultivation, comparable to a celestial being.

"Zhou Xuan... he can't save it either... The fate of the Jing Kingdom is sealed. Anyone who tries to stand in its way is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Zhou Xuan may be powerful, a genius, and the strategist who brought me down from my horse, but..."
But so what? He couldn't save the crumbling, decaying giant tree of Jing Kingdom, a tree riddled with holes and teeming with countless termites. He couldn't save it.

"He can save him."

The Witch God said, "If there is anyone who can turn the tide and save the collapsing building, it can only be Zhou Xuan. Liu Huasheng, today, I will send you on your way."

"Perfect timing. Heaven and Earth have already granted Zhou Xuan your myriad aspects of human life—now, it's time to hand over your 'Dream Horn.'"

"You've entrusted the special abilities of two celestial beings to a mere mortal? Hahaha... Hahaha..."

The Dream God's laughter was tinged with intense jealousy. After laughing, he said viciously, "Witch God, you've been too good to Zhou Xuan... far too good!"
"If you had valued me so much back then, why would I have relied on the Buddhist kingdom, why would I have expected the future promised to me by the Buddha?"

"Liu Huasheng, if you had just debuted and, with your passion, chopped down the three-headed stone Buddha of the Buddhist Kingdom, which of the Four Heavenly Venerables wouldn't have valued you?"

"If you could gather the wandering spirits of Mingjiang Prefecture into a single rope and bring down three deities in a row while three or four sticks of incense are burning, how could the Heavenly Venerable look down on you?" "If you could save Mingjiang Prefecture from this sinking ship, my position as Heavenly Venerable should belong to you! But you've done nothing. How dare you compare yourself to Zhou Xuan?"

The aura of the sorcerer god emanated from the Wine Master's body.
A tall man wearing a black cloak, his head and face hidden in the shadow of the hood, came out.

He carried a witch bell in one hand and drew witch symbols in the air with the other, approaching the Dream God step by step.

"If it weren't for the aura of a celestial being, once destroyed, the passage between the mortal realm and the heavens would widen considerably, and I would cause your body and soul to perish."
Now, I can only let you disperse and take your unique characteristics with you…

The Dream God knew he was no match for the Witch God. Even at his peak, he was no match for him, let alone now, having been severely injured by Zhou Xuan's strike.

His decision to give up resistance was the last vestige of dignity he left for himself.

……

"What kind of human pill are you going to refine this time?"

Inside the stone temple where "mountains and waters meet," Danzi asked Zhou Xuan a question.

Zhou Xuan said, "It's the kind that's refined in the fire pit on East Market Street, made with the souls of the dead."

"Oh, that kind of pill is called the 'Joyful Longevity Pill.' After taking it, one can see many joyous events, which boosts one's spirits. Taking this pill can also prolong life."

Danzi is a "master of human pills," and his mastery of various human pills is naturally extraordinary.

He said, "However, human desires are like this. When people encounter happy events, they feel refreshed and energetic. For ordinary people, when they encounter something joyful, their blood and energy flow more smoothly. If they experience that occasionally, it will naturally prolong their lives."
However, excessive joy can harm the heart, causing emotional stagnation and ultimately shortening lifespan.

"Ordinary people who consume the 'Joyful Longevity Pill' will inevitably experience excessive joy, even 'mad joy.' Although this pill has the effect of prolonging life, because excessive joy shortens life, the two factors accumulate over time and cancel each other out, thus eliminating the effect of prolonging life."

Zhou Xuan found it mysterious.

Since this elixir neither increases nor decreases lifespan after consumption, what's the point of taking it? Is it just for the sake of "happiness"—after all, being happy is the most important thing in life?

Zhou Xuan felt for a moment that this elixir was not suitable for cultivation, but only for dealing with some human ailments of "melancholy" and "dislike".

"The 'Joyful Longevity Pill' is grade eleven, and it's generally considered a pill with limited uses. However, this pill isn't just effective in treating human ailments."

Danzi said, "If some disciples of certain halls need to sacrifice their lifespan to use their supernatural abilities, but those disciples don't have enough lifespan, then they can't use their supernatural abilities."

If these disciples possessed a large quantity of "Longevity Pills," and consumed dozens at once to rapidly accumulate lifespan, then their supernatural abilities would be able to be unleashed.

Are there any shrines that use lifespan to perform supernatural powers?

Zhou Xuan asked Danzi.

"Some evil sects in the human world are like this, and there are probably even more in the heavens."

Danzi said, "So, although this pill is of low grade and has little effect under normal circumstances, it is no different from a life-saving pill in the eyes of those disciples who are consuming their lifespan."

"Therefore, the demand for this kind of elixir in the human hearth is not low."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan said, "Then hurry up and tell me the formula. My alchemy factory is about to officially open for business."

“You’ve never refined pills before, and you don’t know how to use the furnace in the hearth. Even if I explain it to you, you still won’t be able to refine pills.”

Danzi said, "Then call Mr. White Deer over, I'll tell him what I'm saying, and he'll go and refine the pills for you."

"Are you challenging me? You haven't even said... how do you know I can't refine it?"

Zhou Xuan still asked for the recipe.

Danzi, however, refused to agree no matter what, repeatedly saying, "If you burn the furnace while refining, it will be an insult to me. If others find out, they will think that I am ignorant of alchemy, and I can't bear the shame."

"Furthermore, alchemy requires a master to guide you, to teach you by word and deed, and to pass on experience step by step. You cannot do it on your own."

Zhou Xuan sensed Danzi's arrogance and retorted, "You're just a pill yourself, yet you're so concerned about your reputation. But you're quite dedicated, even worried that I won't be able to refine the pill. Fine, I won't argue with you anymore. If you want to see Old White Deer, I'll bring him here."

He turned to leave the stone temple, but then remembered the white cricket and asked, "By the way, Danzi, you know a lot. Let me ask you, I caught a cricket called Autumn Insect in a secret realm of a pill refiner. Is there any story about this Autumn Insect?"

"I only know alchemy; I know nothing else."

Danzi possessed the focus expected of a "craftsman alchemist." He was delighted when discussing elixirs, but lost interest when talking about other things.
Zhou Xuan didn't bother asking any more questions. He went outside the stone temple and brought Mr. White Deer inside.

When Mr. Bailu heard that he was to learn the formula for "Ren Dan" (a type of elixir), he immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, palms facing upwards, repeatedly banging his knees together, and howled...

"All my life I've refined Qi pills, and now you're making me learn this heinous human pill!"
This is outrageous! This is utterly outrageous!

Zhou Xuan immediately advised, "Old Bai, don't be so stubborn. Human pills and Qi pills are both pills; just refine them and you're done."

"I can't practice it. If I do, I'll be letting down my ancestors and all my cultivation. It's disgraceful!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan immediately wanted to teach the White Deer Taoist a lesson for his fussy nature. He raised an eyebrow and said,

"Old White Deer, if you insist on bringing up this etiquette all the time, then we'll have to have a chat about the ins and outs of it."

Back then, which grandson was it who went to the Mahayana Temple and started shouting, thinking he had achieved great spiritual enlightenment, yelling, "I, the Taoist master, have succeeded!" and "I, the Taoist master, live as long as Heaven and Earth!" Is that what you call proper conduct?

"This...this..." Bai Lu Fangshi's voice trembled slightly.

Zhou Xuan then said, "You, a mere alchemist, wish to live as long as heaven and earth? Isn't that utterly treasonous?"

"It's all nonsense, it's all nonsense!"

“Not at all unfounded,” Zhou Xuan said calmly, picking at the hangnail on his finger.
"Today, the alchemist from 'Heaven and Earth' will definitely be bringing me 'The Hundred Aspects of Human Life.' What if I say something extra then?"
If I told that alchemist I had a master alchemist here who wished to live as long as heaven and earth, I wouldn't even dare to imagine what that alchemist would do!

The White Deer Alchemist was filled with fear and trepidation. He repeatedly grasped Zhou Xuan's fingers and said with a fawning smile, "Master, I thought that the Human Elixir and the Qi Elixir were just a contest of social standing, and that was all against the rules?"

"and then?"

"From this day forward, let's put aside all prejudices and outdated rules. Let's start with me, Old White Deer, to eradicate sectarianism and eliminate the dross in the world of elixirs. Let's begin with myself."

"Isn't this the end?"

Zhou Xuan clapped his hands together and said, "You stay here and listen to Danzi's teachings. I'm going to go find Old Yun and chat about Qiuchong'er. After we've finished talking, I'll come back to find you!"
Study diligently and assiduously. When I have mastered the Dao of Alchemy, I will bestow upon you several pills of longevity, so that you may very well live as long as Heaven and Earth.

"Okay... I'll learn... I really hate my mouth, everything I say is a disaster."

The White Deer Taoist regretted his past actions; if only he hadn't spoken so recklessly.

……

After leaving the temple, Zhou Xuan wandered around the shop for a while. Not seeing Li Changxun or Yun Ziliang, he asked Xiao Fuzi, who was about to leave.

"Fuzi, where are your Grandpa Yun and Grandpa Li?"

"Oh, they went to watch other people set up chess pieces on the street," Xiao Fuzi said as she put on her coat.

"Where are you going again?" Zhou Xuan asked again.

"I'll go to Hua Zi's house and wait a bit, see if Hua Zi comes back." Xiao Fu Zi was most concerned about Hua Zi.

Zhou Xuan nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Then go ahead."

"Young master, there's fish stewing in the pot, and the rice cooker is on a low flame. If you're hungry, feel free to have a bowl. I've also cut up a plate of raw chili peppers and put them in the cupboard to keep out insects."

"I understand, I understand." Zhou Xuan was impressed by Xiao Fuzi's thoughtfulness. He went to the kitchen, filled a large bowl with rice, poured fish soup on it, added a few pieces of fish and half a plate of raw chili peppers, and then went out to watch the play.

He knew that what Yun Ziliang and Li Changxun called "setting up chess stalls" was actually a "street chess game stall" where people played chess for money.

"In this lineage of dragon-seeking, gambling is quite prevalent; anyone who wants to win has to get involved."

Zhou Xuan, carrying the bowl, went to the unfinished game stall on the street corner...

(End of this chapter)