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"Amitabha."

When the tall monk in blue saw Tan Wenjie, he put his hands together and bowed his head to greet him.

Upon seeing this, Tan Wenjie subconsciously asked, "May I ask where you come from, Master, and where you are going?"

"This humble monk is a native of this country and has not traveled far. I am currently wandering around, with nowhere to settle down. I saw a small mountain in the distance and guessed that there must be a temple on it. Since I was looking for a place to stay, I came here." The tall monk spoke with a certain composure, which was quite different from the more impatient red-robed young monk.

As he spoke, the tall monk glanced at Tan Wenjie twice more.

Tan Wenjie immediately said, "I am only staying at this temple, not the owner of the temple."

As they were talking, the little monk in red arrived. The two monks met and chanted Amitabha Buddha to each other.

Tan Wenjie, who was standing to the side, felt that they were not close.

The little monk in red still claimed that he didn't mind others living there, but told the tall monk in blue that there wasn't enough water for him to drink.

The tall monk in blue was quite agreeable. After putting down his bundle, he picked up his water buckets and shoulder pole and headed down the mountain.

The mountain path was steep, and it took the tall monk half a day to carry back the two buckets of water. He was already sweating profusely and his legs were weak.

During this time, the little monk in red was not idle either. He chanted sutras while striking the wooden fish, and his morning prayers were very thorough. After all, he saved himself the most time-consuming task of fetching water, and he was quite content.

"Finally, there's water to drink." The little monk in red rolled up his sleeves, scooped up a ladle of water with a water ladle, and put it in his mouth.

The tall, blue-robed monk standing to the side frowned, but said nothing.

Tan Wenjie had intended to leave, but while chatting with the tall monk in blue, he discovered that the other man was older and more experienced, and actually knew many strange tales of the mortal world.

Although it sounds like a dramatic coincidence, it's not bad as a story.

Having gained access to information from the outside world, Tan Wenjie decided to stay for another day or two. Moreover, he had a vague feeling that this scene and these two monks seemed all too familiar.

The two monks drinking water eventually became the breaking point.

After the two buckets of water carried by the tall monk in blue were finished, he was unwilling to carry any more water.

Not only is the road up and down the mountain steep and tiring, but carrying two buckets of water takes up a lot of time every day. After he brings the water up, the little monk in red can sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor without doing anything and drink the water to quench his thirst.

So the tall monk in blue said, "The two of us should go and carry water together."

The little monk in red did not raise any objections.

However, everyone values ​​fairness and justice. In the past, a carrying pole could hold a bucket at each end. Even if two people needed water, they would still have enough. Now, to ensure no one is taken advantage of, only one carrying pole can be used, with one bucket placed in the middle.

The two busied themselves carrying water, even having to decide who went first and who went last.

After dawdling and carrying the bucket of water back, the two were exhausted, covered in sweat, and their throats were parched. They gulped down most of the water in the bucket, and there was clearly not enough left for them to drink or use again.

If someone were willing to compromise at this point, it would be fine, but the two of them were gritting their teeth, neither willing to let the other take advantage of them.

Tan Wenjie stated that he did not need to eat during his fasting period, and that he neither participated in nor had to lift a finger when it came to drinking water or eating. The two monks, focused on fairness, had no interest in him.

Another day.

Two monks had just returned with water when they spotted a short, stout monk in yellow robes panting as he climbed the mountain.

Tan Wenjie finally realized what he had encountered.

Three monks.

One monk has water to drink, two monks carry water together, three monks have no water to drink.

The arrival of the third fat monk indeed plunged the temple into a water shortage, as he drank all the water that the first two monks had carried. After that, no one wanted to fetch water anymore.

Tan Wenjie, who was supposed to leave already, stayed an extra day.

That night, the young red-robed monk who loved chanting sutras and striking the wooden fish went to bed early, while the usually composed, tall blue-robed monk ignored everyone. The fat monk, though without water, muttered a few words and then rolled over onto his bed.

Only Tan Wenjie remained, sitting in front of the Bodhisattva statue in the small, dilapidated temple.

"Does the Bodhisattva recognize me?"

After all, he was in a foreign land, and in the enemy's stronghold. If he could contact his former comrades, he would have a better chance of winning if the fighting really started.

However, Tan Wenjie's attempts to get close to Tan Wenjie received no response.

The Bodhisattva still looks like a clay statue.

There are legends of immortals descending to earth, mountain gods, and great monsters that have existed for thousands or tens of thousands of years. The whereabouts of the immortals have never disappeared, so for the time being he can only define himself as someone who entered the abyss as an enemy of the Bodhisattva, and therefore he cannot get any response from the other party.

Being too proactive in contacting them might provoke hostility and lead to them being treated as demons or evil spirits and suppressed.

Here, Tan Wenjie could find no reason to stay any longer.

He stood up and walked out. After all, the story of the three monks was nothing special. Next, the little mouse knocked over the candlestick, burned down the small temple, and then the three monks worked together to create a better life.

Tan Wenjie pushed open the front door of the temple and returned to his room. A ray of moonlight shone through the crack in the door onto the Bodhisattva statue. The Bodhisattva, with his eyes lowered and his hand holding a flower, seemed unaware that a mouse had quietly climbed onto his shoulder.

The candlesticks were overturned, and the curtains were set on fire.

"Fire!"

With a loud shout of "Ang!", everyone in the temple was awakened.

The three monks, seeing the temple about to be burned down, rushed to the bucket in a panic, only to find it already empty.

You look at me, I look at you, and suddenly it dawns on us: because of the three of us' own petty thoughts, the Bodhisattva in the temple suffered as a result. They struggled to extinguish the flames and ultimately decided to work together to rebuild the temple.

"By the way, where is that Taoist priest?"

"He seemed to have said he would leave tonight."

"Amitabha! We should go fetch water."

Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, Tan Wenjie, still dressed in a blue Taoist robe and carrying a whisk, turned to look at the small mountain where the flames had been extinguished.

He had indeed felt a divine manifestation just now. He was excited and wanted to go forward to make some connections, but then he saw a beam of heavenly fire flash out of thin air and strike a certain spot.

Pushing aside the grass ahead, Tan Wenjie quickly moved forward and arrived at the spot where the fire had landed.

There was only a pool of charred, bloody substance on the ground, which, judging from its shape, should have been the rat.

"He's quite the vengeful deity."

Tan Wenjie suppressed his urge to approach and build a relationship with her.

After his cultivation improved, he could always discern hostility that might affect him. At this point, not going up to greet those immortals might be the right choice.

After leaving the place where the three monks lived, Tan Wenjie took out a bottle of Fuling potion and poured it into his mouth, trying every possible way to temporarily improve his luck. The road ahead was long, and searching without a goal was like a headless fly. Moreover, he did not want to attract too much attention from the gods, so improving his luck was a good method.

When his luck accumulated to 10 points, even when he encountered a fork in the road, his mind would instantly choose the most suitable direction for him. He would just keep walking forward, going around in circles, as if good fortune was waiting ahead. At dawn, Tan Wenjie finally saw a woodcutter with an iron axe at his waist.

"It seems this person is my lucky charm."

Tan Wenjie took the initiative to greet him.

When the woodcutter saw a handsome Taoist priest approaching, he stopped and respectfully asked, "Master, is there anything I can teach you?"

"This humble Taoist comes from the mountains of the north and has been traveling around. I would like to ask you, layman, if there are any towns or cities nearby?"

"Go forward for about twenty miles and you'll find a town called Da'er Town. If you wish to stay there, you can go there."

Thank you.

Tan Wenjie bowed and thanked him, then turned to leave, but heard the woodcutter suddenly say:

“My house happens to be in that direction as well. If you don’t mind, you can come to my house for a drink of water and a rest.”

"That would be perfect. I haven't eaten anything while I've been gone, and I'm quite hungry."

The two chatted as they walked, and when they passed a small riverbank, the woodcutter tightened his belt.

The woodcutter explained, “The water here flows swiftly, and the bridge is very narrow. If I accidentally drop my axe, I won’t be able to chop wood, and my family won’t have anything to eat.”

Tan Wenjie stared at the river for a while, then nodded slightly without saying anything more.

He could clearly sense that there was a river god in the river, who should be a legitimate deity appointed by the Heavenly Court and enjoying incense offerings.

But thinking that he should try to avoid too much contact with the gods, he pretended not to have noticed anything and continued to follow the woodcutter.

As for whether the other party could discover him as a "seed of the abyss," he was quite confident that he would not be discovered.

The woodcutter carried the firewood he had chopped on his back, and Tan Wenjie walked slowly beside him. After walking for a while, they came to a thatched hut.

There is also a small chicken coop with several chickens inside.

Animal pelts were hanging under the eaves, suggesting that the woodcutter not only chopped wood but also occasionally hunted small animals.

Although life was hard, the woodcutter was strong and healthy, so he probably didn't go hungry.

"This is my home, please come in, Taoist priest," the woodcutter said. "I also have an elderly mother at home who is blind."

Tan Wenjie went inside and sat down. He looked around at the bare thatched hut, his gaze finally settling on the blind old woman.

She sat on the bed and looked up when she heard someone enter the room.

"Mother, I met this Taoist priest on the road," the woodcutter introduced.

The blind old woman quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Taoist Master."

Tan Wenjie, however, asked bluntly, "What kind of food is available?"

Hearing his sudden question, the woodcutter paused for a moment, but still nodded.

He opened the cupboard and took out two cakes.

“I usually eat too much chicken, fish, meat and eggs, so I can’t stomach this kind of coarse food,” Tan Wenjie said with a look of disgust. “I see there are a few chickens being raised outside, why don’t you kill one and make me some soup?”

The woodcutter's eyes suddenly widened.

The blind old woman nodded and said, "Go and kill that chicken for the Taoist priest to eat."

“Mother, that chicken is…” The woodcutter shook his head.

The blind old woman said, "The hen hasn't laid eggs for a long time. Why not slaughter it and feed it to the Taoist priest? Go quickly!"

Tan Wenjie nodded in agreement: "Yes, look, even your mother said so. Go kill a chicken and make me some soup."

Although somewhat reluctant, the woodcutter got up and walked towards the chicken coop. Soon after, a pitiful "cock-a-doodle-doo" sound came from outside the door.

Tan Wenjie, who remained in the thatched hut, chatted with the blind old woman. During their conversation, he learned that she was a devout believer who often prayed to the gods, hoping that her blindness would be cured so that she would no longer be a burden on her son. She also hoped that her son would have a better life and be able to get married and carry on the family line.

Tan Wenjie looked at the bare thatched hut once again.

Even if a child were to be born, all that would be inherited is this shack that's so dilapidated it'll collapse in the slightest breeze.

Before long, a delicious aroma wafted from outside.

"The chicken soup is here." The woodcutter brought in a stewed chicken, and as soon as he lifted the lid, steam rose and the aroma filled the air.

Tan Wenjie rubbed his hands together, tore off a chicken leg for himself, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Although the seasoning was just a sprinkle of coarse salt, the taste was very fragrant and delicious. Moreover, he showed no intention of sharing it with the mother and son, making the woodcutter's mouth water.

The chicken was eaten clean, not even the head was left, and a small pile of chicken bones soon accumulated on the small table.

Finally, Tan Wenjie picked up the small pot and gulped down the chicken soup.

After eating and drinking his fill, he gently patted his stomach.

“I ate your stewed chicken today, so it wasn’t for nothing.” He flipped his hand, and an egg appeared in his hand.

These are eggs laid by the Power Generator Chickens. However, after following Tan Wenjie in cultivation for so long and receiving the blessing of the Thunder Department's thunder magic, these eggs can directly develop into Power Generator Chickens upon hatching, making them extraordinary spirit beasts and divine beasts by nature.

Moreover, from the time it was conceived as an egg until it hatched, Tan Wenjie nurtured it with Thor's Hammer and his own lightning magic, so there was no need to worry about its loyalty.

These chickens were his magical implements from beginning to end.

They left it behind to protect the woodcutter and his son, and because the rooster's genes are stable, even if it flies back to them later, its offspring will lay a lot of eggs, enough to meet their daily needs.

Who knows, in a few years there might be a chicken farming tycoon.

Upon seeing an extraordinary-looking egg appear out of thin air, the blind old woman immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings, Immortal."

"Immortals are a whole level below me, Daoist."

He casually tossed the eggs to the woodcutter and said, "You just need to put the eggs in the henhouse."

"Yes!" This time, the woodcutter's attitude became much more devout and serious.

He was indeed stunned by the magic of turning eggs into eggs with bare hands; it was far more mysterious than the tricks of street performers.

Tan Wenjie got up to say goodbye and left, heading towards the town with the earnest farewell of the woodcutter and his mother.

"My good luck should end here."

He couldn't explain what would happen to him after accumulating so much good fortune, he just felt he should do it this way. (End of Chapter)