This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 416 Within the Lotus Mountain Lies a Vast World

"Glug glug—"

Xiang Yuan stared with dead fish eyes, the cat blowing bubbles in the water, its back covered in scratches that looked particularly ferocious.

The physical defense of the practitioner of the Formless Seal Method depends on the situation. It should be hard when it needs to be hard and soft when it needs to be soft. It should be appropriate to be soft or hard when it needs to be soft. If it is necessary to play the victim today, the defense must be broken.

Previously, he thought that Shang Qingmeng, who had severed her seven emotions and six desires and lost her sense of shame, had the worst table manners. Now it seems that Fairy Shang still has a lot of table manners.

Unlike some palace masters who, at first glance, seem to be fastidious and insist on rinsing ingredients with water before meals, but in reality, they are rude and domineering during meals and do not know how to cherish the ingredients at all.

After lying still for a moment, Xiang Yuan got up, shook off the water, put on the neatly folded clothes, and grinned as he dressed, continuing his act of playing the victim to the very end.

Looking ahead, a beautiful, pure white figure with long hair reaching the waist was seen. To prevent her from bumping her head, a black Taoist robe was taken out and draped over her.

perfect!

Now you won't bump your head.

Xiang Yuan silently gave himself a thumbs up. He was meticulous and thoughtful, and this kind of childish question was no challenge for him at all.

Bang!
Xiang Yuan turned his head, his eyes filled with stars, and stared blankly at Bai Wuyan, not understanding what had happened.

This guy is just a gigolo who clings to a rich guy's coattails. This question seems too difficult for him; he probably doesn't have the talent to be a kept man.

Xiang Yuan was completely baffled by Qi Jie, unable to understand what he had overlooked or what he had done wrong that had caused the rich woman to lock the door and refuse to let him leave.

The wounds were healed, the clothes were put on, and the misery was sold out—it was flawless, clearly a perfect score.

So, where exactly did things go wrong?

After racking his brains for a while, Xiang Yuan was still clueless. It wasn't until a palace robe hit his face that he twitched his eye, stepped forward, retrieved his worthless black Taoist robe, and helped the White Palace Princess change her clothes.

Wearing the Cloud-Weaving Heavenly Robe is simple, requiring only a thought from Bai Wuyan. However, the process of wearing the Cloud-Weaving Heavenly Robe is extremely complicated, requiring one to proceed from the inside out, from the bottom up, step by step.

It was quite tiring. Just piecing his broken conscience back together and then tucking it in with his palace clothes took a lot of effort.

Afterwards, he used the hairpin transformed from the Wujie Sword to style Bai Wuyan's hair into a noble, elegant, and dignified look.

Bai Wuyan remained expressionless throughout, her eyes half-closed. She didn't really care about the "gifts" or anything like that; it wasn't the first or second time. Besides, Xiang Yuan had reshaped her physical body, so there was nothing left to hide.

What she wants is an attitude!

Some of these "furnace vessels" (a euphemism for sexual partners) are completely oblivious to their own limitations. They come when they need something and leave when they don't, even fantasizing about turning around and manipulating her.

They don't know what's good for them. They take advantage of a little kindness and treat her like a tool.

After getting dressed, Xiang Yuan wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead. He heard a cold snort and then tried teleporting.

Become!

"Being a kept man is no easy feat, especially with a rich woman like this who can be so capricious. If you're not careful, she can trample on your dignity and utterly destroy your self-esteem..."

After leaving Wushuang Palace, Xiang Yuan muttered to himself as he headed to Tianzong Dacheng Mountain. Today, Bai Wuyan treated him like a servant; he dared not even think about what she might do tomorrow.

Thinking of the flower's symbolism of wealth and forbearance, I gritted my teeth and stamped my foot, deciding to endure it.

……

Mount Mahayana, Taixu Hall.

Xiang Yuan saw the broken sampan, which had recovered from its injuries but was still a little weak.

Upon seeing Xiang Yuan, Ji Wuzhou's eyes revealed a look of apprehension and wariness. Some disciples never come to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. Although they are called the Young Sect Master, they rarely hang around the Heavenly Sect. This time, they must have come with ill intentions.

Tell me, whose family is in trouble this time?
"Master, something terrible has happened! Dajue Temple is connected to the mastermind behind this!"

With a serious expression, Xiang Yuan explained the recent strange occurrences at Dajue Temple and the rumors he had heard: Dajue Temple was a pawn of the mastermind, who wanted to disrupt the political situation in Western Chu by vying for the position of crown prince, thereby achieving the goal of plunging the world into chaos.

"Disciple, do you want to listen to what you're saying?"

Ji Wuzhou scoffed. To the top powers in the world, the emperor was a dispensable figure, let alone the so-called crown prince. How narrow-minded must Dajue Temple be to make a fuss about the crown prince?

Ji Wuzhou's first reaction was disbelief, suspecting that there was a trap involved.

Xiang Yuan was also helpless. According to Bai Wuyan's divination, Dajue Temple had no connection with the mastermind behind the scenes. Its recent strange behavior was directly related to the extraterrestrial demons. To be honest, the lazy and indifferent person who would rather not move than stay still would definitely be too lazy to turn things around.

It's different if it's the mastermind behind the scenes. Two tigers cannot share one mountain, and the Qianyuan Realm cannot tolerate two masterminds behind the scenes. The broken sampan will have to move even if it doesn't move.

“Master, I know this is somewhat illogical, but the inside information I’ve gathered is absolutely true.”

"How to say?"

"It is true because it is unreasonable."

"..."

“Master, there’s a saying that goes against the grain. It’s precisely because you and I both find it unreasonable that the mastermind is doing this. He anticipated our predictions, so he lowered his guard and is slowly plotting, trying to disrupt the big picture with a small force. His scheming is deep and his methods are insidious. We must not let him succeed!”

Xiang Yuan earnestly advised Ji Wuzhou to nip the conspiracy in the bud and not give it a chance to develop and grow.

"How can such a trivial matter as the Crown Prince stir up a major upheaval?" Ji Wuzhou retorted.

"Master, if you ask this, it means you don't believe your disciple!"

Xiang Yuan's eyes widened immediately, and his voice rose: "Last time, I said that Baiyun Manor and Wangjian Manor were pawns of the mastermind behind the scenes. And look what happened! Not only did you eliminate the hidden dangers, but Tianzong also reaped a great harvest and made a fortune..."

"And then there was the last time, when your disciple traveled a great distance to Mount Dacheng to rescue you, showing no fear of death, sacrificing himself for righteousness, and recklessly venturing into danger to save you from your suffering..."

"Alright, alright, stop reading."

Ji Wuzhou waved his hand repeatedly to interrupt, and sighed, "Dajue Temple, right? We're leaving now, but let me make this clear: Abbot Huixing was a Grandmaster of the Integration Stage in his early years, and his methods may be superior to mine. You'd better be polite when you visit Dajue Temple this time."

"Master, rest assured, we are going to reason with you. Even if a fight breaks out, your disciple will be there to cover for you. No donkey will disturb your duel with Abbot Huixing," Xiang Yuan said righteously.

"Then I'm not going."

"..." x2
(乛乛)(一一;)
How dare you, a coward like you, claim to be the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor!

Being cowardly is the right path to immortality, and it's not shameful. If Xiang Yuan were brave, he would go to Dajue Temple to find out the truth. But that doesn't stop him from despising Ji Wuzhou. As the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor, the word "cowardly" shouldn't exist in the latter's dictionary.

"Alright, disciple, tell your master the truth. I have already visited other experts in the upper three realms. We are just scouting ahead. Someone will naturally step in when the time is right."

"Is this true?"

"Otherwise what? Your disciple is even more afraid of death than you are!"

It is true.

Ji Wuzhou nodded. Since there were still experts, there was nothing to fear. Just in case, he withdrew his hand and hid it behind his back. He carefully calculated and concluded that Xiang Yuan had indeed found help.

It couldn't be determined who it was.

Since it couldn't be calculated, it can be confirmed that he is a cultivator in the upper three realms.

The master and apprentice exchanged a glance and both nodded emphatically.

There's nothing to be afraid of anymore! x2
Xiang Yuan didn't seek any help, but Ji Wuzhou's divination results were correct. The reason was simple: Xiang Yuan hadn't discussed it with the helper he was looking for beforehand; he had simply put the two magical treasures, the Wujie Sword and the Pure White Golden Wheel, in his pocket.

If necessary, summon a rich woman to live off him.

What, charge it yourself?
LOL, he already has a rich wife, why does he need to work hard himself?

Unlike Baiyun Manor, Dajue Temple has experts from the Upper Three Realms in charge, and extraterrestrial demons are lurking in the shadows. Xiang Yuan was unsure if he could successfully summon Bai Wuyan, so he prepared magic weapons in advance and brought Ji Wuzhou from Tianzong as a backup plan.

Logically speaking, if there are extraterrestrial demons, one should seek out the Sword Master of the Firewall Gate of the Qianyuan Realm, who has been eliminating demons for many years and has extensive experience dealing with extraterrestrial demons.

However, because he possessed Bai Wuyan's magical artifact and a battle plan to summon her, Xiang Yuan abandoned the idea. The two powerful women couldn't stand each other; if they had a Palace Master, they shouldn't have sought out the Sword Master. Forcing them to sit together would only result in one plus one equaling zero.

Xiang Yuan could easily imagine the two meeting at Dajue Temple and immediately tearing each other apart with their sarcastic remarks.

They didn't care about any extraterrestrial demons or golden bald monks; they were all outsiders. They only had eyes for each other.

Making things worse than helping isn't even the worst thing!

What's terrifying is the reconciliation. When the White Palace Master hears that the Wushuang Palace's heirloom has been tasted by the Sword Heart Sect, and when the Door Fence Sword Master hears that the Sword Heart Sect's treasure has been taken over by the Wushuang Palace, his good days are over. No matter who it falls into, they will face a life of darkness and endless suffering.

One is enough; you really can't have them all.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Mizhou, Wolian Mountain.

Wolian Mountain, as its name suggests, is surrounded by peaks that resemble layered lotus petals, with the central main peak standing majestically like a lotus platform.

The mountains are shrouded in mist, and the occasional sound of chanting can be heard, as if the Buddha is whispering, cleansing the mind of worldly cares.

This place is rich in spiritual energy and filled with aura. Because of the long-term chanting of scriptures, the mountains, rivers and plants have long been imbued with Buddhist nature. Birds and beasts are not afraid of people. White deer carry flowers by and monkeys offer fruit to monks. It is a peaceful and harmonious scene.

Yes, the monkeys here don't steal things!

Dajue Temple, located in Western Chu, is one of the four major Buddhist temples in Qianyuan Realm, on par with Shaolin Temple of Northern Qi, and Yankong Temple and Baojing Temple of Southern Jin. The temple has produced many eminent monks, some of whom practiced Zen meditation and enlightenment, while others subdued demons and monsters. They are low-key and primarily practice pure monasticism.

Legend has it that Dajue Temple houses a Buddha relic, which, when used to establish a Buddhist array, can safeguard the fortune of the region and protect Dajue Temple for ten thousand years.

The wonders of the Buddhist Kingdom Formation go beyond this. The abbots of all generations have been men of great perseverance and wisdom. Standing within the Buddhist Kingdom Formation, they can observe celestial phenomena, discern people's hearts, and even see through illusions and deduce the past and future.

This is not just a rumor; there is evidence to support it, and Xiang Yuan basically agrees with it.

The old Taoist priest with a heart lacks the ability to predict the future, and Abbot Huixing was able to use this skill to make a bet, defeating the old Taoist priest on his specialty track and even making him spend ten years in Texas. This shows that Abbot Huixing himself is skilled in divination, and the Buddhist Kingdom Array is indeed well-deserved of its reputation.

Among the many top-tier sects, Wolian Mountain is not considered high, yet there are still a thousand stone steps in front of the temple, used to test people's hearts.

Each step is engraved with Buddhist mantras. Ordinary people who are not sincere will find their steps increasingly heavy as they climb, while only the devout can ascend the steps and see the true Buddha.

To show that he was very polite on this trip, and also hoping that Dajue Temple would be polite, Ji Wuzhou insisted on walking up the thousand stone steps. Despite having the cultivation of the upper three realms, he was overly cautious. Xiang Yuan nodded repeatedly, indicating that he had learned something new.

He said that, but he had already learned it long ago. Every time he went to Benxin Path, he would walk obediently.

The two easily climbed the thousand stone steps and came into view ancient pines with gnarled branches, and bell and drum towers standing on the left and right sides of the temple gate. The sounds of morning bells and evening drums echoed through the mountains and fields, calming the minds of all who heard them. They wished to call this place a pure land of Buddhism.

Perched atop the mountain, Dajue Temple sits amidst a sea of ​​clouds, its golden roof reflecting the sun and its glazed tiles gleaming—it's impossible not to notice it.

Xiang Yuan saw it from afar and felt contempt. During the day, the Buddha's light shone brightly, and at night, the world was purified like crystal. The warm yellow light and warm white light alternated day and night and never went out. He was not afraid of light pollution disturbing the neighbors at the foot of the mountain and keeping them from sleeping.

These gold nuggets really know how to fool people; they understand faith!

No matter how much Xiang Yuan despises it, Dajue Temple has established a strong corporate image that is deeply ingrained in people's minds.

The hustle and bustle of the world cannot touch this mountain; it remains detached from worldly affairs, like a lotus untouched by dust, lying quietly between heaven and earth.

Within the Lotus Mountain lies a vast universe!
As the two arrived at the mountain gate, a handsome monk in white robes slowly walked out from the front, put his hands together and said, "This humble monk is Lingxiu, and greets the Sect Master and Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sect."

“Master Lingxiu, you’re too kind. I’m on friendly terms with your father, we’re practically family. You should call me Uncle, there’s no need for such formalities,” Xiang Yuan said warmly, a kind and caring smile on his face.

Lingxiu's face twitched. He was a monk, how could he have an uncle? He smoothly changed the subject: "Distinguished guests have arrived. The abbot ordered me to wait here. Please follow me this way."

When Xiang Yuan heard that Abbot Huixing had predicted the arrival of an unwelcome guest, he was not surprised. It was normal for a fortune teller who could rival a simpleton to predict such a thing; it would be strange if he didn't.

Lingxiu led the way, and the two entered the gate of Dajue Temple. A moment later, they saw the majestic and solemn Mahavira Hall.

The hall enshrines the golden statues of the Three Buddhas, whose compassionate and majestic appearances are radiant. Amidst the swirling incense smoke, one can faintly see the Buddha's light shining down. Those with wisdom may have the opportunity to glimpse a corner of the Pure Land of Buddha.

Because the Buddha guides all beings, although Dajue Temple is a place of purity, it must still follow the Buddha's teachings and is not completely isolated from the world. High-ranking monks often travel around to accept orders and preside over religious ceremonies, and monks also visit the temple, either to resolve their inner demons or to seek the Dharma and enlightenment of the supreme Buddhist teachings.

The most lucrative way is, of course, through incense offerings.

For this reason, Dajue Temple has an inner and outer section, and two different ways of practicing Buddhism.

Xiang Yuan and Ji Wuzhou followed Lingxiu around the Great Buddha Hall and headed straight for the back mountain. Upon arriving there, Lingxiu gradually slowed down and enthusiastically introduced the power of the Buddhist Kingdom's grand formation.

"People only know that the Buddhist Kingdom's great formation protects Dajue Temple for ten thousand years without worry, and that there are other methods to deduce the past and future. Little do they know that the Buddha also has the ability to subdue demons..."

"Behind the temple lies a lotus pond, its water crystal clear, untouched by worldly creatures, where only the nine grades of lotus bloom. This lotus is a sacred object of the Buddhist realm; its blooming reveals one's true nature, and one's true nature is Buddha, which can help us to attain sudden enlightenment of the Dharma..."

"Throughout history, eminent monks have all passed away in this pond, their bodies remaining incorrupt and transforming into golden Arhats, eternally guarding the temple. If one were to coordinate with the great Buddhist formation..."

"Blah blah blah, wai bi wai bi..."

Lingxiu walked very slowly and talked a lot.

At first, Xiang Yuan thought he was warning the Tianzong Sect Master and Young Sect Master to behave properly, that Dajue Temple was not Baiyun Manor or Wangjian Manor, and that the two of them couldn't handle this place.

The more I listened, the stranger it seemed.

A mere warning, a few words would suffice; there's no need to expose the true nature of the Buddhist Kingdom's grand formation.

Lingxiu's actions are more like revealing his own background. If he's not a talkative villain, then he's a traitor.

Xiang Yuan frowned as he looked at Ling Xiu, who was all smiles, and nodded emphatically. She was a talkative, traitorous villain!

"Master, what do you think?"

"I've been watching it the whole time!"

Hearing Xiang Yuan's doubtful voice transmission, Ji Wuzhou shrugged and casually replied, "That little monk has no good intentions. He's from Qi, and he's also the prince of Emperor Liu Che of Northern Qi. If we bring down the abbot, he'll be the new abbot of Dajue Temple."

How dare you say that! I'm a member of the Liu clan!
Xiang Yuan rolled his eyes, no longer discussing with the dilapidated sampan, and looked directly at Lingxiu: "Nephew... hey, I'm talking to you, don't pretend you didn't hear me! Since Abbot Huixing was able to foresee that Xiang Yuan and my sect master were coming, he should know that Xiang Yuan's sect master is here to cause trouble. You've said so much, you're suspected of treason!"

"Amitabha."

Lingxiu smiled slightly and continued to speak in riddles: "Young Sect Master, you are overthinking it. Both this humble monk and the abbot have been waiting for you two for a long time, and we are treating you with sincerity."

"How can we treat each other with sincerity?"

"You two will know once you see the abbot."

Lingxiu nodded and clasped his hands, still feeling he hadn't sold enough, and continued, "This humble monk will now tell you both about the 'Three Thousand Scrolls of the Future' passed down by Dajue Temple. This Buddhist teaching is extraordinary. It uses 'the power of knowing past lives,' one of the six supernatural powers of Buddhism, as a guide to imprint all sorts of future possibilities onto the void, and then it is passed down from generation to generation by eminent monks through heart-to-heart transmission..."

"Ordinary divination techniques can only follow the will of Heaven, but the 'Three Thousand Scrolls of the Future' can find a glimpse of change. Those who study this scripture can briefly glimpse fragments of the future. Although they cannot know everything about fate, they can grasp a sliver of opportunity..."

“Thousands of years ago, an abbot used this scripture to foresee the coming demonic calamity. He made arrangements in advance, sacrificing his entire life’s cultivation to turn the death calamity into life, thus saving the Qianyuan Realm from a catastrophe.”

"I'd rather offend the ten kings of hell than get involved in the three thousand future kings."

Lingxiu not only sold off the Buddhist Kingdom Grand Array completely, but also sold off the Great Awakening Temple's treasured "Future Three Thousand Scrolls" in its entirety, making sure that Xiang Yuan and Ji Wuzhou saw it clearly.

Both he and Abbot Huixing practiced this Buddhist teaching.

In other words, Lingxiu wasn't satisfied with selling Dajue Temple; she also sold herself and her abbot, fearing that when the table was overturned today, Xiang Yuan and Ji Wuzhou would kill Abbot Huixing.

Outrageous!

Xiang Yuan listened with wide eyes. Palu practiced the six-syllable mantra and had made great achievements in Buddhism. Lingxiu explained it in detail. After listening to it, he had a picture in his mind of how to deal with each move. Before he even flipped the table, he already had a complete solution.

So why didn't Abbot Huixing kill this wicked creature?

Xiang Yuan was full of doubts and couldn't understand the operation of Dajue Temple. Under the guidance of Dang Lingxiu, he met Abbot Huixing sitting cross-legged under the Bodhi tree at the Qingshui Lotus Pond in the back mountain.

(End of this chapter)