Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 289-298 Gratitude and Repayment, Fivefold Nirvana

November is already early winter, and the nights are frosty and dewy.

Apart from the vigorous Louguan Dao disciples, the ordinary people had long since fallen into a deep sleep.

Dark clouds streaked across the inky black night sky, barely noticeable amidst the gloom.

"If I hadn't been recognized as a master by the spiritual treasure, how could I have dared to boast that I could help you comprehend the 'Dongxuan Scripture'?"

Huayin is located in the north, and it had already experienced several light snowfalls. Needless to say, the ground was cold, and the winds were even more biting high in the sky.

Li Cunxiao, however, seemed oblivious, and simply chuckled as he teased Taiyi Zhenren beside him:

"However, I originally thought Master would be able to hold back during the day, but..."

"You bastard!" the old Taoist priest couldn't help but roll his eyes.

When he first heard the news during the day, the shock he felt was like a tidal wave, indescribable.

A single spiritual treasure represents a sacred land that has existed for a thousand years. In other words, the spiritual treasures currently possessed by the major Buddhist and Taoist sects are all from the past, at least six or seven hundred years ago.

But right now, a person who is destined to be remembered for a thousand years is right in front of him—and he was personally taught by him. How can he remain indifferent?

However, after his initial excitement, Master Taiyi regained his composure and did not lose his sense of proportion.

"Lingbao recognizing you as its master is an extraordinary stroke of luck."

"But it wasn't just the old Taoist who contributed; Qici the bald thief was also your master and contributed in the process as well."

"I do want to see it for myself, but I can't be selfish and let Baldy laugh at me."

"Yes, Master has his own unique style. I am foolish and have misunderstood you."

Li Cunxiao couldn't help but chuckle, and didn't forget to flatter the old man.

"Master Qici doesn't live in Huayin County?"

"No. He said he was afraid that the Ming Cult would come for revenge and harm innocent people, so after he came back last time, he hid in an ancient temple deep in the mountains."

As Taiyi spoke, he couldn't help but glance at his disciple out of the corner of his eye.

The Ming Cult's sneak attack was scheduled for the Double Ninth Festival, but it's already November.

For two months, Qici had not visited Louguandao.

Li Cunxiao lived on Qinglong Peak. If a grandmaster came, Taiyi would have the Bone-Illuminating Mirror, so he wouldn't be completely unaware of the slightest movement.

Where did this martial art, which is suspected to be the ability to move with divine speed and the ability to see with divine eyes, come from?

Could it be that, like when I obtained the magical treasure last time, it was created by my good disciple himself?

But this isn’t right either.

"The Dongxuan Scripture is clearly a Taoist secret text, so how come all the insights I've gained are Buddhist martial arts?"

"Could it be that the story of Laozi converting barbarians to Buddhism is true?"

Listening to the old Taoist priest's muttered murmurs of existential doubt, Li Cunxiao couldn't help but smile, so he could only pretend to look at the scenery and turn his head away.

Things were actually simpler than Taiyi Zhenren had imagined.

Li Cunxiao, taking advantage of the fact that Wen Zhongzi and Yang Ying were both severely injured, deduced the "Western Guardian Dragon Wide-Eyed Heavenly King Sutra" and a corresponding set of martial arts, "Five Wheels Nirvana".

His movement techniques and killing methods were all derived from the "Five Wheels of Nirvana".

The so-called five elements are earth, water, fire, wind, and space.

Fire is the killing technique, the "Brahma Wheel of Life and Death".

The Void One's Body Technique is "Great Dragon Divine Footwork".

That pupil technique was a divine ability naturally arising from the spiritual form of the Heavenly King of Wide Vision.

He will explain these things when he sees Qici later.

However, the third spiritual image, or rather, the Confucian spiritual image that has not yet taken shape, is a bit difficult to explain.

Li Cunxiao, thinking of this, was distracted and looked inward.

Now, with the blessing of the primordial spirit, all the tendons, veins, flesh, and bones in my body can be seen clearly.

The vajra in his dantian was a dark gray, but it was not like that a few days ago.

When Wen Zhongzi and Yang Ying perished together, a large amount of malevolent energy and demonic thoughts erupted, and the massive replenishment caused the Vajra Pestle's energy to overflow wildly.

Li Cunxiao did not hesitate to use it in the "Ancient Texts of the Supreme God of Heaven".

The Confucian master entered Niwan Palace and opened up three divine palaces of forty-nine.

At that time, Li Cunxiao happened to have the "Middle Way" in hand, and naturally wanted to deduce a method of the unity of the three teachings that was completely suitable for his own cultivation.

结果
"We've arrived," Taiyi's voice interrupted his thoughts.

The two landed lightly, and there stood a small mountain in front of them.

Perhaps because it is far from human habitation, there are still many trees on the mountain, but most of the leaves have fallen. Under the moonlight, they appear shadowy and indistinct, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The mountain was overgrown with shrubs, and there was no real path from the foot of the mountain to the middle. The master and his apprentice simply chose a direction and then proceeded in a straight line.

"So eerie," Li Cunxiao sighed as he followed Taiyi, recalling his experience of entering the imperial city half a month ago.

No matter how strong a martial artist is, they are still human after all.

Of all the grandmasters Li Cunxiao has met so far, none are truly detached from worldly affairs. On the contrary, the stronger they are, the deeper their obsessions become.

Qici's obsession is perhaps the most unique among these masters.

His lifestyle was nothing like that of a world-renowned master; he was more like a wild monk.

If it were Master Taiyi, how could he possibly come to live in this desolate mountain wilderness where even drinking tea is difficult?

Even Li Cunxiao himself couldn't do it.

As his strength grew, what he desired was far beyond what that waiter in the restaurant in Chuqiu County could even imagine.

The Lord of Lingbao, a twenty-year-old Xuan Guan martial artist, a direct disciple of a Grandmaster of Alchemy, and a guest of honor sought after by regional military governors.
He can do more than before.

They can shoulder heavier responsibilities and also seize more power.

An idea, without anyone noticing, quietly surfaced in Li Cunxiao's mind:

The sixteen paths of the world, if they were to fall on a person's shoulders, how heavy would they be?
The reverie was fleeting; neither the master nor his apprentice were ordinary people, and they quickly found their destination.

Amber light quietly enveloped his pupils, reflecting the dim lamplight in the dilapidated temple.

Despite the dim light, he could see everything clearly. On either side of the low table were two shiny bald heads.

Two?

Li Cunxiao's heart tightened. The large bald head was obscured by the angle, but judging from the large, exposed belly, he knew it belonged to Qici.

The bald man on the other side was much thinner, and below his neck, he was dressed in a neat monk's robe and kasaya.

The purple kasaya, with its faintly flowing gold threads, was no ordinary item; it seemed to be of a level comparable to that of the Taiyi Zhenren, who was bestowed with an official title by the imperial court.

"Master, this."

Taiyi reached out and pressed down lightly, indicating that he should calm down.

Just then, the people inside the house clearly realized that someone had arrived, and an inexplicable aura suddenly burst forth from the dilapidated little temple.

For a moment, Li Cunxiao was in a daze. From his perspective, the dilapidated little temple radiated endless light, magnificent and grand, like the Leiyin Temple where Arhats gathered.

At the center, two majestic statues of the Ming King stand like mountains.

The figure is entirely dark blue-black, in a wrathful form, with six faces, six arms, and six legs. It sits on a stern seat, with flames on its back and holding a halberd, bow, rope, sword, arrow, and club.

This is the form of the Great Powerful King that Qici cultivated.

The other figure is dressed in a light white silk robe and has four arms on its back.
On the right, the first hand holds an open lotus flower, and the second hand holds a fruit of perfect affinity. On the left, the first hand holds a fruit of good fortune, and the second hand holds three or five peacock tails.
Adorned with a crown, necklace, earrings, and armlets, riding a golden peacock king, he not only lacks the ferocity often associated with deities, but also exudes a unique warmth and tranquility.

"what?"

A whisper rang out, and the terrifying aura vanished instantly, replaced by the high monk's complaint:
"Zhiheng, you bald monk, you scared my disciple."

Li Cunxiao came to his senses and followed Taiyi a few steps forward. He then saw a monk with a full face rushing out of the door.

He looked like a middle-aged man, with a kind face, fair skin, and no beard, just like a typical temple steward.

However, the purple-gold kasaya he wore subtly revealed his extraordinary status. "So you are Master Zhiheng of Yuhua Temple. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

"Your region of Shanxi is quite far from the capital. May I ask what brings you here?"

Despite the impolite Taiyi, the middle-aged monk named Zhiheng remained calm and kind.

“Brother Taiyi, I apologize. I know this place is not far from Huayin, and it is a treasure land of your sect.”

“This humble monk has come with no ill intentions, but only to discuss Zen with Brother Qici.”

"Have you finished studying?"

Master Taiyi showed no politeness whatsoever.

He was waiting for the other people to leave so he could study the "Dongxuan Scripture" more thoroughly.

"I've finished studying."

Zhiheng was clearly perceptive; without saying another word, he clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and got up to leave.

As he walked past Li Cunxiao, he glanced at him again, and his hand, hidden in his sleeve, twitched slightly.

"Is this young friend a disciple of Senior Brother Qici? I have a small gift for you."

"I appreciate your kind offer, please return."

The senior monk darted between the two, his expression wary. Zhiheng had no choice but to leave this time, and soon disappeared into the shadowy bushes.

"Zhiheng is a grandmaster after all, so his gifts must be of high quality, and they're for our disciples."

"If something is offered to you, don't refuse it."

After the people left, the old Taoist priest plopped down on a stone bench in front of the small temple.

"Every cause has its effect, every drink has its bite. Yuhua Temple follows Li Yisheng's lead blindly; do you think their things are so easy to take?"

The senior monk glared back without any politeness, then sat down opposite Taiyi.

Upon seeing his two masters arguing as soon as they met, Li Cunxiao quickly changed the subject:

"Master, the Yuhua Temple you mentioned, is it the Yuhua Temple on Wufeng Mountain, one of the ancestral temples of Esoteric Buddhism?"

The Esoteric School of Buddhism has three ancestral temples, founded by three great masters: Subhakarasimha, Vajrabodhi, and Amoghavajra.

However, due to various reasons, only the Qinglong Temple in Xijing and the Yuhua Temple on Wufeng Mountain in Xinzhou, Hedong Province, still retain their lineage today.

Qinglong Temple houses the Vairocana Conch Shell, and Yuhua Temple houses the Buddha Relic Pagoda; both are sacred sites with long histories.

The current abbot of Qinglong Temple, Zhenjing, is known as "Mahavairocana Buddha". He is a master of the highest level, a terrestrial immortal, and a grandmaster who has been famous for two hundred years.

The current abbot of Yuhua Temple, Zhigang, is different. He and his junior brother Zhiheng are both only grandmasters. Since Li Yisheng rose to power, they have gradually sided with the Prince of Jin's faction. Now, even the sect's treasure has recognized him as its master.

"But we shouldn't underestimate Yuhua Temple because of this. Zhigang and Zhiheng, these two brothers, are no ordinary people."

Qici and his disciple hadn't seen each other for a month or two, and once they started talking, they couldn't stop.

Li Cunxiao's cultivation is growing day by day, and he is already among the top martial artists at the seventh realm. It is time for him to learn more about the world's masters.

"The lineage of Yuhua Temple is the lineage of the Eastern Immovable Tathagata among the Five Tathagatas."

"However, in the past hundred years or so, war has broken out everywhere, and people's hearts have changed accordingly."

"The number of people who attain the Buddha's form is decreasing, while the number of people who attain the form of a Vidyaraja is increasing."

“Zhigang’s Dharma form is the wrathful form of Akshobhya Buddha, the King of Subduing the Three Worlds.”

"Subduing the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance, and the three realms, is called subduing the three worlds."

"The King of the Three Worlds, whose secret name is the Supreme Vajra, is the king of all the Kings of Wisdom."

"In terms of strength, he is slightly superior to my master, Yamantaka."

"His junior brother, Zhiheng, practices the Peacock King Dharma Image."

"This Wisdom King is quite special; he is an incarnation of Vairocana Buddha and is of the same rank as Acala Wisdom King."

"Its specialty is saving people from epidemics and eliminating evil. It may be less effective in fighting, but it is excellent at governing a region."

Li Cunxiao seemed to be deep in thought.

"So, this eminent monk from Yuhua Temple came to see you, Master, to act as an intermediary for the Prince of Jin?"

"Yes," Qi Ci sighed.

"Zhu Quanzhong colluded with the Ming Cult to steal the treasures of my Pure Land, and has already gained considerable influence."

“I am, after all, a successor of Maitreya Pure Land. Li Yisheng and Zhu Quanzhong are sworn enemies, so of course they will try to win me over.”

"Never mind that, let's not talk about it. What brings you all here?"

Upon hearing this, Taiyi revealed a strange laugh and pushed Li Cunxiao in front of Qici.

"look by youself."

"Ok?"

The senior monk looked puzzled, scrutinizing him from all angles, and finally stared at his disciple in disbelief.

"Nothing has changed?"

Li Cunxiao was also somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

"Can Lingbao even fool a Grandmaster?"

Qi Ci was also surprised. Combining this with Taiyi's actions just now, he realized what was going on:
"The dragon boat has recognized its master?! Cunxiao, what realm are you at now?"

Seeing the agitated monk, Li Cunxiao waved his hand, feigning composure.

"Entrance hall, three stories high."

"Sigh~"

The master inhaled, and the surrounding bushes rustled and swayed in the strong wind.

"Great! Great!"

Qi Ci seemed to be drunk, his face flushed, and he slapped his belly hard with his hands, stirring up a wave.

"As expected of a spiritual treasure, even I couldn't tell the difference!"

"In this way, even if something happens in the future, at least you won't have any problem saving your life."

“However, you should not let your guard down because of this,” the abbot quickly regained his composure and began to remind his disciple.

“A spiritual treasure can conceal your aura, provided you can remain calm. Now that you have broken through the Xuan Gate, if we were to fight, the power of heaven and earth would fluctuate, and you would definitely be exposed.”

"Compared to a Grandmaster, your primordial spirit is still too weak."

"This disciple is grateful for your instruction," Li Cunxiao bowed respectfully, then smiled and invited:

"My two masters, how about joining me for a ride on the dragon boat?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Ci couldn't help but speak up:
"Foolish disciple, this is a magical treasure, sought after by countless heroes."

"For a disciple," Li Cunxiao interrupted his master, a rare occurrence for him.

"This is just a magical treasure."

Qici and Taiyi were taken aback, then couldn't help but exchange a glance, a silent sense of relief welling up in their hearts at the same time.

They've been wandering the world for nearly a century; what kind of filth in this world haven't they seen?
Let alone Lingbao, even for the sake of worldly possessions, countless dramas of brothers turning against each other and fathers and sons becoming enemies have been staged.

But Li Cunxiao.
“Very well, there is no reason to refuse a disciple’s filial piety.”

Two broad, calloused hands landed on Li Cunxiao's shoulders at the same time. The next moment, the space fluctuated, and the scene before him transformed from a desolate mountain at night into a palace bathed in the bright sunlight.

Before the two could even reminisce upon returning to the same place, Li Cunxiao waved his hand, and the great sun in the sky fell directly down, transforming into a giant red dragon.

A hazy page of a book, gleaming within its pages, instantly caught the attention of the two masters:

"This is the supreme Daoist scripture, one of the Three Caverns True Scriptures."

"The Dongxuan Scripture?"

(End of this chapter)