Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 330-339 Zhi Gang arrives, Grandmaster shows goodwill

The three officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water, though called immortals and gods, are in reality the Three Primal Elements.

Human beings possess essence, energy, and spirit.

The essence, heavy and turbid, becomes the earth; the spirit, light and clear, becomes the sky; and the qi fills the space between the two, flowing turbulently and swirling gently.

The three elements of a person combine to form the primordial embryo, and the three elements of heaven and earth combine to form the Daoist temple and the grotto heaven, which are called the "Three Altars World".

As the text of the cultivation method flowed through his mind, Li Cunxiao suddenly understood, feeling that the road ahead was bright and he was no longer confused.

The cultivation of the seventh realm is guided by the construction of the inner landscape.

The eighth realm, the Primordial Embryo, is the fusion of the three elements. After the embryo is transformed and its form refined, the inner landscape must be transformed into a divine palace.

The so-called Divine Palace is a place where spiritual energy and demonic energy are used to condense the gods and demons of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, much like how a king or nobleman in the human world establishes a palace, recruits officials, and makes each perform their duties so that the palace can function smoothly.

At this level, there are no longer any distinctions between minor stages; one only looks at the numbers of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Fiends.

The gods of the Divine Palace are numbered in units of nine. One Heavenly Gang (9) is paired with two Earthly Fiends (9) to form one Divine Palace.

The first level of the Gang Sha (a type of martial arts) consists of 27 gods and demons, which is the entry level; the second level consists of 54 gods and demons, which is the minor achievement level; the third level consists of 81 gods and demons, which is the major achievement level; and the fourth level consists of 108 gods and demons, which is the perfect achievement level.

The deity in the Dharma form resides outside of it, which is "the one that has escaped," and is supported by gods and demons. Thus, it can transcend the mundane world, enjoy a long lifespan, and obtain all kinds of incredible supernatural powers.

Li Cunxiao had heard Qi Ci say that he himself was at the perfected stage of the Yuan Tai realm, while the fellow disciples Zhi Gang and Zhi Heng of Yu Hua Temple were at the great completion stage of the Yuan Tai realm.

Li Siyuan has been famous for over a decade, but his achievements may only be considered minor.
Li Cunxu only broke through last year, so he is probably at the Yuan Tai level.

“Master said that the gap between entering the Divine Palace and achieving minor success, and between minor success and achieving major success, is sometimes greater than the gap between the Mysterious Pass and the Primordial Embryo.”

"I wonder if my 'Three Altars World' will be able to bridge the gap between the two in the future?"

Having achieved his goal of deducing the cultivation method, Li Cunxiao was relieved to have no shortage of skills to practice until he reached the Grandmaster level. He couldn't help but let his mind wander.

The 'Three Altars World' temple is based on the inner landscape of the Buddha and the Tao, with the sea connecting to the land and the land connecting to the sky.

The most powerful aspect of this method is that it doesn't necessarily have to be the "Ten Directions Salvation Sutra" or the "Western Paradise King Sutra".

As long as it is based on "Haotian Shangdi", any two cultivation methods can be combined, and in the end, they can all be used to create the "Three Altars World" of the Daoist temple.

Of course, the strength of the resulting dojo will vary depending on the materials used for fusion.

The Ten Directions Salvation Sutra is already a top-tier divine skill; all that's needed is to complete it.

However, Li Cunxiao still wanted to further strengthen his understanding of the "Western Paradise King Sutra" if given the opportunity.

After all, no matter how powerful a Heavenly King is, he is still a sentient being with feelings and cannot transcend worldly affairs.

There are also differences between different Dharma forms.

Esoteric Buddhist practices take Vairocana Buddha as their principal deity, but this deity also has numerous emanations and Dharma bodies.

Heavenly Drum Thunder Sound Tathagata, Precious Banner Tathagata, King of Blooming Flowers Tathagata, Amitabha Tathagata, King of Sweet Dew Tathagata, King of Tree Roots and Flowers Tathagata.
Whether it's Buddha or Tathagata, they are ultimately just names for the highest state of enlightenment.

However, these issues are things to consider after one becomes a grandmaster.

Having achieved the small goal of his cultivation technique, Li Cunxiao continued to absorb the evil energy while handling government affairs.

However, firstly, there were not many left in the Buddha statue, and secondly, Zhigang was about to arrive, so he dared not be too presumptuous and arouse suspicion.

Time flies by like water.

"Thirteenth Brother, how are the military supplies being prepared? When can your Seventh Brother and I set off?"

Li Siben, reeking of alcohol, barged into the yamen clutching a crystal jug. Inside, purplish-red grape wine churned and swayed, resembling fine wine.

The people of Qin drank various kinds of wine, such as milk wine and fruit wine, but the raw materials for grape wine were scarce in the Central Plains.

The grape wine consumed by royalty and nobility was mostly transported from distant lands in Longyou; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it liquid gold.

The Thirteen Protectors held the highest positions in the court, so they naturally had no shortage of such enjoyments.

But the fact that Li Siben could get a martial arts master so drunk made Li Cunxiao suspect that he had been soaking in wine jars for the past few days.

When the officials in the yamen saw that Li Siben was completely drunk, they all avoided him.

Last time in the capital, someone was whipped for this.

"It will be soon, in the next day or two."

"Another day or two?"

Li Siben muttered a few words, picked up the wine pot, and was about to pour some more into his mouth.

Li Cunxiao frowned, disliking the other party's behavior, and reached out to grab the other party's arm.

"Since Sixth Brother is going on a campaign, he should drink less these next few days and also keep his troops in check."

"Especially in Huayin City, I've recently caught quite a few soldiers trespassing on private property."

Li Siben seemed to sober up suddenly, his eyes sharpening.

"Thirteenth Brother, what did you do?"

"Dispose of? Sixth Brother, I don't understand what you mean. How dare I dispose of your soldiers? Wouldn't that be overstepping my bounds?"

"I've taken the man into custody. Sixth Brother, go and fetch him back to the camp. As for what to do with him, that's your business."

Li Cunxiao released the other person's hand, returned to his seat, and began to review official documents.

Li Siben breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he was in the wrong, and didn't want to cause any more trouble. He quickly ran to the jail in the government office, scolding and beating his men while ordering the officials to release the man.

The officials dared not stop them and could only let the other party take the person away.

Fifteen minutes later, Li Guangyi knocked on the door of the public housing unit.

"How about it?"

Li Cunxiao didn't even raise his head, his brush moving swiftly.

The Xuan Guan martial artist possesses an inhuman physique and a powerful primordial spirit. Not only is their martial prowess extraordinary, but their speed in processing official documents is also astonishing.

"The Sixth Protector scolded and beat the man a few times before taking him away. I had spread the word beforehand, and the onlookers were very angry."

"Has anyone complained that I abused my power for personal gain?"

"Yes, but most people think that the eldest brother has already done his best to arrest people, and that those soldiers and bandits are too barbaric."

"Hmm," Li Cunxiao put the brush on the shelf and nodded.

"Brother, I don't quite understand."

"You think my arrangements were a waste of time?"

"Yes. The reason why the people suffer is because the martial artists are too strong, do whatever they want, and have no scruples."

"Popular support is useful, but it has its limits. As long as you, elder brother, don't become a master, you can't stop the chaos of people being exploited and oppressed."

Li Cunxiao shook his head, "Even a grandmaster cannot completely prevent the chaos of people being exploited and oppressed."

"Guangyi, some things don't show their effect right now; you need to take a long-term view."

"Five or ten years from now, you will understand what your elder brother means."

This life is not the previous one. It is very difficult for ordinary people who do not know martial arts to succeed in rebellion, while martial arts are monopolized by the high-ranking officials.

Previously, these high-ranking officials were aristocratic families and sects; now, the former have become regional military governors.

Therefore, martial artists often underestimate the will of the people, because the thoughts of the weak are irrelevant.

But Li Cunxiao understood that even Grandmasters were not born this way, let alone the Heavenly Ladder and Profound Gate martial artists who were the backbone.
Martial artists, in the end, are born from the common people.

He's not fighting for the present, but for the future.

However, since he had not yet told anyone about this ambition, it is not surprising that Li Guangyi was puzzled.

"I still don't understand. But I will carry out my elder brother's orders meticulously."

Li Guangyi bowed and took his leave, but just as he stepped out of the main gate, a deep, muffled elephant's cry suddenly came from the distant sky.

He looked up in astonishment and saw a hundred-foot-tall King of Light, with a six-tusked white elephant beneath him, exuding majesty and majesty.

Just as he was about to turn around and call out to Li Cunxiao, a familiar voice rang in his ears.

"Don't panic, it's Master Zhigang from Yuhua Temple."

"You stay here and don't move. I'll be right back."

After saying this, the phoenix cried out, and the Wind and Fire Wheels transformed into a shooting star, soaring straight into the sky.

In the military camp outside Huayin City, a streak of light also flew up, but its speed was much slower than Li Cunxiao's.

Upon arriving at the location of the Maitreya Buddha, a strange monk was found among the group of people at the foot of the Buddha.

This monk was extremely tall, nearly ten feet high, standing there like a city gate. He wore a black kasaya over a moon-white cotton robe, his bones were thick and strong, and his features were like those of a Vajra, giving him an imposing and powerful appearance.

“Disciple, come here, this is Master Zhigang.”

Uncle-Master Zhigang

Upon hearing this, the monk, whose Dharma name matched his appearance exactly, also put his palms together and nodded.

"Junior Brother Li."

After saying this, the fierce monk fell silent and stood still.

The monks of Yuhua Temple seemed to be used to it. After greeting their abbot, they went about their own business, which surprised Li Cunxiao.

Qi Ci's face rarely showed a smile, and he quietly transmitted his voice:
“In his early years, Zhigang practiced silent meditation. Although he did not master the unique skill of Heavenly Drum Thunder Sound, he developed a habit of being sparing with words.”

"When it comes to a matter, if you can do it with your hands, don't use your mouth; if you can explain it clearly in one sentence, don't say a word more."

"Compared to your master, he's the weirdo."

I didn't realize you liked to gossip.

Li Cunxiao glanced at the head monk, and after waiting for a quarter of an hour, Li Siben finally arrived late.

Sure enough, even with a different person, Zhigang remained sullen.

No matter how Li Siben greeted him, he only uttered a few words: "Hmm," "Okay," and "Alright."

After Li Siben shut his mouth, he uttered the longest sentence he had uttered so far:

"Leave the rest to me. Junior Brother and Brother Qici can go to the Eastern Capital."

"Nephew Li, please find me a room in the government office."

Li Cunxiao was taken aback by the other party's decisiveness.

"Aren't you going to stay in the capital?"

Zhigang's answer was very formal and methodical.

"We'll return to the capital after the religious ceremony is completed."

After saying that, he rode the clouds and flew towards Huayin City.

"That's just how direct my senior brother is. I'll get used to it."

Zhiheng explained something, and then he and Qici returned to the top of the Buddha's head to preside over the transformation painting.

Although Zhigang said he would leave the rest to him, the situation on the Hedong front was good at the moment, so there was no rush to go there immediately.

Just do your job and get through the day.

Seeing this, Li Cunxiao rode his whirlwind back into the city. Zhi Gang was already standing outside the government office, but he didn't go in.

People passing by looked at the monk, who resembled a Vajra tower, with curiosity.

Although the clerks in the yamen did not recognize the man, they were all perceptive enough to know that he was no ordinary person and dared not offend him.

“Nephew Li has done a good job governing Huayin.”

Zhi Gang looked around thoughtfully.

“How come you see?”

Li Cunxiao instructed his officials to tidy up the house, and first led the man to his study to sit down.

"The people are not pale and do not respect or love the officials, but they also do not resent or hate them. The current state of affairs is already quite precious."

Zhi Gang commented, summarizing:
“My nephew is a man of principle in his official duties, and few under the Prince of Jin can match him.”

"I dare not accept such praise; I am merely a law-abiding official."

Seeing that the other party had no intention of responding, Li Cunxiao simply stopped being polite, returned to his desk, and continued to handle government affairs.

The so-called logistics steward is not just someone who serves the military.

Food, cloth, weapons, and medicine are all produced by humans.

Previously, Zhu Quanzhong led his troops to wreak havoc in the capital region, and many county magistrates and prefects either fled or died, leaving behind a mess.

Whether it was taking in refugees, restoring production, or dispatching troops to suppress bandits and thieves, Li Cunxiao had to oversee everything.

During the work process, he felt Zhigang's gaze several times, but he pretended not to see it.

The clerk had already prepared the room, but the monk showed no intention of moving. He stayed there from daytime until sunset, when candles were lit inside.

“Master, my master and the others are leaving tomorrow. The Sixth Protector is hosting a banquet, both to welcome them and to bid them farewell. Would you like to come along?”

"Grandmasters draw spiritual energy from heaven and earth and do not need to eat."

Zhigang gave an explanation, then closed his eyes and began to turn the prayer beads.

Li Cunxiao remained silent and had no choice but to attend the banquet alone.

Qici had never thought much of Li Siben. At the banquet, he only gave instructions to Li Cunxiao. Zhiheng also symbolically drank a cup of vegetarian wine before getting up and leaving the table to find Zhigang.

Li Siben wasn't surprised; after all, he was just a Xuan Guan martial artist. The Thirteen Protectors sounded impressive, but to a Grandmaster, they were no different from stable boys.

Apart from Li Siyuan and Li Cunxu, these two eminent monks have not shown much regard for others.

The next morning, Li Cunxiao saw off Qici and Zhiheng, and after parting ways with Li Siben, he returned to his office to take his shift.

On the way, however, she was thinking about how to bring up the matter with Zhigang so that she could still participate in the rituals.

The malevolent energy in the Buddha statue has diminished, but even a small amount is still something.

If he could oversee the construction of the Hell Transformation Diagram, it would at least accelerate the construction of the interior of the "Ten Directions Hell," shortening the time from the original two or three years to one and a half years.

But Li Cunxiao didn't have much hope of persuading Zhigang; he figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try anyway.

Pushing open the study door, the towering figure was still sitting there, as if he hadn't left all night.

Li Cunxiao was puzzled, but before he could speak, Zhigang opened his eyes and asked:
"Is the person gone?"

"gone."

"it is good."

"."

"Junior Brother Li."

"?"

Do you need any pills?

Li Cunxiao was taken aback, then said tactfully:
"My master, Taiyi, is skilled in alchemy. I am not very talented, but I also have some skills."

"I think so too," Zhigang said thoughtfully, then asked:

Do you need a divine weapon?

Li Cunxiao thought to himself, "I really don't need it."

Even if the Wind and Fire Wheels, Azure Phoenix Armor, Black Dragon Spear, Chaos Ribbon, Qiankun Bow, and Bone-Illuminating Mirror reveal three heads and eight arms, only two hands are empty.

Even though he had already reached a state of communion with heaven and earth, the six divine weapons were already beyond his capabilities; any more would be useless.

But the key question is, what does Zhigang mean?
“Nephew Li is a prodigy, possessing both wisdom and compassion. Yuhua Temple wishes to establish a good relationship with you.”

Zhigang seemed to realize that his words were abrupt, and took the initiative to explain.

"Why not find other bodyguards?"

“I’ve searched. But apart from the First and Third Protectors, the rest are all wolves and tigers, and have no affinity with Buddha.”

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao immediately became wary. Why did these words sound like an encouragement for him to compete for the throne?

"I have an affinity with Buddhism? How could you tell?"

Zhigang shook his head and pulled out a small mountain the size of a palm from his sleeve. It contained nearly a hundred miniature caves with Buddha statues inside.

The moment they appeared, dozens of Buddha statues emitted a great light.

Li Cunxiao was very familiar with this; it was the divine light of a divine weapon!

"I can't see it."

"The patriarch could see it."

(End of this chapter)