Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 124 Salt Man

Chapter 124 Salt Man
"The master is back?"

When Chen Ji returned to the pharmacy, he saw the Four Foxes all dressed up and getting ready to go out. He bumped into them and asked them curiously what they were going to do.

"Go to the nearby mountains and collect some stones."

The foxes spoke in unison, and then each spoke individually.

"The teacher taught us the skills of road construction and bridge building, but we had only heard about them and never used them. We were worried that we would become rusty."

"The blue bricks in the courtyard were laid before, and one of the stools was made of copper, which is inconvenient to use. We just happened to collect stones and make a new set."

"My wall-opening technique has improved a lot, and now I can make carved utensils."

"Senior Toad said that we should take advantage of these few days here to use the copper-melting technique more often. If you can see any clues or give us some pointers, that would be great."

After the four foxes finished speaking, Chen Ji's mind was buzzing. After a moment of trying to understand their meaning, he waved for them to leave.

He went back into the house and found Miss Bai, who was looking at a medical book. He became a little curious.

"Isn't Miss Bai knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine? Why is she reading these books again?"

"Today, the doctors of the Sun family must have done some good deeds again. On a whim, they felt it was a good time to look through medical books and, sure enough, they came up with a few prescriptions that they hadn't thought of before."

"The art of forming bonds is truly wondrous."

Chen Ji had heard Miss Bai mention the art of forming bonds before, but seeing it with his own eyes now still felt amazing.

This is in no way inferior to his own "Tales of the Strange".

Bai could tell what Chen Ji was thinking just by looking at his eyes, and smiled slightly.

"Outsiders only find it amazing, but they don't know that this technique is extremely dangerous. If you are not careful, you may lose your soul. Therefore, even among the fox clan, very few people specialize in this technique."

"I see. So the Bond Formation Technique has quite a few limitations."

"This is the way of everything in the world."

Miss Bai smiled faintly and stopped talking about her own affairs.

"Has the matter been resolved, sir?"

"Ah."

"Then let's go."

Chen Ji went out and found the Iron Pot Demon, then headed towards Qingfeng Temple.

"Sir, would you mind taking me with you to have a look?"

Just as they were about to ride the wind away, the bronze toad demon hesitated and called out to them.

"Hmm? You two are also interested in the Taoist temple?"

"I've never seen a Taoist priest before, and I'd like to go and see him."

The bronze toad spoke truthfully.

"Moreover, I heard from Fellow Daoist Mudfish that Daoists have methods to melt iron and refine silver, as well as the ability to refine elixirs from copper and iron. I would like to ask them if they can accept these copper ingots, so that you won't have to trouble yourself with this matter."

"That's it..."

Chen Ji hesitated slightly.

"Sir, I want to go too!"

The loach demon cried out.

"what are you going to do?"

"I am going to discuss the Dao with my fellow Daoists."

The mudfish demon made a solemn vow.

"I previously discussed the Dharma with Fellow Daoist Xiyun and found his explanations quite good. Today, I will discuss the Dao again to see if I can make any breakthroughs."

Chen Ji shook his head helplessly.

"You're really bold. Let me think about it."

"If it's inconvenient, then forget it."

"The copper toad demon said in a low voice."

"There's no inconvenience, it's just..."

Chen Ji hesitated for a few moments, as if he had thought of something.

"The young Taoist priests on the mountain may not have seen such a monster before, and may be curious. Please forgive them, fellow Taoist."

Upon hearing this, the bronze toad demon burst into laughter.

"It's alright. I haven't met any other Taoists either. I'll have to see them after I get up the mountain. I might have to ask the Taoists for their understanding then."

Chen Ji found these words particularly amusing and felt relieved.

"In that case, let's go take a look together."

Then, together with Miss Bai, the Iron Pot Demon, and the Copper Toad Demon, they traveled on the wind to Qingfeng Temple.

Amidst the howling mountain winds, the scenery of Qingliang Mountain comes into view.

It was still as lush as before, except that there were many more pedestrians carrying wood and stones on the stone steps.

A newly built path cuts into the woods along the main road, ending at a clearing with lots of timber and stones. It doesn't look like a Taoist temple, but rather like a Buddhist temple.

Chen Ji vaguely felt that this was probably the temple that Madam Hongci had mentioned, and he would ask the Taoist priests at Qingfeng Temple about it later.

They have been practicing asceticism in the mountains for many years, so they should know about this matter.

The wind swept away the clouds, and soon they arrived above Qingfeng Temple.

Chen Ji was bored, so he used his geomancy to look down at Qingfeng Temple from the air.

At first glance, you can actually see some clues.

Before he could take a closer look, a kingfisher flew up into the clouds, landed in front of Chen Ji, and spoke in a human voice.

"What brings you here so suddenly, fellow Daoist?"

"I had something to discuss with the abbot, but I forgot to let you know beforehand."

"It's alright, just come straight here."

The bluebird turned and led the way, with Chen Ji and his group following closely behind, soon landing together in the abbot's courtyard.

Flames burned beneath the alchemy furnace, emanating a familiar aroma—the very scent of Bagua Tofu, though it didn't appear to be made the same way as before.

"Did the abbot go to pick cloud-entwining beans again?"

Chen Ji asked.

"That's right. When I was exercising, I saw some beans from the elders. They're not good for making seeds at this time of year, so it's perfect for grinding them into soy milk and making tofu."

The old abbot smiled and stroked his beard, nodding and bowing to the people behind Chen Ji.

"I've already met Senior Fox. This must be the Well Dragon Lord that Xi Yun mentioned. The other two are rather unfamiliar to me."

"The abbot knows me, but please don't call me Lord Well Dragon. I'm just a mudfish demon; I wouldn't dare risk such a name."

"Perhaps he'll become a Dragon Lord someday."

The old abbot laughed heartily.

"Then I will take your auspicious words as a blessing!"

The mudfish demon burrowed into the gourd, took a long bath, and then emerged from the gourd's mouth with a big smile on its face.

This was also the solution Chen Ji came up with.

Anyway, the mudfish demon just can't leave the water, it doesn't have to stay in a well-like thing.

You can also carry him with a gourd filled with water, just make sure the gourd opening isn't sealed so it can breathe.

"That's convenient enough."

The old abbot smiled and nodded, then released another kingfisher.

"I have already informed Xiyun to come over. If you wish to discuss the Dao, please wait a moment."

Then he looked at the Iron Pot Demon and the Bronze Toad Demon.

"The Bronze Toad? Could it be that fellow Daoist from Copper Mountain Village has arrived?"

"Gugua?"

The bronze toad let out a croak in surprise.

"How did the abbot know me?"

"When I was cultivating down the mountain years ago, I passed by there and heard about your ability to turn spring water into copper. I even went to meet you once."

The old abbot said slowly.

"When, and how, do I have absolutely no recollection?"

“Fellow Daoist, you were absorbing the moonlight at that time. I saw that you didn’t have the aura of killing and eating people on you, so I left. After all, it’s not easy to explain a Daoist appearing in the territory of demons late at night, and it could easily lead to a dispute.”

"The abbot's cultivation is indeed extraordinary, and he is no ordinary person either!"

The bronze toad raised its claws to cover its head, a sense of lingering fear rising in its heart.

If the Taoist priest had been of ill intent at the time, or if it had been some other evil cultivator instead of the Taoist priest, things might not be what they are today.

"Fellow Daoist, do not panic."

The old abbot waved his hand.

"The area around my Qingliang Mountain is still a relatively peaceful place, without too many evil demons. Fellow Daoist, your trip is a normal activity in a peaceful year. However, you must be careful when you go to other places in the future, after all, the world is not what it used to be."

"I will remember the Taoist priest's instructions!"

The bronze toad demon had not yet taken human form, so it could only shrink its body and slowly nod its head in thanks.

"I must thank the Taoist priest for not exorcising the demon back then."

"Why thank me? You didn't do anything. You were just peacefully cultivating, and you're a fellow Daoist with me. How could I do such a thing?"

The bronze toad demon paused for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Sir, you are right. The Taoist priest is a good man. If I had known this earlier, I should have come to find him sooner. It would have been better than suffering in the village."

"What happened?"

The old abbot asked.

The bronze toad demon then revealed that he had been trapped by the village head and his soul had almost been destroyed.

"I used to think that Taoist priests would react the same way when they see monsters, but I was just being prejudiced."

"I am a legitimate Taoist priest and would not do such a thing. But how could a mortal know these things?"

The old abbot shook his head and asked the same question as Chen Ji.

"Your Majesty."

Chen Ji replied.

"The one in Zhanshui Town?"

"Yes."

"..."

The old abbot sighed and remained silent for a few moments before looking at Chen Ji.

What do you think, fellow Daoist?

"It's hard to say, but I've encountered many things recently that I can tell the abbot." "Very well, this old body of mine hasn't been down the mountain for a long time, so it's good to hear about what's happening down here."

Chen Ji then began his story by recounting the attack on the Ghost Gate, the conflict between the Purple Cloud Dragon King and the Hu Tuo Dragon Lord, the struggle between the two rivers, and the encounter of the Bronze Toad Demon.

"The supervisor also mentioned a secret about officialdom, which may also be related to the emperor."

"Oh? What is it?"

"The City God of Zhanshui was a son whom the Prince of Fu valued highly. Because he could not bear to see his son die young, he had a temple built for him and he became a wild god who received incense offerings. Later, he became the City God of Zhanshui."

“Is that so…”

The old abbot picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked behind Chen Ji.

"Xiyun, you've heard quite a bit, what do you think?"

"The world is about to descend into chaos!"

Master Xiyun's voice rang out.

Chen Ji turned around and saw that Daoist Xiyun had arrived and had been standing there listening for an unknown amount of time. He hurriedly greeted him with the Ziwu Jue.

Master Xiyun stopped him and waved his hand.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be so polite."

After saying that, he continued what he had just said.

"And it's not just a moral crisis, I'm afraid..."

"The Shinto way is in chaos, isn't it?"

Master Xiyun dared not speak, but the old abbot had no qualms and continued the conversation.

Seeing Master Xiyun's embarrassed expression and his shaking head.

"Why are you afraid to speak?"

“We are not Taoist priests of the talisman and Lingbao sects. Our cultivation skills are all within ourselves. There are no gods to restrain us, so why should we be afraid of him?”

After saying that, he looked at Chen Ji.

"Fellow Daoist, you haven't been cultivating for long, so you probably haven't heard of these things before?"

"really."

Chen Ji nodded.

"I've heard of the general trends of the world and the changing of dynasties, but I really don't know anything about the divine way."

"Even according to legend, aren't gods all dead cultivators? What exists in the human world, the gods are pretty much the same."

"I felt something was off when you said that the Book of Life and Death in the underworld had malfunctioned."

"Now that even a powerful demon like the Purple Cloud Dragon King dares to attack the Ghost Gate, and the Underworld has to find someone to temporarily serve as the Day-Roaming God, it's clear that something really has happened."

The old abbot sighed.

"What's the matter?"

Chen Ji was still completely confused.

"Fellow Daoist, can't you guess yet?"

The old abbot shook his head slightly.

"The conflict between the Western and Northern Rivers has caused chaos in the water system, and even the Underworld is in such a state of disorder. Naturally, it's all for the sake of the power of the Underworld!"

"Isn't the power of the underworld in the hands of the Lord of the Underworld?"

"No."

The old spectator smiled.

"The authority of the underworld is quite special. It is the power of the six realms of heaven and earth, which cannot be controlled by human power. The Lord of the Underworld can only use it, not own it."

"If the authority of the underworld itself is flawed, then the Lord of the Underworld can only try to take it back."

"Is that so?"

Chen Ji was momentarily dazed.

Previously, I thought that the Lord of the Underworld and the Judges determined the operation of the Underworld, but now it seems that they are just the maintainers of order in the Underworld.

Thinking of this, Chen Ji asked again.

"If the underworld is in chaos, could the identity of the Day-Roaming God be questionable?"

"It doesn't matter."

The old abbot laughed heartily.

"Even if someone really wanted to target the underworld, they wouldn't choose such a minor character as the Day Wanderer."

"This identity is quite useful. In the future, when we meet demons, ghosts, and city gods, we will have a powerful backer, and they will not dare to underestimate us."

"Even God is like that."

"Of course, have you forgotten what I just said? Gods are nothing more than dead people with cultivation."

"If you had done more good deeds and accumulated enough merit and incense offerings while you were alive, you might have been even more powerful than those gods after you died."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Never mind, it's good to live a few more years."

The old abbot also laughed heartily.

"Indeed, it's good to be alive. At least you can eat your fill and won't go hungry."

"By the way, does the old abbot know the origin of that Netherfire Suanni? I asked the little ghosts in the underworld, but they didn't dare to tell me."

"Know something."

The old abbot said slowly.

"Those were originally stone lions at the entrance of the underworld prison. Over the years, they absorbed the underworld's nether energy and, after gaining intelligence, were able to control the nether fire. Moreover, they were upright and incorruptible, which is why they have become the nether fire lions we know today."

"To be precise, if it were a contest of magic in the underworld, even that Di Ting wouldn't be his match."

Chen Ji was shocked, not expecting that the Suanni had such a background.

Then wouldn't the monk who could debate with him be that great Buddhist master?

Chen Ji's expression suddenly fell.

"Why has your expression changed, fellow Daoist?"

Master Xiyun noticed Chen Ji's concerned expression and inquired.

Chen Ji then explained his account of the debate with the Netherfire Lion Cult that day.

"At the time, I thought it was some underworld official, and I could let it go with such sophistry. But what if it really is that person? What should we do now?"

A burst of laughter erupted in the courtyard.

Master Xiyun couldn't help but shake his head.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you are quite bold to use such a topic to debate with that person."

"However, that Bodhisattva is magnanimous, so there shouldn't be any problems. Being able to obtain the Netherfire Technique through this can be considered a stroke of luck for you."

"Such opportunities are rare... Clang!"

As Chen Ji was speaking, a crisp sound came from the side.

Turning his head, he saw that the Iron Pot Demon had come forward to check the situation inside the alchemy furnace and accidentally bumped his head.

When metal clashes, the sound is naturally quite loud.

"Sir, Abbot, I just smelled something delicious coming from the pot and wanted to take a look, but I bumped my head instead."

The Iron Pot Demon was somewhat reserved and explained in a low voice.

"My bad, I got so caught up in the conversation that I forgot about the important matter!"

Chen Ji apologized, then pulled the Iron Pot Demon over to look at the old abbot.

"Master, I've found you a good fellow Daoist this time!"

"Fellow?"

The old abbot paused for a moment, then realized something, glanced at the iron pot demon, and raised his eyebrows after examining it closely.

"Could this fellow Daoist have cultivated through the practice of cooking utensils?"

"That's right. It was originally an iron pot in a soup kitchen, and after many twists and turns, it has been transformed into this, specializing in making locust leaf cold noodles."

The Iron Pot Demon spoke truthfully, while also sizing up the old abbot.

"Kitchenware transformed into a demon, that's truly a rare sight."

"There must be very few Taoist priests who can cook such delicious food, right?"

"You're right, I was the one who was narrow-minded."

Upon hearing this, the old abbot laughed heartily and then looked at Chen Ji.

"Although Fellow Daoist Chen has only been practicing for a short time, his ability to form connections is quite remarkable."

"I've made acquaintances with everyone from country bumpkins to Taoist priests and senior fox spirits. I can even talk to people in the underworld and saints. It's truly enviable."

Chen Ji was slightly taken aback.

Upon closer examination, I found that this was indeed the case.

Leaving aside the cultivation level and techniques I gained after embarking on my own cultivation journey, I've met quite a few other cultivators.

It seemed as if something was on my mind, but it vanished in an instant and I couldn't quite grasp it.

The old abbot's voice could already be heard in my ears.

“It is a great honor for you to come here today, fellow Daoist. I had just found another fellow Daoist and invited him to discuss the art of cooking. Now it is a good opportunity to meet and discuss the Dharma with you.”

After saying this, he stroked his beard and smiled as he looked at the side of the alchemy furnace, where a pure white jar was placed.

Chen Ji also looked over.

I hadn't looked at it closely before, and just thought it was an ordinary jar.

Only now, when observing the qi, did I realize that there seemed to be an unusual aura emanating from the jar.

It had an eerie aura, yet it was almost imperceptible.

I couldn't help but wait out of curiosity.

So the old abbot stepped forward and gently tapped the lid of the jar.

"Old Salt Master, a new fellow Daoist has arrived. Come and meet him."

After saying that, he waited to the side.

Before long, the mouth of the jar suddenly popped open from the inside, and an old man dressed entirely in white emerged.

At first glance, it looks like it's made of silk, but upon closer inspection, you'll find that it's actually made entirely of salt grains.

Even when you stretch your arms and yawn, salt grains will fall off.