Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 176 Glass Body

It was already dawn, and everyone was awake and eating breakfast in the courtyard.

The young lady was serving porridge from a clay pot.

The golden millet porridge was still steaming from being removed from the fire, and on the table were freshly baked sesame cakes, a plate of vinegar-dressed tofu, and a cold cabbage salad.

The aroma is enticing and makes one's mouth water.

Although it's just plain porridge and side dishes, it's a rare delicacy in this world.

The foxes who wanted to eat transformed into human form and sat at the table to wait, while those who didn't want to eat simply took some Solomon's Seal and ate it on the side without disturbing anyone.

Miss Bai smiled and looked at Chen Ji.

"Sir, you've woken up just in time; it's the perfect time for you to come and have dinner."

"Thank you Miss Bai."

Chen Ji thanked him, but still had some doubts.

While we were on the mountain, I don't remember that Miss Bai could cook; it was Little Fox who did it.

"It was made by Bai Ba."

"Knew it."

Chen Ji thought of something, shook his head with a smile, and then handed over what he and the two ghosts had copied overnight.

"This technique might be useful, so I copied a few copies and shared them with my fellow Daoists."

Master Xiyun quickly put down the bowl and took it.

I was surprised when I saw the cover.

"Is this paper crafting?"

"Exactly."

"Isn't it a bit too expensive?"

Having witnessed how this technique could transform the false into the real in the underworld, he knew that it was not as simple as ordinary magic.

Learning this might have karmic consequences, both good and bad.

He tried his best to look away and hand the book back, not daring to turn a single page, for fear that he would be reluctant to return it to Chen Ji after reading it.

Chen Ji waved his hand.

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, this technique can only be mastered by the City God and the underworld officials."

“If you learn it, you can only make some realistic puppets and paper replicas, but you won’t achieve this effect.”

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something else.

“If you are worried about Meishan pursuing the matter, I will write a letter to Fellow Daoist Shimo when he returns to explain the situation. There should be no problem.”

"it's not true……"

Master Xiyun hurriedly shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist, you have considered things far too deeply. How could I dare to tarnish your reputation?"

"Although this technique is important in Meishan, it is not unique to them. Other lineages also have similar paper puppet techniques. I'm just worried that if you pass on this technique, it won't sound good."

"I see."

Chen Ji suddenly understood.

Unexpectedly, they were worried about their reputation in the cultivation world.

Feeling a warmth in his heart, he then told them what he had said to the two ghosts.

"We rescued Mei Minglun together, so it's only right that we learn the spells together. Don't worry, if we don't learn them, wouldn't it be a waste of Meishan's good intentions?"

"This is fine too..."

Only after Chen Ji said this did Master Xiyun and Monk Zhenru agree.

However, they dared not accept the gifts alone, and all said that they would also compile a technique to give to Meishan as a form of exchange.

Please ask Fellow Daoist Shimo to bring it along when the time comes, Chen Ji.

Then he remembered what Chen Ji had mentioned earlier and asked why Fellow Daoist Shi Mo wasn't here.

"He and Lady Hongci went to the mass grave to investigate the situation."

Chen Ji did not hide this matter.

It wasn't just for the tortoise shell of the Qi cultivators; it was also for the mountain god's enshrinement and to maintain order in the underworld, and to deal with the Ghost King of the Grave Mountain Town.

Moreover, now that he has also become the city god of this place, the reason is even more convincing.

During my time in town, besides dealing with the headless ghost, I also learned a lot of other news.

The most important thing is the relationship between the Blood Wolf, the City God, and the Ghost King.

They were just casual passersby before, and apart from the ghostly sparrow, no demons or ghosts inquired about anything.

Now that I've revealed my identity as the City God, things have become much easier.

They directly dispatched Bai Qi and his group to find demons, humans, and ghosts to question them.

The City God Temple has its own intimidating presence; even if demons and ghosts intend to conceal something, they dare not lie. As long as the questions are asked properly, there are no secrets to be found.

After asking around for a few days, I learned a lot of things.

A demon in town said he had seen a wolf-blood demon go to a mass grave to buy goods.

Some people say that the mass graves are used to rob passing caravans and travelers.

There were also ghosts who smelled a damp, heavy odor coming from the blood food shop, and traces of water demon activity.

……

Although the information is scattered, it can still be pieced together to obtain a lot of clues.

After Bai Qi and the others finished speaking, everyone looked at them thoughtfully.

"Is it related to the Purple Cloud Dragon King?"

"more than."

Chen Ji shook his head, casually waved his hand, spread a sheet of Xuan paper on the table, and with a thought, activated his paper-crafting technique, instantly forming a paper sand table.

The village, mountains, forests, terrain, and waterways are all clearly visible.

Before everyone could marvel at the paper crafting technique, Chen Ji picked up the Xuan paper again and shaped several figures on it.

Now everyone could see it even more clearly.

The Ghost King of Fenshan Town, the City God and the Canal Gang of Zhanshui Town, the Purple Cloud Dragon King of Ziyun Mountain, the demons and mountain gods of Sendai Mountain, the cultivators of Qingliang Mountain, and the river gods of Xidu and Beidu...

In the past, I never had such a direct feeling about it when I talked about it.

Looking back now, it's clear that even the small Hejian Prefecture was a place where hidden talents resided.

In this very place, there are actually many renowned cultivators.

"It truly is a place blessed with good feng shui."

Master Xiyun sighed.

"This is considered a feng shui treasure land?"

The monk Zhenru glanced sideways, somewhat surprised.

Why not?

Master Xiyun asked a question in return.

"With so many cannibalistic demons, and even this ghost town where people are eaten, it's not even as good as an ordinary human village."

"Just a few days ago, I saw someone fighting with a demon. They both died tragically on the road during the battle, and no one helped them or even collected their bodies."

The monk Zhenru shook his head slightly, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes.

Master Xiyun was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

“Fellow Daoist, you are attached to appearances. Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs. The Buddhists also say that if one says that all beings are born everywhere, then one is saying that all beings are equal.”

"This place may not be a good place for people, but it is truly a place of outstanding natural beauty for the world."

"Humans, ghosts, and demons all have suitable places for cultivation, which is quite good."

After saying that, he looked at the monk Zhenru and suddenly raised his voice.

"Don't you remember what the Youdi Sparrow said that day? How can there be a world where only humans are allowed to kill demons, but demons are not allowed to eat humans?"

"The distinction between humans, demons, and ghosts is only due to our different origins; there is no difference between them in the world."

"Fellow Daoist, you cultivate Buddhist principles but do not travel the world; lest you go astray!"

"Wake up!"

Master Xiyun's voice grew louder and louder until it was almost like a great bell, but it only echoed within the courtyard.

Chen Ji noticed this place as soon as he started circulating his magic power, but seeing that Miss Bai did not make any move and instead seemed quite interested, he did not interrupt.

Now that I hear this, I remember what kind of magic this is.

Confucianism refers to these as admonitions to awaken the world.

In Buddhism, this is called a sudden awakening or blow to the head.

Taoists call it the Mantra of Enlightening the Mind.

It is usually used on people who are awakened from illusions, and can also be used to bring people back to their senses.

I never expected that Master Xiyun would use this on Monk Zhenru. Master Xiyun abruptly fell silent after speaking.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of clothes in the breeze.

Suddenly, a very faint yet crisp sound was heard.

"Crack!"

Chen Ji subconsciously looked at the monk Zhenru.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

To the naked eye, there was no change whatsoever in the monk's appearance.

In his perception, it was as if something on his body had shattered, and his whole being had become different.

When he looked up, his expression was much more peaceful and calm, and he no longer looked around with such pity.

Under the aura-observation technique, the person's entire body seemed to be coated with a layer of shimmering light.

Congratulations on your breakthrough!

While Chen Ji was still wondering, Daoist Xiyun had already spoken with a smile.

Even Miss Bai nodded slightly and offered her congratulations.

"Breaking through the realm?"

Chen Ji was stunned.

So this is when Buddhist practitioners break through to new heights?

"They are definitely different."

Chen Ji thought about Baojie Jun's performance when he broke through to the next realm and sighed slightly.

But there was no time to think about it, so I quickly cupped my hands in congratulations to Zhenru.

Congratulations, fellow Daoist!

"Amitabha."

The monk Zhenru sighed, chanted Buddhist mantras, looked at Daoist Xiyun, and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I would have been trapped here for who knows how long, and I might even have developed inner demons, making it impossible for me to cultivate in the future."

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. It is only because of your good fortune and cultivation that you have achieved such insights. Otherwise, you would not have been able to have such enlightenment."

"only……"

Master Xiyun hesitated for a moment after speaking halfway through.

"Fellow Daoist, please speak frankly; there's no need to hold back."

"It comes down to the same question as before. Fellow Daoist, you cultivate Buddhism and your understanding of Buddhist principles is so profound, how come you still don't understand these things?"

"This……"

The monk Zhenru shook his head, looking ashamed.

"It is precisely because I previously only studied Buddhism in the mountains and never walked down the mountain, and even the rituals were performed by other fellow practitioners, that I am like this..."

"If we were to use worldly terms, I would be considered the kind of monk who is lazy, ignorant of farming, and unaware of the hardships of life."

"I just didn't realize it before, but now that I've come down the mountain and seen it for myself, I know that's how it is."

"I must thank you all. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I would have been trapped here for the rest of my life."

"Now that there are signs of the Lapis Lazuli Body, there is a chance to attain the Arhatship."

The monk Zhenru bowed slowly, solemnly and earnestly.

Having said that, Chen Ji and the others no longer declined, accepted the greeting, and then inquired about the differences after the monk Zhenru broke through to the next realm.

"I didn't have any other feelings, I just felt that my understanding of Buddhism was more profound. Things that I couldn't understand before, I understand now."

"There are also some techniques that seem to have been completely absorbed into my mind, but I just need some time to learn them."

"That would be wonderful, congratulations!"

Master Xiyun continued to stroke his beard and laugh heartily.

Chen Ji was surprised that the monk Zhenru had already reached the realm of the Lapis Lazuli Body.

Buddhist practice places more emphasis on understanding Buddhist principles. The Lapis Lazuli Body has already entered the middle stage, which is not common even in some large temples. I did not expect to have such a gain.

Such insight, such compassion.

This perfectly aligns with the true essence of Buddhist practice, and I imagine I will truly be able to attain the Arhatship in the future.

"This humble monk does not seek to attain Arhatship; he only wishes to do his best in the present moment and leave no regrets."

After saying that, he smiled and looked at Daoist Xiyun.

"The reasons you gave me just now were indeed good, but after thinking about it, I still prefer what you said before, Fellow Daoist Chen."

"Which one?"

"The most important thing in life is to be clear-headed."

“Although I am a Buddhist cultivator, I am also a human being. Naturally, I cannot bear to see my fellow beings being slaughtered. I used to think that the rules and Buddhist teachings would restrain me, so I never dared to do it. But now, after receiving guidance from you, fellow Daoist, I finally understand that what you said was right.”

"My spiritual practice is for the sake of peace of mind. Even an Arhat's wrathful gaze can subdue dragons and tigers, so how can I not suppress and kill demons and ghosts?"

"From this day forward, I will not think about anything else, but only hope that demons and ghosts in the human world will not dare to harm people!"

"..."

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows as he listened.

Did I mean that when I said those words to Miss Bai?

I can't quite remember them all.

However, since the monk Zhenru had said so, he must have his reasons, so I didn't remind him anymore. I just watched him take a step out the door and asked him what he was going to do now.

"Collect the corpse, and while you're at it, find the demon who committed the murder and get some answers."

"Fellow Taoist, wait!"

Chen Ji called out to him.

The monk Zhenru shook his head.

“My mind is made up, fellow Daoist, there is no need to persuade me.”

"I'm not trying to persuade you, I'm just asking you to wait for me. We'll go together after we've had breakfast!"

"..."

Monk Zhenru was taken aback, while Daoist Xiyun and Miss Bai also stood up and nodded in response.

"Yes, let's go take a look!"

"Don't eat after noon, or you'll waste food."

"Okay, let's go take a look together."

Monk Zhenru sat back down, carefully finished the rice porridge in his bowl, then picked up some side dishes and chewed slowly. Only after finishing everything did he get up and call his disciples to set off together.

This surprised Chen Ji and his group.

Most of the young monks at Baishou Temple are only in their teens or so; it's probably too early for them to be looking into such things.

"It doesn't matter."

The monk Zhenru shook his head.

"Now I have the power to protect them."

"Besides, they don't need to go through the same old path that I've taken. Having witnessed the life-and-death struggle between humans and demons, they will be able to understand these things better in the future."

"Alright."

After all, it concerns the Temple of Longevity.

They didn't say much, so they waited for Monk Zhenru to gather his disciples, and then the group went to the street to collect the remains they had seen that day.

Although the young Taoist priests also wanted to go and see, Master Xiyun felt that too many people would be inappropriate. Besides, there were many demons and ghosts in the town, and the appearance of monks, Taoists, foxes, and the City God would be too much of a spectacle. So he told them to chant scriptures and cultivate, and to wait until another day.

Miss Bai didn't let the little foxes go to see, but only let two or three follow Chen Ji to be at his beck and call.

"The daytime ghosts are not able to move around easily, and your ghost messengers are not by your side. If you need anything, just tell Bai Qi and the others."

"Yes, sir, we will absolutely not cause any trouble."

Bai Qi and Bai Ba Lianghu bowed respectfully and said.

Chen Ji thought about it and couldn't find any reason to refute it. Besides, he did need manpower. It was indeed more convenient for the young Taoist priests to move around in the town than for the fox demons, so he took them with him.

It was almost noon. Although there were many talismans in Fenshan Town that could protect the soul from the scorching sun, there were still very few ghosts on the road. Most of the people on the road were demons and humans.

Upon seeing Chen Ji and his large, imposing crowd, everyone made way for them.

Those who knew Chen Ji's identity hurriedly bowed and greeted the City God.

Only then did the uninformed demons and ghosts realize that the City God of this place had changed, and that Chen Ji was the new City God.

Then someone asked out of curiosity how the City God could be unafraid of sunlight, and someone proudly explained that Chen Ji was a living person.

This elicited another gasp of amazement from the crowd.

Before the exclamations could even subside, Chen Ji and his group stopped and looked around at the demons, humans, and ghosts watching from the sidelines.

"Two days ago, a battle between humans and demons took place here, and they both died. Has anyone seen it?"

(End of this chapter)