Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 858 Buddha Light Continent, Seed of the Profound Sect (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Seeing the situation was dire, True Monarch Xingyan tried to tear through space to escape, but was blocked by the Thunder Domain. The Thunder Whip followed him like a shadow, striking his star chart, which shattered completely. He himself was also injured in spirit and collapsed to the ground.

The Ghostly True Lord was the most cunning. Seeing that the situation was not good, he had already transformed into countless ghostly shadows and scattered. However, Li Yunjing opened his mouth and inhaled, and the Chaotic Thunder Domain generated a terrifying devouring power, which sucked all those ghostly shadows and the surrounding demonic energy into the "Ten Thousand Demon Tower" for refinement, leaving only a desperate scream.

In the blink of an eye, of the five True Lords, four were injured and one died!
"How could this be?"

Only Tianyin Zhenjun, who had barely managed to steady himself but was already seriously injured and had his magic weapon damaged, remained, his face pale and his eyes filled with despair as he watched Li Yunjing walk towards him step by step.

"Now, can we have a proper talk?"

Li Yunjing dispersed the lightning whip, and the chaotic lightning domain slowly receded, but the overwhelming pressure was even more suffocating.

He looked calmly at True Monarch Tianyin, "Who orchestrated this ambush?"

Tianyin Zhenjun's lips trembled. Faced with the absolute difference in strength and the threat of death, all talk of alliance missions and sect prestige seemed pale and powerless.

He said in a hoarse voice, "It was...it was True Lord Qingwei who spearheaded the effort, uniting several grotto-heavens...We were merely acting under orders..."

"Qingwei..."

"It seems that the lesson I taught him last time wasn't profound enough."

A cold glint flashed in Li Yunjing's eyes. It really was him!

"I will spare your lives for now."

He glanced at the disheveled group, especially the damaged "Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda," and said coldly, "Go back and tell Qingwei, and all those with ill intentions!"

His voice, like a divine decree, clearly reached the ears of every survivor, and would surely spread throughout the entire elite ranks of "Tianlan Star" with their passing:
"Li has his own principles for doing things. He doesn't actively offend others, but he will never tolerate others offending him!"

"If they dare to extend their claws again, I'll chop off every single claw they extend! If they extend both, I'll chop off both!"

"Don't say you didn't predict what you said!"

After saying that, Li Yunjing stopped looking at the ashen-faced people, and with a flicker of his figure, he transformed into a bolt of lightning, tearing through the void and disappearing.

All that remained were a scene of utter devastation and several Nascent Soul True Monarchs, their hearts trembling and their Dao hearts nearly broken.

When the severely injured True Lord Tianyin, True Lord Xuanji, True Lord Kurong, and True Lord Xingyan, whose souls were damaged, fled back to the Jade Void Palace in a sorry state with the news of the fall of True Lord Youhun and the damage to the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, the entire leadership of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves fell silent.

The atmosphere in the main hall of "Yuxu Palace" was as oppressive as the deathly stillness before a storm.

Qingwei Zhenjun sat upright in the main seat, his face ashen, his knuckles white from gripping the armrests so tightly.

He listened as Tianyin Zhenjun, with a tone filled with fear and lingering dread, described in fits and starts the one-sided, utterly crushing battle, Li Yunjing's terrifying, unmatched power, like a thunder god descending to earth, and the final warning that sounded like a declaration of the heavens.

"Chaotic Thunder Domain...clashing head-on with the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda...severely injuring Tianyin with a single move..."

"Bare-handedly crushing the sword energy of Xuanji... Thunder whip sweeping across withered life and star formations..."

"Devouring and refining ghostly souls..."

"Even with the combined might of the five True Monarchs, they... they couldn't hold out for more than a moment..."

With each additional sentence, Qingwei Zhenjun's expression grew increasingly grim. The other sect leaders and elders of the other blessed lands below exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with disbelief and deep shock.

They originally thought that with five renowned Nascent Soul True Monarchs dispatched, including a master like Heavenly Sound True Monarch wielding the immortal artifact "Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda," capturing or at least severely injuring Li Yunjing should be a sure thing.

Even if it doesn't succeed, at least we can test their bottom line and force them to reveal all their cards.

However, reality gave them a resounding slap in the face!

It wasn't that they were testing Li Yunjing's bottom line; rather, they simply couldn't find out where Li Yunjing's bottom line was!
It wasn't that they forced the other side to reveal their hand; it was that they didn't even have the right to make the other side take things seriously!

The five True Monarchs suffered a crushing defeat, with one dead and four wounded, and their immortal artifacts damaged!

This is no longer a simple defeat, but a complete and crushing rout!

"He...he's really only at the Nascent Soul stage?"

A senior elder from "Biyou Cave Heaven" asked the question that was on everyone's mind, his voice hoarse.

The Nascent Soul cultivator's reversal of fate and defeat of the Divine Transformation cultivator was already legendary. Now, one person alone fought against five Divine Transformation cultivators, including one in the mid-stage who wielded a celestial artifact. The fact that he could achieve such a result was completely beyond their comprehension.

"The Chaotic Thunder Body... and the ability to manipulate stars and demonic energy... this child must possess an immense secret!"

Another Supreme Elder of "Yaoguang Cave Heaven" had a glint in his eyes, a mixture of greed and lingering fear.

"Don't say I didn't warn you..."

Qingwei Zhenjun murmured Li Yunjing's last warning, each word like a heavy hammer striking his heart.

He could almost see Li Yunjing's calm yet imposing gaze piercing through the void, coldly watching over them.

A chill ran from my tailbone straight up to the top of my head.

He originally thought that with the foundation of the "Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves" and the momentum of the alliance, he would be able to suppress or even control Li Yunjing and the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect".

But now it seems he was completely wrong!
Li Yunjing's personal strength has become so great that he can disregard the rules to a certain extent!
His willingness to abide by the league rules was not out of fear, but out of consideration for all parties.

If you really push him to the limit...

Qingwei Zhenjun dared not think any further.

A long silence fell over the hall.

Everyone was stunned by the news and needed time to process this astonishing fact and to think about how to face such a powerful and invincible Li Yunjing and the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" behind him.

After a long while, Qingwei Zhenjun seemed to have exhausted all his strength before he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse and weary:

"Pass the order..."

"From this day forward, all forces within the alliance shall refrain from provoking the 'Shenxiao Dao Sect' and Li Yunjing himself in any form."

"Regarding this matter, and this conflict... the unified statement to the outside world is that it is a misunderstanding."

“Strengthen communication and cooperation with my ‘Shenxiao Dao Sect’, and the previously agreed resource share… can be further tilted towards them by half a percent.”

This series of orders signifies that the "Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves" have chosen to temporarily back down and compromise in the face of Li Yunjing's absolute strength.

Although I was unwilling, the situation was beyond my control.

No one voiced any objection.

Faced with absolute power, any scheming or ambition appears pale and powerless.

After all, neither the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" nor Li Yunjing were "Void Demons," and it was impossible for the "Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves" to gather more than a dozen immortal artifacts and mobilize dozens of True Monarchs to besiege and kill this person.

Moreover, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" is not just a name; it has allies with various forces such as the "Huangze Dynasty," "Yuanyang Dao Sect," "Louguan Dao," "Beidi Sect," and "Xiao Family."

It would be detrimental for neither side to escalate into a full-scale war.

This is also why Li Yunjing, despite having the absolute upper hand, did not kill them all!

He was equally unwilling to forge a blood feud with the "Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves"!
As for demonic cultivators?

Kill them if you want!
If a group of forces dare not offend the ruthless, wouldn't they dare to kill a demonic sect?
Those two from the "Netherworld Sea" are the best example!

If you ever think about making a move on him, you'll have to see if you're lucky enough to do so!

……

Leaving the battlefield did not affect Li Yunjing's mood. He continued to travel on the "Canglan Continent," experiencing the local customs and culture.

On this day, he quietly entered the "Buddha's Light Continent"!
This is the most unique continent on "Tianlan Star".

Throughout the continent, Buddhist temples stand in abundance, yet there is no place for the Xuanmen (Taoist sects) to establish themselves; their control is even stricter than that of the Demonic Sect.

Upon arriving on this continent, Li Yunjing frowned. The air itself was filled with Buddhist power. As he walked through cities, towns, and villages, he saw mortals chanting Buddhist scriptures everywhere.

Unseen by ordinary people, strands and grains of golden willpower drifted toward each temple.

As the sun sets, the sunset dyes the sky red.

"Alas... Buddhism is still a malignant tumor."

"I wonder if the landscape of 'Tianlan Star' will change. Will I have a chance to find a pretext to suppress the development of Buddhism and leave behind the legacy of the Xuanmen sect on this continent?"

Li Yunjing transformed his "Starry Sky Robe" into a white robe, and like a scholar, walked outside a remote village.

This place is located in the western border of the "Buddha's Light Continent", in a Buddhist territory called "Brahma Wheel Kingdom".

The mountain peak in front is "Mingxin Mountain", a famous Buddhist mountain.

The name of this mountain implies enlightenment and the realization of one's true nature.

The main peak pierces the clouds, and the mountainside is shrouded in mist all year round, which is said to be the "path between heaven and man".

The summit requires navigating 9,999 precipitous stone steps, each engraved with the name of a Buddha, earning it the name "Stairway to Ten Thousand Buddhas".

Halfway up Mingxin Mountain, there is a temple called Mingxin Temple.

The entire "Vanlun Kingdom" was under the management of "Mingxin Temple".

As for why there is a "Mingxin Temple" in the "Southern Continent" and another "Mingxin Temple" in the "Buddha Light Continent"?
This is the predecessor of "Mingxin Temple" and also its main altar.

Besides this location, there are dozens of branches of "Mingxin Temple" scattered throughout the continent of "Tianlan Star".

Some "Mingxin Temples" have grown and prospered, while others have gradually become unable to survive and have disappeared into the long river of time.

Nowadays, apart from the Mingxin Temple, there are basically no Buddhist sects in the entire "Southern Continent".

All of this was achieved by Li Yunjing using the demonic tribulation and the two power divisions to completely suppress the Buddhist sect's influence.

Even the Mingxin Temple was extremely well-behaved in the Southern Continent. Apart from its own territory, it basically dared not go to other countries to preach, and always strictly abided by Li Yunjing's rules.

At this moment, Li Yunjing stood at the foot of Mingxin Mountain, looking at the towering Buddhist mountain, and the idea of ​​causing trouble for Buddhism arose in his mind.

"what?"

Suddenly, Li Yunjing's gaze turned to the mountainside, a look of surprise on his face.

"Those damn bald guys!"

In sight, a dozen or so villagers, dressed in tattered clothes, were struggling to climb up the mountain. A young man following behind the group couldn't help but curse.

This young man is named Song Zifeng.

He had just turned eighteen and was dirt poor, but he had a face that would make even princes and nobles envious.

His eyebrows were like ink paintings, his eyes like cold stars, his nose was high and straight as if carved by a knife, his lips were thin and pale, and he had a hint of coldness when he wasn't smiling.

When he smiled, a faint, mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

It's as if they've seen through all the absurdities of the world, yet are too lazy to expose them.

Song Zifeng was an orphaned boy from "Majia Village" at the foot of the mountain.

He lost his family at a young age and survived on the charity of others.

He walked at the back, dressed in tattered clothes, his coarse linen clothes faded from washing, the cuffs frayed, and a straw rope loosely tied around his waist.

Without even a decent pair of shoes, walking barefoot on the white marble steps, he exuded an indescribable sense of freedom.

The wind tousled his black hair, but he didn't care. He casually brushed it aside, revealing his lazy eyes.

His gaze seemed to hold a hint of mockery, as if to say, "This world is nothing special."

Ma Xiaoyu, a girl from the same village, secretly watched him.

He noticed, but instead of dodging, he gave the person a lazy smile.

The girls blushed with laughter, too embarrassed to look back, and continued walking forward, clinging to their mothers' arms.

In "Ma Family Village," some people called him poor and stingy, but Song Zifeng didn't get angry. He just casually replied, "Yeah, all I have left is this face. Do you want it?"

His tone carried three parts mockery and seven parts indifference.

He lived a carefree life. When he was extremely hungry, he would go to the river to catch fish. When he was tired, he would find a dilapidated temple to lie down in, using the sky as his blanket and the earth as his mat, never worrying about tomorrow.

Someone asked him, "If you keep wasting your life like this, what will you do in the future?"

"future?"

He scoffed, "Who knows if there's a future?"

During the days when Buddhism was dominant, the common people suffered from poverty, and there were countless people like Song Zifeng.

But there are few people as carefree as him.

In the village, he was also an oddity.

Today, Song Zifeng was reluctantly dragged by several villagers to climb the mountain and pay homage to the "holy monks" of "Mingxin Temple".

"In this world, there are always some people who are poor but open about it, beautiful but unrestrained, living more clearly than anyone else, yet more indifferent than anyone else."

Looking at the young man in front of him, Li Yunjing had a smile on his lips.

Back then, wasn't he just like that young man?
He was cynical and ambitious, but as he grew older, even with martial arts skills that rivaled those of the Ming Dynasty, he was still unable to change anything.

Ultimately, after learning about the power and immortality of the immortal path, he had the opportunity to join the "Shenxiao Dao Sect".

This young man brought back many memories for Li Yunjing.

"Perhaps we should give this young man a chance?"

This thought suddenly occurred to him.

As for spiritual roots?

Li Yunjing did not go for a checkup!
Even without spiritual roots, given his level and status, he could still acquire rare and precious materials to lay the foundation for Song Zifeng's immortal path!

All the impossibilities of the past were simply due to a lack of understanding.

When your level of understanding is high enough, you can change everything!
Even life and death can be changed, let alone the qualifications for cultivation.

Having made up his mind, Li Yunjing stopped and sat on a large rock, leisurely fanning himself, to observe Song Zifeng's character!
After all, even if he finds someone he gets along with very well, he doesn't want to raise an ungrateful person!

They waited for two hours, until the sun set and the sky was ablaze with fiery clouds.

Song Zifeng and his group finally reached the mountainside and saw the magnificent temple.

Mingxin Temple is modeled after the Mahavira Hall of Mount Ling in the Western Paradise, and the dome inside the hall is painted with the "Twenty-Eight Devas Paying Homage to Buddha".

The pillars are carved with images of the Eight Heavenly Dragons, and the ground is inlaid with lotus patterns made of meteorite fragments, which produce a bell-like sound when stepped on.

Upon entering the courtyard, no one stopped them, and the village chief and others from "Ma Family Village" went inside.

Looking at the magnificent temple, the people of "Majia Village" dared not utter a sound, bowing with each step and paying homage to the Buddha.

Song Zifeng, following behind, felt helpless and had to pretend to follow everyone else's example.

However, he felt no reverence for Buddhism; rather, he felt nothing but disgust.

This feeling of disgust was so deep that it bordered on nausea.

The common people are suffering, while the monks all have fair and rosy skin, delicate skin, and are plump and fair-skinned.

These are a bunch of bloodsucking leeches!

While pondering, the group entered the second courtyard under the guidance of a young novice monk.

Inside the main hall, a three-zhang-tall gilded Buddha statue looks down upon all living beings, its half-closed eyes conveying an illusion of compassion.

The magnificent, resplendent hall was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood incense.

The monks, dressed in red robes, stood in neat rows. The elderly monk at the head of the group had a plump, white face and a kind and peaceful expression.

The old monk closed his eyes slightly, clasped his hands together, and softly chanted "Namo Amitabha Buddha." His voice was deep and resonant, bringing peace of mind.

The other monks followed suit, their chanting echoing throughout the main hall, each word filled with devotion to the Dharma.

In front of the old monk was an antique, dark red wooden fish with clear patterns and a smooth surface.

He picked up the wooden mallet in his right hand and struck it rhythmically with the chanting. The "tap tap tap" sound was crisp and melodious, blending perfectly with the chanting.

The monks around were immersed in a solemn atmosphere. Whether young or old, they swayed slowly to the sound, their faces full of focus and piety. Some had their lips upturned, while others had their brows furrowed, as if deep in thought.

Outside the main hall, however, a discordant scene unfolded.

After Song Zifeng and his group arrived, they knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly towards the main hall.

The group of believers, dressed in tattered clothes, looked quite out of place in the magnificent Buddhist "holy land."

Although Li Yunjing was at the foot of the mountain, his incomparably powerful divine sense had already taken in the entire scene inside and outside the main hall of Mingxin Temple on the mountainside.

When he "saw" the group of ragged, emaciated villagers outside the magnificent, sandalwood-scented hall, devoutly bowing to the plump, dignified old monk, chanting incantations and praying for vague blessings, a cold smile crept onto his lips.

"Hmph, that's a trick that bald monks always use."

He sneered inwardly, "Using compassion as a facade, they are actually accumulating wealth. They fool ordinary people, drain their spiritual power, enrich themselves while impoverishing the masses. How are such actions any different from those of demons?"

This is one of the reasons why he, and indeed the vast majority of Xuanmen cultivators, despise Buddhism from the bottom of their hearts.

The Taoist school emphasizes following the natural way and learning from heaven and earth, pursuing personal transcendence and longevity.

Although it also talks about helping the world and saving people, it is more about going with the flow and guiding them towards the Tao, rather than deliberately creating miracles, gathering faith, or even intimidating people with reincarnation or tempting them with blessings, treating all beings as "resources" to provide their vows.

In the eyes of the Xuanmen (Taoist school), this has deviated from the original intention of cultivation and is close to the "divine path" or even the "demonic path".

In short, they are all unorthodox methods!
The humble prostrations of the villagers of "Majia Village" stood in stark contrast to the seemingly solemn yet actually smug chanting of scriptures by the monks inside the temple.

The sound of the wooden fish resonated in the hearts of believers, and it also seemed to reinforce Li Yunjing's already negative perception of Buddhism.

"This Song Zifeng is a sensible man."

Li Yunjing focused his divine sense on the young man.

Although Song Zifeng also knelt down with the others, his movements were perfunctory, his eyes were clear, and there was even a hint of mockery that was hard to detect.

He looked at the gilded Buddha statue, the plump abbot, and the luxurious palace, and then compared it with his own and the villagers' poverty; the disgust in his heart was almost overflowing.

"If these gods and Buddhas in the sky are truly divine, why don't they send down a single grain of rice to relieve the famine?"

"If this monk is truly compassionate, why doesn't he give away all the temple's wealth to help the poor?" "He's nothing but a fraud!"

Song Zifeng pondered to himself, but dared not show too much on his face. Only the slight pursing of his lips revealed his true thoughts.

This scene further solidified Li Yunjing's previous resolve.

"This child is simple and honest. Although he is in a quagmire, he can see through the illusion, does not covet vanity, is not afraid of authority, and retains his true self."

"What's even more remarkable is that he has a natural aversion to this hypocritical Buddhist sect."

"Good! Very good!"

Li Yunjing clapped his hands and chuckled, his plan becoming increasingly clear.

He not only wanted to give Song Zifeng a chance to embark on the path of immortality, but also wanted to use this opportunity to plant a seed of the Xuanmen sect in the "Buddha Light Continent" where Buddhism has a deep foundation!

A seed that may stir up trouble in the future and even shake the foundations of Buddhism's rule!
"Mingxin Temple... 'Buddha's Light Continent'... Heh!"

Li Yunjing's gaze was deep as he looked up at the misty mountain peak, as if he could already see the waves that might be stirred up in the future.

He did not reveal himself immediately, but remained hidden in the shadows, like a patient hunter waiting for the most opportune moment.

He wanted to see what kind of character Song Zifeng would display in the upcoming "test".

Meanwhile, the ceremony outside the main hall seemed to be reaching its climax.

The plump abbot stopped striking the wooden fish, slowly opened his eyes, and "kindly" swept his gaze over the villagers who were bowing in worship outside the hall. He began to preach Buddhist teachings in a gentle voice, which were nothing more than sermons about "cause and effect," "accumulating virtue and doing good deeds," and "blessings in the next life."

Song Zifeng lowered his head, listening to these empty words, and looking at the increasingly devout and even fanatical eyes of the villagers around him, which had been stirred up, he felt nauseous.

He quietly clenched his fist, then helplessly released it.

"Power... If I had the power, I would tear off this veil of hypocrisy!"

A thought, like a wild grass, quietly sprouted in his heart.

This subtle emotional fluctuation did not escape the notice of the "scholar" at the foot of the mountain.

The smile on Li Yunjing's face became increasingly meaningful.

After the sermon ended, the other monks dispersed.

The monk, Dingxin, shook the long sleeves of his purple-gold kasaya and smiled as he looked at the group of poor people kneeling in worship before the incense burner filled with the smoke of incense.

His eyes, however, held a hidden, cold light.

"The grand vegetarian feast is in fifteen days. The abbot needs ten pairs of white peacock feathers!"

The monk Dingxin looked down at the middle-aged couple and a young girl kneeling before him, his fingers tracing the warm jade-carved Arhat prayer beads, and said indifferently.

“If your Ma family village still cannot catch white peacocks in the mountains, then the farmland provided to you by the temple will be taken back.”

Upon hearing this, the faces of the dozen or so believers all changed drastically, revealing expressions of despair.

"Master, please grant me some more time!"

"It's been rare to see white peacocks in the mountains lately. I've been searching the mountains every day, but I haven't encountered one yet!"

The middle-aged man, dressed in coarse cloth clothes covered with patches, with a sorrowful face, kowtowed three times heavily to the monk Dingxin, pleading with a sob in his voice.

He is the village chief, Ma Xingwang!
Near Mingxin Mountain, Mingxin Temple is the heaven, the master who herds all living beings.

The villages surrounding Mingxin Temple all rent farmland from the temple.

Many villagers were thus able to survive.

If the temple takes back the land, the villagers will have no livelihood and will starve to death.

As for having surplus grain at home?

Under the rule of Mingxin Temple, the harvest from the fields was divided 30/70, with farmers receiving 30% and Mingxin Temple receiving 70%.

With this amount of grain, it's barely enough to make ends meet, let alone have any surplus.
Many people had no choice but to do manual labor for Mingxin Temple in addition to farming, in exchange for some food.

That's how they were able to make a living.

This year's harvest is terrible for some reason, making it difficult to pay the full amount of grain.

The villagers of Majia Village elected more than a dozen representatives who had no choice but to go to the temple to beg the monks to reduce the rent slightly, so that they could repay this year's rent when the harvest was good next year.

Unfortunately, the monk in front of them didn't seem easy to talk to.

Instead of reducing or exempting the fees, they presented an impossible task.

"hehe!"

"If I give you a longer time, won't Buddha blame this poor monk?"

Looking down at the ants before him, Monk Dingxin sneered and said, "Ten pairs of white peacock feathers. If you can't produce them, then fend for yourselves!"

"Grandmaster……"

Seeing that the monk Dingxin was so heartless and wanted to watch her family die, Madam Ma couldn't help but kowtow repeatedly. The blood flowing from her forehead stained the blue bricks outside the hall red...

"Ugh……"

Song Zifeng, kneeling at the very back, shook his head slightly, begging the monk for mercy.

You might as well pray for gold ingots to fall from the sky!

How is this possible?
Those damned bald monks are absolutely wicked.

They're all fat and healthy, sucking the blood of the people to get their skin and flesh smooth and tender!
Conversely, the people suffer hardship and live in constant uncertainty.

Unfortunately, the monks at Mingxin Temple were very powerful.

Ordinary monks eat well, dress well, and practice martial arts every day. They are all masters of fists, feet, and sticks.

Let alone ordinary people, even some outlaws and heroes of the martial arts world wouldn't stand much of a chance against the monks of Mingxin Temple.

According to legend, there are also some highly accomplished monks in Mingxin Temple.

Flying through the sky and diving into the earth, moving mountains and overturning seas, omnipotent... all possessing the power of immortals and Buddhas.

What can ordinary people use to resist?
Although Song Zifeng was angry, he knew that when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head.

Even if he stood up for himself, he would be beaten to death by the monk Dingxin!
These monks can be quite ruthless!
"Get out! Your filthy blood has defiled this sacred Buddhist site!"

"Get out of here now!"

Sure enough, before Song Zifeng could think for long, Monk Dingxin saw Madam Ma's incessant chatter, his expression changed, he took a few steps forward, and kicked out, landing on Madam Ma's head.

With a "bang," Madam Ma's body flew backward, landing ten feet away, motionless, and unconscious.

"Woooooooo..."

Upon seeing this, Ma Xiaoyu, the daughter of the Ma family, turned pale with fright, at a loss for what to do, and could only cry...

"lady……"

As the head of the household, Ma Xingwang immediately got up, ran to his wife, helped her up, and placed his finger under her nose to check if she was still breathing.

"Ok?"

At this moment, the guest monk Dingxin looked down at the Ma family's daughter, a lewd glint in his eyes.

"This little girl is quite pretty, but unfortunately she looks rather pale and thin. Perhaps with some rest, she can recover?"

A thought flashed through the mind of the monk Dingxin.

The young girl, around twenty years old, had a face full of panic on her delicate features; she was terrified of this master.

The little girl cried out in fear, and suddenly found a surge of strength within her, and scrambled and crawled toward her parents.

"Hmph! I don't know what's good and what's good!"

The monk Dingxin sneered repeatedly. It was just a little rabbit; it couldn't escape. He could play with it slowly; he had plenty of patience...

Seeing his wife injured and his daughter frightened, Ma Xingwang was filled with grief, but when he looked at the monk Dingxin, he couldn't help but feel afraid.

As for the villagers from "Majia Village" who were traveling with them, they all had ashen faces, remained silent, and did not even dare to express their anger!
The monks at Mingxin Temple are fierce and powerful.

According to rumors, he was well-versed in Buddhism; how could an ordinary mortal like him possibly contend with him?
If they dare to rush towards Monk Dingxin, the entire village will perish here.

There was no other way but to swallow our anger and keep quiet.

Ma Xingwang sighed, his face becoming even more miserable.

He bent down, carried his unconscious wife on his back, and, holding his daughter's little hand, walked towards the door.

The villagers were equally angry, but they could only lower their heads and swallow their anger.

He followed behind Ma Xingwang and silently chose to leave.

Song Zifeng was one of them.

"Fuck that bald thief! He's really bad!"

Song Zifeng cursed inwardly, then dared not have any other thoughts.

"Ding……"

Suddenly, a clear notification sound rang out in his mind.

[Ding! Host detected being oppressed by Buddhism; Xuanmen Transmission System activated!]

A clear, cold voice rang out in Song Zifeng's mind.

Immediately, a phantom light screen appeared before his eyes, displaying several lines of ancient seal script:
[Mystical Sect Transmission System]

[Host: Song Zifeng]

[Realm Level: Mortal (Not Yet Entered the Dao)]

[Current Mission: Solve the food problem for the people of Majia Village and embark on the path of cultivation!]

[Reward: The Basic Cultivation Method "The True Secrets of the Five Elements"]

Song Zifeng was taken aback at first, then overjoyed, but his face remained expressionless, only his eyes flickered slightly.

"system?"

He asked tentatively in his mind.

"This system is a product of the orthodox Xuanmen sect, and aims to help the host spread the true teachings of Taoism and resist the erosion of Buddhism."

Li Yunjing's voice was cold and authoritative, "Host, you have long resided in the Buddhist realm and have not been disturbed by the evil practices of Buddhism. This system has chosen you and hopes that you will live up to the expectations of the Xuanmen and spread the great Dao of Xuanmen in the heart of Buddhism."

Song Zifeng was shocked, but his long-cultivated stoicism allowed him to quickly suppress the strange expression on his face.

He kept his head down and silently followed the villagers out, but his mind was rapidly communicating with the system.

"system?"

"The Xuanmen?"

"Preaching?"

Song Zifeng quickly asked in his mind, "Can you give me power? The power to fight these bald monks?"

"nature."

Li Yunjing (the system)'s voice carried a hint of arrogance, "Buddhism is nothing but a heretical path, while Taoism is the true orthodox tradition of heaven and earth."

"The host only needs to complete the task to obtain the supreme method and embark on the path of immortality. In the future, it will be easy to overturn rivers and seas and achieve immortality. A mere Buddhist temple can be destroyed with a flick of the finger."

"Could be broken with a flick of the finger..."

As Song Zifeng pondered these four words, a burning light flashed in his eyes.

He had had enough of this humiliating, powerless, and subjugated life!

"Current task: Solve the food problem in Majia Village."

The system screen reappeared: "Limited time: three days. Success reward: Introduction to the True Secrets of the Five Elements."

"food……"

Song Zifeng frowned slightly.

This is indeed a tricky question.

Mingxin Temple controls all the farmland and most of the resources, making it extremely difficult to obtain enough food for the entire village to get through the crisis in a short period of time.

Forcibly seizing it?

That is courting death.

Borrow from other villages?
Everyone's situation is pretty much the same.

His gaze involuntarily drifted into the depths of "Mingxin Mountain," shrouded in mist and frequented by wild beasts.

Perhaps, the only hope lies there?
Although the mountains are dangerous, they also contain wild fruits, medicinal herbs, and even... if you're lucky, you might find something valuable that you could secretly exchange for food in a distant town.

It is extremely risky, but it is currently the only seemingly feasible path.

"Done!"

Song Zifeng hardened his heart.

For strength, and to never again suffer this humiliation, I'll fight!
He quietly followed the villagers back to "Majia Village" at the foot of the mountain.

That night, he quietly prepared some simple tools and dry food. When the night was deep and quiet and the villagers had all gone to sleep, he slipped out of the village silently like a ghost and once again sneaked towards the dark "Mingxin Mountain".

All of this was naturally seen by Li Yunjing, who was hiding in the shadows.

"Indeed, decisive, knows when to advance and retreat, knows how to be patient, and dares to take risks."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Song Zifeng's performance.

He didn't intend to offer direct assistance; if someone couldn't even pass this test, they weren't worth his time to cultivate.

He separated a wisp of his divine sense and attached it to Song Zifeng to ensure that he would not actually die in the mouth of wild beasts, and then let him roam freely.

For the next two days, Song Zifeng struggled to survive in the perilous mountains.

He dodged wild beasts and gathered familiar wild fruits and common herbs, but these things were of limited value and far from enough to exchange for the food needed by the whole village.

Just when he was about to despair, he discovered several crimson fruits emanating a faint spiritual aura in a crevice of a steep cliff!

It is the "Crimson Sun Fruit" commonly used by low-level cultivators. For ordinary people, it is a precious medicine for strengthening the body and can be sold for a good price in the secular world!

"There's always a way out!"

Song Zifeng was overjoyed and carefully dug up the "Red Sun Fruit" plants, roots and all.

"Huh? This kid's got some luck on him!"

This scene naturally did not escape Li Yunjing's notice.

That so-called system was nothing more than him using the "Heavenly Thunder Emperor Seal" with supreme divine power to implant it into Song Zifeng's sea of ​​consciousness!

The "Heavenly Thunder Emperor Seal" was Li Yunjing's natal magic weapon, and naturally contained his divine consciousness. All kinds of commands were issued without any problems.

Song Zifeng was naturally unaware that his so-called "adventure" and "system" were all arranged by the white-robed scholar who was hiding behind the scenes.

He felt that he was blessed by the heavens and had good fortune upon him.

After carefully storing the precious "Red Sun Fruits," he did not immediately descend the mountain.

With the slight perception and enhanced physical strength brought by the system, he searched the deep mountains purposefully again and luckily set a few simple traps, catching a sizable wild boar and some pheasants and rabbits.

The next evening, when Song Zifeng returned to Majia Village, carrying a heavy load of meat weighing over a hundred pounds, as well as several "Chiyang Fruit" plants with their roots wrapped in wet mud, stumbling and covered in mud but with bright eyes, the whole village was in an uproar!
"Zifeng! Where...where did you get this?"

Village chief Ma Xingwang looked at the mountain of meat, his voice trembling with excitement.

With this meat, if we eat it sparingly and supplement it with some wild vegetables and grains, the whole village can last for at least another half a month!

Those few "Red Sun Fruits" that looked extraordinary could be exchanged for a lot of grain!
"We were lucky to run into them in the mountains."

Song Zifeng wiped the sweat and mud off his face, grinned, and said nothing more.

He was well aware of the dangers of possessing a treasure, and decided to keep the true value of the "system" and the "Red Sun Fruit" a secret for the time being.

The villagers surrounded Song Zifeng, their gratitude overflowing.

This seemingly lazy and unpromising young man actually saved the entire village at a critical moment!
Song Zifeng distributed most of the meat to the villagers, keeping only a small amount for himself and some elderly people living alone who were truly in dire need.

Afterwards, he took the few "Red Sun Fruits" and, under the pretext of going to a distant town to exchange them for some salt, quietly left the village.

Several days later, he returned weary from his journey, bringing back several large bags of grain and some silver, which he then distributed to the villagers.

The food crisis in Majia Village has been temporarily alleviated.

[Ding! Mission complete. Reward: Introduction to the Five Elements True Secrets.]

Just as he handed the last bag of grain to the village chief, the clear, cold voice rang out in his mind again, and a more detailed cultivation method surged into his heart.

Suppressing his excitement, Song Zifeng returned to his dilapidated house and eagerly began cultivating.

With the foundation of Qi cultivation from before, coupled with the orthodox methods of the Five Elements True Technique, his cultivation progressed much faster. The faint spiritual energy in his body gradually grew stronger, flowing through his meridians and nourishing his physical body.

He could clearly feel his strength increasing, his senses becoming sharper, and even his thinking becoming much more agile!

"This is power..."

Song Zifeng clenched his fists, feeling the warm current surging through his body, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light.

He was no longer a powerless ant; he possessed the power to change his destiny!
However, he also knew that the first level of Qi Refining was still as insignificant as dust in front of the "Mingxin Temple".

(End of this chapter)