Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 349 The Human World is Also Hell
Xu Xuan was also a person who liked to talk nonsense. On the spot, he made up a story about how powerful his Buddhist teachings were and how he was killed.

Besides specifications, a compelling story is crucial when selling a product.

"That day I was preaching the gospel among men."

A high-ranking Zen monk found Kinnara and said that his Buddhist teachings had gone astray, hoping that he would turn back to the right path.

Unable to reach an agreement, the two decided to engage in a wager, with one side aiming to break the other's mental techniques and shatter his path.

In Buddhism, it is better to destroy the mind than to kill the body.

As he spoke, Master Xu looked into the void, as if he were seeing the scene of himself making that vow on that day.

Everyone was anxious but dared not urge him on. It was Zhang San who finally asked how the bet was to be decided.

The Ghost General gave the lowly centurion an approving look; he was just missing someone with such insight under his command.

"How to wager three things."

"The descendants of a local family of thieves have stopped stealing; the second is that the local thugs who used to fight have stopped fighting; and the third is that the local prostitutes have stopped being prostitutes."

The Ghost General laughed loudly, "This old monk is utterly despicable."

The many evil spirits present understood even more the meaning of "it is difficult to change one's nature" and the significance of Buddha's salvation for those with affinity.

In any case, in Buddhist scriptures, these three types of people are all people without affinity.

However, the pirated Kinnara in the story is decisive and ruthless, using profound Buddhist teachings to swiftly complete the conversion.

Thieves began to steal kingdoms, robbers became generals, and prostitutes established religions.

Then Buddhism lost its roots.

The old monk refused to accept this outcome and turned on him, ruthlessly sending him to hell.

The ghosts fell silent. Your Buddhist teachings are indeed powerful.

The Ghost General's eyes narrowed with laughter; each of these three treasures was more powerful than the last.

Regardless of whether it turned out to be a lie or not, we have witnessed the other party's evil heart and audacity.

"Lord Heishan still needs to cultivate. I will personally introduce you when he awakens."

"If Master Kinnara has any further requests, please feel free to make them within the scope of my authority."

She wanted to be among the first to see the very techniques that even eminent Buddhist monks feared.

Xu Xuan said calmly and unhurriedly.

"I only have one request: can I go and see the Ksitigarbha Hall?"

"I will spread the Dharma after I finish reading it."

This request is not difficult to fulfill. No ghosts have come to kowtow and offer incense in that place for hundreds of years, and it has basically been abandoned beyond recognition.

If it weren't for the sturdier materials used in the underworld, it might have collapsed into ruins long ago.

But what would a demonic monk be doing at the Ksitigarbha Temple?
repent?

"Learn and absorb the wisdom of our predecessors."

"Only by perfecting one's own principles can one replace the original existence."

What a sophisticated topic! This kind of blatant attack on the very core of Buddhism is something only you demonic monks would do.

Then I'll take you there.

The Ghost General, who usually had no official duties, got up and led the treasure-presenting team to the Ksitigarbha Hall.

As for why she still brought Zhu Yingtai along, she wanted to pray to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva for protection one last time.

These kinds of small requests, like a last meal before death, should still be met. Everyone, whether in the underworld or the living world, still follows some rules.

The Ghost King led the way, explaining things to Master Kinnara along the way, as there were quite a few twists and turns in the path.

In the past, there were many different departments here, each with its own deity. There were officials from thirteen provinces, and each province had its own main street.

Now that the spirits have all disappeared, these government offices and palaces have been occupied by the Black Mountain Army, and each of the ten Ghost Generals has chosen a main hall.

The statues of the Ten Kings of Hell, the Four Judges, the Black and White Impermanence, and the day-roaming and night-roaming deities were all thrown out.

Of course, there are some halls they still dare not occupy, including the Black Mountain King's.

For example, in the Hall of Yama, the King of Hell, is the head of the gods who govern the underworld. He is a primordial deity who existed for countless years, even when Black Mountain was just a small hill. Even after his disappearance, no one dares to touch his statue or memorial tablet; there are even ghosts specifically responsible for cleaning it.

It is said that the master greatly admired the emperor's former power and even worshipped him.

There is also the Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun Tianzun Hall.

Most revered and noble, most sacred and most spiritual. Transformed from the essence of the Nine Yangs, originating from the primordial Qi, it is an innate spirit. Out of compassion, it pities all sentient beings and has been relieving suffering and rescuing people since beginningless time.

Whenever the Taoist community initiates various Yellow Register rituals or ceremonies that benefit both the living and the deceased, it must invite a holy assembly headed by Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun to descend upon the altar before the ritual can be formally performed.

He is in charge of saving people from suffering in the three realms and is also a ruthless deity who has made great vows.

Black Mountain naturally dared not be negligent either, as this being had the most incarnations, spread across countless worlds, and there might even be residual sensations within the Three Realms.

The Ksitigarbha Hall is home to the ruthless monk who vowed not to become a Buddha until hell is emptied.

The golden light at the foot of Yinshan Mountain has shone like a lamppost for countless years, and can be seen by all the ghosts who have entered the underworld.

With the backing of Buddhism, he made a great vow, and his spiritual power and cultivation are unfathomable.

Moreover, the Pure Land of Ksitigarbha was recently found by that mad monk, and who knows if that important figure left behind some kind of backup plan.

Anyway, Lord Black Mountain may be arrogant, but he even went so far as to occupy the City of the Unjustly Dead.

When it comes to showing respect, there is no room for ambiguity; and one dares not touch temples that are not to be trifled with.

This is different from Xu Xuan.

He dares to mess with anyone; if he can't handle it, he'll just die.

As they walked, the group arrived at the Ksitigarbha Hall.

There were no ever-burning lamps, no incense, and no chanting.

The temple, built of cold, hard bricks, with its dull, lifeless tiles and dark, gaping doors, offered no warmth or sense of redemption.

The giant Bodhisattva statue inside the hall, shrouded in shadow, exudes a sense of danger.

Calm and still as the earth, deep and secret as a hidden treasure.

The fact that this once-deity or Buddha is now just a clay statue shows that nothing is eternal.

But what's even more dangerous here is Xu Xuan, who is standing here.

The demonic fire in his eyes was burning, and black and white light and shadow alternated in his vision.

Crimson flames flickered across his body, and the aura of the raging demonic hair permeated the air with chaos and madness.

As a proper victim of a violent death, he was still immersed in the battle when he was killed by Jianglong.

But when falling from the world of the living to the world of the dead, how could one not feel fear, hatred, or resentment?

Having demonic thoughts is a common human tendency.

The Ghost General felt a sense of unease as he sensed the fluctuations of Yin energy around him.

The aura mixed within was anything but pleasant: demonic energy, yin energy, malevolent energy, karmic fire, and an indescribable, dangerous energy.

She truly admired Master Kinnara for surviving until now.

But do you want to demolish this Ksitigarbha Temple?

That won't do; Lord Heishan won't allow it.

Who would have thought that one day she, as a ghost general, would also need to provide protection for Buddhist temples?

This villain's actions are truly appalling.

Xu Xuan clasped his hands together, gathering all his out-of-control energy, and revealed a smile.

"It's alright, I just have a lingering resentment in my heart after I died."

"It was a bit of a pity to see Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."

The surrounding ghosts fell silent for a moment. Fortunately, Zhang San, who had followed them for some reason, asked again: What's the pity?
"What a pity!"

"The human world is also hell, so why does no one make a grand vow?"

After saying this, the monk in black robes and a red lotus crown calmly walked into the Ksitigarbha Hall, and in an instant, the hall was brightly lit.

(End of this chapter)