On the Path to the Great Dao

Chen Shi and Li Tianqing hadn't seen each other for many days. They stayed up all night, gathered in one room, chatting about their recent experiences.

When the conversation turned to how Black Pot had erased Chen Shi's name, they grew excited. Chen Shi glanced toward the window and caught sight of Black Pot standing outside, crouched by the window, staring eerily at them and eavesdropping on their talk.

As Chen Shi and Li Tianqing's gazes swept over, Black Pot quickly ducked its head.

The two quietly rose and crept to the window, peeking outside. Black Pot was already lying under the carriage, pretending to doze.

"Black Pot's a sly one."

Chen Shi described how he had sent his golden core out of his body to spy on Black Pot entering the yang world to fetch a book.

"I suspect Grandpa picked up Black Pot back then near that palace. He just never saw what it was called."

"Most likely Yuan Chen Palace."

Li Tianqing speculated.

"But we don't know whose Yuan Chen Palace it was. Legend has it that Yuan Chen Palaces are where yuan spirits reside—everyone has one hidden in the underworld. Of course, that's just a tale." Suddenly, Li Tianqing recalled the boat aunt and her daughter. He hurriedly recounted their encounter with the old monk and his disciple to Chen Shi.

"Bitter Bamboo Zen Master suspected that father-daughter pair might be lost yin attendants from the River of Forgetfulness. He also said they were searching for something."

"What if they are lost yin attendants? Could they have snuck into the yang world looking for Black Pot and gotten separated that way?"

Li Tianqing gazed at Chen Shi, his eyes flickering.

"Or maybe they were looking for you! Your grandpa invaded the underworld multiple times trying to save you. The last time he succeeded must have caused a huge commotion! Perhaps that pair was assigned to guard you. When you were rescued, they couldn't account for it and fled to the yang world!"

Chen Shi chuckled.

"Impossible. They've already seen me and Black Pot."

Li Tianqing pressed.

"Then why did that father-daughter pair ferry specifically at Xinduo County? Why, when you headed to Gongzhou, did they suddenly start ferrying there too?"

Chen Shi laughed.

"If they were after me, when Grandpa died, why didn't they seize the chance to capture me and drag me back to the underworld? Hold on—I just remembered something! Back when I was chasing down your Li family in Xinduo County, that pair seemed to be watching me and Black Pot!"

He leaped to his feet in excitement.

"It was pouring rain then. When Black Pot was sheltering from the downpour, it wasn't watching me or Master Fu at all..."

He exclaimed in shock.

"Black Pot was watching that father-daughter pair too! The dog definitely hasn't told me everything!"

Just as he said this, Li Tianqing hooked his finger on Chen Shi's sleeve and jerked his chin toward the outside.

Chen Shi looked out the window. He didn't see a dog head, but right below the window, a pair of black furry ears quietly perked up.

Chen Shi tensed. Black Pot was still eavesdropping on their conversation!

The two lowered their voices. Then they heard someone calling frantically for the old monk and his disciple—Bitter Bamboo Zen Master had died.

"Bitter Bamboo Zen Master died?"

Li Tianqing's heart jolted.

The pair hurriedly threw on their clothes and followed the sound. There sat Bitter Bamboo Zen Master, having passed away on his bed.

The old monk had been tottering in his later years, needing support to walk. Now he had finally exhausted his life force and breathed his last.

The young monk knelt beside him, grief on his face, silently chanting the Rebirth Mantra.

Chen Shi examined Bitter Bamboo Zen Master. The old monk had once been flesh and blood, but now his entire body gleamed with brilliant golden light, like a statue cast from pure gold.

Faintly from within his body came the sound of Buddhist chants, as if someone inside was reciting sutras.

Li Tianqing whispered.

"Bitter Bamboo Zen Master cultivated the golden body dharma—diamond without flaw. He sealed his flesh body to prevent his life force from leaking out. It's said he's dodged death several times this way. He's a Mahayana Realm grandmaster, one of the top experts in the world."

Chen Shi recalled the boat aunt's words.

"The boat aunt on the painting vessel said people like this, who steal extra years to evade death, are extremely dangerous when they finally die."

Chen Shi's heart grew heavy. Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's eyelids were sealed tightly over his eyes. His ears were large and wide, with the earflaps blocking the ear canals, and the outer ears covering the flaps.

His nostrils were sealed by his nasal wings, leaving no gap for vital energy to escape.

His upper lip pressed firmly against his lower, with no slit visible.

These were methods to prevent the flesh body's vital energy from leaking!

Chen Shi suddenly asked.

"Monk, after Bitter Bamboo Zen Master sealed his seven orifices, are there still two left unsealed?"

The young monk was chanting sutras. Hearing this, he opened his eyes and looked at Chen Shi in surprise, saying nothing.

Chen Shi asked loudly.

"I heard Grandpa say that those who refine a golden body must evade yin attendants to reincarnate. Before death, they seal their yuan spirit inside the body to keep the heavenly soul from returning to heaven, the earthly soul to earth, and the human soul from being chained away by yin attendants. Is Bitter Bamboo Zen Master preparing to reincarnate?"

The young monk intoned a Buddha's name.

"Amitabha. Excellent, excellent. My master's dying wish is to return to Golden Peak Snow Temple at Great Gratitude Temple. There is no talk of reincarnation. Patron, do not speak recklessly!"

Chen Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

"I hope that's true. If Bitter Bamboo Zen Master reincarnates, he might claim lives."

"But with his sealing like this, he can't contain his vital energy—there are still two orifices left, which will cause it to leak and draw yin attendants."

The young monk frowned slightly.

"Pardon me, Patron. Which two orifices?"

"One at the navel, one at the tianmen."

Chen Shi explained.

"The navel is where prenatal qi entered and exited in the womb. It seals after birth, but at death, if massive vital energy surges inside, it may burst the seal. The other is the tianmen, the fontanelle, where the heavenly soul enters and exits— that's why children under three can see ghosts. After three, the fontanelle closes, sealing the tianmen."

"But we cultivators, refining golden core, nascent soul, yuan spirit, must open the tianmen for passage."

He pointed to the scar on the young monk's head.

"Bitter Bamboo Zen Master burned your first ordination scar there— that's your tianmen, right?"

The young monk gave him a deep look.

"Patron actually knows our Buddhist cultivation methods. Correct—my first scar is at the tianmen. Master said it's where yin and yang spirits exit and enter. Patron is arrogant in your knowledge, belittling true Buddhism. What you know, we Buddhists know too!"

He intoned a Buddha's name, booming like a great bell or cauldron. Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's aura resonated with it. Suddenly, a swastika character emerged at the tianmen on Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's head.

And beneath his patched robe, at the navel, another swastika appeared!

"Buddhist golden body—truly admirable!"

Chen Shi pressed his palms together in respect to Bitter Bamboo Zen Master and withdrew.

What he had just said about the tenth and eleventh orifices were things Grandpa had taught him. Now it seemed Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's cultivation and knowledge were extraordinarily profound, no less than Grandpa's.

Li Tianqing asked.

"What's the monk's name?"

The young monk glanced at him but didn't reply.

Li Tianqing said.

"I'm Li Tianqing, from the Li family of Quanzhou."

The young monk was slightly moved.

"So you're descendants of the loyal and righteous. This humble monk Wuchen has met Patron Li."

"And this young patron is?"

Chen Shi said.

"I originally remembered my name, but now I've forgotten it."

Monk Wuchen said indifferently.

"To achieve namelessness—fortunate to meet, fortunate to meet."

Seeing Chen Shi wasn't from a prominent family, he ignored him.

Li Tianqing asked.

"Monk Wuchen, are you also here for the examinations?"

Monk Wuchen nodded.

"I cultivated with Master at Great Gratitude Temple. To be an ordinary monk there requires no imperial exams, but to become a lecturer, instructor, or even supervisor, one needs an exam title."

Chen Shi, unfamiliar with Buddhist rules, said in surprise.

"There's such a thing?"

Monk Wuchen had no interest in speaking to him, but since Li Tianqing asked, he replied.

"Our monks take the same military exam as you, but the civil exam differs. We debate sutras like the Diamond Sutra or Lotus Sutra."

"Fail to pass scholar, and you can't even be a novice monk in the temple. Novices must be scholars."

Li Tianqing understood the local customs and explained to Chen Shi.

"Without a title, monks can't hang their bowl at other temples or mountains. No one will take you in."

Monk Wuchen said.

"Our Buddhist travelers act freely. Passing through Gongzhou, we took the provincial exam here. Master passed away here, so I must find a temple to house his golden body. At dawn, I'll seek one out. Then, I must trouble Patron Li to guard Master's golden body for me."

Li Tianqing agreed.

Shortly after, dawn broke. Monk Wuchen hurried off.

Chen Shi, puzzled, said.

"Aren't monks supposed to be free of all attachments? Why so worldly?"

Li Tianqing laughed.

"Temples hoard fields tax-free, raise private troops—how is that free of attachments?"

After a while, Monk Wuchen returned, bringing several monks and an ox cart.

Hearing he was from Great Gratitude Temple, the monks fawned over him deferentially, tending carefully.

Monk Wuchen took it in stride.

Chen Shi said.

"Wuchen, when transporting Zen Master's golden body to the temple, be extra careful—no bumps or jolts. And when you arrive, handle gently. Don't let the curious pry open Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's eyelids or ears."

"Opening them will cause trouble."

Monk Wuchen laughed.

"Patron, what our Buddhism knows may not be less than yours."

Chen Shi said.

"I hope so."

The monks lifted Bitter Bamboo Zen Master.

"So heavy!"

Seeing them about to place him directly on the cart, Chen Shi quickly pulled a cushion and stuffed it inside.

The monks set the golden body on the cushion. Monk Wuchen sat in the cart as the monks led the ox away.

Chen Shi frowned slightly, watching them depart.

Li Tianqing asked.

"What if some curious person pries open Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's eyelids?"

Chen Shi's expression grew grave.

"His sealed vital energy would leak. If he's absorbed moonlight before death, it turns to divine qi, causing divine qi pollution."

He exhaled turbid qi.

"Higher the cultivation, heavier the divine qi. If long dead, it evolves to demonic qi—pollution far worse! But Bitter Bamboo Zen Master just died, hasn't been exposed to moonlight."

Li Tianqing hesitated.

"I heard the boat aunt say Bitter Bamboo Zen Master was long overdue for death. He survived by sealing his life force with the golden body and Buddhist light to evade yin attendants."

"So, he's probably been exposed to moonlight long ago... Little Ten, does this count as absorbing moonlight after death?"

The two exchanged glances.

The ox cart carried Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's golden body toward Daxing Zen Temple in the city. Passing a bump, it jolted violently.

Monk Wuchen hurriedly checked the golden body—no anomalies. He relaxed.

Moments later, they arrived outside Daxing Zen Temple. The monks carefully carried the golden body inside. One monk laughed.

"We must clean the temple spotless. Soon big officials will come pay respects to the Zen Master's golden body. Our temple's incense will boom."

No sooner said than he felt his eyes itch. He rubbed them.

The itch worsened with rubbing. Suddenly—

"Puff!"

His two eyes popped from their sockets, rolling to the ground.

The monk laughed.

"Much better now."

Two mushrooms sprouted from his eye sockets, growing outward.

Monk Wuchen's heart chilled.

"Master's eleven major orifices were perfectly sealed! Impossible to breach!"

Then he saw a thin golden light shooting from the Tanzhong acupoint on Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's chest.

The golden light was hair-thin, spraying fine dust outward.

Monk Wuchen's heart clenched.

"Master once said, in his youth after perfecting his golden body, he met a fierce foe who pierced Tanzhong with needle arts, breaking it! But Master reforged it stronger! Master still... couldn't seal Tanzhong!"

The dust was minuscule, spraying from the needle hole.

Suddenly—pop!

Monk Wuchen followed the sound. The other monks had vanished, replaced by human-height mushrooms in monk robes.

The mushrooms were powder-white, growing and spraying dust-like spores.

Monk Wuchen hurriedly covered his mouth and nose. The needle hole on Bitter Bamboo Zen Master's chest was slowly widening.

At the post station, Li Tianqing suddenly recalled the boat aunt's warning.

"Little Ten, the boat aunt advised us not to enter the city."

Chen Shi jolted.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? We leave the city now!"

Li Tianqing jumped, laughing.

"Leave now? What she said might not be true..."

"If she's a yin attendant, we must heed her! We have to get out!"

Chen Shi thought of Red Xiu Hall.

"I need to swing by Red Xiu Hall first—have the brothers evacuate everyone in the city to safety!"

Li Tianqing gritted his teeth.

"I'll go with you!"

The two headed out at once. Chen Shi shouted.

"All scholars, listen! Disaster looms in Gongzhou City! Everyone evacuate immediately!"

The scholars in the post station exchanged looks.

Chen Shi bellowed several times—no one budged.

The postmaster rushed out in fury, lunging at Chen Shi.

"Spreading demon rumors again? I'll have you punished!"

Chen Shi had no choice. He casually knocked the postmaster down, stepping on his head.

"Bitter Bamboo Zen Master, who just died? He's been dead for who knows how many years! He sealed his eleven major orifices at the end. If it holds, fine. If not, he'll turn demon! Run now—still time! Feifei! Feifei!"

Hu Feifei dashed over, grinning.

"What's up, darling?"

"Get these scholars out of the city!"

Chen Shi ordered.

Hu Feifei chirped.

"You got it!"

She transformed into her demon fox form, over a man's height, squatting low. She spat out her demon clan golden core, wagged her tail. Instantly, the scholars' souls were entranced, walking dazed from the station to follow her.

Chen Shi and Li Tianqing raced toward Red Xiu Hall.

They activated galloping horse talismans, treading clear winds, whistling along at top speed.

Li Tianqing recalled something.

"Little Ten, why did you ask Monk Wuchen earlier if Bitter Bamboo Zen Master planned to reincarnate?"

Chen Shi said.

"Grandpa once mentioned that golden body refiners, before death, reincarnate to live another life. They seal all orifices to preserve vital energy. After seven days evading yin attendants, they open the tianmen for the yuan spirit to exit and reincarnate."

"That's why I asked."

Li Tianqing puzzled.

"Is reincarnation real?"

Chen Shi hesitated.

"Maybe. I haven't seen it. Yuan spirit reincarnation needs a new vessel—they usually prepare one early..."

He trailed off.

The pair arrived at Red Xiu Hall. Chen Shi burst into the incense hall, summoning everyone and explaining.

The crowd was shocked.

Incense Master Lu said.

"Evacuating the whole city is huge. One misstep, and we're charged with rumor-mongering. The court hates that—likely extermination of the clan!"

Silence fell.

This was a beheading offense—for the whole family!

If Bitter Bamboo Zen Master truly turned demon, countless lives saved. If not, they'd die without burial!

Red Xiu Hall members all had families. Who dared gamble?

Then Jade Heaven City's voice rang out.

"All hands, hear me! Do as the instructor orders immediately! All blame, I'll shoulder!