On the Path to the Great Dao

Chen Shi's words stirred them. Even though Lu Xiangshi and the others worried about their own families' lives, they still nodded and hurriedly departed.

Someone hesitated and whispered, "Today, I'm afraid the Xing Shan Chen family is done for—exterminated to the last."

Lu Xiangshi shot back, "If you know calamity is coming but ignore the common folk to save only yourselves, what good are all those sage books you read? For today's matter, death is the only path!"

The entire Xing Shan Chen clan heard these words, their emotions surging as one, united heart and soul.

Guojin and Li Tianqing heard the growing clamor outside. It must have been the Xing Shan Chen folk spreading word of the danger to their neighbors, stirring up unrest.

Guojin stepped outside, only to see streets full of panic—people calling to friends and kin, packing their belongings.

Yet a few still lingered, watching warily, clearly skeptical of this talk of imminent demonic transformation.

At the Fei residence, Arch Prefecture Patrol Governor Fei Tianzheng was sipping his morning tea when a wave of uproar erupted outside. Irritated, he summoned a servant. "Go see what's happening out there."

The servant soon returned. "The Xing Shan Chen folk are spreading word that Master Bitter Bamboo's demonic transformation is at hand—they're telling everyone to flee at once."

Fei Tianzheng flew into a rage, slamming the table. "Is Yu Tiancheng staging a rebellion? Inciting the masses with wild rumors—I see the entire Xing Shan Chen clan, inside and out, is itching to lose their heads! Someone, fetch Commander Yang the Areal Commander at once! Have him bring troops to flatten these traitors!" The First Lady hurried in upon hearing the commotion. "Husband, what has you thundering with rage?"

Still fuming, Fei Tianzheng recounted the matter. The First Lady replied, "Where there's smoke, there's often fire."

"Husband, yesterday the Provincial Education Commissioner visited and mentioned Master Bitter Bamboo from the Grand State-Bestowing Temple had arrived in the city. You even planned to pay respects."

"I've heard the master is over a hundred and thirty, his lifespan long since due. He might truly perish here in the city."

Fei Tianzheng sneered. "The old master is an enlightened monk who has refined the Buddhist six-zhang golden body. Even if his lifespan is exhausted, he won't just up and undergo demonic transformation on a whim."

"It's clearly the Xing Shan Chen clan and Yu Tiancheng plotting sedition by exploiting the master's death! Execute them to set an example!"

The First Lady cautioned, "Word is Yu Tiancheng serves the Guarding Eunuch, and he's quite close to Investigating Censor Ma as well."

Fei Tianzheng flicked his sleeve as he paced. "Inciting the populace is a capital crime—neither Cen Xuefu nor Ma Weigong can save him now! Those two are no doubt scheming how to distance themselves, lest they get dragged down! Wife, prepare some tea. The others have likely heard and are rushing over."

The First Lady hurried off to comply.

Moments later, as expected, General Xia Zongbing, Governor Yan Zongdu, Censor Zhang Xun'an, Areal Commander Yang, and the other high officials of Arch Prefecture arrived in force. The tea was freshly brewed and served gracefully.

The officials took their seats, setting their tea bowls aside, faces grave as they whispered among themselves.

Fei Tianzheng scanned the room, his gaze settling on Ma Weigong. "Lord Ma, as Investigating Censor, what say you to this?"

Ma replied sternly, "Handle it by Great Ming law! With Ming royal law still in force, Yu Tiancheng's lawlessness demands his head. Count the incense registers by household and behead the entire Xing Shan Chen clan!"

Areal Commander Yang sneered. "Once? The Xing Shan Chen traitors must be exterminated root and branch—homes razed to ash! And investigate who's pulling Yu Tiancheng's strings from the shadows, who his backers are! Drag them out and behead them too!"

Ma Weigong's expression flickered.

Yang had long been his foe and was seizing this chance to pile on—plainly aiming to implicate and wipe out Ma's entire clan!

General Xia Zongbing coughed lightly, a half-smile on his face. "Lord Yang's bloodlust runs hot, but he speaks true—this demands investigation."

"Yu Tiancheng couldn't even pass the lowest exams for scholar—how'd a fool like him learn to sway the masses? Someone's guiding him from behind the scenes."

Ma Weigong let out a forced laugh, shooting a pleading glance at Eunuch Cen.

Eunuch Cen declared, "Yu Tiancheng must die, the Xing Shan Chen clan exterminated—they've violated Great Ming law and deserve ten thousand deaths!"

He paused, then added, "But has Master Bitter Bamboo truly passed? Have you lords verified this? And these rumors of his passing triggering demonic transformation—have you dispatched men to investigate?"

Vice General Jiang chuckled. "Does Lord Cen actually believe the Xing Shan Chen rumors?"

Eunuch Cen's plump white face broke into a smile as he waved it off. "How dare this servant believe such nonsense? I merely think Yu Tiancheng is a fool—if he dares spout this, he has backing. Best you lords send men to confirm before resting easy."

Censor Zhang Xun'an said, "I've already dispatched investigators. News will arrive soon."

At that moment, a voice reported from outside, kneeling. "Lord Censor, my lords—the East Station Deputy reports Master Bitter Bamboo passed last night at the station and was sent to Daxing Zen Temple!"

The fourteen high officials remained impassive as still water. Some lifted their tea cups for a gentle sip, the aroma lingering in their mouths, flowing from throat to lungs—refreshingly clear.

The others followed suit, sipping their tea in silence.

Outside came a flurry of footsteps—the officials' most trusted aides dispatched to Daxing Zen Temple for intelligence.

When high officials travel, their aides are chosen for skill and sharp eyes, quick to read their masters' intent from a glance.

Having received orders, they set off for Daxing Zen Temple at once.

After one cup of tea—the time for these aides to reach the temple by their speed.

After two cups, they ought to return to the Fei residence, truth laid bare.

Then, heads would roll where needed, ties severed cleanly.

When the cups ran dry, no aides had returned.

General Xia Zongbing shifted uneasily in his chair.

The others fidgeted too, brows furrowing.

Fei Tianzheng summoned a maid and murmured, "Go fetch new tea bowls for the lords—my treasured jar of Dragon Tongue Fragrance. Let them sample it."

The maid bowed to obey but as she turned, General Xia Zongbing laughed heartily. "Lord Fei, no need to trouble yourself."

"Suddenly recalled urgent matters at home—must return posthaste. Next time for the Dragon Tongue!"

He rose to take his leave.

The other officials chimed in with excuses. "Long heard of Dragon Tongue's fame—tea supreme under heaven."

"Were it not for true emergencies at home, I'd savor it!"

"My Governor's yamen has pressing business!"

"Lord Fei, fire in my rear courtyard, haha! Didn't I just take a new concubine the other day? She's throwing a tantrum!..."

Each found a reason; Fei Tianzheng smiled through it. Midway, a cry rang out from outside, followed by a shout. "Don't block me! I'm Battalion Commander Tang under General Xia! Vital news for the General!"

General Xia Zongbing brightened and called, "That's Tang Battalion Commander—let him through! Have him speak!"

The officials halted, footsteps hurrying in. A bloodied man arrived in the hall, gasping. "General, no living souls left in Daxing Zen Temple! Your subordinate entered to find house-sized mushrooms everywhere!"

He threw back his head—where eyes had been, two mushrooms now sprouted.

The crowd recoiled in alarm.

Suddenly Tang felt his breath catch. "Neck... so tight!"

No sooner said, his body swelled, ballooning grotesquely—then burst with a boom. A massive mushroom tore through his skin, rooting to the floor as blood sprayed everywhere.

The officials circulated true qi, shielding themselves from the gore.

Tang's body had become a giant mushroom, his head rolling free with a grin. "No more tightness now."

From his nostrils sprouted tiny mushrooms—pink, white, green, every hue.

Mushrooms burst from his ears too, spewing powdery spores like dust. Where they settled on tables and chairs, they sprouted at once, soon carpeting the hall in multicolored fungi.

"Such potent spore pollution!"

The crowd was shaken.

A few serving maids brushed by the dust—their heads, faces, necks, exposed arms and hands erupted in dense clusters of tiny mushrooms!

The maids screamed.

"My lord, now I speak freely!"

Tang's severed head laughed from the floor. "First time I feel the wonder of heaven-man metamorphosis—I absorb nutrients from earth and air, bask in light's nurture!"

A mushroom stalk grew from his neck, hoisting his head like a cap atop its stem.

The fourteen officials bolted from the hall. Patrol Governor Fei Tianzheng waved his hand—the entire hall erupted in flames. Many maids and women yet to flee turned to ash in the blaze!

Tang's head wailed amid the inferno. "Fire! Fire! Scalding me! I'm cooking!"

Fei Tianzheng and the rest were horrified.

Boom!

A distant explosion thundered like pent-up fury unleashed, rattling the window frames.

The fourteen officials looked toward Daxing Zen Temple, where colorful dust rose into the dawn light, shimmering like a rainbow.

"Have you lords no urgent home matters?"

Patrol Governor Fei Tianzheng suddenly asked. "Why not hurry back to prepare?"

The officials snapped awake. No time for parting words—they flew off on their arts.

Fei Tianzheng swiftly gathered all household retainers, servants, and kin. "Pack light! Out of the city to safety!"

The First Lady urged, "Husband, what of the city folk..."

"Who's left to tell after Xing Shan Chen? Hurry! Load the jewelry, pearls, gold, and silver onto the carts!"

The First Lady hesitated. "Xing Shan Chen numbers barely a hundred—fear they can't warn even one in ten of the city's people! Husband, as their parental officials..."

Fei Tianzheng snapped, "Parental officials are human too! Alert these grass-roots rabble, and panic blocks every road—we won't escape!"

General Xia Zongbing sped back to his estate, ordering all within to pack valuables and ready carriages and mounts for flight from the city.

"Where's my son Luo Ying?"

General Xia Zongbing hadn't spotted Xia Luoying amid the rush.

The steward replied, "Master, young master heard the Xing Shan Chen stirring riots and inciting rebellion, so he led troops to capture the ringleaders!"

"Fool!"

General Xia Zongbing barked, "Pack and flee the city at once—no delays! Master Bitter Bamboo's demonic transformation is upon us—run as fast and far as you can!"

The steward's head buzzed. "Master... demonic transformation? The city folk..."

"Look to yourself!"

General Xia Zongbing stormed from the estate in search of Xia Luoying.

The steward's face darkened, then twisted fiercely. First, myself! My whole family is still in the city—family first.

As for the Xia household, let fate decide!

He ignored further orders, rallying his own household and racing home.

The other officials returned to their manors, issuing urgent commands: pack gold and treasures onto carts, flee the city without a moment's delay.

Guojin and Li Tianqing were on the streets too when the explosion rocked from Daxing Zen Temple. Both paled.

"This sound... could it be Master Bitter Bamboo's golden body rupturing?"

Guojin asked.

Li Tianqing shook his head, stunned. "Impossible? The master's golden body is unbreakable—the world's mightiest. How could it explode?"

Guojin said, "When we slaughter hogs, we slit the leg and blow air in—the hog bloats, easing the scalding and hair-pulling."

"After, we take the bladder and blow it huge, like a ball."

"If some rascal pricks it with a needle, boom—it bursts."

Gazing toward Daxing Zen Temple, he continued, "Master Bitter Bamboo is like that bladder—his cultivation essence, vital qi, and nascent soul sealed in the golden body. After death, they expand within."

"If the golden body holds, fine. But a prick, or prior flaw, and it bursts like the bladder."

Even as he spoke, multicolored dust rose lazily from Daxing Zen Temple, drifting through the air.

Not yet Ghost God Domain, but proof the master's golden body had shattered!

Absorbing moonlight, his demonic nature surged outward!

"Little Ten, I'll hoist you higher! See what's happening at Daxing Zen Temple!"

Li Tianqing abruptly activated Six Yin Jade Wheel. A jade wheel shot out; Guojin leaped aboard, propelled upward. As momentum waned, another wheel caught his feet.

They synced perfectly, Guojin ascending step by jade step to a vantage.

Straining his eyes toward Daxing Zen Temple, built atop a small hill in the city, Guojin saw a colossal mushroom cap hovering over the temple halls, blanketing the palaces.

Beneath the cap's underside gleamed golden radiance—a massive Buddha statue.

The Buddha's neck... was the mushroom's stem!

Master Bitter Bamboo's nascent soul had undergone demonic transformation!

"Too late!"

Guojin descended swiftly from on high, face grim. "City folk can't escape now."

"All flee while they can!"

Li Tianqing despaired, murmuring, "Then what to do?"

Guojin eyed the chaotic streets—people dashing like headless flies, some abandoning homes and fortunes, others calling children, some struggling with crippled elders, still others leading livestock in hopes of saving it too.

These folk could never outrun Arch Prefecture's walls!

Hum!

A golden light lanced from Daxing Zen Temple into the sky, detonating overhead.

Everyone craned skyward, staring blankly.

Guojin's eyes lit up. He grinned. "I've got a way!"

Li Tianqing pressed, "What way?"

"The Prime of Stone Shoal Mystic!"

Guojin activated his minor temple in a rush. "Before Master Bitter Bamboo's nascent soul turns this place to demonic domain, we'll first invoke the Prime of Stone Shoal Mystic—demoralize the land into Stone Shoal Mystic's own Ghost God Domain!"