Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Pudu Cihang's Divine Procession—Skin Shedding Imminent, Dragon Pearl Full
A few days later.
East of Hangzhou.
Past the boundaries of that region, the heavens and earth opened wide.
The tidal currents of the Qiantang River had already faded here, dissolving into countless gentle tributaries like scattered ribbons of blue-green silk.
Daylight filtered through a perpetual thin mist, scattering across the water's surface, leaping about like golden light and silver scales.
Jiang Linxian raised his eyes to look—an endless expanse of wetlands stretched before him.
The reed marshes rose above head height, rolling like undulating clouds of green and gold, and when the wind passed through, they rustled like waves, concealing the darting silhouettes of countless waterbirds rising and falling.
As the waterways gradually narrowed and land began to emerge, a perfecture town appeared like a heavy, forgotten ancient seal, pressing heavily at the end of his field of vision.
This place was called Jing'an perfecture.
It was also Lady White's destination on this trip, for Pudu Cihang would be personally coming to this perfecture town to preach.
The perfecture's name drew from the lineage of "Lin'an," yet it bore not a trace of a capital city's grandeur.
The earliest perfecture records here were vague, only stating that it had been the fief of some illegitimate descendant of Wuyue King Qian Liu.
Having earned distinction here by "exorcising demons" in those years, he had received an imperial bestowal and built a city to guard this place.
As for what demon was exorcised and how it was done—the records were vague, draping the place in a curtain of unspoken mystery.
All of this was fresh to Jiang Linxian, and as they drew closer to the perfecture town, the signs of human habitation grew more frequent.
There were even perfecture soldiers stationed at the city gate.
Occasionally, one could spot Martial World figures equipped with swords and various unusual weapons, mingling with the town's residents.
From this alone, one could tell this perfecture town was relatively stable—unlike other villages and towns where officials and bandits were in cahoots.
The sprites in the surrounding mountains and wilds viewed those places as hunting grounds.
But Jiang Linxian couldn't figure it out: why was it that while demons and monsters ran rampant elsewhere, this place remained untroubled? Could it be that someone of great power resided within?
Lady White's disguise technique was impenetrable to these mortals. To outside eyes, both of them appeared to be fierce and imposing Martial World figures.
After paying the toll, they entered the city without incident.
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of noise crashed over them—no longer the muffled whispers of the wetlands, but the roaring clamor of a bustling market.
On both sides of the street, wooden buildings stood packed together, shop signs and banners layered one over the other.
Shadows of people moved about, all manner of individuals intermingled.
The Martial World figures were the most conspicuous cluster.
They sat sprawled at the Passing Guest tea stall, tea foam flying from coarse ceramic bowls, voices booming as they discussed which waterway had grown unsafe lately, and whether the red cargo of a convoy escort should take the overland route or the canal guild's private vessels.
Women were seldom seen, though occasionally one could spot a middle-aged old woman carrying a bamboo basket, arguing with a vendor at a seafood stall until her neck turned red over a few copper coins.
Jiang Linxian even spotted Buddhist devotees, though he had no idea which temple they belonged to.
Lady White found an inn and settled in temporarily.
Jiang Linxian climbed up to the window and asked with curiosity.
"Hiss (Why does this perfecture town have no trace of demons or monsters?)"
Lady White said gently.
"Because there's a temple nearby. Many people go there to pray for blessings, and whenever strange incidents arise, monks from the temple help resolve them."
Jiang Linxian asked curiously.
"Hiss (Then, White Sister, do you know the name of that temple?)"
"I heard people on the street just now—it's called Lanruo Temple."
Lady White was well-traveled and knowledgeable, but only within Hangzhou. She had heard of Jinshan Temple in Hangzhou, but this was the first time she had heard of Lanruo Temple.
Lanruo Temple?!
Jiang Linxian froze at the name. In his memory, Lanruo Temple was a haunted temple occupied by a thousand-year-old tree sprite.
Yet now, hearing Lady White's account, it seemed this was actually a Buddhist temple with a high monk.
Lady White stepped forward, glanced at the street scene a few times, and said.
"Little Immortal, stay in the inn like a good one. I'll go take a look."
Without giving Jiang Linxian a chance to refuse, Lady White had already vanished from the room.
"Hiss…"
Jiang Linxian was a little restless. He wanted to go see Lanruo Temple, but he decided to cultivate first and wait for Lady White to return.
He ended up waiting for 2 full days.
On this day, Jiang Linxian, who had been cultivating as usual, suddenly heard a sound and jolted awake. He went to the window, opened a small gap, and looked out toward the area beyond the city.
At first, Jiang Linxian heard a distant Buddhist chant drifting over.
The sound initially seemed solemn and peaceful, piercing through the noisy din of the market, growing clearer and clearer.
The street vendors' calls, the crude language of Martial World figures, the laughter of playing children—all of it was gradually wiped away as if by an invisible hand, replaced by a dazed and hollow silence.
People involuntarily set down whatever they were doing and tilted their heads to listen.
The Buddhist chant grew louder and louder. It was not a chorus of many voices, but rather a single, grand, compassionate voice utterly devoid of human emotion, layer upon layer, surging from all directions, flooding every street, every window.
"Homage to Amitabha Buddha… the sea of suffering is boundless, turn back and reach the shore…"
The voice carried a soothing force; those who heard it felt their bones go soft, the anxiety, fear, and even the stirring ambitions in their hearts melting away like warm water, leaving them only wanting to lay everything down and surrender to the bliss guided by that voice.
Jiang Linxian had initially been pulled in too, but a sharp sting within his body jolted him instantly awake.
Something was wrong with this Buddhist chant.
"…It's the National Preceptor's divine procession!"
Someone murmured first, their voice filled with an ineffable reverence and…a fervent relief.
At the far end of the long street.
What first came into view were 2 columns of young attendants dressed in golden silk robes.
Their features were so pale and beautiful they seemed inhuman, their eyes hollow yet smiling, carrying lotus lanterns, jeweled parasols, and golden bells. They walked as if treading on air, advancing slowly with uniform steps, each footfall landing precisely on the beat of the chant.
Behind the young attendants came 8 pairs of strongmen, carrying an enormous lotus palanquin that resembled a mobile miniature palace.
The entire palanquin was carved from a material that was neither quite gold nor quite jade, layers of lotus petals blooming outward, every petal densely etched with fine scripture that shimmered with flowing light.
All around the palanquin, semi-transparent golden gauze curtains hung down. Through them, one could dimly make out an enormous figure seated within, draped in a great red kasaya embroidered with golden thread, its silhouette radiating solemn majesty.
Wherever the palanquin passed, phantom lotus blossoms materialized from nothing, then shattered into motes of light.
The light motes landed on people, bringing a warm and comfortable sensation—as though the exhaustion of days of labor and the hidden wounds in their hearts had been quietly soothed away.
The entire city was, for the most part, entranced.
If Jiang Linxian had been uncertain before, the combination of this spectacle and the Buddhist chant now left no doubt—the one inside the palanquin was unmistakably Pudu Cihang.
This Centipede Sprite's grandeur was such that not only ordinary mortals but even average cultivators would likely be deceived.
On top of that, there was the Soul-Claiming Buddhist Chant.
Anyone would assume this was a great, enlightened monk of profound virtue, willingly submitting with admiration.
And the Buddhist arts alone were enough to pass as genuine.
Even a Centipede Sprite with a thousand years of cultivation could absolutely not achieve this level—Pudu Cihang must have obtained some extraordinary opportunity.
"Little Immortal, don't look anymore. Come close, cover your ears, and don't listen to the chant."
Lady White suddenly returned to the inn and spoke with gravity.
Jiang Linxian obediently drew close. He was capable of resisting the chant on his own, but there was no need to say so.
Fortunately, Pudu Cihang did not linger at the city gate for long.
The golden procession wound forward, heading in the direction of the perfecture town's center. In its wake, the golden light motes on the ground had not yet dispersed, and the echoes of the chant lingered in the air, long refusing to fade.
Lady White saw that Jiang Linxian was truly unaffected by the chant and finally let out a breath of relief. She instructed Jiang Linxian to rest easy and stay in the inn.
She had placed a Restriction Seal on the room. She would be back in 3 days at most.
"Hiss (Sister, what if you haven't returned after 3 days?)" Jiang Linxian asked.
Lady White showed a strained smile.
"Then go back and find Little Green first. I'll return to meet up with you afterward."
That kind of lie couldn't fool even Little Green, so how could it possibly fool Jiang Linxian. It seemed Lady White was preparing to make her move, and it would be within these coming days.
Jiang Linxian agreed—but the moment Lady White left, he used the Dragon Pearl to break through the Restriction Seal and slipped out as well.
He had no choice but to leave.
Skin Shedding was imminent. The Dragon Pearl was full.