“Roar!”
Suddenly, a tiger’s roar shook the heavens and earth. A gigantic golden tiger abruptly appeared behind the middle-aged Confucian scholar. Taken completely by surprise, the scholar was immediately bitten on the back of his neck by the tiger. The intense pain forced him to abandon Shui Miao and attempt to cast a spell to escape. However, at the very moment he began his incantation, the tiger flew back into Hui Neng’s body. Hui Neng ran over and hugged the scholar from behind, and then began to grope him up and down…
“Lecherous bald monk, you, you, you… How dare you treat me so disrespectfully!”
The middle-aged scholar, possessing a celestial soul body, only felt a little pain from the tiger’s bite, quickly recovering soon after.
But being molested by Hui Neng was an unbearable humiliation. How could a mere mortal monk dare to defile a celestial deity?
Unfazed by the scholar’s furious shouting, Hui Neng gave his body a few rough gropes before suddenly channeling his energy and delivering a fierce punch to the scholar’s abdomen. The impact caused the scholar to grimace in pain, clutching his stomach as he staggered backward.
“Little brother, are you alright? My senior master sent me to rescue you.”
Hui Neng hurriedly helped Shui Miao up. Shui Miao had been injured from being grabbed, his bones aching so badly he could barely stand.
“How is this possible? Lecherous bald monk, you’re just an ordinary mortal, how can you actually hurt me?” The scholar caught his breath, suddenly flicked his folding fan, and instantly transported both Shui Miao and Hui Neng to a strange place. The entire area was completely white from top to bottom. “Hmph! Now let’s see where you can run. Today, I’ll make sure you wish for death but cannot find it!”
“Hui Neng, you shouldn’t have come,” Shui Miao said weakly, holding Hui Neng’s hand. “This guy is a manifestation of the Infinite Celestial Venerable. We can’t possibly defeat him. It’s all my fault—I’ve dragged you into this.”
“Don’t worry!” Hui Neng thumped his chest proudly and declared, “My senior master said I am the reincarnation of the mighty tiger under the Arhat Who Tames Tigers. I am a tiger deity blessed by the Buddha himself. He can’t hurt me!” Hui Neng grinned, pointing at the scholar. “Hey you, whatever you are—a mere fragment of a soul! My senior master told me to tell you that Shui Miao is a soul personally created by the Buddha. You have no right to touch him. If you dare lay a hand on him, you must first ask whether the gods of our Buddhist realm will allow it.”
“The Buddha?”
The middle-aged scholar sneered. “Stupid bald monk, do you even know who the Infinite Celestial Venerable is? My master is the most ancient god in this world. He was already a celestial deity when Pangu split the heavens and the earth. You dare to use the Buddha to intimidate me? Have you hit the wooden fish so many times that your head has turned into one?”
“Boldly disrespectful! I’ll kill you!” Hui Neng, quick-tempered, suddenly roared and charged fiercely at the scholar.
“Clumsy fool! You dare to challenge me with such clumsy skills? Let’s see if you can even handle yourself first!” The scholar opened his folding fan and swung it powerfully. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him—it was an exact replica of Hui Neng, except he wore a black monk’s robe.
“What’s going on? Who are you?” Hui Neng was momentarily stunned.
“I’m you! Idiot, can’t you even recognize yourself anymore?” The black-robed Hui Neng sneered darkly.
“Hehe, since time can slow down a hundredfold within this Qiankun Realm, practically coming to a standstill, I have plenty of time to torture you two. Let me explain everything to you, so you can die convinced and convinced of your defeat.”
The middle-aged scholar, the manifestation of the Infinite Celestial Venerable, had his mood completely changed upon seeing the foolish Hui Neng. His usual sense of superiority, his belief that he held absolute power over life and death, made him feel triumphant and deeply contemptuous of Hui Neng. Thus, he patiently began to explain the secrets and mysteries of the Qiankun Realm, hoping to see fear in Hui Neng’s eyes and achieve a sense of psychological satisfaction.
Yet at this very moment, within Xingguo Temple, things were not as peaceful as the scholar imagined.
In the Arhat Hall, Master Liao Chen and his two fellow disciples were still seated in meditation, and the other monks were still chanting and striking their wooden fish.
Indeed, Master Liao Chen had once again entered a meditative state.
Suddenly, Liao Chen opened his eyes, raised his hand, and the monks immediately ceased their chanting. He turned to Liao Kong and Liao Yuan and said, “Things are indeed not as simple as they seem. Shui Miao is now in danger, and we must find a way to help him. Hui En, come here…”
Startled, Hui En quickly put down his wooden fish and ran over. “Senior Master, you called me?”
“Yes,” Master Liao Chen nodded. “Go fetch half a bucket of water—remember, it must be the same water you prepared earlier to water Shui Miao during the day. I have a use for it.”
“Eh…?”
Hui En was taken aback. That was water mixed with urine—essentially dirty water. How could it be brought into the Arhat Hall?
Master Liao Chen waved his hand. “Hurry, every minute you delay puts Hui Neng and Shui Miao in greater danger.”
“Yes, yes!” Hui En, understanding the urgency, immediately turned and ran off.
Though usually mischievous, Hui En had a kind heart. Thinking of his senior brother’s life being in danger, he pushed all other thoughts aside and focused only on completing his senior master’s task as quickly as possible.
“Senior Brother, you said Shui Miao is in danger. What exactly is going on?” Liao Yuan looked at Liao Chen in confusion. “That middle-aged scholar seems gentle and refined. He’s a celestial being who even helped us regain our youth, giving us decades more of life. With him around, how could Shui Miao possibly be in danger?”
“Roar!”
Suddenly, a tiger’s roar shook the heavens and earth. A massive golden tiger abruptly appeared behind the middle-aged scholar. Caught off guard, the scholar was immediately seized by the tiger’s jaws on the back of his neck. Overwhelmed by excruciating pain, he released Shui Miao and attempted to cast a spell to free himself. However, just as he began his incantation, the tiger swiftly retreated back into Hui Neng’s body. Hui Neng rushed over and embraced the scholar from behind, frantically groping him all over…
“You bald thief! How… how dare you violate me like this!”
As an immortal soul, the middle-aged scholar only felt a momentary pain from the tiger bite and quickly recovered.
But being groped by Hui Neng was an utter humiliation—a dignified immortal being defiled by a mere bald monk.
Ignoring the scholar’s protests, Hui Neng continued his frantic groping before suddenly gathering his energy and delivering a powerful punch to the scholar’s abdomen. The blow sent the scholar staggering backward, clutching his stomach in agony.
“Little brother, are you alright? My master sent me to rescue you,” Hui Neng said as he hurriedly helped Shui Miao to his feet. Shui Miao, injured from being captured, felt a sharp pain in his bones and could barely stand.
“How is this possible? You bald thief, a mere mortal like you actually managed to hurt me?” The middle-aged scholar, after catching his breath, suddenly pointed his folding fan, transporting both Shui Miao and Hui Neng to an unfamiliar place—a world entirely white in every direction. “Hah! Now let’s see where you can run. Today, I will make you beg for death rather than endure life!”
“Master Hui Neng, you shouldn’t have come,” Shui Miao said weakly, clutching Hui Neng’s hand. “This man is an incarnation of the Infinite Celestial尊. There’s no way we can overcome him. It’s all my fault—I’ve pulled you into this mess.”
“Don’t worry!”
Hui Neng thumped his chest with confidence and proclaimed, “My master told me that I am the reincarnation of the fierce tiger under the command of the Taming Dragon Arhat. I am a tiger god blessed by the Buddha himself. He can’t harm me.” With a grin, Hui Neng pointed at the middle-aged scholar. “Listen, you avatar or whatever—my master wants me to tell you that Shui Miao is a primordial spirit created by the Buddha himself. You have no right to touch him. If you dare lay a hand on him, you’ll have to answer to the gods of our Buddhist realm!”
“Buddha?”
The middle-aged scholar scoffed with disdain. “You dim-witted bald monk, do you have any idea who the Infinite Celestial尊 is? My master is the most ancient deity in existence—he was already an immortal when Pangu first shaped the world. How dare you invoke the Buddha to intimidate me? Have you been striking that wooden fish so relentlessly that your brain has turned into one?”
“How dare you insult me! I’ll kill you!”
Hui Neng, straightforward and hot-tempered, roared and charged at the scholar.
“Clumsy fool! How dare you challenge me with those skills? Try fighting yourself first.” The middle-aged scholar flicked open his folding fan and waved it forcefully. Suddenly, an exact replica of Hui Neng appeared before him, except this double was dressed in black monastic robes.
“What’s going on? Who… who are you?” Hui Neng was bewildered.
“I am you, you idiot! Don’t you even recognize yourself?” The black-robed Hui Neng let out a sinister chuckle.
“Heh, since time in this Qiankun Realm can slow down a hundredfold—almost to a standstill—I have all the time in the world to torture you. Why don’t I explain things to you, so you can accept your deaths with understanding?”
The middle-aged scholar, an embodiment of the Infinite Celestial尊, experienced a transformation in his mindset upon encountering the seemingly foolish Hui Neng. His superior intellect and the life-and-death authority he wielded filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride, leading him to regard Hui Neng with boundless disdain. With this mindset, he patiently began to unravel the profound mysteries and intricate mechanisms of the Qiankun Realm, hoping to witness fear etched on Hui Neng’s face and thereby attain a deep psychological satisfaction.
However, back at Xingguo Temple, things were not as the middle-aged scholar had imagined—everyone was peacefully asleep.
In the Arhat Hall, Master Liao Chen and his two fellow disciples remained seated in meditation, while the other monks continued chanting and striking wooden fish.
Indeed, Master Liao Chen had once again entered a state of profound meditation.
At that moment, Master Liao Chen opened his eyes and raised his hand. The monks stopped chanting, and he turned to Liao Kong and Liao Yuan. “Things are indeed more complicated than they seem. Shui Miao is in danger now, and we must find a way to help him. Hui En, come here…”
Hui En was startled but quickly put down his wooden fish and rushed over. “Master, you called me?”
“Yes,” Master Liao Chen nodded. “Fetch half a bucket of water. Remember, it must be the same water you prepared during the day to pour on Shui Miao. I need it for a purpose.”
“Ah…” Hui En was taken aback. That water was mixed with urine—essentially dirty water. How could he bring it into the Arhat Hall?
Master Liao Chen waved his hand. “Hurry! Every minute you delay increases the danger for Hui Neng and Shui Miao.”
“Yes, yes!” Hearing this, Hui En immediately turned and ran.
Though usually mischievous, Hui En had a good heart. The thought of his once-close senior brother in mortal danger pushed all other thoughts from his mind. His only focus was to complete the task assigned by his master and save them.
“Senior brother, what do you mean Shui Miao is in danger?” Liao Yuan asked, puzzled. “That middle-aged scholar is refined and elegant, an immortal who even helped us regain our youth, granting us decades of additional life. How could Shui Miao be in danger with him around?”
“Junior brother, never judge things solely by appearances. Good people don’t always speak the truth, and bad people don’t always speak lies. The middle-aged scholar’s words may seem genuine, but they are false. Our regained youth is nothing but an illusion.” Master Liao Chen shook his head gently and turned to Abbot Liao Kong. “Senior brother, during my meditation, I saw that Shui Miao and Hui Neng were taken by the middle-aged scholar to a mysterious space called the Qiankun Realm. He intends to slowly torture them to death. This matter is of great importance. I request that you and Junior Brother Liao Yuan use your spiritual power to support me, allowing my consciousness to travel to Spirit Vulture Mountain and seek the Buddha’s help to save them.”
Both Abbot Liao Kong and Liao Yuan possessed spiritual power, though they usually kept it hidden and were reluctant to use it.
Now, with Master Liao Chen’s power severely depleted, he had no choice but to seek their help.
“Senior brother, helping you save them is unquestionably the right thing to do. But I still have doubts. You say our regained youth is an illusion, yet we clearly look younger!” Liao Yuan, a pragmatic man, suspected that Liao Chen’s excessive use of power had clouded his judgment, leading to nonsense that could misguide everyone.
Master Liao Chen looked at Liao Yuan seriously. “Junior brother, I knew you would say that. To address your concerns, I asked Hui En to fetch the water. That water is mixed with the urine of our monks, all of whom are pure virgins. Their urine can dispel an immortal’s illusion and reveal our true forms.”
“…” Liao Yuan was stunned. His senior brother was not confused—he had planned everything in advance, even anticipating Liao Yuan’s doubts!
Just then, Hui En arrived outside the Arhat Hall, carrying a wooden bucket.
Master Liao Chen motioned for him to stop. He channeled his spiritual power, drawing a stream of energy from the bucket into the Arhat Hall, shattering the illusion on everyone.
Seeing himself revert to an old man, Liao Yuan flew into a rage. “Damn it! That deceitful Taoist dared to mock us! No—he mocked our Buddhist faith, thinking we have no one capable of opposing him!”
The rivalry between Buddhism and Taoism had existed for ages, though it had always been a covert struggle rather than an open confrontation.
“Saving them is our priority. Let’s begin,” Abbot Liao Kong said succinctly but firmly.
“Alright!” Liao Yuan immediately sat down and channeled his full spiritual power.
Master Liao Chen nodded gratefully, sat down, and entered a meditative state. His consciousness journeyed to the Buddhist realm, arriving instantly at Spirit Vulture Mountain.
As soon as Master Liao Chen’s consciousness reached Spirit Vulture Mountain, he saw a formidable, muscular martial monk practicing his skills. This monk looked exactly like the Taming Tiger Arhat enshrined in the Great Hero Hall of Xingguo Temple. Assuming the Buddha had foreseen his arrival and sent the Taming Tiger Arhat to wait for him, Master Liao Chen hurried forward to pay his respects.
After Master Liao Chen bowed, the Taming Tiger Arhat ceased his practice, turned, and approached him. Returning the courtesy, he said directly, “You have come to seek help for them?”
“Exactly!” Master Liao Chen replied excitedly, nodding vigorously.
The Taming Tiger Arhat smiled. “As expected! However, we cannot rashly provoke conflict between Buddhism and Taoism. But if he dares to kill Hui Neng, the reincarnation of the Tiger God, I will personally make him understand the might of our Buddhist war deities.”
“Master, there is something I do not understand. Please enlighten me!” Master Liao Chen had long doubted Hui Neng’s origins, and now was the time to seek answers.
“Heh, you wish to know why the Tiger God reincarnated as Hui Neng, don’t you?” The Taming Tiger Arhat chuckled and transmitted the true answer directly into Master Liao Chen’s mind.
Upon learning the truth, Master Liao Chen felt immensely inspired.
“Then how do we save them?” Master Liao Chen asked, concerned about provoking conflict between Buddhism and Taoism.
“Simple. Shatter his Qiankun Realm and injure him,” the Taming Tiger Arhat replied calmly. “He is merely an avatar, while I am the true form of a war deity. I cannot appear directly, lest the Taoist deities accuse us of bullying the weak. I will attach myself to you and rescue the Tiger God’s primordial spirit.”
“Are we only rescuing the Tiger God’s primordial spirit? Won’t we eliminate him? If not, won’t Shui Miao continue to suffer harassment?” Master Liao Chen was perplexed, sensing that the Taming Tiger Arhat merely aimed to wound the middle-aged scholar to avenge Hui Neng, with no intention of saving Shui Miao.
“Heh, divine secrets cannot be revealed. You will understand when the time comes.”
With a flash, the Taming Tiger Arhat transported Master Liao Chen back from his meditative state. Master Liao Chen opened his eyes, stood up, and walked out, proclaiming loudly, “I will save them. All of you, return to your rest.”
Abbot Liao Kong and Liao Yuan both possessed spiritual power, but they had been reluctant to use it.
Now, since Master Liao Chen had exhausted much of his own power, he had no choice but to seek help from his seniors.
“Senior Brother, it’s only natural that we help you save lives, but I still have my doubts. You say that our regained youth is an illusion, but we clearly feel younger!” Liao Yuan, a practical man, suspected that Liao Chen had overexerted himself and was now speaking nonsense that might mislead them all.
Looking at Liao Yuan, Master Liao Chen said seriously, “Brother, I knew you would say that. That’s why I had Hui En fetch the water. It contains the urine of our monks, who are all celibate. This urine can break the illusion of any celestial being, revealing our true forms.”
Liao Yuan was stunned. He hadn’t expected his senior brother to be so sharp and calculating—even anticipating his own thoughts!
At that moment, Hui En had already returned with the wooden bucket, panting as he reached the Arhat Hall’s entrance.
Master Liao Chen stopped him outside and channeled his spiritual power, drawing a stream of energy from the bucket into the hall, breaking the illusion on everyone present.
Seeing himself turned back into an old man, Liao Yuan flew into a rage. “Damn it! That wicked Taoist dared to mock us! No—he dared to mock our Buddhist sect, thinking us too weak to retaliate!”
The rivalry between Buddhism and Taoism had long existed, though it had always been a covert struggle rather than an open one.
“There’s no time to waste. Let’s begin.”
Abbot Liao Kong, though not a man of many words, was always dependable.
“Alright!” Liao Yuan immediately sat down and began channeling his spiritual power with all his might.
“Roar!”
Suddenly, a tiger’s roar shook the heavens and earth. A massive golden tiger appeared out of nowhere behind the middle-aged scholar. Caught completely off guard, the scholar was seized by the back of his neck in the tiger’s powerful jaws. A wave of excruciating pain forced him to release Shui Miao as he attempted to cast a spell to free himself. But just as he began his incantation, the tiger retreated back into Hui Neng’s body. Hui Neng rushed over and wrapped his arms around the scholar from behind, then proceeded to frantically pat and grope all over the scholar’s body…
“You thieving bald donkey! How… how dare you disrespect me like this!”
The middle-aged scholar, being an immortal soul, only felt a brief moment of pain from the tiger bite and quickly recovered.
However, being groped by Hui Neng was an utter humiliation—a dignified immortal actually being defiled by a bald donkey.
Ignoring the scholar’s outraged cries, Hui Neng continued feeling him up for a moment before suddenly gathering his energy and delivering a fierce punch to the scholar’s abdomen. The blow sent the scholar staggering backward, clutching his stomach in agony.
“Little brother, are you alright? Our master sent me to rescue you.”
Hui Neng hurriedly helped Shui Miao to his feet. Shui Miao had been injured during the capture, his bones aching so badly he could barely stand.
“How is this possible? You thieving bald donkey! How can a mere mortal like you hurt me?” The middle-aged scholar took a moment to catch his breath before flicking his folding fan, instantly transporting both Shui Miao and Hui Neng to an unfamiliar place—a world entirely white in every direction. “Hmph! Let’s see you try to escape now. Today, I’ll make sure you suffer endlessly, wishing for death but unable to find it!”
“Master Hui Neng, you shouldn’t have come,” Shui Miao grasped Hui Neng’s hand, speaking weakly. “This man is an avatar of the Infinite Celestial尊. We’re no match for him. This is all my fault—I’ve dragged you into this.”
“Don’t be afraid!”
Hui Neng thumped his chest with confidence and proclaimed, “Our master has informed me that I am the reincarnation of the Fierce Tiger, commanded by the Taming Dragon Arhat. I am a tiger god blessed by the Buddha himself—he cannot harm me.” With a broad grin, Hui Neng pointed at the middle-aged scholar. “Listen here, you avatar or whatever you may be, our master has instructed me to convey that Shui Miao is a primordial spirit personally crafted by the Buddha. You have no right to lay a finger on him. If you dare to harm him, you will face the wrath of the deities in our Buddhist realm!”
“Buddha?”
The middle-aged scholar sneered coldly. “You foolish bald donkey, do you even know who the Infinite Celestial尊 is? My master is the most ancient divine being in existence—he was already an immortal when Pangu created the world. How dare you use the Buddha to intimidate me? Have you been knocking your wooden fish so much that your brain has turned into one too?”
“How dare you insult me! I’ll beat you to death!”
Hui Neng, straightforward and hot-tempered, let out a furious roar and charged at the middle-aged scholar.
“Stupid oaf! How dare you challenge me with those clumsy moves? Try fighting yourself first!” The middle-aged scholar flicked open his folding fan and waved it forcefully. Suddenly, an exact replica of Hui Neng appeared before him, except this double was dressed in black monastic robes.
“What’s going on? Who… who are you?”
Hui Neng was utterly bewildered.
“I am you, you fool! Don’t you even recognize yourself?” The black-robed Hui Neng let out a sinister chuckle.
“Heh, since time in this Cosmos Realm can be slowed down a hundredfold—almost to a standstill—I have all the time in the world to torture you. I might as well explain things to you, so you can accept your deaths with understanding.”
The middle-aged scholar, the embodiment of the Infinite Celestial尊, experienced a transformation in his mindset upon encountering the seemingly foolish Hui Neng. His superior intellect and the life-and-death authority he wielded filled him with an overwhelming arrogance, leading him to regard Hui Neng with boundless disdain. Consequently, he patiently began to unravel the profound mysteries and intricate mechanisms of the Cosmos Realm, eager to witness fear etched on Hui Neng’s face and to attain a deep sense of psychological gratification.
However, back at Xingguo Temple, things were not as the middle-aged scholar had imagined—everyone was peacefully asleep.
In the Arhat Hall, Master Liao Chen and his two fellow disciples remained seated in meditation, while the other monks continued rhythmically striking their wooden fish.
Indeed, Master Liao Chen had once again entered a state of profound concentration.
At that moment, Master Liao Chen opened his eyes and raised his hand. The monks ceased their chanting. He then turned to Liao Kong and Liao Yuan and said, “Things are indeed more complicated than they seem. Shui Miao is in danger now, and we must find a way to help him. Hui En, come here…”
Hui En was startled but quickly put down his wooden fish and rushed over. “Master, you called for me?”
“Yes.” Master Liao Chen nodded. “Fetch half a bucket of water. Remember, it must be the same water you prepared during the day to pour on Shui Miao. I need it for something.”
“Ah…” Hui En was taken aback. That water was mixed with urine—essentially dirty water. How could he bring it into the Arhat Hall?
Master Liao Chen waved his hand. “Hurry. Every minute you delay increases the danger for Hui Neng and Shui Miao.”
“Yes, yes!” Hearing this, Hui En immediately turned and ran.
Though usually mischievous, Hui En had a good heart. The thought of his once close senior brother in mortal danger pushed all other thoughts from his mind. He focused only on running fast to complete the task assigned by his master and save lives.
“Senior brother, you say Shui Miao is in danger—what exactly is happening?” Liao Yuan looked at Liao Chen in confusion. “That middle-aged scholar is refined and elegant, an immortal who even helped us regain our youth, granting us decades of extra life. With him around, how could Shui Miao possibly be in danger?”
“Junior brother, one must not judge by appearances alone. Good people don’t always speak the truth, and bad people don’t always speak falsely. That middle-aged scholar’s words may have seemed genuine, but they were actually deceitful. As for our regained youth, it was merely an illusion.” Master Liao Chen shook his head gently and then turned to Abbot Liao Kong. “Senior brother, during my meditation, I saw that Shui Miao and Hui Neng were taken by that middle-aged scholar to a mysterious space called the Cosmos Realm. He intends to slowly torture them to death. This matter is of great importance. I request that you and Junior Brother Liao Yuan lend me your spiritual power so I can journey to Spirit Vulture Mountain in meditation and seek the Buddha’s help to save them.”
Both Abbot Liao Kong and Liao Yuan possessed spiritual power, though they usually kept it hidden and were reluctant to use it.
Now, with Master Liao Chen’s power severely depleted, he had no choice but to ask his senior and junior brothers for assistance.
“Senior brother, it’s only natural to assist you in saving others, but I still have my reservations. You claim that our regained youth is merely an illusion, yet we undeniably appear younger!” Liao Yuan, being a pragmatic individual, suspected that Liao Chen had depleted his powers to such an extent that he was now disoriented, uttering nonsensical statements that could potentially mislead everyone.
Master Liao Chen looked at Liao Yuan seriously. “Junior brother, I knew you would say this and had this very concern. That’s why I asked Hui En to fetch the water. That water is mixed with the urine of our monks, all of whom are pure virgins. Their urine can dispel an immortal’s illusions and reveal our true forms.”
“…”
Master Liao Yuan was stunned. He hadn’t expected his senior brother to be so clear-minded and calculating—he had even anticipated Liao Yuan’s doubts!
Just then, Hui En arrived outside the Arhat Hall, carrying a wooden bucket as he jogged.
Master Liao Chen motioned for him to stop, then channeled his spiritual power to draw a stream of water from the bucket into the Arhat Hall, breaking the illusion on everyone.
Seeing himself revert to an old man, Liao Yuan flew into a rage. “Damn it! That deceitful Taoist dared to mock us! No—he mocked our Buddhist faith, thinking we have no capable figures!”
The rivalry between Buddhism and Taoism had existed for a long time, though it had always been a covert struggle rather than an open confrontation.
“Saving lives is urgent. Let’s begin.” Abbot Liao Kong spoke little but was highly effective.
“Alright!” Liao Yuan immediately sat down in meditation, channeling his spiritual power with full force.
Master Liao Chen nodded in relief, sat down, entered a meditative state, and journeyed to the Buddhist realm, arriving instantly at Spirit Vulture Mountain.
As soon as Master Liao Chen’s consciousness reached Spirit Vulture Mountain, he saw an imposing, muscular martial monk practicing his skills. This monk looked exactly like the Taming Tiger Arhat enshrined in the Great Buddha Hall of Xingguo Temple. Thinking that the Buddha might have anticipated his arrival and sent the Taming Tiger Arhat to wait for him, Master Liao Chen hurried forward to pay his respects.
After Master Liao Chen bowed, the Taming Tiger Arhat ceased his practice, turned, and approached him. Returning the courtesy, he said directly, “Have you come to seek help to save someone?”
“Exactly!” Liao Chen felt a surge of excitement and nodded eagerly.
The Taming Tiger Arhat smiled. “Indeed! However, we cannot rashly provoke conflict between Buddhism and Taoism. But if he dares to kill Hui Neng, the reincarnation of the Tiger God, then I will personally intervene and show him the might of our Buddhist warrior gods.”
“Disciple has a question and seeks your guidance, Warrior Buddha!” Master Liao Chen had long been curious about Hui Neng’s origins, and now was finally the time to ask.
“Heh, you wish to know why the Tiger God reincarnated as Hui Neng, don’t you?” The Taming Tiger Arhat chuckled and then transmitted the true answer directly into Master Liao Chen’s mind.
Upon learning the truth, Master Liao Chen felt immensely inspired.
“Then how should we save them?” Master Liao Chen was concerned about provoking conflict between Buddhism and Taoism.
“That’s straightforward. Shatter his Cosmos Realm and wound him,” the Taming Tiger Arhat said with a faint smile. “He is merely an avatar, while I am the true form of the Warrior Buddha. I cannot appear directly, or the Taoist deities might accuse us of bullying the weak. I will possess your body and rescue the Tiger God’s primordial spirit.”
“Just saving the Tiger God’s primordial spirit? Aren’t we going to kill him? If we don’t, won’t Shui Miao continue to be tormented?” Master Liao Chen was perplexed, sensing that the Taming Tiger Arhat only aimed to harm the middle-aged scholar to avenge Hui Neng, with no intention of rescuing Shui Miao.
“Heh, celestial secrets cannot be revealed. You will understand when the time comes.”
The Taming Tiger Arhat and Master Liao Chen vanished momentarily before Master Liao Chen’s consciousness returned to his body. He opened his eyes, stood up, and walked directly outside, proclaiming loudly, “I will go save them. The rest of you, return to your quarters and rest.”
“Roar!”
Suddenly, a tiger’s roar shook the heavens and earth. A massive golden tiger appeared out of nowhere behind the middle-aged scholar. Caught completely off guard, the scholar was seized by the back of his neck in the tiger’s jaws. A wave of excruciating pain forced him to release Shui Miao and attempt to cast a spell to escape. But just as he began his incantation, the tiger retreated back into Hui Neng’s body. Hui Neng rushed over and embraced the scholar from behind, frantically patting him up and down…
“You bald donkey! How… how dare you disrespect me like this!”
The middle-aged scholar, being an immortal soul, felt only a momentary pain from the tiger bite and quickly recovered.
However, being groped by Hui Neng was an utter humiliation—a dignified immortal being defiled by a mere bald monk.
Ignoring the scholar’s protests, Hui Neng continued his frantic patting before suddenly gathering his energy and delivering a fierce punch to the scholar’s abdomen. The blow sent the scholar staggering backward, clutching his stomach in agony.
“Little brother, are you alright? My master sent me to save you.”
Hui Neng hurriedly helped Shui Miao to his feet. Shui Miao, injured from being captured, felt a sharp pain in his bones and couldn’t stand properly.
“How is this possible? You bald donkey, how can a mere mortal like you hurt me?” The middle-aged scholar caught his breath, then pointed his folding fan, instantly transporting both Shui Miao and Hui Neng to an unfamiliar place—a world entirely white in every direction. “Hah! Now let’s see where you can run. Today, I will make you beg for death rather than endure life!”
“Master Hui Neng, you shouldn’t have come,” Shui Miao uttered weakly, clutching Hui Neng’s hand. “This man is an incarnation of the Infinite Celestial尊. We stand no chance against him. It’s all my fault—I’ve pulled you into this mess.”
“Don’t worry!”
Hui Neng thumped his chest with confidence and proclaimed, “My master told me that I am the reincarnation of the fierce tiger under the command of the Taming Dragon Arhat. I am a tiger god blessed by the Buddha himself. He can’t harm me.” With a grin, he pointed at the middle-aged scholar. “Hey, you avatar or whatever! My master instructed me to tell you that Shui Miao is a divine spirit created by the Buddha himself. You have no right to touch him. If you dare lay a finger on him, you’ll have to answer to the gods of our Buddhist realm!”
“Buddha?”
The middle-aged scholar scoffed with disdain. “You dim-witted bald monk, do you have any idea who the Infinite Celestial尊 is? My master is the most ancient deity in existence—he was already an immortal when Pangu first shaped the world. How dare you invoke the Buddha to intimidate me? Have you been striking that wooden fish so relentlessly that your mind has turned into one?”
“How dare you insult me! I’ll beat you to death!”
Hui Neng, straightforward and hot-tempered, roared and charged at the scholar.
“Clumsy fool! How dare you challenge me with those skills? Try fighting yourself first.” The middle-aged scholar flicked open his folding fan and waved it forcefully. Suddenly, an exact replica of Hui Neng appeared before him, dressed in black monastic robes.
“What’s going on? Who… who are you?”
Hui Neng was bewildered.
“I am you, you idiot! Don’t you even recognize yourself?” The black-robed Hui Neng let out a sinister chuckle.
“Heh, since time in this Qiankun Realm can slow down a hundredfold—almost to a standstill—I have all the time in the world to torture you. I might as well explain things so you can die with understanding.”
The middle-aged scholar, an embodiment of the Infinite Celestial尊, experienced a transformation in his mindset upon encountering the naive Hui Neng. His towering intellect and the dominion over life and death that he wielded filled him with an overwhelming sense of superiority, leading him to regard Hui Neng with profound disdain. Driven by this arrogance, he patiently began to unravel the enigmatic intricacies of the Qiankun Realm, anticipating the emergence of fear on Hui Neng’s countenance, thereby satiating his own psychological desires.
However, back at Xingguo Temple, things were not as the middle-aged scholar had imagined—everyone peacefully asleep.
In the Arhat Hall, Master Liao Chen and his two fellow disciples remained seated in meditation, while the other monks continued chanting and knocking wooden fish.
Indeed, Master Liao Chen had once again entered a state of profound concentration.
At that moment, Master Liao Chen opened his eyes and raised his hand. The monks ceased their chanting. He turned to Liao Kong and Liao Yuan and said, “Things are indeed more complicated than they seem. Shui Miao is in danger now, and we must find a way to help him. Hui En, come here…”
Hui En was startled but quickly put down his wooden fish and rushed over. “Master, you called me?”
“Yes.”
Master Liao Chen nodded. “Fetch half a bucket of water. Remember, it must be the same water you prepared during the day to pour on Shui Miao. I need it for a purpose.”
“Ah…”
Hui En was taken aback. That water was mixed with urine—essentially dirty water. How could he bring it into the Arhat Hall?
Master Liao Chen waved his hand. “Hurry! Every minute you delay increases the danger for Hui Neng and Shui Miao.”
“Yes, yes!”
Upon hearing this, Hui En immediately turned and ran.
Though often mischievous, Hui En possessed a kind heart. The mere thought of his long-time senior brother facing mortal danger drove all other concerns from his mind. His sole focus became swiftly completing his master’s task to rescue them.
“Senior Brother, you mentioned that Shui Miao is in danger—what exactly is going on?” Liao Yuan looked at Liao Chen with confusion. “That middle-aged scholar was refined and elegant, an immortal who even helped us regain our youth, granting us decades of extra life. With him around, how could Shui Miao possibly be in danger?”
“Junior Brother, we must not judge things solely by appearance. Good people don’t always speak the truth, and bad people don’t always lie. That middle-aged scholar’s words may have seemed genuine, but they were false. Our regained youth is nothing but an illusion.” Master Liao Chen gently shook his head and turned to Abbot Liao Kong. “Senior Brother, during my meditation, I saw that Shui Miao and Hui Neng were taken by that middle-aged scholar to a mysterious space called the Qiankun Realm. He intends to slowly torture them to death. This matter is of great importance. I request that you and Liao Yuan use your spiritual power to support me, allowing my consciousness to travel to the Sacred Mountain and seek the Buddha’s help to save them.”
Both Abbot Liao Kong and Liao Yuan possessed spiritual power, though they often concealed it and were reluctant to use it.
Now, with Master Liao Chen’s power severely depleted, he had no choice but to seek their aid.
“Senior brother, saving others is undoubtedly noble, but I still have my doubts. You claim that our regained youth is an illusion, yet we clearly appear younger now!” Liao Yuan, a pragmatic man, suspected that Liao Chen’s excessive use of power had clouded his judgment, leading to nonsensical statements that could misguide them all.
Master Liao Chen gazed at Liao Yuan with a solemn expression. “Junior Brother, I anticipated you would say that. To alleviate your concerns, I instructed Hui En to fetch water. That water is blended with the urine of our monks, all of whom are pure virgins. Their urine has the power to dispel an immortal’s illusions and unveil our true forms.”
“…”
Liao Yuan was taken aback. His senior brother was not bewildered—he had strategized in advance, even foreseeing Liao Yuan’s skepticism!
Just then, Hui En arrived outside the Arhat Hall, carrying a wooden bucket.
Master Liao Chen motioned for him to stop, then channeled his power to draw a stream of energy from the bucket into the hall, shattering the illusion on everyone.
Seeing himself revert to an old man, Liao Yuan flew into a rage. “Damn it! That deceitful Taoist dared to mock us! No—he mocked our Buddhist faith, thinking we have no one capable of standing up to him!”
The rivalry between Buddhism and Taoism had existed for ages, though it was usually a hidden struggle rather than an open confrontation.
“Saving lives is urgent. Let’s begin.”
Abbot Liao Kong spoke little but was highly effective.
“Good!”
Liao Yuan immediately sat down and channeled his full power.
Master Liao Chen nodded with a sense of relief, took his seat, and entered a deep meditative state. His consciousness traveled swiftly to the Buddhist realm, arriving instantly at Mount Ling.
As soon as Master Liao Chen’s consciousness arrived at Ling Mountain, he encountered a formidable, muscular monk practicing martial arts. This monk bore an uncanny resemblance to the Taming Dragon Arhat enshrined in the Great Buddha Hall of Xingguo Temple. Believing that the Buddha had foreseen his arrival and dispatched the Arhat to await him, Master Liao Chen hastened forward to offer his respects.
After Master Liao Chen bowed, the Taming Dragon Arhat ceased his practice, turned, and approached him. Returning the courtesy, he said directly, “Have you come to seek salvation for others?”
“Exactly!” Master Liao Chen felt a surge of excitement and nodded eagerly.
The Taming Dragon Arhat smiled. “As expected! However, we cannot rashly provoke conflict between Buddhism and Taoism. But if he dares to kill Hui Neng, the reincarnation of the tiger god, I will intervene and show him the might of our Buddhist warriors.”
“Disciple has a question and seeks your guidance!” Master Liao Chen had long doubted Hui Neng’s origins, and now was the time to ask.
“Heh, you wish to know why the tiger god reincarnated as Hui Neng, don’t you?” The Taming Dragon Arhat chuckled and transmitted the true answer directly into Master Liao Chen’s mind.
Upon learning the truth, Master Liao Chen felt immensely inspired.
“Then how do we save them?” Master Liao Chen was cautious, not wanting to incite conflict between the two faiths.
“Simple. Shatter his Qiankun Realm and injure him,” the Taming Dragon Arhat smiled faintly. “He is merely an avatar, while I am the true form of a warrior Buddha. I cannot appear directly, lest the Taoist deities accuse us of bullying the weak. I will possess you and rescue the tiger god’s primordial spirit.”
“Just save the tiger god’s primordial spirit? Shouldn’t we kill him? If we don’t, won’t Shui Miao continue to be harassed?” Master Liao Chen was confused, sensing that the Arhat only aimed to wound the middle-aged scholar to avenge Hui Neng, with no intention of rescuing Shui Miao.
“Heh, divine secrets cannot be revealed. You will understand in time.”
The Taming Dragon Arhat and Master Liao Chen vanished momentarily before Master Liao Chen’s consciousness returned to his body. He opened his eyes, stood up, and walked out, announcing clearly, “I will save them. All of you, return to your rest.”
After bowing, the Arhat Who Tames Tigers ceased his training, turned toward Liao Chen, and after returning the bow, asked directly, “Have you come to save lives?”
“Exactly!” Liao Chen’s heart swelled with excitement as he nodded eagerly.
The Arhat smiled slightly. “Indeed! However, we cannot rashly provoke a conflict between Buddhism and Taoism. But if he dares to kill Hui Neng, the reincarnation of the Tiger God, then I shall personally show him the might of the Buddhist warrior monks.”
“Venerable Warrior Monk, I have a question I wish to ask,” Master Liao Chen, long curious about Hui Neng’s origins, finally saw his chance.
“Hehe, you want to know why the Tiger God would reincarnate as Hui Neng, don’t you?” The Arhat smiled and transmitted the truth directly into Liao Chen’s mind.
Upon learning the truth, Master Liao Chen felt an immense surge of determination.
“Then, how should we save them?” Liao Chen hesitated, not wanting to provoke a large-scale religious conflict.
“That’s easy. Simply shatter his Qiankun Realm and wound him,” the Arhat said calmly. “He is but a fragment of a soul, while I am the true body of the Warrior Monk. I cannot appear openly, lest the Taoist gods accuse us of bullying the weak. I shall possess your body and rescue the Tiger God’s soul.”
“Rescuing the Tiger God’s soul is enough? Won’t we kill him? If we don’t kill him, won’t Shui Miao still be in danger?” Liao Chen was puzzled, feeling that the Arhat only wanted to wound the scholar and avenge Hui Neng, without truly intending to save Shui Miao.
“Hehe, heavenly secrets must not be revealed. You will understand when the time comes.”
With that, the Arhat whisked his body and Liao Chen’s consciousness returned from the meditation. Opening his eyes, Liao Chen stood up and strode outside, loudly declaring, “I will go save them. You all may return and rest.”
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