Chapter 241: Xuanmen marches westward, killing demons and competing for merit
Chapter 241: Xuanmen marches westward, killing demons and competing for merit
Cheng Xinzhan had just arrived, and although he said he would obey orders, Yan Renying and the people from Biyun Temple would naturally not let him do anything right away.
After the six of them chatted for a while, they each went about their business, and Yan Renying personally arranged accommodation for Cheng Xinzhan.
Because Jian Pavilion Master Yan Renying and Elder Lu of Biyun Temple, also known as Mingting Sanren, both live on the lowest floor, the height of the Jian Pavilion has nothing to do with realm or status. It all depends on personal preference which floor you live on.
On the second floor, Cheng Xinzhan's room was arranged near Li Baisanren. Because he had a servant boy, Yan Renying specially selected a large guest house for him.
There are many quiet rooms, as well as study rooms, alchemy rooms, tea rooms, flower halls, etc., with everything you need. There are also many exotic flowers and bonsai trees displayed here, and there are screens, calligraphy and paintings, incense burners, bottles, lamp stands, and strange stones to embellish it.
Even so, Yan Renying apologized again and again.
"Brother Yunlai has made mountains and rivers his friends, and enjoyed the vastness of the world. But now that you have come to my place, you are confined to a small space. It is really unfair to you."
Cheng Xinzhan said it was already very good.
When seeing Yan Renying off, he made a request to Yan Renying, which was that he needed the geography of Xikang and the legends of gods and ghosts. If the disciples of Xuanmen had seized such things in the process of eliminating demons, he was willing to pay a price for them.
Yan Renying told him to rest assured that as long as there was such a thing, it would be sent to him, no need to mention the price. As Cheng Xinzhan was a Jindan realm cultivator who came to Jiange to help, he, Yan Renying, should offer him offerings.
Cheng Xinzhan did not refuse and said yes with a smile.
After Yan Renying left, he re-examined the house and soon discovered that the furnishings inside were unusual. For example, the clean bottle was filled with spiritual water, and the strange stone exuded golden energy. Combined with the incense burner smoke, the strange wood in the basin, and the picture of Shu Mountain, it was like a five-element spiritual formation that could strengthen the flow of spiritual energy in this guest house, but at the same time it was also enhancing the nourishment of this pavilion.
If every piece of furniture in this pavilion is designed with such ingenuity, then the power of this magic weapon cannot be underestimated.
In the Dao of Alchemy, there is a magic weapon refining technique called "grouping", which means that if you use some low-grade materials, through ingenuity, and stacking and accumulating layers of spiritual restrictions, you can finally refine it into a remarkable magic weapon. The so-called "a nine-story platform starts with piling up earth" means this.
Cheng Xinzhan looked at the sword pavilion. The whole thing was carved out of a kind of spiritual stone, and the magic prohibitions were hidden inside. It was originally a magic weapon of extremely high grade. It was embellished with various ornaments, and the power of this magic weapon in the pavilion was further enhanced through the [assembly] method.
Although he knew that Emei would not do anything in a building like this, Cheng Xinzhan still walked around here twice just in case.
During this time, he moved the positions of several ornaments and pasted several talismans according to the directions of the Five Elements and Nine Palaces to ensure that the place would not be eavesdropped on by others. Only then did he feel relieved.
He chose a quiet room for himself with a window facing north, and asked the two boys to choose the room they liked.
He sat cross-legged with his five hearts facing the sky.
Every time he goes to a new place, he has to make a plan, and of course, he will adjust his plan according to the variables.
The trip to Xikang was a plan he had made when he was copying scriptures by drilling holes in the wall in the sect. It included disguising himself as a hermit, choosing Bailongqi Mountain as his place to stay, making friends, and using the excuse of compiling a travelogue of the Earth Book to inquire about the truth about the Xuanmen sect. All of this was part of the plan.
He came to Xikang for two purposes. One was to eliminate demons, especially to see the differences between the demons of ancient Western Buddhism that had been transformed into evil and the demons of the northern and southern schools and overseas. The other was to enter Sichuan and see the atmosphere of Xuanmen with his own eyes.
After getting acquainted with Li Baisanren, he thought that he would first focus on finding out about Xuanmen and killing the demons would come later. However, he did not expect that with an imperial decree from Xuantianmen, his familiar friend would come to the west to kill the demons.
This is what happens when plans cannot keep up with changes.
It is not impossible to find another like-minded person like Li Baisanren in Bailongqi Mountain, but it is time-consuming and a bit deliberate.
There is no need for this.
So Cheng Xinzhan followed along. This was a good thing as it would not delay the compilation of the Book of the Earth. At the same time, he could understand the Xuanmen fighting methods and demon slaying. These two things could be done at the same time.
In addition, Cheng Xinzhan believes that it is necessary to have a deeper understanding of the conflicts between Biyun Temple and Emei, the relationship between Qingzhou's independent cultivators, Dianwen Zen Buddhism and Emei, and the fact that Emei's eldest brother, Yan Renying, is in Cao's camp but his heart is with Han.
Living in Jiange in western Sichuan now is an opportunity.
Cheng Xinzhan glanced out the window again. She was here too. He still owed her a favor from the last battle at Fuxia Lake. He had to find a chance to repay her.
The first thing to do next is to cooperate with Yan Renying to eliminate demons. Di Bai said something right. If Yan Renying really became the head of Emei, Daoxuan would merge, which would be a good thing for the Taoist tradition in the world.
The second was to compile the Earth Book. The more time he spent on it, the more he felt that this book was more than just the [Yang Jing] method and the five elements. This book seemed to have a great connection with his future path. This feeling was like the first time he realized his ambition, which was deeply imprinted in his heart. Just like exorcising demons, he had to persevere.
On the surface, in one's own practice, the focus is still on comprehending the "Taiyin Mantra", "Migratory Bird Divination" and visualizing the gods inside the wind house.
The above three only focus on the present. If we look further ahead, we need to think about how to advance the elixir tribulation and comprehend the golden elixir Dharma.
----
Yan Renying was very efficient. The next day, many geographical records and geomancy maps of the Xikang area were delivered. The geographical records here were basically records of immortals, with few mentions of mortals. The geomancy maps here were a feast for Cheng Xinzhan's eyes. The complexity of the mountains and rivers and topography was truly rare.
The only drawback is that most of the characters used here are a type of characters called "vine characters". These characters are long and twisted, like vines entangled and climbing upwards, which is really difficult to understand.
Cheng Xinzhan had come across Yunli, Leizhuan, Fengcao, and even Longzhang and Fengshu before. Although the fonts were very different, they all had a kind of stretched beauty. Only this Tengwen had the strokes entangled and tightened, which was unique.
When Bai Sanren saw this, he took the initiative to offer to interpret it for Cheng Xinzhan, summarize it by categories, extract the essence and eliminate the dross, and was willing to teach Cheng Xinzhan Tengwen.
Cheng Xinzhan was naturally delighted to learn new characters, and he didn't even notice how time had passed.
Three days later, Wu Mei came to the door and said that she wanted to invite Cheng Xinzhan to accompany her on a demon-exorcism mission.
Cheng Xinzhan naturally agreed happily.
Di Baisanren was with Cheng Xinzhan and wanted to go together, but Cheng Xinzhan told him not to move, saying that his injury had not healed yet and that he had not finished translating the new travel notes of a Mahajan monk. He told him to focus on translating the scriptures and he would be back soon.
Wu Mei also took the opportunity to give him some advice. This uncle-master had sustained a Taoist injury when he broke into Mount Emei many years ago, and was injured again by the counterattack of the devil a few days ago. It was indeed not advisable for him to move.
Cheng Xinzhan gave a wink, and the two boys, Bai Long Zhaoli, each held one of Li Baisanren's hands, while Cheng Xinzhan and Wu Mei disappeared in the blink of an eye.
After leaving Jiange, Wu Mei told Cheng Xinzhan what happened.
Ever since the Xuantian League took major action and established the Jiange on the border, the demons in Xikang have felt the malice coming from the Xuanmen.
But the demons here naturally don't want to leave Xikang. First, they have been rooted here for many years and are used to it. Second, this land is vast and rich in spiritual energy. It is a great place. In the vicinity of Xikang, that is, Xihai and Longyou in the traditional northern sphere of influence, Dianwen and Miaojiang in the traditional southern sphere of influence, plus Tubo in the west, all the good sacred mountains in these areas have been occupied. If they go there, they will be unfamiliar with the place, and they will be ostracized. The demons who choose to stay in Xikang can be basically divided into four types.
The first option was to seek refuge with the monk Chuanxin, cross the Nujiang River and go to Xuanxin Temple to get a haircut.
Xuanxin Temple is indeed a good place to visit. It is located at the junction of Xikang and Tubo. The Baiguai Mountain where it is located has a special terrain that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is also a place of practice left by the Eight Suffering Kings, so it must be extraordinary.
If Emei's attack this time is all talk and no action, then she will follow Monk Chuanxin to retake Xikang. If they are serious, she can always abandon Xuanxin Temple and hide deep in Tubo.
Moreover, because Monk Chuanxin had just broken the seal, he was still recovering his strength and recruiting people, and basically accepted all the demons who came to him.
Therefore, the Xuantian League’s making such a big fuss also indirectly helped Monk Chuanxin.
The second way, naturally, is to seek refuge with the White Bone Bodhisattva and recite the sutras in the White Bone Temple.
The White Bone Temple is located in the northern part of Xikang, with its back to the West Sea. It is said to have some connection with the Blood God Cult and has a very strong background.
However, it is precisely because the White Bone Temple has a background and has been rooted in Queer Mountain for many years. The temple master, White Bone Bodhisattva, was the one who escaped from the hands of Changmei Zhenren in the past and had long been a giant in the area. Therefore, the White Bone Temple is much more difficult to enter than the Xuanxin Temple.
But despite this, many demons valued the background of the White Bone Temple and the ability to escape, so they tried their best to get in.
The White Bone Monastery accepted a group of people who were relatively famous in Xikang and who offered generous gifts, and allowed them to practice in the Queer Mountain area, which meant that they would be protected.
There are also some demons who kowtow in front of the White Bone Temple, hoping to be able to practice there, but they also offer sacrifices to the temple every year, only hoping that the White Bone Temple can lend a helping hand if the Xuanmen attacks, or that the temple can open a convenient door for them when they escape.
White Bone Bodhisattva also agreed to this interesting request.
The third type is those who think they have some abilities. They are basically veteran Jindan. They neither want to leave Xikang nor want to join others.
These demons feel deep down that no matter how powerful the Xuanmen in Shu is, it is impossible to kill all the demons in the world. There are so many demons in all directions in Shu, so many big demons who have been famous for a long time. If they don’t kill them, why do they have to come and catch them?
As for the fourth type of people, these demons have similar ideas to the third type of demons, but their realm is lower, they are small demons of the first or second realm. They think that Xikang is so big, if they just find a mountain valley to hide in, who will be able to find them?
In addition to the above four types, those who went to Xuanxin Temple and Baigu Zen Temple but were not wanted by anyone and who were timid have basically all left Xikang.
"This is basically the situation of demonic trouble in Xikang right now."
Wu Mei said.
Cheng Xinzhan nodded, and then he asked,
"So what are you going to do now?"
Wu Mei replied,
"There is really no way we can deal with Monk Chuanxin. We are already close to Tubo and the Nujiang River is so dangerous, so as long as he doesn't cross the river, we will ignore him.
"The White Bone Monastery Alliance has issued a death order to kill him, but now is not the right time.
"As for the last type, we really don't have any way. Xikang is too big, and there are too many of these little demons. We can only kill them if we meet them, and we won't kill them specifically if we don't meet them. Perhaps a hundred years later, when Xikang is like Shuzhong now, with many Taoist sects and the righteous way flourishing, these little demons will naturally disappear.
"What we have to do now is to kill the third type and the demons in the second type that are attached to the White Bone Temple.
"Once we have wiped out these demons, or forced them to leave and completely devote themselves to Xuanxin Temple and Baigu Zen Temple, that will be the time for us to attack Baigu Zen Temple."
Cheng Xinzhan nodded. Fang Lue had no problem with it, but he asked,
"But there are many demons in Xikang now. If you use a small number of people to defeat a large number of people, what will you do if you are surrounded by them, or if the White Bone Bodhisattva and the Piercing Heart Monk attack you directly?"
Wu Mei smiled when she heard this.
"We in Xuanmen have our own experts. I am eager for these two demons to take action, but I am afraid that they will shrink and dare not come out.
"As for the encirclement, haha."
Wu Mei said with a laugh.
“Yunlai doesn’t know that in the recent period, Xuanmen is mainly on guard against the north, east, and south, and only focuses on the west, that is, Xikang.
"In the face of this great catastrophe of the demonic tide, the dirty things within the Xuan Sect were put aside, and the Xuantian Alliance was established. The first thing the alliance proposed after its establishment was to concentrate its forces to take over Xikang. Yunlai, do you know why?"
Wu Mei looked at Cheng Xinzhan with a smile.
Cheng Xinzhan also smiled when he heard this.
"Fen Yan, are you testing me?"
Wu Mei smiled and nodded.
But she had tested the wrong person. Cheng Xinzhan's vision was not comparable to that of ordinary people. In addition, he had been discussing the affairs of Shu with Li Baisanren during this period, so he was naturally well aware of this.
"It's nothing more than the prosperity of the Xuan Sect. The Du Guang Wilderness can no longer accommodate it, so it has to continue to expand. Looking around the Du Guang Wilderness, if you go east, you will be blocked by the Eastern Dao Sect. If you go south, it is the place where the Five Realms True Dragons merge. As for going north, let alone the resistance of the Northern Demon Sect, I'm afraid you will not look down on this place just because of its barren land.
“In addition, the Xuanmen sect likes weapons, flying swords, and practices Gengjin methods. From the perspective of the five elements, the east is wood, the north is water, the south is fire, and the west is gold. Naturally, you have to continue to move westward.
"In the past thousand years, the great demon sects of the northern and southern factions have been coming one after another, but Xikang has never had a great demon sect. The only one that has emerged is the Eight Bitterness King, who was killed by Changmei Zhenren with thunder and lightning. He used his demon-killing power to declare that no one from the five realms can enter Xikang. Therefore, annexing Xikang has been what you have been planning for."
Cheng Xinzhan spoke lightly, but Wu Mei's eyes lit up as she listened. She said,
"How long has Yun been in Xikang? How come he has already seen through everything so thoroughly?"
Although Cheng Xinzhan felt that Xuanmen was too powerful and had to be guarded against, from another perspective, no matter what, if Xuanmen wanted to occupy Xikang, it would be the righteous path taking land from the evil path, and there was no doubt about that.
"The mighty torrent is the general trend. If you look carefully, you will naturally discover it."
Wu Mei nodded.
“Yes, but unfortunately there are not many people who can see through the general trend. For example, those evil people who are hoping for a lucky break have no idea that their death is approaching.
"Just now Yun said that he was worried about their encirclement. So I might as well tell you frankly that starting from this month, a large number of Xuanmen disciples will head west. Not only us and Emei, but also people from Qingcheng Mountain and Heming Mountain will come.
“So it’s not the demons who are surrounding us, it’s us who are surrounding them. And not only that, within our Xuanmen, we have to kill each other’s demons and compete for credit.
"That's why I had the nerve to ask Yunlai to help Xichuan Jiange win the credit."
(End of this chapter)