Please call me Huanxian

Chapter 359: Generate wisdom and change fate

Crossing the threshold and walking down the steps, Xu Yuanchang looked at the small Taoist temple which had changed in his eyes. Every brick and every piece of wood was clearly visible. After three steps, he had adapted to it as usual and was filled with emotion.

More than ten years of dust and dirt seemed like a long dream, and he successfully overcame the difficulty of his "physical disability".

Liu Xianfeng's unintentional words at the time made him suddenly wake up.

Therefore, it is decided to enter the mortal world with the body, mind and spirit of a mortal to "feel others' feelings".

He chose to enter the mortal world as a Taoist priest after careful consideration. He did not expect the process to be so tortuous and exciting. He dared to break into the bandits' lair alone. Killing evildoers was a good deed, which allowed him to quickly accumulate a lot of invisible merits.

"Master, you forgot to take your walking stick."

Dong Xing trotted over and handed the wooden stick that his master had been holding onto to the old host with a smile on his face.

Xu Yuanchang took the elm stick that had been used for a long time, rubbed it for a while, and with a method that Dong Xing could not see, he took out a metal bar, pinched it into a sharp cone, and pressed it into the bottom of the stick, like driving a nail.

He poked the ground with the stick and handed it back to Dong Xing.

"I am about to travel far away. Perhaps I will be able to return in three years. You will take over Xishui Temple in my place."

He did not accept any apprentices, but spent his energy and time teaching Dong Xing in order to pass on the torch and train the next abbot. Dong Xing lived up to expectations and passed the assessment last year to become a formal Taoist priest.

"Master, please let me stay by your side and go out with you to gain more knowledge and experience."

Dong Xing took the stick, he was worried about the old abbot traveling far away.

As the Chinese saying goes, “The Tao does not talk about longevity.” I guess the old host is nearly 80 years old. What if something happens during his long journey?
Xu Yuanchang smiled and refused: "You are also traveling outside, who will take care of the Taoist temple? I am still strong and healthy, I will stop and go, look for a few old friends, and come back after fulfilling my wish. It won't take too long."

Walk around the small Taoist temple and enter the side hall again.

He opened a cabinet in the corner, took out a cloth bag from underneath, and handed a bag of silver to Dong Xing.

"Take fifty taels of silver to honor your parents, and the rest will be used for the daily expenses of the Taoist temple. From now on, you will practice in peace on the mountain. If you find a virtuous and gentle girl, you can marry her. Our Taoist lineage does not prohibit marriage, but the rules of the Taoist temple must be explained clearly to the other party's family first. You can select three or five Taoist children to teach and train. After the test, those who can keep quiet will stay, and those who are not suitable will be sent down the mountain."

Xu Yuanchang casually explained that Dong Xing did not have the aptitude to practice cultivation. The simple breathing exercises he taught could help him to have sharp ears and eyes, a strong body, and to exert some power when combined with his fists, kicks and swordsmanship, but it could not help him develop a sense of qi and step into the threshold of becoming a cultivator.

He stuffed the bag into the bewildered Dong Xing's hands.

"Master, are you not coming back? I am young and inexperienced, and cannot shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Taoist temple."

Dong Xing felt something was not right, it sounded like instructions for final arrangements... Ugh, bah, good luck.

This bag of silver was too heavy. Over the years, he had followed his master to perform rituals, running around everywhere. After deducting various expenses, he had earned at most 120 to 130 taels of silver. The jingling bag of silver in his hand held at least 200 taels of silver.

The Taoist temple's major and minor purchases, seasonal purchases, and accounting records were handed over to him three years ago.

Dong Xing had a plan in mind regarding the expenditure of money.

Xu Yuanchang placed a piece of white paper on the table, picked up a brush and dipped it in ink, and said, "I will come back in three years and I will have something to tell you then. Don't show off your wealth. Hide the silver carefully and don't show it off to avoid disaster. When you go out to perform rituals, if you encounter troublesome evil spirits, just use the method I taught you to kill them with a stick."

With a brush and ink splashing, he wrote the four characters "like a dream, like a fantasy" in running script like flowing water.

It is quite different from the rigid handwriting he usually writes in a lively way.

"You should practice diligently in the Taoist temple. Even if no one is urging you, you should not slack off. Every day in a quiet room where no one is around, recite these few words and comprehend their spirit. If you persist in this for a long time, you may get unexpected benefits."

Xu Yuanchang blew the ink words dry, rolled them up and handed them to the young man who had been with him for more than ten years.

He has already given the opportunity, whether one can accept this enormous wealth depends on fate.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master. I will not slack off."

Dong Xing then felt relieved. He took the wooden stick, the money bag and the calligraphy given by the old host, and bowed.

After watching Dong Xing go out, Xu Yuanchang did not close the door. He left the key to the side hall on the table, took a step forward, and his figure disappeared. When he reappeared, he was on the top of a mountain ten miles away in the east, searching the surrounding area carefully.

His eyes were fixed on an abandoned, collapsed cave on a cliff halfway up the mountain. The rocks were covered with dust and dirt, and many shrubs and weeds grew in the gaps. No one had lived there for a long time.

Choose a natural cave, use magic to expand it, and create two quiet rooms.

Xu Yuanchang released the fourth-level incarnation that had not been out for a long time, activated the formation to cover himself, and released the Yin-Yang Phantom Fire Essence. After giving some instructions, he walked into one of the quiet rooms, closed the door and set up the formation, piling a circle of crystal marrow stones and wood crystal stones around him.

Sit cross-legged on the cushion, practice the exercises, adjust your cultivation state, and prepare for the breakthrough.

The hundred-year war in the Dark Realm facilitated the advancement of many fifth-floor monks of the older generation, and many even achieved breakthroughs on the battlefield.

They have accumulated knowledge for at least four or five hundred years and have gone through many trials and tribulations in the mortal world. Some of their predecessors have walked the path of reincarnation countless times, but they have been unlucky and have insufficient rare resources, so they cannot find that opportunity for a breakthrough. In terms of profound foundation, they are unmatched by younger generations like Xu Yuanchang.

Of course, Xu Yuanchang's path of cultivation has its own extraordinary splendor.

Times have changed, and the ways of promotion have changed.

The young man in green robe leaned against a pine tree on the top of the opposite mountain, half of his body sticking out of the cliff, biting a dogtail grass in his mouth, muttering: "I studied writing and expressing my thoughts in the dark world, and spent eight years breaking the 'heart illusion barrier'. I hid in Xishui Temple as a charlatan for twelve years. I first entered the mortal world and then transformed into a mortal world, which added up to twenty years. His talent, understanding and luck... well, they are still thirty or fifty miles behind me, Master Li, but they are not bad at all. He is a talented person in the world."

"Help each other, protect the invisible law. Xu boy, this young master has already repaid you half of the favor. From now on, if you can avoid seeing us, then we should. There is nothing to talk about with you. You have to be careful of yellow mud falling into your crotch at all times. It's either shit or shit."

Spitting out the dogtail grass in his mouth, the young man in green robe stood up lazily.

With his sleeves fluttering and his demeanor as that of a god, he walked towards the north.

He still had a few things to finish in the lower realm. He would travel around the three continents of the demon clan to see if there were any descendants of the evil beasts. This was something he felt guilty about. When all the things were done, it would be time for him to quietly ascend to the upper realm.

Xiyuan Holy Land, on Wangjian Mountain.

Zeng Shanlang and Meng Yiyi walked side by side in an elegantly maintained courtyard halfway up the mountain.

The two talked and laughed, and played around for a few rounds from time to time. Meng Yiyi chased and punched him a few times with her pink fists, and then continued to talk and laugh.

"The day before yesterday, I went to the Forgotten Sword Cave and saw Master coming out of his retreat. He talked to me for a while."

"Oh, when will Senior Yu be able to come out of seclusion?"

"She said it will be soon. In another three to five years, she will be able to break through the barrier."

Meng Yiyi was very excited, her face was as beautiful as a flower, she glanced at the dark man who seemed to be thinking about something, lowered her voice and asked, "When will your master come out of retreat?"

Zeng Shanlang smiled and shook his head: "It should be soon. A few days ago, I went to Wuyan Mountain to visit Elder Mei. He told me to wait patiently and said that everything will be fine with Master."

"I still don't know where Taoist Master Xu has gone to become a mortal?"

"My eldest brother told me not to ask. Master has his own considerations. If he doesn't want others to find it, we won't be able to find it either."

Zeng Shanlang suddenly whispered something in Meng Yiyi's ear, which made her blush and she ran around the yard beating him several times.

The garden is full of colorful flowers and the spring scenery is intoxicating.

To the north of Dingzhou, about six thousand miles overseas, there is an island shaped like a double camel hump.

Xu Shengtian jumped off Xueli's back and said with a big bow, "Old man, Shengtian came here as promised. I am honored to be here."

There was a layer of light rippling like a curtain of water, showing the beautiful scenery in the middle of Tuofeng Mountain. Zeng Wanglou appeared in a simple wooden pavilion halfway up the mountain, waved his hand, and asked, "Is your third uncle still not out of seclusion?"

Xu Shengtian slowly landed on the ground, walked into the wooden pavilion, and said, "Not yet. I wonder where he went. Can you tell me when Third Uncle will come out? I'll pay you for the divination."

Zeng Wanglou refused directly: "No, I don't need your fortune-telling fee."

He casually threw a bottle of medicine to Xueli who was bowing flatteringly outside the wooden pavilion.

What happened to Xu Yuanchang could only be considered a rough estimate at best. He had experienced it a long time ago and was too lazy to bother himself with it.

"I will wait for your uncle for another three years. If he doesn't come out of seclusion within three years, I will transcend the tribulation and ascend to the upper realm. From now on, if you want to meet him, you have to go to the upper realm."

"No way, you're not going to attend Shanlang's wedding?"

"My children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I already have enough to take care of. I can't worry about everything."

Zeng Wanglou said he didn't care, and threw a bag to Xu Shengtian, saying, "There are a few elixirs in it, marked. You can give them to Shan Lang and Meng Yiyi. The rest are all yours. I want to take advantage of these three years of free time to visit the demon tribe's territory."

Xu Shengtian put away his bag and volunteered, "Grandpa, take me with you. I can run errands for you, cheer for you, and when you fight monsters, I can hit them from behind. Besides, there's one more person on the road to chat with."

When Xueli heard the sound of being hit by a club, he subconsciously retracted his neck. It was a monster.

Then I started to miss Sister Liu who went to the flower world. She was the one who liked to use a club to attack people.

Zeng Wanglou attacked mercilessly, "Take you? Forget it. With your limited cultivation, you will be a burden. Don't slow me down when I run away. If you want to go, go alone."

Xu Shengtian sighed: "How could I have the courage to do that?"

He guessed that Zeng Lao was looking for trouble with Xuan Jieqing, so it was inconvenient to take him on a tour, so he turned his attention to the island in front of him and said, "You will choose a place for cultivation, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and a unique cave. When you ascend to the upper realm, how about giving this place to me?"

"No one's land, you can take it. I don't plan to live here anymore."

Zeng Wanglou spoke for a while, then stood up and flew towards the northeast sea.

Xu Shengtian bowed and saw him off until Zeng Lao could no longer be seen. Then he and Xueli patrolled the island which was about twenty miles in size.

"Xue Li, what do you think of leaving you on the island and letting you be a free and easy island owner?"

Snowflake was so scared that he shook his head like a rattle.

No, no, if you want to harm me, please just say it directly, don’t beat around the bush.

"Ha, you are too timid. Carving a stone plaque with the words 'Viewing Bailin Valley' in a prominent place on the island is like marking the land as king. Anyone who wants to go to the island will have to think twice."

……

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Xishui Temple, inside the side hall on the right.

Dong Xing had an even more calm and elegant demeanor. He was leaning against the table, using the inconspicuous wooden stick passed to him by the old host, while drinking tea and chatting with a man sitting opposite him, who was wearing a clean, patched short coat.

Two Taoist boys, about ten years old, served tea.

"Junior brother, before the master went out to travel, he said that those who went down the mountain could not return to the mountain. It's not that I am being ruthless, but it is really forbidden by the rules. Please forgive me."

The guest today is none other than Chen Xiang who came down the mountain that year. Due to different life experiences, the two seem to be more than ten years apart in age.

Chen Xiang worked hard in the fields all year round, and his body was tanned and his face was weathered. He heard that his senior brother in the neighboring village had built a magnificent mansion, so he went there on purpose, taking advantage of the slack season to go up the mountain and make friends.

If the old abbot was on the mountain, he would not dare to come and reminisce about the past.

"Rules are dead, but people are alive. Brother, you are now the host of Xishui Temple, and you also need someone to run errands for you..."

"You are wrong, my friend. I am currently managing Xishui Temple, waiting for the master to return from his travels. All the rules will remain the same. Please go back, my friend. The mountain is a quiet place for cultivation, and it is not suitable to receive outsiders."

Dong Xing stood up to see the guest off. Deep down, he was completely disappointed with his former junior fellow apprentice, who was full of materialism and selfishness.

He was angry because he didn't care at all about what his wandering master said and his mind was full of calculations.

He was unable to see through the evil in people's hearts before, but after being taught by his master and influenced by him, he has become a completely different person now.

He had originally been planning to give his junior fellow apprentice some money, but now he wouldn't take even a penny.

Chen Xiang didn't know what he had said wrong to make his senior brother, who was usually honest and easy to talk to, so determined. Seeing that his senior brother had a blank expression on his face, there was no room for compromise.

He also found it boring, so he clasped his fists and bowed randomly, then hurried down the mountain.

Dong Xing walked slowly in the front yard of the Taoist temple, leaning on a wooden stick, silently reciting the Heart Sutra to calm his anger-stricken mind. Suddenly he looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Master, you're back."

The old host, who was dressed in a green Taoist robe and looked exhausted, climbed to the top of the mountain leisurely. He helped Dong Xing, who was rushing forward to perform a great salute, and said with a smile, "You haven't been late in your studies. You have also been practicing the calligraphy that I left for you. Very good."

He could see that Dong Xing, who had been unable to practice before, had already developed a hint of wisdom.

Some people's fate can be changed through certain means.

Xu Yuanchang was quite pleased. He had transformed into a mortal at Xishui Temple and had a good relationship with this place. He was able to repay Dong Xing for his kindness, which meant he had neither lost nor owed anything.

"Dong Xuan, Shi Ke, come and pay your respects to the Master."

Dong Xing hurriedly called out to the two little Taoist boys who were peeking out from the side hall door. He hoped that the abbot could return safely. He would burn incense once more and add more clear oil to thank the Taoist ancestor for his blessing.

"Xuan'er, Ke'er, pay your respects to the host master."

"Okay, okay, everyone get up."

With the return of the host, the top of the mountain was filled with an invisible vitality.

……

(End of this chapter)