I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 565 Beneath the City of Xiangfan, the Six-Beaded Bodhisattva

Xiangfan.

A lone fisherman in the Central Plains, living in a great city of Chu.

Even when you're still some distance from the city wall, you can already see the fishing platform on the city wall.

Yutai has been a pillar supporting the country for half a decade.

The plaque on the city gate tower reads "A lone fisherman in the Central Plains".

It is said that Wang Mingyang, the best general in the country, sat on the city wall for a full ten years before he was able to sit on the fishing platform with ease.

The moat of Xiangfan City is exceptionally wide, and the drawbridge over it has not been lowered. Although Xiangfan has a strict curfew, the drawbridge has remained open for years, and even the main gate has never been closed overnight.

It seems that, following the instructions of the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, after setting up a grand ritual with more than 30,000 offerings to help the souls of the wronged souls leave Fengdu and Xiangfan, the gates of hell were not closed.

Legend has it that before leaving the city, Huang Zi, the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, personally drew talismans and wrote inscriptions around the city. Finally, he hung a Taoist talisman on the top floor of Diaoyutai, which read, "The Heavenly Gang has returned to the Heavenly Gang, and the Earthly Fiends should return to the earth." It was said that when the wandering souls of Xiangfan were dispersed, this talisman would burn with a bright light.

However, the Heavenly Talisman Book has remained undiscovered for many years, undoubtedly becoming a lingering shadow in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people in Xiangfan City.

Dusk.

Xu Fengnian held the horse's reins in one hand and Jiang Ni's in the other, glancing subconsciously at the fishing platform on the city wall.

Li Chungang and Zhou Chengan walked side by side. He glanced at the Diaoyutai, picked his nose, and said, "Some people just like to look down on others. Would you say that's a kind of illness?"

Zhou Chengan didn't look up, and said with a faint smile, "I guess so. There are always some people who stand at a high place for a long time and think they are really great people."

Li Chungang laughed heartily and gave Zhou Chengan a thumbs up.

Inside the Diaoyutai Pavilion, there was a tall, slender young man dressed in an ordinary Taoist robe, wearing hemp shoes, with a wooden hairpin in his hair and a whisk in his hand, watching the people in the city.

As is well known, the top floor of Diaoyutai is a forbidden area, guarded by several highly respected Taoist priests from Longhu Mountain. Even Prince Jing'an was not allowed to enter. When the Grand Celestial Master left the city, he explicitly stated that no one other than a true person from the Celestial Master's Mansion could set foot there.

So it's quite obvious that the young man in the attic is Qi Xianxia, ​​the non-celestial master from Longhu Mountain.

Qi Xianxia is the number one swordsman in the Taoist sect. Because his appearance is the same as that of a patriarch of Longhu Mountain, Longhu Mountain says that he is the reincarnation of the third patriarch. It is also said that when Lu Zu split the Qingdan Sword Embryo into three parts, he got one of them, so he was known as Little Lu Zu.

Qi Xianxia's descent from the mountain this time is for two matters.

The first thing was that his master had said before going into seclusion that the Heavenly Talisman in Xiangfan would burn, and he wanted to confirm it with his own eyes.

The second thing is to go to Wudang Mountain to determine whether Hong Xixiang can truly shoulder the responsibility of Heaven's will.

As for how to determine it, it's very simple: use the whisk in your hand as a sword. If you can kill it, it's fake; if you can't, it's real.

However, Qi Xianxia did not expect that he would encounter a Taoist priest in Xiangfan City who would be even more interesting to him than Hong Xixiang.

Even though among the group downstairs were Xu Fengnian, the heir of Beiliang, Li Chungang, the sword god, and Jiang Ni, who carried the fate of the nation, he still spotted Zhou Chengan at first glance.

That Taoist priest in green robes was like the sun in the night, illuminating the night sky and warming everything!
Suddenly, the celestial talisman shook.

Qi Xianxia withdrew his gaze, turned around and looked at the celestial talisman that connected heaven and earth with a vermilion rope, and frowned.

As everyone looked up at the celestial talisman, Li Chungang, Zhou Chengan, and Xu Fengnian looked at a strange woman walking out of the city gate.

She shaved off all 33,000 strands of hair that had caused her troubles.

He was dressed in a snow-white monk's robe, with a white snake used as a rope to hold a white pot on his wrist.

Barefoot, her jade-like feet remained untouched by the slightest speck of dust.

She gracefully walked onto the drawbridge, and the ghostly aura outside the Xiangfan city gate instantly became as heavy as a snowstorm, while she alone seemed like a Bodhisattva of Compassion, delivering all sentient beings.

At Diaoyutai, Tianfu burned to ashes.

"Ten thousand ghosts leave the city."

Qi Xianxia sighed, "Longhu Mountain lost, and Lantuo Mountain won."

The woman in white robes, white snake, and white pot had skin as white as snow. This celestial being emerged from the Ghost Gate of Xiangfan.

The horse led by Xu Fengnian lowered its head and neighed loudly, its hooves pounding the ground. Not only this animal, but all the other horses in the caravan were doing the same, as if they had encountered something unclean.

She walked onto the suspension bridge, and the moat instantly surged and boiled, as if a thousand troops were passing by.

"Looks like this is another problem!"

Li Chungang said something to Zhou Chengan with a calm expression, then lightly stepped to one end of the suspension bridge, where he faced the woman directly.

The white-robed Guanyin continued forward, reaching the middle of the suspension bridge. Li Chungang, with his single arm, reached out and took out a dagger and talisman. The two faced off. No one could see what she was doing on the suspension bridge. All that could be seen was that the moat suddenly erupted, and the image of what everyone saw became distorted, leaving only the white-robed Guanyin standing clearly and alone.

Zhou Chengan strolled along.

Yu Youwei, holding the trembling white cat Wu Meiniang, followed closely behind him in fear.

Xu Fengnian also led Jiang Ni closer to Zhou Chengan.

When Xu Fengnian arrived at Li Chungang's side, he finally saw the woman's stunningly beautiful face, which seemed to be shrouded in a thousand snow-capped mountains. He was stunned and muttered to himself, "Could she be... that... the Red Sect master of Tantra, the female Dharma King of Lantau Mountain?"

The monk Longshou, who claimed to have come from Mount Landa, said he would take him to the Western Regions to practice dual cultivation with the Six-Bead Bodhisattva. The red-robed monk was very detached from worldly affairs, so he went up to the Listening Tide Pavilion to read the esoteric scriptures.

Upon learning about the Six-Bead Bodhisattva, one would find her to be a highly accomplished Nyingma master of the Vajrayana sect, holding a long list of titles such as Great Compassionate Dharma King, Bodhisattva of the Next Generation, and Six-Bead Master. However, it is a pity that she is an old woman.

Furthermore, Xu Fengnian felt that the other party had ill intentions and wanted him to go to the Western Regions, so he did not go.

"That's right, it's her. She was born into an imperial family in Central India and grew up on Mount Landa. She's the female Dharma King of Mount Landa who wants to have dual cultivation with you."

Upon hearing Zhou Cheng'an's words, Xu Fengnian stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Li Chungang, saying softly, "This person is the female Dharma King of Lantuo Mountain, known as the Six-Bead Bodhisattva. It is said that she possesses the transformation forms of Avalokiteshvara Guru, Lotus King Guru, and Wrathful Vajra Guru. Can you defeat her?"

Li Chungang held the divine talisman in his hand, looking at the Six-Bead Bodhisattva with a sly smile, looking exactly like an old man who was trying to rob a woman on the road.

He lowered his head and exhaled a breath of visible azure energy, which enveloped the priceless talisman in his hand, causing it to radiate light instantly.

"The monks of Mount Lantuo are known as indestructible. Back then, General Fu fought a red-armored man with an old man wielding a pestle for three days and three nights, and neither of them could kill the other. The Vajra Realm of the first rank comes from the Buddhist sect. I really want to see if there is such a thing as an invincible Vajra body."

As Li Chungang spoke, he changed the subject: "However, it would be unfair for an old man like me to fight a young girl with swords."

Xu Fengnian, who was always eager to stir up trouble, said with a belly full of wicked ideas: "The old sword god only carried a dagger, which is already considered to be holding back his strength. It's not like he's bullying a junior. Let's show that bald woman what he's made of."

Li Chungang glanced at Xu Fengnian, who was only interested in watching the fierce battle rather than calming things down, and a smirk appeared on his lips.

Although he wouldn't mind fighting with the other guy, this kid looked like he was enjoying the show, which really deserved a beating!

At this moment, the Six-Bead Bodhisattva took another step forward, and Chun Gang was about to emerge with a green dragon in his sleeve. But she stopped on the suspension bridge, not looking at Li Chun Gang, who was a potential enemy, but at Xu Fengnian beside him.

Then, she raised her slender, white hand.

Seeing this, Li Chungang's dagger and divine talisman shone like a green snake, and his aura surged forth like the snake's tongue, enveloping his entire single arm in a burst of green energy.

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva on the opposite side simply raised her hand, lifted the pot, uncorked it, and took a sip of wine. The aroma of the wine was no less than that of Li Chungang's protective aura, so much so that the entire suspension bridge was filled with fragrance. The little white snake coiled around her white jade arm, making the scene extremely bizarre.

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva glanced at Xu Fengnian gently.

With just one glance, Xu Fengnian's internal organs surged like a tidal wave, and he inexplicably spat out a mouthful of blood.

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Xu Fengnian felt his chest clear instead of feeling stuffy, and his cultivation of the Great Yellow Court had reached a new level.

This scene startled Lü Qiantang and the others. If Zhou Chengan hadn't spoken up in time, they would have rushed forward.

“It’s alright, he’s gained quite a bit.” Zhou Cheng’an shook his head at Lü Qiantang and the others, then said to Xu Fengnian, “Don’t just stand there like an idiot, quickly activate the Great Yellow Court.”

Xu Fengnian obeyed and immediately activated the Great Yellow Court.

A moment later, the maroon mark between his eyebrows became even brighter.

"Wow, that's amazing! If she looks at me a few more times, wouldn't she be able to take all of my vital essence?!" Xu Fengnian couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

Upon hearing this, the Six-Bead Bodhisattva actually looked at Xu Fengnian.

Zhou Chengan reached out and pulled Xu Fengnian, saying indifferently, "Take a look, that's enough. Looking again would be going too far."

"It won't hurt to take a look, will it?" Xu Fengnian said.

Li Chungang severed the invisible wisps of energy with a single sword strike, then glared angrily at Xu Fengnian, saying, "You brat, you're courting death! You think she's a merciful bodhisattva just because she gave you a little taste of sweetness?! Be careful you don't even know how you died!"

Xu Fengnian dared not speak.

The six-beaded Bodhisattva opposite him shook his head slightly, put away his wine pot, and silently continued on his way.

Li Chungang's gaze sharpened, and he stomped his foot, causing dust to rise from the center of his foot, creating ripples that were deafening.

The pristine white-robed Six-Bead Bodhisattva ignored the invisible sword energy unleashed by Li Chungang's foot and walked barefoot forward.

Just as the sword energy was about to reach him, a large monk in a red kasaya appeared between Li Chungang and the Six-Bead Bodhisattva. He had a blank expression and barely managed to block the powerful sword energy. His kasaya fluttered, and he stood firm.

"Yes, Monk Longshou, Cheng'an, is Old Man Li alright?" Xu Fengnian asked in a low voice.

Zhou Cheng'an was speechless: "Do you think Li Chungang's reputation as the Sword God is just for show? Even if the Dragon Guardian Monk and the Six-Bead Bodhisattva joined forces, they wouldn't be enough to defeat him with a single sword strike."

Back then, it was the monk Longshou who went to Beiliang to invite Xu Fengnian to Lantuo Mountain in the Western Regions to cultivate together with the Six-Bead Bodhisattva.

At this moment, the red-robed monk put his hands together and bowed his head, saying, "My master did not have any intention of fighting when he entered the world this time. Please do not blame him, Your Highness. My master's trip out of Xiangfan was to deliver 100,000 evil ghosts, which is to accumulate immeasurable merit for Your Highness."

Xu Fengnian thought these words were absurd, yet he believed them without question.

Both Buddhism and Taoism have cryptic records stating that there are 100,000 evil spirits in Xiangfan City who were cooked and eaten by their relatives, and their resentment soars to the heavens, which cannot be dispelled even by 36,500 grand rituals.

Thus, the Buddhist and Taoist religions made a bet that was not written down.

Whoever wins enters Xiangfan, and whoever loses leaves Xiangfan; this has remained unchanged for a hundred years.

If Longhu Mountain wins, the monks from the two Zen temples and Landuo Mountain will be forbidden from setting foot in Xiangfan for a hundred years.

Conversely, Longhu Mountain would have to abolish the Zhou Tian Grand Ritual, relocate all its Taoist temples, and would be prohibited from preaching and spreading its teachings in the city.

The bet between the two religions was simple: whoever could deliver the 100,000 evil spirits in Xiangfan City would win!
Now, it is clear that Buddhism has won.

After all, the little Taoist master on Diaoyutai has already admitted defeat.

In truth, the conflicts between the three religions and the struggles for fame and fortune among the sects are often like children sulking, and are simply incomprehensible.

Jiang Ni murmured, "She's so beautiful, like Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy."

Xu Fengnian said with a wry smile, "Guanyin observes the sounds of all living beings in the world, including dragons, cattle, and horses. Ordinary people can attain liberation by observing their sounds."

As they were talking, the Guanyin Goddess in Jiang Ni's eyes had already brushed past Li Chungang at the bridgehead.

She brushed past Xu Fengnian again, paused, and softly began chanting.

“I, Guanyin, am not at ease and are not worthy of dual cultivation.”

Xu Fengnian said with a grin, "Since I'm not at ease, then I'll ask the Bodhisattva to grant me some ease?"

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva shook his head and walked towards Zhou Cheng'an.

Xu Fengnian, quite rudely, turned to stare at the Red Sect Dharma King of Lantuo Mountain. The wooden-faced Dragon Guardian monk clasped his hands together, as if he had greeted the Crown Prince privately.

The two met twice in Beiliang City. In addition, although Xu Fengnian had a bad reputation, he was close to Buddhism, which was known to everyone in Beiliang. Therefore, the reclusive monk Longshou had no aversion to Xu Fengnian.

The red-robed monk had given him a peach, and Xu Fengnian naturally wanted to reciprocate. Just as he was about to greet the monk Longshou, he heard the Six-Bead Bodhisattva say, "Master Zhou, they are frightened by you. Please make way for us."

Zhou Cheng'an bowed, stepped back, and began to recite the jade incantation.

Suddenly, everyone felt a chilling wind blow by.

Apart from Li Chungang, Zhou Chengan, and the Six-Bead Bodhisattva and his disciple, everyone else felt a chill run down their spines and couldn't help but shiver.

Jiang Ni screamed in fright and threw herself into Xu Fengnian's arms.

Li Chungang glanced at the Six-Bead Bodhisattva in front of Zhou Cheng'an, then at Jiang Ni in Xu Fengnian's arms, and said sarcastically, "Xu boy, she said in front of a whole bunch of people that you are not worthy of dual cultivation. Can you, the dignified Prince of Beiliang, tolerate this? If this gets out, won't you be laughed at by the whole world?"

Xu Fengnian patted Jiang Ni's back lightly and said nonchalantly, "It would be best if they laughed themselves to death. I wouldn't even need to learn how to use a knife. If I see someone I don't like, I'll just tell them this joke, and they'll laugh themselves to death."

Li Chungang was stunned for a moment.

Hearing such shameless words, Jiang Ni, even though she was terrified, didn't retort with a single sarcastic remark.

"You're shameless!"

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "Then give me a shameless way out? Have a hundred people rush up and beat up this Guanyin goddess? Or kneel on the ground crying and begging her to have a joyful dual cultivation with me?"

Jiang Ni mustered her courage and secretly glanced at the fairy-like beauty in her heart, then huddled in Xu Fengnian's arms, repeating, "You're not worthy, not worthy, not worthy..."

The cold wind subsided, and the surface of the moat calmed down.

"Thank you!"

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva clasped his hands together and bowed.

Zhou Chengan returned the greeting with a smile and said, "Master, you are too kind. I have only done my bit of work."

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva shook his head, stared at him intently for a long while, and suddenly said, "The True Man has attained great freedom. Would you be willing to cultivate with me?"

Instantly, the scene fell silent.

Even Li Chungang, who had experienced many trials and tribulations, and the taciturn monk Long Shou were astonished, which shows how impactful these words were to everyone.

"Master, you're joking."

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva said with a serious expression, "I'm not joking."

Zhou Cheng'an: "..."

At this moment, Xu Fengnian had come to his senses and said with a sly smile, "I was wondering why she suddenly said I wasn't good enough for her. So she's taken a liking to you, Cheng'an. Why don't you just give in to her?"

Zhou Chengan remained silent for a long while before speaking.

“I have settled in Qingcheng Mountain and will not go to Lantuo Mountain with you.”

Xu Fengnian was stunned.

He clearly hadn't expected Zhou Chengan to not refuse.

The Six-Bead Bodhisattva spoke calmly, as if he were talking about someone else: "It's alright, we are destined to meet again."

After saying that, she drifted away.

(End of this chapter)