Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 86 Such a Guardian God

"Actually, there's no need to worry too much."

Miss Bai said slowly.

"Mr. Chen, you haven't experienced much. Although Taoist Xiyun has practiced for a little longer, it's actually not that long. That's why you think these are problems. If you practiced for a longer time, you would know that these are just normal things."

"..."

"I'm already halfway to the grave, but Senior Fox thinks I haven't practiced for very long."

Taoist Xiyun thought so, shook his head, and felt a little emotional.

"It's true that time does not exist in cultivation."

Miss Bai looked at Taoist Xiyun and nodded slowly.

"Not to mention you, even your master is just a child in my eyes."

"When it comes to talent in cultivation, humans are indeed very powerful, but when it comes to lifespan, they are far inferior to demons."

"indeed so."

Taoist Xiyun nodded and was unable to refute.

Even if a person embarks on spiritual practice, his lifespan is no more than a few hundred years, and at least only a few dozen years.

But the weakest monster can live for hundreds of years as long as it becomes intelligent, and the stronger ones can even live for a thousand years.

Special monsters like grass, trees, mountains and rocks are extremely difficult to kill.

After thinking about it, he spoke again.

"Senior Fox is able to accept all this, perhaps because time has settled in and his heart is as calm as an ancient well, right?"

"No."

The white girl shook her head.

"It's just that after seeing it so many times, you get used to it. The replacement of artifacts and the displacement of people, only the people at that time would feel sad. After seeing it so many times, it's just a passing of a hundred generations."

“Is that so…”

Chen Ji and Taoist Xiyun were both silent.

They have never had such an experience in their lives, and even a generation is too long, so it is really difficult to answer this question.

Miss Bai shook her head again.

"Forget it, that's too far-fetched. Let's focus on the present. How do you plan to divide up this piece of Peach Immortal Ghost Body?"

Miss Bai asked slowly.

Chen Ji quickly told Lu Pan that he had already given a piece of the money.

"I already know."

Miss Bai nodded.

"Lu Pan taught Nineteen the art of dream marriage and gave her the blood of a dream tapir. Even if he didn't help, he should have given her a piece as a return gift from the fox clan. Since you have already given her the blood, it's the same."

"How about we split the remaining amount equally?"

"useless."

Taoist Xiyun waved his hands quickly.

"I didn't put in much effort to capture the Painted Skin Ghost. A mere Qi Restraint Technique is really nothing."

"Besides, this demon was accidentally let go by my master. I feel guilty accepting such a treasure."

"But the Taoist priest is still fighting the City God, which is no easier than catching ghosts. It should be divided equally. Please divide it equally, sir."

Miss Bai spoke, and Chen Ji cast a spell and divided it into three parts. He took out one part and gave it to Taoist Xiyun.

"The Taoist priest practices magic every day and knows the wonderful uses of these items. However, I think they are too few. It would be a waste if someone like me didn't know more."

Taoist Xiyun looked at Chen Ji and Miss Bai again and bowed.

"Even if I really want to take it, I wouldn't dare take more than this divine object. Even if it's an inch long, I'd be satisfied. I hope Fellow Daoist Chen won't make it difficult for me."

Taoist Xiyun's tone became firm as he spoke.

"Our sect's practice emphasizes following one's heart. It went smoothly when we were catching ghosts before, but it's not going smoothly when we're dividing the treasure now."

"This means that I don't have a strong affinity with this treasure, so I can only have one inch. If I have more, I'm afraid my mind will be unstable and I'll be more likely to go astray."

"That's all."

Taoist Xiyun had said this, so Chen Ji cast a spell again to split Taoxian's ghost body, leaving his half.

I also want to give it to Miss Bai, but she also shook her head.

"The fox has no use for these, so he just kept a piece out of curiosity. Mr. Chen still needs this piece."

"I?"

Chen Ji looked curious, not understanding what he needed this thing for.

Taoxian's ghost body can nourish the soul, but his soul is different from ordinary ones, so I'm afraid it won't be effective.

The white girl smiled slightly.

"Sir, you have received the teachings of Lu Pan, but the command from the underworld ghosts has not yet been implemented, right?"

"really."

"Then this thing is effective. The effect of ordinary wood nourishing the soul is much weaker when it leaves the body, but the Peach Fairy Ghost Body can continuously nourish the soul. Even if you become a ghost messenger, your strength can be gradually improved."

"Oh? Miss Bai, can you tell me in detail?"

Chen Ji was really curious now.
After Lu Pan taught him the method, he only knew how to subdue the ghost messenger with an imperial decree, but he really didn't know these key points.

"Why not let the Taoist priest talk about his ghost messenger first."

"Alright."

Taoist Master Xiyun was listening on the side. He nodded when he heard this and summoned his ghost messenger.

Several figures appeared before my eyes, some in human form, some in demonic form.

"Look, Fellow Daoist Chen, this is the ghost messenger I recruited."

Chen Ji had seen these ghost messengers when he was moving soil last time, so he didn't feel scared when he saw them now.

Instead, they smiled and bowed to him. Chen Ji felt a little embarrassed and returned the greeting.

Only then did I ask about my previous curiosity.

"It seems that not all of Daoist friend's ghost messengers are human?"

"Indeed, they are not. These are the wandering spirits I encountered when I went down the mountain to exorcise demons... Let's call them that for now."

Taoist Master Xiyun slowly recounted his experience at that time.

When the world is in chaos, demons will eat humans and also eat demons and ghosts.

For evil spirits and ghosts, there is no such thing as the same kind of concept. All living things in the world are food.

When Taoist Xiyun went down the mountain, the evil demon also set his sights on him.

However, Taoist Xiyun's magic was more advanced. He killed the evil monster with a magic trick and also found the wandering souls imprisoned in the nest.

I originally wanted to bring them back to the mountain to pray for the afterlife, but when I was eliminating other demons and ghosts on the way, these wandering souls could be considered helpers, so I had the idea of ​​recruiting them as ghost messengers.

After some communication and inquiry, it was agreed that he would be paid one stick of incense per month and became the ghost messenger of Taoist Xiyun.

"But the incense foundation is not strong enough now. I don't know how long it will take to become a Dharma Protector."

"Isn't the incense at the Taoist temple enough?"

Chen Ji was quite surprised.

In his opinion, a Taoist temple should not be short of incense. Could it be that it can't even afford to support a few ghost messengers?
Taoist Xiyun smiled and shook his head.

“There are also differences between different incense sticks.”

"Ordinary people coming to the temple can only burn incense, but there is no incense. Only sincere offerings and a heart of pious reverence can bring incense."

"The temple enshrines the gods in heaven, and most of the incense offered by the Taoists goes to them. A small amount is shared with the temple's ancestors, and the rest can be left in the temple to be shared with wandering spirits and ghosts."

"But how much can these really be? Besides, we often have to hold ceremonies, which all require incense. Many Taoists in the temple are accompanied by ghosts, so we can only rely on going down the mountain to do good deeds and collect incense from the believers."

"That's it."

Chen Ji finally understood why Taoists often went down the mountain to exorcise demons and catch ghosts.

If it is for the sake of incense, then this is indeed necessary.

Even Chen Ji imagined that Taoist Xiyun went down the mountain and worked diligently to eliminate demons and catch ghosts, just for the incense offerings from the villagers, and then took them back and gave some to the five ghosts.

This scene gives the feeling of returning birds raising their chicks.

So he laughed out loud.

"Why are you laughing, fellow Taoist?"

"Think of something interesting."

Chen Ji waved his hand, but still explained.

"Fellow Daoist, you have five ghost servants, and you're working so hard. If a Taoist priest raised hundreds of ghosts, he would probably be exhausted and still not be able to feed his ghost servants even after he ascended to immortality, right?"

"Fellow Taoist, be careful!"

Taoist Master Xiyun was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and his expression changed rarely.

"Ok?"

Chen Ji was a little surprised. He just mentioned it casually, why was it so serious?

"Recruiting ghost messengers is indeed convenient, but have you ever heard of anyone recruiting more than ten ghost messengers?"

"Lu Pan?" Chen Ji was actually not sure whether Lu Pan had more than ten ghost messengers.

But they are all judges in the underworld. It’s impossible that they don’t have more than ten people under them, right?

Taoist Xiyun had a breath stuck in his throat and couldn't spit it out or swallow it.

After a long time, he spoke slowly.

"Lu Pan is a deity from the underworld, so he doesn't count. I'm talking about cultivators in the human world."

“I’ve never heard of that.”

Chen Ji shook his head.

Although he had only seen Taoist Xiyun, a Taoist priest who had a ghost messenger.

You can read the introduction in the book.

Even those who practice Maoshan method, Yinshan method, or raise a fierce god will not accept dozens of ghost messengers.

Previously I thought it was just a problem of cultivation, but now looking at what Taoist Xiyun said, I’m afraid there may be other reasons?
"nature."

Taoist Xiyun nodded.

"Ordinary Taoists who have three or five ghost servants can say that they are practicing the art of controlling ghosts, or practicing the art of moving five ghosts."

"But a ghost messenger, even though he has a messenger, is essentially a ghost. Only when he cultivates into a guardian deity can he be considered to have entered the right path."

"Otherwise, the paths of yin and yang are different. Even a Taoist who has achieved great success in cultivation will be infected by yin energy if he drives ghost messengers for a long time."

"What's more, the ghost messenger receives incense. If there is any confusion, the cause and effect will be on the Taoist priest. If there is no incense, it will devour the Taoist priest's soul and flesh."

"That's what you deserve, right?"

Chen Ji thought about it, but still didn't understand why Taoist Xiyun reacted so violently.

It is impossible for a person who practices cultivation to do such things without anticipating them.

If you know you will be in danger and still do this, you can't blame others.

Taoist Xiyun frowned and spoke slowly.

"Then do you know what will happen after a ghost eats a Taoist priest?"

"Isn't it still a ghost?"

Chen Ji blurted out.

But I heard Taoist Xiyun shaking his head.

"The art of controlling ghosts can give ghosts a legitimate identity to live in the human world, and it will also allow ghost messengers to gain some of the Taoist's Taoism and merits."

"So after a ghost eats a Taoist priest, it will become a Dharma protector. If the Taoist priest's merits and virtues are high enough, it will even become a Dharma protector."

"hiss……"

Chen Ji was stunned for a moment, and finally understood what Taoist Xiyun meant by being careful with words.

If someone really uses this method to raise a guardian deity and then drives it himself, he would get a lot more help, and more importantly, save a lot of time.

Chen Ji's mind raced, and he had already figured out the key point.

No wonder Taoist Xiyun didn't let me mention it. If someone with ulterior motives heard it, they would probably accuse me of being an evil cultivator.

But one thing is, can a ghost messenger definitely become a guardian deity?
What if it doesn’t work?

"That's when a ghost messenger is bewitched and transforms into a fierce ghost to devour people. If a Taoist kills a ghost, it is also a merit."

Chen Ji was silent.

I sighed and realized that the path of cultivation is indeed long and difficult.

But he also understood the importance of being cautious in what he said and did.

After all, the foot of the mountain is no safer than the top of the mountain.

As he spoke, Chen Ji thought of something else. His eyes moved slightly and he looked back at Zhanshui Town.

"Disordered incense offerings, low cultivation, impure ghost energy... Is it possible that this is the case with the City God of Water?"

"..."

Taoist Xiyun stood there in a daze, not daring to reply for a long time.

Miss Bai raised her eyebrows, and a hint of surprise flashed across her peach blossom eyes, but she quickly retracted it and acted as if nothing had happened.

"That's the business of the City God of the World. It has nothing to do with us. Just pretend you don't know."

"Too."

Chen Ji nodded, not thinking any more about it, just understood.

City God, Lord...

No matter what level of conflict it was, it was too far away for a young practitioner like him who had just entered the Dao.

Just practice your own Dharma honestly.

Miss Bai didn't say much else and shared with Chen Ji how to use the Peach Fairy Ghost Body.

"Peach wood can house souls. If you take in a ghost messenger, your soul will reside in it, absorbing the yin and yang energy of heaven and earth. Over time, you can become a guardian deity."

"..."

Chen Ji and Taoist Xiyun opened their eyes at the same time, unable to believe it.

It was even confirmed that what Miss Bai was talking about was not the Dharma Protector, but the Dharma Protector God.

Taoist Xiyun talked for a long time just now, but what he meant was that it is difficult to cultivate a guardian deity.

Now I know that if I have a peach wood ghost body, I can raise one.

Look at the peach wood ghost body again.

Taoist Xiyun wished he could press his former self in front of the statue of the founder and scold him.

Is that the ghost body of Taoxian?
That is the long-standing heritage of Qingfeng Temple!

But now I can only envy her in vain. It is impossible to get her back, even if I want to save my face.

Chen Ji finally understood why Lu Pan had thought this was a treasure.

But I didn't take it too seriously.

With Taoist Xiyun's reminder, he was no longer in a hurry to recruit ghost messengers.

I originally thought of just finding one at random, but now I think I should be more cautious.

A piece of Peach Fairy ghost body cannot be wasted on an ordinary wandering soul.

Instead, Miss Bai glanced at Taoist Xiyun and spoke lightly.

"Your piece is enough to train five guardian gods."

Miss Bai guessed what Taoist Xiyun was thinking by looking at his eyes.

But it’s just one sentence, so forget about the extra one.

I felt bad when I shared this good thing with you just now, and now I really don’t have the chance to have it anymore.

"It's already a lot, thank you, Senior Fox."

"Okay, it's getting late. Give me the ghost skin. I'm going to go and refine the magic weapon. You guys should get some rest."

Miss Bai took the ghost skin and disappeared from their sight.

Taoist Xiyun also thanked Chen Ji sincerely and said that he would go back to the mountain and tell his master about these things. Then he also launched the talisman boat and left.

Only Chen Ji was left, shaking his head and going back to the house, lamenting what he had seen and heard that day.

Keeping calm, in a trance, another page was added to the record of strange stories.

Painted Skin Ghost

"Laoma was a chef. He was free and unrestrained when he was young. On the road, he encountered a Painted Skin Ghost playing tricks on people. He took a knife to fight it, but the ghost was not afraid. It teased Lao Ma again. In anger, he cut his hand and used the blood to kill the ghost. He said that just as a butcher could butcher an ox, a butcher could also butcher a ghost. The Painted Skin Ghost was frightened and fled. Lao Ma felt that he was unable to catch ghosts, so he worshipped at Qingfeng Temple and learned the method of alchemy and cauldron. He began to enter the Tao. He still did not forget his cooking skills. He used the alchemy and cauldron cooking to communicate with the gods and was called Zhenren. He went down the mountain to catch ghosts, peeled off one of the ghost's skins, and made an umbrella for it. The ghost was not dead yet, so he hid in the town and found peach wood to nourish his soul, hoping to revive. However, Lao Ma's disciples went down the mountain to eliminate demons and encountered the Painted Skin Ghost again. Together with Chen Sheng and the fox, they caught the ghost and peeled off another one. They asked Lu Pan to perform the method and sent it to the underworld. Only then did Chen Sheng break the breath ban."

Chen Ji didn't expect that this article was so long, and it actually started with the experience of the old monk.

Especially the beginning, it feels awkward no matter how you look at it.

Lao Ma used to be a cook, what does this have to do with the old master...

and many more?

Chen Ji seemed to realize something.

The "old master", the "old", doesn't it refer to his age, but his surname?

Although there are indeed some places in the country with old surnames, they are really too few, and Chen Ji did not think of it for a while.

Now I know that the old abbot's surname is Lao Ma, he is indeed extraordinary.

Moreover, Chen Ji realized that the old abbot was actually practicing when he used the alchemy furnace to cook that day.

Dan Ding Cook, a real person in the world, is indeed amazing.

In comparison, even the Qi-confinement technique learned by Chen Ji was much dimmer.

It's inevitable that other thoughts will arise.

If there is another chance, I should go to Qingfeng Temple again to try other food. The Bagua tofu that day was really good.

Wrapped cloud beans are a good ingredient. If other ingredients can be gathered together, I believe the old master will have other ideas.

Chen Ji thought to himself.

On Qingliang Mountain, the old abbot suddenly sniffed a few times, but did not sneeze. Instead, he pulled up his Taoist robe and muttered.

"Strange, why is there wind in the room?"

(End of this chapter)