Two Worlds: The Demon Cultivator Mistakenly Enters the Lord's World

Chapter 100 Dongping Encounters: The Red Lotus Temple Comes to Our Door
The previous emperor of Liang Kingdom ascended the throne with the help of the monks and soldiers of the Vajra Temple. During his reign, he also promoted Buddhism and suppressed Taoism.

Overnight, hundreds of temples sprang up across the land, and countless monks appeared. High-ranking officials and nobles took pride in worshipping Buddha and chanting scriptures.

Even now, His Majesty the current emperor, Emperor Ling, had a deep affinity for Buddhism from a young age, and followed Master Guangzhi of Jingang Temple to study Buddhism.

He did not leave the Vajra Temple until he reached the age of thirty, having achieved great mastery of Buddhism, and then ascended the throne.

During his reign, he issued many decrees that were beneficial to the propagation of Buddhism, and also conferred the title of Dharma Protector Preceptor upon several eminent monks of Vajra Temple. Some monks even attended court to participate in government affairs.
Nowadays, the imperial court is almost entirely dominated by the Vajra Temple, and the Liang Kingdom is about to become a Buddhist kingdom.

Although the Taoist priests from Longhu Mountain still appeared from time to time, they paid no attention to the chaotic scene in the imperial court.

The sights of the imperial court spread to the common people, which led to the flourishing of temples in various places.

However, the prosperity of temples is not a good thing. The implementation of many laws that are beneficial to temple monks has gradually led them down the wrong path of breaking the law and committing crimes.

The encroachment on farmland, the harboring of filth and the bullying of women caused considerable resentment among the common people near the temple.

Coupled with the fact that the Liang Kingdom had been established for more than two hundred years, the increasing severity of land annexation, official corruption, and institutional defects, it was already showing signs of being on the verge of collapse.

Several county magistrates, being well-informed, had long heard that the southern part of Liang Kingdom had been frequently plagued by floods in recent years, with countless people suffering from the devastation.

There were even a few rebellions, but they were all suppressed. No one dared to report them to the court, for fear of ruining Emperor Ling's prosperous reign.

"Could it be that the Taoist priests of Xuan Yin Temple are also planning to rebel, and are currently accumulating strength, waiting for the right opportunity to rise up..."

The county magistrates looked at each other and remained silent. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The silence in the room lasted for quite some time until the obese magistrate of Qingyuan County could no longer stand it and sat down in a chair, breaking the stillness.

It's unclear what kind of psychological changes the magistrate of Qingyuan County went through, but he slumped in his chair like a coward:
"Forget it, forget it. Anyway, Dongping County is still very quiet. As long as we don't cause trouble and don't provoke this sleeping tiger, we can continue to be county magistrates. Let's just muddle through a bit more, shall we?"

"If something really happens, we can just take our assets and head straight to Dongping County. We can still be rich!"

The Qingyuan County magistrate's dismissive remarks caused others to frown.

Not everyone has the "good mindset" of the magistrate of Qingyuan County.

Moreover, when things really went wrong in Dongping County and a rebellion broke out, even those "officials" in the eyes of these ordinary people who went to seek refuge with them often ended up with bad results.

Since they've all rebelled, shouldn't they kill a county magistrate to add to the festivities?

How can we quell public anger without killing them?

"You fool, you're not worth considering! Asking you to discuss matters concerning Dongping County is simply a sign of utter stupidity."

The hot-tempered, middle-aged magistrate of Donglai County snorted coldly upon hearing the words of the magistrate of Qingyuan County, and was about to leave on the spot.

Fortunately, three county magistrates managed to restrain the Donglai County magistrate, preventing the gathering from becoming too ugly.

However, under these circumstances, the gathering of county magistrates became rather dull, as each magistrate had their own thoughts, and the gathering ultimately ended in discord.

The magistrate of Qingyuan County returned to his office and pondered the matter of Dongping County.

Although he enjoys life and is prone to laziness, he is not a fool. He dares not be careless about such a matter concerning his life and fortune.

After asking the advisor, the middle-aged Taoist-looking advisor frowned and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Since you don't want to fight the Xuan Yin Temple in Dongping County, why not learn about the current situation in Dongping County in advance and make preparations as soon as possible!"

"Even if one wants to seek refuge with the Xuanyin Temple in Dongping County in the future, one should first observe the nature of the Xuanyin Temple and the methods and ways in which they treat the people!"

"I happen to have some free time recently, so I can go to Dongping first and take a look at the background of the Xuanyin Temple in Dongping County!"

After listening to the advisor's explanation, the magistrate of Qingyuan County thought about it and found it to be very reasonable, so he nodded and agreed with the advisor's idea.

"Then I'll leave it to you, sir!"

“No problem, I’m also very curious about the Xuanyin Temple in Dongping County. I might as well take a trip to Dongping County and see for myself!”

The middle-aged Taoist priest-looking advisor stroked his beard, looked in the direction of Dongping County, and said calmly.

Meanwhile, the magistrate of Donglai County returned to his office and, thinking about the matter in Dongping County, became increasingly angry.

Donglai County and Dongping County are separated only by a river and are very close to each other.

With the development of Dongping County, the nearby Donglai County has been significantly affected. Not only has Dongping County absorbed a large portion of its population, but it has also been drawing away a significant amount of its wealth.

What troubled the magistrate of Donglai County the most was the county's temples. A group of monks would come to the temples every day, complaining about Dongping County and asking the magistrate to cause trouble for Dongping County.

While the magistrate of Donglai County was pondering, his subordinates came to report that monks from the county temples had arrived.

"I already told you, when the monks from Honglian Temple came, they said I wasn't there. What happened this time? Did they fail to stop them?"

The magistrate of Donglai County angrily lashed out at the yamen runners.

The anger in his tone terrified the constables.

"Yes, sir, a powerful monk has come to the Red Lotus Temple. He seems to have the strength of a thousand pounds; he's a formidable figure. Seven or eight of us strong men couldn't stop him. We were helpless!"

The bailiff pleaded in a low voice.

Sure enough, before he finished speaking, a burly, muscular monk in a red robe, with skin that seemed to glow with gold, strode into the backyard of the county government office, carrying a staff.

Upon seeing the magistrate of Donglai County, the red-robed monk showed no respect whatsoever. He stared intently into the magistrate's eyes and coldly demanded:
"How could you be a corrupt official like yourself? You've made a complete mess of Donglai County, and even our Honglian Temple has lost its incense offerings!"

"You corrupt official, if you don't give this humble monk an explanation today, I'll let you taste a fist the size of a sandbag!"

The red-robed monk's words turned the magistrate of Donglai County's face ashen, and he clenched his fists behind his back.

When had he, a county magistrate, ever suffered such an insult?

This monk is utterly disregarding the law!
However, those who understand the times are wise.

Seeing the monk's reckless behavior, the magistrate of Donglai County dared not gamble with his own life.

His heart was burning with rage, but the monk's fist, as big as a sandbag, calmed him down. The magistrate of Donglai County rolled his eyes.

The monks at Honglian Temple seem to have some skill. If we could send them to cause trouble for Xuanyin Temple in Dongping County, even if they couldn't defeat Xuanyin Temple, they could still make things difficult for it.

He heard that the monks of Honglian Temple were very united, and that the abbot of Honglian Temple came from Chongfu Temple in Hongze County, a lineage that was passed down through generations.
If a fight breaks out, the Xuan Yin Temple will attract monks from Chongfu Temple in Hongze County, which might be able to completely resolve the troubles in Dongping County.

This is a strategy of using one wolf to devour another, but it's uncertain whether it can be successfully implemented.

Regardless, the magistrate of Donglai County was still determined to give it a try. He suppressed his anger and addressed the red-robed monk:

"What are you shouting about in my county office? If you've got the guts, go to Dongping County and smash up the gates of the Xuan Yin Temple! The incense offerings of your Honglian Temple are none of my business. My head is right here; come and try if you dare!"

As they spoke, the magistrate of Donglai County, seemingly unafraid of death, craned his neck and stretched his head toward the red-robed monk's face.

Upon hearing this, the red-robed monk's face turned red. He immediately rolled up his sleeves, raised his fist the size of a sandbag, and wished he could smash the head of the corrupt official in front of him flat.

But before the red-robed monk's fist could land, his arm was tightly embraced by the monk who had come with him:

"No, no, senior brother! This is a county magistrate, an official!"

Seeing that a monk was stopping the red-robed monk from throwing a punch, the magistrate of Donglai County became even more confident. He glared at the monk, his neck stiff, looking as if he was ready to die, showing no fear of the red-robed monk.

"Hmph, if the Taoist priests of Xuan Yin Temple are to be killed, you corrupt official won't get away with it either. If you fall into my hands next time, you'll be as good as stone!"

The red-robed monk couldn't bring himself to throw a punch, but he also didn't fall for the Donglai County magistrate's provocation. Instead, he grazed the magistrate's ear with his fist.

Boom!

With just a gust of wind from a punch, the artificial hill in the backyard was shattered, sending stone chips flying everywhere.

A bead of cold sweat slid down the temple of the magistrate of Donglai County, bringing an instant silence to the backyard of the county government office.

Da da da!
After uttering his harsh words, the red-robed monk left with the monks of the Red Lotus Temple. The magistrate of Donglai County's legs suddenly went weak, and he could only stand with the help of his constables. He gritted his teeth and said angrily:

"These monks are truly a menace, utterly lawless, and they even went and started a fight with the Xuan Yin Temple."

That punch just now, the magistrate of Donglai County truly smelled the scent of death.

Leaving aside the changes in Donglai County, the clerk from Qingyuan County has already arrived alone in the territory of Dongping County.

Upon entering the territory of Dongping County, the Taoist priest Zhou Ping immediately sensed that this place was different.

"Upon arriving in Dongping County, the air feels much fresher, and the spiritual energy in the world seems to be more abundant."

The Taoist Zhou Ping was also a cultivator, at the early stage of Qi Refining.

His master was the abbot of Lingyuan Temple in Qingyuan County. He was an outer disciple who came down from Longhu Mountain and practiced here.

With his cultivation level, Zhou Ping keenly sensed the differences within the territory of Dongping County.

If one can cultivate here, one day here might be equivalent to one or two days in Qingyuan County.

Not only was the environment different, but the Taoist Zhou Ping also witnessed the prosperity of Dongping County along his journey.

Everywhere there were straight, hard gray flagstone roads, and the pedestrians all had rosy complexions and full of vitality, which were clearly signs of wealth and prosperity from a long period of good food and drink.

"Great news! Great news! The Xuan Yin Temple branch will officially begin establishing its Taoist academy in three days. Anyone with a household registration in Dongping County can go to the temple's Taoist academy to learn to read and write and participate in literacy classes. This time, the Taoists in the temple will teach everyone to read and write the three thousand basic characters, as well as arithmetic."

Upon arriving in Dongping County, Taoist Zhou Ping saw the locals gathered around a notice, enthusiastically discussing the literacy courses offered by the Xuan Yin Temple branch.

Zhou Ping walked closer and saw that the notice was signed by Xuan Yin Temple and stamped with the official seal of Dongping County Government.

It's an official document, not a fabricated fake.

"Providing knowledge and arithmetic for free—Xuanyin Temple has such great courage!"

Zhou Ping was speechless; he was able to read and write thanks to his master's instruction.

He also knew that ordinary people in Qingyuan County had to pay tuition fees if they wanted to learn to read and write.

The ordinary people of Qingyuan County toil in the fields their entire lives, struggling to make a living, and are exploited by all sides. Even getting enough to eat is a struggle, let alone having the extra money to learn to read and write. They might never even learn to write their own names.

The Xuanyin Temple in Dongping County now teaches people to read and do arithmetic for free.
Just this alone is something that even his master's Lingyuan Temple couldn't do, let alone the Longhu Mountain in Liang Kingdom probably wouldn't show such compassion!

The Taoist priest Zhou Ping was shocked by what he saw and heard, and couldn't help but lower his head and ponder.

As I was walking, I didn't notice that I bumped into someone.

"Fellow Daoist, you're from outside Dongping County, aren't you? After witnessing the development of Dongping County, what do you think? Would you be willing to visit my Xuan Yin Temple branch?"

The man who was hit was not angry at all; instead, he smiled kindly and said something.

They were very enthusiastic.

"what!"

The Taoist Zhou Ping raised his head and looked at the white-haired, youthful-looking Taoist in front of him. He was stunned for a moment, then realized what was going on.

This is a Taoist priest and a cultivator, as well as a member of the Xuan Yin Temple branch here. This outsider cultivator came here without concealing his identity and was recognized by the people of Xuan Yin Temple.

However, the other party was friendly, and the Taoist Zhou Ping did not sense any malice, so he cupped his hands politely and said:

"I am Zhou Ping, a newcomer here, and have not yet paid my respects to you. Please forgive me. I will naturally accept your invitation!"

"Sure, sure! Come with me!"

Wang Yong, the corpse-driving Taoist priest, stroked his beard, squinted his eyes, and smiled as he pulled Zhou Ping into the Xuan Yin Temple in Dongping County.

This place, Xuanyin Temple, was formerly the land of Zhengyang Temple. After the death of the Taoist Zhengyang, this place became the territory of Xuanyin Temple.

Later, the Xuan Yin Temple was renovated here, and it has now become a branch of the Xuan Yin Temple. Wang Yong, the corpse-driving Taoist, and Old Xu usually stay here.

When Wang Yong first met Zhou Ping, he immediately recognized him as a respectable Taoist priest.

His cultivation level was no less than his.

Since we don't know why you've come, let's first invite you into the Xuan Yin Temple and find out more about your background.

"Guests are always welcome. Fellow Daoist, please try our Xuan Yin Temple's specialty, Moonlight Tea."

Wang Yong warmly welcomed the Taoist Zhou Ping, making him feel right at home.

The Moonlight Tea at Xuan Yin Temple is especially authentic; it's cool and refreshing when you drink it, and you can even feel the moonlight in it. It's made with care.

Wang Yong almost burst out laughing when he saw Zhou Ping's surprised expression as he drank the Moonlight Tea.

This Moonlight Tea has quite a reputation, but it's actually just a cup of brewed tea with a single drop of water from the Moon Well.

Not much, but it has a slight moonlight scent.

Ordinary people will benefit from drinking it, and even cultivators will find Moonlight Tea extraordinary.

With the moonlight tea as a welcome treat, Wang Yong and Zhou Ping chatted amiably, and Zhou Ping generously explained his background.

He mentioned that he was a Taoist priest from Lingyuan Temple in Qingyuan County, and that he had come here specifically to see the changes in Dongping County.

"I see!"

Wang Yong greatly admired Zhou Ping's frankness. He had seen more than one cultivator like Zhou Ping who came after hearing the news.

but,
This was the first time Wang Yong had ever met someone as open about their background as Zhou Ping, which made him feel more favorably toward him.

Just as they were having a pleasant conversation, a commotion suddenly broke out outside, startling Wang Yong and Zhou Ping.

"What happened? Why is there such a commotion outside the temple?" Wang Yong asked.

"Reporting to the Abbot, a group of monks in red robes have arrived outside the temple. They are blocking the gate, injuring several of our disciples, and demanding that our Xuan Yin Temple give an explanation to their Hong Lian Temple!"

The young Taoist priest in the temple rushed over to report.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yong immediately retorted angrily:

"Red Lotus Temple? Those bald monks from Donglai County come to our Dongping County to cause trouble, and they want my Xuanyin Temple to give them an explanation? They've got some nerve!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, please stay here and have some tea. I'll go teach them a lesson and be right back!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping could no longer remain seated. He gripped the long sword at his waist and stepped forward righteously, saying:
"Fellow Daoist Wang, don't panic. Let's try to reason with that bald monk from the Red Lotus Temple first. If reasoning doesn't work, this humble Daoist also knows a little bit of martial arts!"

Zhou Ping was not an ungrateful person, and since Wang Yong had treated him so warmly, he naturally wanted to do his best to help Wang Yong when he was in trouble.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou is righteous! Let's go and meet those monks from the Red Lotus Temple!"

Accompanied by the young Taoist priests, Wang Yong and Zhou Ping, sharing a common hatred for the enemy, walked side by side.

Upon arriving at the temple gate, one sees a red-robed monk, eight feet tall, who has taken down the plaque of Xuan Yin Temple and is stepping on it.

He had an arrogant and disdainful air about him, showing no trace of the compassionate demeanor of a monk.

At the feet of the red-robed forester lay a pile of Taoist boys from the temple and passersby who had come to help.

Some had broken bones and torn tendons, screaming in agony; others bled profusely and remained unconscious.
"You bald monk, how dare you treat the disciples of my Xuan Yin Temple so cruelly! Even if Buddha himself came today, he couldn't save you!"

Seeing this, Wang Yong's eyes widened in fury. He had no intention of reasoning with the red-robed monk; all he could think about was bringing the monk to justice to prevent future trouble.

"A message from the underworld, the Five Ghosts have taken form. Obey my Yin Talisman and serve without pause—hurry!"

Wang Yong chanted incantations and cast a spell to command the five ghosts.

As soon as the incantation was uttered, the five 1-star white-tier ghosts on the Five Ghosts Altar in the temple immediately awoke and came to obey the incantation.

"Go, capture that evil monk!"

The ghost soldiers under Lu Feng's command were more obedient than the ghosts of the Five Ghosts Altar. Upon hearing the order, they immediately stirred up a gust of yin wind and rushed towards the red-robed monk outside the door.

The speed was so fast that the red-robed monk felt a chill run through his body, and he saw a series of illusions before his eyes. A cold aura, like a leech, seeped into his body and drained his vital energy.

[Mana Drain]: A ghost skill that allows you to drain the enemy's mana to restore your health.

In addition to the skills [Shadow Wind] and [Bewitching], the ghosts in the Lord's World also have a special skill called [Mana Drain].

The moment the five ghosts made their move, the red-robed monk sensed danger.

"The Great Illumination Seal Technique!"

The red-robed monk bit his tongue to refresh himself, then quickly formed the Light Mudra, activating the Buddhist power within his body, causing his entire body to radiate a burst of scorching light.

The light pierced through the ghostly wind, causing the five ghosts to let out a scream. The surrounding chilling aura was instantly swept away by the light from the red-robed monk.

"How dare a mere demon disturb my cultivation! Xuan Yin Temple is indeed a den of evil and demonic forces. You ox-nose Taoist, prepare to die!"

After banishing the ghost, the red-robed monk became even more determined to subdue demons. He took a large step and pounced into the Xuan Yin Temple like a tiger descending a mountain, grabbing Wang Yong's face with his large hands.

With a hand the size of a monk, he could seize Wang Yong's head. If the red-robed monk were to hold it firmly, it would surely take Wang Yong's life.

Seeing this perilous situation, Zhou Ping disregarded everything else and thrust his sword forward, the tip pointing directly at the red-robed monk's palm.

The plan was to relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao, thus saving Wang Yong's life.

At that moment, a sound of four feet stomping on the ground suddenly came from the Xuan Yin Temple. A heavy broadsword pierced through the air and collided with the red-robed monk's large hand first.

Boom!
The dull thud sounded like two city walls colliding.

The heavy broadsword collided with the red-robed monk's flesh and blood, and a terrifying force emanated from the heavy broadsword, sending the red-robed monk flying backward.

The eight-foot-tall body crashed into the wall of the Xuan Yin Temple gate, creating a huge hole.

When the smoke and dust cleared, the red-robed monk stood up, supporting himself with his bloodied and mangled right hand. He then saw a skeletal demon sitting on the skeleton of a giant wolf, wielding a heavy broadsword, standing next to Wang Yong.

It was none other than Lu Feng's [Skeleton Wolf Riders].

To prevent any accidents and to rid the Five Ghosts Altar of ghosts, Lu Feng hid a 1-star silver skeleton wolf rider in the branch temple in Dongping County to ensure the safety of his cultivators.

"Another skeleton demon, your Xuan Yin Temple really is something else."

The red-robed monk stared at the skeletal wolf rider with eyes blazing with rage, wishing he could tear this evil demon to pieces. But once he made his move, there was no turning back.

The skeletal wolf riders, wielding their greatswords, pressed forward once more, engaging the red-robed monk in fierce combat, with five ghosts providing support from the sidelines.

Before Wang Yong and Zhou Ping even had a chance to lift a finger, the Skeleton Wolf Riders, along with five ghosts, captured the red-robed monk in no time.

The ghost drained all the Buddhist power from the red-robed monk's body, then floated leisurely in the air, looking like it had eaten too much, before drifting back to the Five Ghosts Altar.

The skeletal wolf rider defeated the red-robed monk, but his white bone armor now bore a few white marks.

With a slight effort, without using his full strength, the red-robed monk was already unable to hold on.

"I am a monk from the Red Lotus Temple."

After being captured, the red-robed monk tried to use his connection to the Red Lotus Temple to frighten Wang Yong and his men, but Wang Yong was a man who had seen the world through Lu Feng's experiences.

Not intimidated by the Red Lotus Temple at all, and ignoring the whimpering barks of the red-robed monks, they led their skeletal wolf riders to capture all the Red Lotus Temple monks who were still watching and cheering outside the temple, and brought them inside for interrogation.

Afterwards, Wang Yong called upon the Taoist boys in the temple to come and treat the injured people in front of the gate.

The Taoist Zhou Ping glanced at the skeletal wolf riders beside Wang Yong, and then thought about the Yin ghosts that Wang Yong had just summoned. He felt that he had indeed entered a demon's lair, just as the red-robed monk had said.

However, on second thought, the Xuan Yin Temple's ability to raise Taoist soldiers is truly remarkable.

It's truly remarkable that they were able to raise a "White Bone Demon" equivalent to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, who was suppressing the guardian monks of the Red Lotus Temple.

(End of this chapter)