You, a monster, still want to travel to the West?

In the Guanyin Temple, as the monk finished speaking, Elder Jinchi laughed and said, "Monks should avoid judging people by appearance. That bear is devoted to Taoism and Buddhism, how can it be called a monster..."

"Forget it, just let him in." Elder Jin Chi glanced at the disciple who didn't take it seriously and waved his hand to let him go.

Xia Zhiming, who was standing nearby, raised his eyebrows upon hearing this. He glanced at Jin Chi, who was covered in gold and jade, and after a moment's thought, he asked with a smile, "How long has the abbot lived?"

"The old monk has grown older and is now a hundred years old."

"When will the abbot be ordained?"

"I have been cultivating since I was young, but I only lament that I have wasted my life. It is a pity that I have never left the mountain gate in this life."

"Why is your temple so magnificent?"

"In the early years, our temple was originally a pure land. It was only because many kind people came from far and wide to offer their worship that it became what it is today."

The two asked and answered each other. Xia Zhiming asked directly and Jin Chi spoke nicely, but unfortunately, it ruined Xia Zhiming's good intention.

In his opinion, Elder Jin Chi was very wise to be able to see through the prejudice against demons in this era. Unfortunately, he did not use this wisdom in the right place. Not only was he only thinking about making money, but he was not ashamed of it but was proud of it.

In this situation, Xia Zhiming didn't want to say anything more and just looked outside the door.

At this time, the black bear demon followed the monk into the room, and he was seen——

His skin was as black as coal, and he wore a black and green silk jacket, a black and blue silk cloak, a black horn scarf, and a pair of suede boots.

As soon as he entered the room, the Black Bear Demon saw that there were other guests. He immediately moved a chair and sat down, putting down the fruit basket in his hand. He asked with a smile: "Elder Jinchi, where did this kind person come from?"

Elder Jin Chi heard this and was about to raise his hand to introduce them, but saw Xia Zhiming and Fa Hai each raised their hands and said:

Fahai: "I am the great monk Fahai from the White Horse Temple in the East."

Xia Zhiming: "I am a Taoist from Kutuo Mountain in the Lion Country."

The Black Bear Demon was surprised when he heard this and asked Xia Zhiming, "The Eastern Han is thousands of miles away from here, and the Lion Camel Kingdom is several times larger. Why are you two gathered here?"

He could see that Xia Zhiming obviously had magical powers, so he naturally asked the real master directly.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiming patted Fahai's shoulder and said with a smile, "He was going to the Great Leiyin Temple in the Western Heaven to seek the true scriptures, and I met him by chance and agreed to give him a ride."

Upon hearing this, the Black Bear Demon turned to look at Fahai and asked in confusion, "How can you go to the Western Paradise if you don't have any magical powers?"

"I just want to move forward."

"You, a monk... have a heart devoted to Buddha."

"Let's talk about it when you can't walk anymore."

"?"

The Black Bear Demon immediately asked a question when he heard this. He thought that Fahai Buddha was determined, but he didn't expect such a sentence to suddenly come out and completely confused him.

Seeing him like this, Xia Zhiming immediately said happily: "What do you think of this monk I brought with me?"

"It's really strange, but I can't tell what's so strange about it."

The black bear demon stared at Fahai and took a closer look. He saw that Fahai was dressed like an ascetic monk, with a handsome appearance and a pair of eyes like a child. He looked like a hermit monk, but he spoke the kind of words that only ordinary people would say. The more he looked at him, the weirder it seemed.

After looking at it for a long time without understanding, the Black Bear Demon simply ignored him. After thinking for a while, he bowed to Elder Jin Chi and asked, "Elder, the Double Ninth Festival is coming soon. I would like to invite all the mountain Taoist officials to hold a grand banquet. We will preach Buddhism and climb the mountain to appreciate chrysanthemums. Would you like to come?"

Elder Jinchi shook his head and said, "Since the king has invited me, I should go. However, I am old and my legs are not convenient, so I cannot go to your Black Wind Mountain."

Hearing him say this, the Black Bear Spirit sighed, but said nothing more. He turned to look at Xia Zhiming and Fahai beside him and asked, "It is a great honor to meet you today. You two are also true Taoist practitioners. Would you like to attend my Double Ninth Festival banquet?"

Fahai clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, I wish to travel west and I do not want to delay."

After hearing this, Xia Zhiming thought for a moment and then tapped Fahai on the shoulder. He smiled and asked, "I want to go over and take a look. How about we say goodbye after today?"

"Donor..." Fahai hesitated.

Xia Zhiming immediately said happily: "Are you scared?"

"No, I just want to ask if you can lend me some money. I will pay you back in a few lifetimes." Fahai said solemnly, but his words made the three people around him frown.

Xia Zhiming jokingly said, "Why do you, a monk, need money?"

Fahai glanced at Elder Jinchi, whose expression changed instantly, and said with a smile: "As the saying goes: money can move people's hearts. I want to try it out for myself."

Hearing this, Xia Zhiming nodded. He naturally noticed that Elder Jin Chi's expression changed, but he didn't care. He picked up the teacup on the table and snapped his fingers in the puzzled eyes of several people!

Ding! ! !

As the Black Bear Demon and Elder Jin Chi stared with their eyes almost popping out of their heads, they saw the teacup and the tea inside it turn into a dazzling golden light in an instant - magical power: turning stone into gold!

After casually doing all this, Xia Zhiming handed the pure gold teacup to Fahai and said with a smile: "You are so confident in asking for money. Fahai, you have become more shameless."

Fahai took the golden cup in a daze, but then he quickly came to his senses and said with a smile: "I will definitely return it to you in the future."

In his opinion, Xia Zhiming is a ruthless person who can chat and laugh with Guanyin Bodhisattva, so even if turning stones into gold is a bit shocking, he can accept it.

And at this time...

Xia Zhiming glanced at Elder Jin Chi, who was already dumbfounded. After a moment's thought, he laughed and said, "What's wrong, Elder?"

"Shengren...why can't monks ask for money?"

"Why are you adorned with gold and silver, and inlaid with pearls and jade?"

"If I don't wear gold and silver, or pearls and jade, how can the world know that I am a hermit monk?"

"as long as you are happy."

Xia Zhiming shook his head helplessly. What Jin Chi said made a lot of sense, but unfortunately the problem came: in this world where you can pick the sun, moon and stars with a raise of your hand, and flatten the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas with a turn of your hand, why does one need others to recognize one's great power? If one is obsessed with others' evaluation, and ends up practicing Buddhism in vain, how pitiful it is.

The barefoot immortal goes barefoot every day and carries a broken fan. No one in the whole heaven would say that he is unruly.

The Maitreya Buddha is bare-chested, and he has no manner of standing or sitting. Who in the entire Lingshan Mountain would say that he is not?

Someone once said something bad about Sun Wukong, but later he took an iron rod and earned the title of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. From then on, the only ones who dared to mention this again were those with bigger fists than him, and the rest were those who were not afraid of death.

At this time, as Xia Zhiming and Elder Jin Chi concluded their conversation, the Black Bear Spirit glanced at the silent elder and said, "Since that's the case, I'll take my leave now. Would you still like to come to Black Wind Mountain?"

Xia Zhiming nodded when he heard this. He had a good impression of this black bear demon. After all, this was a ruthless guy who could break down Sun Wukong's defense with just one sentence. He had to ask him carefully whether the way he usually called "Bimawen" was wrong.

Chapter 167: Evaluation is not as good as...

In the Guanyin Temple, the Black Bear Demon did not stay any longer when he saw that Xia Zhiming had accepted the invitation. He bowed to the three people again, said a few polite words, and then stood up and left.

At this time, Elder Jin Chi, who had been silent for a long time, stood up and said to the two with a forced smile: "It is getting late, and I am too old to stay with you for long. Please rest well and don't be so polite."

Xia Zhiming pulled a teacup from his sleeve and placed it on the table. He stood up, bowed, and said with a smile, "Master, please help yourself."

Fahai naturally stood up and returned the greeting, saying, "Thank you, old dean."

Across from him, Elder Jin Chi glanced at the teacup which was exactly the same as before, opened his mouth and said nothing more, but tremblingly called for the monks outside the door.

After the monks came and helped Elder Jin Chi up, and asked Qingxia Zhiming and Fahai's opinions, they took a few people to find their sleeping quarters.

……

The next morning——

The sun is rising in the sky and the morning mist in the mountains is gradually dissipating.

Outside the Guanyin Temple, Xia Zhiming glanced at Fahai, who was heading west alone without looking back, unfolded his folding fan, and disappeared in a flash.

In front of the courtyard gate, Elder Jin Chi, who was still wearing a gorgeous monk's robe, was tremblingly holding the gate. He looked at Fa Hai, who was walking farther and farther away in tattered clothes, and finally wiped his eyes silently.

The monk who was serving beside him asked with a smile, "If the abbot is moved by compassion, why not send me up to give him a cassock?"

"That monk will definitely not accept it."

"I forgot. He won a gold cup. I think it must be worth a pound."

"Ugh……"

the other side--

Qing Xin looked at the white snake lazily hanging on his shoulder, raised his hand to pinch its tail, and asked softly: "Zhi Ming, do you think that Elder Jin Chi will figure it out in the future?"

"How would I know."

Xia Zhiming nuzzled the girl's cheek and said nonchalantly, "Jin Chanzi and I have given you the pointers you need to give us. The rest is entirely up to your luck."

"Speaking of Jin Chanzi, without you to lead the way, he would have died before he could even make it a thousand miles."

"Qingxin, you underestimate mortals," Xia Zhiming explained, wagging his tail. "There are so many roads in this world. If you encounter an insurmountable mountain, just change the road. As long as the direction is correct, it's fine."

Although it is difficult to reach the West, it is impossible to stop Fahai with just a thousand miles. After all, even Xia Zhiming couldn't figure out how the nine pilgrims in the Quicksand River crossed the 800-mile Huangfeng Ridge.

And now, who knows where this enlightened Fa Hai can go?

----------------

Three days later, it is the Double Ninth Festival.

When Xia Zhiming brought Qingxin to Black Wind Mountain and watched from the clouds, he saw only—

The cliffs are deep and dangerous, with green pines, and clouds are rising from the ridges with a cool breeze.

There are few people in the dangerous mountains, but many immortals practice Taoism in seclusion.

The gurgling water makes the sound of a zither, and the faint fairy sounds move the valley.

Summary: It is a good place for retreat.

After pausing to watch for a while, Xia Zhiming glanced around the mountain and soon saw three monsters sitting on the ground in front of the grassy slope between the cliffs.

The one at the top was naturally the black bear demon, to the left was a Taoist priest, and to the right was a scholar in white, all of whom were talking in low voices.

Seeing this, Xia Zhiming had no intention of eavesdropping. He casually took out his folding fan, opened it and shook it, then in a flash he appeared in front of them with Qingxin, who was eager to try, on his shoulder.

Across from them, the three monsters saw them arrive silently, and after a moment of surprise, they quickly stood up and greeted each other.

Black Bear Demon: "Xiongbi, I have met the Immortal."

Taoist priest: "I am Lingxuzi, and I have met the immortal."

Scholar in white: "I have learned from Zhu Huai and have seen the immortal."

Seeing that there were only two or three of them, Xia Zhiming laughed and said, "Xiong Bin, how come only two of the mountain officials you invited are here?"

Hearing this, Xiong Bin scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Since a true immortal has arrived, I have to be very selective when sending invitations, so as not to offend the immortal's eyes."

Hearing him say this, Xia Zhiming did not blame him. After all, there were not so many pure-hearted monsters in this world. It was already very good that this bear could pick out two of them to be seen in public.

Thinking of this, Xia Zhiming closed his folding fan, pointed at Qingxin on his shoulder and said with a smile: "I think you already know my name, so I won't tell you. This is my wife Qingxin. She came with me to talk about Taoism and Zen with you."

Upon hearing this, the three demons naturally bowed again, and Qingxin nodded to the three demons in response.

At this time, Xiong Bin saw that everyone had gathered and turned around to invite them: "In that case, how about coming with me to the cave?"

"It's not beautiful, it's not beautiful." Zhu Huai quickly raised his hand to hold him back, laughing, "Today is the Double Ninth Festival, the time when the autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom. There's also a beautiful view on this grassy slope. Isn't it better than your hole?"

Hearing his words, the Black Bear Demon and Ling Xuzi looked at each other and prepared to ask Xia Zhiming for his opinion.

Xia Zhiming had no objection at all. When he heard what they said, he bent down and sat down on the grass. He waved the folding fan in his hand and saw chrysanthemums of various colors blooming all over the hillside.

After casually completing these tasks, Xia Zhiming folded his folding fan and said to the three stunned demons with a smile, "Don't talk about that. Sit down and have a conversation with me."

The three goblins in front of him knew how to make elixirs with lead and mercury, although it was just an unorthodox technique. However, he really hoped to learn that skill so that he wouldn't have to do a favor for others and get the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir in the future.

It’s not that he doesn’t know how to make elixirs. The Golden Elixir Dao is the same inside and outside. Even the monkey under the Five Elements Mountain can make elixirs, so he is naturally no exception.

However, the moment the idea of ​​refining the elixir came to his mind, Xia Zhiming slapped him to death.

Not to mention where he got so many magical herbs and medicines from, even if he really had them, it would be better to give them to the Taoist Ancestor directly in exchange for two peanuts to avoid wasting such good things.

Back to the topic——

Since Xia Zhiming took the initiative to invite them, the three demons were surprised but naturally agreed. After sitting down with him, the black bear demon started to talk first, talking about the methods of guiding the qi, concentrating the mind and refining the spirit.

Although it is a side door and an unconventional way, it is also a true method that can prolong life. Xia Zhiming and Qing Xin listened carefully, and finally gave the evaluation in their hearts - it is not as good as the "Twenty-Four Divine Refining Methods" passed down by Yuanshi Tianzun.

After that, two scholars in white clothes gave lectures on the methods of asking for divination from the gods and praying to the saints.

It is also an unorthodox method, a way to avoid misfortune and communicate with gods and ghosts. After listening to it, Xia Zhiming and Qing Xin thought in their hearts - instead of spending that time to perform the method, why not go to heaven or hell to find someone directly.

In the end, it was naturally Ling Xuzi who spoke, and he described the method that Xia Zhiming had been expecting, which was to set up the tripod and furnace, burn mercury and refine lead.

……

Chapter 168 Who will make up for the fun I lack?

In front of the fragrant grass slope, Ling Xuzi spoke at length in front of everyone, explaining the method of extracting mercury to refine elixirs: "If you want to refine the great elixir, you naturally need a cauldron!"