What kind of Journey to the West is this?

After taking good care of Xue Shier, Yu Qinghuai and Yan Xia walked out of the room.

Yu Qinghuai asked with concern, "I heard that Senior has been visiting relatives and friends recently. He went to Kaiyuan Temple and even to Yingzhou Prefecture. Did he also go to Po Luo Temple?"

Yan Xia nodded: "That wine cup and I are close friends regardless of age. He must have been there."

"Have you told that senior about praying for blessings and warding off disasters at the end of the year?"

!!!

Yan Xia was stunned and suddenly felt guilty, much like Tang Monk and his disciples who passed by Tongtian River and met the old turtle again on their way back from obtaining Buddhist scriptures.

Oh gosh, I forgot!

Yu Qinghuai saw the girl's expression and said with a smile, "Such an important thing cannot be forgotten."

Yan Xia said guiltily: "I'm sorry."

"Senior, just saying sorry won't do."

Yu Qinghuai put his arm around Yanxia's shoulders, a smile in his eyes.

Yan Xia said shyly, "This isn't good. It's broad daylight, in plain sight."

Dong Huang suddenly received a jade talisman: Chapter 159 [Crowds from all directions gather, the Heavenly Official preaches]

——Boom!

——Boom!

On the bell tower, the monk, sweating profusely, carried a red sandalwood bell hammer and hit the bronze bell again.

Hearing the bell, Monk Jingming put down the wooden fish, and the monks around him sat cross-legged with their palms raised and silently recited the Lotus Sutra.

In the main hall, Monk Jingming stood up, looked at the monks, and said, "Yuanzhen, Yuanwu, the two of you follow me outside the hall."

The two young monks stood up, looked at each other, and clasped their hands together and said, "Yes!"

Abbot Jingming walked out of the hall, leaning on his glazed staff, one foot stepping on the snow.

Outside, there were monks holding shovels and brooms – sweeping the snow.

He raised his hand and said, "Let's all go and take a break. I have something to say to Yuan Zhen and Yuan Wu."

The monks all agreed and withdrew. Yuanzhen and Yuanwu followed Abbot Jingming in confusion.

They both looked at Jingming and asked, "Abbot, what's going on?"

Jing Ming said, "You two can pack your bags later."

"Abbot! Did we make a mistake? If so, feel free to scold and beat us!"

"I haven't made any mistakes. Jingqing will take you away soon. Here's the money for the journey. Take it. It's the last thing I'll give you."

"Abbot, this..."

"Go, go. The precious lotus flower emerges from the mud without being stained; the relics must be refined by fire before they can attain nirvana."

The two young monks knelt in the snow and cried, "We are all orphans fleeing from the war. For sixteen years, we have lived among the monks for most of them. Now we have feelings for them."

Jing Ming leaned on his glass staff and said, "Follow Jing Qing for a walk. Remember, don't talk too much. Too much talk will lead to mistakes."

“Then, there’s no need to come back.”

The two young monks cried uncontrollably, sobbing, "Abbot, where should we go?"

"Go back to where you came from. When you walk in the secular world, don't mention my name again."

The two monks kowtowed and were helped up by Monk Jingming. They wiped their tears and returned to the wing to pack their bags.

Behind Abbot Jingming, a figure walked towards him, leaving no footprints in the snow.

"The love between master and disciple is so deep... Master Puzhi treated you the same way back then, right?"

Monk Jingqing's feet landed on the snow, but there was no trace left.

Jing Ming turned his head, looked at his junior brother, and sighed: "Just leave a spark for my Qinglong Temple."

Jing Qing snorted and waved his hand, saying, "A mere seventh-rank Heavenly Official from Miaoyan Palace, do you really have the guts to exterminate us all? We are a century-old temple, the pure land left by Zen Master Puzhi. Even if a Taoist master from the Xuanmen Sect comes, he has to be polite. And she, a seventh-rank Heavenly Official who hasn't even formed an elixir, is using chicken feathers as a token of authority!"

"Luo Xuanhe survived, and the divine will was disturbed. I knew we were doomed. Junior Brother, can luck be changed, can fate be reversed?"

"You're afraid, but I'm not. This time I'm going to Wuhe Mountain to meet that An Ba Zui. Brother, the great monk Daoming from Kaiyuan Temple is here. I can't see him, so you go and see him."

After saying this, Monk Jingqing flicked his sleeves and left.

Jingming looked at his junior brother and said sadly in his heart: It’s fine if he turns into a Yaksha and abandons his physical body, but after swallowing gold and jade, even his mind has become cold and hard?

....................

In the underworld of Cangzhou, the City God’s residence.

The old city god held the invitation in his hand and paced back and forth, saying, "She, An Yanxia, sent me the invitation, so I have to go."

The old city god was scared, mainly because he was afraid that at the Hongmen Banquet, he would not be Xiang Zhuang, but Fan Kuai...

He couldn't guarantee that An Yanxia would chop him up on the way.

Judge Wen, standing by, warned, "Lord God, I heard that An Bazui went to Ziya River and Heilonggang a few days ago, and also contacted Po Luo Monastery. I'm afraid he's planning to take action against the gods and deities of Cangzhou."

"Given her temper, it's not hard to guess. But...it's like raising a tiger to cause trouble!"

The old City God sighed and said, "I heard from the messengers that she is now a popular figure in Miaoyan Palace. She is also a fellow disciple of Luo Xuanhe. How dare I touch her! When I leave this position, I am afraid she will become the true governor of this small piece of Cangzhou."

Judge Wen, familiar with the laws of heaven and earth, soothed him, "Since the reign of Emperor Zhuanxu, the land has been connected to the heavens. Aside from the great gods Hou Tu Huang Di Ji, no other deity can manage the affairs of the City God. An Ba Zui may seem to be enjoying his glory, but he'll have to go sooner or later."

As the saying goes: The gods in heaven come and go, but the gods on earth remain forever.

The old City God also comforted himself: he was going to be promoted and transferred soon anyway, and as long as the plan went right, he would definitely be transferred to the capital to be a county City God, and then he would have a good life!

"Zi Cai, has the relic been delivered to Chang'an?"

"Replying to God, it was delivered to the Crown Prince yesterday and he liked it very much."

"Alright! Raise the City God's Palace flag. You don't need to bring too many people, just two hundred ghost soldiers, and prepare the ceremonial carriages. Let's go to Wuhe Mountain!"

The mighty team stepped out of the underworld, guarding the canopy and flags, with two evil gods leading the way and four evil demons leading the way.

Wow!

The flag was rolled up, with the word "He" written in capital letters.

Not just the City God's Mansion.

Kanyang Mountain Cave Palace, Ziya River Water Palace, Heilonggang Water Palace, Heishui Dragon King Palace... Throughout Cangzhou, people from all walks of life raised their flags and headed towards Huilong Peak in this cold weather.

..................

Huilong Peak, Tianguan Cave Mansion.

The old fox fairy stroked his beard, and beside him, Shu Dalang, Huang Po, Bai Xian, and Hu Asi, five demons, sat around a table.

The old fox fairy said, "It's almost time, why hasn't the hedgehog come yet?"

Huang Po said viciously: "A lazy donkey will pee and shit a lot!"

While he was cursing, a golden hedgehog rolled in from the outside of the cave - now his name was Wei Xianyi.

The golden hedgehog hesitantly said, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, it was snowing heavily on the road and I came a little late."

Except for Hu Asi, the other three little demons looked at the golden hedgehog with envy.

They had heard that this hedgehog was very lucky, as he had a dying old medical immortal as his master and even had a name!

Having a name and surname is a big deal for a monster. If a wild monster without a family wants to pass the transformation test, it must transform its bones, be ordained, and obtain a name.

The Golden Hedgehog got its name from a virtuous and blessed immortal, and it took one step to overcome the barrier of transformation.

The old fox fairy raised his hand and called the golden hedgehog in to sit down. He looked at the group of monsters and said, "Since you are all seated, let me tell you this. The Heavenly Official will give a sermon and a banquet on Huilong Peak. We in Zhongzhi Village will take care of the banquet. But there are some other arrangements that the Heavenly Official specifically wants you to take care of."

After saying that, the old fox fairy took out a paper scroll and handed it to the five demons.

"For this grand event, besides hosting a banquet for all guests, all other practitioners from all over the world are welcome to come and participate in the lecture. This matter must also be properly arranged."

..........

Qing'anjuli.

Bai Zhu hurriedly took the scroll and came back to say to Yan Xia:

"More than thirty nine-segmented wolves from Dongbo Lake have spread the news throughout Wuhe Mountain."

"Eighty foxes from Zhizhuang Village in Qinghu Slope used the trade route to spread the message of the sermon to Dizhou, Youzhou, Dingzhou, Hengzhou, Bohai, Zhuojun, and other places."

"In the golden pine forest, the Sparrow Fairy is acting as a scout, ready to go."

"In Wuhe Mountain, we have gathered two hundred rampant soldiers and ninety monsters, and we can set up a large-scale battle formation at any time."

"Last night, Taoist Master Jiuzhongzi of Po Luo Temple summoned a thunder talisman, and the sound was heard over thirty miles away."

"Two hundred soldiers from the City God's Mansion are heading to Wuhe Mountain to await orders."

"All is ready except for the opportunity."

Donghuang suddenly sends a jade talisman: Chapter 160 [Kanyang Jun pleads guilty, Hu Asi meets the enemy]

On the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather is very cold.

Frost has withered the forest, and the light clouds are about to snow.

Yanxia arrived at Wuhe Mountain early in the morning. The old fox fairy asked the foxes in Zhongzhi Village to prepare the sedan chair, and Shu Dalang and Hu Asi prepared some support.

The canopy was spread out, and the banners were hoisted. Yanxia boarded the sedan chair, and with the red fox at her helm, they headed straight for Huilong Peak.

It is the frosty forest after the snow, but I see that:

On the cold bridge, withered trees vie for branches, while in the winding stream a trickle of spring water flows. Light clouds, like the prospect of snow, fill the sky. A sudden north wind gusts, tugging at my sleeves. How can I bear the chill of the sun and dew?

When they reached Huilong Peak, they saw a group of foxes, nine-section wolves, deer monsters, and sheep monsters gathered around a high platform where an altar was being performed, working in pairs to laboriously fix banners.

This platform is not very high, only about ten feet high.

There were also fox men and women from Zhongzhi Village, carrying lanterns and fruit plates. These fox spirits had faces as radiant as jade and eyes as clear as water, and both men and women were indescribably charming and lovely.

There are also little boys from Dongbo Pond lighting the Boshan incense burner; and golden monkeys from Rotten Peach Forest holding curved-mouthed wine jugs.

They are all very good-looking and were specially picked to be waiters.

Over there, the girl had changed into a stone-green robe with a phoenix pattern in red and gold, and was holding a tablet in her hand, making a clanging sound as she walked.

After stepping onto the steps, Yan Xia sat on the altar and raised her hand to the little monsters below, saying, "It's almost time. You all should take a break."

All the little demons were happy and sat on the ground to rest.

Yan Xia sat cross-legged on the futon without any moral integrity, biting a pear in her left hand and drinking from a wine jug in her right hand. She said vaguely, "We haven't opened yet, so I'm just going to talk to you about the principles of cultivating immortality and establishing one's life. Otherwise, if things get chaotic later, you won't be able to hear it."

There was a studious little golden monkey, holding his hands to his chest, and timidly asked: "Heavenly Official, can we also cultivate immortality?"

"Once the nine orifices are opened, one can cultivate immortality. However, to cultivate immortality one must first cultivate oneself as a human being. Without being a human being, it is difficult to become an immortal. Taoist priests and Buddhist monks all talk about seeing through the mundane world; Confucian scholars also talk about transcending the ordinary and becoming a saint."

Yan Xia took a bite of the pear and said, "How can one see through the world without being in it? How can one become a saint without first becoming a mortal? Therefore, to cultivate immortality, one must first become a human being."

All the little demons looked distressed.

The little monkey asked again: "Heavenly Official, you were born as a human, but we are born as monkeys, apes, deer and roe deer. How can we cultivate immortality?"

"This person is not that person. With your spiritual intelligence, you experience both suffering and joy, and clearly feel the seven emotions and six desires. This is called the human heart. Having a heart makes you a person, or you can call it a spiritual being. Buddhism teaches that all appearances are false; don't cling to names or forms."

"I understand!"

"You don't understand yet. If you truly understood, the transformation stage would be over in one step. I heard that you demons need to transform into bones, be ordained, and receive a name. These may seem inexplicable, but in the final analysis:

"Bone transformation is like speaking. Being able to speak allows your thoughts to flow freely from your tongue. Ennobling is recognition. Having others acknowledge you is the highest level of satisfaction, no longer content with mere food and clothing. From this, the human heart begins to sprout. Finally, the human heart develops, the innocent heart is gone, and you transform yourself, as if you were reborn. You claim to have gained a name, but in reality, you have gained a life.

"It's not just you demons who are like this; even humans are born this way. From the innocence of a baby, to the worries and troubles of a teenager, to the sophistication and worldliness of a mature adult, it's all the same process. This is the development of the human heart."

The little monkey was confused when he heard it, and so were the other little monsters. Some of them were suddenly enlightened, some were in deep thought, and some were confused, each in a different state of mind.

After Yanxia finished eating the pear, she smiled and threw the core at the little monkey's forehead, waking it up.

"Only after the human heart is developed can the heart of Tao be developed. From pure innocence to becoming shrewd, compliant, and worldly-wise, and then back to pure innocence, this is the cultivation of the mind. If you achieve sudden enlightenment, you can travel to the North Sea in the morning and Cangwu in the evening, and soar to the Holy Mountain in a single day."

The true teaching is just one sentence, and sometimes practice is just like that.

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