The Beaver Learns the Law

Li Ye looked slightly weary.

It was not only because he had wanted to conceal the abnormal speed at which he had completed the task, but also because he had been comforting that Micro-Stream Beaver.

He had never expected the beaver to be so heartbroken after Hungry Bone weathered away. For the first few days, it had neither eaten nor drunk, and had not even hoarded food, its favorite pastime.

Hungry Bone's weathering away had dealt it a tremendous blow.

Symbiosis, symbiosis—for the beaver, it meant a friend had completely dissipated and departed. Perhaps the emotions of spirit beasts were far more sincere than those of humankind?

He patiently soothed it, and only today had it finally begun to emerge from the shadow cast by Hungry Bone's sudden weathering. He himself was indeed puzzled and wished to ask Senior Spirit Vine for an answer.

Thus, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, he went straight to the point:

"Senior, were there human souls within those Hungry Bones?"

Spirit Vine had been somewhat stifled after waiting several days for Li Ye, but upon seeing the weariness on his face today, something suddenly stirred within it.

"Indeed."

It answered, "Every Hungry Bone was transformed from a mortal soul. Using immense power and a sect treasure, the Transformation God Ancestor of our Four Seasons Sect spared them the suffering of falling forever into the path of hungry ghosts."

"I had already guessed that you likely used a method for controlling spirit beasts to wash away the torment of hunger from the souls within those Hungry Bones, resolving their inner knots and allowing them to weather away and reincarnate in the end."

"Your spirit beast... sigh, it has truly suffered."

"If I were to guess, it is a Micro-Stream Beaver?"

As a spirit plant, Spirit Vine possessed a lifespan far longer than that of ordinary cultivators. To it, if its master failed to keep climbing higher, then sooner or later it too would face the misery of parting.

Li Ye sighed softly.

Things were indeed just as he had thought.

"Senior's guess is correct."

"Forgive this junior..."

He had actually been considering refusing this task. He truly pitied the beaver, and the bindable trait it had once possessed—its love of sharing food—had already vanished.

Micro-Stream Beavers were naturally fond of hoarding and sharing food, yet it had become like this. It was clearly deeply wounded.

But Spirit Vine cut him off. "I know that you cherish them, but do not be hasty. Hear me out. This Micro-Stream Beaver was cultivated by one of the sect's patriarchs. Though small, it is exceedingly intelligent."

"Once, a great master of Buddhism said that though they gathered wealth, they delighted in sharing; though they hoarded food, they practiced Benevolence and Charity."

"So I wish to point you toward a viable path of cultivation for its future. What do you think?"

"..."

How could Li Ye still not understand?

That beaver actually had a cultivation method related to Buddhism. But wasn't the Four Seasons Sect an orthodox Daoist sect? How could it possess methods related to Buddhism?

Spirit Vine saw the doubt in his eyes.

It explained, "Our Four Seasons Sect may be considered wealthy and well-established. There are many cultivators in the sect, as well as many spirit beasts and spirit plants."

"Naturally, there are many paths to follow. Besides, so long as you are a disciple of our Daoist sect, why can you not take in a Buddhist-cultivating spirit beast?"

After a pause, it added, "Mainly because I do not have any suitable Daoist scriptures for delivering souls from suffering. Let it learn this one first."

"..."

"This junior would first like to ask the little fellow." Li Ye felt that remaining so burdened with sorrow was clearly no solution.

If the Buddhist method truly proved useful, then with careful cultivation in the future, it would also become a great help to him.

Still, he first took out a small bottle containing roughly two taels of Aura of Golden Fortune.

"This is the beaver's contribution."

"But it is also yours." Spirit Vine inspected that small bottle of Aura of Golden Fortune and was immediately delighted.

The Aura of Golden Fortune was of exceedingly high purity. Though it did not compare to those of its Golden Core junior brothers and sisters, it was absolutely first-rate below the Golden Core stage.

"I will record it for you first. This is two taels of Aura of Golden Fortune."

"If you wish to exchange it for Spirit Stones, I can give you two thousand right now. But I would advise you to save it all together—there will be a surprise when the time comes."

"Here, this is the method for Buddhist cultivation."

Curiously, Li Ye accepted the book and looked at it. Written on its cover were the words, "Lotus Heart-Saving Sutra."

He could not help opening it and taking a look.

This method was exceptionally simple. It was a very special kind of method for cultivating the heart.

According to its description, one could cultivate a "Heart-Image Lotus Throne," using the lotus throne to bear suffering and oneself to purify the agony of wronged souls, freeing them and sending them soaring to heaven.

But the problem was that his beaver was only barely at the second rank, at most within the tenth level of Qi Refinement. Could it really cultivate such a complex divine ability?

They truly thought highly of him, handing such a divine ability to a beaver to cultivate...

With a pained expression, he voiced his doubts.

Yet Spirit Vine did not think much of it. "Since you can communicate with it like this, simply explain the teachings to it. This method chiefly depends on one's cultivation of temperament and heart; it is not a cultivation art meant to enhance spiritual power."

"..."

I have to preach the Dharma to it?!

I'm only at the Qi Refinement stage—I haven't even reached Foundation Establishment yet!

Isn't this asking far too much of a minor cultivator like me?!

Though Li Ye had far, far too many complaints bottled up inside, Spirit Vine clearly thought he had achieved this through some highly unusual beast-taming method, one that could surely communicate with spirit beasts.

He could only nod.

"This junior will return and speak with it properly."

"Mm. Then take this item with you. If it is willing, use the mechanism box to contact me. I'll send people to deliver more Hungry Bone to your place."

Li Ye nodded again. Carrying the Lotus Heart-Saving Sutra, he returned home and found the beaver sitting atop the embankment with its back to him, staring blankly into the sun.

"Hah."

"Let's give it a try."

He carefully approached and held out a hand to the beaver. It froze for a moment, then climbed onto his hand before winding its way up to his shoulder.

Then Li Ye began persuading it.

This little fellow had probably drunk quite a lot of Purple Oil Spring Rain, and perhaps eaten some Aura of Golden Fortune as well. It had grown increasingly intelligent.

Li Ye had merely said that this divine art could help it better deliver its friends from suffering, and it immediately nodded in agreement.

Li Ye was greatly surprised.

"You're that clever? Did you understand what I meant?"

The beaver slowly rubbed against his cheek. Though it often swam in water and dug through mud, dead branches, and fallen leaves, it was not dirty at all. It was even somewhat soft and squishy, like a slightly cool glutinous rice dumpling.

"Chirp chirp!"

Its rough meaning was: You will not hurt me. I am willing to learn.

That consciousness was childish and vague, yet that was indeed what it meant. Without the panel's ability, it truly would have been difficult to notice.

So this little fellow wanted to learn for my sake.

It really was somewhat...

Li Ye fell silent at once. Only after a long while did he shake his head.

"You little rascal—two chirps from you can carry such complicated meaning. Still, being clever is good. I'll read this method to you now."

He took out the book and slowly opened it.

"The lotus delivers one from calamity; the heart's form saves one from suffering..."

Though Li Ye did not know whether it could understand him reading it this way, as he read, he did his utmost to convey his own understanding of the words and passages to the beaver through the panel.

The latter listened with great seriousness.

Its sleek, glossy fur seemed to shimmer with a faint golden halo. It was impossible to tell whether that was its own radiance or the drifting light cast by the rising morning sun.