"What the hell is this, a baldy?"
The group froze for a moment, then burst into curses.
There was no Buddhism in this world, only a similar Shimen tradition derived from ancient cultivators.
But after the passage of many eras, that path had fallen into decline and long since vanished from public knowledge. Naturally, they had no idea what this Dharma Form, clad in a kasaya and chanting the Buddha's name, signified. They pointed at the monk and called him a baldy, all assuming for the moment that some spirit monster was trying to disturb their minds.
The young monk in the golden kasaya smiled faintly. Brilliant light shone from his entire body, while ethereal spirit incense continued to permeate them, influencing their minds through an indescribably wondrous method.
"Amitabha, Amitabha..."
"Amitabha your mother's ass!"
"Grandmaster, these people are stubborn beyond reason. The Mind-Pleasing Incense doesn't seem to be doing anything to them."
Yao Lingxian watched with some embarrassment, and a little irritation rose within him as well.
That baldy you're insulting is an Incense Deity summoned by my grandmaster!
His venerable self is watching you right here!
Li Ling smiled faintly and said, "Be patient. Keep watching, and you'll understand."
The young monk sat cross-legged in the air. He neither recited scriptures nor expounded doctrine, nor did he offer gentle persuasion. He simply watched them with a silent smile, occasionally nodding in understanding as though he had realized something.
At first, the group continued their furious cursing, clamoring that if anyone wanted to kill or butcher them, they should get on with it instead of conjuring a monk's phantom to frighten them.
Some went further, spewing filth and demanding that he conjure a pretty girl for them to look at.
Gradually, however, for reasons they could not understand,