Now, Ao Tu was to discuss the Dao with the Three Imperial Preceptors of Chechi Kingdom.
Great Immortal Huli invited Ao Tu to take a seat in the guest hall, and his disciples served fragrant tea and fresh fruit. Great Immortal Huli asked first:
"May I ask which immortal mountain you have come from, Perfected One?"
Ao Tu said, "I am an unaffiliated cultivator, roaming a thousand mountains and traversing ten thousand waters, with no place to call home."
Great Immortal Huli said, "We admire you for cultivating amid the mortal world, Perfected One. My disciple told me you came to discuss the Dao with us?"
Ao Tu said, "Here on the Western Ox Continent, people mostly revere monks and love the Buddha. I heard there was a place here that honored the Dao and suppressed monks, so I came specifically to see it."
Great Immortal Huli said, "This is precisely the place you speak of, Perfected One. To tell you the truth, of the countless kingdoms on the Western Ox Continent, only Chechi Kingdom honors the Dao and suppresses monks."
Ao Tu said, "Great State Preceptor, monks and Daoists are both cultivators. Why must you suppress monks?"
At this, Great Immortal Huli frowned. "Perfected One, have you come here to plead for those monks? If so, please take back your plea and say no more of it."
Seeing a hint of displeasure in Great Immortal Huli's words, Ao Tu said with a faint smile:
"Not at all. I came only to discuss the Dao with the Three Imperial Preceptors, not to plead for the monks. Now that I have met you, I have three humble verses to offer."
Great Immortal Huli said, "Please recite them."
Ao Tu recited:
"Dark markings form the character for king, a mountain-guarding seal bestowed