Taking disciples in Jade Flower Prefecture (III)

Meanwhile, Minghe, under the orders of Ao Tu, renamed it the Great Sect, gathered a large following, and Preaching in India.

The sect established by Ao Tu was lacking in doctrine and was not as complete as Buddhist Dharma.

In terms of wealth foundation, it is not as profound as Buddhist Sect.

There are only two points that surpass Buddhist Sect.

First, it frequently manifests its divine power to guide those who are Good and Evil.

Even within the Buddhist Sect, though all beings are said to be equal, there are still distinctions of caste and social status, which cannot be changed in this lifetime.

To be reborn into a good family in the next life, one must diligently cultivate oneself and offer Incense Offerings.

What happens after death is unknown.

The Great Sect established by Ao Tu is believed by all regardless of caste or social status. It has few Precepts, but mainly encourages people to do good and prohibits fraud and violation of the Law.

Those who do good deeds are guided by goddesses after death; those who do evil are escorted by evil spirits.

Therefore, from high-ranking officials and nobles to commoners and servants, there were many believers.

Secondly, the religion established by Ao Tu does not enshrine statues of gods in its temples.

The believers worship the Cult Leader, reciting his name only in their hearts, without any image or form to show, whether he is male or female, tall or thin.

The Scripture says:

"It has no form, no location, no distance, no duality, no beginning, no end, no outside, and no inside."

It is formless and imageless, unlike any other things, therefore it manifests itself solely through virtue.

The followers all place their hopes and aspirations in the faith.

Temples not only do not require offerings of Incense Offerings and tributes, but they also provide the cheapest food free of charge to those who are extremely poor.

Therefore, many of the poor people believed in it.

The land of the Western Ox Continent is densely populated, with many wealthy people and even more poor people.

Ao Tu established his Great Sect here, truly taking full advantage of the opportune time, the favorable geographical location, and the harmonious relationships with the people.

Ao Tu Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom to the Tianzhu Kingdom, first passing through the area of Fengxian County.

The Fengxian County had suffered from disasters for many years, and countless people were impoverished.

Because of the rainfall, Buddhist Sect had lost all its prestige in this area. It was very convenient for Ao Tu's followers to come here and spread their teachings.

Even before that, a few believers had come to Fengxian County, and the people of Fengxian County had heard of some of the doctrines of the Great Sect.

Now, as more sages and believers from the Great Sect come to Fengxian County, they first gain the trust of the County Marquis, then build temples in the city, spread their doctrines, and the number of believers increases day by day.

Seeing that other religions were vying for Incense Offerings, the Monks of the Buddhist Temple in Fengxian County immediately began to quarrel. They set up an altar in the city and invited wise men from the Great Sect to debate the Dharma.

In the early days of the Great Sect, most of the wise men within it were merchants and learned elders. In terms of debating skills alone, how could they possibly compete with these monks who had spent years discussing scriptures?

Unable to win the argument, the wise men, enraged and humiliated, cried out "Lord!" and rushed forward, knocking the monk down, seizing the scriptures, tearing them up, and burning them.

The monk was furious and rebuked the sage for violating the Law.

What Law does the wise man say about arguing Law, tearing up books Law, or burning paper?

The common people below didn't care about right or Right and Wrong; they just watched the spectacle and laughed incessantly.

For them, by embracing the new Great Sect, displaced people could find shelter in temples, receive a meager but not starving meal, and not have to pay for Incense Offerings.

If you go to Buddhist Temple, you will be driven away.

That's all.

The authorities were summoned, but the old County Governor, seeing that it was a dispute between Beyond the World and that no one had been injured, decided not to interfere.

Monks are not numerous. They are supported solely by temples and have no relatives, while followers of the Great Sect are numerous households. Where would they have ever fought?

The monks, both young and old, were at a loss for what to do. Someone suggested pooling some money for their journey to Spirit Mountain to file a complaint and seek justice. The Monks all agreed.

So the the Monks pooled together a lot of gold and silver and gave it to two monks, one tall and one fat, instructing them to go to Spirit Mountain to file a complaint and seek justice.

Little did they know, the people of Ao Tu also lived in Spirit Mountain!

Let's leave the two monks aside for now.

Return to the Blood Sea.

After having the two Spider Demon massage his body and relax his muscles, Ao Tu recalled them.

Two Spider Demon landed in my palm.

The Little Spider Demon's bottom was round and plump, perhaps because it had refined a lot of Primordial Heaven Essence Qi, making its body even more translucent, though it made its legs look a bit short, which was still quite cute.

The Sixth Sister, however, looked quite ordinary, but was a size larger than the Little Spider Demon, and quietly lay in Ao Tu's palm.

Ao Tu poked her with his finger, and Sixth Sister shuddered. She instinctively grabbed Ao Tu's hand, spitting out a Silver Threads that clung to it. Then, fearing the Great King's wrath, she quickly released her grip.

Ao Tu found it strange; how could it be spinning silk?

So she went to poke the Little Spider Demon again.

The Little Spider Demon circled Ao Tu's arm twice, clumsily, until Ao Tu caught it, poked it, and it spat out a stream of snow-white Silver Threads that hung on Ao Tu's arm.

As soon as Ao Tu touched the silk thread, the Little Spider Demon climbed up using both its hands and feet.

She was placed down, and then she fell down again.

Unfortunately, the Little Spider Demon had short legs and was easily tricked by Ao Tu.

After playing for a while, the Little Spider Demon was exhausted. She transformed into human form, landed in Ao Tu's arms, protected her fair belly, and said with tears in her eyes, "Your Great King bullied me!"

The Silver Threads was originally created through a ritual performed inside the navel.

Ao Tu touched it; it was soft, and he couldn't feel any silk threads. There were no openings on the outside either. It was truly Spider Demon's Innate Supernatural Ability.

Ao Tu looked at the Little Spider Demon and fiddled with her hands, feet, arms, and legs.

How strange! When it transforms into human form, its limbs aren't short, so why are they so short and cute when it transforms into a spider?

The Little Spider Demon squirmed in Ao Tu's arms.

Ao Tu grabbed her hands and feet, laughing, "Why are you twisting like that? Didn't you expose your belly yourself?"

The Little Spider Demon let out a soft "Ah!" and became even more ashamed.

When Ao Tu saw this, he smiled and coaxed her a few times.

Sixth Sister climbed up Ao Tu's arm and onto his shoulder, hugging Ao Tu tightly. She felt a little envious, but dared not overstep the bounds.

I went back and told my older sister, and she's sure to scold me for being useless.

The Second Sister will then take off her clothes in front of all the sisters and dance her naked dance, standing with her hands on her hips and saying that if it were her, she would definitely do this and that.

Fourth Sister is probably just pretending to be aloof, but when it's her turn to serve, she might not be much better than her!

In reality, compared to their younger sister, the six older sisters were not as successful.

After playing around with the Little Spider Demon for a while, Ao Tu remembered his business, summoned his Incarnation back, and put the two Spider Demon back into his sleeve.

A moment later, Taoist Baoshan arrived at the Blood Sea and returned the Sweet Rain Mountain that he had previously taken.

Ao Tu retrieved the precious cauldron, about to refine the mountain, when he suddenly sensed a very familiar aura.

Come to think of it, he seems to have forgotten something.

Ao Tu thought carefully for a moment, then slapped his forehead and recalled.

Don't suffocate!

He hurriedly retrieved the Green Lotus and temporarily dismissed the Incarnation.

Opening the Green Lotus, one sees a Immortal Child fast asleep, embracing the Lotus Heart. The Universe Ring Universe-Splitting Silk, Wind Fire Wheels, and Demon-Slaying Sword lie scattered to the side. With a boy's appearance but a girl's features, it is none other than Nezha!

Seemingly sensing someone's presence, Nezha unconsciously shifted his body, holding Lotus Heart even tighter.

Ao Tu pinched his face; it was warm and very soft—he wasn't dead yet!

That Nezha is such a sleepyhead; he never bothers to shout a few words, causing me to forget about this whole thing.

Ao Tu watched for a moment, then reached out and tugged at Nezha's ear and adjusted his hair, Nezha pretended not to notice.

Ao Tu took out Jade Ruyi and tickled the soles of Nezha's feet. Nezha curled up his legs, simply changing his sleeping position.

Ao Tu thought to himself, "Is he really sleeping that soundly?"

Upon closer inspection, Ao Tu discovered that Nezha's aura was surprisingly compatible with the Green Lotus.

After thinking for a moment, Ao Tu whispered in Nezha's ear, "Whose little girl is this? Sell her as a maid, she'll get several taels of silver!"

Nezha slightly opened his mouth and said, "Who dares to sell me?" His delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his silver teeth bit down lightly, as if he were thinking in his sleep, and he said, "This voice... this voice is... it's Demon Dragon!"

Nezha suddenly woke up.

Ao Tu asked, "Is he awake?"

Nezha looked around, quickly picked up his treasures, and asked, "How did I get here?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "What a fine unwanted child! He'd been lost for so long and no one cared, so I bought him back from a slave trader."

Ao Tu's words were meant as a joke, but to his surprise, Nezha took them quite seriously. His phoenix eyes reddened as he said, "Nobody wants me! I'm a person of integrity too! If nobody wants me, nobody wants me! Who cares!"

Having said that, he spurred his Wind Fire Wheels and prepared to depart.

Ao Tu quickly reached out and grabbed him.

Nezha kicked wildly with his Wind Fire Wheels.

Ao Tu exclaimed, "Ah! My hand is burned!"

Nezha exclaimed in surprise, "Your body was perfectly fine before, how did it get burned?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Just kidding!"

Nezha retorted angrily, "You wicked Demon Dragon, not a single word you utter is true!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "You know I never tell the truth, so why are you angry? Where are you going again?"

Upon hearing this, Nezha initially wanted to suggest going to the Cloud Tower Palace, but then he realized that the palace didn't want him there, and Guanjiangkou wasn't a suitable place for him either. So he simply crossed his arms, feigning composure, and remained silent.

Ao Tu pulled him along, saying, "Alright, come help me refine a treasure."

Nezha said, "You say you'll help me, so I'll help you?"

Ao Tu said, "There are benefits!"

Nezha asked, "What are the benefits?"

Ao Tu said, "Consider it a favor I'm asking you for; isn't it a benefit?"

Nezha snorted and said, "Shameless Demon Dragon! Is this what you call a benefit?"

They came to help then.

Ao Tu instructed Nezha to fan the fire from the side, while he threw Sweet Rain Mountain and many other materials into the cauldron to refine them.

Nezha, panting heavily, said:

"You Demon Dragon! You tricked me into thinking you were forging a treasure, but is this how you forge things? You threw in an entire mountain, along with countless amounts of immortal Immortal Gold, Divine Iron, mineral water, soil, and spirit wood, leaving only the fire. What kind of forging is this?"

Ao Tu said, "The first four are meant to solidify and suppress, with fire forging the form externally. If the fire isn't hot enough, add more."

Nezha sat on the Meditation Cushion with his legs stretched out, vigorously shaking his Treasure Fan. Exhausted, he stuck out his tongue and said, "You make it sound so easy, but it's exhausting!"

Looking at his appearance, Ao Tu couldn't help but laugh and said, "You! A perfectly fine Qilin unicorn, Colored Phoenix on Heaven, how can you be so careless about your appearance?"

Nezha said, "Who is this Qilin Zi? Colored Phoenix? Nobody wants me!"

Ao Tu laughed, "Little Nezha still holds grudges!"

After refining for a while, the material dissolved and was shaped into a seal.

Aotu carved a word for virtue on the top and five words on the bottom, namely benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trust.

Nezha asked, "What is the name of this seal?"

Ao Tu said, "It is the Five Virtues Seal."

Nezha laughed and said, "Alright! I'll use it! I'll use it!"

Ao Tu asked, "What's so good about it?"

Nezha said, "A person without virtue uses a seal of virtue!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu grabbed his little face and said, "Only a person without virtue would befriend another person without virtue!"

After the two played around for a while, Ao Tu invited Nezha to stay in the Blood Sea for a few more days.

Nezha didn't want to go back either, so he pretended to reluctantly stay.

Ao Tu instructed the Minghe to arrange Palace Hall for Nezha to live in, while he also created an Incarnation, carrying the Precious Seal and the Ruyi, and together with another Incarnation, the Taoist Baoshan, they went to Jade Flower Prefecture.

In the original story, Wukong and his two companions took on disciples in Jade Flower Prefecture, which led to the discovery of a den of lions.

Now, Ao Tu has also sent two Incarnation to take on disciples and, incidentally, to have a contest to see who is better.

The next day, Ao Tu removed the Queen's hands and feet from his body.

The Queen languidly shifted her waist, creating a breathtaking scene.

Ao Tu told her to continue sleeping. After changing his clothes, he took out a few strands of celestial silk and golden thread, wove them into a ribbon, tied a piece of Flame Jade to it, and then rode the clouds to the Southern Sea.

In a short while, they crossed the vast ocean and arrived in the land of China. There, in various prefectures, counties, and cities, the Buddha-Light's light shone brightly and Incense Offerings burned brightly. A group of devout men and women climbed the mountain to worship at the temples and made devout faith.

A saying goes: The Buddha has spoken all the good words in the world, and monks occupy most of the famous mountains under heaven.

If it weren't for the fact that the people were speaking China, Ao Tu would have thought he had come to India!

Looking at the Daoist temples in the city, there seemed to be fewer Buddhist Temple.

Where did so many temples come from in just a few years?

The Great Monk hasn't moved yet, has he?

Great Monk wanted to move to China; the Buddhism's Eastward Rise the East is indeed true.

Ao Tu soared through the clouds all the way to the Southern Sea and Mount Luojia.

When the twenty-four Guardian Heavenly Deities outside the mountain saw Ao Tu, they were all terrified, exclaiming, "The Demon Dragon has attacked the mountain!"

A Mountain-Guarding Deity approached, brandishing a black-tasseled spear, and shouted, "Who are you, daring to trespass on this mountain?"

Ao Tu said, "They've come to deliver gifts."

The Mountain-Guarding Deity, "How utterly ignorant of the rules! Those who send gifts should first knock on the door overseas; how dare they barge up the mountain!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I know someone inside!"

Having said that, he walked inside.

The Mountain-Guarding Deity drew his spear and blocked their way, asking, "Which one of them is someone you know?"

Ao Tu pointed and said, "Look, an acquaintance is here!"

The Mountain-Guarding Deity turned around and saw Hui'an the Wanderer approaching. He quickly clasped his hands in greeting.

Mucha stepped forward and shouted, "Demon Dragon, what brings you here?"

Ao Tu said, "I've come to deliver a gift."

Mucha said, "In that case, put down the gifts and go back."

Ao Tu said, "Allow me to present it to you personally."

Mucha said, "The Bodhisattva is resting in the cave and has not yet come out; we must not disturb him."

Ao Tu said, "I will wait outside the cave."

Mucha said, "What kind of place is this? How dare you trespass?"

Ao Tu shook his head upon hearing this, reached behind his back, took out a golden Medicine Buddha Gourd, and with a flick of his wrist transformed it into a Exquisite Pagoda of the Thirty-Three Heavens. He then put the Mucha and the Mountain-Guarding Deity into the pagoda.

The two of them shouted inside, but it was pitch black and they couldn't make a sound.

Ao Tu threw the tower on the ground and went inside.

They hadn't gone far when they heard a joyful voice. "Brother, you've come to get me!"

Ao Tu turned around and saw that it was the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit.

She was wearing a loose-fitting Daoist Robes and showed no signs of lewdness; it was unclear whether this was due to her successful spiritual practice or merely feigned restraint.

Beside the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit stood a woman, beautiful and graceful, who was the Pearl-Holding Dragon Maiden.

The Dragon Girl sized up Ao Tu for a moment, then said, "It must be my elder brother who has arrived."

Ao Tu asked, "Do you recognize me?"

The Dragon Girl said, "My brother's sister has often mentioned you. I wonder what brings you here today?"

The Golden-Nosed White-Haired Rat Spirit said, "Brother, you must have come to take me back to secular life, right?"

Ao Tu shook his head and said, "No, we've come to deliver a gift to the Bodhisattva."

The Dragon Girl asked, "What is the greeting?"

Ao Tu took out the Flame Jade and said, "Please take a look."

The Dragon Girl looked at it and laughed, "Brother, this belt doesn't fit properly; it's too small."

Ao Tu asked, "What do you know?"

The Dragon Girl said, "I have served the Bodhisattva for many years, how could I not know?"

Ao Tu asked, "Where is the Bodhisattva?"

The Dragon Girl replied, "They are currently inside the cave and have not yet come out today."

Ao Tu said, "In that case, I will wait outside."