Chapter 11

Zhuang Yan's cultivation had now reached the peak of Refining Spirit Returning to Void. He needed only a single opportunity to step into the realm of Refining Void into Dao.

Over the past three months, Zhuang Yan had accumulated eighteen strands of power. Of those, his Refining Spirit Returning to Void realm granted him three strands each month, while his position as a Seventh-Rank Immortal Official also brought him three strands monthly.

Looking at this Heavenly Dao Power, Zhuang Yan pondered silently. Eighteen strands were far from enough to restore a major divine ability; that would require long-term accumulation. But they were more than sufficient to add or improve a minor divine ability. Major divine abilities referred to status enhancements, while minor divine abilities included details such as Weakness, Evasion, Guaranteed Hit, Self-Healing, and critical strike.

After weighing the matter repeatedly, Zhuang Yan decided to postpone improving his techniques. Although his current ten-zhang evasion range was somewhat insufficient against a colossal being like Garuda, he would rather save up two hundred strands and upgrade it into a major divine ability. At that point, he would be able to achieve distance-free evasion.

Thinking of how Garuda's seal had been broken by Great Powers of the Heavenly Court, Zhuang Yan felt at ease. Those Great Powers all understood the power of laws, so it was hardly strange that they could break his seal. His own power was also a law, except it existed beyond the Heavenly Dao. Once he fully recovered, he would naturally stand above all laws.

After finishing his meditation, Zhuang Yan rose and stretched inside the retreat chamber. He took out the Thousand Light Cloud Talisman, intending to inspect his domain—after all, he had neglected his duties for three months—but the moment he stepped outside, he saw that the temple's offering table had been completely renewed. The damaged old table had been replaced with a brand-new peachwood one.

Once outside the Mountain God Temple, he saw that every roof tile had been replaced, a new flagpole had been raised before the temple, and colorful banners fluttered all around. Knowing the villagers at the foot of the mountain had done this during his seclusion, Zhuang Yan did not pay it much mind. No matter how splendid the temple became, he lived only in a corner of the retreat chamber. It was best to let things take their natural course.

After riding the clouds to inspect the three hundred li of Spirit Platform Mountain, Zhuang Yan finally descended before the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars on Mount Fangcun. Amid the swirling white clouds, young Daoists were practicing martial arts before the cave. When they saw him appear, they all turned to look.

Zhuang Yan entered through the mountain gate, and one Daoist stepped forward to salute him. "This humble Daoist greets the Immortal." Zhuang Yan returned the gesture. "I have come to visit Patriarch Bodhi."

The Daoist was about to go inside to announce him when Cloudy Boy happened to emerge from the cave. Upon hearing the reason for his visit, the boy immediately declared to the others, "Remember this well. This is the Mountain God of Lingtai, an old friend of the Patriarch. If he comes in the future, none of you may stop him." The Daoists grew solemn and answered in unison.

Cloudy Boy walked up to Zhuang Yan and bowed respectfully. "Mountain God, the Patriarch has said that whenever you visit the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars in the future, you may enter and meet him at any time. There is no need to announce yourself."

Zhuang Yan immediately returned the bow. "I am grateful for the Patriarch's favor. Having emerged from seclusion to inspect the Earth Veins, I happened to pass Mount Fangcun and came to offer my greetings."

"The Patriarch has already prepared Immortal Tea. Mountain God, please follow me," Cloudy Boy said, leading the way.

Upon entering a small pavilion within the cave mansion, Zhuang Yan saw Patriarch Bodhi and bowed in greeting. "Patriarch, have you been well?"

Patriarch Bodhi smiled and gestured. "Very well. Please, have a seat, young friend."

Zhuang Yan calmly took his seat and accepted the teacup the Patriarch had poured for him personally.

"Congratulations, young friend, on your achievements and advancement," Patriarch Bodhi said, stroking his beard.

"Thank you, Patriarch." Zhuang Yan took a light sip of Spirit Tea. "I came especially to visit you. There is nothing else."

Patriarch Bodhi nodded. "I had intended to teach you some Protective Techniques, but seeing your cultivation now, there are very few in this world who could harm you."

Zhuang Yan said seriously, "Without having undergone the rites of discipleship, how could I dare accept your true teachings?" Though he said so, he did not truly crave spells, for he possessed extraordinary fortune of his own.

After drinking tea and conversing for a while, Zhuang Yan rose to take his leave. Patriarch Bodhi personally escorted him to the cave entrance and did not return until he watched the cloudlight vanish into the distance.

Over the following days, Zhuang Yan inspected the three thousand li of mountains and rivers in Guangci Prefecture. After confirming that the Earth Veins were stable, he was about to return.

Then he suddenly heard a faint, drifting prayer reach his ears. "...O gods of the four directions above, this lesser demon, Lu Hanzhi, bows and reports..."

It turned out that Lu Hanzhi, who had transformed from the White Deer of Green Duckweed Mountain, was burning incense and praying. As the Mountain God who governed Guangci Prefecture, Zhuang Yan was naturally the first to receive the prayer.

Only after listening closely did he learn that the Deer Demon had fallen in love with the mortal Zhong Jing, only for Elder Guangde of Tianci Temple to see through it. The elder had taken Zhong Jing away and used a Magic Tool to keep her at bay. Lu Hanzhi had tried to provoke him, only to be injured instead. Left with no other choice, she could only pray for the gods to uphold justice.

Amid curling blue smoke, Zhuang Yan manifested his true form. "Lu Hanzhi, I am the Mountain God of Lingtai. I heard your prayer and came to see you."

Lu Hanzhi was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately prostrated herself on the ground. "This humble cultivator, Lu Hanzhi, pays respects to the Mountain God."

Zhuang Yan said flatly, "I already know of the matter you described, but forgive me, I cannot uphold justice for you."

"Why?" Lu Hanzhi asked anxiously. "You are an orthodox god of the Heavenly Court. Could it be that you also fear those Buddhist monks?"

Zhuang Yan looked steadily at her. "How many years have you cultivated for?"

"Including the time before I took human form, three hundred and seventy years," Lu Hanzhi answered.

"Three hundred and seventy years of cultivation, yet you are still so naive and ignorant of worldly affairs. In your state, you should have continued cultivating quietly in the mountains. You should not have entered the mortal world, much less fallen in love with a human."

Lu Hanzhi did not understand. "Does the Mountain God mean that pursuing love is wrong?"

"Love itself is not wrong, but a relationship between human and demon goes against the natural order of the Heavenly Dao."

Lu Hanzhi said stubbornly, "I do not understand any natural order of the Heavenly Dao. I only know to follow my heart. I love Zhong Jing, so I will stay with him for the rest of my life."

Zhuang Yan shook his head. "Following your heart does not work in the human world. Humans and demons walk different paths, each belonging where they belong. How can they travel together?"

"The distinction between humans and demons is utterly absurd!" Lu Hanzhi retorted. "I have already taken human form. How am I any different from a human? Why can I not be with him?"

Zhuang Yan chuckled and flipped his hand, producing a lush, verdant two-hundred-year Spirit Herb. He held it out before her.

Lu Hanzhi's eyes lit up. Her nostrils kept twitching, her throat bobbed, and glistening saliva even seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"Does it smell good?" Zhuang Yan asked.

She nodded again and again, completely unaware of her loss of composure.

Zhuang Yan said, "Even though you have taken human form, your beastly nature remains. If you were truly human, would you drool over a single blade of grass? This is the natural order of the Heavenly Dao."

Lu Hanzhi hurriedly wiped away her saliva, but she remained unwilling to accept it. "But we truly love each other."

"It was only a fleeting romance. If he truly loved you, how could Elder Guangde have taken him away so easily? And how could he have allowed you to be unable to see him?"

Lu Hanzhi stood stunned for a moment, yet she still said stubbornly, "I still do not wish to give up."

"Very well." Zhuang Yan proposed, "Since you are certain that your feelings are true, come with me to Spirit Platform Mountain and cultivate in seclusion for three years. Three years from now, I will personally take you to see Zhong Jing. If he is still waiting for you and has not changed his heart, I will fulfill your wish. What do you say?"

Lu Hanzhi's eyes brightened. "Really?" Three years were no more than the flick of a finger to her.

"Would I deceive you?"

She gave a sly smile. "Mountain God, do you dare seal it with a high-five oath?"

"Why not?" The two of them clapped hands and made their agreement.

Then Zhuang Yan suddenly took out a clay jar, pointed its mouth at her, and gave a sharp cry.

With a buzzing sound, Lu Hanzhi was caught off guard and sucked into the jar. She cried out in panic, "Mountain God, why have you captured me?"

Zhuang Yan's voice drifted in. "Cultivate peacefully within there for three years. When the time comes, I will naturally take you to see him."

With that, he rode the clouds back to Spirit Platform Mountain and suppressed the clay jar beneath his divine statue.

Incense smoke curled through Tianci Temple. Elder Guangde was quietly chanting scriptures in the main hall when a young monk hurried inside and reported with palms pressed together, "Master, Lord Zhong and his wife have come to fulfill their vow."

After finishing the final passage, the elder slowly opened his eyes. "Take them to the Mahavira Hall."

Within the solemn Buddhist hall, Lord Zhong and his wife devoutly offered incense and tributes. After completing their rites, Lord Zhong asked the guest-receiving monk, "May I ask whether Elder Guangde is here?"

The monk pressed his palms together and replied, "The elder will arrive shortly. Please, benefactors, proceed to the side hall for tea."

After three rounds of tea, Elder Guangde drifted in. The Zhong couple hurriedly rose and bowed. "Many thanks to Elder for saving our child's life. We have come today to fulfill our vow."

The elder helped them up with a smile. "Amitabha. Since your son has recovered, it is the Buddha's compassion."

Madam Zhong beamed. "My son is now clear-minded and full of vigor. The other day, he met the young lady of the Li Family west of the city, and they got along wonderfully."

"Now that the Deer Demon's delusion has been removed, his mind is naturally clear." Elder Guangde turned his prayer beads. "That demon did not take his life, but if she had remained entangled with him for long, I fear your son's vital essence would have been exhausted, leaving him a cripple."

As they spoke, a novice came to invite them to dine. Lord Zhong thanked the elder repeatedly before following the monk toward the dining hall.

Amid the sound of the evening drum, the setting sun gilded the Zen courtyard in gold. Wenshu Orchids swayed in the wind outside the retreat chamber when Elder Guangde suddenly stopped chanting, adjusted his robes, and opened the door.

There stood a woman in red in the courtyard, her sleeves blazing like fire and her dark hair flying in the wind. Majesty filled her phoenix eyes, and her voice was cold as ice. "The three-year period for our doctrinal debate has ended. Today, let us settle this once and for all."

Elder Guangde stepped out of the retreat chamber and sighed. "This old monk has been awaiting you for a long time."

With a sweep of her sleeve, the fallen leaves all over the ground spiraled together into seats.

The two sat facing each other. She raised a hand coldly. "Speak, fellow Daoist."

Elder Guangde contemplated for a long time before finally beginning to expound the scriptures.

This Buddhist scripture debate lasted a full three hours, yet its outcome was no different from before. Though Elder Guangde was a Buddhist master at the Earth Immortal realm, he was thoroughly defeated in Buddhist doctrine by the woman before him.

"This poor monk admits defeat." Elder Guangde lowered his head and let out a long sigh.

The woman rose. "Since you admit defeat, you should tear down every statue of Buddha, Bodhisattva, Arhat, and the rest in this temple. From today onward, this place will be this immortal's Daoist sanctuary. The living beings of Guangci Prefecture may worship only me, the Fire Spirit True Immortal."

Elder Guangde remained silent. The Fire Spirit True Immortal sneered. "What? Are you still unconvinced?"

The elder suddenly rose. "Fellow Daoist, Tianci Temple is willing to build another temple for you and share some incense offerings with you. What do you say?"

"Forget it!" the Fire Spirit True Immortal refused flatly. "Tianci Temple is an ancient temple with ten thousand years of history and flourishing incense offerings. This is the temple I want!"

Elder Guangde said seriously, "Though you have attained the Earth Immortal realm, you possess no Buddhist fruition. This matter goes against heavenly principle."

"Are you trying to renege on your debt?" The Fire Spirit True Immortal glared at him.

"In that case, we can only fight." Flames suddenly burst to life around her body. Elder Guangde hurriedly chanted an incantation. "Three-Tiered Body!"

In an instant, three avatars appeared, each wielding a golden vajra, bronze staff, and silver shovel as they attacked the Fire Spirit True Immortal. She spread both arms, and dozens of fire dragons roared forth, instantly swallowing all three avatars.

Elder Guangde revealed his true body as the Fire Spirit True Immortal struck with her palm. At the critical moment, golden light flashed from his chest and shattered the flaming palm. He immediately countered with a Great Compassion Hand Seal of astonishing might.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal transformed into flames that filled the sky, only to be completely extinguished by the hand seal. At the same time, a spark of Spirit Fire ignited from Elder Guangde's chest, burning him black all over in the blink of an eye and stripping him of all magical power.

The Spirit Fire drifted back and reformed into the Fire Spirit True Immortal ten paces away. Elder Guangde slumped on the ground, already at the end of his strength.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal seized the elder and flew to the Mahavira Hall. The monks were horrified and surrounded her with weapons in hand. With a casual wave, she knocked them all down, then gripped the elder's neck and shouted, "Gather every monk in the temple here at once! If you dare play tricks, I will take his life immediately!"

The monks' expressions changed dramatically as they all looked toward Elder Guangde. Elder Guangde suddenly came to his senses and called out urgently, "Benefactor, do not harm the abbot. This poor monk will gather all the monks in the temple at once."