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Chapter 627: He's Not Stupid, But Are You Really That Smart?
Chapter 627: He's Not Stupid, But Are You Really That Smart?
In a dimly lit room, Master Zhi Kong tried to make his questioning sound gentler, but the man, covering his damp crotch, huddled in the corner, and after answering a question, couldn't help but glance fearfully at the figure in the corner of the room.
The black-robed youth sat quietly on a wooden chair, his gaze shifting, appearing absent-minded. But with each light tap of his fingertips on the table, the man's body trembled, and he quickly turned his head to stare at Zhi Kong, wishing he could take out his heart to prove the truth of his words.
Shen Yi had no interest in the affairs of the Bodhimanda Sect.
Mainly because he couldn't understand it.
He quietly stared at the altar in the wall crack, gazing at the benevolent rat-headed deity statue, gradually lost in thought.
Master Zhi Kong was a Wanderer comparable to a Seventh Rank True Immortal. If he were in Hongze, his status would be equivalent to another Shi Ren, holding the power of life and death over countless beings. Yet, his actions were as immature as a child.
In Shen Yi's eyes, this sight was somewhat startling.
The reason was simple.
Shen Yi realized that after just one day of experiencing new sights and sounds, he was gradually lowering his guard.
It was as if a refugee from a war-torn land had suddenly entered a peaceful and prosperous era, momentarily unsure if the fault lay with himself or with this peaceful world.
He couldn't understand anything, nor could he figure anything out.
Take, for example, the deity statue before him.
Shen Yi had a good understanding of incense offerings and pious wishes, but he couldn't fathom how a demon that Zhi Kong personally pursued, no matter how low its cultivation realm, could possibly be below the Dao Realm? A powerful being like that, running to spread its teachings among the households of Jianyang Prefecture?
It was even less impressive than the river deity he had encountered in Qingzhou.
What use could these tiny offerings have for them? Or perhaps, what they sought was not incense offerings... Shen Yi suddenly recalled the faint yellow mist Zhi Kong had swallowed when he first saw him, begging for alms.
Forget it, once he obtained the cultivation method, he would ask this Bodhimanda Sect Wanderer later.
Seeing that Master Zhi Kong had finished questioning, Shen Yi stood up and stretched lazily, lightly rubbing the ring on his finger as he slowly walked out the door.
Now that he needed help from others, he finally had the intention to contribute.
After all, although he had over two thousand years of demonic lifespan on him, he couldn't just sit and do nothing. Looking at the outside world, it wouldn't be easy for him to earn some demonic lifespan.
Of course, he also needed to assess the situation. If it was too dangerous, then it was best to forget about it.
"He's indeed a habitual offender, and he doesn't even blush when he lies."
The female disciple from Ziyun Sect scowled and picked up the jade token from the table, grumbling in dissatisfaction.
Impersonating an official from the Divine Kingdom was not something an ordinary person could pull off, let alone do it so skillfully, indicating that he had done it countless times before.
"You should keep quiet," the male disciple sighed. The breath they had found with great difficulty was clearly not of concern to Master Zhi Kong, who seemed to have forgotten about them entirely, stealing all the credit for himself.
They hadn't asked for any reward, only hoping to establish a connection... Ah!
Unfortunately, the youth was clearly not an easy target, so it was best not to offend him. It was better to suffer in silence.
"Please stay, patrons."
Master Zhi Kong comforted the couple before taking steps to chase after them.
First, he clasped his palms together in gratitude towards the Ziyun Sect Daoist couple, then quickly approached Shen Yi and said with a wry smile, "Thank you, Friend Shen. If not for you, I wouldn't know what to do. But impersonating an official is a major taboo. If this brings any trouble and the court comes looking for me, please let it be on my head."
"..."
Shen Yi glanced at the master with a hint of surprise.
He had thought that the master would scold him a little, but unexpectedly, he was also a flexible and righteous person.
This made Shen Yi suddenly remember a master from Baiyun County.
"It's only right to serve others when they ask for help," Shen Yi said, withdrawing his gaze and lightly nodding.
"The common people are suffering and easily deceived. The fault does not lie with them but with my senior apprentice-brother," Master Zhi Kong sighed as he walked and talked. "My senior apprentice-brother attained the position of Wanderer, wishing to serve in the Immortal Court, but due to his ugly appearance, he was pushed aside by another senior apprentice-brother..."
"In a fit of anger, he stole the Wanderer's position and secretly descended to the mortal realm."
Master Zhi Kong didn't realize that when he mentioned the word 'Wanderer', Shen Yi's fingers, which had been fiddling with the ring, quietly stopped, and he completely abandoned his earlier intention to help, as if nothing had happened.
"May I ask, Master, what is the Wanderer's position?" Since Shen Yi didn't plan to get involved further, he boldly asked the question ahead of time.
"..."
Master Zhi Kong was taken aback for a moment before realizing that the other party was a wandering immortal without a master.
He lacked experience, but he wasn't completely ignorant of the ways of the world. After hearing those words, he understood what Shen Yi was seeking.
For wandering immortals, this knowledge required years of effort, traveling to many places, and doing arduous tasks for immortals before they could obtain it.
Master Zhi Kong shook his head and turned to hand the couple from Ziyun Sect a letter, "This is what the couple gave me earlier. With this, you can find that person's trail. I'll leave it to you two."
The couple forced a smile and nodded, looking at the familiarity between the wanderer and the wandering immortal. Now, they could only hope to take on some hard work.
After finishing the important task, Master Zhi Kong turned back and tried to explain in simpler terms, "The so-called Arhat Fruit Position is roughly the same as the Taiyi Dao Fruit of the immortals. In terms of strength, it's comparable to a fifth-grade immortal official."
"In the Bodhimanda Sect, to obtain the Arhat Fruit Position, one must first become a disciple of a revered master, pass the trials, and after successfully obtaining it, they can become a disciple-arhat..." He paused, "In our sect, there's another term for such disciple-arhats."
"They are called Arhats."
Shen Yi listened carefully and asked softly, "How do you obtain the Arhat Fruit Position?"
In the vast land of Shenzhou, casually inquiring about the secrets of the Three Teachings was considered extremely presumptuous.
But since Master Zhi Kong was willing to speak, he didn't hold back, "By thoroughly studying the scriptures, calmly enduring tribulations, and based on the different Arhat Fruit Positions, the number of tribulations one needs to endure also varies."
"There are seventy-two Arhat Fruit Positions. Like the Dragon Tiger Scripture stolen by my senior apprentice, it's ranked thirty-first. Even with the best temperament, one must endure at least eighty-one tribulations, and the higher the position, the more tribulations are required."
"What is a tribulation?" Shen Yi asked, acting like a child who didn't understand anything, unbothered by embarrassment.
"One tribulation is equivalent to twelve million nine thousand years."
Master Zhi Kong sighed, "With a mortal body, there's no need to ask what a tribulation is. When the time comes, the Arhat Fruit Position will naturally be achieved."
"So..." Shen Yi's eyelids twitched, and he reevaluated the monk before him, "Can you live for a million years?"
"Impossible," Master Zhi Kong opened up, no longer as reserved as before, even rolling his eyes, "Going through the mortal tribulation is an old-fashioned method. According to the elders in our sect, in the past, cultivation required various methods to prolong one's lifespan, even to the extent of constant reincarnation, to accumulate the required number of tribulations."
"As for now..."
Master Zhi Kong took out a dirty steamed bun from his pocket and chewed it vigorously, "The objects of the mortal world gather the aspirations of countless beings. If we are willing to pray for the people and endure their sufferings, we can gain their aspirations and go through the mental tribulation."
"The mind is a fleeting thing, and in the blink of an eye, a million years can pass."
As his words fell, Shen Yi finally felt a sense of sudden enlightenment.
Many things he didn't understand suddenly became clear.
Despite Master Zhi Kong's seemingly incoherent speech, the truth was that these cultivators were dissatisfied with enduring time the hard way and had devised a shortcut through careful research.
It's just enduring tribulations. I, as an individual, endure twelve million nine thousand years for one tribulation.
But if I'm capable, I can endure more hardships, take on the sufferings of those mortals, and consider five hundred years for one person. Two hundred people would be equivalent to one tribulation.
No wonder... these immortals are content to stay put, possessing the power to move mountains and seas, yet they settle for being rain summoners and child tutors in the Divine Kingdom.
Their so-called aspirations are none other than the Imperial Aura that envelops the Divine Kingdom!
Some rely on begging, while others deceive.
Even after experiencing the events at Hongze and witnessing how Qinghua collected so much merit, Shen Yi could think of a third, even more convenient and inhumane method.
He couldn't believe that other cultivators hadn't thought of it.
"..."
Shen Yi slowed his steps, and a question suddenly popped into his mind.
Could this Imperial Aura... be exhausted? If there were more wanderers and immortals like them, and they consumed all the Imperial Aura, would the Divine Kingdom under the Human Emperor still possess the same ruling power as it does now?
Damn it.
Shen Yi patted his forehead, concerned about his own safety, yet he still had the leisure to think about such things.
However, if he could obtain that Dragon Tiger Scripture and attain the Dragon Tiger Arhat Fruit Position, he might...
Hmm, no wonder everyone wants to get close to disciples of the Three Teachings. They are like a massive treasure trove.
"Master Zhi Kong, we're here."
Just then, the couple from Ziyun Sect stopped at a desolate suburban area. Under the suppression of the Imperial Aura, their Qi-sensing technique was severely hindered, and the man even had to take pills to enhance his abilities before finding the way.
Master Zhi Kong looked around and noticed that the place had already gathered quite a few people, all of them looking vigilant and cautious.
Specially after seeing a bald man come over, many people looked at him with hostility and then got up and scattered.
Master Zhikong didn't show any anger, but sat quietly on the ground.
As night fell and fires lit up, the four figures gradually became engulfed in the sea of people.
A warm breeze blew from the small mountain, dispelling the cold from everyone's bodies.
"Lingguang Puzhao."
With a whisper, all the torches went out, but the surroundings became brighter.
The crowd gradually stood up, and the mountain breeze blew, bringing with it specks of spiritual light that remained on everyone's clothes.
"Master..."
The two cultivators from Ziyun Sect had their faces turn solemn.
They looked at Master Zhikong with uncertainty.
This was clearly a genuine Bodhi Teaching technique; how could it be some evil spirit?
There's no way that with their Ziyun Sect's background, they would dare to pursue a prominent figure from the Bodhi Teaching?
"Rest assured, I swear on my life that this matter will not involve you."
"Now that the person has been found, please leave quickly, my immortal friends, and avoid getting hurt."
Master Zhikong sat cross-legged, and as he spoke, his tattered clothes began to ripple, and a layer of golden light emerged from his skin, making his entire face look majestic.
"After I deal with this matter, I will definitely thank you properly."
In the dim glow of the night, this skinny body was like a brilliant sun, startling the surrounding crowd to stumble back.
Hearing this, the two cultivators from Ziyun Sect felt a bit embarrassed: "We didn't mean it... Please understand, Master."
It was impossible for them to offend a Bodhi Teaching disciple because of another Bodhi Teaching disciple.
Moreover, involving the dispute over the title of "Xingzhe," it was definitely not something they could get involved in. To put it bluntly, they would be crushed by a single palm.
"Farewell, Master." The two didn't hesitate and turned to leave.
They even felt a bit relieved inside, fortunate that a habitual offender had come to steal the spotlight. This achievement... should be left to this immortal senior.
"Senior Shen."
Master Zhikong stood up, took out a tattered copybook from his robe, and handed it to Shen Yi: "You should go too, I'm grateful for your help."
"..."
Shen Yi took the copybook without any further courtesy.
Just like what the temple boy said, at the level of "Xianxian," it was indeed not enough to pursue evil spirits in the Divine Dynasty.
With Master Zhikong's personality, for a cultivator of his level to stay here would be a burden to him.
Instead of lingering here, it would be better to find a place to study this cultivation technique first.
Just by pretending to be a fake constable, he obtained a seventh-rank cultivation technique; such an outrageous deal, he might never encounter again in his lifetime.
"Take care, Master."
Shen Yi nodded slightly and turned to leave.
After the three of them walked away, Master Zhikong finally relaxed. He reached out his hand to protect the commoners with spiritual light and then leaped into the air, transforming into a golden stream of light that soared towards the mountain peak!
When he landed, he was already standing at the entrance of a dilapidated temple on the mountain:
"For the third time, Senior Lingguang, follow me back to the Bodhi Teaching to atone. This time, there really won't be a next time."
The temple was quiet, and after an unknown amount of time, a hunched and despicable figure finally walked out.
Similarly dressed as a monk, but topped with an ugly mouse head, with long beard, looking a bit disgusting.
It slowly walked up to Zhikong, raised its head, and sighed: "Look at your skin, so beautiful, but you don't go to the immortal court to be an official, a fool."
"Senior Lingguang." Master Zhikong tightly gripped the staff, taking a deep breath.
In an instant, the staff was like thunder, smashing down from the air, but it stopped just as it touched the mouse demon's forehead.
It wasn't that Master Zhikong was soft-hearted, but the mouse demon casually sat on the ground, showing no intention to resist, and even covered its fingers on its forehead.
"My feet are too bad, I really can't beat you."
"There really won't be a next time."
"Because if you chase again, I'll make you feel guilty again, and I want to see if your shoulders can bear the weight of several lives."
The mouse demon pulled the corners of its mouth, revealing a mouthful of rotten teeth, and smiled at Master Zhikong, saying silently: "Foolish dog."
With the words, it used its five fingers to crush its own head.
The entire body instantly turned into mud, and the pieces fell to the ground with a clatter.
"..."
Master Zhikong stared at the pile of broken stones under his feet, suddenly turned his head, without any nonsense, and the whole person, like a madman, ran down the mountain!
(End of Chapter)
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