Chapter 368: Toilet Battle God

April 14.

Lingyin Temple.

Fahai stared at the golden bowl, within which reflected Gu Qing's figure—watching him skillfully sweep the courtyard, feed snakes and insects, organize herbs, offer sacrifices to the gods, then open the gate to smile faintly at Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing at the front entrance, escorting them to observe the snakes and insects laying eggs. As time grew late, he calmly packed his belongings and walked toward Lingyin Temple.

"Master Fahai."

A calm voice made Fahai look up—he saw Daoji, a young monk of thirteen or fourteen, who should have been cultivating at Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai but had recently come to Lingyin Temple. For some reason, whenever Fahai looked at the boy's expression, he felt reverence.

"Ah, Daoji."

Fahai gave a simple greeting, about to ask Daoji's purpose, but Daoji spoke first.

"You regard Gu Qing as your rival, have watched him for over a month—have you discerned his true nature?"

Daoji asked.

Fahai replied without hesitation: "In this time, Gu Qing has treated the sick, planted flowers and trees, played with birds, played the qin and drank tea, indulging in the beauty of Bai Suzhen and Cen Biqing, showing no ambition, no desire for transcendence, spending each day scheming for petty gains and clinging to social ties—he has utterly lost his Dao heart. In this battle with Bai Suzhen, Gu Qing must be relying entirely on divine aid."

Fahai had observed Gu Qing for a long time. Though he saw nothing unusual, he still regarded Gu Qing as his greatest threat.

In this confrontation, with Gu Qing backing Bai Suzhen, Fahai would face both alone—but he could use the golden bowl.

Under the golden bowl, Bai Suzhen had no chance of victory; Gu Qing was merely Golden Core, vastly inferior to Fahai's own strength. Without deceit, Fahai believed victory was certain.

Daoji softly said: "All know the world is a sea of fame and gain, yet few realize that clouds, white mountains, flowing rivers, standing stones, flowers greeting birds—all these too belong to the mundane. The dust is not bitter; it is the human heart that suffers."

"Gu Qing observes scenery, admires fish, finds quiet joy—he has already grasped the charm of this world."

Daoji turned his prayer beads, calmly offering his interpretation: one finger pointed to his chest, and he said to Fahai: "The Dao is here, not outside."

Fahai laughed at Daoji's interpretation: "Can Gu Qing's chest unleash boundless power? Can it split seas and shatter mountains?"

Boundless power. Seas split. Mountains shattered.

These were the very meaning of Fahai's dharma name. He had cultivated for a thousand years; he dismissed Daoji's interpretation. After all, how much power could such purity and naturalness truly generate?

Daoji silently turned his prayer beads.

Outside Lingyin Temple, voices grew noisy with welcoming cries. By now, Gu Qing had brought Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing to the temple's gate. The monks hurried out to greet them. Gu Qing met Master Huiyuan and Daoji, exchanged formal bows, then went to burn incense before the Buddha.

When Fahai stepped outside, he saw Gu Qing making massive donations to Lingyin Temple: hundreds of monk robes, a string of jade prayer beads for the abbot, a golden wooden fish, and even Daoji received a golden bowl.

"Friends."

Gu Qing bowed to the monks of Lingyin Temple: "Master Fahai has cultivated for a thousand years, his virtue profound, revered by all. Yet he still has unresolved karmic ties in this world, preventing his attainment of true enlightenment. Today is April 14. Before the gods of heaven and earth and the assembly of Lingyin monks, we shall settle our karmic debt with Master Fahai."

Gu Qing had burned incense before the Buddha first, then given gifts to the monks afterward—he had fully honored all social obligations. Fahai listened, his heart swelling with anger; it felt as if Gu Qing had already won.

Fahai stepped forward, golden bowl in hand, interrupting Gu Qing: "Let us begin."

A thousand years of grudge would be resolved today.

"Master, don't rush."

Gu Qing looked at Fahai: "You chose the time. Naturally, we choose the place."

Fahai fell silent. He had set April 14 because Gu Qing had betrayed him thrice from behind and once to his face, making Fahai suspect hidden guidance—deep, unfathomable. He delayed to observe Gu Qing's moves.

Through Wang Daoling, Fahai had seen Gu Qing's trump card: the Seven-Star Sword Form, the Seven Divine Lords.

But after praying to the Buddha, Fahai concluded the Seven Divine Lords would not intervene—and he relaxed.

"Where do you choose?"

Fahai asked.

Gu Qing smiled faintly at Fahai.

Lingyin Temple. The toilet.

Fahai stood there, golden bowl in hand, face dark with rage, staring at Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen before him—his fury beyond words.

"You intend to settle a thousand-year grudge… here?"

Fahai asked coldly.

"Of course!"

Gu Qing nodded firmly.

Fahai's hand holding the golden bowl trembled slightly.

Though the golden bowl appeared miraculous, it had one fatal flaw—common in all traditional myths: talismans fear contamination.

In the tale, Fahai once used the bowl to subdue Xiao Qing; she spat blood, dimming its glow, barely escaping. Even Zhang the Squire's Star-Seeking Sword, which could instantly kill the Five Ghosts and the Centipede Demon, became useless after being rinsed with foot-washing water.

Bai Suzhen herself had said: all talismans and divine powers fear filth—and the toilet is the "Primordial Golden Bucket." Once drenched in it, all magic vanishes.

Precisely because of this weakness, Gu Qing dared challenge Fahai.

Fahai's brow twitched, roaring: "Gu Qing, you go too far!"

The golden bowl could capture demons—but inside a toilet, Fahai could not wield it. Not only would it be defiled, but it was the Buddha's own eating bowl. What if it swallowed something foul? Would that not be an insult to the Buddha?

"You chose the time. I chose the place. Fair and reasonable. Where is the excess?"

Gu Qing replied calmly.

Knowing the weakness of all talismans, Gu Qing had diligently worshipped the Toilet God. Through the legend of the "Primordial Golden Bucket," this deity was akin to the Three Xiao Goddesses from another realm—and through worship, Gu Qing had become the Toilet Battle God.

"So, when you challenged me, you already planned this."

Fahai's voice was deep.

Gu Qing nodded.

"Sigh…"

Fahai sighed heavily. No wonder Gu Qing spent every day feasting, drinking, and playing—he had been feigning complacency. He had already won. And Fahai had wasted months watching him.

He had not yet uncovered the core of Gu Qing's scheme.

"Master Fahai, make your move."

Gu Qing's voice was flat.

Make a move? How?

Fahai held the golden bowl, wanting to swallow both Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen—but inside the toilet, he could not act.

Inside Lingyin Temple, the abbot, elders, and abbots of each hall stared, dumbfounded. They had never imagined changing the battlefield would yield such an effect.

"Should we try to stop them?"

One hall's abbot asked the abbot.

The abbot smiled faintly: "Timing is less important than terrain. Terrain is less important than harmony. All is fate."

Terrain? The latrine.

As for harmony: Gu Qing had gifted the monks, befriended the gods above—this was harmony.

Terrain and harmony both favored Gu Qing. Fahai was naturally at a disadvantage.

Inside the toilet.

Fahai remained locked in standoff, watching Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen stand firm. He hesitated, golden bowl in hand. Gu Qing was on guard, and behind him, Bai Suzhen's delicate features and gentle posture made Fahai feel like the villain—reminding him of when she stole the elixir. Fury surged. He roared, pressing toward them.

Bai Suzhen stepped forward, fingertips faintly glowing. All of Fahai's force vanished instantly.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"

Fahai unleashed immense power, his energy surging like tidal waves, shaking walls and beams.

He intended to destroy the place, forcing a new battlefield—easy for him.

"Fahai, April 15 is the Summer Retreat. Are you going to destroy Lingyin Temple's toilet now?"

Gu Qing shouted sharply, launching a verbal trap.

Fahai, mid-casting, froze. He looked around—and Bai Suzhen gradually halted his power.

"Fahai, do you want to destroy Lingyin Temple?"

Gu Qing demanded again.

Hearing this, Fahai hesitated more inside the toilet. Seeing Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen standing together, he gritted his teeth, suddenly activating the golden bowl—crashing it down upon them.

Within the bowl, immense power blazed golden light, enough to pin them in place.

Bai Suzhen, struck by the light, barely resisted. As a demon, she was inherently suppressed by Buddhist power—and the golden bowl was her greatest enemy. But as the golden light enveloped them, Gu Qing stomped the ground.

The toilet erupted violently. Yellow and white matter exploded outward, completely engulfing Gu Qing, Fahai, and Bai Suzhen—even the glowing golden bowl.

"Splatter! Splash!"

Gu Qing's internal Nine Returns Sun True Scripture essence reversed, and the black-and-white Taiji of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao emerged, enveloping Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen, while Fahai's body radiated golden light, completely repelling it—yet the golden bowl and cassock, objects brimming with spiritual essence, fell under the influence of the yellow and white substances and became mundane objects, clattering to the ground with a ping-pang sound.

Gu Qing reversed the energy of the Nine-Return Sunlight True Scripture; the black-and-white Taiji of the Taiji Qingxuan Dao emerged, shielding him and Bai Suzhen. Fahai's body also radiated golden light, repelling all—but his golden bowl and robe, infused with spiritual essence, were drenched in filth, becoming mundane objects. Ping! The golden bowl fell to the floor.

Fahai frowned, heart sinking as he stared at the fallen bowl.

"I've accomplished my part."

Bai Suzhen pinched her nose; she had never imagined that a thousand years of grudge would be resolved in a latrine—but now that the two had clashed, reconciliation was impossible; only by determining victory or defeat and fulfilling their pact could this feud finally end.

Bai Suzhen pinched her nose. She never imagined a thousand-year grudge would end in a toilet. But now they were locked in combat, irreconcilable—only victory could settle the debt.

"Fahai, let's fight outside."

Fahai turned his head, glaring at Gu Qing, golden light flaring in his eyes; their spiritual powers surged violently, suddenly transforming into two nascent souls that burst through the filth of the latrine, shooting into the clouds, where they clashed in their nascent soul forms.

Fahai turned, glaring at Gu Qing, eyes blazing gold. Their powers surged, transforming into two spiritual forms that burst through the toilet's filth, soaring into the clouds, battling in spirit form.

Gu Qing could not see the spirit battle. He did not follow. Instead, he channeled his energy, drawing the expelled filth back into the toilet, leaving Fahai and Bai Suzhen's bodies behind, along with the defiled golden bowl.

Gu Qing stepped forward and examined the dharma artifact bestowed by the Buddha.

Gu Qing stepped forward, examining the divine artifact bestowed by the Buddha.

It was entirely golden, yet seemed to contain other substances—denser than ordinary gold. He estimated its energy with his true qi—and sensed the power within… This traditional mythic talisman seemed rather ineffective.

Though artifacts from the Zhuxian world also feared pollution, at least those were demonic weapons forged in blood by the Demon Sect—yet these were nothing but ordinary human excrement.

In the Zhuxian world, talismans feared filth too—but those were blood-forged demonic weapons. These? Just ordinary human waste.

As he pondered, thunder rumbled in the sky.

【101】 Gu Qing looked up. Two lights descended—one after the other. With a crash, Bai Suzhen's body collapsed into Gu Qing's arms. On the other side, Fahai staggered and fell into the toilet.

"Hit!"

Gu Qing raised his hand, and the Taiji Xuanqing Dao materialized in midair; this Taiji diagram appeared upon Fahai's body, preventing him from collapsing.

Fahai opened his eyes, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Gu Qing and Bai Suzhen, his lips twitching as he said with great discomfort, "I've lost."

Without the golden bowl, Fahai and Bai Suzhen clashed with their Nascent Souls in the air; in the end, Bai Suzhen proved superior. In Fahai's bitter expression, he may have sensed that his lost Golden Core had contributed to this outcome.

Fahai stepped forward, picked up the golden bowl on the ground. This bowl had been bestowed upon him by the Buddha after he raised funds at the Wang Fu to repair Jinshan Temple. Now it lay there, ordinary and dull. Though Gu Qing's true energy had driven back its golden and white aura, some residual traces remained. Fahai paid no mind to them, picked up the bowl, and said in a low voice, "I will honor the wager—I shall retreat three leagues from Bai Suzhen."

Fahai was retreating; this retreat would cover ninety li.

Bai Suzhen's face lit up with joy as she looked at Gu Qing. After this battle with Fahai, their grudge was settled—only gratitude remained.

Gu Qing watched Fahai's hollow, defeated demeanor and understood: Fahai had not let go of his grudge; he simply lacked the strength to seek revenge, so he withdrew for now.

Bound by his wager with Bai Suzhen, Fahai would not directly target her—but Gu Qing might now become Fahai's new objective.

"Master Fahai, which Buddhist sutras do you cultivate?"

Gu Qing asked.

"I've cultivated all of them."

Fahai held the golden bowl to his chest and said, "Over the years, I've read every Buddhist sutra in the world—they're all in my mind."

Gu Qing smiled and asked, "It is said the Buddha possesses divine powers, and so do the gods of the heavens. After his defeat, the Asura King took eighty-four thousand followers and hid within the pores of a lotus stem—that too is divine power. Then why can't the gods of the heavens or the Asura King be the Buddha?"

(End of Chapter)