Chapter 170: Mianran Guiwang

To reach Shanju Guan, one still has to pass through the foot of the mountain. The Dizang An has reopened its incense fire, and the original nuns have all been cremated into Sarira, fashioned into a forest of Relic Pagodas.

The new abbess is an old nun even more committed to strict monastic rules; it is said she is over ninety years old. Furthermore, she changed the name of Dizang An, now calling it "Jinshan Temple."

Dizang Wang Pusa has been moved to a side hall, and now the main object of worship is a Guanyin. After all, the Dharma Power of Dizang Wang Pusa is more related to the dead, whereas the Dharma Power of Guanyin Bodhisattva concerns both the living and the dead.

However, after that previous incident, there isn't much incense fire left. Moreover, the money of Dizang An was all taken by Xu Jia, and assets like farmland were reclaimed by the government. Even the loans given to the surrounding commoners are now "debts erased by death," so the new nun at Jinshan Temple cannot inherit much.

If Miaoren were still here, she could have contested things here, but because of the Longevity Sect affair, she has already gone to surrender herself with County Commandant Chen and is now completely out of contact.

"Is this Fajie Daochang so easy to change?" Xu Jia asked the Daoist of Shanju Guan.

"They are all of the Buddhist school, who knows? But this batch of nuns has some ability. The oldest one, over ninety, doesn't even need support and walks like the wind. When I am ninety, I might not be as formidable as her." Scripture Master Daoren sighed: "They are currently in a flurry of activity, wanting to hold a Mianran Dharma Assembly to worship the Mianran Guiwang."

"Previously, we suppressed the Shilin Huzhu, who was also of the Ghost King variety, and now another Mianran Guiwang has come. This temple is truly fixated on ghosts."

The Mianran Guiwang is a Ghost King of the Hungry Ghost path subdued by Guanyin, and also one of her incarnations. He is also known as the Mianran Great Scholar, or the "Flaming Mouth Ghost King."

This Ghost King has a place in both the Buddhist and Daoist systems; in the Daoist school, he was subdued by Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, and in the Buddhist school, he was subdued by Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Outside the temple gate, some pillars have been erected. On the pillars are bowls and plates containing rice, steamed buns, and the like, attracting sparrows and flying insects.

But viewed from the Fajie, these things are all incarnations of "hungry ghosts," begging for food upon them.

Some unlucky children, seeing the pillars and long poles, would try to climb them, only to be soundly thrashed by some elders who understood the situation.

"These nuns, they wouldn't be from the Longevity Sect again, would they? Why gather so many hungry ghosts here?"

"That is unclear, perhaps they are accumulating Merit," Zhang Zhenji said. "But they shouldn't be from the Longevity Sect. That ninety-six-year-old abbess, named Elder Xianhuan, has cultivated since childhood. It is said she became a nun at Luojia Shan, then passed through many temples. Wherever she stayed, that place would have favorable weather, never suffering Heavenly Disaster. It is said she has the Eight Heavenly Dragons as Protectors and five hundred Arhats as followers."

Xu Jia curled his lip: "If you swap the Eight Heavenly Dragons for military ghosts and the five hundred Arhats for wild ghosts, you'll know what kind of goods they are. It's just fancy talk. I reckon she is also someone who internally cultivates the Secret Path."

"Found another footprint!"

Behind Jinshan Temple, Zhang Zhenji discovered a mottled jade footprint on a large rock; it looked more like a semi-finished product.

Xu Jia stepped forward and carefully compared it to the footprint he had just seen around the Stone Coffin: "It seems a circle smaller."

"It is a bit smaller," Scripture Master Daoren said in surprise. "What is going on? Could the Ancestor be reverting to childhood?"

"We'll know once we find him!"

Upon reaching the Yushan realm, he called for Chang Yu to meet him, and incidentally, to have a good talk with him about the Acting Mountain God's probationary period being reduced from one hundred years to fifty.

Chang Yu was actually still lurking in Sanlong Dong, cultivating and rarely coming out. At this moment, hearing Xu Jia's call in his heart, he first cursed in a low voice: "The one who deceives monsters is here!"

Then he quickly exited the cave. He rode the mist like a soaring snake, swimming toward him.

As a result, he saw that Xu Jia was thin and held the As-You-Will Staff, but his aura was more powerful than before. Viewed from the Dharma Realm, he faintly displayed the bearing of an Immortal, accompanied by foxes, weasels, rats, pigs, snakes, pythons, and Ghost Gods... his momentum was extraordinary.

Especially this As-You-Will Staff, which always carried an air of being specifically used to "beat monsters."

"True Person, Chang Yu is here."

A huge venomous python landed before him, looking like a train that had become a spirit.

"Many years ago, the Ancestor of Shanju Guan who formed a bond with you was resurrected. He was previously refining his form at Lan Shi Huo. I estimate that two or three cycles of sixty years must have passed; have you sensed his tracks?"

Chang Yu said: "My bond with him was worn away long ago in the passage of time and our long separation. My new object of bonding is you; how would I sense him?"

"Capture his scent!" Xu Jia pointed to the jade-like footprint: "Is this aura of leaking Dharma Power familiar or not?"

Chang Yu coiled up, looking at the small footprint, and flicked out his tongue. After a while, he said: "It seems I remember a little."

"Then take us to find him!"

Xu Jia stepped onto his head: "I have already received the command of Taishan Niangniang to act as the manager of all affairs concerning monsters and spirits in Jiangnan West Circuit. I am about to establish my office and authority, and you shall be my first great general. Moreover, the time for you to become the official Yushan Mountain God has been cut in half; it will only take fifty years. Isn't that good news? Fifty years from now, once you merge with the Dragon Vein as a Mountain God and receive my formal investiture, it won't be difficult for you to cultivate into a True Dragon."

Chang Yu was originally still somewhat annoyed, but the more Xu Jia spoke, the bigger and more fragrant the pie he drew became. Thus, he swallowed it down, turning his dissatisfaction with Xu Jia half into flattery and half into ingratiation.

"Great Immortal, you really have ability and means. How do you even have a connection with Taishan Niangniang?"

Taishan Niangniang is the "Head" and "Leader" in the hearts of all monster immortals in the world. All monsters respect her greatly, just as male immortals worship Dong Wanggong and female immortals worship Xi Wangmu. All monsters in the world who study to become immortals worship Taishan Niangniang.

This Chang Yu, even if he wants to transform into a dragon, does not actually worship any Dragon King or Dragon God; he also pays homage to Taishan Niangniang, or respects Dimu.

"It's alright. I previously held a position in the underworld, and it just so happens that Mount Tai also has corresponding Quanshen in the underworld... I wasn't very familiar with her before, but now we are quite acquainted. Why, do you want to go to Mount Tai to study to become an Immortal?"

"Mount Tai is the head of all mountains under heaven. Apart from the Kunlun ancestral vein, it is the origin of all Dragon Veins in the world. We who cultivate the Dragon Path all want to go to Mount Tai for a pilgrimage. Ever since Zulong Shihuangdi went to Mount Tai for the Fengshan sacrifice, it has become a place where the True Dragons of successive generations gather. If I could inhale and exhale a wisp of True Dragon fortune there, I could immediately transform into a Flood Dragon."

"Then you are thinking too beautifully," Xu Jia said. "Mount Tai is full of great gods everywhere; even the Earth Deity of Mount Tai could beat you to death."

"The Demon Examination of Mount Tai is the strictest of all. If you want to go there to pull strings, there is absolutely no way."

(End of chapter)