Chapter 313: Fairy Muxie

The Mirage Essence was causing chaos in the north, yet it dared not govern territory in famous mountains and great rivers, such as the Wuyue, for there the Wuyue Prefectures resided. It dared not show off in the Qinling Mountains either; deep within the Qinling Mountains were even more thousand-year-old demons—old monsters who had no way to ascend, feared the Heavenly Tribulation, and yet were unwilling to undergo Corpse Severance to reincarnate and cultivate again.

Do not think that just because it is the Desire Realm, the Desire Realm lacks deep waters. The Qinling Mountains are one such place, even more dangerous than Dongting. Besides the Qinling Mountains, there is also the Hengduan range, known as the "Hundred Thousand Mountains," a desperate place for humanity that also connects to the Mizang Yu.

The north toward which the Mirage Essence headed was actually the intersection of three provinces, the ancient Xuzhou and its surrounding lands.

This place has produced trouble since ancient times; public order is poor, and the folk customs are fierce. While others play with mud and urine as children, the people here perform the "Peach Garden Oath" as children.

Further still are the places near the passes; these places are unloved by fathers and mothers alike. They are frequently harassed by northern foreign tribes.

After he fiddled with it for a while, he was full of himself and said straight out: "There isn't a single good thing among those surnamed Xu!"

It turned out that when Xu Xun Tianshi was governing the territory back then, he was causing chaos in the Min region, comparable to Hu Agui.

Hu Agui at least had a formal physical image, but he, having obtained it through the Mirage Essence, found transformation convenient. When he encountered a young man, he would transform into a young woman to dally with him; when he encountered a young woman, he would transform into a young man to dally with her; when he encountered a bull, he would turn into a cow; when he encountered a cow, he would turn into a bull; when he encountered an old woman, he would turn into a middle-aged, vigorous man; when he encountered an old man, he would turn into a twelve- or thirteen-year-old catamite... even those paralyzed in bed would be followed into their dreams to have intercourse.

Others bring clouds and rain to nourish the earth, but he brings clouds and rain to indulge in lust.

In the Min region, one could not say he caused infinite sin—after all, some people enjoyed it—but as the Black Qi of lust grew, and he was skilled at magnifying people's Desire Thoughts, there arose a corruption of social morals.

Fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, uncles and aunts, fathers-in-law and daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and mothers-in-law... violating ethics and morality, causing many deformed monsters to be born...

Human Desire Thoughts are infinitely magnified in dreams and illusions; in extreme pleasure, one often cannot distinguish between the illusory and the real. Breaking taboos also brings the fruits of taboos.

At that time, many practitioners went to subdue him, but they always returned in defeat, having lost their own essence and damaged their Daoist Practice.

Only Xu Xun Tianshi, upright and unyielding, went to subdue him. At first, the Mirage Essence transformed into a young girl, graceful and full of charm. Xu Tianshi recognized him at a glance and beat him until he fled in a panic, turning into a puff of smoke to escape.

Xu Tianshi chased after him, and he transformed into a beautiful catamite, pretending to fall into the water and calling for help. Xu Tianshi recognized him again at a glance, took a chopstick, entered the water, transformed into a large water snake, and drilled him until he was turned upside down, causing him to flee in a panic once more.

He then drilled into a family's cowshed and turned into a yellow ox. Xu Tianshi took a Cow Nose Ring, pierced his nose, led him through the streets, and displayed his transformations.

Later, after he was executed and died, it was a bead hidden in his early years that was pregnant with Mirage Qi, allowing him to slowly reincarnate and even recover some memories.

Primarily, it was also because of the Licentious Sacrifice in the Min region; there were often performers wearing a clam shell, which was actually a portrayal of him. It is true that the Min region also frequently sacrifices to Xu Tianshi; besides being the Fortune Lord of Jiangxi, Xu Tianshi was also the Lushan Dharma Master.

Because he felt that human hearts all have weaknesses, he believed there was no one in the world who could not be toyed with. Yet, Xu Tianshi was not bewitched by him, and thus he harbored a grudge.

Now that his Daoist Practice is high and his vision is even greater, he no longer indulges in low-level illusions of sound, color, and lust. Instead, he cultivates the word "Ordinary." No matter if you are a hero or a champion, once you enter his great dye vat and great mill, you must all be transformed into ordinary people.

Therefore, his illusions are mostly ordinary scenes, but the faces of the people are half-human and half-beast, all possessing both their humanity and their beastly nature. Yet, they alone lack Divine Nature.

After the Mirage Essence finished posturing, it returned to Dongting and boasted to Xiniu Laomu: "Look at this time, how will this evildoer end?"

Xiniu Laomu knew that he was not trying to explain things clearly to her; he simply felt that no one knew his plan, and it was uncomfortable to keep it bottled up inside, so he had to find someone to witness it.

She said: "There is a strand of Black Qi between your brows, which shows that your Cause and Effect and sinful karma are already deep. You are perfectly fine; for no reason, why stir up these waves and harm all living beings? To win an argument? Or for revenge? I do not understand."

"I have heard of people who, because they dislike a person over a small matter, come to dislike that person entirely and then oppose them at every turn. But you have also cultivated in seclusion in Dongting for many years; it should not be to this extent."

"I have also heard of a type of person who thinks they are clear-headed and independent, that all living beings are drunk while they alone are sober. They do not write books or establish traditions, nor do they seek to verify the truth; they rely solely on a single impulse."

"When others do good deeds, you say they are hypocritical; when others believe in Buddha, you say it is not as good as following the Dao; when others say peonies are beautiful, you say they are not as holy as lotus flowers. Borrowing a false thought in your heart, you feel you have mastered all the truths in the world. With eyes that do not see clearly, ears that do not hear, and an inability to discern, you feel you can presumptuously replace the heart of Heaven."

"You feel that you cannot do it, that it is an impossible thing, but that does not mean others cannot. It is like a frog at the bottom of a Well, peering at a square inch of sky."

The Mirage Essence was annoyed upon hearing this: "You are a God Immortal from the heavens; you see clearly. With this preaching manner of yours, why have you also fallen into the mortal world? And become a monster?"

"This is the reason why you can never enter the righteous path." Xiniu Laomu pointed to this Muxie tree: "When I was a maid in Danggui Gong, although my position was low and my duties small, I still cultivated diligently for thousands of years before I obtained my Immortal Register. Just because I was moved for an instant, I accidentally dropped the Muxie Danzhan of Taiyin Star Lord. This Danzhan had contained the Undying Medicine; once it hit the ground, it took root and transformed into a Spirit Root treasure tree. Taiyin Star Lord therefore punished me to transform into a rhinoceros, because the Muxie grain is similar to a rhinoceros horn, and I must wait for this tree to grow old before I can return."

"Since this tree once contained the Undying Medicine, it can live by bathing in moonlight. When will it grow old? You have been deceived by Taiyin Star Lord."

"Back then, Wu Gang was banished to fell the laurel; he would chop it, and it would grow back a section. These God Immortals always use these methods to torment people, making them complete the impossible."

"Yes, it is precisely because they solved the impossible that they are God Immortals—whether through great perseverance, great wisdom, great compassion, or great courage. My nature is dull, and I have guarded it for a thousand years; one day, it will grow old."

"And then? These little rhinoceroses all rely on this Muxie tree to cultivate and be sheltered, right? When the tree grows old, they should also disperse." The Mirage Essence said coldly: "He didn't tell you to cultivate some great perseverance; you have let your heart die, not letting a single thought arise, not letting a single thought stir, your heart like dead ashes. Naturally, the effects of any Undying Medicine will not be seen. Muxie, Muxie, you are just this rhinoceros made of wood."

"Your mortal heart and Desire Thoughts are the things they want to eliminate. But what is wrong with Desire Thoughts? Without the seven emotions and six desires, being a God Immortal is not happy either."

"That is because you have not realized great love. Once you realize great love, small love is naturally included within it, and it is even more vast."

"Your heart is currently blinded by past hatred; you wish that everyone who denies you would die and be exterminated. This is absolutely not a prerequisite for becoming an Immortal or a God."

(End of chapter)