Chapter 1 Whether Man Becomes God, or God Becomes Man

In the end, did a man become a god, or did a god become a man? Or could it be that the strange, white-faced opera performer was a future image of this elegantly dressed, Daoist priest in black robes before him?

This was the first time Xu Hongru had encountered such a situation, and he could somewhat understand why the people of Lishanhe paid special attention to Ji Xiang.

No matter how he looked at it, Ji Xiang was only at the Sixth Divine Power realm, and when entering the Dongdacheng Temple, he had actually entered two Dongdacheng Temples. Ji Xiang was in the Yang Temple, while those two fellows entered the Yin Temple.

The Dongdacheng Temple was a two-sided entity, a temple of Yin and Yang in harmony. The Yin Temple was like a shadow of the Yang Temple, and those with heavy Yin Qi would enter the Yin Temple, while those with heavy Yang Qi would come to the Yang Temple.

That Yin Temple was the nest of the Nine-tailed Fox Demon's disciples and grandchildren, located in the Land Boundary (a small world created by local deities and monsters). The scope of the Land Boundary was limited, and it was closely connected to the Yang world. The method was also very simple: cut off a part of the Yang world's space and hide it. This was how the Land Boundary was formed.

In terms of behavior, it was similar to staking out territory and indulging oneself...

If there was no magic array to hide it, it would be easily exposed. Therefore, in the cultivation world, it was also called a "Secret Place," which was actually equivalent to a small secret realm or secret base.

Ji Xiang looked at the bronze mirror. Reflected inside was his own white-faced Zhenwu (True Martial) spirit form. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes. This bronze mirror was indeed a treasure, but he didn't see any future events...

"Daoist friend, the actual use of this thing doesn't match the advertisement. How can a monk tell lies?"

Xu Hongru was stunned: "This... this poor Daoist doesn't know either... This poor Daoist will take a good look. Perhaps there's something wrong with the mirror."

He took the mirror and stroked it in his hand, thinking in his heart that Ji Xiang was indeed somewhat extraordinary. No wonder the people of Lishanhe valued him so much. He couldn't see how high his Daoist cultivation was. He didn't even understand the two-sided nature of the Yin and Yang Temple. But if he had to say that there was something unusual about him, Ji Xiang also gave Xu Hongru a feeling that he was not easy to provoke.

He always felt like this person had come looking for trouble.

But it was their first meeting, so there was no need to cause trouble right away, was there?

"How is it, Daoist friend? What's wrong with the mirror?"

Ji Xiang asked. How would Xu Hongru know what was wrong? This mirror was also a magical artifact he had picked up. Now that his magic power was low, it was difficult for him to develop all the wonderful uses of this Great Tang Treasure Mirror. Reflecting people's past and present lives, and transforming into royal power and wealth, was already the limit of what he could do.

The Dongdacheng Sect was a sub-sect of the Incense Smelling Sect (Wenxiang Jiao). Xu Hongru had relied on this bronze mirror, as well as some left-handed techniques of driving gods and summoning ghosts, and cutting paper into soldiers, to get his start. It was precisely because of this bronze mirror that he was able to gradually rise from a small character to his current position as the leader of the Dongdacheng Sect, with a great reputation in various folk law sects and the White Lotus Path.

"This poor Daoist doesn't know... Perhaps it's because Daoist brother will often serve True Martial in the future, hence the white-faced divine form. This means that Daoist brother will achieve success and attain enlightenment... If that's really the case, then that's gratifying..."

"I only hope that Daoist brother will cultivate diligently, and in the future, with successful cultivation, promote magic and save all living beings..."

Xu Hongru's words were very sincere. Ji Xiang couldn't find any problems for the time being, and there was no reason to take action to smash the temple.

As for the little fox and Feng the scholar, the two of them suddenly disappeared. Ji Xiang was certain that it was a problem with the temple, and definitely not because of the crowd.

The Daoist priest in front of him suddenly came forward to chat with him, and the root cause of all these problems might be their actions.

Ji Xiang immediately thought of the people of Lishanhe. His journey away from Shuntian might be like Tang Sanzang, who had to go through eighty-one tribulations.

But this was just speculation, and there was still no concrete evidence.

"Can Daoist friend let me see your sect's scriptures and classics? To be honest, I am a Daoist master personally conferred by the current Sage in Shuntian Prefecture. As for my rank, it's not that this poor Daoist is boasting, but it is indeed very high."

"If Daoist friend's teachings are correct and beneficial to the ruler and the people, I will report the scriptures to the imperial court. Even if it's a folk law sect, it can become one of the orthodox law lineages of my Daoist sect, like the Lushan Sect."

"Haven't you seen how Patriarch Jingyang slayed the dragon and controlled the waters, erected the Nine Great Bronze Pillars, and was conferred the title of Divine and Miraculous Beneficent True Lord?"

The Lushan Sect was not originally a Daoist sect, but a witch sect, but later it also became a Daoist lineage, and it was known as the "most domineering magic in the world"!

Of course it was domineering. If they disagreed with you, they would stab a knife into your head, and then operate a mountain of knives, step on a sea of fire, and carry a firearm on their body to fire at you. Their magic was almost entirely offensive. The principle they followed was that attack was defense. Who could withstand that?

Ji Xiang had no way to get information out of him directly, so he could only try to see the other party's scriptures and teachings. When Xu Hongru heard this, he was actually a little tempted. He had learned from the people of Lishanhe about Ji Xiang's identity, and he understood that as long as he could get on Ji Xiang's good side, even if he betrayed the King of Lu, he wouldn't be left with nowhere to go. He could even transform himself into a legitimate Daoist lineage.

Moreover, he was also stalling for time. Those two people hadn't been sent to the casino yet. So he took out the scriptures and classics. As soon as Ji Xiang got the classics, he felt a little familiar.

This feeling... Wasn't this the feeling of the paper talismans from the Shuntian Han Scripture Factory?

"Where did the paper for these printed scriptures come from? I'm just asking."

Xu Hongru was shocked. Of course, he said that they were printed locally at random. It was impossible to say that they were bought from the Shuntian Han Scripture Factory. Anyway, those people at the Han Scripture Factory would print anything as long as they were given money.

Ji Xiang hummed twice and looked at the scriptures again: *The Imperial Ultimate Golden Elixir Nine Lotus Orthodox Faith Returning to the Origin Precious Scroll.*

The name was extremely long. Ji Xiang flipped through the entire book. There were indeed methods of cultivation, but some of them didn't focus on the key points. This book didn't contain any wishes or intentions. It was a pure printed product.

"The entire book talks about the three teachings and the end of the world: the Formless Tribulation, the Solemn Tribulation, the Constellation Tribulation. This world is currently encountering a tribulation... the end of the world... Believing in this teaching can lead to liberation, but the method of liberation is through *xing qi* (circulating vital energy) and *gong dao yin* (exercises for guiding the flow of energy), which is a kind of internal alchemy. This is true skill..."

Ji Xiang frowned. This did indeed conform to the situation of some folk law sects, but it still had the shadow of the White Lotus Sect.

Because normal folk law sects valued techniques over scriptures, and emphasized practicality. Therefore, folk law sects generally passed down their teachings from master to disciple and did not gather incense offerings on a large scale. Anyone who did this definitely had elements of the White Lotus Sect within them.

This kind of scripture that was full of great tribulations was overflowing with the flavor of the White Lotus Sect.

Xu Hongru saw Ji Xiang's brows furrow and knew that it was the talk of tribulations and beliefs in the scriptures that displeased him. But he still held a glimmer of hope, so he explained:

"The so-called tribulations are mostly illusory, but they are all for the sake of saving the world! People are born into suffering. If we don't fabricate illusory tribulations and make them believe that their suffering comes from the tribulations, and not from fate, then they will have the motivation to continue living... For the imperial court, the hearts of the people are stable. Isn't this a good thing?"

"Some people are born lowly. Even if they repeatedly raise their heads and ask the heavens, how can the heavens respond to the questions of mortals? The people are like tough grass. No matter how strong the wind blows, they will still survive tenaciously..."

At this time, the two of them had come to a remote place, avoiding some of the pilgrims.

When Ji Xiang heard this argument, he laughed twice, closed the scriptures, and threw them to Xu Hongru.

"Have you heard of *mafeisan* (an anesthetic powder)?"

Xu Hongru said: "I know a little. Is it the so-called *mafeisan* in the *Qing Nang Shu* (Book of Blue Pouches), the medicine used by the divine doctor Hua Tuo?"

Ji Xiang: "The so-called *mafeisan* in the *Qing Nang Shu* can make people anesthetized, unaware of what's happening, and not feel pain even if they are cut open!"

"Then do you know what was recorded in the *Vinaya-Miscellaneous Matters Sutra* brought by the Tang Dynasty Buddhist Master Xuanzang? Let me tell you, there is a strange flower that originated in Tianzhu (ancient India). It is originally a medicinal material that can treat dysentery, but the ancient people of Tianzhu made it into tablets and lit it to inhale its fragrance. This fragrance is addictive."

"In the *Vinaya-Miscellaneous Matters Sutra*, the king of Tianzhu suffered from a painful disease, and the Buddha pointed out that he should inhale the medicinal smoke in order to alleviate his pain. This medicinal smoke is this flower."

The name of the poppy actually existed in the Han Dynasty, but in order to prevent the White Lotus Sect from producing drugs, Ji Xiang used the term "strange flower" as a substitute, and did not tell Xu Hongru the true name of this flower.

Moreover, the records in this Buddhist scripture translated by Buddhist Master Xuanzang were very clear, and even the method of making it was included.

The Buddha was originally an ordinary person who did not understand pharmacology, but the poison of the poppy could indeed alleviate people's pain. That was in the era before Christ, and one could not expect the people of that era to have a very high understanding of medicine. After all, Shennong died after tasting hundreds of herbs. How could one know what the medicine was for without trying it?

Xu Hongru already understood what Ji Xiang was going to say, and Ji Xiang said to him:

"Believing in illusory things, not ascending to the halls of virtue, becoming lazy in spirit and slothful in body, only knowing how to indulge in illusions and become elated, hoping for the pleasures of the afterlife and ignoring the true fate of this life, if this is not an evil art, then what is!"

"Daoist friend must maintain your original intention and not use illusory tribulations to confuse the people. You seem to have relieved their pain and let them find a place of spiritual sustenance, but in fact, you have led them into another abyss of the spirit."

"Daoist friend must also remember that according to the *Great Ming Code*, anyone who creates prophecies, heretical books, or rumors, or uses them to spread falsehoods and deceive the public, will be beheaded."

Xu Hongru was unconvinced and even forgot to guide Ji Xiang for a moment. He also knew that Ji Xiang's words at this time were a warning, but a surge of anger rose from his chest. Instead, he widened his eyes and argued with Ji Xiang:

"Daoist friend, your words are wrong! Are we using scriptures to save the world, is that also considered spreading falsehoods and deceiving the public! The government has already acknowledged it! If we follow Daoist friend's words, then aside from the Three Mountains Orthodox Law and the Eight Lands of Buddhism, there is no orthodox magic, and everything else is heresy!"

"You yourself said that even the Buddha once instructed the king of Tianzhu to take medicinal smoke. This was only to alleviate his pain! If my teachings are like medicinal smoke, then you are not degrading me, but praising me. Doesn't that mean that I am doing exactly the same thing as the Buddha?"

"The king can use medicinal smoke to relieve his pain, but who can these people turn to to relieve their pain? Doesn't that just show that this poor Daoist is doing the right thing!"

"The people of the world will all be saved. In this era of living in poverty, in such a difficult era, if they do not have a spiritual foundation, what kind of things will they do!"

Of course, Xu Hongru himself also colluded with the government, the King of Lu, and Lishanhe, but the bottom line in his heart retreated again and again. He always warned himself that he was doing this purely for the sake of the people. To achieve great things, he had to rely on external forces...

It was only a roundabout way to save the people! As long as he kept his original intention and ensured that there were no problems at the key points, wouldn't that be enough!

Xu Hongru also knew that in cleaning up other sects, the Daoist sect was an old master, drawing their swords to kill the ghosts of the Six Heavens. But Xu Hongru was thinking, since you want to use the principles of the Buddha to admonish the world, then I will use the principles of the Buddha to refute you. Let's see how you can bring out some Daoist and Buddhist ancestors and say your clumsy principles. Let's see if the believers believe you or me.

You say that the people should not seek spiritual sustenance, and I will say that you are not close to the people; you say that the people should not anesthetize themselves, but the people just eat my set and do not worship your orthodox gods and celestial lords.

I just want to see you get anxious, see you scratching your ears and cheeks, and finally leaving in a huff; if you have a bit of grace, you will probably just mock yourself a few times, raise your own value, and then sneak out the door with your tail between your legs.

If you really have the ability, you can correct all the believers in this temple and make them no longer believe in their own teachings. That is when you truly have the ability!

After listening to his argument, Ji Xiang let out another long laugh:

"Only those who do evil know the outline of goodness; only those who are insane can compare to those who are sober; only with nobles and scholar-officials can there be high and low statuses; only with harmful things can one know the difference between right and wrong."

"Moreover, after the effects of that medicinal smoke end, it will make people addicted. If they don't get the medicinal smoke for a day, then people will become mentally deranged and look like crazy demons..."

A loud bang echoed in Xu Hongru's heart!

He only heard Ji Xiang's voice, like a head-on blow, like the sound of a great bell!

"Relieving pain, can that solve pain? You don't know, do you? There's also a passage below in the scripture, roughly meaning that the king asked the Buddha if taking medicinal smoke could relieve his illness, and the Buddha 'did not listen or allow'!"

"'Listening or allowing' refers to hearing and allowing it. The Buddha did not make such a promise."

"Suffering comes from external paths, and diseases arise because of changes in *qi*, but if one is too immersed in illusions and does not care about real pain and symptoms, those who should die will die, and those who should perish will perish!"

"Liezi (a Daoist philosopher) once said: 'The *qi* of life, the form of shape, are all illusions!' Staring at illusory things all the time, and still wanting to see the true principles, and even realize true wishes? How absurd!"

"Good deeds are not given by heaven, and evil results are also man-made! If you want to see the wonderful and achieve the truth, first get rid of perverse actions!"

"People all have weaknesses, all have hardships, so they will be used by you. Even if I save one person or ten people, perhaps some of these people will still go back to worship you. Under the elements of laziness and ignorance, there are incurable people in this world!"

"But I came to the world not to debate teachings with you. Of course, even if we do debate, you are no match for me. Your principles are difficult to justify, and you can only take things out of context, so you are destined to be unable to win in speech. But you have a large number of believers and incense offerings among the people, because the people can only see the life in front of them, and that is the most important thing for them."

"Do you dare to make an oath to the Heavenly Dao, saying that you have always been working wholeheartedly for the people, without asking for anything in return?"

Xu Hongru did not answer, and did not know how to answer. There really was an oath to the Heavenly Dao in this world, and it would really be fulfilled. Of course, he could not be free from guilt. It could even be said that it was precisely because saving the people and doing good deeds was also profitable that he firmly believed that after the Incense Smelling Sect spread, it would allow him and others to live a good life. If he could profit from it, then how could others not profit from it?

So he did not answer.

Ji Xiang also said: "Therefore, your actions are destined to fail. There is no need to hide it anymore. I hope you turn back from the brink, and do not wait until the divine sword arrives on your head. At that time, you will be thrown into the Fengdu Hell, and you will never be able to be reborn."

Through the previous conversation, Ji Xiang had already understood the nature of the other party's teachings. Xu Hongru's heart was also in a mess. At this time, he received a message. He only saw a paper-cut doll emerge from the ground, and Xu Hongru told Ji Xiang:

"Daoist friend's two companions... are now in the Lost Dragon Casino. As for the location and how to enter..."

Xu Hongru told Ji Xiang how to enter the Lost Dragon Casino and began to guide him. Ji Xiang took a deep look at him and left the temple.

Xu Hongru watched Ji Xiang's back, feeling dazed, as if he had lost an important spiritual pillar. But gradually, his face became ferocious again:

"Saying that I am destined to fail, I will definitely win for you to see. When the time comes, I will teach this world to worship the Incense Smelling Sect. All the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist laws will have to bow their heads and become vassals, indulging in it every day. I will make this world of mountains and rivers fall into incense illusions, focusing on the illusory world, cultivating in crazy places, and becoming confused and unable to extricate themselves!"

----

After Ji Xiang left the temple, his heart gradually turned cold. He thought to himself that if he hadn't been unable to find a handle, he would have overturned this temple on the spot and beaten the Daoist priest in front of him to death with one punch.

"The government actually considers this kind of sect to be an orthodox sect? I have to go to the government and ask!"

What he feared most about attacking a good temple was that the government would also become an accomplice. Then it would be difficult to handle. The prestige of the state enveloped the government... Unfortunately, the prestige of the state could defend against tangible demons and ghosts, but it could not defend against intangible greed and corruption.

Therefore, once the government colluded with demons, it would be a very serious matter, and the government would often become a shelter for demons.

Ji Xiang was following the location given by Xu Hongru, going to the casino to take a look. He didn't expect that halfway there, a huge demonic wind suddenly blew up. At this time, the sky became dark, as if it were midnight. Blazing red and black energy floated like flames, trapping Ji Xiang in a piece of heaven and earth.

Within these demonic winds, there was also divine energy. Ji Xiang actually saw the local Earth God, looking thin and weak, with a demented expression. At this time, he came forward and said to Ji Xiang politely and with a flattering smile:

"King Milong invites Daoist priest to meet him at the casino! Daoist priest, this is a great joy! This little god congratulates Daoist priest in advance, may you become rich!"

Ji Xiang smiled and narrowed his eyes:

"You Earth God, how dare you enshrine some heretical god? I have never heard of King Milong!"

The Earth God saw Ji Xiang's cold smile change his face, but he didn't seem afraid. Instead, he looked like a rogue: "Daoist priest, you are new here and don't know the power of King Milong. If Daoist priest is unwilling to follow, you will inevitably suffer a little."

Ji Xiang raised his eyebrows: "Interesting. This poor Daoist wants to see what kind of person that King Milong is that he can make you, a small god, dare to be so tough in the face of a Daoist priest in black robes! Then lead the way!"

"No need to lead the way!"

The Earth God retreated into the red and black demonic wind. In the sky, a giant demon cast a spell, and in an instant, the sky turned dark. A gust of blood-red wind swept up and took Ji Xiang away. At this time, Ji Xiang was standing in the blood-red wind. The surrounding demonic energy was thick, but it also carried a large amount of incense. The giant demon in the blood-red wind was more than ten feet tall, shaped like a bat, with a donkey's head, wings like mats, and eyes as bright as fire.

The Inner Vision Divine Plate gave the answer:

[Flying Yaksha: This is said to be brave and strong, flying in the air; traveling in the four heavens, unimpeded!]

[Chanting "Ten Directions of the Land, Bright and Pure; Like Crystal, a Bright Moon Suspended Within" from the *Surangama Sutra* will seal all the power of the Flying Yaksha for a moment, preventing it from flying in the sky and traveling on the ground. If a cultivator of Buddhist Dharma recites it, there is a certain chance of moving the Flying Yaksha's heart towards kindness.]

[Reciting "Seeing Retribution Invites Evil Consequences, This is the Karma of Sight, Then at the Time of Death, One Will First See Fierce Fires, Filling the Ten Directions of the World, The Spirit of the Deceased Will Fly and Fall, Riding the Smoke, Into the Uninterrupted Hell" from the *Surangama Sutra* will trigger all the evil karma of the Flying Yaksha, turning it into karmic fire to burn him!]

[This monster fears firearms the most!]

The blood-red wind swirled wildly, and soon arrived at the Lost Dragon Casino. At this time, the underworld manifested, and Ji Xiang could see the clues.

It was clearly a scene of the Yang world, but the surroundings flickered and changed into a piece of heaven and earth, as if there were two heavens and earth in the Yang world. It turned out to be another "Secret Place"!

The demons brought Ji Xiang, without using force. They originally thought there would be a fierce battle. At this time, they whispered to each other, all preparing to watch Ji Xiang's good show, after all, the next thing was the focus.

As soon as Ji Xiang entered the Lost Dragon Casino, there were gods, humans, demons, and ghosts all gambling, and he immediately saw Yan Yingcai!

This local Daoist official was now blinded by gambling. His face was covered with mahjong tiles. Ji Xiang walked over and scolded:

"Did you deliver the talisman I asked you to deliver?"

"What talisman! Don't bother me, I just want to make money now!"

Yan Yingcai was like a drug addict, looking ferocious and crazy, and even more demented. He pushed away Ji Xiang's hand. Ji Xiang grabbed his collar and scolded, "You are a Daoist official of the Daoist Society, how dare you gamble in a casino opened by demons!"

"What demons, you dare to talk about me, weren't you brought here too? If you don't make money, go aside. You still want a talisman from me, wait until I finish gambling!"

Yan Yingcai was completely demented, and his personality seemed to have changed.

The next moment, Ji Xiang let go, and then the gambling table was directly overturned by Ji Xiang with one hand!

"You dare to touch my cards!"

Yan Yingcai was immediately furious. He pounced like a vicious ghost. Ji Xiang punched him in the face, instantly killing him on the spot!

In an instant, his head directly exploded. His headless body was blasted out of the door by the force of the punch. The surrounding humans who were playing cards were all startled. They saw that Yan Yingcai, who was still gambling, was directly killed by his fellow Daoist and his body separated!

The surrounding demons and ghosts originally thought that Ji Xiang was overturning the table to teach this human a lesson. Smiles appeared on their faces, wanting to watch the human infighting. After all, both of them were Daoist officials. They didn't expect that as soon as Ji Xiang started, he would directly kill his fellow Daoist on the spot!

The ruthlessness and decisiveness of the attack made the demons suddenly unable to laugh.

Ji Xiang held his fist, dripping with blood, and looked around, seeing several Daoists, all of whom looked pale.

"According to the Heavenly Laws!"

"If the Dharma masters go to practice Dharma, and receive Yin retribution for Yang actions, and are negligent in orthodox Dharma..."

"Their bodies will be destroyed!"