Chapter 21

In front, the Jialan Temple was quiet and profound, seemingly empty, without the sound of scriptures or the tapping of wooden fish.

The man in the blue robe brought Shen Lian straight into the temple gate and to the main hall.

On both sides of the hall, there were eighteen statues lined up, representing Mei Yin, Fan Yin, Tian Gu, Tan Miao, Tan Mei, Mo Miao, Lei Yin, Shi Zi Yin, Miao Tan, Fan Xiang, Ren Yin, Fo Nu, Song De, Guang Mu, Miao Yan, Che Ting, Che Shi, and Bian Shi, the eighteen Jialan.

The original meaning of Jialan is 'purity.' If one permanently removes the three poisons, always keeps the six senses clean, and has a clear and tranquil mind and body, both inside and out, this is called cultivating Jialan.

Although this is passed down in Buddhism, it also applies to Daoism.

In the main hall, there was another person holding a wooden fish, silver-gray, with fish mouth and scales, and even the patterns were vivid and natural.

This person looked like he was thirty, but also like he was twenty, with a fair face and no beard. What was striking was his pair of lying silkworm eyebrows, which seemed ready to fly, full of spirit.

Of course, these were not the most noticeable things about him. Anyone who glanced at him would look at his head, which had not a single hair.

Even the common bald spot on a monk's head was not visible, smooth and white, as if he had never grown hair.

Shen Lian noticed him and thought that with such a smooth head and no burn marks, he didn't seem like a monk.

At the same time, he realized that this was the Ling Chongxiao mentioned by the man in the blue robe, truly a unique person.

The man in the blue robe, upon first seeing this person, was initially stunned, then burst into laughter, saying, "Ling Chongxiao, Ling Chongxiao, how did you become a bald monk?"

Ling Chongxiao was not at all bothered, saying, "I became bald, and I became stronger."

The man in the blue robe threw Shen Lian, who flew steadily to the side of the last Jialan statue near the corner of the hall.

Shen Lian leaned against the statue, and even though he couldn't move, he could still see everything in the hall.

The man in the blue robe stopped laughing and sneered, "Just by opening the Xuan Pass, reaching the Daoist 'Descending White Tiger' realm, what's there to be proud of?"

Hair is the end of blood and qi. After Daoists descend the White Tiger, they can shed their hair, close their pores, and maximize the delay of aging, extending their lifespan. Even living to 140 or 150 years, they would still be like young adults, which is not surprising.

When a man reaches this realm, it is called descending the White Tiger, and when a woman reaches this realm, it is called slaying the Red Dragon.

At this realm, although they do not have boundless supernatural powers, they have transformed their body and soul, laying the foundation for Daoist cultivation, hence it is also called the Foundation Establishment.

Do not underestimate the Foundation Establishment. No matter what kind of skill, whether from the Hundred Schools of Thought, reaching this level is extremely rare, with perhaps not even one in a million. Unless they have a connection to immortality, it would be another matter.

Ling Chongxiao and the man in the blue robe's sects are still martial arts schools, though derived from Daoism, they are not immortal sects. For him to reach this realm is like a village chief's child becoming a city-level official, no less than a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

"How could I be proud? Have you forgotten that when the Master gave me 'Taiwei,' he said, 'Carry 'Taiwei' to warn yourself, and carve it into a fish shape because fish never close their eyes day or night, just as practitioners should stay awake day and night until they reach the Dao.'"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian secretly thought it was wonderful. Fish are always awake day and night. Now, by carving a fish out of wood and tapping it, the purpose is to warn practitioners not to be lazy and to diligently practice the wonderful Dharma day and night until they succeed without slackening.

As the saying goes, 'The human heart is perilous, the Daoist heart is subtle.' Only by being constantly vigilant can one avoid falling into an irredeemable state.

"The old ghost was not even listened to when he was alive, let alone now that I have killed him." The man in the blue robe sneered, finding it normal to betray his master, showing no remorse.

"Do you think that by obtaining the true meaning of Daoism, you can act as you please, killing for freedom, but you don't realize that 'freedom and ease' is not about what you can do, but what you can refrain from doing." Ling Chongxiao was not angry at the man in the blue robe's words, still speaking gently to advise him.

"You still think you are superior to me and always act as a senior."

Ling Chongxiao frowned and sighed, slowly saying, "The Master's ashes are here. After you die, I will not scatter your bones. I will let you accompany him and go to the underworld to apologize to him."

In his words, the man in the blue robe was already doomed to die.

The man in the blue robe said in a deep voice, "What a good Ling Chongxiao. If I die at your hands, will you dare to pass on my skills to him?"

He openly admitted that Ling Chongxiao was superior to him and intended to entrust Shen Lian to him.

"Teaching a talented and beautiful person is the greatest joy in the world." Ling Chongxiao's green eyebrows drooped, his demeanor clear and calm.

"If I lose, Shen Lian, if you achieve something in the future, can you defeat Ling Chongxiao for me once? If you agree, blink three times." The man in the blue robe said again.

Shen Lian did not even blink once.

Ling Chongxiao looked at Shen Lian and said calmly, "It seems even this young friend finds you disagreeable."

"You underestimate him. This boy truly dislikes me, but his intention is for me to defeat you myself." The man in the blue robe said loudly, like thunder.

Shen Lian thought: This man is utterly evil, but he is a true man.

Ling Chongxiao was right; this was exactly what he thought, but it did not mean that Shen Lian had any good intentions toward the man in the blue robe.

He was Shen Lian, not anyone's continuation.

The man in the blue robe could see through his thoughts, showing that despite his great evil, his heart was truly open and honest.

While he was thinking this, a thunderous sound echoed in the hall.

The rain outside grew heavier, pouring down from the sky.

The sound of the rain seemed to want to cover up this fratricidal conflict.

Both were from the same school and had similar skills.

Ling Chongxiao's temperament seemed calm, but his movements were like thunder, his strength surging and overwhelming. Wherever he struck, the stone slabs of the hall showed signs of cracking, showing the power and ferocity of his strikes.

The key was that each move of Ling Chongxiao's was simple yet powerful, continuous without any weakening.

A set of palm techniques, like waves crashing against the shore, each one stronger than the last.

This was the result of descending the White Tiger, where the blood and qi were locked, and the physical strength was boundless, creating such a formidable presence.

The man in the blue robe was different. He was originally of the fierce and powerful school, but after going to the harsh desert, he also understood some profound principles of the universe.

No martial art in the world could match the power of the desert's natural disasters.

Once a sandstorm comes, cattle, sheep, horses, and even thousands of soldiers cannot resist it.

Only by becoming the wind and blending with the dust can one avoid harm.

The man in the blue robe's sleeves fluttered, cold as the wind. No matter how Ling Chongxiao's strength surged, he would touch and then retreat.

Like a blue butterfly, dancing with the wind.

Even though one was fierce and the other was gentle, they did not deviate from the true meaning of Daoism, acting naturally and freely, breaking free from rigid martial arts routines.

PS: Thank you to the supporter who always pits their teammates.

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