Chapter 132: Chechi Kingdom Dharma Battle
However, Ao Tu explained the matter of praying for rain and asked the monk how much sesame oil and gold were offered when the monks prayed for rain.
The monk could not understand.
The monk said: “Daoist Elder Lord, that was a year of great disaster, with people starving to death. The common people were eating dirt; who would still come to worship Buddha? Where would there be any sesame oil or gold offerings? Being able to offer some incense candles was already very good.”
Ao Tu laughed: “Ha, look! No sesame oil? No gold either? You called Buddha to come once, and you talk about sincerity?”
The monk said: “How can you say that? In that prosperous country, with sesame oil and gold offerings, it is sincere worship of Buddha; in our poor country, without sesame oil and gold offerings, it is not sincere worship of Buddha? The incense candles we rolled ourselves were also with all our remaining strength; how can you say it is not sincere?”
Ao Tu said: “All your remaining strength, but were your prayers for rain effective in the past?”
The monk said: “This… it could be effective once in five or six times.”
Ao Tu laughed: “Effective once in five or six times, that was just you happening to catch it.”
The monk was powerless to refute.
Ao Tu said: “Speaking of which, since your prayers for rain in the past were not effective, why is the king angry with you?”
The monk said: “This is not because…”
Ao Tu said: “Because of what?”
The monk was somewhat afraid to say.
Ao Tu said: “No harm, I am an outside Taoist priest, with no grudge or enmity against you. When young, I also studied Buddhist Dharma, so I count as half a Buddhism person. Tell it to me, I certainly will not spread it outside.”
The monk looked at Ao Tu and saw that Ao Tu had a kind face, very approachable, truly looking like a good person, so he said:
“Alright, actually there is nothing that cannot be said. In previous years praying for rain, monks and Taoist priests were sometimes effective and sometimes not; as long as they did it wholeheartedly, even if they could not pray for rain, it was no matter. But that year, three national preceptors came. With a wave of the hand, they summoned wind and rain, immediately resolving the disaster, which made us monks seem useless, and the king was angry because of this.”
Ao Tu said: “This is your bad luck. I also heard that your national preceptors have great magic power, so I came to visit admiring their fame.”
The monk said: “Alas, who says it is not so. Please wait a moment, Daoist Elder Lord, I will go report right now.”
Ao Tu nodded.
The monk went back to report.
Soon, two young Taoist priests in their twenties came, wearing star crowns and Daoist robes. Seeing Ao Tu’s appearance, they stepped forward and bowed.
Ao Tu returned the bow and stated his purpose.
The two young Taoist priests said: “Please enter the cold observatory to rest first, True Person. Our three masters are cultivating a ritual in the Three Pure Ones Hall. After it is finished, upon hearing that the True Person has come, they will surely come personally to welcome you.”
Ao Tu said: “I wonder if it is a grand ritual or a small ritual?”
The two young Taoist priests said: “It is a small ritual, which can end tomorrow. It is only because the king is elderly and has some minor ailment that our three masters are dispelling disaster and praying blessings for him.”
Ao Tu said: “Since that is so, better to obey respectfully than politely.”
The two young Taoist priests led Ao Tu to stay in a guest room.
The two young Taoist priests asked: “We have not yet asked for the True Person’s Daoist title, so that when our masters finish the ritual, we can report back.”
Ao Tu said: “This poor Daoist is titled True Person Tai Xi.”
The two young Taoist priests, hearing this, dared not be neglectful.
They had previously seen Ao Tu’s extraordinary clothing and thus did not dare to be discourteous; now seeing that Ao Tu used Tai Xi as his title, which meant the ultimate pole, how could it be taken casually? Thus they respected him even more.
The two young Taoist priests said: “True Person has come from afar; please rest here and wash off the dust for now. We will go prepare vegetarian offerings. Besides the monastic rules, True Person, does he have any other taboos?”
Ao Tu said: “No other taboos.”
The two young Taoist priests said: “Then please rest for now, True Person; we will go down to prepare.”
Ao Tu nodded.
The two then went down.
Not long after, the two brought hot tea and fruits, inviting Ao Tu to enjoy.
After some more time, excellent meals were prepared and sent for Ao Tu to enjoy.
After Ao Tu had eaten, the two cleared the dishes, then had a monk bring a fire basin.
Although the weather was already somewhat cold at this time, it had not yet entered winter and was not too cold; generally, there was no need yet for a fire basin to warm up.
The reason the two young Taoist priests sent the fire basin was because Ao Tu was a guest, and they wanted to do their utmost in hospitality, thus sending the fire basin for Ao Tu to warm himself.
Ao Tu refused the fire basin, saying he was already impervious to water and fire.
The two young Taoist priests, hearing this, were extremely envious.
Ao Tu looked at the two young Taoist priests and saw that they also had some magic power in their bodies and some strength in their muscles and bones, so he asked: “You still cannot ward off cold and heat?”
The two young Taoist priests said: “Replying to True Person, we cultivate the ‘talisman summoning generals’ technique; our own bodies are somewhat weak, so we still cannot ward off cold and heat.”
Ao Tu said: “I see. Like this, I will teach you a body-nourishing method: guard the essence and energy in the dantian, warm the four limbs; not hot in summer, not cold in winter, how about it?”
The two young Taoist priests hurriedly said:
“We dare not! We dare not! We have not served True Person with even the slightest effort; how dare we learn True Person’s wondrous method for nothing? If we are to learn, we must first report to our master, then prepare heavy gifts to thank True Person for the grace of transmission, before daring to shamelessly ask to be taught.”
Ao Tu laughed: “You are quite courteous. But no need for such trouble; this is not some wondrous method of mine, just a crude trick. After you cultivate longer later, you will learn it yourself.”
With that, Ao Tu casually pointed, pointing from afar at the dantians of the two young Taoist priests. A stream of energy drew their body’s magic power together into a mass, circulating through the complete cycle, condensing without dispersing.
The two young Taoist priests were shocked beyond measure. Although Ao Tu said it was a crude trick, they dared not truly believe it and hurriedly knelt to thank Ao Tu for the grace of transmission.
Actually, what Ao Tu said was not wrong; this was not some powerful method, just a very ordinary technique. As long as the realm reaches a certain level, one can master it without a teacher; many heavenly soldiers know it.
Ao Tu simply saw that these two young Taoist priests were pleasing to the eye and passed it on casually.
By the next day, the ritual ended, and Great Immortal Hu Li, Great Immortal Lu Li, and Great Immortal Yang Li came out. Hearing their disciples’ report that a Daoist True Person titled True Person Tai Xi had come to visit and discuss Dao.
The three, hearing it was a Daoist True Person, were pleased in their hearts and came hurriedly to see Ao Tu without even resting a moment.
Seeing Ao Tu, Great Immortal Hu Li looked him over but could not discern Ao Tu’s depth, and felt even more respect in his heart, hurriedly saying:
“We did not know True Person had arrived; we failed to welcome from afar. Forgive us! Forgive us!”
Ao Tu returned the bow and said: “Great National Preceptor is too polite.”
While returning the bow, Ao Tu also looked at the three.
That Great Immortal Hu Li had an exceptionally burly figure, broad forehead and thick eyebrows, dense beard; in appearance, somewhat similar to Celestial Master Zhang.
Great Immortal Lu Li had a medium build, full complexion, ruddy face.
Great Immortal Yang Li had a slightly emaciated figure, but was spirited and hale, advanced in years yet undiminished.
Ao Tu saw at a glance their original forms: Great Immortal Hu Li was a yellow tiger, Great Immortal Lu Li a white deer, Great Immortal Yang Li a gazelle.
The three had average magic power; if they had no powerful supernatural powers to rely on, they were probably about even with White Bone Spirit, and most likely not a match for Tiger Vanguard.
However, what surprised Ao Tu somewhat was that the three had some thin merit on them.
For monsters, accumulating merit is a difficult matter.
The three could accumulate this merit, though the amount was not much, it was still rare and valuable.
