Rapidnovel #276 - Stealing incense
#276 - Stealing incense
Zhang Xiaohua and Xie Lingyun left, and Liu Feng also bid farewell, leaving only Zhang Chen standing in the courtyard, watching the departing figures in silence. He knew that he could not rely on anyone now and could only depend on himself.
“First, I’ll ask the Great自在天魔 what his insights are. I may not adopt his suggestions, but there’s no harm in hearing his views,” Zhang Chen thought to himself.
So, Zhang Chen summoned the Great自在天魔. A petal flew from Zhang Chen’s palm and transformed into the appearance of the Great自在天魔: “Boy, what do you want me for?”
“How is the task I asked you to do progressing?” Zhang Chen asked.
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the Great自在天魔 chuckled: “Of course, I am doing my best, but to complete the control, a long period of accumulation is still needed.”
Zhang Chen didn’t ask further upon hearing this. He was just asking as usual to prevent the Great自在天魔 from being lazy.
“I have encountered a troublesome matter and need to ask you about it.” Zhang Chen described the situation of Little Bean to the Great自在天魔. The Great自在天魔’s expression was surprised, and a hint of curiosity appeared in his eyes:
“The situation you described is really strange. Unfortunately, based solely on your description, I cannot deduce the details. It would be best to go to the scene and take a look in person.”
Zhang Chen glanced at the Great自在天魔, somewhat worried about Little Bean’s physical condition. After being suppressed repeatedly, he was afraid that the little girl’s body would not be able to withstand it.
The Great自在天魔 certainly knew what Zhang Chen was thinking. At this time, he sneered, his voice full of mockery: “I know what you’re thinking. What kind of methods do I have? There’s no need for that little girl to use soul projection. I just need to sense it carefully, and I can detect the trickery within.”
“You remember this, the essence, energy, and spirit of Chengyu are not allowed to harbor demonic seeds, otherwise you know my methods. Even if I can’t kill you, I will destroy as many demonic seeds as you have.” Zhang Chen stared at the Great自在天魔 and warned.
“You kid is no fun. There is no conflict of interest between us, so why would I harm you? But I still suggest you let me reside in that little girl’s heart. A palace transformed from incense inexplicably appeared in that little girl’s body. Don’t you find it strange? My residing there is also a precaution, right? You have the ability to guard against me, but you may not have the ability to guard against the cultivators of the Yellow Sky Sect.” The Great自在天魔 looked at Zhang Chen with a solemn expression.
“If it wasn’t a hidden hand left by the Yellow Sky Sect, then fine, but if it really is the Yellow Sky Sect acting behind the scenes, no matter who is acting behind the scenes, I, your ancestor, can give him a surprise.” A hint of evil spirit appeared in the Great自在天魔’s eyes.
Zhang Chen hesitated upon hearing this. To be honest, he was tempted by what the Great自在天魔 said. He had the ability to restrain the Great自在天魔, but he might not have the ability to deal with those people in the Yellow Sky Sect.
Especially the mysterious and elusive Grand Celestial Master, who made Zhang Chen even more fearful.
“Boy, plan ahead and be prepared!” The Great自在天魔 said with a smile.
Zhang Chen glanced at the Great自在天魔 and then looked at the Soul Hooking skill on his golden finger panel. Even if the Great自在天魔 really stirred up some trouble, he could find an opportunity to upgrade the skill. At that time, he would definitely be able to restrain the Great自在天魔.
Once the opponent was marked, it would be difficult for them to escape Zhang Chen’s control in this lifetime.
“We’ll see, let’s look at the situation first.”
Zhang Chen led the Great自在天魔 into the house and saw Little Bean practicing her stance and mobilizing her Qi and blood. The Great自在天魔 went forward and circled around Little Bean, then came to Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen was sitting on a recliner, watching Little Bean practice martial arts. Seeing the Great自在天魔 return, he asked: “Can you see anything?”
“I heard people say that during the time of the creation of the world, if gods and demons fell, they would transform into all things in the world and become unique creations of heaven and earth,” the Great自在天魔 said.
“What do you mean?” Zhang Chen’s heart was shocked upon hearing this, and an ominous premonition surged into his heart.
“Someone used secret methods to irrigate this little girl’s body with the power of incense, probably wanting to imitate the ancient times, wanting this little girl to transform into heaven and earth. Don’t you see that the continuous palaces in the incense are the prototypes of the future world?” The Great自在天魔 said.
“Damn it! These guys really deserve to be hacked into pieces! It must be the Yellow Sky Sect’s scheme.” Zhang Chen gritted his teeth in hatred. Little Bean had been living in Yellow Dawn Temple, so who else could it be but the Yellow Sky Sect’s scheme?
She was just a child, she shouldn’t have suffered such persecution.
“Beasts worse than animals.” Zhang Chen was filled with anger: “Is there a way to resolve it?”
“Our strength is not enough, even if we have secret methods, it’s useless.” The Great自在天魔 said.
“Then are we just going to watch this little girl fall?” Zhang Chen was unwilling.
“I have no way, but you may not have a chance to resolve the little girl’s tribulation.” The Great自在天魔 pondered for a moment before saying.
Zhang Chen was puzzled upon hearing this: “If I had a way, I would have used it already, why would I invite you here?”
“I ask you, which is the most powerful force in the world that operates incense?” The Great自在天魔 asked.
“Of course it’s the Yellow Sky Sect.” Zhang Chen replied without hesitation.
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the Great自在天魔 shook his head: “You’re wrong, the most powerful force in the world that controls the Dao of Incense is Buddhism. In front of the wonderful methods of Buddhism to control the Dao of Incense, the Yellow Sky Sect is just a little brother.”
Zhang Chen’s pupils shrank upon hearing this, and his heart was greatly shaken. He understood what the other party meant: “So you have a Buddhist secret method that can resolve Little Bean’s tribulation?”
“Of course I don’t.” The Great自在天魔 said.
“Then you should know where there is one?” Zhang Chen asked again.
“I don’t know where there is one either.” The Great自在天魔 said.
“Then what are you talking about?” Zhang Chen cursed unhappily.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the Great自在天魔 suddenly smiled lightly and pointed at Zhang Chen: “Don’t be annoyed, I don’t have it, but you do.”
“I have it?” Zhang Chen was stunned, not understanding what he meant. Where did he have the wonderful methods of Buddhism?
“The Six Syllable Mantra is the ultimate evolution of all Buddhist dharmas. These six words are both mantras and magical treasures. If you are mindful, they are mantra supernatural powers. If you regard them as magical treasures, then they are magical treasures. If you want to refine these Six Syllable Mantras into magical treasures, you need a huge amount of faith power. If you send the Six Syllable Mantras into that palace and plunder the endless faith in the palace, then not only will Little Bean’s crisis be resolved, but your Six Syllable Mantra Talisman will also be cultivated into a magical treasure.” The Great自在天魔’s voice was full of heat:
“Moreover, with the blessing of the ‘Magical Treasure Six Syllable Mantra’, if you mobilize the Six Syllable Mantra supernatural powers in the future, the power of the Magical Treasure Six Syllable Mantra will also be blessed from the dark, which is beneficial and harmless to you.”
Zhang Chen didn't dwell on the matter of the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman stealing faith. Instead, he focused his attention on the Great自在Heavenly Demon. The Great自在Heavenly Demon seemed a little too eager for the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman, didn't he?
"Don't overthink it. I'm just doing an experiment. If the lost Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman can reappear through this opportunity, then in the future, I might be able to reshape my body and come back to life using incense and faith," the Great自在Heavenly Demon's eyes were burning. "In this era of despair, it might not be impossible to find a completely new path."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen pondered how much of the Great自在Heavenly Demon's words were true and how much were false. But after pondering for a long time without any result, he finally made a decision. "Even if the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman is refined, it will still be my Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman. It will only benefit me and won't harm me."
Moreover, he was currently facing the problem on Little Bean's body and was truly helpless, unable to come up with a feasible plan. He couldn't just watch Little Bean walk into the endless abyss like this.
"How can the Six-Syllable Mantra be refined into a magic treasure?" Zhang Chen asked. He felt that this was not a simple matter.
"Only something formless and without appearance, using incense and faith to turn falsehood into truth, can forge a truly immortal treasure," said the Great自在Heavenly Demon.
"Speak human language," Zhang Chen said, indicating that he didn't understand, and interrupted the Great自在Heavenly Demon's deliberate mystification.
"Use gold to draw it into gold threads, and then use the gold threads to make a calligraphy work. Engrave your Six-Syllable Mantra on it with magic power, and then entrust a strand of your heavenly soul to it as something formless and without appearance. This can be considered complete. As long as the incense palace appears, you can hit the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman into it, and then silently activate the Six-Syllable Mantra, manipulating that strand of heavenly soul to absorb incense and faith. This way, it will be done," said the Great自在Heavenly Demon.
Zhang Chen thought that Taiyi Geng Gold might be better than gold. He had melted Taiyi Geng Gold in his Eight Trigrams Furnace, so he asked, "I have Taiyi Geng Gold. If I use Taiyi Geng Gold to replace it, will the effect be better?"
"What are you thinking! Do you think I'm telling you to use gold just for the sake of using gold? What is really being used is the 'gold' immortality contained in the gold. Gold is just borrowing its body. After success, the gold substance will detach and turn into nothingness and dissipate," the Great自在Heavenly Demon seemed to be looking at a fool:
"The so-called Taiyi Geng Gold, gold, or even innate Geng Gold, there is no difference to me. Their gold immortality is the same."
Zhang Chen didn't quite understand, but he just did as he was told.
It was not difficult for him to obtain gold, but it was not easy to draw gold into threads and weave them into a calligraphy work.
Fortunately, the gold threads were soft, so it was not difficult to weave them into a work as long as the craftsmanship was good.
"So now I need to find someone with skillful hands. I can't do this, but it's not difficult for Xie Lingyun. This matter will have to trouble Xie Lingyun." Thinking of this, Zhang Chen felt that Xie Lingyun hadn't gone far, so he quickly walked out and chased out of the Taoist temple.
Sure enough, Zhang Chen caught up with Xie Lingyun in the front hall. He saw Xie Lingyun walking ahead with a blank expression, and Little Prince Zhang Xiaohua following behind, chasing after her.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen couldn't help but shake his head secretly. Zhang Xiaohua's ambition was really not small.
"Commander Xie, please stop," Zhang Chen shouted from afar.
Xie Lingyun stopped, turned her head to look at Zhang Chen. Zhang Xiaohua also looked at Zhang Chen, and asked with a smile, "Junior Nephew Zhang, what do you want Commander Xie for?"
"I have private matters to discuss with Commander Xie," Zhang Chen said as he came to Xie Lingyun.
Xie Lingyun glanced at Zhang Xiaohua. Zhang Xiaohua was sensible and said to Xie Lingyun and Zhang Chen, "You talk, I remember there are still some things in the Taoist temple that have not been dealt with."
Zhang Xiaohua left, and Xie Lingyun and Zhang Chen came to a corner. After seeing that there was no one around, Xie Lingyun said, "What's the matter that you called me in such a hurry?"
"I want to trouble you to do something for me. I want to use gold threads to make a calligraphy work. The gold must be pure enough. Please pay for it first, and I will return it to you when I go down the mountain next time," Zhang Chen said.
Xie Lingyun didn't think much of it when she heard this. "It's just a little gold, it's nothing."
Zhang Chen didn't say anything more when he heard this, but just remembered it in his heart. He and Xie Lingyun didn't need to say so much.
So Zhang Chen told Xie Lingyun the size. After hearing this, Xie Lingyun calculated slightly, "It won't take much gold, one catty is enough."
Zhang Chen thanked her repeatedly and sent Xie Lingyun out of the gate.
On the way back, he saw Zhang Xiaohua stopping Zhang Chen. "Junior Nephew Zhang, what did you say to Commander Xie? What do you need Commander Xie to do?"
Zhang Chen frowned when he looked at Zhang Xiaohua's arrogant appearance, but he didn't want to have a conflict with Zhang Xiaohua at this time. For him, staying in the Taoist temple to plot for a higher-level formula for Qi training was the priority. A small impatience can ruin a big plan.
"You also know that my family is still in the Inspection Department, so of course I asked Commander Xie to help take care of them," Zhang Chen said with a smile, but he had murderous intentions towards Zhang Xiaohua in his heart. "I wonder if the Great自在Heavenly Demon has planted a demonic seed in Zhang Xiaohua's body?"
He sensed it slightly, and the demonic seed had already been planted. He detected the mark of the Great自在Heavenly Demon in Zhang Xiaohua's soul, so he nodded secretly in his heart. "Good boy, I want to see how long you can last. When the Great自在Heavenly Demon devours you and takes control of your body, then the Pingbian Prince's Mansion will be mine."
"Did Commander Xie say when she will come again?" Zhang Xiaohua asked, his eyes full of eagerness.
"It will be ten days at the longest, and three to five days at the shortest. There is no need for the heir to be anxious," Zhang Chen said.
"Hahaha, let's go, let's go, I'll treat you to wine," Zhang Xiaohua said with a smile on his face, put his arm around Zhang Chen's shoulder, and then dragged Zhang Chen towards the backyard.
On the way to Zhang Xiaohua's residence, Zhang Chen noticed something was wrong.
Sure enough, while drinking and eating, Zhang Chen noticed the difference. After the wine entered his throat, the flow of his blood suddenly accelerated, and a strange medicinal power appeared in his blood.
"This medicinal power... can disrupt people's essence, qi, and spirit? But my current strength can't be harmed by this mere medicinal power. I want to see what Zhang Xiaohua wants to do." Zhang Chen's murderous intentions surged, and the blood-red sea water in the sea of blood rolled. The medicinal power that entered Zhang Chen's blood was directly turned into nothingness.