Chapter 545: No Trading, No Killing

The five channeling spirits forward, a flow bound to fray; given the inevitable leaching of essence, length of time meant all would empty out.

Fortuitously, Lu Yang had passed them the Devouring Heaven Art, so while they funneled essence, four mouths gaped wide to gorge on ambient power, leaving the supervising Elder to wonder if they had succumbed to madness.

The exchange aimed to blend them until there was no telling who was who, and now Lu Yang's essence was barely his own but a composite of the other four, whose conditions mirrored his as the fusion deepened.

The Teaching Elder had not anticipated they would attain such mutual immersion so rapidly.

"Next begins the third step: practicing the combined techniques..."

"Speaking of which, the dates for the Five Great Immortal Sects exchange align, and Lu Yang and his companions should have reached the Five Elements Sect by now. Why hasn't Shi Chan of the Hanging Temple arrived?" Dai Bufan murmured to himself, sorting through intelligence.

"Could something have gone amiss?"

A handsome monk stepped out of a slaughterhouse, heading toward the nearest mooring point for the flying vessels.

"What a savory aroma."

His nose twitched as he passed a tavern. It was noon, the peak of business, and the wafting scent of prepared dishes arrested his stride.

A meal would not delay the vessel.

Altering his route on a whim, he turned and stepped into the tavern.

"Attendant, is there an empty seat?"

"Ah, Master, you have come to the right place! Our Thousands-League Fragrance Tavern serves vegetarian dishes that are quite unparalleled!"

"I have no need for vegetarian fare. Bring me two catties of spiced beef, a portion of braised pork trotter, and a bowl of mutton tripe noodles."

The tavern hand stared in astonishment, wondering if his ears had deceived him.

Impostor monks were common enough these days, but one so blatantly fraudulent was a first.

Yet it was none of his concern; he merely served what was ordered.

"Honored guest, please wait a moment."

Before long, a large platter of spiced beef, a portion of braised pork trotter, and a bowl of mutton tripe noodles graced the table. Shi Chan consumed them with unhurried deliberation.

"Honored guest, that will be sixty-six copper coins in total."

The monk wiped his mouth, his tone serene: "My master often told me that without trade, there is no slaughter. If no one in the world ate meat, no one would slaughter livestock, and your tavern would sell no meat dishes, only vegetarian fare. He always warned us never to order meat in taverns, lest we feed an unrighteous trend."

The tavern hand was thoroughly bewildered by this discourse: "So, honored guest, you mean to..."

"Dine without paying. For if no money changes hands, it cannot be considered trade."

The mountain gate of the Dao Inquiry Sect.

Two guarding disciples yawned out of sheer boredom, chatting idly about recent rumors.

"Lately, no one has come seeking marriage alliances with Junior Brother Lu. It is much quieter now."

"Indeed. I had never seen people lining up at the door like that. It was truly an eye-opener."

A slender figure approached, hands pressed together in prayer, and asked aloud:

"Pardon me, is this the Dao Inquiry Sect?"

The newcomer was handsome, clad in tattered monastic robes, his large eyes bright and clear as pool water, his head smooth and devoid of hair.

Had he not worn those robes, the guarding disciples might have mistaken him for another victim of Lu's Arhat Boxing seeking vengeance.

"Junior Brother Shi Chan of the Hanging Temple?" one guarding disciple asked tentatively, recalling the instructions from Senior Brother Dai regarding the season of Immortal Sect exchanges, when a monk from the Hanging Temple would arrive for study.

"It is indeed this poor monk. Apologies for the delay; washing dishes proved rather time-consuming."

Though mystified by the explanation, the disciple spoke politely: "Please wait here a moment. I shall fetch Senior Brother Dai."

One disciple departed to find Dai Bufan, while the other remained at the gate.

Shortly after, Dai Bufan arrived in haste, spotting Shi Chan meditating at the entrance.

Observing Shi Chan's dignified bearing, thick brows, large eyes filled with righteousness, and a foundation entirely solid without a shred of pretense, Dai Bufan nodded inwardly, deeming him a true disciple of Master Jie Sha.

Shi Chan sat cross-legged, levitating in mid-air. Sensing Dai Bufan's approach, he rose to greet him: "Greetings, Senior Brother Dai."

"Junior Brother Shi Chan, have you journeyed to the Dao Inquiry Sect alone?"

"The senior brothers and uncles of the temple are occupied, lacking the leisure to escort this poor monk."

"Occupied?"

"Yes. Master heard tidings of your honorable Sect Master's whereabouts in the Desolate Province, and led the uncles and senior brothers there."

Dai Bufan: "..."

If his memory served, it was his own master who, out of brotherly loyalty, had impersonated the Silent Daoist to spread information and perform storytelling throughout the Desolate Province.

Could the news Master Jie Sha heard actually concern his own master?

Never mind. A master has his own fortunes; it was not for a disciple to worry. At worst, if caught, he would merely receive a beating—it would not kill him.

"Junior Brother Shi Chan, please enter."

Dai Bufan received the visitor personally, hoping his hospitality might move Master Jie Sha to strike his master a little lighter when the time came.

They crossed the domain of the River Spirit and entered the core region of the Dao Inquiry Sect. Shi Chan was startled by the bustling prosperity before him.

Compared to the Hanging Temple, the Dao Inquiry Sect was excessively lively.

"I wonder how much you know of our Dao Inquiry Sect, Junior Brother Shi Chan, and what you wish to study here?"

"While Master was still speaking, he told this poor monk much about your sect. Your resources are vast, your techniques and divine abilities numerous—especially the Library, which holds countless methods."

"This poor monk does have two divine abilities he wishes to learn."

"Speak freely, Junior Brother."

"I have heard that Fellow Daoist Lu Yang possesses a style of Arhat Boxing wherein any struck by it must lose their hair. I wonder if it can be learned?"

"This..." Dai Bufan looked troubled. Of all the spells to study, why choose Lu Yang's? Was that even something one could learn?

"To be frank, Junior Brother Lu's Arhat Boxing is highly peculiar; he is the only one in the entire sect who knows it, and he has already departed for the Five Elements Sect."

"There is also Fellow Daoist Meng Jingzhou's unified fist technique, which features a Singlehood Curse Fist that carries karmic weight. I wonder if that might be learned."

You must be here to challenge our hall, Dai Bufan thought. You ask precisely for what we do not have.

"Neither is available, then." Upon hearing this, Shi Chan looked visibly disappointed.

He had long yearned for these two fist techniques, believing them to be the true divine abilities of Buddhism, far surpassing the Scripture of Delivering Men or the Sixteen-Foot Golden Body.

Alas, those who knew them were absent.

"It seems the affinity is not yet ripe; forcing it would be improper. Senior Brother Dai may return to his duties; this poor monk shall wander the Dao Inquiry Sect. Your sect enjoys a long-standing reputation, and having never seen it, this poor monk shall use the opportunity to broaden his horizons."

Dai Bufan was indeed busy. As the practical leader of the Mission Hall, a single day of rest left matters piled high as mountains.

"Take this token. Holding it is equivalent to my presence; you may move freely within the sect, even visiting places like the Library. Should you have questions, ask any nearby junior brothers or sisters; they will answer you."

Shi Chan accepted the token from Dai Bufan and offered his thanks.

Returning to the Mission Hall, Dai Bufan did not immediately tend to his work. After a moment's thought, he drew forth a jade disc—the magical treasure used to communicate with the Grand Elder.

Upon the artifact, he wrote: "Master, Junior Brother Shi Chan states that Master Jie Sha has led all cultivators of the Hanging Temple to the Desolate Province in search of the Sect Master. Since you are impersonating the Sect Master there for storytelling, you may encounter them. Please exercise extreme caution."

Dai Bufan pressed his index finger to the center of the jade disc and dispatched the message.

Soon, the Great Elder sent his reply.

"Say it sooner next time"

Dai Bufan fell into a brief silence, then analyzed: "He didn't even use punctuation; it seems the battle is fierce."

"Master is indeed Master, strategizing and looking far ahead. He must have known long ago that he would suffer this tribulation, which is why he built the tombs on such a grand scale."

The second update will be at eleven o'clock