Chapter 546: Practice Brings True Knowledge

Shi Chan sensed the overall atmosphere of the Wendao Sect and was quite moved. He could feel that the entire sect was filled with a positive, vibrant energy, vastly different from the Hanging Temple.

He felt that their Hanging Temple truly lacked this lively ambiance.

"No wonder rumors in the marketplace say the Wendao Sect is the number one immortal sect; it is truly not without reason."

The so-called marketplace rumors were actually the storytelling piece, "The Legend of the Wendao Sect."

He stood by the arena for a moment, watching the Wendao Sect disciples exchange blows back and forth. Their magical duels were spectacular, drawing spontaneous applause.

The disciples knew one another, and with him being an outsider standing in the crowd, people quickly guessed his identity.

"Could the newcomer be Junior Brother Shi Chan of the Hanging Temple? Would you care to step onto the arena for a match?"

Shi Chan smiled and shook his head in refusal, stating directly that he came to the Wendao Sect to seek the Buddhist Dharma, not to flaunt bravery or fight aggressively, which would violate his original intent.

Jokes aside, you are all starting at the Nascent Soul stage. Only a ghost could win against you. Going up there wouldn't be a match; it would be receiving a beating.

"Master often said that Daoist Buyu possesses both a Buddhist and a demonic nature, and if not restrained, he would surely bring disaster to the world. Daoist Buyu's cultivation progresses too fast, and only Master can subdue him. I wonder what character the disciple of Daoist Buyu possesses."

He inquired among the surrounding people for information regarding Lu Yang.

Lu Yang was quite a celebrity in the Wendao Sect. His tenure as acting sect master for two months and three days had allowed him to steal the spotlight completely; when speaking of him, any disciple could share a word or two.

"To think that this person, Lu Yang, actually used his acting sect master authority to force his own victory. It truly fills me with disdain. However, judging by his reputation, he is well-regarded in the Wendao Sect. No wonder he could cultivate the Arhat Fist. It seems Fellow Daoist Lu Yang has a deep Buddhist nature and a bright future ahead. Presumably, his use of the acting sect master authority was due to being possessed by a great demon, leading him astray. Amitabha, Amitabha."

Compared to Daoist Buyu, Lu Yang acted openly and honorably, enjoying an excellent reputation in the Wendao Sect.

"According to various senior brothers and sisters, Daoist Buyu has four disciples. Lu Yang is the fourth. The second and third disciples are not in the Central Continent, leaving only the eldest disciple to guard Tianmen Peak."

"Before his lifetime, Master often admonished me not to provoke the eldest disciple of Daoist Buyu. As the saying goes, practice brings true knowledge; scripture and words are merely the experiences of predecessors, so how can they be copied directly? Let me give it a try."

Following the directions, Shi Chan arrived at Tianmen Peak and found Yun Zhi, who was currently cultivating.

Yun Zhi concluded her practice and looked at Shi Chan with slight bewilderment, not understanding why a disciple from the Hanging Temple would seek her out.

"This humble monk is a disciple of the Hanging Temple, dharma name Shi Chan. May I ask if Senior is the eldest disciple of Daoist Buyu?"

"Indeed. What business brings Junior Brother Shi Chan to me?"

"This humble monk has heard that Senior Yun Zhi's cultivation is peerless and invincible among the same realm. I wonder if Senior could suppress your cultivation to the late Golden Core stage and have a match with me?"

"Very well."

"To tell the truth, this humble monk has never suffered a single defeat since entering the world. I possess quite some confidence in my own cultivation. Senior Yun Zhi may strike at will, with no need to worry about whether I can withstand it."

Not long after, Shi Chan limped down Tianmen Peak, his face bruised and swollen.

"It seems Master was right; one truly cannot provoke Senior Yun Zhi."

Shi Chan then arrived at the commercial street, where he could clearly feel that from the shopkeepers to the assistants, hidden dragons and crouching tigers were everywhere, making the place quite extraordinary.

"Looking at it this way, more than a third of the commercial street consists of experts."

In truth, everyone on the commercial street was an expert; it was just that the remaining two-thirds had returned to a state of pristine simplicity, so he could not perceive it.

Suddenly his footsteps halted, a look of vigilance appearing on his face.

Before him was a cultivator possessing a very obvious malevolent aura. Who knew how many lives were on his hands!

A demonic cult?!

Follow him and see.

He cautiously followed behind that cultivator, keeping pace for half a street before finally stopping.

The cultivator stopped in front of a barbecue shop. Shi Chan's nose twitched as he caught the aroma—it was the reaction produced by cumin and mutton, completely ignited by flames, making one's appetite soar and causing him to swallow his saliva involuntarily.

"Mutton skewers here! Fresh and authentic mutton skewers!"

"Old Gao, Old Liu, I've brought you the meat."

Upon hearing this, Master Liu cheerfully handed the meat skewers in his hand to Master Gao to roast, while he took the storage ring from the Sect Leader.

Inside the storage ring was all freshly slaughtered beef and mutton, incredibly fresh, with the muscles still twitching as if they were dancing.

"Little Master, you've followed me all this way. Do you want to eat some skewers?" The Sect Leader turned around, having noticed Shi Chan tracking him long ago.

"Have two skewers, Little Master?" Master Gao kindly offered them to Shi Chan.

Shi Chan slowly but firmly shook his head: "This humble monk brought no money."

Going to a restaurant to eat did not cost much, and if one couldn't pay, it could be resolved by washing dishes. The skewers before him, however, were pricey and settled with spirit stones, clearly not something that could be offset by a few days of dishwashing.

"No matter. Looking at your appearance, you must be from the Hanging Temple. A guest is a guest; these two skewers are free of charge, consider it our treat."

Shi Chan continued to shake his head: "One cannot accept things for free. How about this, I see you seem to run a livestock farm. Coincidentally, this humble monk has worked at a livestock farm for a period of time, so I can go help at your farm."

In truth, Shi Chan had been working in a slaughterhouse before this. If his martial uncle hadn't told him to go study at the Wendao Sect, he would still be in the slaughterhouse right now.

Since the Wendao Sect provided this opportunity, he might as well use it to continue his cultivation.

"This..." The Sect Leader hesitated. This young monk was clearly an eminent monk from the Hanging Temple. Letting him go to the farm might cause the Wendao Sect to not let him off easily if they found out.

Shi Chan pulled out the token given by Dai Bufan: "Senior Brother Dai told me that by holding this token, I can go anywhere in the Wendao Sect."

Seeing Shi Chan's resolute attitude, the Sect Leader no longer objected, and Shi Chan enjoyed the skewers as he wished.

He led Shi Chan through the core area to a grassland. This was the livestock farm he operated, with cattle and sheep everywhere, and the water and grass were lush and beautiful.

"Boss, you're back."

Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Qi, the three glamorous ghosts, were greatly surprised to see the Sect Leader bringing a monk along.

It was miraculous enough for a demonic cult leader to open a livestock farm, so why was a monk coming to the farm too?

Shi Chan was also very surprised upon seeing the three glamorous ghosts. To think that the Wendao Sect would shelter three glamorous ghosts—were they practicing the Sage's way of educating all without discrimination?

"Shi Chan greets the three female benefactors."

Xiao Wu and the other two hastily returned the courtesy.

Shi Chan quickly got on track. With a raise and drop of his knife, the slaughtering blade glided along the muscle texture of the cow, and the beef was divided into over a dozen pieces by location in the blink of an eye.

"Amitabha, Namo Amitabhaya, Tathagataya..."

Shi Chan put down the slaughtering blade and chanted the Rebirth Mantra to dissipate the cow's resentment.

This was why he had slaughtered countless cows yet remained completely clean, without a shred of resentment upon his body.

He had always been dedicated to making all butchers learn the Rebirth Mantra, though unfortunately there was little progress at present.

If all butchers could be like him, the foolish matter of Great Yu cultivators using the resentment of cattle and sheep to refine soul-summoning banners would not occur.

"Little Master, please quickly withdraw your divine power," Xiao Wu and the other two ghosts pleaded. The three of them were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, so how could they withstand a Rebirth Mantra of Shi Chan's caliber.

Hearing this, Shi Chan hurriedly stopped his chanting.

He had completely forgotten that there were still three ghosts here.

Feeling guilt in his heart, Shi Chan kindly said, "If there comes a day when you are tired of living, you can tell this humble monk. I will perform a ritual to deliver you for free."

The three glamorous ghosts repeatedly said there was no need.

A new book by a friend's alternative account, of the court and martial world genre, with top-tier writing and plot, well worth a look.

(End of this chapter)