Chapter 535: No Buying, No Killing

All five individuals transferred spiritual power to the person in front of them. Since this transfer incurs a loss, everyone's spiritual power would eventually be depleted over time. Fortunately, Lu Yang had taught the four the Heaven-Devouring Cultivation Method. So, while transferring spiritual power, they simultaneously opened their mouths wide, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. The Elder of Transmission even thought they were possessed.

The transfer of spiritual power also aimed to achieve a state of deep interconnectedness. At this point, Lu Yang's spiritual power was barely his own; it was almost entirely from the other four. The other four were in much the same situation, their spiritual energies thoroughly merged. The Elder of Transmission was surprised that the five had entered this state so quickly.

"Now, we begin the third step: practicing combined skills..."

"Speaking of which, the exchange period for the five great immortal sects is nearing its end. Junior Brother Lu Yang and the other four have already reached the Five Elements Sect. Why hasn't Master Shizhen from Xuankong Temple arrived yet?" Dai Bufan mumbled to himself, looking down as he organized some information.

"Could something have happened?"

The handsome monk exited the slaughterhouse and headed towards the nearest airship dock.

"What a fragrant smell."

The monk's nose twitched as he passed by a restaurant. It was noon, the busiest time for business, and the wafting aroma of food made him stop. Eating a meal wouldn't delay him from catching the airship. He temporarily changed his plans, turned, and entered the restaurant.

"Waiter, is there still a table available here?"

"Master, you've come to the right place! Our vegetarian dishes at Qianlixiang Restaurant are also exceptional!"

"I don't want vegetarian dishes. Bring me two catties of braised beef, a portion of braised pork hock, and a bowl of lamb offal noodles."

The waiter looked at the monk in surprise, thinking he had misheard. Many people pretended to be monks these days, but this was the first time he had seen such a fake one. However, it had nothing to do with him; he just needed to serve whatever the customer ordered.

"Please wait a moment, honored guest."

Before long, a large plate of braised beef, a portion of braised pork hock, and a bowl of lamb offal noodles were served. Shizhen slowly finished his meal.

"Honored guest, the total is sixty-six coins."

The monk wiped his mouth and calmly stated, "My master often tells me: 'No business, no killing.' If no one in the world ate meat, no one would kill animals, and your restaurant would only sell vegetarian dishes. He always warned us not to order meat dishes in restaurants, as it encourages improper conduct."

The waiter was utterly confused by this speech: "So, honored guest, are you trying to..."

"Dine and dash. If I don't pay, it's not considered a transaction."

***

The gate of Wen Dao Sect.

Two mountain-guarding disciples were yawning from boredom, chatting idly and discussing recent events.

"Finally, no one is trying to arrange a marriage with Junior Brother Lu anymore. It's much quieter."

"Tell me about it. I've never seen people lining up at our doorstep like that before. It was quite an eye-opener."

A slender figure approached, clasped his hands together, and asked in a clear voice:

"Excuse me, is this Wen Dao Sect?"

The newcomer was handsome, clad in a worn kasaya. His large eyes were bright and clear like a pond, and his head was bald. If it weren't for the kasaya, the mountain-guarding disciples would have almost thought he was a victim of Lu Yang's Arhat Fist coming to seek revenge.

"Junior Brother Shizhen from Xuankong Temple?" one mountain-guarding disciple asked tentatively, recalling Senior Brother Dai's instructions that monks from Xuankong Temple would visit Wen Dao Sect for study and exchange during the immortal sect exchange period.

"That would be me, indeed. My apologies for the delay; washing dishes took quite some time."

The mountain-guarding disciples were baffled by Shizhen's words. They politely said, "Please wait here for a moment. I'll go get Senior Brother Dai." One disciple went to find Senior Brother Dai, while the other continued guarding the gate.

Before long, Dai Bufan arrived in a hurry and saw Shizhen meditating at the sect gate. He observed Shizhen's dignified appearance: thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an air of righteousness. His cultivation foundation was exceptionally solid, without a trace of superficiality. Dai Bufan secretly nodded, thinking, "As expected of a disciple trained by Master Jiesha."

Shizhen was meditating cross-legged, suspended in mid-air. Sensing Dai Bufan approaching, he rose and bowed, "Greetings, Senior Brother Dai."

"Junior Brother Shizhen, are you the only one who has come to Wen Dao Sect?"

"My senior brothers and uncles at the temple are currently busy and unable to escort me to Wen Dao Sect."

"Busy?"

"Yes, Master heard news of your sect's leader in Barren State, so he led the senior uncles and brothers there."

Dai Bufan: "..."

If he remembered correctly, his own master, valuing fraternal loyalty, was impersonating Daoist Buyu, spreading information and telling stories throughout Barren State. The news Master Jiesha heard, could it be about his master? Never mind. His master had his own fortune; there was no need for a disciple like him to worry. At most, he'd get a beating if caught; it wouldn't kill him.

"Junior Brother Shizhen, please come in."

Dai Bufan personally received Junior Brother Shizhen, hoping his actions would move Master Jiesha to go easy on his master if he ever beat him. The two passed through the River Spirit's territory and entered the core area of Wen Dao Sect. Shizhen was surprised by the lively and prosperous appearance of Wen Dao Sect. Compared to Xuankong Temple, Wen Dao Sect was truly overly bustling.

"Junior Brother Shizhen, how much do you know about my Wen Dao Sect, and what do you wish to learn here?"

"When my master could still speak, he told me a lot about your esteemed sect. He mentioned that your sect has abundant cultivation resources, numerous cultivation methods and divine abilities, and especially the Scripture Pavilion, which contains countless such methods and abilities."

"I do have two divine abilities I wish to learn."

"Junior Brother, please speak freely."

"I heard that Daoist Lu Yang has an Arhat Fist technique that causes hair loss in anyone struck by it. I wonder if I can learn it?"

"This..." Dai Bufan displayed a troubled expression. Of all the techniques to learn, why did he have to choose Lu Yang's? Was that even something one could learn?

"To be frank, Junior Brother Lu's Arhat Fist is truly unique. He is the only one in the entire sect who knows it, and he has already gone to the Five Elements Sect for study and exchange."

"Also, Daoist Meng Jingzhou's Unified Fist, which includes a 'Single Curse Fist' that contains karma. I wonder if I can learn that as well?"

Are you sure you aren't here to stir up trouble? You're asking to learn precisely what isn't available.

"Neither are available?" Shizhen was clearly disappointed upon hearing this news. He had long yearned for these two fist techniques, believing them to be the true divine abilities of Buddhism, far superior to scriptures like the *Scripture of Deliverance* or the *Sixteen-Foot Golden Body*. Unfortunately, the people who knew them were not here.

"It seems my fate has not yet arrived for these; it would be improper to force it. Senior Brother Dai, please go attend to your duties. I will take a walk around Wen Dao Sect. It has long been renowned, and I have never seen it before, so this is a good opportunity to broaden my horizons."

Dai Bufan was indeed very busy. He was the de facto leader of the Mission Hall, and even a single day off would result in a mountain of accumulated tasks.

"Keep this token. With this life token, it's as if I am present. You can move freely within the sect, even visiting places like the Scripture Pavilion. If you have any questions, you can ask the nearby junior brothers and sisters, and they will answer them for you."

Shizhen took the token offered by Dai Bufan and thanked him.

Dai Bufan returned to the Mission Hall. Instead of dealing with his pending tasks, he thought for a moment and took out a jade disc, a magical artifact he used to communicate with the Grand Elder. He wrote on the artifact: "Master, Junior Brother Shizhen said that Master Jiesha has led all the cultivators from Xuankong Temple to Barren State, searching for the sect leader's whereabouts. Since you are impersonating the sect leader and telling stories in Barren State, you might encounter them. Please be extra careful."

Dai Bufan pressed his index finger on the center of the jade disc to send the message. Soon, the Grand Elder responded:

"Tell me sooner next time"

Dai Bufan was silent for a moment, then analyzed: "He didn't even use punctuation. It seems the battle is fierce."

"Master is indeed Master. He plans strategically and thinks far ahead. He must have known he would face this calamity, which is why he built those grand tombs."

The second update will be at eleven o'clock.

(End of this chapter)