Left-handed immortality begins with the Demon Suppression Division

Chapter 121 Giving Dharma Ceremony

淮城

On the altar

The monks had already left, and in their place, the hutuo monks in charge of almsgiving were distributing fragrant vegetarian meals. Although there was no meat, it was still a delicacy that would be considered excellent even in an ordinary household. People who came to pray for blessings, regardless of their status, all ate heartily with expressions of enjoyment.

Inside the tents behind the stage, the martial monks on guard and the eighteen Arhats performing the tour were distributing delicious vegetarian food.

The thirty-six people who had been enlightened formed a long queue, many of them already having rumbling stomachs. Seemingly due to excessive hunger, some were pale and dizzy.

Dao Yuan and Fang Hongxuan were given special consideration and were given two blanched chicken legs that hadn't been cooked with any meat, their plates piled high with food. This was understandable; after all, wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue, and even a sacred Buddhist site is not immune to some filth and unpleasantness.

Huiyin and the fortune-telling monk were not among them; they had already disappeared into the crowd as soon as they stepped down from the stage.

Daoyuan, who was already starving, kept swallowing his saliva, but he showed no intention of touching his chopsticks.

Seeing this, Fang Hongxuan put down the food he was about to eat. He first looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before he murmured a question.

"Could there be something wrong with the food?"

Dao Yuan did not speak, but responded to Fang Hongxuan with a barely perceptible nod.

After a while, and making sure no one was paying attention to the table and chairs anymore, Daoyuan slowly spoke.

Every meal offered in the alms-giving ceremony was laced with a bewitching drug; anyone affected would easily believe what others said. Even if you are immune to all poisons, this bewitching drug is colorless and odorless, and cannot be neutralized unless you can activate your internal energy.

"....."

Where did Fang Hongxuan get his internal energy from? Therefore, we had no choice but to stop talking about this matter.

As for the two monks hiding in the crowd, they nodded slightly upon seeing this.

"It doesn't seem like a pretense. It appears they truly have some connection with the Great Temple, otherwise they wouldn't have ignored our alms offering..."

"In that case, let's report it truthfully..."

Another monk who had been quietly observing the situation also intervened.

"It is said that a conflict broke out between the discipline monks of the Disciplinary Hall and the martial monks of the Martial Monks Hall..."

"What happened?"

The two monks looked at the bhikkhu with great curiosity.

"Ahem... I only heard about it, so please don't spread rumors that I said it..."

"Of course, who doesn't know that we in the kitchen have the lowest status? We're bullied by the other four groups every day, and even the fellow apprentices in the kitchen don't like each other... Now the three of us can stick together for warmth and avoid being bullied by others..."

The monk first looked around before speaking solemnly.

"Everyone knows that after three more people, there will be a competition between the various rooms... At that time, it will be like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities. Guang Nian from the Martial Monk Academy was eager for quick success and wanted to take the risk of refining the 'Boundless Yaksha Devouring Body Seal,' but in the end, something went wrong. The vessel actually escaped while Guang Nian was not paying attention."

"If we find them, it's not a big problem. We have indeed found the person, but the Yaksha that was nurtured inside their body has disappeared without a trace..."

One of the monks, a kind-looking fellow, asked in surprise, his loud voice drawing the attention of the surrounding people.

Even Dao Yuan and Fang Hongxuan were no exception.

"Shh... Do you want to become a slave again?"

The two monks covered his mouth and nose in horror, and only when the surrounding people stopped paying attention to the three did they lower their guard.

However, Daoyuan and Fang Hongxuan, who were secretly observing the surroundings, had already noticed the commotion and were now straining their ears to listen intently.

"Where has that yaksha fled to? If the abbot finds out, I'm afraid all of them will be used as sustenance for the other monks in the monastery to practice."

"It's said that he was absorbed by monks from other monasteries, which is why they rushed into the city to search for him. The disciplinary monks were responsible for observing in secret, while the martial monks were responsible for guarding. The two should have been completely unrelated, but unfortunately, one of the disciplinary monks saw someone who resembled the murderer..."

"Oh? Then who are they?"

"It's said to be a cold-faced swordsman and a plump novice monk, about eight or nine years old..."

As if sensing something, the three of them simultaneously met the eyes of Fang Hongxuan and Daoyuan.

"It seems this disciplinary monk does indeed possess some skill..."

"What's next?"

The five people's intertwined gazes quickly dissipated, and Fang Hongxuan asked about Dao Yuan in an almost inaudible murmur.

"It's alright, we are all disciples of Huikong. This Da Ruo Temple is our only support, what can they do to us?"

Dao Yuan smiled, but his expression was full of confidence and disdain.

However, Fang Hongxuan's expression changed several times. After enduring for a long time, he finally asked the question.

"Master, is there really a monk whose Dharma name is Huikong? To tell you the truth, my master is also named Huikong. He also taught me a certain scripture that I cannot practice for the time being, as well as the Golden Bell Cover and Iron Shirt techniques."

Thinking of this, Fang Hongxuan described all of Huikong's characteristics. Daoyuan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Whether it's true or not, you'll find out once you go up the mountain and look through the files. However, I think it's probably just someone with the same name. After all, from what I remember, Huikong is a monk with excellent aptitude and talent, quite gifted. He shouldn't be the blind monk you're talking about. As for the Golden Bell Cover and Iron Shirt techniques, every temple has their own methods of cultivation."

"Sizzle..."

The tent flap was abruptly torn open.

Huiyin, his face gloomy, strode in. He swept his gaze fiercely over everyone present, finally settling on Fang Hongxuan and Daoyuan. His usually expressionless face suddenly broke into a faint smile, a smile filled with unbridled pleasure and disdain.

"We are still dozens of miles away from the Golden Summit. It's getting late, so we should set off sooner so we can rest earlier tonight."

Although the tone was one of negotiation, his words were filled with an undeniable decisiveness.

The group had no choice but to put down their bowls and chopsticks and follow the leading monk out of the city along the path, heading towards the Great Monastery.

As for Dou Yan'an, he subconsciously followed behind the two.

"Will these people lose their lives going up to the temple?"

"It's hard to say, after all, I don't know the current situation of Da Ruo Temple."

...

Even though they had chosen a deserted path, the group could still clearly hear the deafening gongs and drums and the bustling crowd outside the alley. The other thirty-four people all wore expressions of joy, and their excitement was impossible to conceal.

Several people in the group wanted to vent their excitement, but ultimately failed to break the silence.

Only Dao Yuan, Fang Hongxuan, and the eighteen escorting monks, along with Hui Yin leading the way, walked silently. However, when the eighteen monks looked at the remaining thirty-four people, their greed was undisguised.