Mortal Mirror

The young monk looked at Fakong, silent for a moment, and then said, "Yes, Senior Brother, thank you for your protection over the years. Last night, I suddenly woke up. For many years, I have been trapped by love, my obsession turning into a demon.

Now I have seen through the mortal world and want to go out and wander."

"Junior Brother, now that you have seen through the mortal world, why not continue to be a monk and stay here to meditate on the supreme Dharma? Wouldn't that be the best choice?"

"Senior Brother, to be honest, I have already dispersed my cultivation, just to reshape myself. Emptiness is form, and form is emptiness. Everything in the world, the distinction between good and evil, is only in one's thought. In one thought, I can be a Buddha, and I can also be a demon.

And this time, I want to re-experience the world and comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth.

Let go of obsessions, let go of myself. I also want to see the sky, see the earth, see all living beings.

And from now on, my name will no longer be Chen Beidou. My Buddhist name is Yinian, just to remind myself that in one thought, ten thousand years pass. With one thought arises, thousands of mountains and rivers appear; with one thought extinguished, the seas change into mulberry fields.

I want to start over in this world. Perhaps only by discarding the old shackles of the past can I truly know who I am today."

The usually serious Fakong was slightly moved when he heard this, and said, "Junior Brother, so be it. Master once said that everything comes from the heart. The body has not moved, but the heart has already gone far away. Since you have made such a decision, I respect your thoughts.

Back then, you entered the demonic path because of love, creating endless killings. I had no choice but to imprison you in this Little Prajna Temple.

In my opinion, if it weren't for what happened back then, you might have already opened the gates of heaven and ascended.

Now that you have suddenly awakened, I am truly happy. Although your cultivation has dissipated, I know that you are different, very different. In the ten thousand years of our Prajna Temple, no one can compare to your wisdom root, and no one would dare to say they are first.

However, things in the world are unpredictable, and the will of heaven is difficult to defy. I only hope that in the future, you can uphold your original heart, have the Buddha in your heart, and never create endless killings again."

Yinian nodded and said, "Senior Brother, I understand. It's just that I have really troubled you for the past thousand years. For my sake, you have been trapped in this small place. It is all my sin."

Fakong was moved when he heard this. His resolute heart of iron finally softened, and his eyes were a little moist as he said, "Junior Brother, I am very gratified that you can think this way. However, as I said, all karma is born from obsession. Am I not also in karma?

It's just that I'm old. A thousand years... how many more thousand years do we have?

So, Junior Brother, I don't have much lifespan left. Promise me that you will come back to see me when you have time. Senior Brother may not have many years to live."

Yinian's heart was also slightly moved when he heard this. For a moment, he even wanted to stay and accompany his senior brother.

In the end, he hardened his heart and said nothing, only nodded, "Senior Brother... I will."

Just as he was about to leave, the door of the temple banged loudly.

At this moment, the night was deep, and no one knew who was visiting the temple.

A young novice monk opened the door and saw Li Ergou, who was wearing a constable's uniform. He was slightly surprised and said, "Officer, what are you doing at the temple so late?"

Li Ergou immediately said, "I'm looking for your abbot, Master Fakong."

The young novice monk blinked and nodded, "Then come with me."

Soon, Li Ergou, led by the young novice monk, met Fakong and Yinian.

Li Ergou looked at Fakong. This was the first time he had looked at this person. He saw that his face was rosy, his face was square, his eyebrows were a little white, and he had a kind appearance.

Strangely, there was also a monk-like person beside him. This person was very young, looking no older than himself. He had delicate features, well-defined features, and his eyes revealed a sense of detachment, as if he were beyond the mundane world.

He looked at Fakong and quickly clasped his hands together and bowed, "The Deputy Chief Constable of Yu City greets Master Fakong."

Fakong looked at Li Ergou, raised his eyebrows, and said with slight surprise, "Oh, it's you."

Hearing this, Li Ergou was a little puzzled and said, "Does Master know me?"

Fakong nodded slightly and said, "Back then, Li Zheng'an opened his heavenly eye to look at your roots, and I also took a look. I remember that your roots were extremely poor, and it would be very difficult to even achieve Qi Refining, let alone Foundation Establishment, which would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Strange, it's really strange. I didn't expect you to have achieved the Golden Core stage today.

No, you are actually practicing both Dharma and Body, this... this is too incredible."

At this moment, Fakong changed his usual calm and composed appearance and became very surprised.

Yinian, who was next to him, couldn't help but sigh and said, "If this is true, then this fellow Daoist must have had heaven-defying opportunities."

What else could Li Ergou say? But after thinking about it carefully, his luck was indeed very good, so he could only smile slightly and say, "Perhaps, it is really as Master said. However, luck may also be part of strength, isn't it?"

Yinian's eyes lit up when he heard this and said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. My name is Yinian."

Li Ergou quickly said, "Master Yinian, nice to meet you, nice to meet you."

Fakong then said, "Fellow Daoist, what is the purpose of your late-night visit?"

Li Ergou didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I want to ask Master about the Well of Longevity."

Fakong frowned and said, "The Well of Longevity? What do you want to know? About its origins?"

Li Ergou nodded and said, "I want to know what exactly is that moon-like thing inside the Well of Longevity."

Fakong looked at Li Ergou and asked with some doubt, "Have you entered the Well of Longevity?"

Li Ergou had nothing to hide and admitted, "Yes, I was almost killed by the young master of the Liu family back then. He stabbed me with a sword and threw me into the Well of Longevity. At that time, I saw that moon-like thing and ate a lot of small gourds. It was she who allowed me to achieve the power of the Divine Path."

Fakong's eyes widened in surprise when he heard this and said, "What? No wonder there was so little Five Elements Divine Liquid that day. It turns out that you ate it all.

Alas, I really didn't expect you to have such a heaven-defying opportunity."

"Five Elements Divine Liquid? So that's what it was. It's just that the divine liquid is extremely powerful. Over the years, I feel that there is still some that has not been completely refined in my body."

Fakong said, "The Five Elements Divine Liquid can strengthen the five internal organs. Whether it is a martial arts or a divine path cultivator, they all flock to it. Without a unique method of sacrifice and refinement, it is impossible to completely refine this thing.

Since you have come here, it proves your fate. Now I will teach you a Five Elements Refining Method. After you go back, you can completely refine those Five Elements Divine Liquids.

In this way, perhaps your cultivation will be able to take a further step."

Li Ergou was overjoyed when he heard this. He didn't expect that he would encounter such a good thing. He immediately respectfully said, "Please enlighten me, Master."