"This will also allow us to accumulate virtues and morality, which is greatly beneficial to our cultivation," the previous jade toad had said.

"Does accumulating virtues and morality mean following the Heavenly Will?"

"Who said that? How can someone speak such ignorant words?"

Li Changzhou remained silent.

For humans, and monsters educated in human thought, accumulating virtues and morality is naturally following the Heavenly Will; it is an obvious fact.

But are human-kind and human-summarized morals really the principles enforced by Heaven?

The sun will "extinguish" in five billion years and become a white dwarf. During this time, will the virtues and vices of humans have any impact on this event?

They will not.

Some birds eat their own dead offspring or feed them to their surviving young, who may even return to the nest to prey upon their younger siblings. What is this?

If you call it evil, then those bird parents and older siblings who commit such acts survive and pass on their genes.

The so-called virtues and vices are actually rules among humans alone; whether expanded or diminished, accumulating virtues and morality is meaningless.

"Bodhisattva," Yang Qinglan suddenly spoke.

This startled Li Qianxia as if she was sneaking breakfast during her first law class and her criminal law teacher asked her to discuss her understanding of the 'cessation form of intentional crime.'

She heavily suspected the teacher knew she was eating breakfast.

The Bodhisattva Guanyin on the lotus throne looked over, accompanied by the Dragon Girl and Wealthy Child beside her.

If Li Changzhou remembered correctly, this Wealthy Child must be Red Boy.

"Bodhisattva," Yang Qinglan showed no stage fright, as if he truly came to listen to the teachings, "To ascend in rank, one must follow the Heavenly Will, but humans have conflicted hearts and minds. How many wills does Heaven have, and which should we follow to ascend most swiftly and reach the highest rank?"

This question was both worldly and profound.

Even the Bodhisattva took several looks at her.

Guanyin answered with her gentle voice: "The Beidou Seven Stars change once every one hundred thousand years, as does the Heavenly Will. Those who can perpetually grasp the Heavenly Will are Saints, and in a sense, Saints are also officials."

"Below the Saints, all beings act; it suffices to have a clear conscience in ascending ranks, and the method for promotion cannot be forced."

"Then, may I ask the Bodhisattva, of the six Immortal Formation Techniques you mentioned, which is the best?" Li Changzhou asked.

Regardless of whether there would be a conflict later, he was eager to take advantage right now.

Perhaps it was because Li Changzhou was rather handsome, or perhaps there was something about this question, Guanyin the Bodhisattva chuckled—not that commercial-like smile.

"This question, since I began preaching, gets asked of me every year."

Everyone laughed heartily.

Alright, it seems it wasn't because Li Changzhou was handsome.

Guanyin the Bodhisattva said with a smile: "Among the Immortal Formation Techniques, the best is that which can make one a top-tier Immortal, such as the Breathing Skill, those who ingest the essence of plants are second-best, the sun, moon, and stars are fine; Visualization, visualizing the eternal unchanged is the finest, human divine artifacts, heavens and earth, mountains and rivers are second-best.

"There is no supreme method; beyond the methods, there are methods. In terms of form, you may go with the flow; just seek the method earnestly in cultivation, act with steadfast heart, and will as firm as rock, and that is the superior method."

"How can one achieve the method in seeking and cultivating?" Turquoise Pool also spoke up.

Guanyin smiled: "Jump into the cycle of five tortures, and with the Wisdom Sword cut down Divine Power, to gain wisdom amid adversity is to have the method."

"Does the Bodhisattva mean, enduring hardship is for gain, and if one cannot obtain the method through hardships, those hardships need not be endured?" Li Qianxia asked.

"To suffer in vain, Buddha too does not delight." Guanyin the Bodhisattva gave a confirming answer, "and one should seek refuge in the Three Jewels."

"What are the Three Jewels?" Yang Qinglan asked.

"The Three Jewels, Dao, scripture, teacher." the Bodhisattva said, "The Dao is inherently void, without form or name, not discernible without scripture, the Dao is in the scriptures, profound and subtle; without the teacher, its principle cannot be understood."

"What if there is no teacher?" Li Changzhou and his companions, already at the forefront.

Guanyin the Bodhisattva lightly smiled: "Confucius once said, be eager to learn and do not disdain to ask the lowly."

She smiled and said to Li Changzhou and his companions: "You four, having heard the true law, can become Earth Immortals before long."

The other listeners were astonished, all looking towards Li Changzhou and his companions.

While they were still struggling to become Immortals, who would have thought that these four were appointed by the Bodhisattva and could become Earth Immortals soon?!

"Bodhisattva," at this moment, a previously green-robed fairy spoke up, "With formidable enemies surrounding us and various Daoist groups conspiring with Princess Iron Fan to attack Mount Putuo, I do not know what should be done."

The listeners, recalling their current dire situation from the sermon, showed worried expressions.

They were eager to assist Guanyin, but their magical powers were weak; Princess Iron Fan's Palm Leaf Fan could, in a single swoop, blow them away like mere shrimp and crabs.

"Bodhisattva," the Dragon Girl said, "I am willing to make another trip, to ask for Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva."

"I can go and persuade my mother," said the Child of Good Fortune.

"I fear that both of you might go and never return," The Bodhisattva Guanyin shook her head in disapproval, "Worry not, everyone. Just focus on meditating and seeking enlightenment here. Three Arhats are already here to assist me in demon suppression."

"May I know which three Arhats?" asked the Peach Blossom Fairy eagerly.

"The Unmoving Arhat, the Demon Suppression Arhat, and the Subduing Tiger Arhat."

"These are all Arhats with great magical power! That's wonderful!" The crowd expressed their joy.

In the terms of Immortals, these three Arhats were all first-class, each capable of effortlessly capturing experts like the Liu Tree Immortal and the Peach Blossom Immortal.

Li Changzhou and his group exchanged glances, their emotions mixed.

The joy was that: no need to search further;

The worry was: too many had arrived.

The Bodhisattva didn't elaborate further on this matter but instead cautioned, "You cannot swallow the teachings whole nor can you force them down; seize the time to digest them properly, let them permeate your meridians like the essence of tea."

After these words, the Bodhisattva vanished directly from the Lotus Throne, while the Dragon Girl and the Child of Good Fortune led everyone to find accommodations on Mount Putuo.

Many teamed up and pooled Money to build a ceremonial altar, using the "Heaven and Earth Golden Body Spell" for promotion, submitting their names.

Li Changzhou and his group, along with Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, stayed together in one courtyard.

Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing also planned to build an altar to cultivate the "Heaven and Earth Golden Body Spell."

"We're just short of some materials for the altar; I'll go borrow some," Xiao Qing said excitedly as she left.

She returned a while later, her face pale.

"Xiao Qing, what's wrong?" Bai Suzhen asked with concern.

Li Qianxia looked towards Li Changzhou, who said, "It's not time for her poison to act up; why look at me, it has nothing to do with me."

"Someone's dead," Xiao Qing trembled.

"Someone's dead?" Bai Suzhen could hardly believe it.

How could someone just die in Mount Putuo, the Daoist Arena of the Bodhisattva Guanyin? Even Li Changzhou and his companions were taken aback.

"What exactly happened?" Turquoise Pool asked thoughtfully.

Xiao Qing, pale-faced: "I didn't see it clearly, the other party was a tortoise, because tortoises are famously easy to bully, so I thought of borrowing some money from him. But when I went in, I found him dead inside. I didn't dare stay longer, fearing they might think I did it, and hurried back!"

"Let's take a look." Li Changzhou stood up.

He said to Xiao Qing, "You lead the way."

Xiao Qing looked at Bai Suzhen, hesitant to return to the scene.

Being at the Bodhisattva's Daoist Arena, if she was wrongfully accused of being the murderer, it would be disastrous — akin to being framed for rebellion under the emperor's watch.

"What are you afraid of?" Li Changzhou frowned, "With me here, who can do anything to you?"

"Can you fight the Bodhisattva?" Xiao Qing retorted defiantly.

"I am here to kill her," Li Changzhou stared at her.

Xiao Qing finally realized, it didn't matter whether Li Changzhou could defeat the Bodhisattva; the goal was to kill her.

The group reached the courtyard where the tortoise was. The Monster Tortoise lay dead inside the room, with a pile of Jade scattered in front of it, partially arranged into the beginnings of an altar.

Li Changzhou looked towards Yang Qinglan, who gestured with the Ruyi, and a booklet flew out.

She glanced at it then tossed it to Li Changzhou.

After reading it, Li Changzhou chuckled, "Interesting."

"What is it?" Li Qianxia took the booklet.

Xiao Qing craned her neck to see but hesitated.

"What's the next step?" Yang Qinglan asked, though her expression was indifferent.

"I have a good idea," Turquoise Pool revealed a smile befitting a noble lady.

"Have you learned the Primordial Spirit Wisdom Sword?" she looked towards Li Changzhou.

Li Changzhou paused, then grinned, "I got it."

A golden sword flew out from his forehead, struck the tortoise with a ringing sound, rendering the already dead tortoise as if it had just died, limp and powerless.

Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment and horror in the other's eyes.

This was the technique that the Bodhisattva Guanyin had just taught, and the demon had already mastered it!

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