As a disciple of the Hanging Temple, the price Shi Chan charged to perform Buddhist rituals in the outside world was astronomical.
In the Central Continent, the Hanging Temple was one of the Five Great Immortal Sects and the most powerful Buddhist lineage. It could be called the leader of all Buddhist monasteries under heaven, carrying the weight of both practical and spiritual leadership.
Consequently, any random person from the Hanging Temple enjoyed immense prestige in the outside world. Though Shi Chan referred to himself as "this humble monk," people on the outside all addressed him as "Master."
Moreover, his late Golden Core stage cultivation was more than enough to command the world's reverence.
Still, since the three seductive ghosts had declined his goodwill, it was not his place to press the matter.
He pressed his palms together with a look of universal compassion, walked up to a cow, and spoke with earnest gravity.
"We cultivators often proclaim that our fate is determined by ourselves, not by heaven. We refuse to believe in destiny and rise in revolt, and there is no shortage of examples where people carved out a grand and glorious path. Yet such individuals are ultimately a minority. Moreover, whether their successful defiance of fate was simply another link in fate's chain remains unknown.
"Perhaps all the people of this world are bound by fate without knowing it. Fate is like a shackle that no one can defy. This humble monk is no exception, the three female patrons are no exception, and you are no exception."
Shi Chan held one palm upright before his chest while his other hand stroked the back of the cow's neck.
How could cattle raised within the Dao Seeking Sect be ordinary? The cow boasted an extraordinary pedigree, and the grass and water it consumed each day were equally extraordinary. Its coat was sleek and smooth, feeling considerably better to the touch than the cows at the farm where Shi Chan had previously worked.
"You were born to be slaughtered, born to satisfy the human appetite. You offer up your flesh as alms to sate the greed of mankind. It seems noble, yet in truth, it is merely the result of having no control over your own destiny.
"This humble monk will grant you an opportunity. If you are unwilling to be bound by fate and wish to escape being slaughtered, moo once. If you are willing to sacrifice yourself for humankind, moo twice."
The cow remained motionless, not making a single sound.
Shi Chan sighed. "Indeed, it is as I thought. You were born ignorant and muddle-headed, lacking innate wisdom. You understand neither human speech nor the Buddhist Dharma."
Afterward, Shi Chan quietly chanted an obscure, difficult passage of scripture.
"Long ago in the First Azure Heaven, songs echoed in the azure void, across the great Fuli realm..."
The cow still showed no reaction.
Shi Chan shook his head helplessly, bent down to pick up the butcher's knife resting on the ground, and swung it down. With a single chop, the cow breathed its last.
"Amitabha, marvelous indeed."
The three seductive ghosts watched this spectacle in complete bewilderment.
"May I ask, young friend, what on earth are you doing?" a kindly voice rang out, deep and resonant.
Shi Chan turned around, not recognizing the speaker.
"Patron, you are...?"
"You may call me Boss Bu. This livestock farm belongs to me."
From far off, the Immortal Celestial had watched Shi Chan behaving like an eccentric mystic, fussing over the cow for ages before ultimately lopping off its head with a cleaver, leaving him utterly baffled.
"So you are Patron Bu. This humble monk is a disciple of the Hanging Temple, dharma name Shi Chan. What I did just now was to enlighten the soul and allow the cow to choose for itself."
"The scripture this humble monk recited just now is called the Cattle Deliverance Sutra."
"The Cattle Deliverance Sutra?" the Immortal Celestial muttered to himself, never having heard of it.
"It is a scripture composed by this humble monk himself. I also have the Pig Deliverance Sutra and the Sheep Deliverance Sutra. At my previous slaughterhouse, before each slaughter, this humble monk would recite the scripture to allow the livestock to decide their own fate, though not a single one has succeeded so far.
"After the slaughter, this humble monk recites the Rebirth Mantra to dissolve the beast's resentment and ensure they pass on peacefully."
The previous cow had been slaughtered by the Cult Master while Shi Chan had only handled the butchering. This one had undergone the complete process.
The Immortal Celestial found Shi Chan's reasoning rather persuasive. Their livestock farm was effectively a slaughterhouse, which easily brought gory scenes to mind—hardly conducive to cultivating a positive image of reformed men turning over a new leaf. If they all followed Shi Chan's example by explaining first, slaughtering second, and delivering the soul afterward, Yun Zhi, the First-in-Command, and the Second-in-Command would surely view them in a much better light.
Within the Dao Seeking Sect, the only ones who knew the Immortal Celestial's true identity were Yun Zhi and the other two.
A few more people knew the identities of the Cult Master and his cohort, including Senior Brother Dai and the Great Elder.
When it came to getting things done, the Immortal Celestial was much like his boss, the Immortal Fairy—both were decisive individuals. Once an idea crossed his mind, he acted immediately, never hesitating.
He promptly dispatched notices to the Cult Master and Vice Cult Master Jin, who tended the livestock farm, as well as Master Liu, Master Gao, and several former elders of the Immortal Cult working at the barbecue shop.
That night.
After the barbecue shop closed, Master Liu and the others arrived at the livestock farm.
"Is everyone here?"
"Everyone is accounted for," replied Xiao Wu and her two companions.
Although the three of them were not members of the Immortal Cult, they now served by the Cult Master's side as his right-hand assistants, so they were included whenever a meeting was held.
The Immortal Celestial nodded and recounted Shi Chan's actions from earlier that day. Hearing this, the Cult Master and the others fell into deep thought.
"The Celestial's meaning is...?"
"Everyone sitting here is one of our own, so I won't beat around the bush; I'll lay it all out plain and simple. We are all prisoners of the Dao Seeking Sect. Who knows which day they might turn hostile and execute us all?
"I believe we must make changes. Not only should we run the barbecue shop and livestock farm, but we must also give everyone a completely refreshed impression of us. Shi Chan's arrival is our opportunity.
"The greatest taboo in studying the Buddhist Dharma is straying into heterodoxy. Shi Chan hails from the Hanging Temple and represents the orthodox Buddhist school; his Dharma is bound to be profound and authentic. We ought to learn from him, cultivate our character, and foster an aura of Buddha-nature. Only then will it appear that our reform is truly complete."
The Cult Master and the others nodded repeatedly. As expected of a Celestial, his perspective was on an entirely different level from theirs. While they remained content with the status quo, the Celestial was already planning their next move.
"Since no one objects, the matter is settled."
"Um..."
Xiao Wu timidly raised her hand. The three of them were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, so attending a meeting alongside the Cult Master and his peers brought immense pressure.
"If you have a question, speak freely."
"Can we ghosts study the Buddhist Dharma too?"
The Immortal Celestial stroked his chin and hissed thoughtfully. "That is indeed a question. I'll ask Shi Chan tomorrow morning."
Early the next morning, the entire assembly of Immortal Cult members sought out Shi Chan and explained their intention.
After pondering for a moment, Shi Chan felt that these people possessed abundant Buddha-nature and shared a predestined affinity with Buddhism.
"The Buddha delivers those with whom he shares an affinity. Since you wish to learn from this humble monk, I will certainly hold nothing back.
"As for the three female patrons, there is no need to worry. Ghosts studying the Dharma have precedent, and there are even legends of ghosts who, upon mastering Buddhist teachings, built temples and reshaped their true physical bodies using the power of faith. It will do no harm."
Only then did the three ghosts breathe a sigh of relief. As long as they didn't end up accidentally delivering their own souls to the beyond while studying, that would be just fine.
And so, they went about their separate duties by day and gathered at night to study Buddhist teachings and discuss scriptures. Their routine became exceptionally regular, and through this process of discussion and instruction, Shi Chan also attained fresh insights.
***
Dai Bufan stared at the intelligence report a disciple had just delivered, his expression utterly blank.
Why had Shi Chan gone to work at the livestock farm?
Why had those Immortal Cult members started studying Buddhism?
How would the Hanging Temple react if they learned about this?
Dai Bufan couldn't fathom Shi Chan's angle. With his master's fate still unknown and impossible to rely on, he had no choice but to seek out Yun Zhi.
"Eldest Senior Sister..."
Dai Bufan detailed what Shi Chan was currently doing and asked her how the Dao Seeking Sect ought to handle it.
Yun Zhi remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "When Junior Brother Shi Chan first arrived, he came to challenge me."
Dai Bufan's pupils shrank slightly in shock. Did the monk have a death wish?
Even if a newborn calf didn't fear the tiger, that wasn't how fearlessness worked!
Forget a newborn calf—even an old calf like Master Jiesha wouldn't dare pull such a stunt.
"Senior Sister, your meaning is...?"
"If he even dared to challenge me, nothing he does should come as a surprise."
"That makes sense."
Chapter 547