Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 195 The Ancestral Temple of the Source

Their first stop was Yangzhou, north of Nanjing.

Yangzhou is an important city in Jiangnan, with convenient water and land transportation, attracting merchants from all over the world.

The city is dotted with temples, and their incense is always burning brightly.

Zhou Ning suspected that the "Phoenix Feather" might be hidden in a temple.

Because it is a relic of Cihang Bodhisattva, it has a deep connection with Buddhism.

The two spent the whole day wandering around Yangzhou. Every time Zhou Ning arrived at a temple, he used the sensing method given to him by Jingchen to investigate.

But nothing was gained.

Although the temples were filled with spiritual energy, none of them matched the aura of the "Phoenix Feather".

"Perhaps not in Yangzhou," A-Shu said.

Zhou Ning nodded, and the two continued north.

Three days later, they arrived in Xuzhou.

Xuzhou is a vital transportation hub connecting the north and south, and has historically been a strategic location fought over by military strategists.

There is an ancient temple in the city.

Longxing Temple.

It is said to have been built during the Han Dynasty and was a place of great religious significance.

Zhou Ning entered Longxing Temple and used the method of spiritual perception to investigate.

This time, the jade talisman heated up slightly, but quickly cooled down.

"Is there a response?" Ashu asked.

Zhou Ning shook his head: "It only flashed by, it was probably interference from other Buddhist artifacts. But it definitely wasn't the 'Phoenix Feather'."

The two left disappointed.

And so they traveled north, passing through more than a dozen cities and dozens of temples.

The jade talisman occasionally shows a slight reaction, but it is always a misjudgment.

Zhou Ning's patience was wearing thin, but he did not give up.

On this day, they arrived in Luoyang.

Luoyang is an ancient capital of more than a dozen dynasties, with a very profound cultural heritage.

There is a White Horse Temple in the city, which is the earliest Buddhist temple in the Central Plains and is known as the "ancestral temple of Buddhism".

Zhou Ning entered the White Horse Temple and used his spiritual powers to investigate.

This time, the jade talisman reacted more strongly than ever before, but it remained unstable.

"Could it be here?" Ashu exclaimed excitedly.

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Not sure. But it's worth a thorough search."

The two settled down at the White Horse Temple, exploring and waiting.

The monks in the temple were very friendly and arranged accommodations for them.

Zhou Ning walked around the temple every day, repeatedly exploring using the method of spiritual perception.

He discovered that the jade talisman's reaction was sometimes strong and sometimes weak, and it seemed to be moving.

"Could it be that someone is carrying the 'Phoenix Feather' with them?" Zhou Ning wondered.

He decided to stay at the temple for a few more days to observe the situation.

On this day, Zhou Ning was meditating in the main hall when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

He stepped outside the hall and saw a group of people walking towards the temple gate.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a blue Taoist robe with a dignified face, followed by more than a dozen cultivators holding weapons.

"They're from Qingcheng Mountain," Ashu whispered.

Zhou Ning frowned.

Qingcheng Mountain is a major orthodox sect, and is as famous as Qingxu Temple, Qingfeng Temple, and Longhu Mountain.

What are they doing at the White Horse Temple?

The middle-aged man walked into the temple gate, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Zhou Ning.

"You're Zhou Ning?"

Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Indeed. And you are?"

The middle-aged man said, "Qingcheng Mountain, Yu Zhenzi."

Zhou Ning was taken aback.

Tamaki?

He remembered that the elder of Qingcheng Mountain was named Yuzhenzi, but that elder was an old man with white hair and beard, not the middle-aged man in front of him.

"Senior Yu Zhenzi?" Zhou Ning asked tentatively.

The middle-aged man snorted coldly:

"No need for pretense. My master has already passed away. I am the current head of Qingcheng Mountain, with the Dharma name Yuzhenzi."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

Has the old master Yuzhenzi of Qingcheng Mountain passed away?

He didn't even know.

"I wonder what brings Sect Leader Yu Zhenzi to see me?"

Yu Zhenzi took out a jade slip from his sleeve and tossed it to Zhou Ning.

"See for yourself."

Zhou Ning took the jade slip and examined it carefully.

The contents of the jade slip took him by surprise.

The letter accused him of colluding with the "Food and Wine Bodhisattva" to help her find the "Phoenix Feather" with the intention of subverting the Three Realms.

The signature reads "Remnants of the Blissful Religion".

"This is a frame-up," Zhou Ning said.

Yu Zhenzi sneered.

"A frame-up? Then tell me, why have you stayed at the White Horse Temple for so many days? What are you looking for?"

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm looking for a Buddhist artifact. But it's not for the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva,' but to stop her."

Yu Zhenzi said, "Do you think I would believe that? The 'Wine and Meat Bodhisattva' has reappeared in the mortal world, and all the major righteous sects are searching for her whereabouts."

"And you, you've been secretly seeing her. People from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Jinling saw you drinking with her. You still dare to say you weren't colluding?"

Zhou Ning said, "I met with her to persuade her to repent and reform."

Yu Zhenzi laughed loudly: "Advise her to repent and reform? Who do you think you are? Are you a powerful being in the Tribulation Transcending stage? Or a high-ranking monk of Buddhism?"

"You're just a cultivator in the Dao Integration stage, what right do you have to advise her?"

A-Shu couldn't help but interject, "Young Master Zhou is the hero who defeated the Heavenly Demon; he's qualified!"

Yu Zhenzi glanced at A Shu, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes: "A mere demon dares to interrupt?"

Zhou Ning shielded A-Shu behind him and said coldly, "Sect Leader Yu Zhenzi, I respect you as the leader of Qingcheng Mountain, and out of respect for the late Senior Yu Zhenzi, I don't want to have a conflict with you. But if you insult my friend again, I will not be polite."

Yu Zhenzi's expression changed: "You dare threaten me?"

Zhou Ning said, "This is not a threat, it's a fact."

The atmosphere became tense for a moment.

The cultivators behind Yu Zhenzi drew their weapons, and Zhou Ning also gripped the Heavenly Fox Sword.

Ashu stood nervously behind Zhou Ning, his hand resting on the short sword at his waist.

Just then, an old voice came from inside the hall.

"stop."

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old monk with white hair walking out of the main hall.

He wore a grey monk's robe, held prayer beads in his hand, had a compassionate face, and eyes full of wisdom.

"Abbot." The monks in the temple all bowed in greeting.

The old monk walked up to Yu Zhenzi, put his palms together and said, "Sect Leader Yu Zhenzi, I can testify that during the days that Benefactor Zhou spent at Baima Temple, he only meditated and practiced Zen, and never did anything improper."

"He was indeed looking for a Buddhist ritual implement, but that implement was a relic of Cihang Bodhisattva, and had nothing to do with the Bodhisattva who indulged in wine and meat."

Yu Zhenzi frowned: "Abbot, how did you know?"

The old monk said, "Because when I was young, I had the good fortune to see a portrait of Cihang Bodhisattva."

"The 'phoenix feather' in her hand matches the description given by Benefactor Zhou."

"Cihang Bodhisattva was a great Buddhist master, and her relics should not be used to slander an upright monk."

Yu Zhenzi was silent for a moment, then said, "Abbot, are you sure?"

The old monk nodded: "This humble monk is certain."

Yu Zhenzi sheathed his weapon and glanced at Zhou Ning.

"I will not make things difficult for you today because of the abbot. But if you are really in cahoots with the 'wine and meat bodhisattva,' my Qingcheng Mountain will never let you off the hook."

He turned around and led everyone away from the White Horse Temple.

Zhou Ning breathed a sigh of relief and bowed deeply to the old monk: "Thank you for your help, Abbot."

The old monk helped him up and said, "Benefactor Zhou, there's no need to be so polite. I trust you. But you must be careful; the remnants of the Blissful Sect have their eyes on you."

"That jade slip reporting you was written by them. They don't want you to find the 'Phoenix Feather,' because it's the key for the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva' to escape his inner demons."

"If she overcomes her inner demons, the Blissful Church will lose its leader. They won't let you succeed."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Abbot, do you know about the Blissful Sect?"

The old monk nodded: "When I was traveling, I had dealings with the Blissful Sect. They are secretive and ruthless. You must be careful."

He took a copper coin from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This is a token from this humble monk. If you ever encounter any trouble in the future, you can bring this copper coin to the White Horse Temple to find this humble monk."

"Although this humble monk's cultivation is not high, I still have some connections in the Central Plains."

Zhou Ning accepted the copper coins and solemnly said, "Thank you, Abbot."

The old monk nodded, turned around, and walked into the main hall.

Zhou Ning held the copper coin, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

"A-Shu, let's go."

The two left Baima Temple and continued north.