The wind rustled as the sky was dim and hazy. The morning bells and evening drums loomed in the surroundings. The ancient temple stood silently.

  The buddha statues everywhere were like a silent audience, almost as if they were waiting for his reply.

  Li Qingshan’s expression changed. He opened his hands. They seemed to be covered with blood and filth, wrapped in the lives he had claimed.

  Leaving the mountain hamlet, entering the jianghu, battling through the nine provinces. From the five continents to the Human realm, he had fought for a century, killing countless in the process.

  He had once been sliced to shreds and smashed to pieces. He never went a day without trouble, without worries, like he was trekking on thin ice, like he was crossing ravines, where any carelessness could claim his life. Even today, he was still hanging on by a thread.

  Mortals probably would have paled in fright already. They would rather spend their lives content as wealthy people.

  The Upraised Light abbot was filled with confidence. Even if this was not enough to completely persuade Li Qingshan, it could make him reflect. He only needed some further guidance in the future, and he would definitely convert to buddhism.

  But at this moment, the corner of Li Qingshan’s lips curled into a strange smile. The smile spread and turned into a great laughter, booming through the ancient temple and startling the birds.

  “Fellow, why do you laugh?”
“Too weak.”
“What?”
“I’m laughing that you’re all too weak. You’re basically no different from the people who view all others as ants.”
“Why do you say that, fellow?” The Upraised Light abbot furrowed his brows.

  Li Qingshan said, “Because you are unable to endure the pain within you, so you cast aside your kindness, so you set down the butcher’s blade. All of it is just twisting your original self. What other difference is there?”
“One is doing evil. The other is doing good. How is there not any difference?”
“To me, there is no difference!”
Li Qingshan clenched his hands and raised his head. His expression changed—stubborn, fierce, foolish—like an ox, like a tiger, like an ape. With all the trials he had been through, he had stopped being that ignorant, lost youth from the mountain hamlet a long time ago.

  The Upraised Light abbot suddenly discovered just how difficult his mission was. This child’s mind is firm like steel. He probably cannot be persuaded with words. However, he also developed some further appreciation. To be able to realise his true self and stay true to it so firmly was already exceptional talent in the school of chan. Unfortunately, he did not practise Mahāyāna buddhism.

  “Amitābha, that would be erroneous, fellow! It is as if you are a monarch among men, as wealthy as the land, yet you just choose to drift about homelessly and live the life of a beggar. That is not strength but instead foolishness. As long as you set aside your stubbornness, all suffering will vanish, and you will reincarnate in Sukhāvatī.”
Li Qingshan smiled. “With a heart of benevolence, I fend off my demonic thoughts inside. With a butcher’s blade in hand, I cut down powerful foes outside. Is that not delightful? Why must I go to Sukhāvatī?”
“With the way you act, the world will not permit your existence at the end of the day!” The Upraised Light abbot furrowed his brows. A hint of anger flashed through his eyes.

  “Heh, you mean buddhism will not permit my existence!”
Li Qingshan had a vague feeling that compared to the school of vinaya, the school of chan, and esoteric buddhism, the ideology of the pure land school seemed the gentlest and most liberal, advocating the idea that all were equal and everyone could attain buddhahood, but it also happened to be the harshest and most radical.

  The school of vinaya was stringent on itself, the school of chan was too aloof, while esoteric buddhism was self-evident, so there was no need for any further explanation. In order to achieve its great goal of bringing salvation to all and establishing a land of buddhism, the pure land school viewed all dissidents as enemies. If they could not be converted, then they would “win them over by virtue” just like how he did. Even if they refused to yield, they would beat them until they yielded.

  It was definitely not a coincidence that they appeared on the battlefields of the Demon domain, while the White Bone Bodhisattva who created the Path of White Bone and Great Beauty was probably from the pure land school. If they discovered Xiao An, then the consequences would be unthinkable.

  “Amitābha!” The Upraised Light abbot brought his palms together and avoided what he had said. “The buddha Tathāgata also performed the lion’s roar. Even if the wicked and the demons have a moment of complacency, they will not be able to escape the flames of karma.”
Li Qingshan had never been one to be threatened. “Those who kill will be killed themselves. Since I kill, then I am prepared to be killed. I do not seek bliss, nor do I seek eternal life. How will you convert me, monk?”
The Upraised Light abbot remained silent. Li Qingshan clasped his hands and bade farewell.

  A while later, the Upraised Light abbot sighed. “He’s a difficult one to convert, a difficult one!”
Li Qingshan left the temple, and his mind cleared up. He cursed, “That bald ass is screwing me over again!”
Before he knew it, he had actually been mentally affected. If it were not for his rigid will, perhaps he really would have wavered.

  There was nothing strange about that. Let alone an ancient temple like the Pure Land temple that was watched by a monk who had attained two fruits of buddhism, even regular temples would intentionally create a certain atmosphere to influence those common people.

  Speaking of which, this was definitely a demonic method to use, but it would be useless even if he went back and questioned the Upraised Light abbot. That was just how the teachings of Mahāyāna buddhism worked.

  The Lotus Sūtra had a parable of three carts to enlightenment. It described a house on fire with children playing inside. In order to save them, the buddha told them that there was a fancy cart outside. The children ran out to take a look, but there was no fancy cart at all. However, there was a great cart pulled by a white ox, so they were still very happy.

  The burning house symbolised the abode of fire, the children symbolised all sentient beings, and the great cart pulled by a white ox was Mahāyāna buddhism. It praised the absolute kindness in the buddha’s heart, such that he guided the people. The monks below basically copied whatever they saw. As long as it assisted them in spreading the religion, facts like how monks did not lie all became nonsense.

  Of course, those who had been converted would definitely be filled with gratitude. They would not think they had been lied to.

  However, if the children went out and took a look before leaping up and cursing, “Bald ass, you lied to us! You promised us a fancy cart!” they would probably be slapped across the face and berated. “You’re the only one that’s fucking complaining!”
Li Qingshan touched his cheek. “I better keep my distance from these guys in the future!”
He had made a mess out of the army-wide martial arts competition, but no one came to create any trouble for him.

  “Even if I go back now, I have nothing to do. They probably think I’m long gone, but I’m going to hit them by surprise again!”
However, he had just swept through the drilling grounds. There was no point in going back, so he decided to split up.

  He made his way into an alleyway and took out sets of armour from his sumeru ring. This was all for his clone formation plan that he had thought of before he came. He had specially purchased them from the Department of Military Provisions. They were all the standard issue gear within the army.

  Very soon, Li Qingshan after Li Qingshan walked out from the alleyway and dispersed in Black Cloud city. He wanted to see just who still dared to talk ill of him.

  In a small restaurant, a few soldiers happened to be fervently discussing how the crawling general Li Qingshan had made a mess out of the drilling grounds. Right when they were enthralled by the conversation, a soldier rushed in and yelled, “Long live Li Qingshan!” He gave them a thorough beating and polished off all of their alcohol in the process.

  As Li Qingshan’s cultivation gradually recovered, his thought clones multiplied as well. There really were quite a lot of them who talked behind his back. Over a hundred of these incidents would happen everyday, and the entire city was filled with Li Qingshans making trouble.

  Chao Tianjiao was left completely speechless by him. The various generals asked for him to be severely punished, but it was a little out of place, which left them very embarrassed.

  However, trying to silence the people was even more dangerous than natural disasters. Li Qingshan’s shameless actions were beaten back by the soldiers very soon. Many people specially went on the streets and cursed him loudly, clashing with his clones and even coordinating various ambushes and sneak attacks.

  Sometimes, as soon as he rushed out, he would be surrounded by several dozen soldiers clad in armour and standing in formation. What followed would be a chaotic battle. However, as long as colonels and lieutenants did not interfere, his main body would not do anything either. After all, the number of clones he had was limited. Sometimes, a clone or two would be finished off before he could even provide support, making him lose a set for armour.

  Li Qingshan was unfazed by these puny losses. He did not feel embarrassed when the soldiers defeated him. Instead, he had a lot of fun.

  Before he knew it, the Ape Demon Transformation began showing signs of change.