Patrol Captain

With a flash, Old Man Dong appeared under the pavilion.

Upon seeing that Lian Ni Chang was also there, the old man lowered his loud voice, winked at Chen Yuan, and hummed incoherently.

"Young man, you have no martial ethics and you're trying to fool this old man who's over two hundred years old. Your wine pot is as big as a mythical beast's belly; it could probably fit an entire mountain inside, and you can only get in but not out."

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he placed it on the stone table beside him with a clang, on which sat a white jade wine pot with a delicate spout.

“This contains all of the old man’s stock, not a single drop left. If you go back on your word, young man Chen, I won’t stand for it.”

As Old Dong spoke, he winced in pain.

Chen Yuan chuckled as he looked at Old Man Dong. With a wave of his hand, the wine pot landed in his hand. He then opened the lid, sniffed it lightly, nodded in satisfaction, closed the lid, and slipped it into his sleeve.

Then he turned his gaze over, chuckled, and cursed.
"You old bastard, you're getting the benefits and you're still acting innocent."

"You reap what you sow. I'll give you good materials in the future. This little bit of wine is nothing."

Upon hearing this, Old Dong wrinkled his bulbous nose, his expression immediately changing. His small eyes lit up, but then he seemed uneasy again.

"you said."

"You can't lie to an old man like me anymore."

Chen Yuan almost rolled his eyes. "That great demon is enough to keep you busy for a while. Be careful not to overdo it, even though I've already put a restriction on it."

Old Man Dong immediately became interested. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Good wine needs to be brewed slowly. I won't say any more. I've given you all my stock. I need to refine that bastard as soon as possible."

"gone."

As he spoke, the old man couldn't wait any longer and leaped away, preoccupied with brewing wine.

Lian Ni Chang found it quite amusing to see the old man come and go in such a hurry, smiled knowingly, and bid farewell to her brother.

Chen Yuan nodded and gave her some instructions.

"No need to worry, feel free to come to me if you need anything."

"If I'm not here, knock three times on the gate and I'll know."

Lian Ni Chang gave a soft "hmm" sound, her eyes revealing a hint of warmth and some complicated thoughts, and nodded.

"Thank you, elder brother!"

After saying that, the woman in red transformed into a rosy cloud and left the courtyard.

Seeing the two leave, Chen Yuan casually closed the courtyard gate, feeling much better. Then, he straightened his face, turned around with a smile, and walked towards the inner room.

The inside and outside of the house are two different worlds, nothing more than supernatural powers.

Chen Yuan was used to keeping all the noise outside.

The next day, at noon, the sun was high in the sky.

The southernmost gateway to Sichuan, the first formidable pass of Jiannan Road, perches amidst mountains and mist. Its gate tower rises abruptly from the ground, its towering height exceeding a hundred feet resembling a colossal beast raising its head. The bronze bells on the eaves emit a deep, rumbling sound in the mountain wind. The dark blue-green city walls, like a dragon shedding its scales, stretch for hundreds of miles, arching like the spine of an iron-cast beast, embracing the entire magnificent landscape until they disappear into the sea of ​​mist.

At this moment, flames blazed high in the sky, but the Youmen Pass was as gloomy as a ghostly realm, filled with ghostly energy. Above the pass, dark red clouds gathered and did not disperse, blocking out the outside world from the sun, and blood-red lightning flashed from time to time inside.

However, the city was much quieter at this time. The skeletal creatures that had previously roamed in large numbers had vanished without a trace, with only occasional chilling roars coming from underground.

The city gates were tightly closed, but the bronze furnaces in the southern city used for refining demons still emitted crimson flames and burned fiercely.

However, if you look closely, you can see shadowy figures moving around in the shadows of the "thousands of households" in the city, and hear clicking sounds.

On this day, a person arrived outside the tightly closed north gate of this formidable city.

There was a blood-red barrier above the city gate. Chen Yuan, dressed in a green robe, stood suspended a hundred feet outside the city gate tower. This time, he did not directly break into this city of bones.

The previous times I barged in directly, it was somewhat impolite, and that senior Luo still harbored some resentment.

Besides, since I'm asking someone to do this for me, it's best to be proper in some matters.

"Chen Yuan of the Ninth Mountain pays respects to Senior Luo!"

He stood outside the city gate and spoke softly. His voice was not loud, but dozens of miles away, at the blood pool south of the city, a loud "bang" suddenly erupted, sending up a huge wave that shot into the sky. Then, a powerful aura surged out from it.

Soon, a towering figure emerged from the pool of blood!

His black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, dancing wildly in the air. Every strand of hair seemed to contain boundless power. He wore a black robe covered with the marks of time, which fluttered in the wind. Demonic energy surged around him. The most shocking thing was the chest of this figure, where there was a bloody hole, only that the hole had become smaller than before.

When the king raised his eyes, as black as an abyss, and looked north, the black robes on his body quickly faded and turned white.

Immediately afterward, his feet swayed, and he transformed into a blur in the void. In a few flashes, he appeared on the eaves of the city tower in the north of the city.

The white-robed monarch Luo Cheng glanced at Chen Yuan with his black, eyeless eyes, raised his hand, and with a wave of his hand, a flash of blood-red light appeared on the city gate. Then, with a rumble, a heavy city gate swung open.

Chen Yuan waved to the other party, then transformed into a streak of rainbow light and flew into the city gate.

After flying into the city gate, the scenery changed. Although dark clouds filled the sky, the daylight was still quite bright.

The next second, a figure in white appeared on Qianmen Street.

Chen Yuan landed in front of Luo Cheng, the white-robed king, gave the senior a hearty laugh, and offered him his hand.

"I was a bit presumptuous on my first two visits, but today I've brought some fine wine to pay my respects to Senior Luo."

Luo Cheng was somewhat surprised. Those dark eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, and he said meaningfully:

"No one visits the temple without a reason. You, General, have come all this way from afar, it can't be as simple as just drinking."

Chen Yuan shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"What great general? I am just a free man now. The court has its own people to take charge of Shu. There is no need to deliberately choose a time to come and have a drink with my senior."

"I'd like to ask you some questions, senior!"

The white-robed monarch Luo Cheng chuckled, "As expected."

"You're quite good at taking advantage of opportunities."

"bring it on!"

As he spoke, he turned around and walked along the main street into the city. With each step, he covered a distance of a hundred feet.

Seeing this, Chen Yuan followed suit.

During this process, Chen Yuan discovered that the city was different from the previous two times he had seen it. Back then, the city was full of bones, like a hellish place. Now the city was much quieter, and there were many undead creatures living in the nearby houses. Some of them even had flesh and skin and lived like ordinary people.

However, under his discerning eyes, these undead creatures did not grow flesh and blood; they were merely covered in a layer of skin.

"interesting!"

"Senior, are you planning to transform this dead city into a real city?"

Chen Yuan asked the question that had been on his mind.

The white-robed king was frank, saying, "It's not that simple. Our existence is taboo, and we have to face death to live, enduring countless hardships."

"Even if we return to the human world, we cannot see the light of day. Even if there are dark clouds blocking our view, most of my people will have to hide underground."

"I do indeed intend to let them see the light of day again one day, using that blood pool to reshape their flesh and skin, and to shield them from the scorching sun." Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan's eyebrows twitched, thinking of the blood pool in the southern city, which was made from the flesh and blood of demons. So that's what it was for.

However, if this Senior Luo has such great power and determination, given time, there will probably be another "undead" in this world.

As Chen Yuan's thoughts drifted, he soon followed the white-robed monarch to a mansion.

However, this mansion looked strangely familiar.

Among them, the carved beams and painted rafters, the flying eaves and brackets, make it seem as if you have entered a paradise. And a clear lake, as clear as a mirror, is filled with misty air. The lake water is light blue, and the scales reflect a seven-colored halo. The lakeside is full of exotic flowers and plants, and the fragrance is refreshing.
Most striking are the several towering trees that stand there, their extraordinary height and cascading energy painting the entire oasis with a misty glow, making it appear exceptionally magnificent.

One of the trees was a hundred feet tall, with a canopy that spread out like an umbrella. Each leaf was like a translucent piece of jade, with golden liquid flowing between the veins. When a breeze blew, the leaves trembled and sprinkled fine golden light, like a golden rain.
There was also a strange tree with a wrinkled trunk, like dragon scales, and leaves that shimmered with a purple glow. Red fruits, the size of fists, hung from its branches, their surfaces shimmering with a divine light and brimming with life force.

There were also strange trees with branches as soft as willows, yet shimmering with a metallic luster, their thousands of auspicious rays forming a magnificent band of light. The rich essence transformed into white mist, the concentration of the essence of heaven and earth was astonishing.

Chen Yuan suddenly realized that this scene was almost identical to the mansion of the white-robed monarch in the burial ground.

"Senior, did you even move your cave dwelling from that burial ground?"

"Of course not. At that time, the heavens and earth were collapsing and the earth was splitting apart. I was only thinking about ascending to the upper realm. How could I care about so much?"

"It was deliberately designed to resemble the previous layout, enclosing the natural landscape, since we've gotten used to living there." The white-robed king shook his head slightly.
Next, the two arrived at a pavilion by the lake.

"sit!"

"It's been so many years, and it's been a long time since anyone invited me out for drinks."

"My standards are rather high. If it's not good, I won't buy it," said Luo Cheng, the white-robed king, gesturing to the seat opposite him as he made a lame joke.

Chen Yuan sat down as instructed. Inhaling the rich spiritual energy here, his mind cleared and he felt refreshed. He laughed loudly, flipped his hand and produced a wine pot, and with a flick of his other hand, two white jade wine cups appeared.

"This was obtained by me from a friend who is addicted to alcohol, and I hope it will catch your eye, senior!"

"When my friend broke through the Dragon-Tiger Realm, he was in a great mood. I had a cup, and when I wanted a second cup, the old drunkard refused."

"This was obtained by Chen in exchange for a great demon."

With a flick of his wrist, he placed two wine glasses on the table, then picked up the pot and poured wine. The clear, greenish-blue liquid hit the bottom of the glasses, and a wonderful aroma immediately wafted out.

A glint of white light flashed in the black eyes of the white-robed king.
At the opportune moment, Chen Yuan gently flicked the bottom of the cup with two fingers, causing it to slide to Luo Cheng's face. He then held the cup with both hands, his sleeves hanging down, and smiled.
"Senior, please!"

The white-robed king raised his cup, the two toasted each other, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Yuan savored the mellow flavor in his throat, put down his cup, and smiled at the person opposite him, "What do you think, senior?"

The white-robed king pursed his lips and nodded.

"I have drunk many fine wines and nectars brewed from the spiritual materials of the heavens."

"But I've long forgotten what that tasted like."

"Although the quality of this wine is a bit poor, your friend seems to have some skill in blending fragrances, so it's not bad."

"At least, I haven't tasted such fine wine in a long time."

This is a fair assessment from the king.

"Come again!"

Chen Yuan chuckled upon hearing this. After all, this person came from the upper realm and had a broad perspective. If Old Dong had said this, it would be hard to know whether he should be happy or unhappy.

However, as long as this senior likes it, that's fine.

He poured more wine, and after a few rounds of drinks, the two began to chat aimlessly.

The senior mentioned the recent changes in the sinkhole, saying that it had changed and was filled with worldly miasma, with all sorts of filth escaping from it.

This thing can isolate the connection between heaven and man; it seems to have been made by the imperial court here. He confirmed this with Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised. He didn't know the specifics, but he guessed that it was likely related to the abbot of the Martial Temple borrowing the magic back then.

Because only the imperial court has the means and the intention to prevent celestial beings from descending to the mortal realm.

He didn't hide it from this senior Luo; the other party had the same idea.

The two then talked about the situation in the Ten Thousand Mountains. The white-robed king said that there were fewer and fewer demons in the vicinity now. The Tiankeng had undergone a huge change, dividing the Ten Thousand Mountains into two parts. Many demon mountains had begun to migrate and retreat to the depths of the Ten Thousand Mountains, making it troublesome to go there.

Chen Yuan was not surprised. Since that great change, the Ten Thousand Mountains had become more docile. He estimated that many great demons had died in that great change, and with the hole that appeared in the Ten Thousand Mountains that day, swallowing up thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, the vitality must have been greatly damaged.

Of course, Chen Yuan didn't think that these guys were afraid because they had retreated to the depths; they were just accumulating strength and observing the situation, which should not be ignored.

Chen Yuan took this opportunity to ask this senior Luo for his opinion on the current situation. The king's answer was simple: to take it one step at a time.

As for concerns, there are none for the time being.

The seven immortal kings occupy this area, and so far nothing can threaten them.

Whether it's a hole in the sky, a celestial being who might descend, a demon from the Hundred Thousand Mountains, or even the imperial court.

The combined power of the Seven Martial Saints is terrifying; if anyone should be afraid, it's others!

Since the conversation had already progressed to this point, Chen Yuan took the opportunity to reveal the purpose of his trip.

"Senior Luo, I remember that you seemed to be acquainted with that Arhat Aniluo at the Burial Ground. Could you please introduce us?"

The white-robed king put down his wine cup.

"Are you looking for him?"

"There are some things I need to ask you about!" Chen Yuan nodded, then raised his eyebrows and asked, "Senior, do you know the origin of this Arhat?"

"Could it be that they ascended to the upper realm from Mount Sumeru in the Western Pure Land?"

The white-robed king shook his head.

"Mount Sumeru? I seem to recall it being a sacred Buddhist site in this area?"

"No, he attained enlightenment in the heavens and has nothing to do with Mount Sumeru in this mortal realm."

“He is a great Arhat who practices Hinayana Buddhism, which is different from Mahayana Buddhism.”

"What do you mean?" Chen Yuan did not have a deep understanding of Buddhism.

Luo Cheng, the white-robed king, this former celestial being, obviously knew more, so he took advantage of his drunken state to explain the difference between "Hinayana" and "Mahayana".

The Hinayana (Sravakayana) emphasizes personal liberation, aiming to eliminate afflictions, escape samsara, and attain "Arhatship." It stresses the elimination of greed, hatred, and delusion through the contemplation of the Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Mahayana (Bodhisattva Vehicle) takes "universal salvation" as its core and aims to achieve "Buddhahood". It not only pursues its own liberation, but also emphasizes "Bodhisattva practice", that is, generating "Bodhi mind", practicing for countless eons to help all sentient beings escape the sea of ​​suffering, and finally perfecting wisdom and compassion.

The focus of spiritual practice differs. Simply put, one seeks personal transcendence, with great power returning to oneself, while the other, while seeking transcendence, also vows to transcend others, receiving the help of the vows of all beings, and thus reaching a higher realm of spiritual practice.

Chen Yuan understood the explanation and simplified it in his own way: The Hinayana is about ascetic monks, while the Mahayana is about making the Bodhi vow and traveling to various places to liberate beings.
Those two on Mount Sumeru must have practiced Mahayana Buddhism.

"Thank you for your explanation, senior. Could you please introduce me to someone?" Chen Yuan realized that this Arhat was not from the same group as Mount Sumeru, which made things easier.

"Fine, since I drank your wine, what can I do?" the white-robed king readily agreed. (End of Chapter)