Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

A golden lotus floated on the water, radiating a magnificent golden glow and spreading its fragrance. Even from a distance, both of them could feel its powerful and unparalleled vitality.

Those golden lotuses were quite extraordinary, with rich colors, nestled among the lotus leaves, and brimming with vitality.

Among them are three-petaled lotus flowers, four-petaled lotus flowers, five-petaled lotus flowers, and even the lotus flowers in the very center of the pond.

There is also a six-petaled lotus!

That ninth-grade lotus was a full ten feet in size, like a giant millstone, and like a divine lamp, illuminating this chaotic world, scattering patches of holy light, and shrouding it in mysterious mist.

"The Eight Treasures Lotus Pond, this is the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond!"

When Zhunti and Jieyin saw the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond and saw that a few more lotus flowers had been added, smiles appeared on their lips.

Jieyin said calmly, "This Eight Treasures Lotus Pond was cultivated by you and me in ancient times using twelve-grade merit lotuses. But ever since that Mosquito Daoist swallowed three grades of my twelve-grade merit lotus, it has become a nine-grade lotus."

He paused and then said, "This twelfth-grade golden lotus of merit is the vessel for my good corpse among my three corpses. However, after the lotus platform was swallowed, my good corpse's magical power was greatly reduced. Now, by completely integrating the ninth-grade golden lotus of merit into the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond, it has become full of vitality."

After saying this, his tone contained a faint sadness. He had lost the magic treasure that had accompanied him for countless years, as well as his benevolent corpse, which allowed the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond to receive better nourishment.

"It's a pity that you lost a primordial spiritual treasure, and you almost lost your benevolent corpse as well. From now on, your benevolent corpse can only be forever merged with the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond and can never be separated from it."

As he spoke, Zhunti's tone suggested he wished he could personally take his place.

"It's alright. We started cultivating the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond as soon as we obtained the Twelfth Grade Merit Golden Lotus. But even after countless years, it's only just been born. Now that it's been integrated into the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus Platform, it has become full of vitality."

Jieyin paused for a moment and then said, "The greater the vitality of the Eight Treasures Lotus Pond, the more powerful my good corpse will be, as it is connected to its fate."

Having said that, he showed no regret. He knew that Buddhism was now experiencing a great boom, and his benevolent body would naturally become even stronger under the immense influence of his merit.

"En!"

After listening to his senior brother's words, Zhunti nodded slightly and said calmly, "In that case, let's wait for the journey to the West to begin!"

As they spoke, the projections of their thoughts disappeared.

Since the Investiture of the Gods, the Heavenly Dao has confined the saints to the chaos, forbidding them from appearing in the Earthly Immortal Realm with their avatars. They can only project their will or manifest their three corpses.

However, those who can become saints all have their own three corpses, so it doesn't have much of an impact. They are just not allowed to directly interfere in the affairs of the Earthly Immortal Realm.

Moreover, from another perspective, one can cultivate oneself even better in chaos!

Chapter 328 Going Down the Mountain to Catch Ghosts

Meanwhile, Li Xiuyuan, far away at Lingyin Temple, was completely unaware that the two sages were watching his development. If he could enter the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm before the Stone Monkey was born, a great opportunity would await him.

After Li Xiuyuan brought Guangliang back, he was terrified and hurriedly went back to the kitchen to eat a few bowls of rice to calm his nerves. Moreover, Guangliang had not eaten a single grain of rice for half a day.

Li Xiuyuan continued his cultivation. Even though he didn't know about Zhunti and Jieyin's schemes, he wanted to quickly enter the realm of the Great Luo Golden Immortal so that he could participate in the Journey to the West. Little did he know that the two saints had already made arrangements for him.

On this day, there was a problem at Lingyin Temple that no one could solve, and Daoji was finally found.

When Li Xiuyuan arrived at the main hall, he saw Huiming standing there waiting for him under the magnificent golden Buddha statue. He couldn't help but ask indifferently, "Master, what brings you here?"

After saying that, he got straight to the point. He hadn't had time to travel these days; he had been cultivating most of the time. Now that Huiming had called him over, he couldn't help but feel a little displeased.

Huiming had no choice but to speak kindly to his disciple, Daoji, "A friend of mine has encountered a great calamity and I would like you to accompany me on this journey."

As he spoke, he began to explain earnestly, as if the two of them had switched roles.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan pondered for a moment and then said, "Hmm, anything else?"

After saying that, he continued to ask questions. If it were an ordinary matter, he would never have bothered me. This matter must be quite troublesome!

Upon hearing Daoji's question, Huiming could no longer conceal the truth and replied, "My friend's son has been kidnapped, and many other children from neighboring families have also been kidnapped."

He paused and then said, "The one who kidnapped the child is the legendary Earth Demon Mother. I want you to rescue the child. If you can do it, it will be a great deed."

After saying that, he looked at Li Xiuyuan expectantly, hoping that the other party would nod in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan's lips curled up. He pondered inwardly, "Ghost Mother: the legendary 'Ghost Mother' who gave birth to the 'Ghost Child.' Her child was born with black birthmarks, and the Ghost Mother practiced the Infant Spirit Technique in an attempt to change her son's skin."

Indeed, no one but myself could accomplish this task. Oh well, I'll accompany the old monk on this journey, since he's my master after all!

Li Xiuyuan thought to himself, and said in a deep voice, "Well, since I have nothing to do, I'll go down the mountain with Master and take a trip!"

Having said that, he had already agreed.

"What? You want to go down the mountain? Master, please take me with you!"

As they were talking, Guangliang walked in with a big belly, looking like she was eight months pregnant. It seemed that the food at Lingyin Temple was quite good.

"Wow! Your ears are so sharp! You didn't hear anything clearly, but you heard this sentence."

Li Xiuyuan smiled and thought to himself that if Guangliang really wanted to go, that would be fine too. With him there, he figured the other party would be alright.

“Uncle Daoji, you know Uncle Guangliang, he can hear everything clearly when something good happens, but when something bad happens, he pretends to be indifferent.”

Bi Qing walked in with a grin, flattering Li Xiuyuan while making snide remarks about Guang Liang.

"Hmph, what nonsense are you spouting, Shi Biqing?"

As he spoke, Guangliang became somewhat unwilling.

"Hehe! I didn't say that; everyone's eyes are sharp. Abbot Uncle, could you take me down the mountain with you?"

After saying that, Bi Qing looked over with hopeful eyes.

After hearing Bi Qing's words, Li Xiuyuan said indifferently, "Oh, you really want to come down the mountain with me?"

After saying that, he asked the two of them.

"Uh-huh!"

Both Guangliang and Biqing nodded quickly.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "But we're not going down the mountain for fun this time. There's a missing baby down there, and we need to find the Ghost Mother. Since you all want to go down the mountain, then come with me!"

After saying that, he agreed.

"what?"

"Ghost...Ghost mother!"

The two looked somewhat incredulous, especially Guangliang, who shuddered all over.

"Hmm, not bad. Alright, it's getting late, let's hurry up and go!"

After saying that, Li Xiuyuan was about to take two people with him.

"No, no, junior brother, I've thought about it. There's no one to lead Lingyin Temple after you leave, so I'd better stay!"

Guangliang shook his head and replied, "If I had known earlier that we were going down the mountain to catch ghosts, who would have been so eager to go down the mountain!"

"Yes! Yes! I'll stay on the mountain too, to help you with some things."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and replied, "Alright! You two can stay on the mountain."

With that, he made the decision about whether the two of them should stay or leave.

"However, many guests will be arriving later, so you must treat them well. Don't be stingy with the money; our Lingyin Temple is a large and powerful organization, so a little loss is nothing. Remember: saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!"

After saying that, Li Xiuyuan's lips curled up, "Staying on the mountain would be bad luck!"

"En!"

Guangliang and Biqing listened to Li Xiuyuan's words. As long as he didn't ask them to go down the mountain, they were willing to do anything.

As for what Li Xiuyuan said, he did not think about it carefully.

Li Xiuyuan replied calmly, "Yes, Master, let's go right away!"

As he spoke, he took the lead and led the way. Unexpectedly, as soon as he left the main hall, he saw Zhao Bin and Chen Liang walking over.

The two arrived excitedly, but when they saw Li Xiuyuan emerge from seclusion, they exclaimed in surprise, "Master, where are you going?"

After saying this, the two of them were excited. They had finally come out of seclusion and naturally wanted to be with their master. As long as they could receive his guidance, they would benefit immensely.

Chapter 329 Flooding of the River

The two thought to themselves, "The days when we had a master to guide us were so wonderful. Now, if we rely solely on our own cultivation, it will probably take us several years to reach the realm of human immortals."

Upon seeing the two approaching, Li Xiuyuan replied casually, "Nothing, just going down the mountain to catch ghosts!"

After saying that, he revealed that he was going down the mountain to catch ghosts; there was no need to hide it at this time.

What? Ghost hunting!

"That looks so exciting!" This was the shared thought in both of their minds.

"Master, we haven't been down the mountain in a long time, please take us with you!"

As they spoke, the two of them spoke at the same time.

Li Xiuyuan said calmly, "No, you must stay at Lingyin Temple. There will be things for you to do."

He then disagreed, saying that the two men were the main force and couldn't just leave like that.

"All right!"

Seeing Li Xiuyuan's resolute attitude, the two of them naturally dared not mention anything more and could only agree like wronged little wives.

Li Xiuyuan smiled faintly and said, "Alright, let's go!"

As he spoke, he called over the cheap driver.

"Abbot, have a safe journey,"

"Disappeared halfway through,"