Chapter 402 - Wherever I’m From, Wherever I Shall Go
Chapter 402: Wherever I’m From, Wherever I Shall Go
Headless Assembly’s priest had his eye fixed on Heavenly Court. The four Great Immortal Domains, Heavenly Court, in particular, were hiring wandering Daoists in hope of scrying so they could best the enemy priest, while also catching him on the wrong foot.
Headless Assembly was now in the limelight.
On this day, Chen Ming heard of this by happenstance. If I can beat this priest, this might be my ticket in the four Great Immortal Domains. As a veritable wandering Daoist myself, they will invite me to see my Fengshui. Not to mention, the stone stele’s position was also a kind of Fengshui.
Flawless!
The stele was the lifeline of an Immortal Domain, even more important than the ancestral tombs.
Now how to get it?
An upfront challenge won’t do, it’s not my area of expertise anyway.
This was Chen Ming’s best odds at getting inside the Great Immortal Domains and rob their stele’s scripture. After all, Heavenly Imperial Dao Cannon was unrestricted by the realm seal. But it didn’t increase his power either.
It was akin to an outlook of the world, allowing him to have everyone in it as his pawns.
Even an Emperor was to be reduced to a mere puppet. This was also the reasoning behind the Emperor Dao Seed.
Chen Ming drank at the side in the tavern while in deep thought over this problem. His ears were peeled of course, “Did you hear? An undead calamity erupted on a star in the Eastern quadrant. They say the souls weren’t collected.”
“The Buddhist Sect Golden Zenith has set off its monks by now. This should end it, right?”
“What, but their Dao skills are not good enough, and are unable to cleanse the souls. They will have a hard time even resisting.”
“Such a disaster! I hope Heavenly Court has other ways to counter it.”
Chen Ming thought for a second, I can pass for a wandering Daoist, cleanse the souls and infiltrate the Buddhist Sect. This sect also had divining monks.
These monks were known as heart monks.
Their cultivation followed the Sin Searing Book. They were of no help in battles, leaning on their word skills to come out of all situations.
Ah, but this passing off is too hurtful. I need to sacrifice my good looks. My poor silky locks!
Yet this was a small matter for cultivators. They could just let it grow, particularly in Chen Ming’s case, who can do it in an instant. With the
Illustrious Casket at the ready, anything could be recovered, even something as vain as hair.
Chen Ming went to his room and shaved his head with a cleaver. Passing his fingers through his ‘hair’, he felt it smooth as a baby’s bottom. When he checked it in the mirror, he saw the rays bouncing off his baldness like stars.
He swapped his clothes with a white set, just like a young and charming monk.
It’s go time, though it’s just a good deed.
Standing on the path to immortality leading to the star infested by wraiths, Chen Ming was struck by an awkward thought, My acting is complete only if I recite Buddhist scripture, forgoing any magical arts.
How do I cross over then?
Won’t flying blow my cover?
How to cross, that was the question.
Chen Ming saw a cavalry team riding his way with ease. He found that each of them was covered in question marks.
But the most shocking of all was their titles as Heaven’s General.
The Heaven’s Generals were escorting the carriage behind.
Just who was it that needed a team of Heaven’s Generals as guards?
Chen Ming’s thought, Beats me. The best will be for these folks to take me across. He walked in front of them, hands in prayer, “Benefactors, are you perhaps crossing the path to immortality?”
The leading Heaven’s General sized him, found his cultivation nonexistent, and chided, “Stand aside, we have urgent matters!”
Chen Ming chuckled and cleared the way. A youngster came out of the carriage and eyed the delicate and innocent monk, “Why have you blocked my carriage?”
The youngster had golden hair as sparkling eyes. Not much to go on as to who he was, but here was Chen Ming, This guy’s Heavenly Court’s second Crown Prince!
Damn, what a big catch.
Immortal Master Chen was but a Dao Seed cultivator, but the prince would soon come begging.
Chen Ming held his hands in prayer, “Wraiths plague the next star.”
Second Crown Prince asked, “So you are warning people not to go to accrue good deeds.”
Chen Ming continued, “This humble monk comes from the Easter Tang and is going to the West to seek out the Buddhist scriptures.(1) I also wish to cleanse the departed souls I encounter on my journey.”
Second Crown Prince gave a mock laugh, “Again with cleansing souls, and yet you’re still here, waving it around like a placard to swindle money.”
Chen Ming was calmer than ever, still playing the holy and innocent vibe, “A monk does not lie.”
“Then why are you still here?”
“My humble self is a heart monk. Little monk cannot cross…”
The second Crown Prince was caught unprepared. It does seem to fit. This heart monk has no cultivation. His only difference from a mortal is that he has a longer life.
Chen Ming continued, “Benefactor if you insist on going further, could you consider taking little monk with you?”
“Alright then, this C… this gentleman will take you.”
He thought of letting Chen Ming stick close at first, but, This guy is more or less a mortal. He opened the carriage screen, “Get in.”
“Many thanks, benefactor!”
Chen Ming found the interior quite plain, He’s incognito.
“Monk, where is this East Tang? I never heard of it.”
“As benefactor asked, I can only reply. Wherever I’m from, wherever I shall go.”
Second Crown Prince took a long look at him, yet found the same dignified manner, You’re telling me this oddity of a monk has some skill?
His words contain a deep meaning of Dao.
However, second Crown Prince turned a death ear, Before a mystic shows his skill, all hail him a Grandmaster!
The way to test one was to see how he cleansed souls.
For the sake of his new enigmatic image, Chen Ming held back his words and closed his eyes.
It took but a few hours before the detail reached the wraith infested star.
They wasted no time and entered the main camp, where a brazen and arrogant voice echoed in the carriage, “Who’s the moron than came to this young master’s camp? Don’t you know an undead calamity is upon us?”
(1) Journey to the West reference. This line sums up its plot, and it’s also the line monk Tang Sanzang often used on his journey.