Chapter 138: Hello, Daoist Priest Chen

Within the ancient temple, the crimson moon hung high.

This place was filled with numerous malevolent entities, forming the missing part of the original Pure Immortal Temple.

Right in the deepest part of this ancient temple.

An old Daoist in a white robe sat cross-legged in the main hall, his belly conspicuously protruding.

At this moment, a voice echoed from within his stomach.

Chen Huangpi shouted, "Second Master, please open your mouth; I want to come out."

The white-robed old Daoist feigned deafness, his eyes tightly shut.

Moreover, he deliberately let out loud snoring sounds.

"Second Master..."

Chen Huangpi said helplessly, "You never snore when you sleep. I know you're just pretending to be asleep. Stop messing around and let me out quickly. It's too stuffy in your stomach, making me dizzy."

"This poor Daoist cannot let you out."

"Why?"

"Because this poor Daoist is not your most beloved Second Master."

The white-robed old Daoist said in a shrill voice, "Huangpi, don't be anxious. Your Second Master loves you so much; once he wakes up, he will certainly let you out."

"Then when will my Second Master wake up?"

"When the chicken finishes the rice, the dog finishes the flour, and the fire burns through the lock, your most beloved Second Master will wake up."

Hearing this, Chen Huangpi said helplessly, "Second Master, there are only malevolent entities in the ancient temple; where on earth would there be chickens, dogs, rice, or flour? You're tricking me again."

"Your master... cough, cough."

The white-robed old Daoist quickly corrected himself, "This poor Daoist would never trick you. If this poor Daoist says they exist, then they most certainly exist."

As he spoke, the white-robed old Daoist waved his hand casually.

In the main hall, a mountain of rice, a mountain of flour, and a heavy lock immediately appeared, alongside a chicken, a dog, and a ball of fire.

The chicken was eating the rice, and for every grain it ate, another grain grew back.

The dog was eating the flour, and for every bite it took, another mouthful replenished it.

As for the fire, it burned fiercely beneath the iron lock.

Yet the texture of that iron lock was identical to a brass oil lamp, clearly forged from Mount Shou copper.

Not even true divine fire or celestial fire could melt Mount Shou copper.

How could this mere mortal fire ever burn through it?

Chen Huangpi sighed and said, "Second Master, you say you aren't tricking me, but since I can't see it, how can I know whether your words are true or false?"

"This poor Daoist is not your Second Master!"

"Fine, Daoist Chen."

Chen Huangpi said, "You and my Second Master must be very close, aren't you?"

"Not close at all, not close at all."

The white-robed old Daoist muttered vaguely, "This poor Daoist is merely a stranger who happens to look the same, share the same name, and have the exact same temper as your Second Master."

"Oh, is that so..."

Chen Huangpi remarked offhandedly, "Then Daoist Chen probably doesn't know that I actually have three masters, right?"

"You actually have three masters?"

"Yes, my First Master—you probably haven't met him."

Chen Huangpi said calmly, "However, quite coincidentally, my First Master also happens to share the surname Chen, and shares the exact same name as Daoist Chen."

"Could there truly be such a coincidence in this world?"

The white-robed old Daoist feigned astonishment, "Then your First Master must be very wicked, right?"

"Indeed, my First Master is very wicked."

Chen Huangpi replied, "Furthermore, he is obsessed with refining me into an elixir, full of lies and deceiving me every single day."

"Precisely, absolutely!"

The white-robed old Daoist said with deep gratification, "Huangpi, you finally understand. In this entire world, only your Second Master is the one who treats you best. He is the kindest, the most compassionate; he would never deceive you, and certainly would never refine you into an elixir."

"Come, tell me more about your Second Master; this poor Daoist can hardly wait."

"No, we must talk about my Third Master first."

"Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!"

The white-robed old Daoist stood up, shouting, "As the saying goes, the Dao produces one, one produces two, two produces three. Once you finish talking about the eldest, you naturally should speak of this poor Daoist. Why skip this poor Daoist to talk about the third?"

"Daoist Chen, you don't understand..."

Chen Huangpi explained, "Ever since my Third Master came out of the ancient temple, he has been hanging me up and beating me, tearing my skin and making me wail in tears. He is simply too wicked."

Speaking to the point of deep emotion, Chen Huangpi's voice even carried a sobbing tone.

Every single word sounded as if it were dripping with tears.

"Ah, ah, ah!!!"

Clenching his fists tightly, the white-robed old Daoist pounded his thighs in rage and screamed frantically, "This poor Daoist is furious! This poor Daoist is furious!"

"Even this poor Daoist hasn't the heart to beat you; how dare he treat you like this!"

"And that's not even all..."

"What? What other evil deeds did he commit? Huangpi, quickly tell your master."

"Daoist Chen, what did you say?"

"This poor Daoist tripped over his own tongue. Quickly tell Daoist Chen, and Daoist Chen will tell your Second Master to make decisions for you and deal with the third one."

"However..."

Chen Huangpi said with hesitation, "Never mind, I suppose I won't tell. If my Second Master finds out, he will surely be furious. He loves me the most and is the kindest; I do not wish to cause him grief and sorrow."

At these words, how could the white-robed old Daoist possibly remain seated?

Although he was undoubtedly the best master who loved Huangpi the most and was the kindest of all, who wouldn't know about this?

The crucial point was that Huangpi must not be allowed to suffer grievances.

If he suffered grievances, his flesh would turn sour.

Once it turned sour, it would not be easy to digest.

Thinking of this, the white-robed old Daoist slapped his thigh heavily and said with sudden realization, "No wonder this poor Daoist ate Huangpi and hasn't fully digested him to this day—it turns out the third one was meddling and causing trouble!"

"Huangpi, speak of whatever grievances you harbor!"

"Daoist Chen will uphold justice for you!"

"Wuu wuu wuu, Daoist Chen, you are so kind."

Chen Huangpi cried as he said, "My Third Master is immensely powerful and holds a deep grudge. He said that once he leaves the ancient temple, he has no intention of returning, and furthermore, he wants to be the eldest. From now on, he will become the First Master, the First Master will become the Second Master, and the Second Master will..."

"Will become the Third Master?!!!"

"No, the Second Master will simply cease to exist." Chen Huangpi complained, "He wants to expel the Second Master from the sect's registry because the Second Master wants to eat me. I originally thought the Third Master was lying to me, which is why I came to pour out my grievances to my Second Master, but I never expected that I would truly be eaten by the Second Master."

"No! Your master did not eat you!"

As the white-robed old Daoist spoke, he opened his cavernous mouth and spat Chen Huangpi out with a loud retching sound.

"My goodness! Huangpi!"

The white-robed old Daoist said in feigned surprise, "How did you end up inside your master's stomach?"

With a dark expression, Chen Huangpi retorted, "Second Master, what do you think?"

"Your master has no idea."

Lowering his head, the white-robed old Daoist mumbled, "Perhaps you took advantage of your master's sleep and crawled in on your own. Your master's stomach is very warm, and you are afraid of the cold. Yes, that must be it."

"Oh, so that's how it was."

Chen Huangpi pouted and asked, "By the way, Second Master, where did Daoist Chen go?"

"He went home."

The white-robed old Daoist lied smoothly, "His home is far from here, so he had to leave early. He also told you to be a dutiful disciple to your master, and under no circumstances let the third one expel your master from the sect registry—that wouldn't be proper."

"Rest assured, Second Master."

Chen Huangpi nodded and said, "I won't let the Third Master succeed. But Second Master, could you please spit out Huang Er first while you talk? I can see its head stuck right between your teeth."

"Such a thing actually happened."

Filled with exaggerated astonishment, the white-robed old Daoist hurriedly shoved his hand into his mouth and dragged the brass oil lamp out from where it was wedged between his teeth.

"Huang Er, you must have been sleepwalking too, right?"

"Yes!"

Faced with the threatening gaze of the white-robed old Daoist, how could the brass oil lamp dare to utter a single word of dissent...

Chen Huangpi reclaimed the brass oil lamp.

Only then did he finally have the mind to inspect the surrounding environment within the main hall.

He caught sight of the mountains of rice and flour, the chicken, the dog, the fire, and the lock...

In a panic, the white-robed old Daoist waved his hand and wiped away all those items entirely.

Then, with shifty eyes, he stammered, "That was all Daoist Chen's doing, not your master's."

"Daoist Chen is also very wicked; only your master is good."

Chen Huangpi remained silent.

Because the more he looked at this main hall, the more familiar it felt.

"Second Master, why is this place identical to the main hall in the temple?"

The ancient temple was the vanished region of the Pure Immortal Temple.

And this main hall, apart from the difference in scale, was completely indistinguishable in every other aspect from the hall outside the Pure Immortal Temple.

Even the straw meditation cushions on the floor were exact carbon copies.

"How is it identical?"

Pointing at the wall directly opposite the main hall, the white-robed old Daoist said, "Isn't this different?"

Three portraits hung upon that wall.

Yet all three frames were entirely blank.

They bore no paintings of the purple-robed First Master, the white-robed Second Master, or the cyan-robed Third Master.

Chen Huangpi frowned and said, "Except for that, everything else is the same."

With that, he walked toward the innermost wall of the main hall.

"Look, Second Master."

Pointing at the wall, Chen Huangpi said, "There are still traces left right here. The Ascension Scroll used to hang in this exact spot; this place is an absolute carbon copy of the outside."

"Different, completely different,"

Closing his eyes, the white-robed old Daoist declared, "You've developed cataracts; your eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be, which is why you're seeing things wrong. But your master hasn't—my eyes are much sharper than yours, and in my eyes, it is not the same at all."

"Second Master, you're tricking me again."

"Your master would never trick you."

"Fine, then I brought you something delicious. After you eat it, won't you tell me what is going on here?"

"Oh my! Huangpi, what talk of delicious food is this?"

Opening his eyes, the white-robed old Daoist spoke with an aggrieved expression, "I am your own biological master, after all! Even if you hadn't brought me food, if there's anything you wish to know, could your master possibly refuse to tell you?"

"Quickly take the food out; your master is starving."

"Very well, Second Master."

Rolling his eyes, Chen Huangpi triggered a thought in his mind.

The Soul-Catching Register emitted a wisp of chill, and Lord Mangshan was promptly tossed out.

The latter wore a fierce expression, preparing to scold Chen Huangpi as usual.

Yet before he even had the chance to open his mouth.

He saw an aged, emaciated face continuously expanding before him, opening a cavernous, blood-red maw.

"Not tasty, has a distinct bald-donkey stench."

Rubbing his belly, the white-robed old Daoist muttered to himself, "Your master detests bald donkeys the most. Bald donkeys are all utterly shameless—they dared to ask this poor Daoist for Huangpi, and even wanted Huangpi to become a Buddha. All bald donkeys deserve to die!"

"Buddha?"

Chen Huangpi asked in astonishment, "Second Master, are you speaking of the Heretical Buddha?"

The brass oil lamp had once mentioned that after the heaven-earth anomaly, the Heretical Buddha had come to the Pure Immortal Temple to demand something from the master, only to be beheaded by that sword, its head hung high upon the mountain gate.

Later on, they had encountered that head of the Heretical Buddha once more within the ancient temple.

The latter had still attempted to convert him and make him take refuge in Buddhism.

On the contrary, Ah Gui and Huang Er remained unaffected.

So it turned out that it had been targeting him from the very beginning.

Dissatisfied, the white-robed old Daoist muttered, "Not just it, but plenty of other bald donkeys as well. Your master has slaughtered them batch after batch, yet those bald donkeys grow back like grass; the very sight of them makes me sick."

"Then Second Master, why did you give that Heretical Buddha relic to me?"

Chen Huangpi produced the Heretical Buddha relic.

Last time, the three masters had ground that Heretical Buddha to dust.

And the Second Master had tossed the Heretical Buddha relic directly to him.

"I won't tell you."

The white-robed old Daoist lowered his voice, "This poor Daoist would never tell Huangpi. I've added some special ingredients to this Heretical Buddha relic, just waiting to ambush and mess up that bunch of bald donkeys later. Heh heh heh, this poor Daoist is truly the most wicked one."

"Huangpi, why are you staring at your master like that?"

"Your master will not tell you!"

Rolling his eyes, Chen Huangpi couldn't help but say, "Very well, Second Master, I know nothing at all. By the way, what on earth is going on with this main hall?"