Starting as a dockworker

Chapter 42 A High-Ranking Buddhist Monk, a Compassionate Master!

It is a consensus among everyone that these three people died at the hands of evil spirits.

Therefore, when Li Xiao brought up the news again, no one was surprised.

Hong Qiong, the master of the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts School, scoffed and said, "Boy, you say these three died from evil spirits? Can you tell me what kind of evil spirits they were?"

Li Xiao shook his head: "I don't know, after all, I haven't seen it with my own eyes."

Seeing that Li Xiao couldn't explain himself, Hong Qiong laughed and said, "What's the difference between saying nothing and not saying anything at all? Master Xiao, look at the kind of people you've summoned; they're completely useless."

Xiao Zhenshan said unhappily, "Master Hong, are you questioning me?"

Hong Qiong snorted and said, "Isn't that right?"

Bang!

Suddenly, Xiao Zhenshan threw a punch, and Hong Qiong snorted and threw a punch to meet it. The two fists collided with a thunderous sound, making the eardrums of the people around them hurt.

The two started fighting immediately after a disagreement.

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Clearly, Xiao Zhenshan and Hong Qiong were not on good terms.

Li Xiao never expected that Lao Xiao would have such a volatile temper.

"Alright, alright, we're all here to help, let's not ruin the harmony."

County Chief Hu immediately stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Since Xiao Zhenshan recommended this young man, he must have some outstanding qualities. Let's be quiet and listen to what he has to say."

Thus, the two museum owners each backed down and stopped looking at each other.

All eyes were on Li Xiao.

Li Xiao nodded slightly. If he didn't give a clear explanation today, he was afraid Old Xiao would lose face.

Even if you're making it up, at least make it sound plausible...

"There are countless evil spirits in this world, each different, but the four main types that harm humankind are: demons, monsters, ghosts, and monsters..."

The moment Li Xiao spoke, the room fell silent.

An expert's words reveal their skill.

Everyone could tell that this young man was indeed quite capable.

Xiao Zhenshan straightened his chest immediately, and Hong Qiong's face turned ugly.

Li Xiao saw right through everyone's subtle thoughts, smiled slightly, and began to speak eloquently:

"Demons are transformed from spirits. Animals, plants, birds, fish, and even stubborn stones and objects can become spirits by chance and gaining intelligence. They can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon to cultivate and gain Taoist power."

But if the "spirit" is used for evil, it will fall into the path of demons...

They are masters of disguise, hiding in the streets and mountains, making them difficult to distinguish.

Li Xiao's voice was clear and unhurried.

Everyone present held their breath, and even Hong Qiong's face darkened as she pondered something.

"The devil is different."

Li Xiao continued, "Demons are not born from external things, but from the human heart. Obsession, evil desires, resentment, and delusion—all these dark emotions accumulate and ferment, either attracting external demonic energy or causing one to sink and become alienated, ultimately becoming a demon. Demons are most adept at bewitching people's hearts, amplifying desires, causing people to sink, and even transforming into the most feared and hated forms in people's hearts."

He paused briefly to allow everyone to process what he had learned.

Magistrate Hu had unconsciously leaned forward, while Xiao Zhenshan looked smug.

"Ghosts are the remnants of the spirit of all living beings."

Li Xiao said in a slightly somber tone, "After a person dies, if their obsession is deep and their resentment is not dispelled, or if they are not buried properly and the rituals are not performed, a wisp of their soul may remain in the mortal world and become a ghost."

Ghosts are often associated with their past lives and the circumstances of their death. They frequently linger in specific places, seeking revenge or reliving the suffering they endured before death.

The temperature inside the hall seemed to drop sharply because of the word "ghost".

Several martial arts school owners subconsciously tensed their shoulders and backs.

Finally, there's the "strange".

Li Xiao's expression turned serious. "This thing is extremely strange and unpredictable. It is not cultivated by living beings, nor is it formed from human hearts, nor is it transformed from the dead."

It may be the condensation of unusual energy between heaven and earth, the manifestation of phenomena that defy common sense, or the birth of something due to a mistake in some ineffable 'rules'.

"Strange things are often formless and intangible, or have bizarre and indescribable forms. They act irrationally and cause harm in the most inconceivable ways..."

These were all taught to Li Xiao by the fortune teller before she descended the mountain.

It's not a secret; in fact, it's recorded in ancient books.

For several hundred years, the world was at peace, and all the demons and monsters were suppressed. Over time, no one mentioned them anymore.

The county magistrate's eyes widened. "Young man," he said, "tell me," he continued, "what kind of evil spirit killed these people?"

Li Xiao slowly said, "Ghosts, I sensed ghostly energy on them just now. These demons and monsters are all difficult to deal with, but the most difficult to deal with are ghosts, because ghosts cannot be killed, they can only be..."

"They'll only be given a proper rite of passage!"

These words did not come from Li Xiao, but from a voice outside the door.

A monk walked in, accompanied by a young novice monk holding a wooden fish.

The monk was dressed in a red kasaya, with prayer beads hanging from his left hand and bowing in front of his chest. He held a long staff in his right hand. He was tall and robust, with large earlobes and a ruddy face, exuding an air of superiority.

Upon seeing this person, everyone felt at peace and incredibly safe.

Li Xiao, dressed in martial arts school attire, was immediately overwhelmed by the imposing presence.

"The Compassionate Master".

Hong Qiong, the head of the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts School, immediately greeted him with a smile and introduced, "County Magistrate, this is the master I invited, the Compassionate Master. Subduing demons and monsters is a piece of cake for him!"

County Chief Hu's eyes immediately lit up and he greeted the man with a smile.

Xiao Zhenshan's apprentice might know a little, but that's the mark of a true master.

"I've long admired your name!"

"Amitabha...."

The compassionate master bowed slightly to acknowledge him, then looked at Li Xiao and asked, "Young brother, may I ask whether you come from the Buddhist or Taoist sect?"

Li Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then said, "The Daoist sect."

In fact, Li Xiao didn't know which sect he came from, but the Xiangshan Goddess passed down to him the "Shangqing Xuanmiao Dao", which should be related to the Taoist sect.

"When it comes to exorcising ghosts, Buddhism is the safest option."

The compassionate master bowed slightly and said, "Would you mind entrusting this matter to this old monk?"

Li Xiao was stunned. Was he being so proactive?

"Master, please."

Li Xiao raised his hand towards the corpse, indicating that he would leave the matter to the corpse.

After all, Li Xiao only had twelve years of cultivation and wasn't confident he could exorcise the ghost.

"Amitabha."

The compassionate master bowed slightly, then looked at the location of the corpse and began to observe it.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Xiao stepped aside, closed his eyes, and used the Fire Observation Spirit Technique.

He wanted to see what this monk was capable of.

Darkness descended, and the flames of everyone's fire appeared.

However, what Li Xiao found strange was that this monk's life force was not strong, and he was no different from an ordinary person.

It should be noted that those who embark on cultivation, even without practicing martial arts, have a much stronger fire element than ordinary people.

To use a lighter as an analogy, it's the difference between a regular lighter and a windproof lighter.

The monk's flame was just like a regular lighter.

More importantly, there are no golden threads representing spiritual attainment.

In this situation, either the other party is extremely skilled and you can't tell.

Or... he's just an ordinary person.

Is he a con artist?

wrong!

Just as Li Xiao was observing,

The monk took a bowl from his robe, placed it upside down on the corpse, and began chanting some incomprehensible Buddhist scriptures, which appeared to be in Sanskrit.

The corpse's mouth gaped open, and the shredded paper inside flew out and into the bowl—there were so many of them, it seems that even the paper from its stomach flew in along with it...

Close your eyes again and observe; all the black ghostly energy has vanished!

"Truly a master!"

Li Xiao was surprised; he hadn't expected to encounter a Buddhist master.

The world feels complicated again...

If Li Xiao was so surprised, one can only imagine how astonished the others were.

Everyone was incredibly shocked to see the monk pull off such a feat.

That shocked expression was probably the same as Xiao Zhenshan's expression when Li Xiao unleashed the Thunderous Strike.

"Amitabha."

After absorbing the white paper from the three corpses, the Compassionate Master said, "The ghostly energy has been removed; it was just some minor demon causing trouble. Once I find it, I can personally deliver it from suffering."

"Thank you, Master!" County Magistrate Hu said excitedly.

The compassionate master smiled and said, "However, although this old monk is not greedy for wealth, I still need to have the Buddha's statue gilded..."

Upon hearing this, County Chief Hu immediately understood what the other party meant: they wanted money.

"Master, how much do you need?"

"Fifty thousand silver dollars."

Upon hearing this, County Chief Hu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

That's way too expensive! Fifty thousand dollars!

Li Xiao was also stunned. This master... asked for so much!

It seems even the Buddha can guide people from the Yuan Dynasty...

This "yuan" refers to the yuan in silver dollar.

"this....."

County Chief Hu looked troubled and said that such a large expenditure for the county was probably difficult to handle.

To everyone's surprise, the compassionate master cut himself, saying that it was fate and that 30,000 silver dollars would suffice.

But you have to pay 10,000 silver dollars first.

The remaining 20,000 silver dollars will be paid after the matter is completed.

County Magistrate Hu immediately agreed to the request and sent someone to fetch the money.

Li Xiao was dumbfounded.

He roughly understood why Lao Xiao had called him over.

Damn it, this money was originally supposed to be mine...

No wonder this compassionate master started stealing business the moment he walked in...