Chapter 152: Treasure Altar, Ghost Alms

The shimmering ripples of Falling Silver Lake resembled a giant silver mirror inlaid within the territory of OCHRE BEAR STATE, quietly holding the surrounding mountains in its embrace.

The lake water was crystal clear; under the sunlight, it sparkled as if countless tiny, shattered diamonds were dancing upon the surface.

Falling Silver Lake stretched boundlessly. As Ji Ming cast his gaze outward, water and sky merged into one, their boundary so blurred that it was impossible to tell where the sky ended and the lake began.

Holding an umbrella, Ji Ming straddled the Little Qiu Dragon, quietly enjoying the scenery of lakes and mountains, as well as the strong, bracing lake breezes that rushed against his face.

"Guguwawa~"

On the lakeshore, Wu Liang pressed his small mouth against the frog-mouthed conch horn, blowing heavily and contorting his body into postures he had comprehended from the conch, constantly disrupting Ji Ming's pleasant mood.

He had been flying along the tortuous shoreline, stopping and going for several months now.

The shoreline was dense with vegetation: wild willows gently brushing the water's surface, clusters of reeds appearing every few miles, and the monotonous, wearying sound of lake water slapping against the bank.

Deep within the lake, thick-scaled fish, one-horned ancient crocodiles, and misshapen water demons leaped out from time to time, kicking up violent splashes one after another.

Falling Silver Lake was known as a nest of demons and monsters, a fact Ji Ming had deeply experienced during his journey over the past few months. Therefore, he preferred to spend extra time advancing slowly along the long shoreline.

By now, a large portion of the wealth contained within the Azure-Descending Ghost-Yin Body had been extracted.

However, some remained, though it was difficult to simply convert it into nourishment for his Heavenly-Human fleshly body anymore.

For instance, the vast spiritual essence within it was of the yin-turbid variety—similar to the spring of yin malevolent spiritual energy that had been refined into the White Bone Heart-Gathering Bead, making it largely unsuitable for standard cultivation.

The only method of utilization Ji Ming could think of was to infuse this spiritual essence into a yin treasure to enrich its foundation.

The White Bone Heart-Gathering Bead was the only treasure-implement he possessed, and he had always used it with great facility. In battles among peers, it could be called his trump card, and even against opponents in the three realms of Foundation Establishment, he could gain the upper hand.

This treasure-implement had accompanied him through two lifetimes and could be considered an old companion.

To refine it further upward, one could follow the treasure-refinement formula of the "Twenty-Four Yin Turns" to forge a Dharma treasure known as the "Yin Moon Bridge."

Once released, this treasure could be set across the void, allowing one to stride over mountains of blades, cross seas of fire, and travel back and forth between the mortal world and the heavenly nether-earth with effortless ease.

Yet, the only problem now was that the Twenty-Four Yin Turns originated from Chan Master Sura.

Ji Ming needed a safe treasure-refinement formula free of hidden perils—a new formula—and he had decided to seek this formula from the ghosts and deities of the heterodox Buddhist sects.

As for which Buddhist ghost or deity it was, it was naturally the one worshipped and revered by Yellow Chew.

"Disciple!"

Ji Ming landed on a sandbar and called over Wu Liang, who was blowing the conch on the ground.

Wu Liang had the conch wedged in his mouth, a gourd Dharma-implement strapped to his back, and was dancing upon the lake surface as if he never grew tired.

"So tired, so tired."

He hopped all the way onto the sandbar, stepped across the fine sand, and finally collapsed flat onto the ground, gasping, "Master, why don't you take this treasure back instead!"

With that, he pressed his mouth against the frog-shaped aperture of the conch once more, blowing a mournful, wailing tune.

The Little Qiu Dragon lay to one side, burying its entire head deep into the sand, not daring to look at Wu Liang, whose spirituality had been corrupted by the Dharma-implement to the point of madness.

Vaguely, it had a preboding sense that the fate of this cultivator had been sealed with misfortune the moment he recklessly followed along.

Over the past few months, it—a noble Little Qiu Dragon and true dragon offspring—had gradually come to perceive its new master's attitude toward it: treating it no differently than an ordinary object.

Its deduction was not without basis. During the months of flight, whenever it showed the slightest trace of arrogance, some of its heart's blood would be immediately extracted.

To think that it, a dignified dragon prince and former local deity who once ruled over a vast abyss, was serving a master for the very first time! Not to mention being held in the palm of his hand, surely it shouldn't be exploited at will!

The Little Qiu Dragon felt like crying tears of blood, yet it dared not openly rebel.

Ever since it was imprisoned beneath the well, the series of events and blows seemed to have shattered its soul and remolded it entirely.

Standing on the sandbar, Ji Ming watched the sun sink toward the brilliant, colorful surface of the lake. With his hands clasped behind his back, he asked, "Disciple, have you gained any insights from playing the conch horn?"

"I have," Wu Liang replied wearily. "I can see a... a ghost or deity. Red-haired and scorched-faced, with a bloated belly and a slender neck, accompanied by blazing fires of hunger, trampling ugly little ghosts beneath its feet."

Ji Ming twirled his Buddhist beads, understanding dawning in his heart.

Whenever he twirled his blood-tumor Buddhist beads or brandished his small trident, he too would always catch sight of that entity, accompanied by the uncontrollable chanting of the Dharani heart mantra.

Judging by Wu Liang's state, he must have failed to acquire the heart mantra, which was why he could not control the conch and was instead controlled by it.

"Master, I understand now. That must be the ghost or deity you worship," Wu Liang said, regaining some spirit as he thought he had figured out the truth, and spoke joyfully. "Your disciple is truly dull-witted; after traveling for months, I failed to guess the profound mystery within."

On the sandbar, Wu Liang bowed deeply and said, "It must be that the ghost or deity perceived my lack of sincerity. I shall go out at once to procure some bloody offerings for sacrifice, and by the way, clear the debt of the boys and girls I still owe you, Master."

"Haha!"

Ji Ming feigned a comforting expression and smiled, "Disciple, that is the Scorched-Face Spirit, a mighty being of the sea of suffering and a ghost king of the netherworld. Your opportunity has arrived."

"Opportunity?"

"When this ghost or deity attained the Dao, it once made a vow: If any Buddhist disciple offers alms to a full three thousand hungry ghosts, presenting each ghost with a bushel of food and drink while making offerings to the Triple Jewels, they shall be permitted to enter its lineage.

Your loyalty and diligence by my side have not gone unnoticed. Today, I shall grant you this fulfillment. At the hour of midnight yin, you shall make offerings to the hungry ghosts; though it may not be enough to enter the ghost deity's direct lineage, it will be quite sufficient for you to hear the Great Dharma."

Wu Liang bowed in deep gratitude, choked with emotion, "Master!"

"Cease this womanly posturing and go make your preparations."

"Yes! Yes!" Wu Liang replied eagerly as he scrambled toward the edge of the sandbar.

Ji Ming asked in puzzlement, "When I told you to prepare, I meant familiarizing yourself with playing the conch so that you can use the wondrous music to delight the hungry ghosts when the time comes. Where are you running off to?"

"During my travels today, I happened across a fishing village. Your disciple was thinking of abducting two or three children to add a couple of fresh meat dishes for the hungry ghosts."

"The Ghost King is not a malicious deity. Do not be too clever by half and ruin things."

That very night, as a bright moon hung over the silvery lake, a massive hand formed of genuine Qi sculpted an altar out of the soil on the sandbar. Upon the altar, layers were spread: a layer of soft jade, a layer of golden pearls, and a layer of silver sand.

Buddhist altars placed great emphasis on the Seven Treasures, precious banners, and the like. In his previous life, he had once encountered secular disciple-monks of the Four Sorrows Cloud Temple looting treasures, all because Chan Master Sura had used the Seven Treasures to make offerings to the Buddha for extended longevity.

After decorating the altar, Ji Ming felt something was still missing, so he simply hung the precious mirror of the Xi State upon the altar.

As the saying goes, the Buddha requires a golden body. If the wealth is insufficient and the treasures are lacking, how can one prove the sincerity of one's heart and cause the divine and true beings of Buddhism to manifest their efficacy?

If one truly relied on the notion that "sincerity brings efficacy," then no matter how many millions of magical thoughts the divine beings possessed, they would never have enough time to manage it all.

The Little Qiu Dragon was assigned by Ji Ming to preside over the opening of the altar. With this dragon prince augmenting the atmosphere, even before the altar was officially opened, many lesser ghosts were already sneaking about, crouching on the sandbar and waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Beyond the sandbar, numerous heads popped up one after another upon the lake surface. Pairs of demonic eyes glowed with divine light in various colors, watching the scene unfold with intense curiosity.

"Are you ready?"

Ji Ming asked Wu Liang.

Wu Liang's body was draped in gold and silver jewelry, but he felt an ominous premonition. Back when he served a certain water demon, whenever it was time to periodically offer up young girls, those girls were likewise dressed up in advance.

"Master, why don't you do it instead? I am not ready yet. Let's do this almsgiving another time."

"Nonsense! Everyone is waiting!"

"Everyone?"

Under the moonlight, within the shadows of the sandbar, figures with bloated bellies and slender legs came stumbling forward, gibbering incoherently as they circled around Wu Liang, laughing with extreme delight.

"Meat dish, meaty dish, fill the belly, fill the belly."