Huineng clasped his hands together, chanting scriptures without pause.
A faint golden light emanated from his body, a phantom lotus platform rose beneath his feet, and a halo bloomed behind his head, making him appear exceptionally divine.
The sound of the scriptures spread outwards like ripples on water.
Tianpeng was the first to succumb. His eyes glazed over with confusion, his consciousness gradually blurring as he swayed and walked towards Huineng.
Fan Jingxing felt his eyelids grow heavier, as if a kind voice was calling to him, urging him to close his eyes and heed the summons.
Xuan Ao, for reasons unknown, showed no signs of distress. Unbeknownst to anyone, a domain had formed around the iron cauldron, blocking all external influences.
The Dragon Fish, possessing divine beast bloodlines, remained unaffected.
The Nine-Transforming Heavenly Silkworm lazily swung on a willow branch, never once casting a proper glance at Huineng.
"Who's shouting so loudly? Can't a person sleep?"
Ji Mo emerged from his bedroom, rubbing his disheveled hair with a sleepy, grumpy expression.
He was clearly still in a bad mood from being woken up. He had just managed to doze off when he heard someone yelling like a fly, disturbing his nap.
With his loud shout, Tianpeng instantly recovered, and Fan Jingxing was no longer lost in a daze.
Huineng flinched from the roar. The golden light on his body receded, and his divine ability was broken.
"A single word shattered the Dharma!"
Huineng's face was filled with shock and disbelief. He was stunned.
He couldn't believe that someone had simply yelled out and nullified his divine ability.
It must be a coincidence, he thought. It had to be a coincidence.
Refusing to believe it, he opened his mouth again and resumed chanting the scriptures.
Meanwhile, Ji Mo finally spotted Huineng and shouted, "Monk, what do you want? I don't have any silver to give you. If you want food, stop shouting and come in to get it."
Let him in?
Did he think he was that foolish to fall into his trap?
Entering his courtyard would be like walking into a slaughterhouse.
Huineng stared at Ji Mo, tightly gripping the Medusa's Eye, chanting incantations incessantly. The endless Buddhist sounds enveloped Ji Mo, a torrent of spiritual power.
"Fellow Daoist, I sense you have a karmic connection with my Buddha."
A beam of Buddhist light emanated from Huineng, enveloping Ji Mo, and a powerful force of conversion continuously assaulted him.
"Karmic connection with your ghost! Stop this charade, will you ever stop?"
Ji Mo frowned, angered.
If he were here to beg for alms, Ji Mo would have gladly fed him. But if he was here to deceive, then he shouldn't blame Ji Mo for being impolite.
Seeing that Ji Mo showed no signs of being converted, Huineng began to panic.
His pupils widened as he stared intently at Ji Mo, pushing his spiritual power to the limit. His eyes shot out beams of mesmerizing light, accompanied by flying runes. Any creature within his sight would be converted by his gaze.
"I'll hit him."
Ji Mo couldn't take it anymore.
This bald donkey, with his horse-like face, kept making faces at him. It was disgusting.
Unable to bear it any longer, he swung his fist and landed a blow.
"Ouch..."
Huineng watched helplessly as a fist struck his nose. His nose immediately felt sore, and tears and snot sprayed out together.
He had been completely focused, concentrating all his intent on Ji Mo, and was utterly unprepared for such a move.
What mesmerizing light, what power of salvation, seemed to have no effect on Ji Mo at all.
"Disgusting. Bah!"
Ji Mo unleashed a flurry of punches, leaving Huineng bruised and swollen, his horse-like face transformed into a pig's snout.
If he hadn't seen that Huineng was a monk, Ji Mo would have broken his legs.
Huineng felt as if struck by lightning, freezing in place, unable to utter a word.
He had suffered the first Waterloo of his life, and the blow to his ego was immense.
What was this person's strength?
Spirit Emperor?
Above Spirit Emperor?
Immeasurably profound, truly unfathomable.
"Mr. Ji, please calm down. I'll chase this bald donkey away for you. Don't let him ruin your mood."
Fan Jingxing walked over with a hoe, pushing Huineng towards the exit.
At the same time, he secretly signaled Huineng: Huineng, be smart and flee quickly, or you'll lose your life. This is as far as I can help you.
Huineng was deeply touched. Indeed, true friendship is tested in adversity, and time reveals a person's heart.
A true brother, loyal and righteous!
He was about to seize the opportunity to escape.
However, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the hoe in Fan Jingxing's hand, and he couldn't look away.
A legendary hoe?
It truly was a legendary hoe!
Hadn't this Fan Jingxing been captured? How had he obtained such a great treasure?
No wonder this fellow disregarded his status and stooped to farm. It turned out there were immense benefits to be had.
"You can go. If you cause trouble again next time, I won't be so lenient."
Ji Mo waved his hand, dismissing Huineng. Then he noticed something was amiss.
The monk's gaze was peculiar, fixed directly on him.
"Mr. Ji, this old monk was wrong. I will definitely repent and start anew. How about I work for you as a farmer to atone for my sins?"
Huineng said with earnest eyes, apologizing sincerely.
Fan Jingxing was instantly furious and wanted to curse. He had kindly tried to save Huineng's life, and this bald donkey was repaying his kindness by trying to steal his livelihood.
If Huineng also came to farm, wouldn't his legendary hoe be in jeopardy?
Good deeds go unrewarded. He should have let Mr. Ji beat this shameless bald donkey to death.
Seeing Huineng's gaunt frame, Ji Mo felt a pang of sympathy and agreed, "Alright, the tools are in the blacksmith's shop. Go get one yourself."
"You got it."
Huineng scurried off in the direction Ji Mo indicated.
Fan Jingxing also breathed a sigh of relief. His hoe was safe.
He was curious and followed Huineng, wanting to confirm a bold guess he had.
Upon arriving at the blacksmith's shop, both were stunned by the sight before them.
The small blacksmith's shop was filled with various farming tools, all of legendary quality. The dazzling light almost blinded their dog eyes.
Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!
They had lived half their lives in vain, their lives wasted. Only now did they realize what it meant to have their eyes opened.
"My past life was lived in vain. All the people I've swindled and cheated, the wealth I've accumulated, is still less than the value of one farming tool here."
Huineng said with great emotion, then excitedly picked up a gleaming sickle and hugged it, kissing it repeatedly.
"It seems they all came from poor families. They're so happy to see some decent farming tools."
Ji Mo looked at their reactions with a hint of pride, suddenly feeling that he wasn't so poor after all.
Then, his compassion overflowed. He pulled Xuan Ao out from under the iron cauldron and said, "Turtle, since you understand human nature, I won't stew you. From now on, you'll weed and till the vegetable patch. You'll have plenty to eat and drink."
Xuan Ao nodded frantically, the worry in his throat finally subsiding. He was safe from being boiled into turtle soup.
Subsequently, Xuan Ao burrowed into the vegetable garden, his bulging eyes shining brightly.
"Heavens, these vegetables are all treasure medicines! Even the weeds growing here contain unimaginable spiritual energy."
Thinking that Ji Mo's task for him was to weed, Xuan Ao was so excited he felt like he was going to faint.
This was not labor, but a blessing, a stroke of good fortune!
"Mr. Ji, from now on, I, Xuan Ao, will be your most loyal turtle grandson!"
At this moment, Xuan Ao's resentment towards Ji Mo vanished. He wished he could grab Ji Mo's leg and call him grandpa.