Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Is this frog me the Buddha, or are they the Buddha?

The Dao Pattern Eye manifested in Ming’s pupils.

With the help of the Dao Pattern Eye, Ming could see through all illusions.

In this town called Baiwa City, these “people” on the streets were actually all beast spirits! Not a single human in sight!

And these beast spirits weren’t at a cultivation stage where they transformed into human form.

Instead, it was as if these beast spirits used some sort of illusionary technique, making others perceive them as humans while in reality, they were all still in their beast forms!

“What is going on here?”

Ming’s heart was filled with doubts.

Could it be that all these beast spirits have mastered illusions?

“Ming, I feel like there’s something off about these people,” Heavenly Black Goose scratched its head with its wing.

Heavenly Black Goose didn’t know the true nature of these “people,” but relying on instinct, it felt something strange about them.

“Yeah, something is indeed off.” Ming nodded without directly revealing what he had seen to Heavenly Black Goose.

“Let’s leave the city for now.” Ming said to Heavenly Black Goose.

Something was amiss. Ming intended to slip away unnoticed, pretending not to have discovered anything.

“Huh?” Heavenly Black Goose didn’t understand why Ming would enter the city just to leave again so soon.

But still, Heavenly Black Goose also felt that something was off about this place.

Man and goose walked toward the outskirts of the city.

As they walked, man and goose quickly realized something was wrong.

The nearby city gate seemed impossible to reach no matter how far they walked.

Though they were moving forward, they eventually found themselves back at the starting point.

Heavenly Black Goose glanced at Ming, its expression tinged with slight anxiety.

“Don’t panic. We must have accidentally entered some kind of barrier. This probably isn’t set up by our enemies; after all, their sect leader is merely at the Nascent Soul Stage. Unless the sect leader came personally, they wouldn’t be able to achieve this level.

Moreover, cultivators at the Golden Core Realm dare not attack me due to Wu Kingdom’s deterrent power, let alone those at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Since we’re here, we might as well stay and see what’s happening.”

Ming consoled Heavenly Black Goose.

Ming wasn’t worried about the three sects seeking revenge.

But Ming was concerned about other possibilities, given someone could command the Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect to assassinate him.

Heavenly Black Goose nodded, swallowing hard.

Just as Heavenly Black Goose turned around following Ming, it let out a loud “GOOSE!” and hid behind Ming, tightly hugging his leg with its wings while peeking out nervously.

Ming frowned.

This time, Ming did not activate the Dao Pattern Eye, yet he saw the same bizarre scene.

Upright dog spirits walked confidently.

Cat spirits dressed in human clothes kept beckoning customers at brothels.

Snake spirits swung fans with their tails, swaying on the streets.

A bull spirit ran a noodle stall, adding mystery meat slices to bowls of rice noodles—no one knew exactly what kind of meat it was.

These spirits appeared to possess considerable intelligence but hadn’t transformed into human form.

It was strange, too strange.

If there were any furries around, this place would be heaven for them.

The Heavenly Black Goose hiding behind Ming stretched its neck: “Ming, did you see that?”

Ming nodded: “I saw it.”

Heavenly Black Goose: “What’s going on here?”

Ming shook his head: “I don’t know either.”

Heavenly Black Goose swallowed: “What should we do then?”

Ming chuckled: “What else can we do? Let’s just wait and see. Can you even get us out of here?”

Heavenly Black Goose: “…”

“Come on, let’s find a place to eat. Don’t be so tense. You’re a spirit too. Look at that chicken spirit over there? You could say you’re distant relatives.” Ming joked.

Heavenly Black Goose smacked Ming on the back of his head with its wing irritably: “I’m a GOOSE!”

“Alright, alright, a goose.” Ming didn’t argue further and walked straight into the town.

Ming stopped in front of a wine shop.

The boss of the wine shop was a sheep who squeezed her milk, added some unknown liquid, and served it to the guests.

Guests paid using ordinary silver coins.

“Amitabha, traveler, may I ask if you wish to make a virtuous connection?”

A voice came from behind Ming.

Ming turned around and saw a tiger standing upright, wearing monk robes and holding a staff.

Ming looked at the tiger and took out a few pieces of silver, tossing them into the iron bowl held by the tiger’s paw: “Are you really a monk?”

The tiger in monk robes smiled: “Why wouldn’t I be a monk?”

“Can beast spirits become monks?” Ming asked directly, exposing the tiger’s true identity.

Although this city was strange, none of the passing spirits seemed harmful, leading Ming to believe these spirits might be different from those elsewhere.

“Why can’t beast spirits become monks?”

The tiger laughed.

“The monk wears monk robes, I wear monk robes.

The monk holds a staff, I hold a staff.

Monks don’t kill living beings, I’ve been vegetarian for years.

Monks chant scriptures, I chant scriptures too.

Tell me, am I not a monk?”

Listening to the tiger’s words, Ming was momentarily stunned—it made sense somehow.

“You humans lack wisdom. You’re not cut out to be a monk.”

After teasing Ming a bit, the tiger sighed, looking disappointed, and continued begging alms.

Ming kept walking.

Arriving at a temple, many spirits entered, burning incense and worshipping “Buddha” just like humans.

What was different was that on the main hall sat a golden-clad toad, solemnly seated high above.

The enormous toad’s eyes blinked, watching the comings and goings of the crowd.

“GOOSE GOOSE GOOSE? (What kind of Buddha is this?)” Heavenly Black Goose was shocked, feeling its understanding shaken.

“Of course, I am the Toad Buddha.” The toad smiled and replied.

Other spirits acted as if they hadn’t heard, continuing to worship this toad.

Ming stepped forward and bowed politely: “Master, sitting majestically on your throne, aren’t you afraid of being held accountable by the Buddhist sect?”

“Accountable?”

The Golden Toad Buddha croaked.

“People ask me to catch bugs, and I agree. People ask me to repel mosquitoes at night, and I send my descendants to do it. Some even ask me to cure diseases, and I help them. The things Buddhas do, I do them too.

Compared to some Buddhas, I might even be more effective.

So, tell me, am I the Buddha, or are they?”