"Master, the one who taught Jiang Liuer the cultivation method is no good person. He deceived Jiang Liuer under the guise of Buddhist scriptures—certainly an ill-intentioned being!"

    As Moksha followed Guanyin back to Ling Mountain on their cloud, he spoke with lingering fear: "If we allow this to continue unchecked, calamity may arise."

    Puzzled, he added: "Master, why would a great supernatural being target the scripture-seeking pilgrim? What schemes lie behind teaching such horrifying demonic sutras to the Golden Cicada's reincarnation?"

    Unbeknownst to him, these very questions mirrored the doubts swirling in Guanyin's mind.

    The Buddhas of Thunderclap Monastery were vigorously debating the matter.

    This once-tranquil sacred ground now buzzed like a marketplace.

    Arhats, guardian deities, vajra beings... all voiced conflicting opinions yet reached no consensus.

    An Arhat declared: "Who in the Three Realms would oppose our Buddhist prosperity? None but demons and Taoist immortals."

    A guardian deity countered: "Golden Cicada is our Tathagata's disciple undergoing mortal trials. How dare outsiders meddle with one of Ling Mountain's own?"

    A hesitant Buddha mused: "Surely not Heaven Court? Our Tathagata aided them five centuries past—would they shame themselves thus?"

    A Bodhisattva turned to the lotus-throned Tathagata: "World-Honored One, do you know this schemer's identity?"

    "I do not," answered Buddha truthfully. Amidst shocked murmurs, he continued: "This being's power may rival mine. The Cicada Child's manipulator remains hidden."

    The assembly trembled at this revelation.

    When Guanyin returned and learned even Buddha lacked answers, she sighed: "My error lies in placing Golden Cicada into Lady Yin's womb, disrupting karmic threads. Had Jiang Liuer finished reciting those sutras today, we might have traced their origin."

    An Arhat consoled: "Great Mercy need not blame herself. Constant surveillance will reveal the evil sutra's contents when he practices."

    Guanyin nodded: "Let my disciple Hui'an monitor him."

    As Buddha approved, Moksha bowed reluctantly: "This disciple obeys."

    Though calm prevailed in Thunderclap Monastery, smoldering wrath brewed beneath—for if Buddhas never angered, why would wrathful vajra guardians exist?

    The mysterious "great being" teaching demonic classics to the Cicada's incarnation had crossed Western Paradise's bottom line.

    ......

    "Senior Huangmei's 'Great Vehicle Scripture of Sin Through Killing' truly ranks among Buddhism's finest!"

    Jiang Liuer marveled: "Even Guanyin pondered deeply—such profound dharma must require meticulous study." How foolish he'd been to initially doubt this supreme teaching!

    As for why Senior Tang Sanzang dismissed it as trash?

    Perhaps the venerable's standards were simply too high—one who could slay guardian deities with bare fists might naturally disdain lesser works.

    "Hu Yuyu, what are you gathering?"

    Jiang Liuer watched the fox spirit collect trampled leaves.

    "These were touched by Bodhisattva's feet!" Hu Yuyu's tails quivered excitedly. "My sisters will marvel! We could even trade them for chicken!"

    "But who'd believe they're Bodhisattva-touched?"

    The fox's ears drooped. "No chicken then."

    Jiang Liuer lacked comfort to offer—he'd never tasted fowl himself.

    ......

    Nightfall.

    After eating flatbreads, Jiang Liuer practiced the first three transformations of the Seventy-Two Earthly Changes—starting with "Communing With Netherworld."

    An hour later, his eyes glowed faintly. Observing moonbeam-absorbing Hu Yuyu, he discerned her three ethereal fox souls and seven spirits.

    Channeling the Netherworld Hand Seal, chilling whispers engulfed him—voices of mountain victims: refugees perishing mid-flight, women murdered after violation, incoherent mumblings...

    Breaking the seal sweat-drenched, he muttered: "So many lingering ghosts here."

    Another hour later...

    Jiang Liuer's "Deity Summoning" attempts only produced an irate, sleep-deprived land god: "Foolish child! Disturbing deities at night?"

    Realizing his rudimentary skills couldn't command deities, Jiang Liuer apologized profusely. Hu Yuyu's sweet-talking finally placated the tiny god.

    Yet another hour...

    Under moonlit skies, Jiang Liuer lifted a three-thousand-pound boulder using "Mountain Shouldering." Though collapsing after few steps, he rejoiced: "Normally I lift eight hundred pounds! This seal grants triple strength—perfect for surprise attacks!"

    Before dawn's first light...

    The boy mastered Earthly Changes' first trio: Nether Sight, Deity Calling, Mountain Bearing.

    ......

    Next day brought further progress.

    His Nether Sight now discerned spirits without incantations. Mountain Bearing lasted ten breaths—still far from shouldering peaks, but formidable against mortal foes.

    For Deity Calling, Jiang Liuer learned diplomacy—offering fruits and bread to the land god.

    "Polite lad," the deity munched approvingly.

    "Venerable Land God," Jiang Liuer inquired, "having watched Wolfblade Cave's Lord Wuji for years—could I defeat him now?"

    The god snorted: "Barely past swaddling clothes, yet challenging demons? You might struggle against a bear commander. That three-century-old wolf demon? Even I avoid him!"

    Jiang Liuer beamed: "Hu Yuyu! Let's kill Bear Commander!"

    Land God: "???"

    ......