Chapter 119: Do You Say I Am Buddha, or Are They?

The Dao Pattern Eyes surfaced in Xu Ming's pupils.

With the power of the Dao Pattern Eyes, Xu Ming could pierce through all illusions.

In this town called Baiwa City, the "people" walking along the streets were, in fact, all monsters! Not a single human among them!

And these monsters weren't those that had cultivated to the point of taking human form.

Instead, it seemed as though some kind of illusion technique had been used to make others perceive them as human, while in reality, they all retained their beastly appearances.

"What is going on here?" Xu Ming murmured to himself, his mind swirling with doubts.

Could it be that all these monsters were adept at illusion techniques?

"Xu Ming, don't you think these people look a little odd?" Tianxuan Goose rubbed its head with a wing.

Though it couldn't see their true forms, its instincts told it something was off about these "people."

"They do seem strange," Xu Ming nodded but didn't reveal the truth of what he saw to Tianxuan Goose.

"Let's leave the city for now," Xu Ming said to the goose.

Something wasn't right here, and Xu Ming decided it was best to leave without alarming anyone, pretending he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

"Goose?" Tianxuan Goose cocked its head, confused about why Xu Ming wanted to leave the city right after entering it.

Still, it couldn't shake the feeling that this place wasn't right.

Together, they made their way toward the city gates.

But as they walked, they soon realized something was very wrong.

The city gates, clearly within sight, somehow remained unreachable no matter how far they walked.

No matter how they moved forward, they always ended up back where they started.

Tianxuan Goose looked at Xu Ming, its expression tinged with nervousness.

"Don't panic. We've likely stumbled into some sort of barrier. This isn't something our enemies could've done. After all, even their sect masters are only at the Nascent Soul Realm. Unless one of them came here personally, they wouldn't be capable of creating something like this.

And since Golden Core Realm cultivators fear the Wu Kingdom Kingdom's might and wouldn't dare attack me, let alone a Nascent Soul Realm master, this can't be their doing.

Since we're already here, we might as well stay and figure out what's going on."

Xu Ming's words were meant to reassure Tianxuan Goose, though inwardly, he couldn't help but remain cautious.

He wasn't particularly worried about the three sects seeking revenge on him, but he was wary of other unknown forces. After all, someone had been powerful enough to send the Black Lotus Sect's saintess after him.

Tianxuan Goose swallowed nervously and nodded in agreement.

But just as it turned to follow Xu Ming, it suddenly let out a loud "Goose!"

The goose darted behind Xu Ming, wrapping its wings tightly around his leg. Peeking out from behind him, it shivered violently.

Xu Ming frowned deeply.

This time, even without activating the Dao Pattern Eyes, Xu Ming saw what they revealed.

Dog demons walked upright, strutting with pride.

Cat demons, dressed in human clothes, beckoned customers into brothels.

Snake demons slithered through the streets, their tails coiled around fans as they swayed back and forth.

A bull demon operated a noodle stall, slicing meat into bowls of noodles—meat of an origin that one wouldn't dare guess.

These demons clearly possessed a high level of intelligence, yet none had transformed into human form.

It was bizarre—truly bizarre.

For anyone with a penchant for anthropomorphic creatures, this place would be paradise.

Tianxuan Goose stretched its neck, peeking out from behind Xu Ming. "Xu Ming, did you see that?"

Xu Ming nodded. "I saw it."

Tianxuan Goose gulped. "What the heck is going on here?"

Xu Ming shook his head. "I don't know."

Tianxuan Goose swallowed nervously. "So, what do we do now?"

Xu Ming chuckled. "What else can we do? We'll take things as they come. Unless you can find a way out, do you have a better idea?"

Tianxuan Goose: "..."

"Let's go. We'll find a place to eat. Stop being so jumpy—you're a demon too, aren't you? Look at that chicken demon over there; technically, you could call them your relative." Xu Ming teased.

Annoyed, Tianxuan Goose smacked Xu Ming on the back of the head with its wing. "I'm a goose, thank you very much!"

"Alright, alright, you're a goose." Xu Ming didn't argue further and headed deeper into the town.

He stopped in front of a tavern.

The tavern's proprietress was a sheep demon. She milked herself, mixed the milk with some other unknown liquids, and served it to her customers. They paid her with ordinary silver coins.

"Amitabha. Kind benefactor, would you care to form a virtuous bond?"

A voice called out from behind Xu Ming.

Turning around, he saw a tiger standing upright, dressed in a monk's robes and holding a monk's staff.

Xu Ming stared at the tiger, then fished a few silver fragments from his pocket and tossed them into the iron alms bowl the tiger held. "Are you a monk?"

The tiger in the monk's robes smiled. "Why wouldn't I be a monk?"

"Can demons become monks?" Xu Ming pressed, directly pointing out the tiger's demonic nature.

Although this town was bizarre, with demons openly roaming its streets without hostility toward him, Xu Ming suspected this place's demons were different from those elsewhere.

"Why wouldn't demons be monks?"

The tiger laughed.

"A monk wears robes; I wear robes.

A monk carries a staff; I carry a staff.

A monk abstains from killing; I've been a vegetarian for years.

A monk recites scriptures; I recite scriptures too.

Now tell me, am I a monk or not?"

Xu Ming blinked, momentarily stunned. The tiger… had a point.

"You, human, don't seem to have much wisdom. You're not suited to be a monk," the tiger said, shaking his head with a hint of disappointment. Then he sighed and walked off, continuing to seek alms.

Xu Ming continued forward.

He arrived at a temple, where many demons entered to burn incense and worship "Buddha," mimicking human customs.

The difference was, on the main hall's high platform sat a toad dressed in golden robes, its demeanor solemn and dignified.

The enormous toad's bulging eyes scanned the crowd as demons came and went.

"Goose, goose, goose? (What kind of Buddha is this?)" Tianxuan Goose was dumbfounded, its worldview thoroughly shaken.

"This toad, naturally, is the Toad Buddha," the golden-clad toad said with a laugh.

The other demons acted as if they hadn't heard anything and continued their worship.

Xu Ming stepped forward and offered a polite bow. "Sitting in a golden body on a high platform, aren't you afraid the Buddhist sects will hold you accountable?"

"Hold me accountable?"

The golden toad croaked loudly.

"People ask me to catch bugs, and I oblige.

They ask me to guard against mosquitoes at night, and I send my descendants to help.

When they pray for healing, I aid in curing their illnesses.

The deeds of Buddha, I perform just the same.

In fact, compared to some Buddhas, I'm far more responsive.

Now tell me, am I a Buddha, or are they?"

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