Chapter 10: Teaching the Dharma
Gong Mengbi watched him leave, but he didn't know how he disappeared or how he came back, so he couldn't help feeling disappointed.
Seeing his envious expression, Dr. Huang smiled and said, "Jijiu Xun is a fourth-grade immortal, just one step away from being ranked as a high-grade immortal. Among the Jijiu of Tianhu Academy, Jijiu Xun can also be ranked in the top three. This time, I came personally to confer the imperial decree on you, which shows how much I value you. You have made us proud."
Gong Mengbi knew that this was due to the goddess's favor, and said with a smile: "It is all thanks to the doctor's teaching."
Dr. Huang sighed and said, "You are quite humble. You give us much less worries than those evildoers."
Gong Mengbi invited Dr. Huang into his house and asked, "What do you mean?"
Dr. Huang did not refuse and went into the attic with Gong Mengbi.
Gong Mengbi brought the rice wine and poured each of them a bowl of wine. Dr. Huang then took the opportunity to talk about the affairs of Tianhuyuan.
In the past, Dr. Huang would not have said these things. The students of Tianhu Academy are just students. The doctor teaches them cultivation, writing, magic, alchemy and other subjects. How could he complain to the students?
But now Gong Mengbi has become a ninth-rank immortal official, and he and Dr. Huang have gone from teacher and student to colleagues, so they can talk about the difficulties.
Among all the doctoral students, the cultivation department was the most important. In the past, the Tianhu Academy did not invite all students to attend classes. Instead, each doctoral student in the cultivation department would teach several students, teach them according to their aptitude, and then recommend them to doctoral students in other departments to learn other skills.
Dr. Huang said gloomily, "Do you still remember Hu Jiao?"
Hu Jiao, a yellow fox.
Most fox creatures have the surname Hu, while surnames like Gong Mengbi are even rarer.
Gong Mengbi certainly still had an impression of her. He and Hu Jiao were both students taught by Dr. Huang. Thinking of this vile Hu Jiao, Gong Mengbi couldn't help but frown.
Dr. Huang was teaching, so naturally, several foxes attended. At that time, Hu Jiao was very talented, but also very arrogant, and didn't look down on others.
Gong Mengbi asked, "What happened to Hu Jiao?"
Dr. Huang lowered his eyes, deeply regretful. "She's fallen into the devil's way. This evil creature is obsessed with the secular world. Relying on her magical powers, she doesn't value human life. I don't know where she learned this evil method of stealing people's essence. She has gone down a sinister path."
Gong Mengbi was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Why has it come to this?"
Dr. Huang was both sad and angry. "She studied Taoism for ten years, but suddenly became a demon. Fearing the Heavenly Fox Academy's pursuit, she fled and returned to the mortal world. She was gifted and had a bright future, but she couldn't control the evil thoughts in her heart, and instead became a demon."
Gong Mengbi saw the weariness on Dr. Huang's face and knew she'd been fretting over this. While Hu Jiao's demonic possession wasn't Dr. Huang's fault, as her mentor, she couldn't help but be reprimanded.
Dr. Huang looked at Gong Mengbi and advised, "With Hu Jiao's experience as a warning, you must cultivate your character and not go astray."
Gong Mengbi felt her sincere love and care, so he filled her glass with wine again and toasted her with a bowl.
Dr. Huang drank a full cup. When Gong Mengbi wanted to pour more, Dr. Huang stopped him and said, "Don't drink too much. It will hinder your practice."
The master and his disciple put down their wine cups and admired the moon on the tower.
Dr. Huang stayed behind, not to drink a bowl of wine, but to give Gong Mengbi some advice: "Mengbi, you are now listed in the immortal register and have been conferred the title of immortal official. Do you understand your duties?"
The talismans Gong Mengbi received actually indicate his celestial duty, which is to "inspire spiritual enlightenment and broaden compassion." This is a rather grandiose and empty statement. This is a spiritual response from the Goddess of Mount Tai, and it also aligns with the practice of cultivating a fox bond. However, his role within the Fox Society of Tianhuyuan is difficult to grasp.
Gong Mengbi understood what Dr. Huang meant and asked, "Please give me some advice, Doctor."
Dr. Huang said, "Our Heavenly Fox Court was established by the Empress of Mount Tai and governed by the Jade Fairy. Besides managing all matters concerning foxes, we also obey the Empress's orders. The Empress commands the divine soldiers of the Yue Mansion and responds to the spirits of the Nine Provinces. We are the immortal officials and ministers under the Empress's command."
"The Heavenly Fox Academy has established three offices in every prefecture, county, and prefecture throughout the country: the Fox Discipline Office, the Fox Justice Office, and the Fox Association Office. These offices are responsible not only for managing the fox population, but also for monitoring ghosts and gods."
Gong Mengbi seemed to understand something.
Dr. Huang looked at his expression and knew that he had sensed something was wrong.
"Monitoring ghosts and gods is no easy task, but you don't need to be too nervous. You are an immortal official, not a priest. If you encounter any problems, just petition the ghosts and gods. There's no need to take risks."
This involves the difference between immortals and gods. Immortals are above, and gods are below.
Although immortal officials are also officials, the most important thing about the immortal way is freedom. The power of the immortal way comes from oneself and does not require external help. Therefore, immortals are not bound by their duties, so the immortal duties are broad and mysterious.
The power of Shinto comes from authority, which is closely related to duties and beliefs, so the duties of the priests are clear and precise.
Gong Mengbi's position as a member of the Fox Society held no real power; he couldn't mobilize troops or command the Yue Mansion's divine soldiers. The Heavenly Fox Court lacked authority over the Yue Mansion, but it relied on the influence of the Taishan Goddess, allowing it to petition the priests to dispatch troops from the Yue Mansion to handle difficult matters.
Gong Mengbi was not aware of the intricacies of this matter before, so Dr. Huang came to give him some advice and teach him how to be an immortal official.
To sum up, there are three points:
First, the affairs of the fox community, including recommending talents to the Heavenly Fox Academy, educating the fox community in Wuning County, and clearing out fox demons. This is the main job, and also the duty of the fox fairy.
Second, to make the Goddess of Mount Tai famous, one must do more good deeds and show miraculous responses.
Third, monitor ghosts and gods.
He looked quite impressive, like a high-ranking official, but in reality, he was practically an idler. The world's foxes were countless, but the number in Wuning County alone was much smaller—and that included those without intelligence. Performing good deeds and manifesting spiritual responses were shortcuts for foxes to cultivate, not tasks.
The only thing that requires caution is monitoring ghosts and gods, otherwise accidents are likely to occur.
Dr. Huang broke it down, analyzing it with Gong Mengbi, treating him like one of his own. Part of this was affection, but more of it was investment behavior, and Gong Mengbi saw it clearly.
Gong Mengbi said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Doctor."
Dr. Huang knew his intelligence and said with a smile, "You are my student. If you can become a talented person, it will bring honor to my family. The immortal post is important, but the most important thing for you is cultivation."
To maintain the immortal's detachment and detachment from the world, cultivation was paramount. Being conferred the title of Ninth Rank Immortal Official was not important; achieving the ninth rank in cultivation was what truly mattered. This was also the reason Xun Jijiu praised him so highly.
Even Dr. Huang was surprised.
She personally taught Gong Mengbi the Qi-absorbing method. How could she not know the difficulty of practicing it? She reached the ninth level just by relying on the Qi-absorbing method. This can be said to be the seed of the true Tao.
Tianhu Academy has not produced many Dao True Seeds in all these years.
Dr. Huang opened his hands, formed seals in front of him, and chanted the Jade Fairy Goddess's sacred name. Then, a faint white light enveloped the entire pavilion, transforming it into a "secret room."
Dr. Huang said, "This is the Pure Land Mantra. I've borrowed the divine power of the goddess to shield you from all prying eyes. Everything I say next will enter your ears, and no one else will know."
"It's not easy for my fox clan to cultivate, but fortunately we have the Heavenly Fox Academy. Whether it's borrowing energy, changing fate, practicing meditation, taking medicine, or using talismans, there are methods to follow. The Heavenly Fox is a god that can reach the sky. You are fortunate to have won the favor of the goddess. I have asked me to teach you the Heavenly Method. If you have the opportunity, you can become a Heavenly Fox."
Dr. Huang passed on the Tongtian method with great importance according to divine will, and engraved it in Gong Mengbi's soul.
It seemed as if thousands of foxes were running, jumping, and practicing, transforming into invisible words and tangible pictures, which were integrated into one and shone brightly in Gong Mengbi Lingtai.
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