Chapter 798 - 556: Supreme Daoist Lord (3)
Some were sitting cross-legged, some were bowing, everyone was fixing their eyes firmly on the Daoist, filled with hope, reverence, and reliance!
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, gently tapping the nine-segment staff.
"Thump"—
A soft sound silenced all minor noises in the venue.
His gaze swept across calmly, voice gentle yet with a force that pierced deeply into the hearts:
"To ferry one person today is to accumulate one virtue, to bring peace to one person today is to bring peace to a region."
"All beings suffer, only the Supreme Dao can ferry you across from the sea of suffering."
"As long as you believe in me, follow me, and uphold good thoughts, joining my Daoist sect, I shall grant you three protections!"
"The first protection is physical well-being!"
"Our sect’s talisman water dispels epidemics, exorcises evil spirits, heals injuries, and saves the dying. Join my sect, receive talisman water regularly, ensuring you are free from illness and live in peace!"
"The second protection is nourishment!"
"Today, we repair the temple, exchanging work for relief, providing porridge and bread, offering shelter. Once the temple is completed, open fields and teach farming, ensuring everyone has food and clothing, never again wandering or enduring hunger and cold!"
"The third protection is household safety!"
"Join my sect, abide by my rules, and you can ward off calamities, avoid floods and plagues, not only keeping yourself safe but also bringing blessings to your descendants, sparing your loved ones from the chaos of the world!"
With the three protections set, the nine-segment staff tapped again.
Chen Sheng’s gaze was like a torch, sweeping across the multitude:
"Enter my sect, you must speak of goodness, virtue, filial piety, and obedience, respecting heaven and earth, respecting parents, respecting fellow sect members."
"Moreover, uphold my three prohibitions—no theft, no falsehoods, no bullying of the weak!"
"Violators are defying the Heavenly Dao, intolerable by Daoist laws, heaven and earth shall punish, in the next life falling to beasts, never reborn!"
Combining grace and might, stiffness and gentleness!
Up to this day, among these disaster victims’ shelters, nearly ten thousand disaster victims have all turned their hearts, becoming followers of the Supreme Dao.
This has developed into thousands of disciples, hundreds of core disciples, and dozens of guardian warriors.
...
At this moment, a group of figures approached slowly.
The leader wore a blue official robe, with a jade belt around the waist, slightly plump face, eyes filled with scrutiny and amusement—this was the County Magistrate of Wu.
Behind him, several officers in black attire stood tall, faces full of arrogance, scanning the site and lecture platform, naturally exuding a sense of superiority.
The County Magistrate stood with arms folded under the tree shade, watching the Daoist on the high platform with great interest.
He had seen enough of such preaching tricks!
However, disaster victims had nowhere else to go, giving them a meal, they believed in gods and ghosts.
In his view, the true Great Dao involved entering halls, clinging to the powerful, and earning the affirmation of officials and gentry—that was true capability.
He looked at Chen Sheng, pondering quietly:
"Such a good appearance, such a demeanor, truly resembling an Enlightened True Master, no wonder he could persuade so many local gentry."
...
Upon the high platform, Chen Sheng had long noticed the County Magistrate, his expression remained unchanged, still calm and composed.
From bringing in people for disaster relief, secretly spreading the way... to openly preaching, spreading teachings everywhere, setting up forums for lectures, and carrying out large-scale constructions...
The Power of Faith surged, Daoist techniques grew increasingly profound, and with wings fully developed, he no longer feared the authorities’ apprehension!
In his mind, a line of words clearly flashed:
[Daoist Level 5 (38899/100000)]
[Talismanic Magic: Vitality Talisman, Blood Strengthening Talisman, Muscle Regeneration Talisman, Golden Sword Talisman, Wind Control Talisman, Cloud and Rain Talisman, Thunder and Fire Talisman...]
[Warrior: Guardian Warrior (67)]
Moments later, Chen Sheng nodded, lifting the nine-segment staff, his voice spreading across the four directions:
"Today’s lecture concludes here, granting talisman water! May you drink it, dispel disaster, and avert calamity, with health and well-being!"
Two disciples quickly carried over a giant, ancient copper furnace, its water clear and shimmering.
The County Magistrate curled his lips in disdain.
Here it comes!
It’s nothing but arranging a few shills to drink a mouthful of water, acting as if all ailments vanish, fooling the ignorant.
He was tired of watching such tricks.
He waited to watch Chen Sheng’s performance.
But the next moment, the mockery on his face suddenly froze.
Chen Sheng slowly rose, standing solemnly with the staff, eyes slightly closed, mouth chanting obscurely, aura mysterious.
He pinched a piece of vermilion talisman paper between his fingers, waving in the air towards the copper furnace—complex and orderly runes, filled with vigorous strength, faintly glowing red.
After drawing the rune, Chen Sheng called out softly:
"Command!"
Rumble Rumble!
In the sky, cloudless, yet thunder boomed, shaking everyone’s eardrums to a buzz!
Whoosh whoosh!!
A sudden gust of strong wind arose from the ground, stirring dust, making his moon white Daoist robe flap vigorously, like a celestial god descending upon the earth.
The talisman paper left his hand, flew into the furnace.
It didn’t sink, it didn’t burn.
Only to see the talisman paper slowly dissolve on the water’s surface, turning into a red spirit light, expanding larger and larger, instantly dyeing the entire furnace of water into translucent red jade.
The light swirled, like clouds and flames, its fragrance drifting, refreshing the heart and mind.
The spirit light ascended to the sky, resonating with the thunder above, filled with the vast Dao Rhyme between heaven and earth.
Such a phenomenon appeared, the entire venue fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a frenzy as if mountains and seas roared!
Below the platform, the faithful followers’ eyes turned red, bodies trembling, prostrating themselves, banging their heads on the ground in wild reverence, oblivious to the blood oozing from their foreheads, roaring:
"The Daoist Master’s divine technique! We are willing to follow for life!"
"The Daoist Master’s divine might is peerless! Never to be forsaken!"
The sound wave reached the sky, erupting in frenzy, almost tearing the entire disaster shelter apart.
In everyone’s eyes, there was no longer any doubt, only utmost devotion and awe.
The County Magistrate’s eyes widened, mouth agape, almost able to fit an egg inside.
He prided himself on being experienced, yet had never seen such a divine miracle—clear sky thunder, sudden wind assisting, talisman water glowing, masses returning heart, this was definitely not a trickery of the martial world!
He muttered unconsciously:
"Could it really be... an Enlightened True Master?! With such divine techniques, then why did the peace talisman my mother sought for me have no miraculous effect?"
Shock, doubt, reverence, in an instant, spread across his face.
Below the high platform, core disciples queued forward, holding bowls, scooping talisman water, raising it overhead, bowing deeply to Chen Sheng, and drank it all in one gulp.
In a moment, everyone’s fatigue vanished, eyes clear, spirits uplifted, even their steps became brisker.
Following that, disciples carrying talisman water stepped into the midst of disaster victims, specifically handing it to those who looked pallid and disease-ridden, guiding them to prostrate and repent, then drink the talisman water.
One bowl of talisman water down, miracles unfolded one after another.
The faces of those gasping for air turned warm, those coughing incessantly found their breaths smooth, and those dispirited regained vitality.
The disaster victims widened their eyes, faces filled with disbelief and ecstatic joy.
"Thank you, Daoist Master! Thank you, Daoist Master, for saving my life!"
One loud shout set off the whole crowd.
All the disaster victims who drank the talisman water knelt to the ground in unison, bowing heavily, shouting in unison:
"Thank you, Daoist Master!"
"Thank you, Daoist Master!"
The sound wave reached the sky, piety in frenzy, faith boiling.
Below the platform, the other disaster victims’ eyes instantly burned with fervor!
Witnessing this scene, under the tree shade.
The County Magistrate suddenly felt a chill all over, a coldness rushing from the spine to the crown!
Looking at the Daoist on the platform.
A deep unease, silently taking root in his heart!