After experiencing a series of strange events tonight—dog spirit, snake demon, zombie monk—his nerves had become much tougher, and he was now able to accept the reality that the tabby cat was the source of the cold female voice.

Even zombie monks and mother cat demons could be accepted as disciples at Xin Fo Temple, which showed its inclusiveness.

For an old man like himself, already at death’s door, to join the sect was hardly worth mentioning.

“If I can’t comprehend the true seed of Xin Fo, I won’t even have the means to secure my livelihood.

If that David Grant resorts to tricks again next time, won’t I just be waiting for death?”

Brian Cooper looked desolate, though inwardly he remained fairly calm.

The current situation was dire and fraught with hidden dangers.

But how could it compare to when he had just crossed over, surrounded by ten thousand ghosts?

William Grant saw the look on Brian Cooper’s face and couldn’t bear it. He turned his head again to look at the tabby cat demon, his eyes pleading.

Clearly, he was hoping to get the tabby cat demon’s approval.

He called the cat demon “senior sister,” and even for such a trivial matter as looking after an old man, he had to ask the cat demon to make the call. This showed how highly he regarded the cat demon.

The tabby cat’s ears twitched slightly. She glanced at William Grant but didn’t open her mouth; instead, the cold voice rang out in the room: “The old man is indeed a stranger, not your kind, William Grant.

You seem to feel some closeness to him, perhaps because there is a bond between you.

Since that’s the case, if you want to bring him into our courtyard, I won’t stand in your way.

However, whether he can ultimately join Xuming Courtyard still depends on the master’s decision—in the meantime, you’d better find a way to help him muddle through the ‘Enlightenment Trial.’

If he awakens the true seed of Xin Fo during the trial and his temperament becomes twisted as a result, then our Xuming Courtyard absolutely cannot accept him.”

“Thank you, senior sister, for your kindness!

Master is compassionate and will certainly not stand by while the old man dies outside the door!

William Grant will make every preparation to ensure the old man can muddle through the Enlightenment Trial!”

Having finally received his senior sister’s approval, the monk William Grant was even happier than Brian Cooper himself, repeatedly assuring her and personally escorting the cat demon out of the room.

When he returned, he looked at Brian Cooper with barely concealed joy. “As long as you can muddle through the Enlightenment Trial in three days, we’ll be fellow disciples in the same courtyard!

Once you join Xuming Courtyard, you won’t have to worry about David Grant harming you!”

Brian Cooper also breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to William Grant, saying, “I still have to thank the master for your great help.”

Xin Fo Temple only protected and looked after disciples listed in the “Main Venerable True Transmission Register”; the rest were left to fend for themselves. Now that his enmity with David Grant was deepening, he truly had no way to guard against David Grant’s next assassination attempt.

But if he could join the Xuming Courtyard where William Grant and the cat demon resided and become their fellow disciple, judging by the relationship between William Grant and the cat demon, he would also receive some protection and truly wouldn’t have to worry about David Grant’s harm.

This would buy him some time to build up his strength.

“The most important thing now is to make sure the old man can muddle through the Enlightenment Trial.

Old man, please drink this bowl of medicinal soup.”

William Grant’s smile didn’t fade as he produced a food box from who knows where.

He opened the lid and took out a bowl of black, glossy, oil-like medicinal soup that faintly emitted a fragrant aroma.

……

Five Decays Soup.

Anyone living in the world is inevitably followed by the five decays: injury, illness, disaster, misfortune, and filth.

As one’s lifespan increases, the aura of the five decays grows day by day.

Until it eventually fills the body and soul, leading to decline and death.

When the great Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Dharma Protectors of Xin Fo Temple select disciples, they first consider the bond with the candidate, then their aptitude and potential, and thirdly, the amount of five decays aura attached to them.

Bonds are elusive and unfathomable.

The main venerables, standing at the pinnacle of all auras, value aptitude and potential, which are also mysterious and impossible to predict.

The only thing William Grant could do to help Brian Cooper avoid attracting the attention of the myriad Buddhas and being bestowed the true seed was this five decays aura.

Drinking Five Decays Soup would make the five decays aura accumulated in the body more apparent. With the five decays swirling around him, the main Buddhas would see him and think he was near death and unworthy of cultivation.

Thus, there was a good chance they would simply overlook Brian Cooper, allowing him to muddle through the trial.

Moreover, taking Five Decays Soup only made one’s existing five decays aura more visible; it didn’t increase the amount. The aura that became visible would dissipate into the void over time, which was actually beneficial to the body, strengthening and invigorating it.

William Grant set down the medicinal soup, gave a few instructions to Samuel Wright, and then left.

Only Brian Cooper remained in the room.

He thought over the effects of the Five Decays Soup and knew that, for now, he had no choice but to trust William Grant. He picked up the bowl and gulped down the slightly warm medicinal soup in one go.

The soup was bitter and viscous. After finishing it in one breath, Brian Cooper couldn’t help but burp.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, waiting for the medicine to take effect.

Closing his eyes, his thoughts began to drift freely.

Tonight, William Grant had come to bring him the medicinal soup, while his senior sister, the cat demon, had come to check on him and see through his disguise.

Judging by the current situation, even the cat demon couldn’t detect anything unusual about him.

She thought William Grant felt close to him because there was some bond between them?