Naming Diting

"How can you give it such a rustic name?"

"We’ve been reborn; a new name should naturally cut ties with the past. It needs momentum, it needs depth."

"A name is the primary curse and blessing, a beacon that anchors a new life. You're not allowed to use the old name, and you're not allowed to give it some ugly, random name!"

Wu Gou muttered, "He’s going to be walking through the Underworld and suppressing malevolent ghosts with this poor monk in the future. If he’s called Potato, just listen to that—does it sound impressive?"

As Chen Zhou looked at Wu Gou’s serious expression, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his mind.

He remembered that Wu Gou’s past life was Ksitigarbha of Great Vows, and in legend, the mount of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha was...

"Fine, then let’s call him Diting."

Chen Zhou said.

"Diting?" Wu Gou paused for a moment, repeatedly rolling the two syllables over his tongue.

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "Diting, one who is good at listening to the hearts of men and discerning the principles of all things."

"As I have heard: Diting, Diting."

"He has no eyes and no nose; he cannot see, and his mouth cannot speak. So, let him listen with his heart."

"May he not be deceived by appearances in the future, listening to the wishes of all beings and discerning the reality of all things."

"This name both inherits his talent and carries expectation. What do you think?"

Wu Gou’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh hard.

"A great name!"

"That name is truly good. It has a Buddhist rhythm and a sense of transparency."

"As expected of a true god, you actually have some culture."

Wu Gou held up the little insect and announced loudly, "Did you hear that? From now on, your name is Diting!"

"In the future, the two of us will listen well to this world, listening to the cries and laughter of all beings!"

As if understanding him, the little realm earthworm’s body twisted violently, appearing quite excited.

Chen Zhou watched this scene and nodded slightly. A true Buddha paired with a Diting was indeed a perfect match.

Once the palace maids and eunuchs had swept away the rainwater, a palace attendant knocked on the door precisely on time.

Knock, knock, knock.

Song Zi’an, who had been busy in the kitchen all night, was dozing by the door. Hearing the sound, he immediately jumped up to open it.

Two pale-faced palace attendants stood at the door, holding washing utensils.

Ignoring who opened the door, they simply lowered their heads and performed a respectful salute toward the room.

"Due to the prince’s poor health last night, he departed early. We apologize for the breach of etiquette."

"We ask for Your Eminence’s understanding."

"On the day the rain stops, the prince will hold the night banquet again. We ask that Your Eminence please grace us with your presence."

After speaking, the palace attendants set down the items and retreated with lowered heads without waiting for a reply.

Song Zi’an scratched his head and closed the door.

"Is this Yin Wudao actually being polite?"

Sitting by the table, Chen Zhou toyed with the teacup in his hand. "It’s not politeness; he’s just trying to keep me steady."

"The day the rain stops will be the moment the Golden Buddha descends into the world. That will be when he finally reveals his true intentions."

Not long after the palace attendants left, a soft sound came from the window.

Cangming, with his head dripping wet, snuck inside.

His complexion was slightly better than the previous night, but his eyes remained anxious.

"Lord Dragon Ancestor!"

Cangming wanted to kneel as soon as he entered, but Chen Zhou stopped him with a glance.

"My Lord, what should we do?" Cangming asked in a low voice. "My father sent word that you have manifested in the Eastern Region and even cured General Chiwei’s black spots."

"But looking at this palace, the atmosphere isn't right. It’s too quiet."

Chen Zhou took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Observe the changes quietly."

"Maintain your previous appearance—eat and drink as you should."

"As long as you don't reveal anything and Yin Wudao doesn't know that the Eastern Region has submitted to me, he won't move against you lightly."

Wu Gou leaned in from the side, indicating he wanted to take little Diting underground to find something to eat.

"What do realm earthworms eat?" Chen Zhou asked. "Can they even eat the soil in the palace?"

"He’s not a picky eater."

Wu Gou gave a cheeky grin and patted his chest. "The nine qis of the earth, lonely souls, and resentful ghosts—as long as it’s buried in the ground, he eats it."

Chen Zhou thought for a moment, took out the black steel fork he had received earlier, and handed it to Wu Gou.

"This thing is for you as well."

Then, he took out the Yin-Yang Judgment whisk, plucked a single silver thread, and flicked his finger.

The silver thread twisted and transformed in mid-air, eventually turning into a simple Nine-Ring Tin Staff that fell into Wu Gou’s hand.

"A weapon formed from the whisk can temporarily borrow a trace of my Yin-Yang Decree authority."

"With this in hand, it should be easy for you to command the masterless sinful karma within the steel fork."

Wu Gou took the staff; it felt heavy in his hand, circulating with the aura of divine path decrees.

"Thanks." Wu Gou didn't stand on ceremony.

"When you go underground, take the opportunity to inject the masterless sinful karma from the steel fork into the hell beneath the royal palace."

"Beneath the provincial capital, there is not only a dragon vein but also a mysterious royal offering who hasn't shown his face yet."

Chen Zhou had to guard against him, so he decided to give him some trouble to keep him from being too idle.

Wu Gou understood immediately and revealed a wicked smile.

"Understood. This is called muddying the waters."

"This monk will go add some flavor to the underground now."

Shouldering the staff and carrying Diting, Wu Gou swaggered into an earth-tunneling technique and vanished directly into the ground.

After Wu Gou left, Cangming looked at Chen Zhou, hesitating to speak.

"Is there something else?"

Cangming took a deep breath, his gaze firm. "My Lord, when the rain stops, Cangming will surely assist you in obtaining the Golden Buddha!"

Then he lingered in his chair, fidgeting. "That... My Lord, since General Chiwei has been cured, as for the black spots on my body..."

He looked at Chen Zhou expectantly.

Although eating Song Zi’an’s cooking last night had suppressed much of it, how could that compare to the satisfaction of a total cure?

Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Very well. Since I have nothing better to do, I’ll help you treat the black spots too."

Cangming was overjoyed. "Thank you, Lord Dragon Ancestor! Cangming will prepare immediately!"

Chen Zhou’s ghost domain rose, instantly enveloping the entire room.

"It might hurt a little."

"It’s fine, Cangming isn't afraid of pain."

"Come, My Lord! Don't hold back on me!"

The next second.

A scream, forcibly suppressed in the throat, echoed within the side hall.

Song Zi’an silently covered his ears and poured a cup of hot tea for Cangming.

He hoped this eldest prince would still have the strength to drink tea later.

Song Zi’an looked out the window; the rain had lessened significantly. Some of the sounds in the side hall were blocked by the ghost domain, and not a single sound could be heard outside.

Amidst the vast curtain of rain, Jian Huaishuang held a paper umbrella and carried a spherical object tightly wrapped in white paper as he stepped into the provincial capital territory.

The dragon carp had been packaged by him in white paper, with not a single trace of its aura leaking out.

This had saved him a lot of trouble on the way.

After all, as a heaven-blessed auspicious one, it would easily attract the greed of demons and fiends if it weren't wrapped tightly.

While they didn't pose much of a threat to him, too many insects could be very annoying.

The closer he got to the provincial capital, the stronger an inexplicably clean aura became.

The Golden Buddha was about to descend, and its excessively pure aura had drawn many demons and human cultivators lurking in the shadows to gather here.

They perhaps didn't dare enter the city, but they wandered the outskirts in groups of twos and threes.