Becoming a Saint by Leisure Reading

Chen Luo’s transmigration story starts at a mourning hall.

This is a world where reading can help you obtain enormous powers.

Reading Confucian classics trains you to the path of righteousness

Studying Taoist doctrines will help you grasp the source of everything and the ultimate principle underlying reality.

Understanding Buddhist Scriptures will make you comprehend the essence of rebirth and karma.

But contrary to what is expected, why does Chen Luo’s cheat only give him books for leisure reading!

….

What? 《Strange Tales from A Chinese Studio[1]》is now being treated as the bible of the Monster Country?

What? 《The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils[2]》opened the world of martial arts?

What? 《The Plum in the Golden Vase[3]》….

Don’t panic, don’t panic, these are all small details!

This scholar, have you ever heard of the book 《Tales of the Three Kingdom[4]》 where gallant generals and cunning strategists are a dime a dozen?

That Taoist priest over there, ever read 《Investiture of the Gods[5]》? You people from the Taoist sect are outdated!

Hey, please halt high priest, I have a copy of 《Journey to the West[6]》 here, are you interested?

….

Jing Shi Zi Ji records the way of the heavens; storytellers and plays replay the mortal world.

You train the highest level of Daoism he trains Buddhism, worldly affairs have me laughing towards the heavens.

[1] 聊斋志异 Liao Zhai Zhi Yi is a Chinese classic book that depicts different kinds of monsters that exist in Chinese folklores. Among the most famous monsters, the fox fairies are the most featured.

[2] The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龙八部 or Tian Long Ba Bu) is one of the famous works of Jin Yong, the pioneer of Wu Xia genre in China.

[3] The Plum in the Golden Vase (金瓶梅 or Jin Ping Mei) is a spin-off of the novel Shui Hu Zhuan. It follows the power struggles and the lives of the concubines of Xi Men Qing. Pan Jinlian, who is one of the 6 concubines of Xi Men Qing kills her husband from an overdose of aphrodisiacs. This all happens while the Xi Men clan is also experiencing political downfall.

[4] No explanation needed.

[5] Investiture of the Gods (封神演义 or Feng Shen Yan Yi) depicts the story of the downfall of King Zhou of Shang who was bewitched by a concubine Daji who is actually a vixen spirit in the guise of a human being. King Zhou of Shang became a foolish ruler who was later stopped by the King Wu of Zhou, assisted by deities, immortals, and humans with magical abilities.

[6] No explanation needed.