Definition
- **Zhengde Temple (正德寺):** This is our first real, in-depth look at how a "pious" institution in the Dao-Twisted World operates. Unlike a standard xianxia sect that might be a righteous faction, Zhengde Temple is a systemic horror. Its piety is a front for grotesque rituals (Vase-Girls), parasitic deities (the Flesh Buddha), and institutionalized cruelty, all masked by charity and a calm facade. This reinforces the novel's core theme: nothing sacred is safe; everything holy has rotted from the inside. - **The Hour of the Rooster (酉时):** This is one of the twelve two-hour periods (地支) in the traditional Chinese timekeeping system, roughly corresponding to 5:00-7:00 PM. It's the standard dinner time. Li Huowang uses this predictable structure to his advantage, showing his growing understanding of the world’s “rules.” - **Flesh Buddha (肉佛):** The physical manifestation of Zhengde Temple's corrupted faith. It is not a statue or a spirit in the traditional sense, but a massive, parasitic mound of pink, pulsating flesh covered in organs and pus. Monks “merge” with it, becoming part of the horror. This is the ultimate perversion of Buddhist iconography in the Dao-Twisted World, transforming enlightenment into a disgusting, consuming union. - **"Through the Pass" (出关):** This line marks a critical turning point. "The Pass" refers to the mountain pass that separates the relatively safe inner lands from the wild, lawless lands of Siqi (司契) outside. Li Huowang is not just escaping a single temple; he is making the strategic decision to flee the entire civilized zone he knows, seeking safety in the unknown chaos beyond.