With all these qualities, I will eventually become immortal.

Chapter 534 The Ascetic Chamber: The Stealer of the Arhat!
"Fifty million has been transferred to your account, thank you very much, little master."

"You're too kind. I was just doing it as a favor. It's only right that Brother Meng teaches me martial arts."

This is not the kind of glass bead string that you get as a gift from a temple after asking for incense and then "blessed" for peace of mind.

It is a genuine treasure possessing martial arts spiritual power.

However, it is a Buddhist ritual implement forged by a venerable monk who is proficient in bestowing blessings, and is blessed with spiritual power, possessing the effect of "strengthening the soul".

As the name suggests, 【固魂】 means to solidify the soul.

Wearing it can calm the mind and prevent the soul from being stirred by external things and thus leaving the body.

The most direct target of prevention is the inner demon Mara.

In Buddhism, the vast majority of monks are troubled by the obstacles of their own minds.

Therefore, there are a considerable number of such items, and they come in a wide variety of types.

Cheap ones aren't very effective and aren't suitable for me right now.

Dear
Meng Chuan checked his pockets and realized that this was the only bracelet he could afford.
Although it's ridiculously expensive, I have to grit my teeth and go for it.

Why?

This is because his mind frequently enters and exits the battle soul space and other "alternate spaces" such as cultivation technique imprints, which require the soul to separate from the body and act independently.

According to Buddhist teachings, when the soul leaves the body, it is very easy to attract the attention of inner demons in that instant of entry and exit.

Wearing it myself, it's quite useful; buying it for 50 million was definitely worth it.

Of course, the monk who made the Heart Soul Wood bracelet also made a profit.
Shaolin Temple also distributes a small amount of this item to the outside world.

The price is clearly marked at 80 million, and you still have to queue up to make a reservation.

Meng Chuan had previously checked and found that the waiting list stretched to eight years later.

This time, I guess I benefited from the little monk's luck.

Insider pricing, plus no need to queue.

If the young monk hadn't refused to drink, Meng Chuanzhen would have been able to invite him to properly savor the Wudang Kung Fu Wine.
The sun was high in the sky; it was noon.

After finishing his morning standing meditation, Meng Chuan took the opportunity to teach the young monks the art of observing qi.

After lunch, I followed him to the deepest part of the Shaolin Martial Arts Academy.

Western Saints' Temple.

This is the location of the meditation room that the Buddha previously described.

The Buddha had previously stated that this place allowed him to freely express the power of his imagery.

Just in time, the Molten Core Flame Burst Fist is nearing its limit, and I can hardly contain my desire. I must find a treasure trove to practice martial arts and see what the so-called training room is all about.

Thinking back to how he had demolished the martial arts academy with just a few punches, Meng Chuan expressed skepticism about this.
He followed Jueming, half a step behind, and entered the grove of red-flowered pillars.

Reaching out to stroke these wooden pillars, the rough wood grain is deeply embedded.

A sense of antiquity and solemnity immediately arose, even more so than in any of the palaces they had previously entered.

To exaggerate, it's like the difference between an antique and a modern replica—the gap is that big.

The young monk beside him noticed his thoughts and explained:
"This is the best-preserved and oldest main hall in our temple, dating back to the ancient martial arts era."

Seven hundred years ago, my temple was ravaged by fire, which burned for seven days and seven nights.

Apart from the Western Saints' Hall, almost all the main halls and side halls in front were destroyed at that time.

The Mountain Gate Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Great Buddha Hall, and so on, were all rebuilt later.

"I see," Meng Chuan nodded.

"Pity."

The young monk shook his head, saying that it could be considered "destruction before construction".

Coming to his senses, he spoke as he walked:
"At the very back, there was originally a place where Shaolin disciples trained their bodies during the ancient martial arts era, called the [Training Room]."

With the advent of the Qi and Blood Martial Arts Era, a new system of martial arts academies was established, and training rooms were transformed into martial arts universities within the Shaolin Temple.

To fit in with modern tastes, it was renamed the "Cultivation Room."

He nodded in response, then looked around but didn't see anything unusual.

It's nothing more than four red walls and a solid cement floor.

This couldn't withstand his fiery passion.

Recalling the words of the Buddha, perhaps going further in would reveal a completely different world.

Passing through the last vermilion pillar, you step into this place and reach the end of the straight road.

A mural of five hundred Arhats, painted in a warm yellow hue, comes into view.

Meng Chuan stopped and gestured to the young monk not to rush off.

He carefully explored the painting process and found all eighteen Arhats.

At the same time, my mind wandered:
"Once the matter of the demonic contamination is resolved, and we have some free time, will we also need to pry these demonically contaminated Arhats out of the paintings?"

Jueming waited quietly to the side, and only after watching him finish painting did he offer guidance:
"Brother Meng, if you go right from here, the deepest part is the [Vairocana Pavilion]."

Without a written instruction from a high-ranking monk, we cannot enter. If we wish to see it next time, we should ask Master Baibao to write one for us.

Meng Chuan didn't care, since he wasn't being asked to visit the Dharma Realm anyway.
"It's alright, what's enshrined here is the Dharma body of Vairocana Buddha?"

The young monk bowed to the right, his hands clasped together in prayer.

“Excellent—this is the Dharmakaya of Shakyamuni Buddha, Vairocana Buddha, and Mahavairocana Tathagata, symbolizing the perfection of merit.”

"clear."

From this perspective, the so-called Vairocana Pavilion must involve the Dharma realm of the Tathagata.

The fact that it's complicated to get started is to be expected.

Then, he suddenly thought of something and asked Jueming for his advice:

"Young master, I have a question to ask. I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I just happened to have a glimpse of something."

"Speak freely, I am not Master Huiyuan."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, and he then asked:
"May I ask, Jueming, what do you think the meaning of 'the false body of the Little Tathagata'?"

What is your understanding of this?

When he mentioned the Dharmakaya of Vairocana Buddha, he thought of the limit-breaking characteristics of the Golden Venerable Treasure Appearance Technique, the illusory body of the Lesser Tathagata.

One is Mahayana, the other Hinayana; are they related? Then the result surprised him greatly.
Seeing the young monk frown, he slowly asked:

"Brother Meng, where did you hear this word from?"

Seeing the other person's surprised expression, he felt a chill run down his spine.

"Is there a problem?"

The young monk pulled Meng Chuan to the left, further away from the Pilu Pavilion, before speaking softly:
“Brother Meng, I will explain the taboos to you in detail. In the future, try to avoid mentioning this word in Shaolin.”

Meng Chuan clasped his hands in greeting:

"Please enlighten me, young master."

"Does Brother Meng know that Buddhism is divided into Mahayana and Hinayana?"

"I know that."

"Alright, I'll explain it to you from an outsider's perspective."

Shaolin Temple, for example, is a staunch supporter of Mahayana Buddhism, with the aim of universally saving all sentient beings and the goal of attaining enlightenment.

In our view, the Buddha is the supreme deity, and even the incarnate Buddha, Abbot Xuanmou, is devout to the Buddha.

Theravada Buddhism is different. Practitioners do not seek to save all sentient beings, but rather to liberate themselves from their own afflictions. Their goal is to attain Arhatship. This is the biggest difference between the two.

In addition, the key reason why practitioners of Theravada Buddhism are not welcomed by our Buddhist community is that they do not respect the Buddha, but instead practice the doctrines and seek liberation.

Thus, they are not only thieves of Buddhist teachings, but also the culprits behind the Shaolin fire seven hundred years ago!

"What a huge hat!" Meng Chuan's expression hardened.

"Young master, I found some information online that says practitioners of Theravada Buddhism refer to the Buddha as their 'teacher.' Is this also disrespectful?"

"It's just self-aggrandizement, a desire to cut off all afflictions and escape the cycle of reincarnation."

Yet they are narrow-minded individuals who are unwilling to serve the true Buddha and only want to steal the fruit of liberation.

He heard Jue Ming's voice even fainter, as soft as a mosquito's buzz:
"If we were to say that the state of enlightenment they are cultivating is called the [Arhatship], then..."

"So, Brother Meng, the 'small Buddha's false body' you just described is the vessel of Buddha's stolen power."

"Is obtaining the false body of the Lesser Tathagata the same as attaining Arhatship?"

The little monk shook his head like a rattle drum:
"I guess the two should be related by inclusion, with the Arhat fruit being greater than that false body."

Don't ask me about the rest, Brother Meng; I only have a superficial understanding myself.

"Okay, thank you for clearing up my doubts, young master."

Seeing that he did not want to answer, he stopped pressing him.

The information about the Golden Buddha statue was very helpful to him.

No wonder Master Bai Bao forbade him to practice this skill on the mountain.

According to the young monk, this method was "stolen"?
If I break through my limits later, will there be any karmic consequences or misfortunes befall me?
He suddenly remembered that as soon as he arrived at the mountain, he was attacked by Huiyuan, invaded by his inner demons, and almost lost his life.

Could it be that I myself possess this technique, which led to this karmic consequence?

It's terrifying to think about.
But apart from Huiyuan, he was very comfortable in Shaolin.

It shouldn't be that outrageous, right?
"Before trying to harvest fruit from the Longhua Tree, you must ask Master Bai Bao in advance if there are any taboos in this regard."

"What if I meet Maitreya Buddha and he mistakes me for a 'thief'? That would be disastrous."

Meng Chuan pondered for a while, and then thought of the "Buddha's Heart".

"If the Buddha's mind is the essence of Mahayana enlightenment, then is the illusory body of a Lesser Tathagata also a Lesser Tathagata enlightenment?"

No, the two seem to be unequal.

As the young monk just said, the illusory body of the Little Buddha is merely a form of power of an Arhat.

There should be an even stronger method to break through the limits of this advanced trait, such as that of an Arhat, who is equivalent to the seemingly super trait "Buddha's Heart".

"I remember Master Dong mentioning before that the old monk who passed on his skills belonged to some sect, I think."

Searching through old memories takes time, but the little monk beside me said earnestly:

"Brother Meng, you have always had many ideas and ingenious thoughts. If you are to convert to Buddhism in the future, you must distinguish between Mahayana and Hinayana."

Jueming greatly admired Meng Chuan's talent for Buddhism, but worried that he might go astray in the future.

Meng Chuan didn't take it to heart; what was there to believe?

He was the biggest thief, and all factions benefited from his generosity.

You can't trust anyone who just takes something for free.

"Don't worry, little master, I understand."

"Let's go, Brother Meng, the cultivation room is over there."

Meng Chuan walked past him, paused, and then followed.

"The Realization of the Vehicle"

Walk to the far left, exit the passage, and suddenly the view opens up before you.

You are in a garden, and there is a six-story building at the front.

The overall structure, in terms of width and outline, resembles a small hotel.

"A meditation room?"

I never expected to find such modern buildings deep within Shaolin Temple.

Anyway, these monks have money, so they can do whatever they want.
"Brother Meng, please, there is a secret within."

Jue Ming led the way, and as they approached, he took a closer look.

In the innermost part of the hall, an old monk was meditating.

There was a table in front of him, with a slightly warm teacup.

"front desk?"

The little monk laughed heartily:
"Brother Meng, just tell this master how long you need to use the meditation room."

"it is good."

He leaned closer to the table and saw the old monk's wrinkled eyelids twitch; he quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Senior, I wish to borrow the cultivation room."

(End of this chapter)