The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 114 Buddha's Guidance, Relic Transmission of Dharma

Zhou Yan sized up the monk in front of him.

He was a monk chosen by the great demons to be revived, the true prototype of "Journey to the West," and a historical traveler who traveled tens of thousands of miles alone.

Looking at the monk and the relic, Zhou Yan roughly understood why Xuanzang had appeared in his consciousness.

A token of affection.

Xuanzang clasped his hands together, sat cross-legged, and thanked him, saying:

"Thank you for taking my relic from that demon. Otherwise, I would probably have been 'revived' by them. If I were to be blessed with the karma of a thousand miles of barren land, I'm afraid the resurrected me would have a different personality."

This monk seemed to understand everything.

Zhou Yan glanced at the malevolent energy that had been violently destroyed and dispersed by the monk, then sat down cross-legged and asked, "Master Xuanzang, do you mean that their evil magic can really revive you?"

To rise from the dead? What incredible power!
Xuanzang shook his head and said, "It will only revive a monk named Xuanzang but not Xuanzang. He will have Xuanzang's spiritual qualities and seemingly decent merits and methods, but in reality, he will not be Xuanzang."

"It is a demon that is both real and deceptive."

Zhou Yan said, "I see..."

Indeed, resurrecting someone who has been dead for decades or even centuries is not so simple.

His free-spirited nature meant that the drought demon's malevolent aura had clearly been suppressed by this foremost Buddhist figure, so he simply asked frankly, "Then, Master Xuanzang, do you know what exactly is going on with the calamity at the Reclining Buddha Temple?"

Xuanzang said, "I don't understand."

"However, such religious ceremonies must be stopped."

Zhou Yan asked, "The Longevity Scripture Dharma Assembly?"

Xuanzang said, "Yes, this Dharma assembly takes the reclining Buddha as its core. The plan is to treat all the people who come here to seek incense as offerings to the Buddha. When the Dharma assembly is about to end, the thoughts of all beings will be transformed into incense. The abbot probably wants to use this to transform himself and seek longevity."

Zhou Yan asked curiously, "Is that really immortality?"

The monk said, "This is called longevity, but it is not true longevity."

Zhou Yan said, "Master, you suddenly appeared in my head." He tapped his brow with his finger and asked, "Is there something you need my help with?"

Xuanzang said, "This humble monk is already a dead man."

"Seeing this calamity, though I have the will, I have no means to help. To save the people, I can only beg for your help."

He gave a slight bow, sincere and gentle.

The drought demon's malevolent aura was still rising, and the monk with a serene face bowed and pleaded while extending his hand.

With fingers spread, press down on the humanoid head of this malevolent aura.

It suddenly crashed down.

boom! ! !
The malevolent energy surged, causing the entire dream-like sea of ​​consciousness to tremble.

Zhou Yan said earnestly:
“Please speak, Master Tripitaka.”

So the monk told Zhou Yan what he knew. Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasties issued an edict to prohibit killing. During the Sui Dynasty, Master Zhiyi of the Tiantai School first proposed the establishment of a release pond on Tiantai Mountain and transmitted the Three Refuges precepts. He also recited scriptures for the aquatic creatures, which was the prototype of the Longevity Dharma Assembly.

“Reciting the Dharani Sutra on Longevity, Eradication of Sins, and Protection of Children Spoken by the Buddha can help the deceased to be liberated, prolong life, and pray for blessings. It can also be used to set up longevity altars, light lamps to make offerings to the Buddha, perform rituals to the heavens, recite sutras, and dedicate the merits to five categories of people.”

"The ritual of offering sacrifices to the heavens is also known as the 'offering sacrifices to the heavens'."

“Once the offering of sacrifices is made to the heavens, the people and believers whose names were previously inscribed will be drawn in, and the spirituality of all living beings will be transformed into firewood to aid in the so-called longevity.”

Zhou Yan said, "Would anyone who has their name engraved on their phone be affected?"

Xuanzang looked at him and sighed, "I'm afraid all the people in the Reclining Buddha Temple will be affected."

Zhou Yan exhaled.

"I understand, how do we solve this?"

Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said, "Please execute the abbot."

Zhou Yan paused, his thoughts still uneasy. Although that was his plan, it felt strange to hear it from this famous monk. He looked at the peaceful monk before him and asked, "Master, are you saying we should kill him?"

Xuanzang said, "The original him no longer exists; he is now just a demon."

"Moreover, the calamity was caused by him. Buddhism teaches compassion, so why not show compassion to all living beings instead of to demons and heretics? Most of those who practice Buddhism in the world are like this, preferring to convert evil people and show compassion rather than looking at the common people with equanimity."

Zhou Yan asked, "Why?"

Xuanzang calmly replied, "How can one demonstrate immeasurable merit if one does not save wicked people?"

Zhou Yan pondered these words and gradually sensed the Buddhist teachings the monk was referring to. Zhou Yan said, "I was going to do this anyway. Don't worry, I still have more than one score to settle with this abbot and the demons behind him!"

Xuanzang looked at Zhou Yan and said, "This humble monk cannot see the whole picture of this matter. You have the heart of a chivalrous knight, but your skill is probably a little lacking." The drought demon, still exuding a fierce aura, tried to emerge again, but the monk grabbed its head and, without changing his expression, slammed it down heavily.

The truly dangerous thing about this blood of the drought demon is the convergence of drought and calamity.

It was knocked away by the monk.

Xuanzang said gently:
"If you believe what I say, please extend your hand."

Zhou Yan, with a free and unrestrained spirit, calmly extended his hand. This first Buddhist master in history smiled and said, "Benefactor, do you know what Buddhism is?"

Zhou Yan said, "Eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures?"

"For example, Amitabha, Amitabha."

"Speaking of which, why don't you chant Amitabha Buddha's name?"

Xuanzang laughed and said, "Amitabha?"

"This is Kumarajiva's translation, a direct onomatopoeia. If we're talking about the meaning, it should be called Amitabha Buddha."

Zhou Yan asked, "Amitabha Buddha?"

Xuanzang hummed in agreement.

"I translated it."

Zhou Yan remained silent.

Xuanzang smiled and said, "Moreover, if one does not restrain oneself while eating vegetarian food and does not reflect on one's spirituality while chanting Buddhist scriptures, that is not Buddhism, but a sect."

“Law, reason, and teaching are not the same.”

With a flick of his sleeve, the monk unleashed a radiant aura, capturing the malevolent energy of the drought demon. He then dipped his fingers in the aura and wrote characters on Zhou Yan's left palm.

He wrote an entire Heart Sutra.

Zhou Yan withdrew his palm and saw the words converge and transform into the character "heart".

A blazing fire erupted.

It harbors a terrifying and violent aura of flames.

"Calamities abound, but suppress them with your heart!"

Xuanzang said, "If there really is a Buddha, then the Buddha and we are of course different in appearance. According to the Buddhist scriptures, he has many extraordinary characteristics. But if we discard this physical body, our spirituality is no different from that of the Buddha."

"All phenomena are manifestations of consciousness."

Zhou Yan asked, "What is Buddha?" Xuanzang pointed to his brow.

Zhou Yan said, "Me?"

Xuanzang smiled: "It's you, it's [me]."

Zhou Yan vaguely understood Xuanzang's Buddhist teachings: all phenomena are manifestations of consciousness, and everyone possesses a Buddha-nature and Buddha-heart. The origin of this concept was precisely this peaceful monk before him. Xuanzang pointed to Zhou Yan's hand and said:
"This humble monk has just placed the malevolent energy from the drought demon, which caused the earth's veins to become parched and the land to become scorched for thousands of miles, into your hands."

"Condensing the malevolent energy into a Heart Sutra is the ultimate form of earth fire. However, each use may cause great harm to yourself. Be careful, be careful. With the concentration of this malevolent energy, it can be used approximately three times."

"These three moves are like the three strikes of a drought demon."

The monk clasped his hands together and said in a gentle voice:

"The people suffer greatly, we are grateful for your help, benefactor."

"Furthermore, I have one last gift to give you."

Zhou Yan saw the relic in the monk's hand glow with light. Then, a crack appeared on the relic, and the light flowed and changed. The monk stood up and placed his palm on Zhou Yan's forehead. Thus, the power of the relic of the foremost Buddhist monk was poured into him.

Zhou Yan said, "Master Sanzang?!"

Xuanzang said frankly, "In the face of human calamities, even a slight increase in our chances of victory is a small contribution. Unfortunately, I am but a remnant of Buddhist divine intent within a relic, and what I can offer you is not much."

"Please accept it."

As Zhou Yan watched the monk shatter his own relics, Xuanzang's body gradually became transparent, his expression peaceful and serene. Zhou Yan sensed that what the monk gave him was pure Taoist cultivation, transforming Buddhist merits into Taoist cultivation and instilling them into him.

There is not a trace of self-importance.

Xuanzang's every move was different from that of the abbot who was willing to pay any price to survive.

Zhou Yan sat cross-legged and asked, "Master, don't you want to live forever?"

Xuanzang replied, "Then, one last question."

"What is 'I'?"

This question is too difficult; Zhou Yan cannot answer it.

Zhou Yan was a free-spirited yet stubborn person. He did not answer, knowing that he had to say goodbye to the monk in front of him. Even if he had another chance to meet Xuanzang's relics next time, the divine will he summoned would not have this memory.

So he became even more carefree, answering the question with a question, and said with a smile, "Master, do you really have a monkey disciple?"

Xuanzang asked curiously, "What?"

Zhou Yan then materialized a copy of Journey to the West for him to see.

Xuanzang then burst into laughter.

Zhou Yan asked with a smile, "Then, Master, have you obtained the Mahayana Buddhist teachings?"

"A pilgrimage to the West?"

Xuanzang's body became transparent and dissipated. Even as he vanished, the monk showed no fear or attachment, and was not bound by the cycle of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness. Xuanzang finally withdrew his hands, clasped them together, and smiled.

He traveled 100,000 li westward, visiting 180 countries.

Unrivaled, they returned home in triumph.

He clasped his hands together and calmly recited:
"The Nilian River flows eastward, where people bathed in it and gained a sense of gentleness."

"From now on, who will cross to the other shore and gaze westward at the Buddha tree for thousands of autumns?"

This is the only poem this monk left in the world: After the Buddha, who else has reached the so-called other shore? After writing this poem, this monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East set off alone for Nalanda.

This poem possesses a quiet undercurrent, yet it also exudes an indescribable charm and grandeur.

From now on, who will cross to the other shore?
Who else but me?

Xuanzang put his hands together in prayer and answered Zhou Yan in this way.

"I am Mahayana."

[The assembly rejoiced and vied to bestow upon the Dharma Master esteemed titles. The Mahayana followers called him Mahayana Deva, meaning "Mahayana Deva"; the Hinayana followers called him Moksha Deva, meaning "Liberation Deva."] — Buddhist Dictionary

He attained the highest level of Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism through his own efforts.

After explaining his Buddhist teachings, he returned to his home country.

It's not about reclaiming the Dharma, but about becoming a Mahayana practitioner.

My teachings are Mahayana Buddhism. The Buddha is in the human world, so why look westward?

He gave away the fragmented relics anonymously, without seeking recognition or recognition.

The monks clasped their hands together and slowly dispersed. Meanwhile, in the dark chamber of the Reclining Buddha Temple outside, Zhou Yan suddenly opened his eyes. His body surged with power as he sensed the changes in the flow of magical energy and the mysterious presence within.

The aura of bloodlust, along with the increasingly sharp sounds of swords and weapons clashing, immediately pulled him out of the gentle and peaceful atmosphere of the monk's sermon. Shen Cangming said, "Be careful!"

A molted insect flew from Shen Cangming's side and attacked Zhou Yan.

Shen Cangming could intercept him, but he wanted to see Zhou Yan's power after his breakthrough.

He subtly twitched the horizontal sword in his hand, maintaining a posture ready to go and provide assistance.

Before Zhou Yan could even make a move, the molting insect monster seemed to have touched a red-hot iron, instantly retreating and hissing in agony. Around Zhou Yan, his aura naturally flowed, transforming into a mysterious and profound energy.

In Buddhism, it is called merit; in Taoism, it is called spiritual practice.

Moreover, without lifting a finger, it was enough to make the evil spirits feel as if they were being attacked by magic. Even Zhou Yan, who had only been a Xuan official for a few months, understood what this effect meant.

Such a level of cultivation has directly surpassed that of Jinghe Dragon Lord Ao Xuantao.

He made a fist.

Xuanzang... no, let's just call him that.

He is the Venerable Liberation Deity of Theravada Buddhism.

The Buddha of Mahayana Buddhism, Mahayana Heaven, bestowed the Dharma upon the Buddha through a single relic!

Zhou Yan has successfully broken through to the next realm.

Realm – Eighth-Rank Mystic Official.

Magical power—mediocre.

Taoism...

Three hundred years!
Zhou Yan looked at his left hand, where a peaceful yet powerful character for "heart" was written. He raised his knife, gripped it tightly, stood up, and the Earth Soul Skyward Lift was raised. A flame, a mixture of the Earth Vein Drought Demon Fire, the Buddhist Heavenly Dragon Fire, and the Humanity Fire, flowed across the Earth Soul Skyward Lift.

Zhi Xuan stared at the boy whose aura flowed around him, as if he had seen a ghost.

He looked at Shen Cangming and exclaimed, "This is an eighth-rank?!"

Zhou Yan's breakthrough has taken ten hours.

It is now the second day.

Pei Xuanbao and his party arrived at the Wofo Temple.

(End of this chapter)