Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 435 The Wind Rises

Baima Zen Temple.

The annual selection process for the Dharma Hall has begun.

The selection process consists of three assessments. A score of "above average" in all three assessments, or "above average" in two of them, is required for selection.

The first test was self-presentation, which meant demonstrating one's most proficient skills in front of the head monk of the Dharma Hall;

The second test was a trial, which involved fighting against a martial monk sent by the Dharma Hall and lasting for the duration of an incense stick burning.

The third test is a one-on-one combat exercise between the monks and nuns participating in the selection process.

Link easily obtained an "excellent" rating in the first two assessments. As long as the third assessment is not "inferior", even if it is just "inferior", he can be selected for the Dharma Hall.

The monk Liaoxin, who had previously had a disagreement and a verbal argument, also behaved well.

Of course, compared to those monks and nuns who received "top" ratings in the first two assessments, Linke and Monk Liaoxin were not particularly outstanding.

After a short rest, the third assessment began.

The monks and nuns participating in the selection can have their opponents randomly selected by the Dharma Hall, or they can designate their own opponents, provided that the designated person agrees.

The assessment was conducted in an orderly manner.

Some people are happy that someone is worried.

Link didn't care about any of that. What he cared about was that after entering the Bodhi Academy, he could take the opportunity to enter the Bodhi Academy to find the relevant records of Master Wusheng, and he cared about settling the karmic debt between his original self and Monk Liaoxin.

Having experienced the world of human immortals and martial arts, Link has a certain understanding of the concept of "cause and effect".

There is a great deal of emphasis on the importance of severing the "causal chain" as early as possible.

However, the monk Liaochen on the side was quite concerned about the results of the other people's assessments, and kept a close eye on the ongoing battle, showing that he was still somewhat attached to worldly desires.

This made Link's feelings grow stronger and stronger.

From the moment he arrived at the White Horse Zen Temple, he could only learn about the temple and the world through the memories of his original self. But over the past month, as he has gradually experienced and read scriptures firsthand, Link has come to realize that the Buddhist teachings in this world have gone astray.

No, it's not that Buddhism has gone astray, but rather that the monks who practice Buddhism have gone astray.

Regardless of what the Buddhist scriptures say, at least the monks of Baima Temple only superficially practice Buddhism, but in reality, they cultivate their spiritual power.

The three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance; the five aggregates of form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness; the six sense organs of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind; and the six sense objects of form, smell, taste, touch, and mental objects—none of these should be sought to be "empty" or "non-existent."

They do not cultivate precepts, concentration, or wisdom.

There is no concept or pursuit of "right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration".

Their fierce and ruthless nature borders on demonic!

Link suppressed these feelings and did not let them affect him.

Often, people develop preconceived notions, and if they cannot detach themselves from them and remain "in the thick of it," they will stray further and further from the right path.

Being deep behind enemy lines, Link didn't want to go astray and cause a bad situation.

call……

He exhaled a soft breath, and in the blink of an eye, Link cleared his mind.

Suddenly, the three supernatural powers of divine eye, divine ear, and divine foot were unexpectedly revealed.

Link easily amassed the six supernatural powers required for attaining Arhatship in Buddhism, and could attain Arhatship at any time.

Link's core is that of an extraordinary Level 5 Sage. Even though it's a different system, he still has the foundation of a Human Immortal's martial arts cultivation at the Divine Realm. He can draw inferences from one instance to another and quickly get on the right track.

However, Link was not in a hurry to attain the Arhat realm.

Just as the wizarding civilization required resonance with the will of the wizarding world for advancement to the fourth level of sage, the remnants of the Buddhist civilization likely had similar rigid requirements.

We must not be careless before we confirm this.

Just then, Monk Liaoxin stepped onto the dueling platform, turned to Link, and said, "Brother Liaofan, I know that Uncle Yuanzhi and Brother Liaowu have blamed me for your accidental fall off the cliff. They believe that I harmed you to ensure my own safe entry into the Dharma Hall. I also know that Brother Liaofan thinks so. Since that's the case, words are useless. Let's see what's what. Let everyone see whether I, Liaoxin, need to harm you in order to enter the Dharma Hall."

Ignoring the displeasure of Abbot Yuanhui of the Dharma Hall and the strange looks from the remaining monks and nuns in the selection process, Abbot Liaoxin publicly revealed his conflict with Link.

Perhaps they were confident of victory, so they revealed this information in advance to avoid any trouble after entering the Dharma Hall.

Regardless of what the monk Xin was thinking, Link remained silent, simply walking step by step onto the platform and standing opposite the monk Xin.

"start."

After confirming that both sides were ready, the monks of the Dharma Hall, who were in charge of the combat assessment, did not call a halt, but instead announced the official start of the combat according to procedure.

With a bang.

As soon as the abbot finished speaking, Monk Liaoxin flew off the opposite platform and landed lightly on the ground.

Link's main body remained stationary, but his afterimage appeared at the spot where Heart Monk had been standing just as Heart Monk fell to the ground and kicked up dust.

"Kamizutsu!"

Abbot Yuanhui of the Bodhidharma Hall suddenly stood up. "Liaofan, when did you attain the power of supernatural speed?"

The monks from the Dharma Hall who came to assist the abbot in the selection process were shocked, as were the monks and nuns who came to participate in the Dharma Hall selection. Monk Liaochen's mouth was agape, wide enough to fit a fist.

The six supernatural powers are so powerful that anyone who can master even one of them can directly join the Bodhidharma Hall without having to take an exam.

Since Monk Liaofan has already attained enlightenment, why does he still need to participate in the assessment and take up a spot?

The question had just surfaced in the minds of the monks, nuns, and Abbot Liaochen who were participating in the selection process when everyone had their answer and looked at Abbot Liaochen, who, apart from being disheveled, was not injured.

If the first two assessments were rated "superior," then this assessment must have been rated "inferior," so Monk Liaoxin would naturally be ineligible for the Bodhidharma Hall.

So it was revenge!

Having figured this out, Monk Liaochen grinned and said, "Too clever by half, he ended up ruining his own life."

Reciting the lyrics he had heard in the brothel, Monk Liaochen made no attempt to hide his contempt and mockery of Monk Liaoxin.

The other monks and nuns who were participating in the assessment heard Monk Chen's words and also cast mocking glances at Monk Xin.

This includes those monks and nuns who had previously been on good terms with Monk Liaoxin.

This is the basic tone of Baima Zen Temple.

Monks like Master Yuanzhi and Master Liaochen who care about their disciples and fellow disciples are few and far between.

Link then spoke up, calmly replying, "Uncle-Master Yuanhui, after I woke up from my fall from the cliff, my understanding of Buddhist practice deepened. It was as if I received some kind of guidance from the unseen world, and by chance, I comprehended the Three Supernatural Powers by the lake where Master Wusheng planted lotuses on the back mountain."

During this month, Link's actions of questioning Monk Yuanzhi and Monk Liaochen could no longer be concealed, and the records of his investigation into Master Wusheng's deeds could not be erased.

If you want to check Baima Zen Temple, you can do so anytime.

Instead of hiding it, be open about it and then take advantage of it.

However, Link held back, only saying that he had mastered three supernatural powers, not mentioning six.

Even so, many of the monks present were shocked by Link.

Three gates!

For ordinary monks, comprehending even one aspect of a discipline is extremely difficult.

Your sudden enlightenment has led to three major insights; how can others possibly compete with that?

Especially those monks who received the "top" rating in all three assessments.

Which three gates?

The monk Yuanhui was the most composed and asked the question calmly.

"Supernatural powers of travel, telepathy, and the elimination of all defilements."

Without the slightest hesitation, Link announced the three supernatural powers he had carefully chosen.

The supernatural power of divine travel has already been demonstrated; the power of eliminating defilements has cleared away the obstacles to attaining Arhatship in the near future; as for the power of knowing others' minds…

After a pause, Link explained, "Uncle-Master Yuanhui, I did not intend to reveal that I had attained supernatural powers today. However, I sensed malice from Junior Brother Liaoxin through my mind-reading ability, hence my rashness. Please forgive me, Uncle-Master."

"Ha ha……"

Monk Yuanhui laughed heartily, "No blame! No blame! You did very well! You did very well!"

After laughing, Monk Yuanzhi looked at Monk Liaoxin, who hadn't yet gotten up from the ground: "You've been expelled from Baima Temple. I said so. Get out now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Monk Yuanhui opened and closed his right hand.

A wisp of qi and blood, like smoke from a wolf, emerged from the Baihui point on the top of the monk's head.

"this……"

The monk Liaoxin could not believe what he had encountered.

Apart from the monks of the Dharma Hall, none of the other monks and nuns present, including Link, expected that Monk Yuanhui would directly abolish Monk Liaoxin's cultivation.

No... it's not just about abolishing, it's about recycling.

"Throw it out!"

Monk Yuanhui ignored Monk Xin's disbelief and anger and coldly issued an order.

Two monks from the Dharma Hall immediately came out and, with a lift of their hands and feet, carried away the monk Liaoxin, whose mobility had been restricted at some point.

"Okay, snap out of it!"

With a loud shout and a wave of his hand, Monk Yuanhui announced, "The selection is over. Liaofan, come with me."

After saying this, Monk Yuanhui ignored the monks who had not yet undergone the third test and turned to leave.

Link stepped off the platform, gave Monk Chen a look, and followed Monk Yuanhui.

The monk Liaochen understood and quickly went back to his master, the monk Yuanzhi, to report the matter.

It is said that when Monk Xin was carried out of Baima Temple, he was dumped on the roadside like trash, and was soon picked up by a waiting carriage.

Inside the carriage, the ghostly Lotesno stared intently at the immobile monk Liaoxin, chuckling to himself.

As a reincarnation of a saint, Lotesno certainly wouldn't "possess" the body of Link, Jasmine, Iris, Forrest, and Medici like they did, entering the remaining star system of Buddhism.

Strictly speaking, if Iris wasn't truly a native spirit of the wizarding civilization, and only became entangled with "me" by chance, her true rank would only be a sixth-level sage, and she wouldn't have been able to "possess" me.

In short, Lottesno had no physical body for the previous month and had been existing in a ghost-like form.

Looking at the ghost before him, Monk Liaoxin was still reeling from the shock of having his cultivation stripped and being thrown out of the White Horse Temple when he was plunged into another kind of shock.

"What are you going to do?"

"What are you trying to do?"

He was simply following his master's teachings and the style instilled in him from childhood at Baima Zen Temple, and was using a little trick to ensure his entry into the Bodhidharma Hall.

Why is it that when others do this, nothing happens, but he suffers this fate?

"I refuse to accept this!"

The monk Liaoxin roared inwardly.

Lotesno ignored the monk's anger, grievances, sadness and pain, and placed his seemingly illusory right hand on the monk's brow.

In a short while, the monk Liaoxin's soul was ripped out and torn to shreds.

The ghostly Lottesno vanished from the carriage.

Before long, the newly-formed monk Liaoxin sat up, twisted his neck, moved his hands and feet, and muttered to himself, "Finally, I have a body again. It wasn't easy."

After muttering to himself, Lottesno quickened the pace of the carriage's journey.

The Elemental Saint said that the "possession" artifact would randomly assign a "possession" destination, but in reality, it still made certain arrangements.

Lottesno, Medici, and Link have traveled to the same world.

Forrest and Jasmine were transported to the same world.

Only Iris was alone.

Thinking of this, Lotesno couldn't help but mutter again: "Those scoundrels in the Supreme Council just love to fleece any sheep they can find. Fleece them all, and see what kind of monster you'll end up with."

Iris, whom Lotesno believed would become a monster, stood in a pool of blood, expressionlessly "absorbing" the resentment and bloodlust of the brothel owners, pimps, patrons, and uncooperative prostitutes as they died.

Sixteen girls stood around her, forming the shape of a lotus flower.

The lotus rises from the mud yet remains unstained, and is washed by clear ripples yet does not become seductive.

Resentment and bloodlust, inherently unclean and filthy, gathered at Iris's feet, turning into mud.

After being purified by white lotus, it separates into two substances, one clear and one turbid.

The light and pure rise and return to the heavens; the heavy and turbid descend and return to the earth.

Iris, through the process of absorbing, purifying, and giving back, obtains the two types of mental power she desires.

There is a kind of mental power called resentment, and another kind called admiration.

As Iris received these two powers of telekinesis, the sixteen girls who formed a lotus shape also received feedback.

A mixture of holiness, compassion, decisiveness, and ruthlessness surged into the hearts of the sixteen girls, causing them to exude a contradictory temperament of holiness and ferocity, compassion and indifference.

"Without birth parents, without a true homeland."

Iris murmured softly.

"Without birth parents, without a true homeland."

Sixteen girls recited it aloud.

"Are you willing to serve me?"

Iris looked at the survivors among the brothel prostitutes who offered no resistance or escape.

"I...I'm willing."

One of the prostitutes spoke first, though her tongue trembled and she was still very afraid.

"I...I...I'm willing."

The other prostitutes realized what was happening and quickly echoed him, fearing that this ruthless man, who could slaughter the entire brothel at the slightest provocation, would also kill them.

"Are you willing to join me in purifying this corrupt world?"

Ignoring the prostitutes' fear, Iris asked softly again.

"willing."

For some reason, the prostitutes suddenly calmed down and their tone of voice became firm.

A faint smile appeared on Iris's face: "Since you're willing, then come with me into the Vacuum Homeland."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire brothel burst into flames.

Iris was the first to step into the fire.

Sixteen girls followed without hesitation.

Some of the prostitutes followed resolutely, some hesitated for a moment, some couldn't move their feet, and some wanted to turn around and run away.

Unable to move, he quietly collapsed to the ground, waiting to be consumed by the flames.

The moment it turned and ran, it burst into flames, like a torch, and let out a mournful cry.

"Those who believe in me will have eternal life."