Chapter 396 - Three Minds, Twofold Truths, Two Kinds of Emptiness
Fang Yanying only felt something was out of place because why would her martial uncle recite something before speaking out of a sudden?
After she heard this recitation, she saw a clear light rippled on the pure white snow on the house on the opposite side. There was a lucid snow lotus that bloomed on the white snow, there was a matchlessly handsome monk in white standing on it.
It turned out that Martial Uncle"s recitation was a technique that exposed the monk in white who was eavesdropping using a secret body hiding technique. She was full of respect for Martial Uncle and was also very cautious and afraid of that person.
She prided herself on her profound swordcraft and would consider her spiritual sense to be brilliant. However, she actually could not even notice the tiny trace beforehand. Even now, with his whereabouts being exposed by Martial Uncle, she could not even find any abnormalities with it now that she really thought about it. If the monk in white wanted to take her life, it really came down to that split second.
In this vast world, she was too considered a formidable figure but she never thought there would be such a terrifying monk to be in the north. He was close to being on par with the eight Zen masters of the Buddhist sects.
The monk in white, whose whereabouts was exposed, was not embarra.s.sed at all. His demeanor was graceful and he stood with all the magnificence of a snow lotus. He happily opened his mouth and said, "All living creatures suffer, not even the celestials and buddhas are the exception. Only by learning patience, then there is a chance to reach the Other Side and see that Lingshan. Therefore what Benefactor Shen said is a little biased."
Shen Lian said, "I heard that if I travel three thousand miles from the Jinji Country, there is the Great Snow Mountain and on top of it is the Dipamkara Temple. You are from there, yes?"
The monk in white smiled, "It is an honor and pride to have my temple"s name to even enter Benefactor Shen"s ears."
Shen Lian simply replied, "I originally needed to go the Dipamkara Temple."
Even though the snow lotus under the monk in white"s feet was only three feet, but the nine layers of Buddhist ray rippling around him filled the air with exotic fragrant, it fumigated Fang Yanying till the point of almost intoxication. After listening to Shen Lian"s reply, his expression did not change but he softly said, "Benefactor Shen has the riches of the Eastern Sea and a highly esteemed position. Not many in this world can come close. If you come to my temple, we are more than happy to sweep the mat and welcome you."
His pleasant and courteous answer did not receive Shen Lian"s kind words. Instead, Shen Lian coldly smiled, "Why do I need to waste my breath with you. Once I reach the Dipamkara Temple and see your original form, then we will discuss Dao."
As he was casually mentioning this, he gave out a punch. It was actually accompanied by limitless currents of spirit, the wild strength condensed into a streak and hatched the monk in white through the air. This punch was enough to crumble mountains and break the ground. However, the punch happened to be silent and the spirit currents were like simmering undercurrents that blasted the position of where the monk in white was. That lotus flower immediately shattered and the Buddhist ray floated away.
The monk in white took this blow and his body scattered into s.h.i.+mmers, there was a Buddhist essence that was solid and not scattered. From within it, his divine thoughts was broadcasted, "Then we will wait for Benefactor"s Shen grand arrival."
After that, the Buddhist essence scattered and only white snow is seen.
Fan Yanying was then clear that the other was just an incarnation that had its trace hidden in midair. That was why it was extremely hard to discover him.
Shen Lian said to Fang Yanying, "It is not that his cultivation experience is brilliant but in reality, there is some abstruse to this person"s cultivation. In this vast world, there are very few who are capable regarding the matter of hiding one"s track. If I was just an ordinary immortal Zhenren, even I could not have discovered him."
Fang Yanying said, "Martial Uncle, this person is from the Dipamkara Temple. I have never heard of him before but it could be said that his state was close to the Zen masters of the eight Buddhist sects. Why is there this many secluded masters in this world?"
Shen Lian"s flocket swayed lightly with the wind and his low voice resonated, "In the land of the Yuan Continent, there are not only billions and quadrillions of living beings. Even the living beings who are cultivating are numerous like a school of silver carps moving down a stream, it is countless. However, to reach the level of the Daoist sect"s immortal Zhenren and the Buddhist sect"s Golden Luohan, it is actually very limited. Even including those previous connoisseurs who are unknown, it would not be more than a hundred. Therefore, to have someone appeared within the celestials and Buddhas from out of nowhere, it is hard for it to happen. Unless he was out of this world, or he was some connoisseur that from other continents that are separated by the sea, but that monk in white is not either of them."
Fang Yanying asked, "Then, the Dipamkara Temple most likely has a history then?"
Shen Lian smiled faintly as he softly answered, "It could be said that the Dipamkara Temple has a history but that monk in white"s roots is not limited to the Dipamkara Temple only. In his past life, he was the Junior Apprentice-Brother of the previous Zen master of the Chengs.h.i.+ sect, which is one of the eight Buddhist sects. His religious name was "Shan Jue". After he re-entered the karmic cycle, he entered the Dipamkara Temple of the Great Snow Mountain. Even so, the current Zen master still calls him Martial Uncle when he encounters the monk in white.
The other name of the Chengs.h.i.+ sect is called Xiao Chengkong sect. The sect"s essence is none other than "Three Minds, Twofold Truths and Two Kinds of Emptiness". Shan Jue was exactly the most attained prodigy on "two kinds of emptiness". As for the so-called "two kinds of emptiness", it is the emptiness of men and the emptiness of technique. The "emptiness of men" is like a bottle with no water, the "emptiness of technique" is like the body of the bottle that is not solid; it does not show the person"s movements and expression, neither does it fall to worldly cares. That is why it is hard for people to discover him.
Even though it sounds very abstruse, but Qing Xuan also covers all phenomena of the universe and also has similar Dharma. Like the Dao formula, the "Figureless Holy Script" that is cultivated by Elder Ge"s disciple, Zhao Wuji. Once it reaches the immortal Zhenren state, when compared to Shan Jue, it could go even further."
Shen Lian tirelessly describes, he talked about the true roots of Shan Jue, the monk in white, and also pointed towards Qing Xuan"s embrace of all phenomena of the universe. Not only did Qing Xuan has similar Dharma to the one practiced by Shan Jue, it was even better than it, this immediately vanquishes the mysterious feeling Fang Yanying had towards the monk in white. From this, she also recognized the reason why Qing Xuan was able to remain erect for ten thousand years and was an authentic four main Daoist sect, this was because its cultural heritage could not be measured.
Fang Yanying discarded the pride she felt for Qing Xuan"s formidable array and asked about another matter, "Martial Uncle said that you were going to the Dipamkara Temple, could it be there is something that you need to get from there?"
Shen Lian smiled, "It is not take but to encounter. Even though the Dipamkara Temple is not on par with the founder"s temple of the eight Buddhist sects, but it still has its thought-provoking part. Or else Shan Jue would not have reincarnated into the Dipamkara Temple and look for the fine truth of the Dharma."
"Then when will we be going to the Dipamkara Temple. When will the matter here be put to an end?"
"It will be dealt very quickly. Tomorrow, the monarch of the Junji Country, the Golden Wheel King, will invite us to the palace to have a look at his illness. Once I treat him, everything will come to light at that time." It was like Shen Lian was holding the pearl of wisdom [1], he was very sure that the monarch of the Jinji Country would definitely voluntarily seek him out.
This action of him was not that he wanted anything but he was placing importance on the process. He wanted to re-cleanse the Dao of the five elements. When the time comes to engage Chen Beidou in a real battle, he would not be in a spot where he was completely hopeless.
The reason for Shan Jue"s incarnation to be here was no different from Shen Lian. The thing he was after had something to do with the udumbara. However, Shen Lian was quick and flexible. Firstly, he ferreted out Shan Jue"s incarnation and not only purged him out from this game but also claimed that he would come to the Dipamkara Temple of the Great Snow Mountain. It was enough to spook Shan Jue.
Now, Shan Jue would not come again because the might that Shen Lian displayed just now forced him to welcome Shen Lian at his home place. If it were to be at other places, he did not even stand a chance.
For them who were at this stage, it was rare to have battles of temperaments, most of them were for the achievement of Dao. Because once there was conflict, sufficient preparation will be needed, or else with even just a slight mistake, a regrettable or fatal ending was unavoidable.
Simultaneously, once a decision was made, there would be no superficial courtesy of the mortal world as the actions are taken would be straight to the heart of the matter.