Deep in the Songshan Mountains, there is a large temple hidden in the dense forest.
The people living here are all burly, martial monks.
Inside a Buddhist hall in the backyard of the temple.
A tall, elderly monk sat cross-legged.
He was closing his eyes and slowly turning the prayer beads in his hands, chanting scriptures, appearing exceptionally devout.
suddenly.
A middle-aged martial monk stepped into the Buddhist hall and bowed to the old monk, saying, "Disciple greets the head monk."
The old monk ignored him and continued to twirl his prayer beads and chant scriptures.
The middle-aged monk, however, showed no anger. He straightened his body, clasped his hands together, and stood there quietly waiting.
About fifteen minutes later.
The old monk slowly opened his eyes, still with his back to the middle-aged monk: "Faxiang, has there been a result regarding the Red Leaf Manor matter?"
"Reporting to the Chief, things have taken a somewhat unexpected turn!"
Next, the middle-aged monk recounted everything that had happened at Red Leaf Manor, even repeating Su Long and Gao Yan's words verbatim, as if he had been there himself!
After listening, the old monk remained silent and did not express his opinion.
The middle-aged monk was somewhat anxious: "Master, do you know who that high-minded master is?"
"have no idea!"
The old monk said calmly.
"Should we send someone to investigate his background?" the middle-aged monk asked again.
"No need!"
The old monk shook his head.
"Why?" the middle-aged monk asked, puzzled.
"Over the years, the authorities have suspected that we have a master of internal energy, and they have been secretly investigating us. Now that a master of internal energy has appeared, it's a perfect opportunity to divert their attention!"
The old monk said in a deep voice.
"Master, we can actually cooperate with the government. With our strength, we would definitely be highly valued if we joined the government!" the middle-aged monk asked, somewhat puzzled.
He was a martial monk. Although he was a monk, he usually ate meat and practiced martial arts. He rarely chanted scriptures or meditated, so naturally he developed a utilitarian mindset.
Therefore, he couldn't understand why the martial monks in their inner courtyard, despite their great strength, had been hiding in these deep mountains to practice martial arts for so many years.
Moreover, the skills he had acquired were basically useless.
Take him for example, he is the strongest among the "Fa" generation, and he had already entered the Gang Jin realm three years ago.
Yet this powerful martial arts master still hid in this remote mountain temple with those ordinary monks.
He also inquired about the chief's position multiple times.
If they don't leave the mountains, what's the point of honing their martial arts skills?
But the chief had never given him an answer.
“Faxiang, I know you have always had doubts in your heart.”
The old monk slowly rose and faced the Dharma image: "We practice martial arts not to compete for fame or profit, but for one purpose only, which is to protect the Dharma!"
“But Master, the situation outside is different now. It’s a time of peace and prosperity, and we are completely unnecessary!” Faxiang said indignantly. “We have honed our skills, but we are destined to grow old and die in the deep mountains. Wouldn’t all those skills have been for nothing?”
"Why!"
The old monk sighed softly, knowing that Faxiang was already harboring dissatisfaction and resentment. If he were forced to stay in the mountains, it would probably be of no benefit to his mind and spiritual practice.
So he said in a deep voice, "Three days later, you will take Fayan, Falong, and Faze down the mountain!"
Faxiang was taken aback, then overjoyed: "Thank you for your kindness, Chief!"
"Go down!"
The old monk waved his hand.
"This disciple takes his leave!"
After bowing to the old monk, Faxiang left the Buddhist hall.
After watching the Buddha image depart, the old monk slowly walked into the back courtyard of the Buddha Hall and entered the dense forest through the back gate of the temple.
He traveled at a leisurely pace.
Finally, we arrived at the foot of a cliff.
Three caves, each more than two meters deep, have been carved into the cliff face.
Inside the cave sat three old monks with wrinkled faces, resembling stone sculptures.
They have been sitting here for who knows how many years.
His clothes appeared to be rotten.
There was only a bowl of water in front of them.
"Greetings, three senior brothers!"
The old monk Jue Wu put his hands together in prayer and uttered a Buddhist chant.
The old monk in the middle cave slowly opened his eyes, but his gaze was slightly dull. Then, his gaze fell on the old monk and he asked, "Junior Brother Juewu, why have you come? Has something happened in the temple?"
"Never!"
Jue Wu shook his head: "Brother Jue Shan, you have cultivated diligently for many years, have you gained anything?"
The three monks sitting cross-legged in the three caves were his senior brothers. They had been practicing asceticism here for decades, all in an effort to break through to a higher realm.
"A modest success!" Jueshan smiled.
"Is it possible to achieve incorruptibility upon seeing a god?"
Jue Wu asked no further questions. Seeing the Divine Undying is the next level of Gang Jin. Unfortunately, although the four of them had entered Gang Jin for many years, they still had not reached the threshold of Seeing the Divine Undying.
Jueshan shook his head: "Difficult!"
"Alas!" Jue Wu sighed softly.
“Junior brother is too attached to appearances!” Jueshan said softly.
"Senior brother is right, junior brother was indeed too attached to appearances!"
Jue Wu said shamelessly, "It's just that we've been searching for decades and still haven't found the clue to seeing the indestructible spirit. We're a little unwilling to give up!"
His words also stirred up Jueshan's memories. He stared blankly at the sky for a long time before he came back to his senses and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, junior brother, I'm getting old and I always like to daydream!"
“Since we cannot achieve the state of seeing gods without decaying, fellow disciples, why don’t we give up?” Jue Wu advised.
He had already endured a life of hardship cultivating in the deep mountains and forests, but his three senior brothers sat in this cave year after year, their lives practically indistinguishable from their deaths.
"That's it!" Jueshan smiled calmly. "I've been chasing this for decades, I can't let it go!"
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