The audience seats in the martial arts arena were now bustling with noise, and the noisy discussions almost made people begin to doubt that this was not the pure and innocent immortal gate, but a vegetable market in the mortal world.
An hour ago, disciples from various sects were still enthusiastically discussing the performance of some promising talents on the Cloud Mirror, and some elders were secretly planning in their minds who to accept as disciples.
But now they were talking about only one person: the first boy to descend the ladder. And the discussion reached its peak when an empty seat appeared in the front row.
Just now, all the top Taoist leaders, including the head of Linqing Sect, Bai Yuan Zhenren, and several Buddhist Zen masters who came to show their support, all left in a hurry at the same time.
The reason for their departure was obvious - for the boy.
Mei Yingliang sat silently in his seat, while his fellow apprentices beside him were talking at once, and the topic of their discussion was Le Jing.
"What was his name?"
"I vaguely heard him say in the dream that his name is... Le Jing?"
"Our leader, the owner of Shuixiu Square, the sword master of Zixiao Sword Sect... Eh? Why are the Pure Land Sect, Fayan Temple, and White Horse Temple joining in the fun?"
"They don't want to take Le Jing as their apprentice, do they?"
"You must be joking. This is the Ascension Sect. What kind of disciples do Buddhists accept?"
"I must have gone there to watch the fun."
"I wonder which sect that child will join?"
"With such talent, I hope you can join our Linqing Sect."
"Hmph, what's the point of having talent! Not only is he arrogant, but his ideas are also different from those of ordinary people. He will never achieve anything in the future! I think he will go crazy sooner or later!"
Everyone fell silent, and all looked at the man who made the sarcastic remark, making him feel a little uncomfortable. "What are you looking at? Did I say something wrong?"
"...I understand your thoughts." Someone frowned and said, "To be honest, I don't like him either. He is too arrogant. But..."
Someone immediately responded, "But he has the capital to be arrogant. He was able to overcome his fear and come down from the ladder in less than an hour. How many people in the cultivation world can do that?"
Mei Yingliang smiled bitterly. He had struggled for a whole day before he could barely suppress the fear in his heart, see through the illusion, and move down from the ladder. Even now, he still hasn't completely overcome his fear. So Le Jing was able to get down from the ladder so quickly, which really could be said to be a gifted person.
Someone else shook his head and laughed, "If I had such a talent, I could be even more arrogant than him." He said to the man who made the sarcastic remark earnestly, "Even though he hasn't gotten started yet, we are destined to be from different worlds. He is the cloud in the sky, and we are just the mud on the ground looking up at the white cloud."
"Just wait. Within ten years, his name will be known throughout the cultivation world."
The man who said Feng Liang had a pale face and eyes full of resentment, and muttered quietly: "It's still early. A dead genius is not considered a genius."
At this moment, someone suddenly whispered, "...I heard that it took Venerable Luo Li an hour and a half to walk down the cloud ladder."
"It seems... Le Jing walked out of the illusion in less than an hour?"
Everyone looked at each other, unable to believe that Le Jing was so terrifying. The senior brother who made the sarcastic remarks also choked, and his lips opened and closed but no sound came out, like a stupid fish stranded on the beach.
Mei Yingliang knew Venerable Luo Li, and it could be said that everyone present knew Venerable Luo Li.
The first disciple of Tiandao Sect and the default next leader of Tiandao Sect. She has only been a disciple for a hundred years, but her cultivation has already reached the Nascent Soul Stage. She is a leader of the younger generation... Among all the halos surrounding her, the most dazzling one is her identity as a natural Dao Seed.
Le Jing spent even less time than Venerable Luo Li, how high must his talent be? Is there a higher qualification than the natural Dao Seed?
Mei Yingliang hesitated for a moment before whispering, "...Le Jing is not an ordinary mortal. He seems to be a senior from a certain sect..."
“?!”
Everyone was stunned by Mei Yingliang's thunder.
"Are you serious?"
"How do you know?"
"Any evidence?"
"Impossible. If he is really Du Hongchen's senior, Senior Xingyuan is at the Mahayana stage, it is impossible that he didn't notice it! But just now, Senior Xingyuan even took the initiative to accept him as a disciple!"
Staring at everyone's questioning gazes, Mei Yingliang became anxious and quickly told everyone the whole process of his previous encounter with his predecessor.
The people present were all fellow apprentices who had a good relationship with Mei Yingliang, so they all knew that Mei Yingliang always spoke his mind and was not a liar.
"So...he is really that old senior?"
"But he pretended to be a mortal and deceived Elder Xingyuan... Could it be that he is more powerful than Elder Xingyuan?"
"Elder Xingyuan has already reached the Mahayana stage... He is even more powerful than Elder Xingyuan..." Everyone took a deep breath and said in unison: "Tribulation stage?!"
The Tribulation Period is only one step away from Ascension!
So far, the number of big names in the world of cultivation who have reached the stage of Tribulation Crossing can be counted on one hand. Even their leaders are only in the late stage of Mahayana.
They themselves were frightened by this answer, and for a moment they kept quiet, shrank their necks, and dared not say any more.
Mei Yingliang felt a strange sense of pride in his heart. He was so lucky to have received guidance from such a powerful senior!
The senior brother who had said sarcastic remarks before opened his mouth for a long time, his face flushed red, but he could not say anything more sarcastic. Mei Yingliang glanced at him a few times and clearly saw the awe in his eyes. The faces of the senior brothers around him no longer had any sourness. Before, they dared to criticize Le Jing, but now they didn't even dare to mention it.
If Senior Le Jing was just an ordinary person, some people would still feel jealous, but now they dare not even have the slightest jealousy. Just like people will only be jealous of those who are slightly richer than themselves, but not the richest man in the world.
"Since you are so powerful, why do you still come to Shengxianmen?"
"Then tell me, why is the head of the sect obsessed with red-crowned cranes, why does Elder Mu like to pretend to be a beggar, and why is the owner of Shuixiufang dressed as a woman even though he is a man?"
“…Why?”
The man rolled his eyes: "Because the happiness of our predecessors is so plain and boring."
Mei Yingliang didn't listen to their discussion, his mind had already flown far away. I wonder if the headmaster and the others have discovered the identity of Senior Le Jing?
He didn't know that at this moment, Senior Le Jing, whom he was thinking about, was standing in front of the mountain gate of Linqing Sect and was about to set off to Buddhism with the people of the Buddhist Sect.
The wind was howling, and the milky white clouds were blown into pieces. A red-crowned crane flew past them, making a loud cry.
Behind Le Jing is a kind-looking monk.
Behind Su Jian was an old Taoist priest with an immortal look.
Le Jing and Su Jian stood opposite each other, looking at each other quietly.
Clearly distinguished.
So close yet so far away.
Su Jian smoothed his hair that was messed up by the mountain wind, lowered his eyes to look at the boy opposite him, and smiled lazily, "I really want to go to the Buddhist sect with you."
Le Jing nonchalantly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, with a faint and cold smile in her glassy eyes, "Don't say stupid things."
They both knew that there was no way that the Taoist sect would give up on Su Jian.
It would be fine if he was only the second in the Cloud Ladder, but then they detected his natural Dao Seed aptitude.
Buddha's disciples and those born with the Tao are destined to go in opposite directions.
Su Jian smiled to himself, touched his nose, and said seriously: "No matter what, I will remember the favor I owe you, and I will definitely pay it back in the future."
"It doesn't matter whether it's a favor or not." The boy curled his lips, his smile was as sharp as a knife, and met the boy's unfocused eyes: "As long as you don't forget the purpose of your cultivation, it's fine."
He stretched out his right hand towards Su Jian: "Help each other?"
Su Jian's eyes lit up with stubbornness. He snorted and laughed, then nonchalantly grasped Le Jing's right hand tightly: "It's a deal!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't forget me!" Kun Huo protested, "I want to shake hands with you too!"
The two smiled at each other, and actually squatted down together to allow Kunhuo to put his dog paw on it.
Su Jian finally couldn't help himself this time, and boldly stroked the dog's head, jokingly saying, "Now that you have entered Buddhism, you really can't eat meat."
Kun Huo grinned, squinting his eyes to reveal a smug smile, "What do you know? Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha sits in the heart."
Hui Wu coughed from behind, but Kun Huo pretended not to hear.
Su Jian shook his head in amusement and said to Le Jing solemnly: "The journey is long and steep, please take care."
Le Jing smiled and said, "We can keep in touch through letters in the future."
Su Jian's eyes lit up, "Definitely!"
Le Jing clasped his hands together and smiled, "Amitabha, see you someday."
Su Jian cupped his hands and smiled carefreely, "Wulian Tianzun, see you someday."
Even though we go in opposite directions, we will eventually reach the same destination.
Le Jing didn't even turn around and got on the White Lotus Flying Boat that had been parked for a long time.
From the outside, it looks like a holy white lotus containing dew, but once you go inside, you'll discover a different world inside. There's a large Buddhist temple housing a life-size statue of Bodhisattva.
Monk Hui Wu chanted Amitabha and said to Le Jing, "This is the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta worshipped by our Pure Land Sect. He is the right attendant of Amitabha, the supreme Buddha of the Western Paradise. Together with Amitabha, the supreme Buddha, and Avalokitesvara, the left attendant of Amitabha, they are collectively known as the "Three Holy Ones of the West."
"The Bodhisattva shines his light upon all living things, freeing them from the calamities of bloodshed and war, and granting them supreme power, protecting believers from evil and bringing them good fortune and happiness."
...avoid the disaster of blood and war and gain supreme power.
That's why Le Jing chose the Pure Land Sect located in the bitter cold of the far north among so many temples.
Le Jing clasped his hands together and bowed earnestly to the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, then said to Hui Wu: "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I grew up in the mortal world and there are many things I don't understand. Thank you for your concern, Master."
Hui Wu looked at him fondly, shook his head, put his hands together and said in return: "Amitabha, you are too polite. It is our responsibility and obligation to teach you. Besides, you are extremely talented, so there is no need for us to do anything more."
"I am not talented enough to teach Buddhist disciples. When you return home, the abbot Hui Tong will be your mentor, ordain you as a monk, and teach you the Dharma."
Le Jing clasped his hands together, bowed his head slightly, and smiled gently, "Thank you for your help."
Hui Wu wanted to do the Buddhist a favor, so he added, "When the time comes, we will invite some Taoist sects to come and watch the ceremony, and your friends can also come with the elders of the sect."
Le Jing was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that the Pure Land Sect would make such a big fuss about his gradient ceremony.
In the 22nd year of Yong'an in the Liang Dynasty, the Buddha's son appeared in the world and became a monk in the Pure Land Sect.
In the same year, Daozi appeared in the world and joined the Linqing School to comprehend the great Dao.
It is said in history that Buddhism and Taoism go hand in hand and they share the same goal.
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