"To guide a Buddha to Buddhahood, to guide a Buddha within a Buddha, to give birth to a Buddha within a Buddha, to become the supreme Buddha within a Buddha." Xie Shengxie murmured softly, the swirling sacred Buddha light showing no sign of evil, but the eerie changes instilled a boundless sense of unease in people's hearts.
"Amitabha Buddha, Huang Chao once hid his troops in a Buddhist temple, during which time he made a bet with the abbot, Faming, that if he returned defeated, he would shave his head and become a monk." The monk Xuanzang, whose ears were ringing with the erroneous Buddhist scriptures, reluctantly opened his mouth. He knew Lin Feng wouldn't let go without digging out the reason: "When Huang Chao was defeated, His Majesty allowed him to become a monk... but..."
only...
Everyone pricked up their ears to listen.
"On the day Huang Chao attacked Gyeonggi Province, Faming saw that the situation was beyond redemption and led three hundred Buddhist monks to break Huang Chao's plan, forcing him into a desperate situation."
“Three hundred Buddhist monks?” Zhong Kui suddenly interjected, “Could it be three hundred ascetic monks from the Buddhist sect?”
“That’s right…” Master Xuanzang closed his eyes tightly.
"Heh, what a clever scheme. I suppose Faming was already planning to convert him into a pawn of your Buddhist sect when the bet was made?" Zhong Kui sneered. "The Buddhist sect once converted 300 monks in one fell swoop, turning 3 billion of its citizens into monks who only know how to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures."
Oh? You're keeping this kind of thing alive instead of killing it?
Lin Feng and Xie Shengxie both had the same thought, so how could Li Shimin possibly keep them alive?
Seeing everyone's confusion, Zhong Kui continued, "At that time, several medium-sized dynasties around were besieging the newly promoted Holy Tang. The 300th Buddhist monk happened to be on the edge of Holy Tang. If they hadn't stopped those people, Holy Tang would have lost at least half of its borders, and the people would have become their slaves. That's why the 300th Buddhist monk wasn't punished."
"Hahahaha, wonderful! The Buddhist sect is indeed the Buddhist sect, even more wicked than I am!" Xie Shengxie couldn't help but laugh: "Why not let this monk who has turned three hundred degrees join my ranks? I have countless worlds for you to convert to your own worlds!"
"even!"
"It wouldn't be impossible to convert someone into a supreme Buddha!"
The laughter of the wicked was filled with endless mockery. There are many scoundrels in Buddhism. Judging from this, Faming is no ordinary person either.
“However…” Just as Xie Shengxie finished speaking, Zhong Kui couldn’t help but add, “Although Master Xuanzang and Faming are both Buddhists, they are not from the same sect.”
As he spoke, Zhong Kui glanced at Lin Feng again. There were some things he didn't need to say, but the word "faction" in his words made Lin Feng sense the scent of power struggles.
They dare to convert 3 billion people—are they truly converting them, or are they plotting a rebellion?
Who gave them such audacity?
“Amitabha… This is all I know. If you wish to know anything else, you will have to go to Faming.” Master Xuanzang said, “Xiangtan Temple is located on the northern route of Mangshan.”
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng couldn't help but draw a rough circle in his mind.
Regardless of the hostile relationship between Huang Chao and the Holy Tang Dynasty, defeat is defeat. If Huang Chao really wanted to hate anyone, it would definitely be the treacherous person who went back on their word behind his back.
"A brilliant plan, a brilliant plan."
Zhong Kui seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly burst out laughing: "If Huang Chao becomes their pawn... with Huang Chao's abilities, the Buddhist sect might not be unable to produce a Buddha of Slaughter. I'm afraid you've included me in your calculations, haven't you? Several years ago, Faming invited me to Mangshan to discuss Buddhism many times."
“Amitabha, this humble monk was unaware of this…” Master Xuanzang said softly.
"Hmph, if you knew, I wouldn't be standing with you now!" Zhong Kui's eyes flashed with a cold light.
Just then, a sharp glint appeared within the Buddha's light, and the Spirit Binding Lock snapped instantly. Lin Feng, who had been bound, regained all his power in the blink of an eye.
Zhong Kui glanced at him but didn't say much. He was quite happy to see Lin Feng cause trouble for Fa Ming. Xuanzang, who was standing next to him, reluctantly put away the Seven-Leaf Bodhi and didn't say anything more either. The Buddhist sect was in the wrong, and he also felt that he was in the wrong.
As Lin Feng stretched, he couldn't help but say, "Yuan Tiangang sent six of you here just to tell me this?"
Zhong Kui snorted: "Boy, he's hoping you can lure this person here. As for us, we're probably just a formality."
As he spoke, Lin Feng looked at Xie Shengxie beside him. That was not necessarily true. Yuan Tiangang might not have been able to foresee the changes within the Nightmare Space... The other party's schemes were definitely still focused on him.
Unfortunately, Xie Shengxie wouldn't follow him to destroy Buddhism. Just like his conversation with Xuanzang when he first arrived, there was probably some kind of deal between them.
His original plan was to attract Huang Chao's former subordinates and find clues to avenge Huang Chao. Now it seems that the line is too long, and he alone, or even Huang Chao's former subordinates, may not be able to enter Xiangtan Temple.
If it weren't for the appearance of Xie Shengxie, he probably would have really fallen into Yuan Tiangang's trap.
However, the current situation is clear, but his path has become even more ambiguous.
Just as he was in a dilemma, Xie Shengxie suddenly spoke up: "These 300 converted monks are related to the original deity. The methods they practiced were mixed with evil elements, which is why they were able to cultivate the supreme Buddha Yuan Wonderful Method and convert all the people of that dynasty."
Buddhist Origin?
Lin Feng was immediately astonished. Could this kind of technique still be considered Buddhist teaching? But it was no wonder that his casual attack had caused Xuanzang so much suffering.
"Why..."
"Amitabha..."
Hearing this argument that evil begets evil, Master Xuanzang couldn't help but sigh.
Seemingly sensing something subtle, Lin Feng glanced at Xie Shengxie with a puzzled look. Was this guy trying to help him?
If Master Xuanzang had known about this, he certainly wouldn't have stood idly by.
"Master Xuanzang".
Zhong Kui opened his mouth again, but paused after uttering only a few words. Then he fixed his gaze on Xuanzang's face and asked very seriously, "Has the Buddhist lineage of Mangshan found a new master?"
“Amitabha…” Master Xuanzang sighed again, his lowered eyes devoid of any light.
"Hehe, if you really find a new master, you won't be able to stay idle. No matter how His Majesty deals with you, Yuan Tiangang will be the first to not let you off the hook." After saying this with good intentions, Zhong Kui said to Lin Feng, "Kid, I can't control this matter, and I won't interfere with your capture either, but he can't escape. You can do whatever you want with the rest."
Having said that, Zhong Kui drew his Ghost-Slaying Sword, and the chilling sword light swirled up a dark cloud before swiftly flying towards Lü Dongbin, who was in the midst of battle.
Ding ding!
After the two loud explosions, the flames in the sky immediately faded by more than half.
Immediately afterwards, Huo Yun, whose body was stained with dark aura, broke free from the encirclement and avoided the two sword beams that were converging in front of him and were trying to kill him directly.
After a brief pause, Huo Yun noticed Xie Shengxie standing next to Lin Feng. Upon realizing that Lin Feng had escaped, he dodged Zhong Kui and the other man's attacks in the blink of an eye and left without looking back.
"Fellow Daoist, what are your plans?"
Seeing that the other party had fled, Zhong Kui put away his demon-slaying sword and quickly told Lü Dongbin what had happened.
Watching the disappearing flames from afar, Lü Dongbin turned to look at the imposing Xie Shengxie, and a fierce aura that could erupt at any moment immediately gathered between the two of them.
"Are the three of us confident we can take him down?"
Unlike Xuanzang and Zhong Kui, Lü Dongbin had no connection with Xie Shengxie, but if these two were unwilling to help him, then he would have to let Lin Feng go for the time being.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com