White Horse Temple was built in the 11th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was the first temple built after Buddhism was introduced to the mortal world.
According to legend, during the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Liu Zhuang of the Han Ming Dynasty had a dream. He dreamed of a six-foot-tall golden man with a golden head flying from the west. He circled the palace for a long time and never left. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was very surprised. The next day he Then he called the ministers to help him realize his dream. Everyone was puzzled. Only Dr. Fu Yi said confidently: "I heard that there is a kind of immortal in Fairy Dust Continent called Buddha, which is exactly the same as the golden man in your Majesty's dream. What your Majesty dreamed of The golden man is probably the Buddha.
Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty also felt that Fu Yi's words were reasonable. He thought that since the Buddha entered his dream, it must be fate, so he sent an envoy to the Fairy Dust Continent to seek Buddhism. Finally, the envoy went through many difficulties and dangers and finally met an eminent monk named Shimoteng. Shimo Teng is a monk who has been practicing for many years. He has traveled around for many years and is proficient in the Mahayana Sutra and Hinayana Sutra. At that time, Buddhism had just emerged in Xianchen Continent, and Shimo Teng was quite famous at that time.
After the envoy met Shimoteng, he asked him to come to the mortal world to teach Buddhism. Shimoteng decisively agreed and traveled far away from home to popularize Buddhism. After Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty met Shimoteng, he gave him warm hospitality. From then on, Buddhism took root in the mortal world. The residence where Shimoteng was arranged was "Zhaoti Temple".
It is said that when foreigners invaded, they destroyed all the temples at that time. When they planned to destroy the "Zhaoti Temple", a white horse whined around the pagoda in the temple at night. The sound was extremely sad. The foreign kings were inspired by this and immediately stopped destroying the temple. And changed the name of "Zhaoti Temple" to "Baima Temple".
As time goes by and dynasties continue to change, White Horse Temple has disappeared in the torrent of history. Today, there are no more monks in Baima Temple, and the original Buddhist temples have been converted into residential buildings and become the base of the Zhao Guoyi Army.
Qin Fei led Ling Ning and others through the White Horse Temple, introducing the history of the White Horse Temple as they walked. He sighed: "The White Horse Temple can also be regarded as a historic site. Unfortunately, the Zhao State has become corrupt and the people live in poverty. Coupled with the rampant thieves, when our rebels came here, it was already occupied by a group of bandits and robbers. There are no scriptures, Buddhist statues, or instruments." There is nothing left, it has been stolen and exchanged for money... I thought about the history of White Horse Temple and changed it into the base of the rebel army..."
Ling Ning also sighed: "Nowadays, Buddhism has long ceased to be popular in the mortal world, but the five major sects have risen... It is really a pity that such a thousand-year-old temple has been destroyed."
Qin Xi suddenly said: "Do you know what the White Horse Temple is most famous for?"
Qian Meier held her arm and smiled: "How do we know? Xi'er, please stop playing riddles and speak out quickly."
Qin Xi obviously had a deep affection for this approachable "Uncle", she smiled and said: "It is said that the White Horse Temple enshrines the relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, but no one has found any trace of it for thousands of years, and no one knows whether it is True or false.”
Fan Ji said: "It is actually the relic of Sakyamuni Buddha. It is a sacred object of Buddhism! Hmm... Generally, the relic is enshrined in a pagoda. Is there a pagoda built in White Horse Temple?"
Qin Xidao: "This is the strange thing. According to ancient records, there was a 'Qiyun Pagoda' built in the White Horse Temple, but I don't know when the Qiyun Pagoda disappeared. I don't know how many bandits have tried to take it away for thousands of years. The relics of Sakyamuni Buddha in the temple can be found even after digging three feet into the ground..."
Fan Ji said: "This is really strange... Hey, if I can get this relic, I'm afraid those old monks in Fairy Dust Continent will take me up as an offering and beg me to give it to them, haha!"
Ling Ning said: "Even if this relic is a sacred object but we are not Buddhist disciples, what is the use of taking it?"
Fan Ji said: "I don't know about this. If it is the relic of an ordinary eminent monk, it may not be of much use, but if it is the relic of Sakyamuni Buddha, it may have unexpected effects. After all, it was left behind by the Buddha..."
As night fell, Ling Ning and others stayed in the White Horse Temple. Rows of houses were built in the temple to serve as military camps. Qin Fei arranged for Ling Ning and others to live in separate houses. Ling Ning and Qin Fei lived in the same house, while Qian Meier, Huan Ji and Qin Xi lived in the same house.
Qin Fei went into the house and fell asleep after a busy day with military affairs. On the contrary, Ling Ning had just finished practicing the exercises and was full of energy. He walked out of the house and wanted to go for a walk. He saw that the full moon was exceptionally bright tonight. At this moment, White Horse Temple has become a military stronghold. Not only are soldiers patrolling day and night, but there are also sentries standing guard in every corner. These soldiers have strict military discipline and are full of spirit. They are not comparable to those "old, weak and disabled soldiers" encountered along the way. Think of these talents. They are the real elite of the rebel army.
Qin Fei had already introduced them to the sergeants, so he walked around the White Horse Temple without anyone stopping him. But Ling Ning didn't like crowded places, so he walked around and came to a remote pool in the temple. This was already the edge of the temple, so there were no soldiers standing guard. There is a damaged stone tablet standing beside the pond, with three ancient seal characters "Toad Lake" faintly engraved on it.
Far away, I heard a noise by the pool. When I got closer, it turned out to be hundreds of big toads "croaking, croaking" and screaming at the moon. Although many animals have the habit of "worshiping the moon", such as weasels and foxes. , hedgehogs, etc., they use this to absorb the "yin energy" of the moon for their own use, but this is the first time I have seen a toad actually "worship the moon".
Ling Ning noticed that one of the toads in the group was particularly huge, more than ten times larger than the other toads, and was actually less than half a person tall. This big toad has a plump body, a golden color and is covered with fleshy bumps. Its eyes are as red as rubies as big as copper bells, and its mouth is wide open with half of its tongue exposed. What's amazing is that it actually has three legs! There are also two dark brown horn-like protrusions on his forehead. I wonder if this is a sign of "transforming into a dragon".
This big toad was surprisingly ugly but exuded a unique majesty. The surrounding toads consciously formed a circle around it as the center, and no one dared to approach it. It had the aura of "sitting alone in a pond like a tiger roosting".
Ling Ning was so entranced that she couldn't help but take a few steps forward to get a better look. Unexpectedly, the big toad suddenly turned its eyes towards him, then opened its big mouth and mouthed something humanly: "You brat! What are you looking at?"
Ling Ning was stunned for a moment and then shouted: "The toad has turned into a spirit!"
The big toad let out an angry "croak" and said loudly: "Fart, fart, fart! What kind of toad turned into a spirit! What an ignorant little devil!"
Ling Ning didn't expect that this toad spirit had quite a temper. He chuckled and said, "I made a mistake at the next moment. I wonder who this senior is?"
The big toad snorted and said: "I am the White Horse Temple, Toad Pond, Xumi Cave, Golden Toad Immortal! Why don't you ignorant boy pay your respects?"
Ling Ning laughed and said, "You're a little toad spirit, and you're quite powerful! Just a toad cave, and a Xumi cave? How can a mere mustard seed satisfy Xumi?"
Xumi means infinite in Buddhism, while mustard seed means infinitesimally small. Ling Ning was mocking it by saying this. How could a small toad hole fit in Mount Sumeru? Its claim to be "Xumi Cave" is obviously too arrogant.
Golden Toad Immortal looked up to the sky and laughed loudly: "Don't you know that 'Xumi hides mustard seeds, and mustard seeds collect Xumi'?"
Ling Ning was speechless for a moment, and he remembered a story recorded in an ancient book.
Li Bo, the governor of Jiangzhou in the Tang Dynasty, met Zen Master Zhichang one day and asked Zen Master Zhichang for advice: "It is said in the Buddhist scriptures that 'Sumi hides mustard seeds, and mustard seeds contain Sumeru'. I think it is too mysterious and bizarre. A small mustard seed, How can it accommodate such a huge Mount Sumeru? I think it’s a lie!”
Zen Master Zhichang smiled softly after hearing this, and then asked: "People say that you have 'read more than ten thousand volumes'. Is this really true?"
"Of course! I have read more than ten thousand volumes!"
Zen Master Zhichang asked again: "But where are the thousands of books you have read now stored?"
Li Bo raised his finger and pointed at his head and said, "Of course they are all kept here."
Zen Master Zhichang clasped his hands together and said, "It's really strange. I think your head is only as big as a coconut. How can it possibly hold ten thousand volumes of books? Are you also lying?"
Ling Ning secretly thought that this smelly toad did have some virtues. He was about to argue a few more words when he heard the Golden Toad Immortal singing again: "One flower and one thought are boundless kalpas, and the whole world is all in one millisecond. I put mustard seeds into Sumeru, and I know Realize the Four Truths and realize Nirvana.”
After a burst of golden light, Ling Ning opened her eyes. The toad pond was still there in front of her, but all the toads in the pond were gone...
The next day, Ling Ning told Qian Meier and others about this strange incident. Everyone looked unbelievable. In desperation, he had no choice but to drag them to the Toad Pond, but the original Toad Pond turned into a desolate weed. Not only were there no toads in the overgrown open space, but even the pond had disappeared without a trace!
Qin Fei frowned and said, "Brother Ling, we inspected it carefully when we were stationed here. As far as I know, this is a deserted open space. There is no toad pond, let alone toads."
"That's right. We have stationed troops here for many years and this is indeed an empty space...Master, are you sleepwalking?"
"How is that possible! I never sleep!"
Qianmei'er suddenly analyzed in a serious manner: "Last night was a full moon night, not to mention some animals worshiping the moon. Even monks like us would be affected to some extent if we practiced yin-oriented techniques. So I judge..."
Ling Ning looked at her expectantly: "Mei'er, you know the best about monsters. What's your judgment?"
Qianmei'er snorted and said with a smile: "I judge... you must have gone insane because of not getting enough rest. Xi'er, please take your master back to rest as soon as possible. If you don't later, be careful of going crazy..."
"Yes! Master, let's go back and rest..."
"Hey, hey, hey! I saw it right! I'm not crazy! Don't pull me!"
Fantasy Ji suddenly said: "Huh? There is a stone tablet here."
Ling Ning seemed to be grabbing a life-saving straw, and he quickly said: "Yes, yes! The stone tablet! Is it engraved with the three ancient seal words 'Toad Pond' on it! Eh? No? How could it be like this!"
Although the stone tablet has been severely weathered, there is no trace of inscriptions on it. It is obvious that this is just an abandoned piece of waste.
Fan Ji said: "Since you said you are not wrong, could it be that you have been affected by an illusion? But with your strength, you are already considered to be the best in the mortal continent, how could you not know that you were affected by an illusion? Besides, I have carefully investigated this There is no spiritual energy left nearby at all.”
This was what confused Ling Ning the most. He had already used his pupil technique to investigate last night. Just as Huan Ji said, he couldn't find any spiritual power left, so he brought everyone together to investigate.
Ling Ning was dumbfounded: "How could this happen...Am I really dreaming?"
At Qian Meier's strong request, Ling Ning returned to the room to sit cross-legged and recuperate. He kept thinking about everything last night. It was so real! It can't be an illusion!
"It's really not an illusion. You met a very smart guy."
The Palace Master's voice suddenly came, and Ling Ning was already used to her "sudden appearance" style.
"Palace Master, you are finally willing to speak! Why didn't you show up last night?"
"I just slept a little deeply...and it's not a big deal."
"So what's going on? Why can't I see any spiritual power left? Is it because my eye skills are not enough?"
"It's not that your pupil skills are not enough, it's that that guy didn't use spiritual power at all, but the 'natural power' can also be called 'immortal magic'. A large part of the ancient great power can move mountains and reclaim seas with the help of The power of nature itself, plus a little power of law.”
"The power of nature? Is this power also limited by the Xuanyuan Sword Formation?"
"No, the power of nature is not actually your own power, but a skill. This kind of power cannot improve your own cultivation, nor can it allow you to break through the status quo. It only strengthens your ability. If you use it Properly, it means a steady stream of supplies. This power should not be within the limits of the Xuanyuan Sword Formation."
"In other words, immortal magic can exert power beyond the early stage of pill formation in the Mortal Continent, or even far beyond the pill formation stage? It will not cause the strangulation of the Xuanyuan Sword Formation?"
"Yes, that's the theory."
"Then can I also learn immortal arts? Palace Master, can you do it?"
"Of course I can, but the practice of immortality takes a long time. How are you doing with the homework I left you?"
"I practice the method of movement you gave me every day! Then when can I practice immortality?"
"Then wait until you can separate the five elements into yin and yang, then I can teach you the magic."
After the palace master finished speaking, he disappeared again. Ling Ning sighed and could only practice silently.
At this time, Qin Fei suddenly knocked on the door to find him. As soon as he opened the door, he said, "I found that demon monk!"
