In June of the 23rd year of Zhenguan, Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty passed away at the age of fifty-two. His temple name was Taizong, and his posthumous title was Emperor Daguangxiao, the Great Sage of Civil and Military Affairs. He was buried in Zhaoling together with the eldest grandson of Queen Wende.
The whole country mourns and the world is in mourning.
During the twenty-three years of his reign, he worked hard to govern, was diligent in administration, loved the people, and acted in harmony with his ruler and ministers. He created a prosperous era of Zhenguan that is famous for thousands of years and became a model for future emperors.
After the mourning period, Prince Li Zhi succeeded to the throne, and his uncle Changsun Wuji became the auxiliary minister, wielding power in both the government and the public.
Li Lizhi, the traveling fairy princess of Zhenguo, was named King Chen, the leader of the second generation of Zhelong, in charge of the Heavenly Prison and the bad guys. This also set the precedent for a woman to be named king.
But anyone with a discerning eye knows that the emperor Li Zhi who just succeeded to the throne is using this to show his favor to someone.
At the same time, in a corner outside the court, a woman named Mei Niang entered Ganye Temple and became a monk.
History seems to have undergone great changes, but it seems that nothing has changed.
Tai Chi Palace.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Master...has left the capital."
When Changsun Wuji told the news to the new emperor Li Zhi, he clearly saw that his nephew sitting on the dragon throne had relaxed a lot.
In fact, not only Li Zhi, but also himself.
Just the departure of one person made the emperor who had just ascended the throne and the powerful auxiliary ministers secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Just because that man's name was Li Daoxuan, a Tang Dynasty master who even the late emperor respected as his mentor.
It is no exaggeration to say that with the passing of Taizong, no one in the entire Tang Dynasty could compare with Li Daoxuan in terms of prestige.
The most fortunate thing for Li Zhi was that that man was a truly virtuous man and did not care about royal power and wealth.
"Where did the Imperial Master... go?"
"The Imperial Master is a man among the gods. The dragon has always seen its head but not its tail. How can we know it? But I estimate that he may have gone to Xiaoxiang."
Xiaoxiang is far away from Chang'an, so it can be seen that the imperial advisor really has no intention of intervening in the government affairs, and Li Zhi finally feels relieved.
His eyes flashed and he said: "Did all the concubines of the late emperor go to Ganye Temple?"
Changsun Wuji was a little surprised.
Li Zhi explained without changing his expression: "I grew up in a deep palace since I was a child, and I have been taken care of by them. Ganye Temple is poor and hard-working. Some of them are older and may not be able to bear the hard work."
Changsun Wuji lamented that his nephew was really benevolent and filial. He cared so much about people who were not related by blood, so why not treat his uncle twice as well in the future?
"Your Majesty, except for Concubine Yang who volunteered to be buried with Zhaoling, all the concubines of the late emperor have entered Ganye Temple. Although they are not as wealthy as those in the palace, they have no worries about food and clothing."
Li Zhi nodded and wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't.
After Changsun Wuji left, he leaned on the dragon chair alone, closed his eyes and meditated. The pale golden curtain fell, making his figure very ethereal, showing a kind of alienation and majesty.
…
Xiaoxiang River, Yuxuan Palace.
After seeing off Li Shimin for the last time, Li Daoxuan left Chang'an and returned here again.
He knew that Li Zhi was not Li Shimin. If he were in Chang'an, the emperor and his ministers would be breathless. Only by leaving would they not be unable to sleep peacefully.
With the death of Li Shimin, Li Daoxuan also found that the connection between him and Datang became even weaker.
Chang'an without Li Shimin always made him feel a little strange, so it would be better to go back to Yuxuan Palace to feel more comfortable.
"Sister Yu, if you wait a little longer, I will find your human soul soon."
Li Daoxuan looked at Sister Yu who was lying quietly in the crystal coffin, as if sleeping, his eyes softened and he showed a smile.
As familiar people passed away, he came to understand more and more what it means to be a Taoist companion.
As soon as he patted the gourd of the three realms, a golden light and shadow floated out. It was the sleeping sound of the holy Buddha, or the soul of the great python god.
But compared to before, he became extremely miserable at this moment.
The soul became as pale as paper, almost transparent, and there were scars all over the body, as if it had been burned by water, fire, or slashed with knives and axes. In addition, his eyes were very dull, as if his intelligence had been defeated.
During this period, he endured countless tortures in the Three Realms Gourd.
Li Daoxuan felt that the time was almost here, so he put a hand on his head without any nonsense, and the soul directly invaded his soul and read the memory.
The whirling sound could no longer resist, and after a brief struggle, he completely lost consciousness.
…
"Amitabha, Maharaja, the Buddha ordered us to guard the Sutra Pavilion, protect the Mahayana Dharma, and the Tripitaka Sutra, and wait for the Buddhist scriptures. Why are you here?"
The voice is gentle, compassionate and approachable.
Li Daoxuan saw a white-robed monk with golden eyebrows and closed eyes, a handsome face and an extraordinary temperament. He was slightly startled. Isn't this the one who is sleeping in peace?
No, that's not right!
I saw this person moving his hands and feet as quietly as a virgin, calm and immobile, his temperament is unparalleled, and there is Buddha light surging in his eyes. Compared with him, the whirling sleep is undoubtedly the imitation of Dongshi, and he is crowned as a monkey.
This is a true Buddhist power!
Maharaja, the great python god, crawled to the feet of the white-robed monk and said to him, "Venerable Ananda, I am also a disciple of Buddhism. Can you show me the Mahayana Dharma and the Tripitaka Sutra?"
The Tathagata once said in Lingshan, "I now have three collections of sutras. There is one collection of "Dharma" for talking about heaven; there is one collection of "Lunacle" for talking about earth; there is one collection of "Sutra" for saving ghosts. There are thirty-five collections in total, which should be Fifteen thousand one hundred and forty-four volumes. It is truly the path to cultivation and the door to righteousness and goodness."
There is no doubt that this Mahayana Buddhism and the Tripitaka Sutra are the supreme and wonderful Dharma that the Buddha understood. The six roots of the snake god are impure. When I heard this news, I was naturally itchy.
Before Venerable Ananda spoke, another Venerable refused first.
"Mohou Luojia, not to mention that I, the Buddha Tathagata, have orders, only those who take the scriptures can take away the scriptures. Even if the two of us opened a net for you, you wouldn't be able to see it."
The great python god said angrily: "Venerable Kasyapa, how do you know I can't see it?"
Kasyapa was calm and calm. Hearing the words, he smiled slightly and said: "Because this sutra carries the fate of my teaching, it cannot be seen, heard, or spoken by anyone except the sutra. Not to mention you, even Ananda and I can't read it." Can't take it away or open it."
Li Daoxuan looked at this monk who was wearing cassocks. Although his appearance was not very handsome, he had a far-reaching Zen spirit and a peaceful mind, and his heart moved.
It turned out to be the two great sages Ananda and Kasyapa.
The Buddha had ten disciples, among whom these two were the most famous. Needless to say, Ananda was the representative of beauty in Buddhism. He was chased by many beauties because he was too beautiful, but he always maintained his integrity and remained calm. move.
Kassapa is even more famous. He is known as the first among the ten disciples and has extremely high understanding. It is said that after practicing Buddhism, he entered the Arahant realm in eight days.
When the Buddha passed away in his human incarnation, he designated Kassapa as the temporary leader of the religion, which shows the importance he attached to him.
The Dragon Subduing Arhat among the Eighteen Arhats is also the incarnation of Lord Kassapa.
The big snake god didn't believe what the two venerables said. It coveted Mahayana Buddhism, so it simply waited in the Sutra Pavilion and refused to leave.
The two venerables looked at their noses with their eyes, and their minds with their noses. They each entered samadhi and paid no attention to it.
Time passes slowly.
I don't know how long it took, but just when the python god was disheartened and ready to give up and leave, the sound of the golden bell suddenly rang in the Lingshan Mountain.
clang! clang! clang……
Nine rings in a row are a symbol of the fall of the Arhat.
Kassapa and Ananda opened their eyes at the same time, and their transparent Buddha hearts, which had been practiced for thousands of years, began to fluctuate.
The bells continued to ring without stopping.
This time it was eighteen rings.
Bodhisattva falls!
Boom! !
Suddenly there was lightning and thunder over Lingshan Mountain, rain of blood fell, the earth trembled, the Yaohua Qicao quickly withered, and the Buddha's light and auspicious clouds also dimmed and shattered.
The bell never stopped ringing.
Jiedi, Jialan, Arhat, Bodhisattva, these gods and Buddhas of the past spiritual mountains have fallen one after another, and a kind of silent sadness and fear permeated the hearts of the two venerables.
They were in the Sutra Pavilion and didn't know what was happening outside, but they all understood.
This is an unprecedented Buddhist tribulation!
They were lucky. The Sutra Pavilion was an important place in the Lingshan Mountain and had many formations for protection. The most important thing was that the Mahayana Buddhism, which carried the destiny of the Buddhist religion, was here, which protected them invisibly.
But even so, they felt an unprecedented sense of oppression, as if some strange force was constantly consuming their golden Buddha power.
"Amitabha, I have to go out and take a look."
Ananda stood up and wanted to leave the Sutra Pavilion. Although the Buddha's heart was frantically warning him when he had this thought, he showed no fear and his eyes remained stoic and calm.
For Buddhist disciples, how can they go to Lingshan without caring about danger because they are greedy for life and afraid of death?
Lord Kasyapa stopped him.
"Ananda, you stay, I'll go out."
Before Ananda could refute, he continued: "The Mahayana Sutra is here. In order to protect the fate of my Buddhist religion, you and I must leave one person behind. My cultivation level is higher than yours and I am good at fighting. After I go out, You can also help me, Buddha.”
Ananda was speechless.
Venerable Kassapa's cultivation is the first among the ten disciples, so he is called the first Toutuo. He also has the incarnation of the dragon-subduing Arhat. His fighting skills are also second to none. When he goes out, he is indeed more helpful than himself.
Turning around and looking at the Buddhist scriptures, and remembering what the World Honored One had told them, Ananda sighed, said nothing, and just bowed to Kassapa.
Kassapa returned the favor and left the Sutra-Tiding Pavilion, never to return again.
Not long after, the Buddhist bell rang twenty-eight, which was the death of...the Venerable.
In the Sutra Pavilion, only Venerable Ananda and a big python god were left shivering in fear.
They continued to guard the Sutra Pavilion. The bells outside kept ringing, but the frequency was getting lower and lower. In the Sutra Pavilion, despite the blessing of the Mahayana Sutra, the strange power was getting stronger and stronger.
Ananda's cultivation was profound and he could bear it, but the great python snake god couldn't stand it anymore. Its foundation was getting weaker and weaker. Half of its six-foot-long body had shrunk and it was dying in a corner.
Ananda showed a look of intolerance and used Buddha's power to hold him down.
Two days later.
The bell rang again, but this time it rang thirty-three times in a row, causing the spiritual mountain to shake and all the Buddhas to mourn together.
Ananda's face was filled with tears before he knew it, and he knelt on the ground. His heart was filled with an unspeakable sadness. Not only him, but also the great python god was crying bitterly.
The Lord has fallen!
Lingshan... is completely finished!
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(End of chapter)
