Three days later.
In Changle Palace, Zhang Yao got up and left the futon and came to the left side of the palace.
"Buzz!"
Sensing Zhang Yao's approach, the exquisite mural of the Buddha Realm of Light on the left wall shone with layers of pale golden luster.
"Well……"
Zhang Yao did not rush forward. Instead, he scanned the murals with his spiritual thoughts and carefully observed the fine golden mantras and formations arranged under the golden light of these murals.
This is the 'Jialan Mural' found in the twenty-four demon caves guarding the place. As long as you touch the formation of the mural, you can manifest a 'Future Dharma Body' and move directly to the Mani Temple to participate in the grand Dharma assembly.
Mani Temple only launches the 'Jialan Mural' every twenty years, and Zhang Yao has waited for many years before finally getting the chance to see it.
"What an exquisite technique. The founder of Mani Temple who originally established this system must be a great formation master."
Zhang Yao felt sincere admiration and wonder in his heart.
After arriving at Changle Mountain, the various fourth-order formations nested one after another opened his eyes, and he was amazed more than once.
More than ten years have passed, and he has also used this treasure to understand many secrets of formations. His attainments in formations have steadily improved, and he is getting closer and closer to the fourth level.
"Let's go!"
After Zhang Yao studied it for a while, he withdrew his spiritual thoughts and prepared to go to Mani Temple.
The fourth-level formations are all outstanding works of their own system. Unless one can directly analyze or dismantle the formations, what can be seen in detail is only superficial.
But for now, he doesn't have such extravagant hopes, so he will naturally give up when things get better.
"boom!"
The moment Zhang Yao reached out and touched the mural, he saw streaks of golden light filling the air, shooting his body from top to bottom.
Immediately following:
The golden light twisted and trembled for a while, and quickly condensed into a phantom, which was exactly the same as Zhang Yao's figure and lifelike.
The next moment, the golden light completely solidified, the shadow also turned from virtual to solid, and he stood upright in front of Zhang Yao.
"This technique seems to be much more sophisticated than Ancestor Heze's incarnation as a puppet..."
Zhang Yao walked around the 'Future Dharmakaya' for a few times, but without seeing any more mystery, he found out a ray of divine will and magic power and entered the future incarnation.
The future body suddenly opened its eyes and became familiar with the new body that seemed both virtual and real.
After Zhang Yao gained experience in controlling the avatar puppet, he became very familiar with controlling the future Dharmakaya and quickly adapted to it.
"Go ahead."
Zhang Yao threw out a few storage bags that he had prepared. After receiving them, the Future Law Body turned around and walked away, his figure instantly disappearing into the mural on the wall.
After the dharma body left, Zhang Yao returned to the futon in the palace and sat down, focusing all his attention on the future dharma body.
…………
The golden-rendered passage is filled with distorted light and shadow.
Zhang Yao's future Dharmakaya shuttled through the golden passage, with interlacing and changing colored lights in front of his eyes.
It seemed like a moment had passed, and it seemed like a hundred years had passed. The golden light suddenly dissipated. Zhang Yao's eyes were blurred, and he finally saw the surrounding scene clearly.
In the spacious and bright hall, many novice monks and monks came and went, chanting sutras and praying constantly, and faint golden light scattered between heaven and earth like gauze.
"Boom..."
The thick and dull sound of the bell came slowly and made people feel clear.
"Amitabha!"
A familiar voice came.
Zhang Yao turned around and saw Monk Zhenhui, whom he had not seen for many years. He put on a more formal bright yellow cassock, clasped his hands together and bowed, with a kind smile:
"Principal Qingxu, I haven't seen you for many years. Have you ever been well?"
"Everything is fine for me, thanks to Master."
Zhang Yao bowed his head and said:
"Thank you, Master Luo. Let's go visit your master now?"
In his opinion, Tongxing Arhat just met him on a routine basis and exchanged a few polite words. After that, he had to attend the Dharma conference.
"A layman must not be impatient."
Monk Zhenhui waved his hand and said:
"To be honest, layman, my master is meeting an old friend, and I'm afraid I won't be able to get away right now."
"He just specifically told me, layman Qingxu, it's your first time to attend the Mani Dharma Assembly. Let me take you around and visit."
"...That's okay."
Zhang Yao nodded slightly and said politely:
"Then there is Master Lao Zhenhui."
"Don't dare to take it seriously."
Monk Zhenhui responded humbly:
"This way, layman, please."
…………
Mani Temple is very large, much larger than many cities.
After coming out of the Jialan Palace, Zhang Yao, led by Zhenhui, officially embarked on a journey to visit Mani Temple.
After walking through a large green bank and crossing two stone bridges, the two came to a long brick road with various traces of densely packed potholes on the road.
Sculptures of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, large and small, of various shapes and colors stand on both sides of the road. Thousands of monks and disciples of the Buddha kowtow to pay homage every step of the way.
"It's really spectacular!"
Zhang Yao was moved and praised repeatedly:
"With sincerity, gold and stone are opened! Today, the poor Taoist has finally seen his true color!"
He could tell at a glance that the gold brick pavement on the ground was made of real second-order spiritual objects, and even the ordinary foundation-building monks could not shake it at all.
Among the many monks worshiping on the ground, there are Buddhist monks, but most of them are ordinary monks. The monks mixed among them did not use their magic power, but kowtowed sincerely.
The accumulated soil forms mountains and accumulated water forms seas.
Every prostration, every meeting, the touch of palms, knees, heads and the golden brick ground, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years... endless accumulation, little by little, created such a spectacle.
This pilgrimage road is obviously not only open during the Dharma Festival. After all, Mani Temple is the ancestral land of ten thousand monks and the source of all Dharma. There is an endless stream of people coming here for pilgrimage every day.
"This is the famous 'Jianxin Road' in the temple. All the monks and Arhats in the temple have worshiped on this road countless times since they were novice monks."
“My founder of Mani Temple once said personally that only by being truly sincere can one see the Tathagata.”
After monk Zhenhui introduced him, he sighed:
"It is said that an ancestor once watched Buddha's pilgrimage here for sixty years and realized an earth-shattering magical power."
"It's a pity that that magical power has been circulated in the temple for more than a thousand years. Apart from the ancestor who pioneered the magical power, only one person has learned it."
"oh?"
Zhang Yao was a little curious when he heard this and asked casually:
"Is there another person who can learn it? Who is it?"
There are countless magical techniques in this world. Many of them are tailor-made for the founders and are almost impossible for others to learn.
In particular, Buddhism's magical powers also focus on a 'mind method' and 'Buddhist principles'. Even direct disciples may not be able to understand the true meaning of the founder.
"It's the young monk's master, Tongxing Arhat!"
Monk Zhenhui smiled slightly.
"...well-deserved reputation!"
Zhang Yao raised his eyebrows and praised him sincerely.
The two watched the pilgrimage for a while, then left the 'Jianxin Road' and continued to go deeper into the Mani Temple along this avenue.
As we go deeper into the temple, various Buddhist temple buildings are lined up one after another, and we can see many Buddhist monks coming in and out. Many of them look excited and can't hide their excitement.
In the country of Mani, there are actually very few outside monks. After all, there is a barren belt blocking the way, and only a dozen Jindan ancestors and a few foundation-building monks can come in.
In the grand Mani ceremony, foreign monks are just the icing on the cake. The real participants are Buddhist monks from Buddhist temples across the Mani Kingdom.
I walked through hundreds of halls and saw thousands of monks.
Under the leadership of Zhenhui, Zhang Yao saw many Buddhist temples, and many golden Arhats gave lectures.
For Buddhist monks from all over the Mani Kingdom, the Mani Dharma Conference is the greatest opportunity, especially to hear the golden Arhat preach the Dharma in person. How can they get such treatment on ordinary days?
"Well……"
In front of a Buddhist temple, Zhang Yao and Zhenhui stood side by side, looking thoughtful as they listened to the Arhat's sermon in the temple.
He found that the golden elixir monks from Buddhism and the golden elixir monks from the normal Qi refining method were completely different in their styles.
In the Golden Body Arhat's lectures, there are relatively few contents about serious practice experience, secret methods of breakthrough, tips for practicing divine passages, etc., but more about the combination of Buddhist principles, Dharma and the path of practice.
For Buddhist monks, 'enlightenment' is much more important than blindly practicing asceticism.
Once enlightenment occurs, it is common in the Mani Kingdom to immediately break through the bottlenecks that have been trapped for many years and understand the magic and Taoism that cannot be achieved through hard practice.
Therefore, every golden Arhat is a master of Buddhism. Their level of debating scriptures may be even better than their cultivation level, and many of them are masters who founded a sect.
Especially the famous Tongxing Arhat. He is claimed to be the number one master of Buddhism and supernatural power in Mani Temple for 500 years. This means that not only is his strength terrifying, no Arhat in Mani Temple can match him even in debating scriptures and teaching Dharma.
“It was really eye-opening.”
Zhang Yao's expression moved slightly and asked:
"On our way there, we saw no fewer than twenty Arhats giving lectures."
"I dare to ask, I wonder how many Arhats are preaching Buddhism in this Mani ceremony?"
"Um……"
Monk Zhenhui pondered for a moment before speaking:
"Except for the Arhats in charge of the Twelve Halls, most of the Arhats will take turns opening the forum and giving lectures."
"Among them are not only those from our temple, but also the supervisors, abbots and other high-ranking officials from many major Buddhist temples in various places. There are all kinds of people, I'm afraid there are no less than a hundred of them!"
"so much?"
Zhang Yao was surprised, and his heart was even more awe-inspiring.
Hundreds of golden Arhats, what a terrifying power this is? As long as the abbot of Mani Temple gives an order, even the other Nascent Soul monks will retreat!
Not to mention, Mani Temple is a famous power in the Central Plains and is in charge of a country. It has more than one or two Nascent Soul-level Arhats. Even the foreign Nascent Soul monks have to abide by Mani Temple's good merit system.
"It is so prosperous and developed that it deserves to be a Buddhist resort in the Central Plains."
Zhang Yao praised him sincerely.
In the southwestern region where he was born, even the great immortal-cultivating countries like Dali and Dayu could only support less than ten Jindan cultivators.
Although the territory of the Mani Kingdom is vast, it is not much larger than the four major powers combined, but it can support more than a hundred Jindan monks, which shows how rich the Central Plains is.
"The layman is so complimentary."
Monk Zhenhui responded with a smile, obviously proud of You and in a good mood.
The two continued to move forward, passing numerous Buddhist temples, and then took a detour to a quiet Tallin area.
Among the hundreds of pagodas, there is only the faint smell of sandalwood and the faint sound of Buddhist chanting, making people feel more calm and peaceful.
"This is the burial place of the golden elixir relics of the ancestors in the temple."
After monk Zhenhui bowed respectfully, he introduced him in a low voice.
"Good guy, there are so many?!"
Zhang Yao was shocked and secretly smacked his tongue, once again shocked by the details of Mani Temple.
The golden elixir relic of a golden Arhat is much more valuable than a magic weapon. While it has endless magical uses, it is also extremely rare.
Within Buddhism, the golden elixir relics of such ancestors are rarely used to refine magic weapons. Even if they are refined, the integrity of the golden elixir relics must be maintained as much as possible.
As for the practice of refining treasures outside Buddhism, they are often hostile to Buddhist forces and monks.
"When the critical moment comes, if Mani Temple uses the hundreds or thousands of golden elixir relics here, I'm afraid it can be made into a magic weapon with earth-shaking power, or it can be used as a key secret treasure to suppress the super formation."
"With such a heritage, there is definitely more than one Mani Temple. It is no wonder that it has been able to stand for thousands of years and survive the ups and downs without falling..."
Thinking of this, Zhang Yao secretly thought that it was a pity that he could only suppress some of his original thoughts.
He urgently needed a few golden elixir relics to use as materials to re-forge the 'Vajra Secret Mantra Array' on his body - he had this in mind when he came to the Mani Kingdom.
But when he actually came to Mani Temple and saw the pagoda where they stored the golden elixir relics, he didn't dare to think about it.
"Businessman, let's keep walking."
Monk Zhenhui spoke and greeted.
"Okay, could you please lead the way, master?"
Zhang Yao nodded slightly, withdrew his gaze, and followed Monk Zhenhui further into the Mani Temple.
After passing through many palaces and buildings along the way, Zhang Yao and Zhenhui came to the depths of Mani Temple and met several Arhats who were in charge of the temple, as well as several familiar foreign colleagues.
After meeting them one by one, Zhenhui led Zhang Yao to visit Tongyuan Arhat, the abbot of Mani Temple. The two exchanged a few words, and Tongyuan Arhat was also very polite to Zhang Yao.
And at the same time:
In a quiet area deep inside Mani Temple, the magnificent and solemn Dajue Hall is located here.
In front of the Mani jade in the hall, Tongxing Arhat was still wearing a simple monk's robe. He was sitting opposite a middle-aged Taoist in a black robe with long sleeves and a high crown, and they were talking about something.
Suddenly:
"...That's pretty much all that needs to be said."
Tongxing Luohan suddenly said:
"That Ancestor Qingxu is coming."
"Then that's it for today."
Ancestor He Ze stood up, waved his sleeves and robe, and left the hall with Shi Shiran.
"Remember your words, old monk, you must not miss a penny of what you promised me!"
"Good, good..."
When his back was gone, Tongxing Arhat withdrew his gaze, lowered his head and sighed:
"I hope the next one won't be as difficult as this one..."
(End of chapter)
