Chapter 389: A Major Incident at Daliang Monastery

“So, sir, how did you deal with that fox?”

The old monk Foyin asked casually. Ji Yuan did not hide anything and answered directly.

“That fox was quite skilled and had extraordinary abilities. She managed to escape by playing a trick on us.”

Ji Yuan spoke the truth, and the old monk Foyin chanted a Buddhist sutra.

“Praise be, Mr. Ji is truly a kind and benevolent man!”

“Hahaha, Master, there’s no need to praise me. I really didn’t notice anything at that time. I trusted my own eyes too much.”

Ji Yuan pointed to his eyes and chuckled.

The old monk Foyin looked at Ji Yuan’s calm, pale eyes and nodded slightly.

“Indeed, that fox must have been quite capable.”

This level of Dharma Eye was naturally extremely difficult to achieve, and there wasn’t even a precise method to cultivate it. Perhaps Mr. Ji’s blindness was one of the costs of reaching the pinnacle of the Dharma Eye.

There was a saying: “If the Tao is brought to its extreme, it will incur the jealousy of Heaven, and will surely harm the individual.”

After thinking for a moment, the old monk continued.

“The Jade Fox Cave Heaven is extremely well hidden. Even some sacred cultivation sites in Lan Province in the Western Regions might not be aware of its location. However, this humble monk happens to know where it is. If Mr. Ji wishes to seek an explanation, the Nine-Tailed Fox will give you face.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox!

Ji Yuan’s spirits lifted. It was incredibly difficult for a fox demon to cultivate to the point of having nine tails. That would indeed qualify them as a fox immortal. No wonder the old monk Foyin said that there were both fox demons and fox spirits.

No wonder Tu Siyan dared to reveal her identity back then; it was probably because on top of the Jade Fox Cave Heaven being difficult to access, there was an existing deterrent in the form of a true nine-tailed fox.

However, Ji Yuan still spoke very seriously.

“I would like to hear the details.”

“Yes, to find the Jade Fox Cave Heaven, one must first find Qiancang1Mountain. This mountain in the Western Regions of Lan Province is not known to ordinary people. It’s not even a real mountain.”

This piqued Ji Yuan’s curiosity. He was someone who enjoyed supernatural and wondrous things, considering them one of the pleasures of cultivating immortality.

“What do you mean?”

The old monk looked up, his gaze falling on the veins of the leaves above the big tree behind him. Because it was already autumn, some leaves had turned yellow, but they had not yet fallen.

“As autumn deepens, the forests grow green, and fallen leaves drift down, and the mountains are no longer verdant. I have heard my fellow Buddhist practitioners mention that the term ‘Qiancang,’ or “lightening of green,” is what the fox clans use to refer to a time when autumn approaches winter, the beginning of desolation. There is no mountain called Qiancang Mountain. Even if there were one, it would be different from the one you seek. Qiancang Mountain where the Jade Fox Cave Heaven is located, refers to the early autumn, mid-autumn, and late autumn seasons of one of the three peaks of the Changse, Qingchang, and Moyue Mountains.”

“If that were the true meaning behind the manifestation of Qiancang Mountain, how can one enter the Jade Fox Cave Heaven?”

Regardless of size, a cave-heaven was practically a self-contained world, protected by various divine laws and formation arrays. It was impossible to enter simply by knowing the location alone.

“I don’t know. However, if you arrive at the right time, you will surely be able to see the clues with your discerning eyes.”

Ji Yuan felt no pressure as he chatted with the old monk. Perhaps it was because he was used to being with the Old Dragon. However, he was more inclined to believe that his ease was due to Master Foyin’s Buddha-nature.

At least now Ji Yuan had determined one thing: the so-called Mingwang Buddha was not a giant golden Buddha, but a real, practicing monk.

The old monk Foyin also felt a sense of ease while chatting with Ji Yuan. For him, this was a rare opportunity to chat like an ordinary person.

Their conversation gradually deepened, no longer limited to superficial matters. They discussed astronomy, geography, and the phenomena of heaven and earth, as well as the profound principles of cultivation from various perspectives, and the transformation and nurture of one’s own inner world.

Encountering a Buddhist at the Mingwang stage was extremely rare, so Ji Yuan naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity to exchange ideas. The old monk Fo Yin also had a similar feeling, finding it rare to sit and discuss the Tao with such an unfathomable immortal cultivator. Moreover, at this critical juncture for Daliang Monastery, such an encounter was even more serendipitously fated.

Ji Yuan, having been influenced by his past life, had a great deal to say about astronomy, geography, and the phenomena of heaven and earth.

Ji Yuan and the Old Dragon had discussed the principles of cultivation many times. Coupled with the profound sayings about the great Tao that he had learned since childhood in his previous life, even if he only remembered a little, the essence of the teachings that had been widely disseminated was undoubtedly invaluable.

Regarding the inner world and its transformations, Ji Yuan himself had developed an inner world of his own, and even subtly merged it with the world outside of himself.

When discussing some of the most wondrous aspects, to further convince his conversation partner, Ji Yuan even subtly demonstrated his manifestation of heaven and earth, revealing the subtleties of his own inner world in minute detail. He presented images of spring flowers and autumn moons, the shifting of stars, and fully illustrated the temporal and spatial relationships of the world.

Old monk Foyin and Ji Yuan grew increasingly astonished and delighted with their discussion as they continued to chat, even feeling that some long-standing problems that had troubled them were beginning to unravel and resolve themselves, only needing a little further contemplation through meditation.

Ji Yuan also benefited greatly. The perspective of a Mingwang Buddha was distinct from that of immortals, demons, and gods. Wisdom was a highly emphasized concept in Buddhism, and it was fully reflected in his principles. The old monk Fo Yin was clearly not the ruthless, wrathful Mingwang Buddha depicted in Buddhism, yet his understanding of Buddhist principles was extremely profound.

Some questions that Ji Yuan had previously discussed with the Old Dragon, that he hadn’t been able to fully grasp, suddenly became clear to him. Even some longstanding difficulties in his cultivation practice were easily resolved.

One was a Buddhist cultivator, the other an immortal cultivator. Both were in high spirits, their behavior carefree, but their profound Taoist aura was abundant. Under this tree in the inner courtyard of Daliang Monastery, various strange phenomena began to appear from time to time, and they seemed to be spreading to the surrounding area.

A short distance away from the tree, even the highly accomplished Buddhist monks, including Huitong and the abbot of Daliang Monastery, were finding it difficult to control themselves.

The two masters sat under the tree, discussing the Tao. At first, they could understand the principles they were talking about, but as the discussion deepened, the monks with shallower cultivation began to feel their minds growing foggy. Even so, they bit their tongues to force themselves to stay awake.

Such a profound discussion was something rare to encounter even once in a lifetime, even if one’s cultivation level allowed them to live for hundreds of years.

The monk Huitong clasped his hands tightly together, his ears filled with the sounds of the two masters discussing the Tao. It was as if countless words were echoing in his ears. The earlier sounds of the Tao entered his ears, while the later ones lingered an did not fade away; Huitong used his own Buddhist power to forcefully gather the sound of the Tao and prevent them from dissipating. Otherwise, if they were to dissipate, it would be a tremendous loss.

Even if he couldn’t understand or comprehend it now, in a hundred or several hundred years later, even just a single insight gained on his path to cultivation would benefit him for life.

At this moment, Huitong suddenly realized something, and looked around sharply. He saw light, spreading like smoke or mist, and a fragrance filled the air, emanating from the void. Flowers scattered, already spreading out of the inner courtyard.

“not good!”

Huitong looked at the abbot beside him and found that the old abbot was swaying, blood at the corner of his mouth. However, it wasn’t from an injury, but from having bitten his tongue. He was still somewhat dazed.

Huitong quickly stepped forward and shook the abbot twice.

“Master Abbot! Master Abbot!”

“Huh?”

The abbot regained consciousness and then looked at the people around him with excitement.

“Huitong! This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for our Daliang Monastery. Your Buddhist teachings are profound; you must memorize it all, you must memorize it all! No, this is too much for you. Instead, memorize as much as you can; this old monk can hardly bear it!”

“I know, Abbot, please rest assured, I will do my best. But please, Master Abbot, find a solution quickly; the two masters have become so engrossed in their discussion that they have lost control, and strange phenomena have already begun to spread…”

The old abbot looked around and found that this was indeed true.

“Abbot, please mobilize the monks to quickly disperse all the pilgrims in the monastery. It would be best to ask the crowd in the market outside the temple to leave temporarily as well. Otherwise, if ordinary people were to witness this discourse, their minds would be filled with all sorts of illusionary scenes, and their emotions, whether joy or sorrow, would surge and create a commotion… There are too many pilgrims at Daliang Monastery. If the crow were to grow agitated, it would inevitably disturb the two esteemed masters’ discussion!”

Everyone had selfish desires, even someone as eminent as Monk Huitong.

Would ordinary people benefit from hearing this discourse? Of course they would, though the benefits would vary from person to person. Although most adults who came to the monastery to seek guidance were burdened with heavy thoughts were were unlikely to be truly enlightened, they would still receive some benefit nonetheless.

However, if the crowd were to witness this scene and exclaim in surprise, the resulting commotion and noise could very likely disturb Ji Yuan and Mingwang Foyin. So-called predestined relationships were sometimes very mysterious and unpredictable, and the two masters would most likely think that it was “the will of Heaven” and then end the discussion.

What was supposed to be a long and potentially endless discussion between eminent figures would come to an abrupt end. The pilgrims would benefit a little, but it would be an immense loss for Daliang Monastery!

The old abbot was a shrewd man, and he immediately grasped the key points.

“Praise be to the Great Mingwang Buddha! I will immediately order the monks of the monastery to set out. Bring the imperial decree bestowed by the late emperor!”

The old abbot wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, glanced at the two masters under the tree, whose figures were already shrouded in a hazy mist, and carefully began to walk out. He only dared to jog when he was more than a dozen feet away, and then leaped out.

Having just heard those sounds and witnessed that discourse, he only just came to his senses. He realized that it had already grown to be the afternoon, yet the monastery was still quite crowded.

…

“Esteemed benefactors, our Daliang Monastery will be closing an hour early today. Please return home!”

“Esteemed benefactors, our Daliang Monastery will be closing early. Please come again another time to inscribe your names!”

“Benefactor, Daliang Monastery is closing early, so it is really inconvenient for you to stay in the monks’ hall to meditate any longer. Please come again another day!”

…

In the Mingwang Buddha Inscription Hall, the Seated Mingwang Buddha Hall, the temple’s main courtyard, the small plaza, and the various meditation halls…

Everywhere, regardless of how many pilgrims there were, the monks made their announcements. No matter how astonished or angry the pilgrims, no matter how they cursed or retaliated, the monks insisted on asking people to leave, even resorting to driving them away.

Daliang Monastery was, after all, the state temple of the country of Tingliang. Even though there were many powerful people among the pilgrims, they did not dare to act recklessly. Everyone knew that something must have happened at Daliang Monastery, but none of the monks said anything about it, and they couldn’t just force them to speak.

It wasn’t until the many pilgrims emerged from the temple gates did they discover that even the market stalls and tourists in front of the temple were leaving. Judging by the way everyone was pushing carts or carrying their goods, it seemed that they, too, had packed up and closed the market early.

Despite the monks’ earnest persuasion, the monastery eventually brought out the late emperor’s decree and promised to compensate the merchants double for their business losses. However, they stipulated that the merchants would have to wait a while before demanding payment, and provide accurate accounts as proof.

Those in high-ranking positions who witnessed this scene were astonished and murmured amongst themselves.

“A major incident has occured in Daliang Monastery!”

T/n: oh my goodness JY has literally become a cognitohazard, they’re not even trying to hide it

JY: yeah, the fox got away, it’s so annoying

Everyone else: oh, how kind of you to let her go!

JY: I just told you she got away!!!

Everyone else: sure, buddy -_-