Chapter 286

Thick fog rolled, and the surroundings were a void.

Li Yan looked around, his brows slightly furrowed.

He didn't expect that coming to sound an alarm would trigger the Gou Die. Could it be that this Buddhist holy land also hid a "Returner"?

Of course, even if there were, it wouldn't be strange.

Heaven and earth are impermanent, and life and death are unpredictable.

What orthodoxies of the three religions, what mandate of heaven—these are just human sayings. In the face of yin, yang, life, and death, everyone is the same.

Of course, Li Yan couldn't worry about that now.

There was a large monk outside, and he couldn't delay here for too long.

He increased his speed and broke through the thick fog to move forward.

Soon, the thick fog around him dissipated, and a giant Buddha statue appeared before his eyes, about three stories high, with a solemn appearance, a meat bun (ushnisha) on its head, earlobes reaching its shoulders, and hair like lapis lazuli, sitting upright on a lotus throne.

Its whole body radiated golden light, illuminating the surrounding darkness.

At the same time, magnificent Buddhist sounds rang in his ears, sounding like a great bell: "Thus have I heard, at one time the Buddha was in the country of Shravasti, in the Jeta Grove, the Garden of Anathapindika, with a crowd of great Bhikshus..."

The Diamond Sutra?

Li Yan was stunned for a moment; he still knew this sutra.

But what made him even stranger was,

Why was there a Buddha statue?

This should be Tong Shen (divine communication), but it was the first time a building had appeared.

Just as he was puzzled, the Buddha statue radiated golden light all over its body, accompanied by Buddhist sounds, rapidly growing larger, illuminating the surrounding darkness.

In the darkness, some things also appeared.

A giant turtle with its head held high, a coiled giant snake, a white tiger lying on the ground, and a large bird flapping its fiery wings...

The Four Symbols?

Li Yan's mind was even more full of questions.

The Buddha statue in front of him should be considered a local deity formed by the long-term worship of Baotong Zen Temple. Like other local deities, it could not communicate with language.

These things were all hints...

But what did these Four Symbols represent?

Before he could see clearly, the surrounding Four Symbol divine beasts rapidly dyed themselves pitch black, their eyes radiating red light, carrying a sinister appearance.

And that towering Buddha statue suddenly shed bloody tears from its eyes...

What happened?

Li Yan's eyes were full of shock, but before he could react, the surrounding illusions rapidly disappeared.

All of this happened in a fleeting instant.

The large monk guarding the mountain put his hands together, staring fixedly at Li Yan, still waiting for his reply, his eyes full of vigilance.

Li Yan calmed his mind, bowed, and said, "May I ask if Master Chengjue, the temple's monk-in-charge, is here? I have an important matter to report, which is why I visited the mountain in the middle of the night."

Without waiting for the old monk to ask more, he continued, "It concerns a secret. If you report my name to Master Chengjue, he will naturally know."

The old monk nodded slightly and said without looking back, "Huiqing, you go into the temple and inform them of this matter."

"Yes, Master."

In the darkness, a martial monk holding a long staff appeared. He carried the staff on his back, performed a salute with one hand, and then left quickly.

Only then did the old monk say, "It has not been peaceful in the temple recently. The abbot told us to guard carefully. I hope the benefactor will forgive us."

"It is only right."

Li Yan nodded slightly, his expression as usual.

He could already be certain that something major must have happened in Baotong Zen Temple; otherwise, the monks of the Law Enforcement Hall would not be so cautious.

Before long, the martial monk hurried over, followed by a massive figure like an iron tower; it was Chengjue.

He saw Li Yan, and there was some surprise in his eyes. "Li Li Shaoxia, I don't know what important matter you have to find me in the middle of the night?"

Li Yan frowned. "It concerns a secret; it cannot be spoken of carelessly."

How could these monks not even understand basic etiquette? Blocking the door and questioning people, as if they were afraid he would go in.

Seeming to notice his dissatisfaction, Chengjue pondered for a moment, put his hands together, and said, "I have been rude. Li Li Shaoxia, please follow me."

After saying this, he led Li Yan into the mountain gate.

And the monks guarding the mountain behind them hid in the darkness again.

Baotong Zen Temple is ancient, first built during the Liu Song period of the Southern Dynasties, later destroyed in the flames of war, and rebuilt by the Prince of Wuchang.

This is a royal temple, so the temple walls are bright yellow, and the vermilion temple doors, inlaid with copper nails, were tightly closed.

The two entered along a small side door.

As soon as they entered, they could hear the chanting and wooden fish sounds from deep within the temple; it seemed a Dharma ritual was being held, and the rich scent of incense rushed to their noses.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes. "Is your temple holding a Dharma ritual?"

Chengjue shook his head quite simply. "I cannot say. Li Li Shaoxia, please forgive me."

After saying this, he led Li Yan across a stone bridge, avoided the Mahavira Hall, and came to a Zen room and quiet chamber.

A young novice monk had already poured tea inside.

After the novice monk left, Chengjue said, "There have been many things in the temple recently. If there is any neglect, I hope Li Li Shaoxia will forgive me. I don't know what matter you have to find me for?"

"The Tian family's matter has had some clues..."

Li Yan didn't talk nonsense and directly explained the situation.

Who knew, after Chengjue heard this, he didn't seem surprised. "I already know about this matter. Thank you, Li Li Shaoxia, for coming to sound the alarm."

Good fellow!

Li Yan understood immediately and said coldly, "It seems the Master already investigated this matter, but played deaf and dumb, letting the Tian family suffer... Doesn't the Buddhist gate emphasize compassion?"

Chengjue said with a calm expression, "Great compassion without conditions, great compassion of the same body. But if a great calamity descends, one can only make trade-offs. I will bear all the karma myself."

This meant that even if Squire Tian's family died, they would not act rashly because there was a greater calamity.

But Li Yan ran over in the middle of the night; how could he be coaxed away by a few words?

He pondered for a moment and said, "Since the Master has investigated my information, you should know that I have another identity."

Chengjue nodded. "Living Yin Messengers maintain the six paths of yin and yang; their merit is immeasurable. I admire them very much."

"Admiration is unnecessary."

Li Yan slowly drank a cup of tea. "Living Yin Messengers have the ability of Tong Shen. Just now outside the temple, I saw some things..."

"What did the Li Li Shaoxia see?"

"The Buddha statue shed bloody tears!"

"What?!"

Chengjue's expression changed abruptly, and he stood up suddenly. "What else did the Li Li Shaoxia see?"

Li Yan did not answer but asked back, "Who is the one acting? What exactly is going on with Tian Han, the second son of the Tian family?"

Chengjue's eye corners twitched, but he still said, "The ones acting are a group of Bee Sect swindlers from Xiangyang. The 'Anzuozi' is called Lu Shangyuan, who wanders around the Ezhou area doing evil, gathering and dispersing from time to time."

"We have already secretly sent people to mix in among them and heard that they were also entrusted by someone to set up a trap to harm Squire Tian's family."

"Including the Xu family troupe, they were also instigated by those people to use Yansheng (curse) sorcery to harm people, but why they were silenced hasn't been investigated yet."

"In addition, there is a group of Miao people who call themselves descendants of the Jiangxia Man; they were bewitched by someone. The person behind the scenes has not yet appeared."

"As for Tian Han, the second son of the Tian family, I have already sent people to ask. When he was tonsured at Qingliang Temple on Mount Mulan, the Buddha statue did not appear abnormal; he was not possessed by a monster or ghost."

"The three Tian brothers were all set up. The person behind the scenes is looking for someone who should have a relationship with all three brothers..."

This large monk was also straightforward and didn't want to haggle with Li Yan. After saying a lot, he said, "This is what we have investigated. What else did Li Li Shaoxia see?"

"It concerns a major matter, so please tell me!"

Since things had been said to this point, Li Yan naturally wouldn't hide anything. He shook his head and said, "I saw the Four Symbol divine beasts, which seemed to be infected by something, turning into evil objects, and then the Buddha statue shed bloody tears."

"Four Symbol divine beasts?"

Chengjue frowned tightly. "This is a warning from the Buddha. What exactly does it represent?"

Li Yan shook his head. "I don't know about that." Chengjue hesitated for a moment and said, "Li Li Shaoxia has the ability of Tong Shen. If I lead you to the Mahavira Hall, I wonder if you can get more hints?"

Li Yan was somewhat surprised. "The ability of Tong Shen is rare, but your temple is one of the ancestral courts of the Zen Sect; you wouldn't be unable to find anyone, would you?"

A trace of anger appeared in Chengjue's eyes. "I won't hide it from Li Li Shaoxia, there are several senior brothers in the Zen temple who either have yin-yang eyes or can hear the words of ghosts and gods, and there are many who have awakened Yi Yi Shentong (mental divine power)."

"But starting a few months ago, when they went out to perform Dharma rituals, they were successively harmed by people. The Dharma rituals we performed didn't yield complete information either."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yan nodded. "I can try."

In the secret manual of the Living Yin Messenger inheritance left by Liu Gang, a method was described that could use the power of the Gou Die to actively communicate with local deities.

He hadn't used it yet, and it was just right to try it now.

"Benefactor, please wait a moment. I will go make arrangements."

Chengjue was also a decisive person and immediately got up and went out.

!.

Li Yan was not surprised and waited patiently while drinking tea.

The Mahavira Hall must be holding a Dharma ritual. Although Chengjue had a significant position in the Law Enforcement Hall, he was only a monk-in-charge in Baotong Zen Temple.

Abbot, head of the temple, hall master, supervisor... there were still many people with higher status than him, and there was more than one monk-in-charge.

To stop the Dharma ritual and perform Tong Shen, it was clearly not something Chengjue could decide with a single word.

Sure enough, this wait lasted for a full half-hour.

Li Yan opened the newly bought pocket watch and looked.

The time table on this pocket watch was not Arabic numerals, but the twelve-double-hour table customary in the Shenzhou, starting from the Zi hour and ending at the Hai hour.

But there were also subdivisions, for example, the Zi hour was divided into Zi early and Zi proper, and also divided into eight quarters, one quarter being about fifteen minutes.

Calculated, it was about the same as a clock.

For example, now, it was one quarter past Zi proper, which converted to about 12:15 AM...

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded, and Chengjue brought several monks over. "Li Li Shaoxia, please."

Li Yan hurriedly got up and followed them away.

Listening carefully to the distance, sure enough, the chanting had stopped.

Passing through several corridors, the group arrived outside the Mahavira Hall. They saw that the Buddha lamps inside were like stars, and there were many meditation cushions on the ground. The scent of incense was pungent; clearly, the Dharma ritual had just stopped.

Several old monks with white beards were sitting in the Mahavira Hall.

Seeing them, Li Yan's heart trembled.

Among these old monks, half of them had no scent on them; they were clearly Dan Jin (Elixir Energy) experts.

He had long heard that Baotong Zen Temple was one of the ancestral courts of the Zen Sect, not only having people specializing in Buddhist Dharma but also experts who practiced Vajra martial arts; it was indeed deep-rooted.

Any one of these old monks could deter one side.

Not only that, they also had a kind of "momentum," dignified and tranquil. Sitting there, they actually looked like standing Buddha statues.

No wonder they could gain a foothold in Ezhou, where the Zhenwu Palace was located.

And these were probably only the forces on the surface.

These old monks had reached the limit that mortals could reach. They might continue to break through, but they were all old and had no chance to go further.

But there would always be those with exceptional talent.

For example, the Ascended Divine ones of the Buddhist gate.

Thinking of this, Li Yan became even more cautious.

He saw Chengjue take a step forward and put his hands together. "Abbot, this is Li Li Shaoxia from Guanzhong."

As he spoke, he turned his head to introduce, "Li Li Shaoxia, this is our Baotong Zen Temple's Abbot Mingzhu."

Li Yan hurriedly bowed. "I have met the Abbot and all the Masters."

Abbot Mingzhu was a somewhat plump old monk, looking kind and gentle, with white eyebrows and white beard, and quite large earlobes, which were trembling slightly.

Li Yan had vaguely heard that the Buddhist gate's cultivation of divine powers was somewhat different from the Daoist gate, but they eventually reached the same goal by different routes.

This was the Buddha statue of divine power; the other party should have awakened the ear divine power.

Sure enough, after the Abbot Mingzhu's ears trembled, he smiled and nodded. "Little benefactor has the company of the divine tiger and thunder, which is indeed extraordinary."

"The senior's praise is too much."

Li Yan said a polite phrase and didn't take it to heart.

To be the Abbot of Baotong Zen Temple, it didn't just require cultivation; one also had to deal with various forces, so one naturally knew how to speak.

Abbot Mingzhu nodded. "Little benefactor, come in. No matter what you see, there is no need to panic."

Li Yan nodded and walked into the Mahavira Hall with large strides.

Perhaps because of the Dharma ritual, this Mahavira Hall did not use Dharma methods to prohibit divine power probing like other Mystic Sect halls, which was why he could smell the scent of several people.

After walking into the hall and looking up, his heart trembled slightly.

Inside the hall, what was enshrined was Shakyamuni Buddha. Generally speaking, it was divided into three types of Dharma appearances: Enlightenment, Teaching, and Nirvana.

The Enlightenment appearance is the most common: sitting in the lotus position, left hand placed horizontally on the left foot, called the meditation seal, indicating inner stability and meditation. The right hand extends straight down, called the "earth-touching seal," indicating the subjugation of demons and the realization of truth, with the earth as witness.

The Teaching appearance is also sitting in the lotus position, but the right hand forms a ring with the fingers, called the "teaching seal," representing the Buddha teaching the Dharma.

As for the Nirvana appearance, it represents the Buddha's Nirvana.

The Buddha statue in front of him was a typical Enlightenment appearance, and it was exactly the same as what he saw in the illusion.

The only difference was that the gold lacquer on the Buddha statue's eyes had fallen off, forming empty holes, and red water droplets were gathering, as if it were shedding bloody tears.

Abbot Mingzhu shook his head and sighed. "When Baotong Zen Temple was built, this Buddha statue used a secret method, which can predict disasters."

"Many years ago, there was a flood in the Yangtze River. The Buddha statue dripped water into a stream, attracting a spirit snake to coil around it. Our temple sent experts to behead a water python that was trying to transform into a dragon..."

"A few years ago, there was an epidemic. The Buddha statue grew mold spots. We cooperated with the Daoist doctors of Zhenwu Palace to boil medicinal soup and perform Dharma rituals to drive away the plague..."

"Only by making arrangements in advance twice were we able to eliminate the disasters."

"But this time it is a man-made disaster. The monsters planned meticulously in advance, putting us in a passive position. If the little benefactor can find the cause, it will also be a great merit."

So that's how it is... Li Yan understood immediately.

This method is somewhat similar to divination, but it uses secret methods to integrate into the building. There are many such places in the Shenzhou, so many prophecies about the arrival of disasters have been left behind.

For example, if a pagoda collapses or a well dries up, there will be a disaster.

Thinking of this, Li Yan also said solemnly, "It concerns righteousness, so I will naturally do my best. I ask the Abbot to help find a soul-guiding lamp and prepare a basin of clear water."

These things were not rare and were soon found.

Li Yan first lit the soul-guiding lamp, then placed the basin of clear water in front, took out the Gou Die, and simultaneously performed a hand seal to store his spirit.

This Dharma method came from folk witchcraft.

Fire is Yang, water is Yin, each representing the separation of Yin and Yang.

Therefore, when common people return from other places or are infected with bad luck, they must cross a fire basin, representing crossing the Yang world and blocking some unclean Yin objects behind them.

And he replaced it with water, naturally representing stepping into the Yin world.

Of course, it was not really entering the Yin world, but a bit like walking in the Yin, making the spirit and form loose, and with the help of the Gou Die, actively communicating with ghosts and gods to see more things.

Whoosh~

As he performed the Dharma, a sinister wind rose all around.

The soul-guiding lamp also became unsteady.

After it stabilized, Li Yan immediately crossed the water basin while holding the Gou Die.

As his feet touched the ground, he felt the world go dark, the sound of wind whistled in his ears, and the surrounding scene also changed...

Second update at 11 o'clock.

(End of chapter)