Chapter 2986

"Not an illusion?!"

Master Jingqing was horrified to hear this.

From the moment he met Nanako, he knew that she would definitely be able to achieve enlightenment, and the process would surely be faster than his own, because this was a matter of innate talent.

Among millions of people, perhaps not one possesses the talent for enlightenment. Such people, even if they exhaust their entire lives, could never achieve it.

However, for those who possess the talent for enlightenment, enlightenment is actually just waiting for an opportunity.

It is just that enlightenment itself is too profound and has almost no rules to follow, so for those with the talent, when they will be able to wait for the opportunity for enlightenment is an unknown.

Master Jingqing felt that by telling Ito Nanako the key to enlightenment, with her talent, she would likely be able to achieve it after returning and trying for a year or two.

But he could not imagine that Nanako could successfully achieve enlightenment after only two attempts.

Thus, he suppressed his shock and asked: "Benefactor, you say the primordial spirit leaving the body just now was not an illusion. Could it be... could it be that your consciousness has already merged with the sea of consciousness?"

It wasn't just him who was shocked; An Chengxi and Sister Sun in front of the monitor were even more shocked.

An Chengxi said, dumbfounded: "Nanako can truly achieve enlightenment in such a short time? This... this is simply too unbelievable..."

Sister Sun asked from the side: "Madam, can't Jingqing tell if Miss Ito has achieved enlightenment?"

An Chengxi shook her head: "Jingqing's spiritual energy does not leave his sea of consciousness. Others cannot see that he has spiritual energy, and he cannot see it in others either."

Having said this, An Chengxi suddenly stood up and said: "I will go see her!"

Sister Sun hurriedly asked: "Madam, if you go to see Miss Ito, will you expose yourself? Miss Ito is so attentive to the Young Master; she might have already checked your information. If she recognizes you, wouldn't that..."

An Chengxi nodded: "You are right. Have someone prepare a mask."

At this moment, inside the Buddhist hall, Nanako said very respectfully to Master Jingqing: "Thank you, Master, for your guidance. Consciousness indeed must merge with the sea of consciousness to achieve enlightenment, and I believe I have already merged with it just now."

"This..." Master Jingqing suppressed the shock in his heart and asked: "This poor monk dares to ask, how did you do it, benefactor?"

Nanako thought for a moment and said frankly: "I guess it must be that I reached some kind of consensus with it."

"It?" Master Jingqing asked in confusion: "Could it be... could it be that the 'it' you speak of is the sea of consciousness?"

"Yes." Nanako nodded gently.

"How is this possible..." Master Jingqing muttered: "This poor monk spent eight years achieving enlightenment and leaped into the sea of consciousness almost every day, yet the sea of consciousness has always been a place of deathly silence. How did you reach a consensus with the sea of consciousness, benefactor?"

After saying this, Master Jingqing realized he had been somewhat abrupt and hurriedly added: "Amitabha, this question touches on privacy; this poor monk was reckless."

Nanako said: "Master, I spoke openly and honestly to the sea of consciousness about my secrets and wishes, hoping it would help me realize them. Although it did not respond to me, immediately after, I merged with it."

Master Jingqing was dumbfounded and muttered: "Benefactor, your talent is truly extraordinary. Looking back, the reason this poor monk took eight years to achieve enlightenment was perhaps precisely because I always thought I had abandoned my seven emotions and six desires, but in reality, I was always deceiving myself. And the fact that I was finally able to succeed in achieving enlightenment was likely not because I truly reached a state of unconsciousness, but perhaps just because at some moment, I reached some kind of tacit understanding with the sea of consciousness..."

Nanako did not realize that Master Jingqing's Buddhist heart had already undergone some changes. She said very seriously: "Perhaps Master has a certain deviation in understanding the direction of enlightenment. Although the Purple Mansion and the sea of consciousness are described in both Buddhism and Taoism, enlightenment is, after all, the realm of those who cultivate the Dao. The ideology of Buddhism is 'no-self,' while the ideology of Taoism is 'true-self.' They are inherently north and south, left and right. For Master to use Buddhist theory to solve the problems of Taoist cultivation might be putting the cart before the horse, or perhaps misapplying the concepts."

"Since the ideology of Taoism is 'true-self,' perhaps it is necessary to let the sea of consciousness feel the realm of the 'true-self' for it to merge with my consciousness..."

"Ah... this..." Master Jingqing was suddenly stunned on the spot. After a long while, he realized and said: "Your words, benefactor, have truly enlightened this poor monk. This poor monk has been taught!"

Nanako hurriedly said humbly and respectfully: "Master, you overstate it. That Ito Nanako can have this fortune today is all thanks to your guidance, Master. This kindness, Nanako will never forget!"

An Chengxi, who had already put on a mask, was still standing in front of the monitor. Hearing these words from Nanako, she was naturally both surprised and happy.

She had never deeply considered the issue of no-self versus true-self.

When she originally guided Jingqing and helped him open his mind to enlightenment, she mainly helped his consciousness achieve internal observation and helped his consciousness find the sea of consciousness.

As for how to let consciousness merge with the sea of consciousness, An Chengxi herself did not know.

The reason she was able to achieve enlightenment back then was half due to Ye Brother Changying, who possessed the Dragon Fate. Although she could master the way of internal observation, the merging of consciousness into the sea of consciousness was only completed with Ye Brother Changying's help.

Now, Nanako successfully entered the Dao after only two attempts. This talent made her shocked while also full of joy.

She knew that Ye Chen currently needed two roles by his side: one is a strategist whose wisdom is nearly demonic, and the other is a Taoist companion to cultivate the Dao together.

The Taoist companion mentioned here is not a lover for cultivation or dual cultivation, but a completely reliable companion to cultivate the Dao together.

The path of cultivation is long and lonely. Being able to have a completely trustworthy and like-minded person to accompany you is like having a companion on a long night journey; the significance is great and far-reaching.

In fact, in An Chengxi's view, whether it is a strategist or a Taoist companion, no one is more suitable than Lin Wan'er.

It is a pity that Lin Wan'er is somewhat similar to Jingqing. Jingqing's spiritual energy does not leave his sea of consciousness, while Lin Wan'er has mastered almost all knowledge but is the only one who cannot cultivate spiritual energy.

Therefore, Lin Wan'er can only serve as a strategist but cannot accompany Ye Chen in cultivating the Dao.

And now, Ito Nanako finally possesses the necessary conditions for the second role.

At this moment, inside the Buddhist hall, Master Jingqing's heart was also filled with endless emotion.

Today, influenced by Ito Nanako's remarks, he repeatedly questioned himself.

After silently reciting the Heart Sutra several times, he finally said: "Since you, benefactor, have already been able to have your primordial spirit leave your body and perceive all things around you with spiritual energy, then it can be considered enlightenment in the true sense. Compared to someone like this poor monk whose spiritual energy does not leave the sea of consciousness, you will have many more possibilities. However, your spiritual energy also needs constant cultivation and refinement. Now you can only perceive this Buddhist hall; in the future, perhaps you will be able to perceive the entire temple, or even the entire Mount Qixia."

Having said this, Master Jingqing sighed with emotion: "However, this poor monk does not know any cultivation methods, so the path after you achieve enlightenment, benefactor, will have to depend on yourself, or on the help of a noble person."

Nanako nodded heavily and said: "Thank you, Master, for your fulfillment!"

"Amitabha." Master Jingqing said noncommittally, then said: "Let this poor monk bless and consecrate the amulet for you, benefactor. I hope this amulet can protect your beloved one in peace and safety."

Nanako knew that Master Jingqing wanted to end the topic of enlightenment, so she said gratefully: "Then I will trouble you, Master!"