Chapter 130

Xiangguo Temple was built at the foot of the mountain behind the Imperial City. Because the guards near the Imperial City were strict and the Imperial Guards often patrolled, Hua Changxi came directly by riding the clouds.

On weekdays, Xiangguo Temple was only responsible for receiving imperial relatives and some important nobles. Ordinary commoners were not allowed to approach here.

Hua Changxi didn't want to expose her identity, so she wore the black robe she obtained in the Ghost Market.

The monks of Xiangguo Temple were worthy of having seen big figures and big scenes. Facing Hua Changxi in a black robe descending from the sky, they were all calm and unmoved.

Hua Changxi informed the gatekeeper monk that she was entrusted by Great Master Changmei to seek an audience with the Abbot. Then, after waiting for a quarter of an hour at the mountain gate, a monk came to lead her into the temple.

Xiangguo Temple was built against the mountain. Entering from the mountain gate, the terrain would rise with each courtyard passed.

When passing the first courtyard, Hua Changxi was attracted by the lotus pond in the center of the courtyard.

The lotus pond not only had rich spiritual energy but also had a golden lotus in full bloom.

"Little Master, what is this golden lotus?"

The guiding monk didn't stop his steps, his face showing pride: "This is the Merit Jin Lian."

Hua Changxi walked beside the guiding monk and asked curiously: "What is the function of this Merit Jin Lian?"

Hearing this question, the guiding monk just smiled.

Seeing he wouldn't say, Hua Changxi asked about other things: "Can all Buddhist temples grow Merit Jin Lian?"

The guiding monk laughed: "The female donor is joking. Only temples that have accumulated great merit can grow Merit Jin Lian."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. She opened Mount Wuzhi, ignited the alchemy fire of the Alchemy Saint Hall, explained medical skills in the Qihuang Hall, and opened Lingguang Palace. Do these count as merit?

"Is the Merit Jin Lian only something that can be grown by Buddhist temples, or can anyone who has accumulated merit grow it?"

Upon hearing this, the guiding monk stopped his steps and turned to look at Hua Changxi: "Countless monks in this temple have gone forward one after another to save all living beings, only then did they grow this one Merit Jin Lian."

Hua Changxi: "Is it so hard to grow? Little Master, how is the golden lotus grown?"

The guiding monk glanced at her and shook his head: "This little monk doesn't know."

Afterward, passing through several more courtyards, Hua Changxi was brought directly to the courtyard where the Luo Han Hall was located.

"Female donor, please wait a moment. This little monk will go and report to the Abbot."

Hua Changxi stood in the courtyard, watching the guiding monk enter the hall.

In the Luo Han Hall, Great Master Wuchen and Jingle had not left yet. Both master and apprentice wanted to know the background of the female Daoist friend who assisted Great Master Changmei.

Great Master Wuxiang saw what the two were thinking and didn't drive them away.

After the guiding monk entered the hall, he said to Great Master Wuxiang: "Abbot, the female donor has arrived." He paused, "The female donor has been asking about the Merit Jin Lian all the way, seemingly wanting to... grow a golden lotus."

Great Master Wuxiang heard this, his face showing surprise, then smiled: "Please invite the female donor in."

Soon, Hua Changxi was led into the hall.

Seeing her in a black robe with a lucky doll mask on her head, Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen exchanged glances silently, while Jingle looked at Hua Changxi curiously.

After Hua Changxi entered the hall, she first paid her respects to Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen, then glanced at Jingle, recognized him as one of the people who escaped from Jiuyou that day, and then handed over the bundle containing Great Master Changmei's cassock and Bodhi beads.

"Great Master Changmei... sacrificed himself for others, I admire him very much. These are his relics, please keep them well, Abbot."

Great Master Wuxiang took the bundle, opened it, and looked at the cassock and Bodhi beads inside, his face showing grief: "Thank you, female donor, for returning Junior Brother Changmei's relics."

Hua Changxi thought of the scene where Great Master Changmei rushed out to block the demons and his spiritual shadow was scattered. Her heart still felt a bit shocked: "Abbot, please restrain your grief. I have returned Great Master Changmei's relics, so I won't disturb you anymore."

Great Master Wuxiang hurriedly called her to stay: "Donor, please stay."

Hua Changxi: "Master, is there anything else?"

Great Master Wuxiang: "Jingle has already told me that if it weren't for meeting the donor, they wouldn't have been able to escape from the Soul-Devouring Well. Now that the donor has specially returned Junior Brother Changmei's relics, I should express my gratitude no matter what."

Hua Changxi hurriedly said: "Master, you don't have to be polite. I am just acting according to my original heart."

Hearing this, Great Master Wuxiang smiled: "The donor is a person with profound wisdom. Xiangguo Temple has nothing else, but the Awakening Pool on the Precept Altar is still somewhat useful. The donor might as well take a trip to the Precept Altar; perhaps there will be unexpected gains."

As soon as Hua Changxi heard the words 'Precept Altar', she instinctively wanted to refuse. Buddhist monks have many precepts and rules, and she didn't want to be bound by these precepts.

However, before she could speak, Jingle, who saw she wanted to refuse, spoke first.

"Donor, the Awakening Pool of Xiangguo Temple was nurtured by the relics of several generations of Abbots under the illumination of the power of the Divine Lamp. If you can gain something, it will be very helpful to cultivators."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression shifted.

Relics, power of the Divine Lamp...

Hua Changxi looked at Great Master Wuxiang: "Master, what is the Divine Lamp?"

Great Master Wuxiang smiled: "The Divine Lamp of the founding of the Great Jin."

Hua Changxi: "Isn't it said that the Divine Lamp was destroyed?"

Great Master Wuxiang sighed: "The Divine Lamp was indeed destroyed, but Xiangguo Temple has preserved the lotus petals of the Divine Lamp."

Hua Changxi: "Does Xiangguo Temple preserve both black and white lotus petals?"

Great Master Wuxiang nodded: "Of course."

Hua Changxi thought of Manager Leng's words, saying that as long as the white flame was ignited, the black flame could be controlled. She immediately decided to take a trip to the Precept Altar: "Then I will respectfully obey."

Great Master Wuxiang smiled and personally led Hua Changxi to the Precept Altar, while Great Master Wuchen and Jingle also followed.

The Precept Altar was the place where monks of Xiangguo Temple received precepts. After Hua Changxi arrived, she instinctively became serious.

"Donor, that is the Awakening Pool. Just put your hand into it."

On the Precept Altar stone stood a transparent tank, more than a meter high, looking very much like a glass fish tank. There was nothing in the tank, only a twelve-petaled lotus lamp burning with black and white flames at the bottom, of which eight petals were white jade and four petals were black jade.

Hua Changxi leaned over and looked carefully at the lotus lamp: "Is this the Divine Lamp?"

Great Master Wuxiang: "This is only a part of the Divine Lamp. The Divine Lamp has thirty-six white lotus petals and thirty-six black lotus petals, with a lamp wick and a lamp base. It has been almost five hundred years since the Divine Lamp was destroyed, and Xiangguo Temple has only collected twelve lotus petals."

Hua Changxi's heart moved when she heard this. She didn't expect the Divine Lamp to have so many lotus petals.

Jingle saw that Hua Changxi was slow to move and couldn't help but remind her: "Donor, hurry up and put your hand into the Awakening Pool to try."

Hua Changxi still didn't move, glanced at Jingle, whose eyes were clear and bright, and then looked at Great Master Wuxiang: "What reaction will there be if I put my hand in?"

Great Master Wuxiang saw Hua Changxi's vigilance and smiled: "If the donor has enough wisdom, awakening patterns will appear on your hand."

Hua Changxi: "What if there is no wisdom?"

Great Master Wuxiang: "Then naturally there will be no reaction."

Hua Changxi asked again: "Do both Masters and this little Master have awakening patterns? Can I see them?"

Seeing Hua Changxi's vigilance was so heavy, Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen exchanged helpless glances.

Jingle couldn't help it again and looked at Hua Changxi earnestly: "Of course there are, but awakening patterns only appear at specific times. Donor, don't worry, you are my life-saving benefactor, this little monk won't harm you."

Hua Changxi was hit in the heart, but she wasn't embarrassed: "I have been deceived, of course I have to be careful."

Great Master Wuxiang reminded: "Donor, there is nothing wrong with being careful, but don't be trapped by past events."

Hua Changxi didn't speak, looking at the transparent tank. She didn't feel any malice from the three of them, and she really wanted to solve the black flame matter. After being silent for a while, she still put her right hand into it.

As soon as her hand entered the tank, water ripples actually rippled in the tank, which had nothing in it, and then a black fish condensed on the lotus lamp burning with black and white flames.

Seeing the black fish, Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen's expressions shifted, and Jingle also gave an 'ah' in surprise.

Hua Changxi didn't understand. Before she could ask, the black fish rushed up and bit her, then quickly merged into the back of her hand.

"What's going on?"

Hua Changxi was shocked in her heart and quickly pulled her hand out, just in time to see a black fish pattern very similar to the black fish in the Taiji diagram appear on the back of her hand.

The pattern flashed and disappeared quickly.

Hua Changxi looked at the three of them: "What's going on with this black fish pattern?"

Great Master Wuxiang looked at her, his expression a bit complicated: "That is the awakening pattern."

Hua Changxi saw that Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen's expressions were a bit serious, and hurriedly asked: "Is there something wrong with my awakening pattern?"

Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen were silent and didn't speak.

Jingle scratched his round bald head in confusion: "How could it be a black fish pattern?"

There were twice as many white jade lotus petals as black jade lotus petals in Xiangguo Temple. Logically, it should have generated a black and white fish pattern with more white patterns.

Hua Changxi asked hurriedly: "Then what should it look like?"

Jingle: "It should have generated a black and white fish pattern."

Hua Changxi's heart moved, thinking of the black flame in her body, she seemed to understand the meaning of Jingle's words. She looked at Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen, hesitated for a moment, and still said: "I have encountered people from the Asura Gate before. In the fight with them, they merged black flames into my body."

Upon hearing this, Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen revealed looks of sudden realization at the same time.

Great Master Wuxiang: "So that's it. Then the donor must control the black flame well, and don't be swallowed by the black flame."

Great Master Wuchen directly took out a scripture and handed it to Hua Changxi: "This is the Heart-Clearing Mantra. Reciting this mantra can control the growth of the black flame. Donor saved Jingle, this can be considered my thank-you gift."

Hua Changxi took the "Heart-Clearing Mantra". Seeing that Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen attached so much importance to the black flame, she also added a few points of gravity to the black flame in her heart.

Afterward, she looked at the white jade lotus petals in the tank and felt her body, but there was no sign of white flame being ignited.

"Isn't it said that white jade lotus petals can ignite white flames? Why wasn't I ignited?"

Great Master Wuxiang: "Igniting white flames requires an opportunity. Some people are easy to ignite, and some are not."

Hua Changxi frowned: "I heard that black flames ignite the evil side of people, and white flames ignite the kind side of people. I am not easy to ignite white flames, does it mean I am a very evil person?"

Jingle hurriedly said: "Of course not. Donor can save me and others, you are a kind person."

Hua Changxi looked at him and didn't say anything else. She was just asking casually. She didn't think she was a bad person. Xiangguo Temple's white jade lotus petals didn't help her ignite white flames, which might be because the time was too short, or it was suppressed by the black flame in her body?

She had to get a white jade lotus petal herself to try, and try to ignite the white flame herself.

Afterward, Great Master Wuxiang gave Hua Changxi a token to enter and exit Xiangguo Temple, telling her that Xiangguo Temple had monks lecturing on scriptures on the first and fifteenth of every month, and she could come and listen when she had time.

"Thank you, Master."

Seeing that it was getting dark, Hua Changxi didn't stay long in Xiangguo Temple, and Jingle took the initiative to see her off.

On the way to the mountain gate, Jingle thanked Hua Changxi again for her life-saving grace: "Donor, this little monk is from Dixiu Temple. If the donor feels it is inconvenient to come to Xiangguo Temple, you can come to Dixiu Temple to listen to the monks lecture on scriptures."

Hua Changxi was a bit surprised: "So you are not a disciple of Xiangguo Temple."

Jingle shook his head: "My master and Great Master Wuxiang are from the same school, so this little monk can be considered half a disciple of Xiangguo Temple."

Hua Changxi asked with a smile: "How did you know I didn't want to come to Xiangguo Temple?"

Jingle smiled: "The donor got the entry token of Xiangguo Temple, but there was no fluctuation in your mood."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "You are quite sharp."

Soon, the two arrived at the mountain gate of Xiangguo Temple.

Jingle watched Hua Changxi walk away, and then turned back. When he returned to the Luo Han Hall, he happened to hear Great Master Wuxiang and Great Master Wuchen discussing Hua Changxi's black fish pattern.

"Since the formation of the Awakening Pool, there have only been five people whose awakening patterns were completely black fish patterns. Thinking of the turmoil caused by those five people, I still have lingering fears to this day."

"That female donor can severely injure the Underworld Dragon, her cultivation is definitely not low. Now is an eventful time, I hope she won't be like the few people before."

Jingle walked in: "Master, the disciple thinks you are overthinking. The female donor could take action to save us in the Soul-Devouring Well, she must not be an evil person."

Great Master Wuchen looked at his apprentice: "The black fish pattern generated by that female donor, even the fish eyes are black. She might not be an evil person, but she is most likely a person without love."

Jingle didn't understand what a person without love was: "As long as she is not an evil person, it's fine."

Great Master Wuchen sighed: "A person without love turns a blind eye to the suffering of the world. If it were just an ordinary person, it would be fine, but if it were a powerhouse who could clearly change the world, the harm caused by their indifference would not be less than that of an evil person doing evil."

Seeing his apprentice looking blank, Great Master Wuchen didn't say anything more: "You will understand in the future."

After Hua Changxi left Xiangguo Temple, she didn't return directly to the Medical Department, but rode the clouds to Lingguang Palace. After arriving at the main hall of Lingguang Palace, she hurriedly checked her body.

Although she didn't feel any malice from Jingle and the others, the matter of the black fish pattern still made her a bit uneasy.

Hua Changxi, who had checked inside and out, even her Dantian Qi Sea and Nascent Soul, didn't find any anomalies. There was no trace of the black fish pattern that had flashed on the back of her right hand.

"The awakening pattern will only appear at specific times..."

"Then what is the specific time?"