Chapter 201: Lack of Confidence

Dixiu Temple was not as grand as Xiangguo Temple, but it carried an inherent peace and tranquility that smoothed the heart. Walking in the temple, the restless mood seemed to be swept away.

Tong Yao, who had been frowning because the instrument workshop was under martial law again, now had his brows smoothed out.

Hua Changxi also clearly felt that after entering Dixiu Temple, her mood was no longer drifting.

Before entering the temple, she was thinking about Jingliao's Rune Eye, why her father and brother were not on duty outside the instrument workshop, and how Jingliao would help her ignite the white jade lotus petal later. Her mood was complicated and chaotic.

But at this moment, she was only thinking about igniting the white jade lotus petal.

Jingliao led Hua Changxi and Tong Yao into the meditation room where he usually did his homework. There were only a few cushions in the meditation room, and nothing else.

After the three sat cross-legged on the cushions, Hua Changxi took out the white jade lotus petal and handed it to Jingliao.

Jingliao took it in his hand and looked at it for a while, then nodded: "This is indeed a fragment of the Divine Lamp." As he said this, he looked at Hua Changxi, "Benefactor Hua, I wonder where you obtained this white jade lotus petal?"

Hua Changxi didn't want to say it, but thinking that the Nine-Tailed Fox was of the demon race, and that the demon race sneaking into the center of the Instrument Saint Palace's formation eye to cause destruction might also destroy the formation eyes of other holy lands, she pondered for a moment and said: "Before answering this question, I have a question I want to ask you first."

Jingliao was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Benefactor, please ask."

Hua Changxi: "Is Dixiu Temple a ruin of a holy land?"

Jingliao looked at Tong Yao, but Tong Yao shook his head at him; he hadn't told Fellow Daoist Hua about this.

"Yes, Dixiu Temple is the ruin of the Rune Saint Pavilion."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered: "Last time at Kunmen Pass, so many demon races chased and killed you, was it because you took away the Rune Saint Pavilion's artifact, the Rune Pen?"

Hearing this, Jingliao thought of the Arhat Changmei who had passed away, and a look of self-reproach immediately appeared on his face.

"Cough, cough~"

Tong Yao coughed lightly and looked at Hua Changxi: "Fellow Daoist Hua, if I remember correctly, the person who finally led out so many demon races seems to be you."

It was because of the Zhu Que flame released by Fellow Daoist Hua that triggered the fear of the demons.

Hua Changxi was silent and looked at Jingliao: "This white jade lotus petal of mine was dropped by that Nine-Tailed Fox."

Sure enough, Tong Yao's expression immediately became serious, and he quickly told Jingliao about the battle with the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Bai Li at the center of the Instrument Saint Palace's formation eye.

Jingliao: "The fragments of the Divine Lamp are scattered everywhere. It is not strange for the demon race to collect fragments of the Divine Lamp."

Tong Yao's expression was very bad, and he was worried: "The fragments of the Divine Lamp can not only assist in cultivation but also control others. I don't know how many the demon race has?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi hurriedly asked: "Assist in cultivation, control others? How to assist, how to control?"

Jingliao looked at her: "Most living beings are chaotic, living by instinct. In the torrent of seven emotions and six desires, they lose themselves without even knowing it. People, either overestimate themselves or underestimate themselves, living their whole lives in a muddle, falling and getting bruised and covered in wounds, only to end up with nothing in the end."

"The Divine Lamp burns black and white flames, using the seven emotions and six desires as fuel. It is a holy object that helps all living beings open their hearts and ignite their heart lamps."

"Once the heart door is opened, one is no longer self-contained and rigid; once the heart lamp is ignited, the flames burn the body, and one can clearly perceive how the seven emotions and six desires control and influence oneself."

Jingliao looked at Hua Changxi's right hand: "Benefactor has branded the awakening pattern, so you should have a deeper understanding of your own desires."

Hearing this, some of Hua Changxi's doubts were resolved at this moment.

Previously, she had always been unclear about why the black flames would suddenly grow larger. Now she knew, it was she herself who was feeding the black flames!

Jingliao continued: "However, the Divine Lamp is broken, and seventy-six black and white jade lotus petals are scattered everywhere. Some people obtained black jade lotus petals, and some obtained white jade lotus petals."

"Black jade lotus petals help ignite black flames, and white jade lotus petals help ignite white flames. Black flames represent evil thoughts, fear, depravity, and destruction, while white flames symbolize hope, light, kindness, and love."

"The black and white flames are also called yin and yang flames, emphasizing yin and yang balance, just as all living beings are half good and half bad."

"Living beings all seek to survive. The fear spawned by black flames will stimulate the desire of living beings to survive, thereby accelerating the speed of becoming stronger. But if one only burns black flames without control, one will eventually be completely swallowed by the dark side of one's heart."

"Hope, light, and kindness and love are all things that living beings crave, which can purify and dispel all darkness. But if there is only kindness and love without the power of protection, one will eventually be plundered. Therefore, those who only burn white flames will eventually turn into fuel for the Divine Lamp."

Seeing Hua Changxi silent, Tong Yao summarized directly: "Jingliao's meaning is that everything should be done in moderation, and one must pay attention to balance."

Jingliao nodded and smiled: "In fact, whether it is practicing Buddhism or Taoism, what is done is the same thing, which is to cultivate oneself."

"Although we encounter many external stimuli in our daily lives, the final decision is still up to ourselves, depending on how we face our own seven emotions and six desires, as well as gains and losses."

Tong Yao sighed: "So it is said that a person's greatest opponent is oneself."

Hua Changxi also vaguely sensed this point and looked at Jingliao: "What should I do if I can't control my seven emotions and six desires?" Just like how she couldn't control the black flames every time.

Jingliao smiled: "This is something that requires a lifetime of exploration. If you can't control it, you should observe and understand it again and again, and then coexist peacefully with it."

Tong Yao shook his head: "It's too difficult to pass the hurdle of desire. It's better to practice the ruthless path."

Hua Changxi somewhat agreed with this, but also felt that a person without emotions, even if they lived forever, what would be the point?

Jingliao laughed: "Buddha says: Not being vulgar is the immortal bone, being sentimental is the Buddha heart! Whether a ruthless person can achieve the Great Dao, the little monk does not know, but the little monk knows that the reason all living beings cherish this world is because there is love in this world."

Hearing this, Tong Yao and Hua Changxi both stopped talking.

Hua Changxi: "Master Jingliao, please help me ignite the white flames quickly."

Jingliao nodded, held the white jade lotus petal, closed his eyes, and recited the scriptures silently.

Soon, the white jade lotus petal was covered with white flames. In an instant, the meditation room became warm, just like the sunshine in spring.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi was overjoyed and looked at Jingliao eagerly, waiting for him to strike the white flames into her body.

However, an accident happened.

The white flames could not be struck into Hua Changxi's body!

Jingliao tried several times, but none were successful.

Hua Changxi was a little anxious: "What's going on?"

Tong Yao on the side was also very confused.

Jingliao looked at Hua Changxi with a complex expression and was silent for a while: "Benefactor Hua, later you hold the white jade lotus petal, and the little monk will hold your hand, and we will try again."

Hua Changxi didn't know what was going on, so she could only do as Jingliao said.

After the white jade lotus petal returned to Hua Changxi's hand, Jingliao held her hand and closed his eyes again to recite the scriptures silently.

This time, the white jade lotus petal didn't even ignite white flames!

Jingliao opened his eyes and looked at Hua Changxi: "Benefactor Hua, you seem to be very distrustful of this world."

Hua Changxi was stunned, and then she opened her mouth to deny: "I don't distrust it."

Jingliao sighed: "On the surface, it is that you don't believe in the world, but deep down, it is that you don't believe in yourself."

Hua Changxi immediately retorted: "How could I not believe in myself? In this world, I believe in myself the most." ===== CHAPTER 202 =====