Chapter 201: Lack of Self-Confidence

The Didiu Temple lacked the grandeur of Xiangguo Temple, yet it possessed an inherent serenity that soothed the heart; walking within its grounds, one's restlessness seemed to vanish completely.

Tong Yao, whose brows had been furrowed due to the renewed lockdown of the Artifact Refining Workshop, now found his expression relaxed.

Hua Changxi also clearly felt that upon entering Didiu Temple, her thoughts were no longer drifting aimlessly.

Before entering the temple, she had been thinking about the purified talisman eye, wondering why her father and brother were not on duty outside the Artifact Refining Workshop, and pondering how Jingliao would help her ignite the white jade lotus petal later; her mind had been a tangled mess.

But now, she thought only of igniting the white jade lotus petal.

Jingliao led Hua Changxi and Tong Yao into the meditation cell where he usually performed his daily devotions; the room contained only a few cushioned mats 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 held it in his hand for a moment, then nodded. "This is indeed a fragment of the Divine Lamp." He then looked at Hua Changxi. "Benefactor Hua, may I ask where you obtained this white jade lotus petal?"

Hua Changxi had not intended to say, but recalling that the nine-tailed fox was a demon, and that demons had infiltrated the center of the Artifact Saint Palace's formation eye to cause sabotage, they might also damage the formation eyes of other holy lands. After a moment of thought, she said, "Before answering that question, I have a question I wish to ask you first."

Jingliao paused briefly, then nodded. "Benefactor, please ask."

Hua Changxi asked, "Is Didiu Temple the site of a holy land?"

Jingliao glanced at Tong Yao, who shook his head at him; he had never mentioned this to Daoist Hua.

"Yes, Didiu Temple is the site of the Talisman Saint Pavilion."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered slightly. "Last time at Kunmen Pass, so many demons were hunting you down because you took the divine artifact, the Talisman Brush, from the Talisman Saint Pavilion?"

Hearing this, Jingliao thought of the long-browed Arhat who had attained nirvana, and a look of self-reproach immediately appeared on his face.

"Ahem~"

Tong Yao coughed lightly and looked at Hua Changxi. "Daoist Hua, if I remember correctly, the one who ultimately drew so many demons was you."

It was the Zhu Que flames Hua Changxi had released that aroused the apprehension of the various demons.

Hua Changxi fell silent, then looked at Jingliao. "This white jade lotus petal of mine was dropped by that nine-tailed fox."

Sure enough, Tong Yao's expression immediately turned serious, and he quickly recounted to Jingliao the details of their fierce battle with the nine-tailed heavenly fox, Bai Li, at the center of the Artifact Saint Palace's formation eye.

Jingliao said, "Fragments of the Divine Lamp have scattered everywhere, so it is not strange that demons have collected some."

Tong Yao's complexion was very poor, filled with worry. "Fragments of the Divine Lamp can not only assist in cultivation but also control others; who knows how many the demons possess?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi hurriedly asked, "Assist in cultivation and control others? How do they assist, and how do they control?"

Jingliao looked at her. "Most living beings exist in chaos, surviving by instinct. Amidst the torrent of the seven emotions and six desires, they lose themselves without even realizing it. Humans either overestimate or belittle themselves, muddling through life, falling until bruised and battered, covered in wounds, only to find it all amounts to nothing in the end."

"The Divine Lamp burns with black and white flames, using the seven emotions and six desires as fuel; it is a sacred object that helps all living beings open the gate of the heart and ignite the heart's lamp."

"Once the gate of the heart opens, one is no longer stuck in old ways or rigidly fixed; once the heart's lamp is ignited, its flames burn the body, allowing one to clearly perceive how the seven emotions and six desires control and influence oneself."

Jingliao looked at Hua Changxi's right hand. "Benefactor, since you have branded the Awakening Pattern, you should have an even deeper understanding of your own emotions and desires."

Hearing these words, some of Hua Changxi's doubts were resolved at that moment.

Previously, she had never understood why the black flame would suddenly grow larger; now she knew—it was she herself who was feeding the black flame!

Jingliao continued, "However, the Divine Lamp shattered, scattering seventy-six black and white jade lotus petals in all directions. Some obtained black jade petals, while others obtained white jade petals."

"Black jade petals fuel the black flame, while white jade petals fuel the white flame. The black flame represents evil thoughts, fear, depravity, and destruction, whereas the white flame symbolizes hope, light, goodness, and love."

"These two flames are also known as the Yin and Yang flames, emphasizing the balance of Yin and Yang, just as all living beings are a mix of good and bad."

"All living beings seek survival and existence; the fear spawned by the black flame stimulates the desire to survive, thereby accelerating the speed of becoming stronger. However, if one burns only the black flame without control, one will eventually be completely swallowed by the darkness within."

"Hope, light, goodness, and love are all things living beings crave; they can purify and dispel all darkness. Yet, if there is only goodness and love without the power to protect, one will ultimately be stripped bare. Therefore, those who burn only the white flame will eventually become fuel for the Divine Lamp."

Seeing Hua Changxi remain silent, Tong Yao summarized directly, "Jingliao's meaning is that everything in excess is as bad as falling short; balance must be maintained in all things."

Jingliao nodded and smiled. "In truth, whether cultivating Buddhism or the Dao, one does the same thing: cultivating oneself."

"Although we encounter many external stimuli in daily life, what ultimately decides everything is ourselves—how we face our seven emotions and six desires, as well as our gains and losses."

Tong Yao sighed. "So, a person's greatest opponent is oneself."

Hua Changxi had also vaguely sensed this point. Looking at Jingliao, she asked, "What if I cannot control my seven emotions and six desires?" Just as she could never control the black flame each time.

Jingliao smiled. "This is a matter requiring a lifetime of exploration. If you cannot control them, then observe and understand them again and again, until you learn to coexist peacefully with them."

Tong Yao shook his head. "Crossing the threshold of emotions and desires is too difficult; it would be better to cultivate the Path of Emotionlessness."

Hua Changxi somewhat agreed with this, yet she felt that even if one achieved immortality, what meaning would there be in being a person without emotions?

Jingliao chuckled. "The Buddha said: 'To be uncommon is to have the bones of an immortal; to be deeply emotional is to have the heart of a Buddha!' Whether an emotionless person can achieve the Great Dao, this humble monk does not know. But this humble monk knows that the reason all living beings cherish this world is because this world contains love."

Hearing this, neither Tong Yao nor Hua Changxi spoke.

Hua Changxi said, "Master Jingliao, please help me ignite the white flame quickly."

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

Soon, white flames covered the white jade lotus petal; in an instant, the meditation cell became warm and cozy, just like sunlight on a spring day.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi's face lit up with joy, and she looked eagerly at Jingliao, waiting for him to strike the white flame into her body.

However, an unexpected event occurred.

The white flame could not enter Hua Changxi's body!

Jingliao tried several times, but none succeeded.

Hua Changxi grew anxious. "What is happening?"

Tong Yao, standing nearby, was also deeply confused.

Jingliao looked at Hua Changxi with a complex expression, remained silent for a moment, then said, "Benefactor Hua, in a moment, hold the white jade lotus petal yourself while this humble monk supports your hand with mine; let us try again."

Unclear about what was happening, Hua Changxi could only do as Jingliao instructed.

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

This time, the white jade lotus petal did not even ignite with white flames!

Jingliao opened his eyes and looked at Hua Changxi. "Benefactor Hua, it seems you have little trust in this world."

Hua Changxi paused, then immediately denied it. "I do not lack trust."

Jingliao sighed. "On the surface, it appears you do not trust the world, but deep down, it is that you do not trust yourself."

Hua Changxi immediately retorted, "How could I possibly not believe in myself? In this world, the one I trust most is myself."