Chapter 123

Only at this time did Li Miao know the name of above the peak.

"Heavenly Being Realm."

To be honest, always calling it "above the peak," Li Miao also felt it was a bit awkward.

It was just that he had no foundation, and all his martial arts were cultivated by himself, and he had nowhere to ask.

Getting this answer today, Li Miao had already made the trip worthwhile.

Xingchi continued.

"The monk conjectures that the reason these heavenly beings fall off the lotus seat is not because the practice is not enough."

"But because the practice is too 'full'."

"Water overflows when full, leaking out flaws."

"They can no longer contain their own practice, so they can only wither and return this practice to heaven and earth."

"Therefore, the path after the Heavenly Being Realm should not be continued addition."

Li Miao nodded: "I also vaguely have similar conjectures, it's just that I couldn't verify them for a time."

"Please enlighten me, Master."

Xingchi nodded: "Lord Li, no need to be polite; the monk is just guessing, just treat it as discussing the Dao with Lord Li."

"In that case, the monk will continue."

Li Miao stretched out his hand and made a "please" gesture.

Xingchi nodded and said.

"The so-called 'heavenly beings,' in my Buddhist classics, are actually divided into three categories, living in the 'Desire Realm,' 'Form Realm,' and 'Formless Realm' respectively."

"Among them, only heavenly beings in the Desire Realm and Form Realm will have the 'Five Decays of Heaven and Man'."

"Heavenly beings living in the Formless Realm only have 'consciousness' and no physical body, and will never encounter death."

Li Miao noticed Xingchi's focus.

"Consciousness."

Li Miao had long had conjectures, and at this moment, he finally got verification.

Heavenly Being Realm three paths: Jin Gang, Sumeru, Jiezi.

Jin Gang is the body, Jiezi is the technique, Sumeru is the energy.

Only missing a "spirit," or "heart."

The martial arts of the Great Shu especially emphasize the state of mind. If the state of mind does not match, it is difficult to exert the power of martial arts.

Why is it that when reaching the Heavenly Being Realm, there is no requirement for the state of mind?

Xingchi saw Li Miao's expression and laughed loudly: "Hahaha, the monk knew that Lord Li also had this conjecture long ago!"

"Two-way verification, the monk probably wasn't wrong back then!"

"A dying person, fulfilling another wish, is truly the Bodhisattva's protection!"

Li Miao smiled: "Master, don't be so polite; if it weren't for your conjecture, Master, it would be difficult for me to be sure."

"I already know what you want to say, Master."

Li Miao took over the conversation, looked at Xingchi who was smiling opposite him, and told it slowly.

"Heavenly beings in the Formless Realm have no physical body and no Five Decays of Heaven and Man. Heavenly beings in the Desire Realm and Form Realm have physical bodies and have the Five Decays of Heaven and Man."

"The difference between them lies in this connection between the physical body and consciousness."

Li Miao sighed.

"Cultivating life without cultivating nature is the first illness of practice. Cultivating nature without cultivating life, it is difficult for the yin spirit to enter the sage after ten thousand kalpas."

"Nature does not leave life, life does not leave nature."

"It means preserving spirit and energy, and refining the subtle within the existence, perfecting the form and entering the formless, so there is life without death, which is the heavenly god and immortal."

"This point I was missing, I finally know what it is."

Xingchi, however, pretended to be angry and asked: "The monk talked to Lord Li for a long time about the Buddhist scriptures, but Lord Li used the Taoist articles to conclude."

"Could it be that you look down on my Buddhism?"

Having discussed with Xingchi for less than half an hour, Li Miao already knew his personality.

He is not a high monk in the traditional sense at all, but an open-minded, clear-sighted, and cheerful old man.

Imagine, if someone else knew such secrets, they would definitely cherish them and hide them as treasures to be passed down. And Xingchi had only known Li Miao for less than half an hour, yet he poured everything out.

With such a state of mind, he has truly realized the essence of the Buddhist "emptiness." Not only treasures and dojos, but even life and death, Xingchi is probably already able to let go.

But he let go of everything, yet he couldn't let go of the lives of others.

He had already realized the key to crossing the Heavenly Being Realm, but back then, he damaged his foundation to save people, and his whole life was trapped at the peak, unable to make any progress.

He was clearly completed in merit, yet he was still willing to abandon his own life, forcibly piling up his realm, fighting with Ji Tianrui, and leaving himself with only three days to live, just so that more Shaolin disciples could survive.

Thinking of this, Li Miao stood up and bowed deeply to Xingchi.

"Master, Li's skill was all self-realized, without sect or faction."

"Today, discussing the Dao with you, Master, Li has benefited a lot and should perform the disciple's etiquette."

Xingchi hurriedly stood up and supported Li Miao's arms.

"Lord Li, no need for courtesy. Discussing the Dao with Lord Li today is also fulfilling a wish of the monk."

"Moreover, my inferior disciple also listened on the side, which is also leaving an inheritance for my Shaolin."

"The monk should also bow to Lord Li."

The two pushed back and forth, and then sat down together.

Xingchi then said: "Lord Li, the monk has a request, hoping Lord Li can agree."

Li Miao was satisfied at this time, only feeling that this trip out of the capital was a full harvest, and he respected Xingchi even more, saying directly.

"Master, just say it; I will not refuse."

Xingchi nodded and pointed at Yong Jie, who was still thinking on the side.

"The monk wants to pass on power to this inferior disciple; I trouble Lord Li to protect the law for me."

Yong Jie on the side heard this, but was stunned, and then stood up suddenly, waving his hands repeatedly.

"Master, absolutely not!"

"I, I can't do it; I became a monk halfway, and I still have blood debts to pay; how can I take your power!"

"There are many senior brothers in the temple who are cleaner than me, why must you find me, Master."

"Absolutely not, absolutely not!"

Xingchi was kind-hearted when talking to Li Miao, but he was very fierce to Yong Jie. His eyebrows stood up, and he slapped Yong Jie on the back of the head directly.

Slap!

Yong Jie had a bald head, and this slap hit it, making a crisp sound.

"Is it your turn to speak? Shut up!"

Li Miao found it funny and didn't interrupt.

Xingchi only had three days to live, but those bones stronger than the completed "Jin Gang" were still there. At this moment, his two arms were dancing with great momentum, hitting Yong Jie until he was bruised and swollen, and he couldn't stop wailing.

After a long while, Xingchi stopped without being red-faced or out of breath, and turned to smile at Li Miao.

"I let Lord Li see a joke."

Li Miao waved his hand: "No matter, no matter."

"Let's get back to business; Master, when are you going to pass on the power? I have things to do tonight, so I'm afraid I can't spare my hands for a moment."

Xingchi nodded: "The monk also needs to prepare on this side."

"This Heavenly Being Realm of mine was piled up by secret methods in the sect and cannot be passed down. But this true energy cultivated through hard work cannot be wasted."

"Right now in Shaolin, there are no peak experts. Only this inferior disciple was already a peak expert before turning to practice my Buddhist martial arts. Both meridians and roots can hold my power."

"Three days later, the monk will invite some Jianghu peers to witness this matter, and incidentally pass the position of abbot to this inferior disciple."

"At that time, I will have to ask Lord Li to protect the law for me."

Li Miao nodded, naturally having no objection.

This matter is done, it's time to go outside the temple to see Zhu Zai.

(End of chapter)