Chapter 371: The West

The seventh floor of the Pagoda at Fengde Temple, Zunfo Mountain.

This is the highest point of the entire Zunfo Mountain, and here, a Buddha statue stands tall.

Kaiwen Chan Master sat before the Buddha statue, muttering incantations.

“The World Honored One’s Clone, in the lands where he resides and where he attained nirvana, this scripture should be widely proclaimed. Why is this? We ourselves also wish to obtain this truly pure and great Dharma…”

Although he was reciting a Buddhist mantra spoken by the World Honored One, the Buddha statue before him was not the World Honored One Tathagata.

Not every place was qualified to erect a statue of the World Honored One Tathagata.

It wasn't that the World Honored One was unwilling; in fact, the World Honored One didn't care about these things. The Buddha was famously amiable and easy to talk to. Except for the Heavenly Demon, he had never been rough with anyone, nor had he ever spoken ill.

This matter was also related to the Heavenly Demon. As an orthodox Buddhist practitioner who came from the Western Paradise Buddhist Kingdom’s Spirit Mountain, Kaiwen Chan Master was very clear about the reasons behind it.

Every place with a statue of the World Honored One would inevitably be spied upon by the Heavenly Demon, and those who dared to worship the World Honored One’s image would receive special attention from the Heavenly Demon.

The grievances between the Heavenly Demon and the Buddha had spread far and wide, even Li Qi knew about them.

On the day the Buddha attained the Dao, the Heavenly Demon descended before the Buddha and told him that he would alter the Buddha’s Dao Orthodoxy. He would cause all Monks to fall into depravity and become devils, twist the true meaning of the Buddha, rewrite the Buddhist scriptures, and allow demonic children and grandchildren to brazenly don kasayas, sit before Buddha statues, and indulge wantonly before believers.

Replacing the Buddha with devils and ultimately creating the Age of Dharma Decline, this was one of the Heavenly Demon’s goals, his wicked pleasure.

“By the Buddha’s Divine Power, all see in this Saha World, in the immeasurable, boundless hundreds of thousands of millions of precious trees, on the lion thrones, the Buddhas, and also see Sakyamuni Buddha, together with Many Treasures Tathagata, in the precious Pagoda, sitting on the lion throne.” Kaiwen Chan Master continued to chant, but in his heart, he began to think about things he had heard in the past.

The Heavenly Demon wanted to do this because such actions could destroy the Tathagata’s great work of awakening the world, cause him to lose his Dao Heart, and even cause the World Honored One to lose rank.

This brought no benefit to the Heavenly Demon, but he simply wanted to do it. If one were to ask for his purpose, the answer would most likely be “fun.”

The World Honored One once said: “This Mara will gradually corrupt and disturb my true Dharma. In the future, wicked devils will transform themselves into the appearance of Monks, enter among the Monks, speak various heresies, lead many sentient beings into wrong views, and preach false doctrines.”

Papiyas was the name of the Heavenly Demon, which few people knew, but Kaiwen Chan Master, who came from Spirit Mountain, had read many scriptures not circulated to the public, so he had seen it.

Originally, the World Honored One, with supreme perseverance and supreme wisdom, directly suppressed the Heavenly Demon during his advancement, and finally succeeded in attaining the Dao, but the Heavenly Demon was not prepared to let it go at that.

Therefore, every place with a statue of the World Honored One would attract the attention of the Heavenly Demon, and the entire Buddhist faith has been the target of the Heavenly Demon for countless years.

“Those sentient beings, having heard the sound in the Void Realm, all scattered afar to the Saha World, covering all the Buddhas in this realm.” Kaiwen Chan Master’s Buddhist mantra did not stop, but he sighed deeply in his heart.

The idea of Buddha and Devil as one, the ‘Esoteric Buddhism’ shrouded in devilish nature prevalent in the Western Regions, and the demonic thoughts that all Buddhist Disciples constantly guarded against—everything originated from the Heavenly Demon, and it was uncontrollable. Buddha and Devil as one even brazenly became a faction within Buddhism.

Just as the Heavenly Demon had said back then, demonic children and grandchildren would wear kasayas and sit before the Buddha.

Even though the Great Bodhisattva and True Buddhas forged the Heavens of the Formless Realm, thereby expelling the Heavenly Demon to the outer realms, and then used the pure Dharma to firmly lock him down, ensuring that every time he extended his tentacles outwards he would be met with a joint counterattack from several True Buddhas, they could not prevent all of this from happening.

It was the same now; another Buddhist Son had received such attention. He hoped he could pull through…

“At that time, the ten directions of the world became unobstructed, like a single Buddhist land.” Thinking of these things, Kaiwen Chan Master finally finished reciting the Buddhist mantra.

Just by looking at the incantation, one could clearly understand the effect of this Buddhist mantra.

It was to use the seven-story Pagoda of Fengde Temple to connect with the Heavens of the Formless Realm, achieving the effect of “those sentient beings, having heard the sound in the Void Realm, at that time, the ten directions of the world became unobstructed, like a single Buddhist land.”

This required a lot of power, but Kaiwen Chan Master had an entire Buddhist temple and a Pagoda as support at this moment, so he could use such a secret art to directly communicate with the Western Paradise Buddhist Kingdom.

For the ten directions of the world to be unobstructed, like a single Buddhist land, such great power could probably only be achieved by Great Bodhisattva and True Buddhas.

However, it was said that in the human Dao, there was something called The Axis of All Realms, which could also achieve this, allowing people from endless worlds to converse as if face-to-face, but he had never seen it with his own eyes.

As the Buddhist mantra settled, a water curtain suddenly opened before Kaiwen Chan Master.

On the other side of the water curtain was a charming woman.

She was truly charming, with an indescribable beauty that could almost rival the female form of the Heavenly Demon.

Dressed in beautiful, translucent silk, with petals lightly fluttering around her, red like falling rain, she seemed to be leaning against a railing, counting the scattered flowers in the chaotic wind.

Rouge stained her lips, complementing the jasmine hairpin. White gauze covered her slender waist. She wore clothing like an exotic dancer, with only a bandeau and light gauze covering her body. Her faintly revealed skin showed delicate and smooth texture, perfectly proportioned. Her steps were like light clouds emerging from a mountain, and she walked barefoot, not wearing any shoes.

The plump whiteness faintly visible on her chest, and her slightly curled toes, all seemed to harbor intentions of bringing chaos to the human world.

However, beneath this charming appearance was solemn and grand Buddha light.

The languid beauty, yet sitting under a Bodhi Tree, presented a huge contrast. Beauty and solemnity, a beautiful woman and the Bodhi, yet they appeared harmonious, complementing each other without abruptness, instead making both the solemnity and the allure stand out distinctly.

Even Kaiwen Chan Master, such a handsome person, looked like a passerby in such a scene.

“Greetings, Dakini Heaven.” Kaiwen Chan Master bowed towards the water curtain: “Disciple Kaiwen has an important matter to report.”

As Kaiwen spoke, the true identity of the beautiful woman before him was revealed.

Mahakala’s retinue, the Wisdom Dakini, the Yaksha Devil, and also a god who presides over harvest, also known as the White Star Fox King, Dakini Heaven.

She was not a Buddha, but a god, and also a Yaksha among the Demonic Overlords, while her race was also a demon, yet she had always been a strange existence serving the Buddhist faith.

“Hmm? Kaiwen, it’s been over twenty years. Have you made progress on your situation in Baiyue?” The beautiful woman turned over, her light gauze falling, stirring emotions in one’s heart.

However, with just that gentle turn, her body abruptly changed and began to swell.

From the previously charming woman, nine fluffy fox tails grew, and her body rapidly transformed. After this turn, she had already changed from a beauty into a giant monster, looking like a fox.

Golden-white fur, nine tails, as tall as the Bodhi Tree, full of terrifying charm, but her eyes seemed to make people cast aside fear and calm down.

“Clan Chief, the strange rock you gave me has shattered. A Buddhist Son has seen through the illusion and obtained the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood within it,” Kaiwen Chan Master said.

Dakini Heaven wagged her tail: “Good news. Who is that Buddhist Son? To be able to directly see through the concealment of the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, there are few existing Buddhist Sons with such insight. Is he by your side?”

Kaiwen Chan Master said: “Not so, Clan Chief. Although he has the potential of a Buddhist Son, his actual identity is the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain. His name is Li Qi. I have investigated. He is a Disciple of Zhu Fengdan, from the Shamancraft ritual lineage. However, Zhu Fengdan has already self-exiled and has been estranged from her family for a long time, so Li Qi’s relationship with Shaman God Mountain is also relatively weak.”

“Oh, this Buddhist Son has already joined Shaman God Mountain, so you don’t know what to do, and that’s why you came to ask me?” Dakini Heaven asked, wagging her tail.

“Precisely so. Please do not blame me, Clan Chief. Kaiwen… truly doesn’t know what to do. Moreover, this Buddhist Son’s current condition is very poor, and I have no solution,” Kaiwen said, bowing.

“Very poor condition? What do you mean?” Dakini Heaven asked again.

“He obtained the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, but he directly applied it to his glabella. His five aggregates were immediately suppressed by the demonic blood, falling into a state of no thought, no念, no knowledge, and no consciousness. I sent him back to Lingxiao Kingdom Lord. It is said that they are going to Tang Nation of the human Dao. Perhaps Tang Nation has a way to resolve it,” Kaiwen Chan Master said seriously.

“Is that all? This is good news, what are you worried about?” Dakini Heaven listened and smiled easily.

Kaiwen became anxious, looking up in confusion and saying: “Good news? If he cannot break free from the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, then this Buddhist Son will probably—”

“He will probably die, I know. The one who dies is the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain, and the one who survives will be the Buddhist Son, just as the Buddhist verse says, isn’t it?” Dakini Heaven said indifferently.

Kaiwen was speechless for a moment, unsure how to react.

One had to admit… Dakini Heaven’s words made a lot of sense.

If he died, he would die as the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain. Although he had the potential of a Buddhist Son, he was not an acknowledged Buddhist Son after all.

If he lived, it meant he had seen through the illusion and would certainly achieve great enlightenment. His eventual皈依 to Buddhism was only a matter of time. Perhaps it would take a long time, but that didn’t matter.

Was this the true meaning of Dakini Heaven’s prophecy verse?

Kaiwen stood stunned. He had been worried about Li Qi’s safety, to the point of directly spending a considerable price to contact the Western Paradise, but he didn’t expect such an answer.

“Your expression is very interesting. Are you very worried about that person named Li Qi?” Dakini Heaven moved closer to the screen, her fox face almost pressing against the water curtain.

“To be honest, yes. That is a Buddhist Son. The Dakini Heaven lineage, our White Star Fox Clan, needs a Buddhist Son. Isn’t this why you, Clan Chief, sent me to Baiyue? That Buddhist verse has revealed everything,” Kaiwen Chan Master said.

“Don’t worry, Kaiwen, don’t worry… We do need a Buddhist Son, but it’s only been twenty years. We don’t have much time, but we can wait for about four thousand years.” Dakini Heaven returned to her languid posture, lying down and curling into a ball, wrapping herself with her tail, leaving only her face exposed.

“But the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood is on him. If he dies because of it, what will happen to the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood?” Kaiwen was very anxious. Four thousand years was not short, but definitely not long, certainly not enough to find a second drop of Five Aggregates Demonic Blood.

The Demon of the Five Aggregates, that was also a formidable Demonic Overlord!

“The Five Aggregates Demonic Blood is indestructible. Even if the demonic thoughts within it has long been ground away by Mahakala, becoming part of a Spiritual Artifact, the demonic blood itself, like those Demonic Overlords, possesses the quality of indestructibility. It won’t be lost that easily,” Dakini Heaven said with a smile: “If you’re only worried about that, then you can rest assured.”

“Since the Clan Chief is so at ease, then… Disciple takes his leave.” Kaiwen Chan Master sighed.

If Dakini Heaven wasn’t anxious, why should he be?

The communication was cut, and the water curtain dissipated, transforming into numerous light spots, dispersing into different Qi.

Kaiwen Chan Master sighed again.

It was truly a case of the emperor not being anxious while the eunuch was. He was getting worked up, but Dakini Heaven herself remained leisurely. Was everything under control?

The Buddhist verse prophesied the appearance of a Buddhist Son.

Li Qi’s arrival confirmed the accuracy of the verse, so Dakini Heaven wasn’t anxious?

Or rather, had Dakini Heaven already decided to let Shaman God Mountain come to the rescue?

But, did Shaman God Mountain have a way to suppress the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood?

This should be something only Great Bodhisattva and above could do. Buddhism and the Demonic Overlords had confronted each other for countless years, and each had developed methods to counter the other. Shaman God Mountain certainly didn’t have these means.

Forget it, thinking about these things was useless.

Dakini Heaven should have her own considerations; it wasn’t for a small envoy like him to overthink.

Whether Li Qi lived or died, he would eventually have to recover the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood. It was better to prepare for that.

Tang Nation…

That place wasn’t too friendly to outsiders. When the enlightened Monk Kasyapa Matanga went there and built White Horse Temple, who knew how much he had sacrificed behind the scenes?

However… this Buddhist temple beneath his feet, Fengde Temple, seemed to be the origin of White Horse Temple, and Lingxiao Kingdom Lord also had a significant connection with White Horse Temple.

Kaiwen Chan Master fell into contemplation.

However, just at this moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Hmm? Fengde Temple should know that he was communicating with the Western Paradise at this time and wouldn’t disturb him. So who was it?

Kaiwen Chan Master stood up, just about to ask, when he heard a voice from outside the door: “Junior Brother Kaiwen, I am Hengxin. You should have heard of me.”

Hengxin?

If Li Qi were here, he would understand that this was the ‘eminent Monk of White Horse Temple’ he was looking for, not Kaiwen Chan Master from the Western Regions.

However, Kaiwen Chan Master naturally knew who Hengxin was.

He was the eminent Monk from White Horse Temple stationed at Fengde Temple. It was just that Fengde Temple had said he was in seclusion, so Kaiwen Chan Master had not disturbed him and hadn’t sought him out. He didn’t expect him to come knocking now.

Had his seclusion ended?

Or… had he never been in seclusion at all?

To be honest, Monks from the Western Paradise had some prejudice against those from White Horse Temple, because White Horse Temple had long been independent and unwilling to accept scriptures from the Western Paradise.

However, no matter what, Kaiwen had to meet him.

Kaiwen Chan Master walked over and pushed open the door.

Outside the door was a bald Monk, very old, looking about seventy or eighty years old.

“Senior Brother Hengxin, I don’t know why—” Kaiwen spoke halfway, and the rest of his words caught in his throat.

Because a black sharp blade had pierced his heart.