Chapter 360 - 331: World Honored One’s Zen Assembly
The majestic Jade Stone Workshop gradually faded behind them. Before them lay the wide Celestial Steps, leading straight toward the place known as Deep in the Clouds.
Hui Jue Arhat smiled warmly, his steps unhurried as he led the way.
Tuo Mountain Arhat followed silently behind, his burly frame like a moving boulder. Although he had restrained his aura, a vague sense of Vajra-like pressure still emanated from him.
Qi Yun fell half a step behind Hui Jue, his expression showing the solemnity of one first entering a Saint Realm. His gaze seemed to calmly sweep over the scenery, but in reality, he was absorbing every detail.
Stepping into the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm was a completely different experience from the outside world.
The Celestial Steps underfoot were neither stone nor jade, but a gentle, pale-gold material. Its surface was naturally adorned with fine lotus patterns, and as they walked upon it, a faint warmth and a soothing, mind-calming pulsation spread up from the soles of their feet.
The sides of the Celestial Steps were not sheer cliffs. Instead, tiers of platforms, hermitages, small Buddha Towers, and Scripture Banners were nestled into the mountainside in a picturesque arrangement.
A soft Buddha Light shrouded everything, and the gentle sound of Brahma Chanting was ever-present.
The sandalwood scent in the air grew refined and subtle, mixed with the fragrance of exotic flowers and fruits, the Pure Qi of Bodhi leaves, and an indescribable "Pure Land aura" that emanated from being steeped in the Dharma.
With every breath, not only did Spiritual Qi naturally pour in, but even one’s Divine Soul felt as if it were being gently caressed by an invisible hand.
Distracting thoughts vanished, and the Heart Lake became clear.
’It’s that Spiritual Mechanism again...’
Sensing the secret in the air, Qi Yun’s expression flickered. Fortunately, his Primordial True Body was wondrously esoteric.
When this "soothing" power touched his Divine Soul Origin, it was silently neutralized by the immortal light on his forehead.
It left only a superficial illusion of comfort.
The higher they ascended, the more magnificent and wondrous the scenery became.
Looking up, the Celestial Steps seemed endless, winding up into a roiling sea of clouds made of dense Buddha Light, which looked like liquid Gold.
Within the sea of clouds, one could vaguely make out the flying eaves and bracket sets of towering palaces, the solemn silhouettes of giant Buddha Statues, and the phantoms of countless floating lotus platforms and relic pagodas. Treasure Light flowed, presenting a myriad of majestic sights.
From time to time, Buddhist Cultivators wearing brocade kasayas of various colors, with solid Light Appearances behind their heads, would enter and exit the sea of clouds. Their auras were profound, and their gazes were fixed forward.
Along the way, many Ascetic Monks and devout believers could be seen. They kowtowed with every step, slowly ascending a rough stone path specially set aside at the edge of the Celestial Steps. Their foreheads were stained with dust, but their eyes burned with fiery determination.
There were also groups of Buddhist Cultivators gathered in open areas by the roadside, debating scriptures in low voices and verifying doctrinal principles. Small illusory light phenomena would naturally manifest around them, like golden lotuses blooming or Sanskrit characters floating in the air.
Hui Jue Arhat’s pace was neither fast nor slow, and he would occasionally point things out in a warm voice:
"Junior Brother Fa Hai, please look. The grottoes on that cliff face are the Saint Realm’s Zen Meditation Caves. They contain the imprints of Zen intent left by senior eminent monks, which are greatly beneficial for comprehending the Dharma and tempering one’s state of mind."
"That giant tree ahead with a canopy like the clouds and a body like colored glaze is the Saint Realm’s famous Techniques Bodhi. It blooms once every three hundred years and bears fruit once every three hundred years.
Its flowers can aid in enlightenment, and its fruit can enhance one’s spiritual lifespan.
The next flowering season is in ten years. If you have the opportunity, Junior Brother, you can come and observe it then."
Qi Yun put his palms together and expressed his thanks, his gaze following the direction pointed out. Internally, however, he was assessing things. ’Every blade of grass, every tree, every stone, and every cave in this Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm was probably not naturally formed or randomly placed.
Everything is part of a grand, overarching plan, jointly constructing this ultimate Dao field.’
After walking for about half an hour, they passed through a bamboo forest filled with a pale-golden mist, and the view suddenly opened up.
A tranquil and secluded mountain platform came into view.
The platform was built against the mountainside, enclosed by White Jade railings. Beyond them, a sea of clouds churned, and distant peaks loomed like dark silhouettes.
"This is the Qi Yun Zen Temple. It’s dedicated to receiving visiting high-ranking monks and great masters, as well as those like yourself, Junior Brother, who have a profound karmic connection and aptitude for Buddhism, providing a temporary residence for quiet cultivation."
Hui Jue Arhat stopped and turned to Qi Yun with a friendly smile.
"As you have just returned, Junior Brother, you need a quiet place to settle your body and mind. This place is most suitable."
He pointed to several spotlessly clean hermitages in the courtyard:
"Junior Brother, you may choose any one of them to live in.
There are several attendant novice monks stationed in the courtyard. You can have them handle any of your needs. If you have any questions, you can also come find me at the Golden Summit Wisdom Hall at any time."
With that, he took out a pale-green Token from his robes. It was neither gold nor jade and was carved with cloud patterns and tiny Sanskrit characters. He handed it to Qi Yun.
"This is a pass and identification for the Zen Temple. With it, you can move about most of the lower areas of the Saint Realm and also visit the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion to read some basic Scripture Scrolls.
As for higher privileges, that may be decided after you participate in the World Honored One’s Zen Assembly, Junior Brother."
Qi Yun accepted the Token with both hands. It was cool to the touch and contained a gentle aura of a Buddhist Sect Restriction. He once again put his palms together in a salute:
"Thank you for your thoughtful arrangements, Senior Brother. Fa Hai is deeply grateful."
"You’re too kind, Junior Brother." Hui Jue Arhat’s smile grew even warmer, and a glint of wisdom flashed in his eyes, seemingly carrying a deeper meaning.
"In three months, on the ninth day of the ninth month, the World Honored One’s Zen Assembly will begin.
At that time, the World Honored One will personally manifest and, atop Spirit Mountain at the Little Leiyin Temple, will preach the Supreme Techniques, explain True Suchness, and guide the lost.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, awaited by all Buddhas.
Junior Brother, you carry the true teachings of an Ancient Sect. Your return at this moment is perfectly timed. You must not miss it."
The World Honored One’s Zen Assembly!
The peak of Spirit Mountain!
Little Leiyin Temple!
Hui Jue Arhat gave him a meaningful look, said no more, and put his palms together.
"Junior Brother, please get settled. This humble monk and Junior Brother Tuo Mountain must patrol other areas, so we will not disturb you further.
Cultivate with a peaceful mind and await the Zen Assembly."
With that, he and the ever-silent, mountain-like Tuo Mountain Arhat turned and walked away at an unhurried pace, following the path they came from.
Soon, their figures disappeared into the pale-golden, misty bamboo forest.
In front of the Zen Temple, only Qi Yun remained.
He gripped the cool Token, standing alone for a moment as his gaze slowly swept over the tranquil Qi Yun Zen Temple.
As expected, there were two or three young, gray-robed novice monks with peaceful auras in the courtyard. They were holding brooms and other items, standing respectfully at a distance.
When they saw his gaze sweep over them, they quickly lowered their heads and bowed, not daring to look at him directly.
Qi Yun didn’t immediately enter any of the hermitages.
He strolled over to the White Jade railing at the edge of the platform and leaned against it, gazing into the distance.
Before him, the sea of clouds churned, and Buddha Light suffused the air, obscuring the layers of temples, the Celestial Steps, and the Ascetic Monks below.
Only hazy silhouettes and the continuous background sound of Brahma Chanting remained.
And above the sea of clouds, the higher, more distant sky was shrouded in an even denser golden Buddha Light, so thick it was almost liquid.
The outlines of the palaces there were even more majestic and mysterious. The pressure they emanated, even from such a great distance, inspired a sense of awe and insignificance.
That was the peak of Spirit Mountain, the location of Little Leiyin Temple, and the place where the World Honored One’s Zen Assembly was about to be held.
"Three months..." Qi Yun murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cloud patterns on the Token.
It wasn’t a generous amount of time, but it was enough to get many things done.
He didn’t choose the hermitages that were centrally located and looked more comfortable and spacious.
Instead, he walked toward a relatively simple, single room in the corner of the Zen Temple, close to the mountain wall.
Pushing the door open, he found the furnishings inside were simple: just a bed, a cot, a table, and a Meditation Mat.
But everything was spotless, and the faint, lingering scent of sandalwood that helped focus the mind and calm the spirit remained.
Closing the door, Qi Yun walked to the window and pushed it open a crack, letting in the cool mountain breeze that carried the Buddha’s Rhyme.
He didn’t rush to meditate or investigate. Instead, he first used his Divine Sense to meticulously scan every inch of the room.
After confirming there were no hidden monitoring Arrays or spying techniques, he finally relaxed a little.
His mind sank into his Purple Mansion.
"Elder Cai," he asked directly, "I’ve now penetrated deep into the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm. The location of the Qi Yun Zen Temple is also quite good.
Can you sense the location of your main body more clearly?"
After a moment of silence, Cai Shen’s solemn thoughts were transmitted. His small golden phantom appeared in the Sea of Consciousness, its little face tense:
"No... Not only can I not sense it more clearly, but the sealing power feels even more strict and vast!
Before, at the foot of the mountain, I could still get a vague sense of it.
But now that I’m in this Zen Temple, the connection feels like it’s been wrapped in thick layers of golden clouds, cut off, intermittent, and almost imperceptible!"
His tone carried an unprecedented seriousness:
"This seal... is no small matter!
It has almost completely severed the connection between my main body and the outside world!"
Cai Shen looked at Qi Yun and said with certainty, word by word:
"It’s a True Monarch!
And it was personally set up by a True Monarch who specializes in sealing and barrier-type Divine Techniques!
It’s even possible that the power of more than one True Monarch is interwoven within it!"
Qi Yun’s heart tightened.
’So it’s true! The main body of the Imperial Soldier is here, sealed with the highest level of security by a True Monarch Level being!’
"Can you determine the specific range of the seal? Is it near the peak of Spirit Mountain, around Little Leiyin Temple?" Qi Yun pressed.
"I can only get a rough sense. The main body is at the highest point of this Saint Realm, which basically matches the location of the Little Leiyin Temple you mentioned," Cai Shen said calmly, trying hard to sense it.
"But I can’t tell which specific palace it’s in or under which layer of Restriction.
The seal itself is like a perfect and flawless Dao Cocoon. My perception can’t penetrate it at all.
Unless... I can get extremely close. Only then could I determine a more precise location."
’Extremely close...’ Qi Yun fell silent.
The peak of Spirit Mountain, Little Leiyin Temple, was the residence of the World Honored One and the venue for the Zen Assembly. It was undoubtedly the absolute core of the Buddha Country Sacred Realm, the most heavily guarded and terrifyingly restricted place.
With his current identity, let alone getting close, he probably couldn’t even set foot on the outskirts of that area.
"The World Honored One’s Zen Assembly..." Qi Yun murmured. "Perhaps it’s an opportunity.
Experts from all sides will gather then. I might be able to get closer under the pretext of listening to the sermon.
But the risk is also immense. There will certainly be True Monarchs present, and more than one..."
"Correct," Cai Shen also analyzed calmly.
"They’ve mistaken you for a reincarnation from the Great Brightness Sect. For these three months, you must solidify this identity.
That way, you can use this identity to gather information about the Zen Assembly, the core of the Saint Realm, and the deeper intentions of the Overseas Buddhist Cultivators.
Especially the origins of that World Honored One... a being Above the True Monarch, will he really descend in person?"
"Mm," Qi Yun replied in his thoughts, a calm and sharp light in his eyes. "I’ll proceed with caution, as if walking on thin ice.
For these next three months, I am Fa Hai.
And I’ll take the opportunity to observe the various facets of life and the rules that govern this Saint Realm."
He slowly opened his eyes, the sharpness within them completely retracting, replaced once again by a clear peace that matched the atmosphere of this place.
He pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.
The few novice monks immediately stopped their work and looked over respectfully.
"Are there brushes, ink, and Scripture Scrolls available?" Qi Yun asked in a gentle voice, his tone humble.
A slightly older novice monk quickly bowed and replied:
"Reporting to the Arhat, the Zen Temple’s Side Hall has a small scripture room stocked with common brushes, ink, and some basic Scripture Scrolls.
If Uncle-Master requires more profound or specific Scripture Scrolls, you can take your Token to the Scripture Pavilion on the mountainside."
"Thank you."
Qi Yun put his palms together in thanks and turned toward the Side Hall the novice monk had indicated.
’If I’m going to play a part, I have to play it completely.’
Studying Scripture Scrolls, refining his Dharma Aspect, and comprehending his "Previous Life" were exactly what "Fa Hai" should be doing right now.
Meanwhile, in secret, Cai Shen’s perception spread out like quicksilver on the ground, starting from the Qi Yun Zen Temple and extending outward with extreme stealth.
It captured every wisp of information flowing in the air, observed every subtle change in the expressions of the passing monks, and felt every faint pulse of this vast Saint Realm’s operation.
He was an Emperor’s True Spirit, his spiritual nature neither human nor object.
Unless a True Monarch was specifically trying to perceive him, they wouldn’t notice.
In the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm, the Buddha Light shone everywhere, and the Zen chants were eternal.
Beneath a Bodhi tree, upon a Cyan Jade Platform, the figure in the deep blue robe had already entered a meditative state. A ring of pure, clear Light Appearance naturally emerged behind his head, slowly rotating and merging perfectly with the Saint Realm’s Dao Rhyme.
...