Chapter 390: Da Liang Temple Has a Big Incident

"How did you deal with that fox, sir?" the old monk Foyin asked calmly. Ji Yuan, holding nothing back, replied directly.

"That fox had profound cultivation and extraordinary divine abilities. She tricked me and got away."

While Ji Yuan spoke frankly, the old monk Foyin uttered a Buddhist chant.

"Excellent, Mr. Ji has a kind heart!"

"Heh heh heh, Master, there's no need to praise me. I genuinely didn't detect her that time, having relied too heavily on my Dharma Eyes." Ji Yuan chuckled, pointing to his eyes.

The old monk Foyin looked at Ji Yuan's calm, pale eyes and nodded slightly.

"It seems that fox truly possesses some unique abilities."

Given the old monk's current cultivation, which had earned him the title of Mingwang, one of the highest existing Buddhist realms, he could naturally discern that Ji Yuan's eyes, though blind, still emanated a divine radiance. This was clearly beyond mere psychic or heavenly sight; it was very likely a pair of Dharma Eyes capable of perceiving all phenomena.

Dharma Eyes of this caliber are naturally exceedingly difficult to attain, with no precise cultivation method. It's quite possible that the dimness in Mr. Ji's eyes is part of the cost for achieving such ultimate Dharma Eyes. There is a saying: when the Dao bestows to its extreme, it incurs the envy of heaven, inevitably causing harm to the body.

After a moment of thought, the old monk continued.

"The Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven is extremely well-hidden. Even some of the cultivation holy lands in Lanzhou of the Western Regions might not know its location. However, this humble monk happens to know where it is. If you wish to seek an explanation, Mr. Ji, that Nine-Tailed Fox will certainly grant you an audience."

A Nine-Tailed Fox!

Ji Yuan's spirits lifted. The difficulty of a fox demon cultivating nine tails was immense, truly qualifying her to be considered a fox immortal. No wonder the old monk Foyin mentioned both fox demons and fox immortals. It also explained why Tu Siyan dared to reveal her origins back then. Besides the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven being notoriously difficult to access, the presence of a true Nine-Tailed Fox within it was likely a significant reason.

Nevertheless, Ji Yuan spoke with utmost seriousness. "I am eager to hear the details."

"To find the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, you must first locate Shallow Azure Mountain. This is not a mountain name commonly known to people in Lanzhou of the Western Regions, nor is it a permanently existing mountain."

This revelation piqued Ji Yuan's curiosity, as he had a great fondness for the miraculous, considering it one of the true joys of immortal cultivation. "What do you mean by that?"

The old monk looked up, his gaze drawn to the veins of the leaves on the large tree behind them. It was autumn, and some leaves had already yellowed but had not yet fallen.

"As autumn deepens and the forests turn pale, and fallen leaves scatter while the mountains lose their verdant hue—this humble monk has heard from virtuous Buddhist practitioners that, among certain fox lineages, the term 'Shallow Azure' refers to the period when autumn transitions into winter, marking the onset of vastness. There is no actual mountain named Shallow Azure Mountain; if one exists, it bears the same name but has a different meaning. The Shallow Azure Mountain where the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven is located signifies the early, mid, and late autumn seasons on a specific peak within each of the three mountains: Changze, Qingchang, and Moyue."

"If that period signifies the manifestation of Shallow Azure Mountain, then how does one enter the Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven?" Regardless of their size, grotto-heavens are almost self-contained worlds, invariably protected by various miraculous enchantments and forbidden spells. It's impossible to simply walk in just by knowing their location.

"That, this humble monk does not know. However, when you arrive there at the appropriate time, your Dharma Eyes will undoubtedly enable you to discern the way."

Ji Yuan felt no pressure whatsoever conversing with the old monk. Perhaps this was due to his familiarity with the old dragon, but he preferred to believe it stemmed from Master Foyin's profound Buddhist nature. At the very least, Ji Yuan now understood one thing: the so-called Buddhist Mingwang was not a gigantic golden Buddha, but a living, cultivating monk.

The old monk Foyin likewise felt a pleasant ease in conversation with Ji Yuan, a rare experience akin to ordinary people's casual chatter. Their discussion gradually deepened, no longer confined to superficialities. Externally, they debated astronomy, geography, and the phenomena of heaven and earth; internally, they delved into profound cultivation principles from various schools and the transformation of one's inner world.

How rare it was to encounter a Buddhist Mingwang! Ji Yuan naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to exchange insights. The old monk Foyin, in fact, felt similarly; it was a rare chance to discuss the Dao with an immortal cultivator of such unfathomable depth, and at Daliang Temple's current critical juncture, this fortuitous encounter felt even more destined.

When it came to astronomy, geography, and the phenomena of heaven and earth, Ji Yuan, influenced by his previous life, had an immense wealth of knowledge to share. As for the profound principles of cultivation, Ji Yuan had discussed them numerous times with the old dragon. Moreover, the clear pronouncements of the Great Dao he had absorbed throughout his life, even if only a few phrases, were certainly the essence of what had been widely spread. Concerning the transformation of one's inner world, Ji Yuan's very spiritual realm manifested as a universe, subtly intertwining with the greater heaven and earth.

To illustrate certain profound points and enhance his persuasiveness, Ji Yuan even subtly demonstrated the creation of heaven and earth, revealing a fraction of his spiritual realm. Around them, images of spring blossoms, autumn moons, and the shifting of stars appeared, perfectly illustrating the temporal and spatial relationships inherent in the cosmos's operation.

The old monk Foyin and Ji Yuan grew increasingly astonished and delighted as their discussion progressed. They even felt that some long-standing issues that had plagued them for ages now showed signs of resolution, merely awaiting further contemplation in meditation.

Ji Yuan likewise benefited immensely. From the perspective of a Buddhist Mingwang—a perspective distinct from that of immortals, demons, or gods—wisdom is a term highly emphasized in Buddhism and was clearly evident in the principles discussed. The old monk Foyin was clearly not a Mingwang of the wrathful, vengeful Vajra type, but his understanding of Buddhist principles was exceptionally profound. Issues he had previously discussed with the old dragon but hadn't fully grasped now brought Ji Yuan a sense of sudden enlightenment. Furthermore, several cultivation-related deductions that had long perplexed him were effortlessly resolved.

A Buddhist cultivator and an immortal cultivator, both now deeply engrossed, were far from being unrestrained; their Daoist intent was profound and boundless. Under the tree in Daliang Temple's inner courtyard, various auspicious phenomena spontaneously manifested, showing a tendency to spread outwards.

A short distance from the tree, Hui Tong and the Abbot of Daliang Temple, though highly cultivated Buddhist monks, were now finding it difficult to maintain their composure. The two masters sat beneath the tree discussing the Dao. Initially, the principles they expounded were comprehensible, but as the discussion deepened, several of the less cultivated monks began to feel their minds clouding over. Nevertheless, they bit their tongues, forcing themselves to remain conscious. A discussion of the Dao at this level might not be encountered even once in a lifetime, even for those whose cultivation allowed them to live for centuries.

Monk Hui Tong clasped his hands tightly. His ears were filled with the various echoes of the two masters' discussion, as if countless phrases reverberated. This was because the initial Daoist chants entered his ears, while subsequent ones lingered, unable to fully settle. Using his own Buddhist Dharma, Hui Tong forcibly gathered these Daoist sounds, preventing them from dissipating, for their loss would be immense. Even if he couldn't comprehend them now, understanding even a fraction of these insights a century or several centuries from now, during his cultivation journey, would benefit him for a lifetime.

At that moment, something suddenly occurred to him. He abruptly looked up and around, seeing luminous mist, fragrant flowers spontaneously appearing and falling from the air, already beginning to spread beyond the outer courtyard.

"Oh no!"

Hui Tong looked at the Abbot beside him and saw the old Abbot swaying, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth—not from an injury, but from biting his own tongue. Still, he appeared somewhat drowsy. Hui Tong quickly stepped forward and gently shook the Abbot.

"Abbot, Master Abbot!"

"Huh?" The Abbot roused himself, then looked excitedly at the others nearby.

"Hui Tong! This is a grand opportunity, unseen in Daliang Temple for a thousand years! Your Buddhist Dharma is profound; you must record it all, every bit! No, that's too much to ask. Record as much as you can. This old monk can barely endure it anymore!"

"I understand, Master Abbot, please rest assured, Hui Tong will do his utmost. But I implore you, Master Abbot, to quickly devise a plan. The two venerable masters are deeply immersed in their spiritual realms, unable to control themselves, and the anomalous phenomena have already spread..."

The old Abbot looked around and saw that it was indeed true.

"Master Abbot, please mobilize the monastic community and quickly disperse all the pilgrims in the temple. It would be best to also ask the people in the market outside the temple to temporarily withdraw. Otherwise, if ordinary people witness the phenomena of the Dao discussion, their minds will be suddenly filled with various fantasies, their emotions will be stirred with joy or sorrow, and a commotion will erupt... Daliang Temple has too many pilgrims. If such a scene unfolds, it will inevitably disturb the two venerable masters' discussion of the Dao!"

Humans are inherently selfish, even those at Monk Hui Tong's spiritual level. Would ordinary people benefit from hearing such a discussion of the Dao? Of course, the benefits would vary from person to person. Although most adults who visit the temple seeking prayers often have burdened minds and find enlightenment difficult, there would still be some advantages. However, if a crowd were to exclaim upon witnessing these phenomena, the resulting clamor and noise would very likely rouse Ji Yuan and Mingwang Foyin. The concept of "fated encounters" is sometimes profound and mysterious; it's highly probable that the two venerable masters would interpret it as "heaven's will" and then conclude their discussion of the Dao. A discussion of the Dao by such venerable masters, which could have lasted for an unknown duration, would thus be terminated. The pilgrims would gain little, but the loss to Daliang Temple would be truly immense!

The old Abbot, a man of insight, instantly understood the crucial point.

"Namo Amitabha! I will immediately order the temple monks to act. Yes, bring the Imperial Temple Edict granted by the former Emperor!"

The old Abbot wiped the blood from his mouth, glanced at the two venerable figures under the tree, now enveloped in a hazy glow, and cautiously began to walk away. Only when he was several dozen feet distant did he dare to break into a jog, and then a full leap.

Having just listened to the Dao discussion and observed its phenomena, he realized upon regaining his senses that it was already afternoon, yet the temple was still quite crowded.

"Esteemed patrons, Daliang Temple will be closing an hour early today. Please make your way home!"

"Patron, Daliang Temple is closing early. Please come another time for any requests regarding inscriptions!"

"Patron, Daliang Temple is closing early, and it would be inconvenient for you to remain in the meditation hall. Please return another day!"

At the Foyin Mingwang Hall, the Seated Mingwang Hall, the Wrathful Mingwang Hall, the temple's large and small squares, and various monastic halls, in every area, whether crowded with pilgrims or sparse, monks were relaying messages. Regardless of the pilgrims' astonishment or anger, these monks, though not retorting to insults or retaliating against physical actions, resolutely urged people to leave, even actively ushering them out.

Daliang Temple was, after all, the national temple of the Tingliang Kingdom. Even among the pilgrims, many were powerful individuals who dared not cause excessive trouble. Everyone knew something significant had certainly occurred at the temple, but since no monk spoke of it, they couldn't force the issue.

It was only when the numerous pilgrims exited the temple gates that they noticed the nearby market in front of the temple. The vendors and travelers there were also on the move, pushing carts or carrying goods, seemingly closing their stalls and abandoning the market prematurely. Some monks made earnest efforts to persuade, ultimately resorting to presenting the former Emperor's Buddhist Edict and promising to compensate merchants twofold for their business losses. However, the claims would have to be made later, requiring accurate accounting records as proof.

Observing this scene, some high-ranking individuals, amidst their astonishment, couldn't help but murmur, "Daliang Temple... something major has happened here!"