Chapter 984: Awakening of Jue Ming

Wutong Continent is geographically located above the Western Continent of Lan. Given this, Ji缘 decided to visit the old monk Foyin and also deliver a book to Tu Yi.

With no other concerns, Ji缘 fully unleashed his sword-flight technique. His speed was astonishingly fast, and in just about half a month, he could already see the land of the Western Continent of Lan from high above.

Some Buddhist cultivation methods, based on the power of vows and the grand aspirations made by individuals, integrate the power of vows with personal enlightenment of Buddhist Dharma and Zen meditation.

This is also due to Buddhism's highly effective use of merit, which even surpasses some divine paths. It has been closely integrated with their cultivation, helping Buddhist disciples to quickly advance their cultivation and Buddha-nature. As a result, the requirements for innate talent are lowered, enabling them to declare that everyone can achieve Buddhahood.

Based on various complex reasons, Buddhism naturally places greater importance on its base of believers. Therefore, Ji缘 believed that persuading the Buddhist community would not be a major problem, at least not for the eminent monks of the mainstream Buddhist cultivation systems.

While traveling, Ji缘 had time to ponder and predict his opponents' reactions. Those individuals were indeed not a united front, each harboring their own hidden agendas. However, with Zhu Yan's previous disappearance and now the Hou's second disappearance (though the latter could be blamed on the Phoenix, as they surely understood the Hou's objective), things were different.

Furthermore, the damage to Phoenix Xi Huang was likely within their calculations, and with an insider from Xianxia Island as an informant, the Hou's failure this time could hardly escape their notice.

Therefore, Ji缘 believed his opponents would no longer feel they had ample room to maneuver or could simply hide and stir up trouble. While this situation would likely solidify their cooperative relationship, it would also inevitably deepen their apprehension.

Hovering on his sword, Ji缘 gazed at the seemingly endless boundary of the Western Continent of Lan. To the naked eye, it was a vast, blurry white expanse with faint land shadows, but through his spiritual vision, he could subtly sense the vitality and various auras of the continent's boundless land. Ji缘 stopped his calculations and lowered his hands.

'If they were to truly tear everything apart and launch an attack now, although all living beings would suffer, it would be even more detrimental to them. Having waited so many years for this opportunity, they dare not gamble more than I do!'

Ji缘 had accurately assessed his opponents' mentality. It wasn't that he genuinely enjoyed gambling, but rather that his actions were based on his judgment of the current situation. He was not an indecisive person; having already made up his mind, he would not waver.

Suddenly, Ji缘's mind stirred, and he looked towards the distant land. Soon after, a Buddhist light rose from that direction. The light did not appear dazzling, but its Buddha-nature was exceedingly profound, as if faint Buddhist chants resonated within it.

"Amitabha, boundless Buddhist Dharma and boundless life! This old monk, Di Zuo, greets you!"

A resonant, powerful Buddhist chant emanated from the light. The other party, having also sensed Ji缘's aura, subtly changed direction and soon came face to face with him.

With his pale eyes open, Ji缘 stood on his sword light, one hand held forward and the other behind his back, watching the Buddhist light approach. Within that light was a lotus seat, upon which sat a burly monk with a bronze complexion, clad in a kasaya. The monk's gaze was majestic; he sat cross-legged, one hand resting on the lotus seat, the other raised above his head as if supporting the sky.

"Ji缘 offers his respects!"

Neither party slowed their light, passing each other within ten zhang. The sword light and Buddhist light even seemed to visually brush against each other. In that brief moment of passing, both Ji缘 and the monk in the Buddhist light understood that the other was undoubtedly a master of the righteous path.

Under the Buddhist light and lotus seat, the old monk did not turn back. He simply repeatedly savored the subtle feeling that arose when they passed each other. There was no sense of majesty or oppression; instead, it was a gentle sensation, like strolling in the mountains, a cool breeze caressing the body, or meditating by a calm lake, or drinking tea in a Zen room.

'What I saw back then already showed his extraordinariness!'

As the old monk's Buddhist light receded into the distance, Ji缘, standing on his sword light, looked back at it and whispered to himself.

"Master Di Zuo, Sitting Earth Mingwang... Perhaps we'll meet again if there's an opportunity."

Recalling it, Ji缘 had once contended with Sitting Earth Mingwang, though it was merely a brief exchange with a Buddha statue possessed by a Mingwang avatar, a confrontation that stopped just short of a full battle.

Upon arriving at the Western Continent of Lan, Ji缘's first destination was naturally the old monk Foyin, who was also an old friend. So he headed directly to Foyin Mingwang's Buddhist country of cultivation.

With the last three volumes of "Yellow Springs" in hand, Ji缘 could already imagine the old monk Foyin's shock after hearing about the scheme he had laid out. Of course, as an eminent monk whose emotions were easily displayed, he might also react with calm tranquility.

Days later, by a main road outside the Buddhist country of cultivation, the old monk Foyin proactively came to welcome Ji缘. Wearing an old kasaya and with an aged face, Foyin Mingwang stood by the road like any ordinary old monk. Many pedestrians passed by, some occasionally bowing to him in Buddhist fashion, though most simply assumed he was a venerable old monk, unaware that he was the Venerable Mingwang.

Ji缘, sensing his presence, naturally did not impolitely fly over. Instead, he landed in advance and approached on foot like any other pedestrian.

The old monk Foyin had already greatly praised "Yellow Springs," a work that guides people toward goodness and contains profound principles. Now that Ji缘 had arrived in person, Foyin had many insights he wished to share with him.

"Mister Ji, now that you've come, we must properly discuss the Dao again!"

The old monk Foyin solemnly performed a Buddhist salute towards him. Ji缘 took two steps forward and returned the salute just as solemnly with cupped hands.

"Ji also had this very intention. However, Master Foyin has yet to see a few more volumes. Once you have read these three, I will thoroughly explain the Dao in my heart to you."

"'Yellow Springs' indeed has more volumes! Mister Ji, please!"

The old monk Foyin took the books, nodded, and then invited Ji缘 to the cultivation ground.

"Please!"

At the moment Ji缘 arrived at the Western Continent of Lan, Sitting Earth Mingwang, whom he had just passed, was on his way to the Eastern Continent of Yun.

Deer Cry Zen Monastery, which Lu Shanjun had once visited, had been renovated at the time. However, after Monk Jue Ming's ordeal, all the other monks left for different temples, leaving only Monk Jue Ming, formerly Zhao Long, to cultivate alone at Deer Cry Zen Monastery.

He personally planted melons, fruits, and vegetables, carried water, chopped wood, and then went down the mountain to beg for alms nearby.

After many years of such tranquil cultivation, Monk Jue Ming finally closed the doors of Deer Cry Zen Monastery and left with a simple traveling bag.

All of this began because of "Yellow Springs."

Jue Ming was unclear, Jue Ming was lost. Since Monk Jue Ming became a monk, from his initial desire to escape the guilt in his heart to his later confusion, decades passed in the quiet life of a monk. While others grew clearer in their understanding of Buddhist Dharma and advanced daily in their comprehension of Buddhist rites, Monk Jue Ming's Buddha-nature and Buddhist Dharma continuously strengthened, yet he remained attached to certain things in his heart and was deeply confused.

Jue Ming's state was not inherently a problem—who among cultivators doesn't experience moments of confusion? However, for a Buddhist monk, such prolonged confusion was quite dangerous, as it made him vulnerable to external demons.

For a monk like Jue Ming, whom Sitting Earth Mingwang regarded as almost the most suitable successor to his dharma, it would be a great pity if he were to perish due to external demons, and truly terrifying if he were to fall to the demonic path.

However, by coincidence, when Jue Ming went down the mountain to beg for alms, he overheard a scholar reciting the contents of the sixth volume of "Yellow Springs" near a stationery shop in the city. Monk Jue Ming's heartstrings were touched by what he heard.

Subsequently, Monk Jue Ming sought out the full text and eventually borrowed all six volumes of "Yellow Springs" from the Buddhist-devoted owner of a large library. He was deeply moved and gained a subtle understanding. After returning to Deer Cry Zen Monastery, he meditated for a month and finally decided to leave.

Monk Jue Ming was going to a specific place: Daliang Temple, the national temple of the Tingliang Kingdom, and also greatly renowned in Da Zhen. During his Zen meditation, he had a premonition and naturally knew there was a Bodhi tree there that could reveal inner wisdom, and also that an eminent monk named Hui Tong resided there.

Back when Zhao Long was in emotional pain, it was a monk named Hui Tong who guided him into monastic life, effectively becoming his spiritual guide. From the moment he heard about Master Hui Tong, the eminent monk of Daliang Temple, Monk Jue Ming had kept him in mind.

However, Monk Jue Ming's actions also alerted Sitting Earth Mingwang. Although a Venerable Mingwang, he could not fully know Jue Ming's situation outside the Deer Cry Zen Monastery. That internal stir was a cause for concern: Monk Jue Ming might truly achieve enlightenment from this, or he might be facing another calamity, or even the culmination of decades of inner tribulations.

Regardless of the situation, Sitting Earth Mingwang could not rest easy in his Buddhist country. The old Mingwang's lifespan was not long, and if Jue Ming could truly inherit his dharma and be enlightened by his Buddhist teachings, that would naturally be for the best. Therefore, even though Jue Ming had his Buddhist protection, he decided to personally travel to Yun Continent.

In the southern reaches of the Eastern Continent of Yun, Daliang Temple in Tingliang Kingdom remained a bustling hub with strong incense offerings. Not only did people from Tingliang Kingdom frequent it to offer incense, but even nobles from neighboring countries sometimes traveled long distances to visit. Furthermore, even people from Da Zhen, including great Confucians and martial artists, held the temple in high esteem.

"Amitabha, Namo the Great Dharma of My Buddha! This is Daliang Temple..."

The slightly aged Jue Ming looked up at Daliang Temple's grand yet unpretentious gate and the plaque above it. He clasped his hands together and bowed in Buddhist fashion. His monk's robe was very old and patched in many places, yet none of the surrounding pilgrims looked down on him; many made way for him as they passed.

When some nobles looked at Monk Jue Ming, they whispered among themselves, all agreeing that this monk must be an eminent one.

Indeed, the pilgrims' guess seemed quite correct. As Jue Ming looked up and stepped forward, three monks emerged from Daliang Temple. They spotted Jue Ming immediately, and the foremost among them was Master Hui Tong, handsome with red lips and white teeth.

"Amitabha, Great Mingwang Buddha! This humble monk is Hui Tong. May I ask Master's dharma name?"

Monk Hui Tong greeted him with Buddhist rites; the profound Buddha-nature of Monk Jue Ming outside the temple had awakened him from his Zen meditation, making him instantly aware of an eminent monk's arrival. However, Jue Ming smiled when he looked up.

"Master Hui Tong, this humble monk's dharma name is Jue Ming. Many thanks for your guidance back then, which allowed the former Zhao Long to find a place in Buddhism!"

Monk Hui Tong was momentarily stunned. He couldn't claim to have an eidetic memory, but it wasn't poor either. How could he not remember having guided this eminent monk before him?

'Wait a moment, Mister Ji seemed to have mentioned something similar, and even asked if it was Monk Hui Tong, didn't he?'

Though he had doubts, Monk Hui Tong temporarily suppressed them and calmly invited the eminent monk into the temple.

"Master, you have come a long way. Please enter the temple for a discussion!"

"Amitabha, many thanks, everyone. This humble monk apologizes for the disturbance!"

Monk Jue Ming looked towards a certain direction in the temple; the profound Dao aura felt like a breeze blowing into his heart, making him understand that the Bodhi tree was located there.

'Amitabha, the rumors are not false!'

"If possible, this humble monk wishes to meditate beneath the Bodhi tree. I wonder if you would permit it?"

Monk Jue Ming had just entered the temple gate when he directly stated the purpose of his visit, and Monk Hui Tong smiled.

"Master is welcome to meditate beneath the tree!"

"Many thanks!"

A month had passed since he crossed paths with Ji缘. Sitting Earth Mingwang, who was traveling by lotus seat, could still enter meditation even while flying.

Suddenly, Sitting Earth Mingwang opened his eyes. His spiritual eyes, which seemed to shimmer with golden light, looked south. Although he was currently above the sea, that direction was not too far from the Southern Wild Continent. While he had been in meditation, a strange and ominous aura had caught his attention, but now, with his spiritual eyes open, he sensed absolutely nothing.

'Could it be a premonition of chaos?'

The wisdom unlocked by an eminent monk's meditation far surpassed their normal state, and Sitting Earth Mingwang did not believe his perception was mistaken. After pondering for a moment, his Buddhist light shifted, and he flew directly towards the Southern Wilds.