With Countless Qualities Bestowed Upon Me, I Shall Ultimately Become Immortal-Chapter 561 - 513: The Taint of Māra, Tathagata’s Golden Light!
Above the clouds, the two watched Meng Chuan below, not a single one went down to help.
Indifferent.
Why so?
It was simply unnecessary for them to act to restrain this "crazy" young man.
The sands began to fly, a great wind whipped up a fog.
Not just the training ground, at this moment the entire Martial Arts Monastery was enveloped in dust and mist because of him.
Inside, more than half of the buildings were slanted and severely damaged!
Thud!
A tremor echoed from the earth, not from the Martial Arts Monastery, nor caused by Meng Chuan.
Instead, the entire Lian Tian Peak was shaking and trembling!
In the distance, all monks were taken aback.
Their bodies lowered in unison, staring into the pit where Meng Chuan stood.
"Amitabha... How could Brother Meng cause such a commotion to shake the heavens and earth?"
The young monk Jue Ming immediately marveled at Meng Chuan’s formidable power, grown stronger than imagined, comparable to his own Grandmaster’s master.
Returning to his senses, he realized such a terrifying disturbance could not possibly be within Meng Chuan’s reach.
Being able to defeat the Martial Arts Monastery’s Master Hui Yuan was already a mundane-defying act.
Strength enough to uproot mountains, it was a supernatural feat.
Absolutely not something achievable by someone of the second limitation, not conforming to the laws of Martial Arts.
"Amitabha... Brother Jue Ming, speak cautiously, this is... the appearance of the Buddha in the world."
On hearing these words, Jue Ming was horrified, glancing at the speaker beside him.
Then quickly fell silent, standing solemnly.
Liao Chen’s round physique abruptly appeared beside Jue Ming.
With fleshy, chubby hands joined, he raised his head and shut his eyes, feeling the heavens, his expression entirely devout.
Over the Martial Arts Monastery, dark hues subtly enveloped the sky.
Originally a clear and sunny day, now slightly overcast.
But it was not the sun hiding away, rather... it seemed something was obscuring it.
Among the monks at the moment, not just Liao Chen.
The other Martial Arts Masters seemed to sense something, collectively raising their heads.
The heavens underwent a rapid transformation, sudden and unexpected.
The shadow only appeared for a moment, with the Buddha’s light following closely behind!
Lian Tian Peak was already the highest peak in Shaoshi Mountain, as the Buddha’s light fell from the heavens, it illuminated here first.
Infinite and boundless golden light emerged from the left side of the sky, that direction being where the Pilu Pavilion and Mahavira Hall were located.
Swish...
On the ground, the monks collectively knelt, not a single one remained standing.
Even Abbot Baimei and Venerable Shi, on the clouds, stepped down one by one, descending the ladder to kowtow on the ground.
"Amitabha... My Buddha’s compassion..."
Rumble!
Bang!!!
Upon hearing the sound, the crowd slightly glanced aside...
At this moment, amidst the Buddha’s miraculous scene, an incongruous sound continued to erupt intermittently.
The center of the training ground still echoed with consecutive heavy strikes...
The Buddha’s manifestation was unrelated to him.
Meng Chuan was singularly focused, still playing the role of an excavator, clanging and chiseling away...
...
At this moment, further changes occurred in the sky.
A blurred, indistinct form of a golden Buddha emerged as the golden light subsided for a fleeting moment.
The Buddha’s light illuminated, standing firm in the heavens!
Venerable Shi closed his eyes, his heart feeling the Buddha’s descent.
The monks were deeply moved, all prostrating themselves in worship.
As the golden light brushed over, they felt the warm rays upon their faces, radiating with a fervency far surpassing the brightness of the sun!
The statue of Buddha towering above in the sky slowly fused both palms together.
As if "perfection" was bringing enlightenment, spreading it over the Martial Arts Monastery atop Lian Tian Peak. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Illuminating each follower of Buddha, as well as...
The humanoid excavator in the pit...
At this moment Meng Chuan was too engrossed to be bothered, submerged in boundless "slaughter".
The scene before him, the image in his heart, probing, all was crimson and black!
In this murk, Hui Yuan kept running, he continued pursuit.
The Heart Spirit followed "Hui Yuan", veering far away...
Venerable Shi saw it.
The Buddha’s light covered the interior of the pit for a moment, the figure seemed to be struck by a heavy blow.
The figure faltered, then collapsed in the pit.
Expression dim, with a faint blackening of the forehead.
The golden light shone on his face, softening his previously fierce countenance.
But if anyone approached closely to sense it, they would discover.
Meng Chuan’s inner self, being the "soul".
Seemed to be drawn away by something.
Detached to roam the nine heavens, traveling to... another dimension.
Is it the action of the celestial golden Buddha?
No...
How could the Buddha do this?
Instead there lies another "evil presence"!
Venerable Shi’s Heart Spirit involuntarily filled with shocked pallor.
The Buddhist Sect teaches: In the sixth heaven of the desire realm, the Celestial Demon King Mara resides, his incarnation dwelling within each cultivator’s heart.
Desire prevailing, temptation and disturbance ensue.
He concluded, at this moment, Meng Chuan was ensnared by an excessive pursuit of power, Mara birthed from intense wrathful emotions, ready to take him away...
If unable to see clearly, at best he would eternally fall into troubles of greed, anger, delusion.
At worst, the heart would derail, body and mind sinking into eternal turmoil, liberation unattainable.
Its true form situated in the Transmutation Heaven, incarnations reside in every cultivator’s heart.
This is also what the external Martial Arts Family refers to as "Heart Spirit Demon"!
Heart Demon!
The demon’s stain... targets not only the Immortals and Buddhas.
The higher the human Martial Arts practitioners climb, they too face the stain from Mara!
From the perspective of the Buddhist Sect, Mara’s demon is also a powerful conceptual form of Celestial Demon.
Venerable Shi bowed again towards the celestial golden Buddha, his gaze immediately shifting to the pit.
"Amitabha..."
He shook his head, his expression helpless.
The appearance of the Buddha... yet the little one wasn’t saved.
For in his heart there was no faith, no definitive ritual and countenance attached.
Believing only in oneself, unprotected by faith.
Facing the stain of the Heart Spirit Demon, he could only rely on himself...
...
Not only the Martial Arts Monk Institute, but at this moment on Shaoshi Mountain, except for those who practice in seclusion and shut off their senses, everyone is kowtowing and kneeling to the sky.
The manifestation of Buddha, a scene rarely seen in daily life.
As time passes, the appearance of the golden Buddha calms all anomalies in the Martial Arts Monk Institute and even at Lian Tian Peak.
Subsequently, a towering peak slowly emerges like a mirage.
White clouds wrap around the mountainside like soft silk ribbons, denoting a celestial mountain shrouded in mist, accompanied by clouds and mist.
The Buddha’s figure gradually merges with the peak.
Accompanied by the monks’ worship and kowtowing, the apparition fades away.
Who is He?
Namo Shakyamuni Buddha, the Dharma body of the Great Sun Tathagata!
On the ground, seeing Buddha depart, the little monk Jue Ming dared to speak softly:
"Brother Liao Chen, why does Buddha... manifest in the world?"
He knows that the Dharma body of the Great Sun is the fundamental ritual that has supported Shaolin’s incense offerings for a thousand years without collapse.
It can protect the monks, so their Zen Heart remains undisturbed.
It also guards against all external enemy glances, remaining indestructible.
Yet this time... Brother Meng’s uproar in the Martial Arts Monk Institute has prompted Buddha’s manifestation.
Viewed with a slight touch of disrespect, it feels somewhat like using a cannon to shoot mosquitoes.
Thus, he does not understand and asks.
Beside him, Liao Chen did not answer immediately.
After a few breaths, when the cloud and mist apparitions accompanying Buddha from the sky have dissipated.
He then rises slowly, speaks briefly and clearly:
"Two manifestations of Mara descending to the world, Buddha’s compassion, descended to relieve calamity."
Jue Ming’s pupils suddenly shrink, swallowing hard, muttering:
"Mara..."
The awe of the heedless Heart Demon deeply affects each disciple of the Buddhist Sect.
To practice Martial Arts, one must first examine one’s nature.
The reason Shaolin emphasizes body training as a foundational lesson is not only for ’strengthening the foundation’, but also to nourish the soul.
Preventing disciples from leaving Shaoshi Mountain, being tempted by Mara, falling into danger.
Because Mara, loves to find these Buddhist Sect disciples.
Why?
For the pure taste of their souls...
Liao Chen says nothing, only looks towards the clouds where Grandmaster Hui Yuan is, then directs his senses into the pit.
On the cloud.
At this moment, Hui Yuan’s expression has turned from one of terror to serenity and calm.
He remains floating atop the cloud, kowtowing, even if Buddha has departed, he remains still for a long time.
The appearance of the Great Sun Dharma body, and the golden light repels Mara’s disturbances for him.
Thus, bowing for three days is necessary to repay the Buddha’s kindness.
As for Meng Chuan...
Liao Chen’s expression suddenly becomes incredibly grave!
Mara’s corrosion comes in varying degrees.
He can sense that Meng Chuan is not simply ignorant of his soul.
Rather... a loss of soul.
Being taken to... the Heedless Heaven!
Beside him.
Venerable Shi at this moment is also distressed because of this.
Mara has captured Meng Chuan’s Heart Spirit, what should be done about this...
Intending to convert him, Venerable Shi conducted a detailed ’background check’ on this youth a few days ago.
Upon investigation, he found that Meng Chuan’s importance at United University is such that it’s nearly impossible to poach him.
Associate Dean Yang Huan has publicly supported him many times as his ’master teacher’...
It’s not difficult to guess how the soon-to-be Great Saint Sui is connected to him...
If he were to fall into ruin at Shaolin, Northern United University would certainly send people to investigate the matter.
Finding the root cause, prompted by Hui Yuan.
At that time, facing the fury of a school with two saints, the pressure would be immense...
"Blessed be... let us disperse first."
A harmonious voice suddenly comes unexpectedly, breaking the silence.
The monks glance over, only then noticing by the large pit in the center of the training ground.
Beside Venerable Shi, an unknown white-robed monk stands.
Everyone shows respect, lowering their gaze slightly as a sign of honor.
Divine Monk Baibao!
Venerable Shi’s brows relax, about to speak, but he abruptly stops.
Seeing Divine Monk Baibao’s head turn to look at the figure in the pit, his sleeve waves and Meng Chuan’s figure has already disappeared.
"All present monks, do not speak of this matter, those who violate shall be severely punished without mercy."
"Blessed be..."
Liao Chen and the monks all clasp their hands in a prayer gesture as a response.
...
The storm gradually settles.
At the Moon Platform courtyard.
Baibao brought Meng Chuan back, gently placed him on the bed.
Seeing Venerable Shi beside him worried, he sits beside and speaks softly:
"I conversed with him and found that his mind is firm, stronger than his Martial Arts talent. Passing this difficulty, there’s a significant chance."
Venerable Shi’s expression softens; with Baibao’s assurance, he feels much more at ease.
"But the Heart Demon difficulty, to us, is akin to contamination by Immortals and Demons. To resist Mara, we still require external help."
"What help?"
"Help of the heart."
From the realization of the enlightenment of Ancestor Tian Tong, the soul has anomalies.
Yet Meng Chuan, succeeds because of this, fails also because of this.
If not for his sly, tempting heart, he wouldn’t be so deeply contaminated by Mara...
Baibao investigates, the soul remains unseen.
Then looks towards Meng Chuan’s brow, reflecting increasingly dark hues.
Inside, he doesn’t casually speak of what he does not express as lighthearted.
Because...
This is indeed the calamity of Mara claiming life!
...
A sobbing wind rolls throughout the heaven.
Meng Chuan opens his eyes and looks around.
Blinks hard twice, then closes them.
Then opens them again.
He deduces that he is currently in a pitch-black space.
Looking around, stretching out his hand, opening then clenching, still seeing nothing.
He cannot help but murmur:
"Where is this place?"
