Today, Senior Brother Teaches You

Dong——

With the bell of the Zen Forest Temple ringing through the temple grounds, the Shuilin Dharma Assembly officially commenced.

In the center of the temple, Yuan Kong, clad in a yellow kasaya and holding a vajra, stepped out from the main hall, followed by a group of monks.

Two white-bearded monks closely flanked Yuan Kong, one on the left holding a jade cleansing bottle—certainly not a magical treasure, likely just for ceremonial use.

The monk on the right held an eight-treasure umbrella—shaped like a large parasol with golden edges and eight differently colored glass beads dangling from its rim.

Yuan Kong, with the vajra in hand and a steady stride, chanted Buddhist scriptures.

The monks behind him chanted along.

The white-bearded monks on either side of Yuan Kong, both possessing foundation-building cultivation, seemed to imbue their chanting with a unique magical technique.

This quickly quieted the originally noisy and bustling atmosphere.

Chu Xingchen frowned slightly and asked, "Does Buddhism always involve such practices?"

Yaoqin scoffed, "Otherwise, why would Zhongzhou still look down on Buddhism?"

Seeing the puzzled look on his senior sister's face, Li Xingtian explained:

"Those two white-bearded monks used a Buddhist technique that has a profound effect on the human spirit."

Li Yingling nodded in realization.

The ceremony continued.

At this moment, Yuan Kong, with a serious expression, walked towards the arranged meditation cushions.

The cushions were set up directly in front of the spiritual positions, and Yuan Kong was the first to sit down, then lifted his eyes to see his senior brother.

Standing amidst a pile of flowers and in the center of the spiritual positions, he wore a kindly smile, looking as if he was conducting a funeral.

And the plaque he held high—'Don't compete with the old monk for the master's wife.'

No matter how many times Yuan Kong had seen it, each time he felt like he was about to lose his composure.

Abbot! You've completely disgraced the Zen Forest Temple!

Yuan Kong took a deep breath and resolutely closed his eyes.

As Yuan Kong sat down, all the monks quieted down, finding their respective places to either sit or stand properly.

The two foundation-building monks now sat on either side of Yuan Kong.

Everyone waited for Yuan Kong to speak.

Under the gaze of all, Yuan Kong did not rush to speak; he first calmed his mind.

After a long while, Yuan Kong closed his eyes and spoke aloud:

"Thus have I heard!"

As Yuan Kong spoke, the rest of the monks instantly followed, speaking in unison, like the ringing of a bell:

"Thus have I heard!"

In the side hall, upon hearing the content of the scriptures, Yaoqin suddenly stood up, her gaze shifting uncertainly as she looked at Yuan Kong, who was now chanting the scriptures.

Seeing such a strong reaction from Yaoqin, Chu Xingchen also hurriedly looked towards Yuan Kong, but still found nothing unusual, so he asked in confusion:

"What's wrong? Is there something amiss?"

"What Yuan Kong is chanting is not the transcendence scripture, but a secret Buddhist method!"

"You understand Buddhist scriptures?"

"Nonsense, I've heard the Buddhist Transcendence Heart Sutra before!"

After saying this, Yaoqin stood up and walked towards the door, her gaze intense as she looked at Yuan Jing standing among the wreaths.

Some Buddhist techniques and those of demonic cultivators share a strange similarity—could this be an ambush?

Is it us they're after? What other plans do they have?

Seemingly aware of Yaoqin's gaze, the abbot of Zen Forest Temple also turned to look at her, his face still smiling as he silently muttered "Amitabha."

At that moment, several figures emerged from another room in the side hall, standing on the same corridor as Yaoqin, apparently other distinguished guests invited by the Zen Forest Temple.

One of them, a middle-aged man in a Taoist robe, suddenly asked, "Does anyone know what these bald monks are up to?"

A young man in white, holding a scroll, speculated casually:

"I don’t know... Is this how Buddhist secret rituals are recited? Could it be they plan to silence us by killing?"

Chu Xingchen also stepped forward, his tone serious, "Fellow Daoists, I have something to say."

A beautiful woman in a yellow robe looked over, her eyes lighting up with emotion as she saw Chu Xingchen's outstanding figure, and spoke affectionately:

"Please speak, Daoist."

Chu Xingchen bowed to both sides and then firmly suggested, "It’s better to strike first!"

The Taoist priest nodded deeply in agreement, "I deeply concur with this statement!"

Thus, the others also turned their gaze to the Taoist priest, seemingly expecting him to make a move.

But how could the Taoist priest really strike? Although he truly disliked the Buddhist sect, the Buddhist sect was still widely recognized as a legitimate faction.

He couldn’t possibly start a fight just because a monk mispronounced a scripture, could he?

Yaoqin spoke up to ease the Taoist priest's embarrassment, "There’s no need for that, let’s just see how things unfold."

The Taoist priest coughed lightly, "Very well, let’s do as you say and give these bald monks a bit of face."

Li Xingtian and Li Yingling also emerged from a room in the side hall at this moment.

Li Xingtian observed for a while and then said, "It doesn’t seem like a secret ritual... Could it be the Buddhist Heart Sutra?"

The young man in white looked over, "Brother, you understand this?"

Li Xingtian nodded slightly, "I’ve had some dealings with the Buddhist sect. If it were a secret ritual, with so many people initiating it together, there should be Buddhist lotuses by now."

The young man in white nodded slightly, "Since that’s the case, let’s see what tricks these bald monks have up their sleeves."

With that, the scholar turned and went back to his own room.

The Taoist priest followed closely behind, and the rest also went back to their rooms.

Only the beautiful woman in the yellow robe, her eyes tender, looked at Chu Xingchen and said:

"I have some fine wine here; would you care to join me for a drink?"

Yaoqin, hearing this, gave the woman in yellow a cold side glance.

"Uh... Perhaps another time." Faced with Yaoqin's icy gaze, the woman in yellow gave a wry smile and also turned to leave.

Yaoqin snorted coldly and also turned back to her room.

Chu Xingchen shrugged helplessly and followed Yaoqin.

Back in the room, everyone resumed their original seats, waiting to see what big event Zen Forest Temple was planning.

It seemed there was still some time to go.

Li Yingling looked at his junior brother curiously and asked:

"What dealings could you have with the Buddhist sect?"

Li Xingtian replied indifferently, "The way of weapons and fists."

"...So you were fighting with monks?"

"What else should I do, listen to their scriptures?"

Li Yingling nodded in satisfaction, "...True to your style, junior brother!"

Chu Xingchen ignored his senior disciple's antics and used the system to check the abbot of Zen Forest Temple's profile.

【Target: Yuan Jing】

【Cultivation: Late Foundation Building】

【Blue Entry: My Heart as His】

【White Entry: Compassion】

[White Entry: Kind Heart]

[Black Entry: Growing Old]

Judging solely by these entries, this abbot seems to be a good man.

And it appears his days are numbered.

As the chanting of scriptures grew louder, suddenly, the abbot standing in the center shouted, "Mercy of the Buddha!"

As if on cue, the white-bearded monks on either side of Yuan Kong burst into a dazzling golden Buddha light, reaching out to grab Yuan Kong's arms.

The grabbed Yuan Kong felt a warm surge rushing up his arms, but it faded away just as it advanced a little.

It was refreshing, but somehow not quite satisfying.

Yuan Kong continued to recite the Heart Sutra, wondering what was happening when he tried to open his eyes.

A familiar hand covered his eyes just as he was about to look.

This hand had caressed his head countless times before; he had long memorized its lines and warmth.

"Have you not always wished to learn the art? Today, your senior brother will teach you."

The gentle voice of Yuan Jing sounded beside Yuan Kong's ear.