At this moment, Xiaowei truly couldn’t be considered happy. A young girl doesn’t know the taste of sorrow, and once she does, separation is near.

Wang Xuan noticed it and pointed to a middle-aged woman about fifty meters ahead, saying to Xiaowei, “Do you know why that lady is going to pray to Buddha? You can take a guess.”

Xiaowei’s attention was piqued; she observed the woman and speculated, “Her clothes aren’t good, so she must be poor. I guess she’s probably praying for wealth.”

Wang Xuan smiled. The two of them took a few steps forward and inquired, and it turned out the middle-aged woman indeed hoped that the Buddha Bodhisattva would bless her family with abundant wealth.

For four generations, her family had never had anyone who became wealthy. If it weren’t for the Federation’s subsidies and welfare, her family would truly be penniless.

They lost money in business, barely saved up to buy a car, and then got into a car accident as soon as they hit the road. Her son got married and they lived poorly for three years, working hard for the baby’s milk money without a moment’s rest.

Their hands were always short of money, and life was tight. This state wasn’t just for one or two generations, not just for ten or eight years, but for four generations, lasting over a hundred years.

“Do you think if she prays to Gods and Buddha, she’ll really be blessed, and then her family will become prosperous?” Wang Xuan asked her.

Xiaowei thought for a moment and shook her head, “Money won’t fall from the sky; they have to earn it through their own efforts.

Apart from destiny, some people are indeed very unlucky. It’s a probability; when unfortunate events pile up, it becomes misfortune.

If I were a Bodhisattva, I would only make her family less unlucky, as for money, they’d still need to earn it themselves.”

Wang Xuan pointed to a middle-aged man in his fifties with an official air and said, “Then what do you think he is praying for?”

“A promotion, perhaps. He doesn’t seem to have any worries on his face, so he must have higher aspirations. Other than a promotion, wealth, and improved cultivation level, I can’t think of anything else.

People like him praying to Gods and Buddha probably won’t get any blessings; this falls under greed. He’s already got enough and doesn’t experience misfortune. Even if he achieves his goals, he’ll still wish for more, never being satisfied.” Xiaowei replied.

“Smart, you see it clearly.”

Wang Xuan smiled. Are these pilgrims coming to Ten Thousand Buddha Mountain truly devout? No, in fact, most of them come with something to ask from Buddha.

The saying goes, ‘Only pray in times of need.’

“Do you think they should come? If Buddha Bodhisattva hears their wishes, will they fulfill them?”

Xiaowei thought hard and finally shook her head, “Heaven moves, and a gentleman should strive for self-improvement. Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish. True devout believers gain wisdom, spiritual peace, and a place to belong.

As for their troubles, I don’t think true Buddha has the time to care.

If there’s injustice and imbalance, and the believers truly encounter misfortune, perhaps the Bodhisattvas and Arhats might restore the world’s balance and bring justice.

As for those who already live well and just wish for more, that falls under desire, which is normal to achieve through one’s own efforts, but praying to Gods and Buddha won’t work.

If you truly must ask for Buddha, Buddha would prefer that they let go of all worldly desires, so they are free from worries. Since they have let go, asking for those things wouldn’t make sense anymore.”

Wang Xuan nodded, “Relying on oneself is better than relying on others; asking Buddha is less effective than hard work on one’s own. As for success or failure, it depends on luck and fate.

They can’t see the wisdom of the Buddhist Sect; they only see the boundless Dharma. But no matter how boundless, where would it fall on them? What virtue and ability do they have to deserve notice?”

Looking at the various people along this journey, the pilgrims’ spirits felt pure and sacred, giving a sense of the divine. Yet some hearts were restless, desperately wishing for divine blessings, instant wealth, and promotion, also showing the seven emotions and six desires.

The sacred and the impure walk together on the path to the foremost holy land of the Buddhist Sect, only not knowing where the return path leads.

After walking for a long time, the thoughts of the people on the road gradually quieted down, feeling only peace and harmony. Buddha’s Light shone from afar, making them forget their worries.

Eventually, Wang Xuan and Xiaowei arrived at Ten Thousand Buddha Mountain.

All around were plains, and the size of the White Jade Square was unimaginable, almost ten li in diameter, with a mountain at its center, enveloped in golden light, a sacred mountain.

This mountain is named Ten Thousand Buddha Mountain because around it stand numerous large statues of the Buddhist Sect, each Buddha statue appearing compassionate or peaceful, facing all directions.

The ring-shaped White Jade Square centers around these hundreds of ten-zhang-tall Bodhisattva statues, with Venerable Arhats at their feet.

In total, there are thousands of these statues, and if a few more decades pass, the name Ten Thousand Buddhas might truly be justified.

Of course, this ‘Buddha’ refers to the statues, and only Arhats of the Earth Immortal level and above are qualified to establish their own statue and receive incense offerings from the world.

The true Buddha of Precious Light Temple, strictly speaking, is only one—the Bodhisattva of Precious Light, although apparently an Immortal existence of Buddha, only referred to as a Bodhisattva.

This Bodhisattva Fruit Position is probably as powerful as the mythical Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha King, stronger than ordinary Buddhas.

On the White Jade Square, countless believers worship the statues, chanting Buddhist scriptures and lighting incense, but no donation boxes are present for money or Merit.

Hundreds of thousands of people are making vows and returning vows to the statues. Their faith, whether pure or filled with mixed thoughts, flows toward the statues.

For the pure faith, there is a chance of divine manifestation. As for those mixed and chaotic beliefs, the Bodhisattvas won’t even look at them, even removing them for fear of tainting the Dharma Body.

“Humans are alive; Buddha statues are inanimate. It’s truly thought-provoking how the living pray to the dead.

With billions of people having billions of thoughts, even boundless Dharma becomes overwhelming.”

Wang Xuan gazed, and the entire Ten Thousand Buddha Mountain was shrouded in a faint golden mist, with everything before him glimmering with a gentle Buddha’s Light.

The cumulative faith of billions over time had soaked the soil with golden energy, giving it a pure, crystalline color.

In this misty energy, vegetation flourished and bore abundant fruit, and with his eyesight, Wang Xuan could see many smiling Buddhist disciples on the mountain picking fruit.

On Ten Thousand Buddha Mountain, gold, silver, and glazed treasures of the Buddhist Sect could be seen everywhere, yet no one picked them up. The Pure Land of the Buddhist Sect truly lived up to its name.

As Wang Xuan walked and talked, many overheard him, and some were incensed.

“Aren’t you afraid that speaking so irreverently of the Buddhist Sect will incur the Bodhisattvas’ wrath?” an elderly man scolded.

Evidently, he couldn’t tolerate Wang Xuan’s remarks. In his view, the Bodhisattva Buddhas are supreme, their grandeur and wisdom beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.

The ants discussing a Divine Dragon is already ridiculous, and mortals should maintain reverence and respect toward Gods and Buddha.

Any irreverent words shouldn’t be uttered; otherwise, one would be committing great disrespect and doomed to Hell after death.

Wang Xuan glanced at him and said coolly, “If Gods and Buddha take issue with me, then they aren’t truly Gods and Buddha.”

Gods and Buddha also stepped from mortals onto the divine altar; each level sees its own scenery. His thoughts only suit the present; as for the future, who knows what it’ll be like.

As for going to Hell? Once in Hell, he’d overturn it completely, becoming a hero of ghosts if not a hero among men!

In a flash of insight, Wang Xuan suddenly realized that the Gods and Buddha seen by believers are different from the true Gods and Buddha.

This difference is perhaps worth contemplating deeply.

Disregarding others’ gazes, Wang Xuan and Xiaowei proceeded step by step towards Ten Thousand Buddha Mountain. There were two paths to ascend: a wide stone staircase and a path to become a monk.

The stone staircase is ten zhang wide, and thousands of believers walk upon it, bathed in universal Buddha’s Light, instantly dispelling worries, forgetting desires, and experiencing a realm of nirvana where all is void.

Though this state will disappear after descending, experiencing it once makes them aware that this is indeed the Pure Land of the Buddhist Sect, a holy land worthy of their faith.

As for the other path, many attempt it, but few truly make it to the top.

The old man watched Wang Xuan and Xiaowei step onto the path of monasticism, snorted coldly, and firmly believed that these two arrogant individuals would surely face punishment.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep