Chapter 146: Chapter 129: Great Success in the Emperor’s Heart Skill, Jiang Shan’s Sermon, The Confucian-Buddhist Debate

The Thick-Eyebrow Monk used his burly frame to muscle his way into the crowd. He paid no mind to tickets or seats, simply planting himself among the people.

Inevitably, there were some bumps and shoves along the way. A disgruntled Cultivator’s eyes widened, and he was about to let loose a string of curses:

“You blasted monk!”

Before he could finish, the tall monk turned and glared at him. The man was met with thick brows, large eyes, and the immense pressure of a Qilin Arm. The monk’s qi and blood blazed like the sun, like a dragon. The Cultivator’s tone instantly shifted, and he stammered,

“You… you look truly full of boundless merit, and so robust! May I ask for the great master’s name?”

“This humble monk is named Fa Hai. My apologies for the disturbance.”

The Thick-Eyebrow Monk’s voice boomed like the Thunder God, so loud the surrounding people felt their eardrums might shatter. They instinctively looked toward this Monk who called himself Fa Hai, a flicker of apprehension in their eyes.

A practitioner of Buddhist and Martial Dual Cultivation—undoubtedly a dragon among men in the world of Buddhist Cultivators.

He was not someone to be crossed.

This Monk Fahai was, of course, none other than Lu Mingyuan in disguise.

The two-versus-eight conflict was reaching a fever pitch. He had originally planned to check on the situation at Prince Jin’s Mansion to see if they intended to fight back. He was also hoping to clear his head and find a way to secure a pardon without a review. However, as he was passing through the area, he happened to learn that someone was preaching Buddhist Scripture nearby.

Disguised as Monk Fahai, he moved through the crowd to a spot near the front. There, he saw him—the Great Frost Saint Monk whom Yun Qinghe had mentioned, the one the Silver Frost People called the White-clothed True Buddha.

This was the one responsible for offering up the Buddha’s Relics.

“We’d better hurry! Not only is the Saint Monk preaching today, but a Great Scholar is going to debate the scriptures with him!”

“Which Great Scholar?”

“It’s Master Xun of Bailu Academy.”

“Master Xun… The name doesn’t ring a bell.”

“You don’t even know him? He’s the author of the masterpiece, *Theory of Human Evil*. Just recently at Bailu Academy, he proclaimed, ’A teacher is one who transmits the Dao, imparts knowledge, and resolves confusion!’ His fame has exploded!”

The scholar in the gray Confucian Shirt added smugly, “His voice echoed throughout the entire Bailu Academy, a cry so powerful it could rouse the deaf. I can still hear it ringing in my ears even now… ’Human nature is inherently evil, which is precisely why we require the guidance of teachers.’”

Just as he was about to boast further, waves of Zen chanting suddenly filled the air.

At the same time, Golden Lotuses descended from the heavens, blanketing the entire plaza.

When the Golden Lotuses landed on a person, they shattered into motes of spiritual light and seeped into their body.

The sick were healed, the elderly were invigorated, and the youth and children felt a new clarity in their minds.

WHOA!

The heavenly descent of the Golden Lotuses drew a wave of astonished cries. Then, upon sensing the miraculous effects of the lotuses, people began scrambling to catch them.

The plaza was already packed shoulder to shoulder. If a stampede were to break out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Om!”

A single Buddhist True Word echoed forth, and the stirring crowd instantly fell silent.

On the sermon platform, a figure suddenly materialized. Clad in white monastic robes and seated cross-legged, he seemed to have been there the entire time.

’Tsk, tsk, tsk!’

Lu Mingyuan shook his head. ’The Buddhist Sect never changes. If they’re going to give a sermon, they should just give a sermon. But no, first comes the ostentatious display, then a show of force to cow the crowd!’

He waved his hand, pulling a Golden Lotus into his palm. He discovered it contained three distinct energies: pure Buddhist power, worldly merit, and gentle Spiritual Qi.

’Each of these energies was immensely beneficial to ordinary people. As long as no accidents befell them, everyone who came to hear the sermon today would be able to live out their natural lifespans, free from sickness and calamity.’

’Whether the White-robed Monk Jiang Shan’s entrance was pure ostentation or a show of force, at least several thousand people benefited from it. Jiang Shan might be disliked by many, but to condense a Merit Golden Wheel, one had to perform genuinely good deeds and accumulate merit.’

“This humble monk is Jiang Shan. I have come from Silver Frost, passing through many States and Counties along the way…”

This was not Jiang Shan’s first sermon. His opening was polished and clearly well-rehearsed. But then, his eyes fell upon Monk Fahai in the third row, and he noted his unusual aura.

He offered a faint smile, then immediately refocused his thoughts and began his sermon in a gentle, flowing voice.

“This humble monk will preach for three days, one scripture each day. Today, I shall speak on a fundamental scripture of our Buddha…”

“The evil karma of the past is born of greed, hatred, and ignorance…”

“Eradicate all poisons of the mind, and cultivate supreme wisdom…”

“All things arise from Karmic Force!”

Jiang Shan’s voice carried beyond the plaza, drifting for miles on the wind, sounding like a personal whisper in the ear of every passerby.

Imbued with the power of the Buddhist Technique, the whispering voice filled listeners with a sense of profound comfort, irresistibly drawing them toward the plaza. In just a few moments, the surrounding areas were also packed, with people listening from inns, taverns, and even from the rooftops.

As Jiang Shan reached a particularly profound point in his sermon, he formed a teaching mudra with his hands. At once, heavenly flowers rained from the sky and Golden Lotuses bloomed from the earth.

Upon seeing this, the Buddhist devotees in the crowd sat down on the ground, crossed their legs, and began chanting Buddhist Scripture.

Many in the audience who were not believers felt a sudden sense of reverence for the Buddha upon witnessing such a miraculous sight.

Only the Taoist Sect Cultivators in the crowd couldn’t help but sneer. ’It’s nothing more than a rather profound Illusion Technique,’ they thought.

A few of the more unruly Daoists among them started shouting the names of the Infinite Celestial Venerable and the Ancestral Master of the Three Pristine Ones, letting out boos and strange catcalls.

Jiang Shan paid them no mind, having grown accustomed to such displays. In his long journey eastward, he had met both pious devotees and sworn enemies of Buddhism who cursed the faith and even sought to eradicate it.

When he encountered such people, he simply acted as if they didn’t exist. They were not worth his attention.

“With a heart devoted to the Buddha, one cultivates good karma, receives good fortune, and enters the cycle of Reincarnation. Through such perfect practice and realization, one will ultimately attain the land of the Buddha!”

The sermon lasted for nearly four hours, yet those who stood and listened felt no fatigue whatsoever. Instead, they felt a sense of profound, refreshing satisfaction—like a drink of ice-cold water in the summer, the warmth of the winter sun, or the comfort of a warm home with their family.

As Jiang Shan’s voice trailed off, the audience slowly came to, a feeling of reluctance welling in their hearts.

However, some of the more discerning individuals in the crowd knew that the main event was just getting started.

Sure enough.

No sooner had Jiang Shan’s voice faded than a slender, elderly man with frost-white temples appeared on the platform.

Many of the scholars in attendance recognized him. It was Mr. Xun, who had only recently begun teaching at Bailu Academy. Despite having taught only a few classes, he was already adored by the students and had made quite a name for himself.

Master Xun spoke with a pleasant expression, “Zen Master, I have gained a great deal of insight from your sermon. Might I trouble you to help this one resolve a doubt or two?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep