Chapter Twenty: Nirvana

  Dao Jie's heart skipped a beat, and he pushed aside the little monk, running all the way like the wind. However, Lingyin Temple was no longer the same as it had been in his time, and he couldn't remember the roads, becoming increasingly anxious.

  Xu Xian spoke up from behind: "Dao Ji Master, don't be in a hurry, let this young master lead the way for you."

  Xia Shami led the way along a long corridor, where monks were seen with solemn faces from time to time. The whole temple also had an atmosphere of solemnity and depression.

  Finally found the place, it was still the same old house that Xu Xian had visited last time. The little monk didn't even wait for a word and just said "Come in!" Xu Xian could tell that it was Fahai's voice.

  Pushing open the door and entering, however, he only saw Fahai and Yuankong sitting opposite each other, with a large pile of scriptures beside them, seemingly discussing Buddhist teachings.

  Yuankong often looked back and smiled: "Daoji, you're back!" His words were warm and natural, as if Daoji had just come down the mountain to have lunch, rather than having been away for decades.

  Daoyi heard the voice, his eyes grew hot, and he knelt down to kowtow three times heavily. "I'm back!" This one sentence seemed to contain countless heartaches and joys that could no longer be expressed in words. Witnessing this scene, they had to put aside their worries, but in their hearts, they were as bewildered as a child, wondering if the master who had raised them like a father was really going to die?

  Fa Hai then asked Xu Xian, "Have you mastered the Great Thunder Sound?" He only acknowledged Xu Xian's innate talent in this regard, but he also didn't believe that he could master the Great Thunder Sound technique in such a short period of time.

  But then Xu Xian said, "Although it's not yet perfected, it can be considered as having been practiced successfully." If he hadn't had that conversation with Dragon King on the Great River, and gained enlightenment from it to sing out "The rolling Yangtze River flows eastward", he feared that even now he would still be unable to master this powerful Thunder Sound Technique.

  Your elder brother, the old monk, didn't care about them and instead focused on discussing the Dharma. Master Yuan Kong held a book and said: "Elder brother, this account book still needs to be looked at, otherwise, in the future, various expenses and income in the temple will not be clear."

  Xu Xian suddenly realized that it wasn't a scripture, but a large stack of account books. Yuan Kong was going to hand over the affairs, but Fa Hai became the abbot of Lingyin Temple instead of Jinshan Temple, so how should this plot be calculated?

  "Disciple, I'm really not good at this. Otherwise, it would be better to choose another wise one to be the abbot of Lingyin Temple."

  That day, Yuan Kong suddenly said that he would pass away soon. Fa Hai was shocked but thought to himself that Yuan Kong wasn't like him, a cultivator who had transcended the mortal realm, and that ordinary people's lives were always limited. Later, Yuan Kong asked Fa Hai to become the abbot of Lingyin Temple. Fa Hai had also intended to try his hand at managing the temple, but unexpectedly found it so tedious, with just the accounts alone being so numerous. As for handling these trivial matters, it wasn't something he was good at.

  "Brother, you can't handle it, so ask someone else to act on your behalf. However, you must find a trustworthy and honest person. There are many people in this temple who cannot be used, and since you don't understand these things, they will inevitably cheat you."

  Xu Xian's heart moved and he said: "Master, these disciples can understand clearly, then sort out the results and report to you."

  Fa Hai was overjoyed: "Good, these are now in your hands. If you arrange them well, I will teach you the Lin Zi Jue of the Liu Jia Mi Zhu and the Wu Dong Ming Wang Yin!" Originally, he still wanted to conduct another test, but this time it was a two-for-one deal.

  Xu Xian walked to the edge of the account book, began to flip through one by one. Naturally, it's impossible to rely on his brain to look at it. Under the state of wisdom, the speed of flipping through made Dao Ji stare in amazement. However, after a cup of tea, Xu Xian put the last account book back in its original place and said: "Disciple is clear." Then he turned his head and asked: "Yuan Kong Fangzhang, do you have paper and pen?"

  Yu Kong immediately said: "Daojie, go and get the paper and pen from the third pavilion." He pointed to the air as if ordering ordinary monks, but Daojie's heart was even more calm. He went to find the place, found the paper and pen, and handed them over to Xu Xian. He knelt back to his original position with reverence, as if he were an ordinary monk who had been in the temple for decades.

  As soon as he entered this room, the storms of Jianghu were blocked outside, and he was no longer the notorious killer monk, but returned to his true self, just a monk. No one in this house would fear him, nor would anyone look down on him, they just treated him like any other monk.

  Xu Xian picked up his brush and organized the information in his mind, summarizing it onto a piece of rice paper, skipping the tedious process and only presenting a clear result. He then handed the rice paper to Fa Hai. Fa Hai took a look and indeed everything was clear. Clarifying the past, from now on, as long as they followed the rules, things would be much simpler.

  This matter is hindered, even if Xian has a "wise heart", it's hard to get started. Who let Master Fahai focus on cultivation for over a thousand years, starting with one person eating enough to feed the whole family, and later even saving on meals? Plus, he didn't study accounting, and math probably only knows addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, which is equivalent to an elementary school diploma in modern times. As for Xian, as a knowledgeable and cultured young man of the 21st century, he can handle it with ease.

  Yuankong Elder also took a look and praised, exchanging a glance with Faha, meaning "The monk world is really lacking such talents!" Faha nodded, meaning "I will guide him to take refuge in my teachings."

  Fa Hai said, "Alright, Yuantong junior brother, I will no longer decline this position as abbot. I must wield the Vajra pestle with great authority! Let's go, Xu Xian!" After speaking, he stood up and paid his respects to Yuan Tong before leaving with Xu Xian.

  At that time, there were many Weituo sticks at the gate of the temple. If the Weituo stick was carried on the shoulder, it indicated that this was a large temple and could accommodate monks who came to visit from all over the world for free food and lodging for three days. If the Weituo stick was held flat in the hand, it meant that this was a medium-sized temple and could accommodate visiting monks for free food and lodging for one day. If the Weituo stick was placed on the ground, it indicated that the temple could not provide free food and lodging to visiting monks!

  The room fell silent, and Daoji finally couldn't help but ask: "Master?" The rest of the words were left unspoken.

  The old monk nodded and said, "I have cultivated to this point where I am aware of my own life and death, and I have calculated the timing. But I still have some regrets, I didn't expect the Buddha to know my intentions and send you back again." Looking at Daoji in front of him, his heart was also filled with joy.

  The master's eyes turned red again, and he knocked his head on the ground, saying: "The disciple is unworthy."

  "Come back, it's good. You support me and let's take a walk, we'll take another look at Lingyin Temple. In these years you weren't here, I wasn't idle either." As for where Daoji went and what he did in these years, he didn't mention a word, not only because of the Buddhist door's great compassion, but also because this was the child he had watched grow up.

  Dao Jie hastily helped Yuan Kong up, only to feel that he was as thin and weak as a withered branch. However, his eyes were still bright and clear, with the whites and blacks clearly defined. As they strolled through the Lingyin Temple where they had lived for decades, it seemed like their first meeting all over again. Dao Jie pointed out the tower, the main hall, telling Yuan Kong when it was built, how much money was raised at the time, and what events took place there. He explained everything clearly and in detail, with a hint of pride on his face.

  This is my Lingyin Temple.

  The monks followed him closely, soon gathering behind the two of them, more and more until all the monks in the temple were following behind. Their eyes were red-rimmed, but they held back their tears and walked quietly.

  There was only one old monk's voice chanting.

  Xu Xian stood on the attic, looking far away, and couldn't help but wonder if it was worth taking this small temple as his whole world, born here, grown up here, died here. Perhaps only he himself understood, but having no regrets was also a kind of comfort.

  Yu Kong toured the temple, then bathed and changed his clothes. He closed the door, sat quietly, and waited for death to arrive. The two words "life" and "death" may not be fully understood, but he could face them calmly.

  At this time, Fa Hai said: "Since I have accepted you as a disciple, although you are not willing to become a monk, you should at least have a Dharma name. As for me, my surname is Fa, so you will be Shi." He was thinking about what to call him.

  Xu Xian inserted a sentence: "Sakyamuni." Before the words fell, he was hit by Fa Hai on the head, "I let you Sakyamuni."

  Xu Xian covered his head and let out a cold sigh. This old man's strength was really not small, "Was I wrong to just make a suggestion?"

  Fa Hai withdrew his Vajra anger gaze and thought for a moment before saying: "Shi Se, you can just call Shi Se"

  "What? Why isn't it called 'shit color' instead of 'color release'? You're taking revenge, you're a high-ranking monk, how can you be like this?"

  Fahai explained: "This color, is it not the color that ordinary people refer to? It's the 'color is emptiness' color, containing all colors in the world. If you can let go of this color, attaining the Bodhisattva position would be as easy as turning your hand over." Fahai's explanation was serious and proper, but what he thought in his heart was unknown.

  Xu Xian insisted, "If not, let's exchange. You release the color, and I'll get the Dharma Sea." From then on, when competing with others to register their Dharma names, he would just say "This poor monk's Dharma name is Release Color" and it would be enough to make people laugh to death.

  Fa Hai nodded again, "Let you be impolite" and thought: "However, feces are the filthiest things in the world. If one can let go of it..."

  Xu Xian hastily said: "I'd better call Shi Se." If he really called out Shi Shi, he wouldn't need to help Bai Suzhen anymore and could just lock himself in the Leifeng Tower.

  Fa Hai nodded in satisfaction: "Good. I will now teach you the first lesson of the Six Character Secret Mantra and the Great Hand Seal Method - the 'Immovable Bright King Seal'."

  Xu Xian still felt something was off no matter how he listened, but for now, having eaten from someone's hand made him soft and could only say: "Yes, Master"

  "The so-called Liu Jia Secret Blessing is actually the nine-character true mantra. 'When soldiers clash, they all form arrays in front.' These nine characters originated from Taoism and later merged with Buddhism, combining with Buddhist hand seals to produce immense power. The nine characters correspond to nine different hand seals: the Unmoving Bright King Seal, the Great Golden Wheel Seal, the Outer Lion Seal, the Inner Lion Seal, the Outer Binding Seal, the Inner Binding Seal, the Wisdom Matter Seal, the Sun Wheel Seal, and the Treasure Vase Seal. Although they are called 'nine', in reality, there are countless hand seals that have evolved from the fundamental ones, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River."

  What is meant by '臨' (lin) is that the body is firm, the mind is determined, and there is no confusion in the heart. The so-called "泰山崩于前，而色不变" (Tai Shan collapses in front of you, but your face doesn't change) is a great stability. Only stability is the foundation of everything, and only through stability can wisdom be born. It is also the foundation for resisting evil demons and external paths, and what is held is the unmoving bright king seal of body and mind.

  If you talk about pronunciation and gestures, it seems like there's nothing difficult. But the difficulty lies in the foundation. If you don't have a good grasp of the basics, straining your vocal cords is useless. If you don't have the underlying power of the sun, any gesture is pointless.

  Just like the talisman drawn by Yu Xuanji and given to Xu Xian, ordinary people can draw it after practicing for a day or two, but if you want to infuse your inner spiritual energy into its subtle details, you must be taught in person.

  But Fa Hai still had the same temperament as before, and after reciting his Buddhist mantra, he let go of it. This master was very relaxed and at ease. This is probably also the reason why famous masters like talented disciples.

  Xu Xian first tried to make a still Ming Wang seal. This seal is not simply a gesture, but an overall process, in the process of making this gesture, the spiritual power is guided into both arms, hands and ten fingers.

  Two arms are called two wings, two hands are called two feathers, ten fingers are called ten degrees.

  The Ten Degrees of the Fingers, starting from the little finger on the left: Dan, Jie, Ren, Jin, Chan. Starting from the little finger on the right: Hui, Fang, Gu, Li, Zhi. The secret method within cannot be understood without internal guidance, it is absolutely impossible to figure out by oneself.

  Xu Xian studied it for a while and knew that the Unmoving Ming Wang was a defensive technique, which could protect one's body and mind from being affected by illusions or direct destruction.

  All can rely on this method to resist.

  Xu Xian first spoke the truth, performed the hand seal, but after trying several times, it was not successful. Either the true words were out of rhythm or the hand gestures did not match, and more often than not, the spiritual power could not be fully utilized. This method emphasizes unity rather than multiple uses. It's like a complex machine that seems to consist of countless small parts, but requires movement in one place and everywhere else, rather than simply using multiple minds.

  However, Xu Xian knew that he couldn't rush into it, so he first coordinated his heart and hands to form a seal, using his spiritual power within. With the experience of drawing talismans, although not confused, after trying more than ten times, he succeeded. A layer of golden light floated on his body, extremely faint but as if substantial, like the golden body of a Buddha statue. His mind was also more focused than ever before, as if it would condense into a single point without any distracting thoughts.

  Although it only lasted for an instant and then disappeared, Xu Xian was overjoyed. That layer of golden light should be able to withstand swords and knives, equivalent to a xianxia version of the Golden Bell Shield. Although he hadn't tried its specific effects yet, it probably wouldn't be too bad. And at that time, his mental state seemed more like a weakened version of Hui Xin. Although it was only a weakened version, it was still a risk-free benefit, not consuming precious merit like Hui Xin did, and couldn't be used carelessly. Moreover, this was just the beginning; if the effect was stronger in the future, that would be even better. Replacing the function of "Hui Xin" wasn't impossible either.

  Xu Xian suddenly exclaimed, "Isn't this the Golden Body and Sharira?" What is it to transport spiritual energy outside the body? What is it to concentrate one's mind to the utmost? Isn't it just the two most important things in Buddhism - the Golden Body and Sharira?

  Fahai, who was standing by, praised: "Being able to have this realization is indeed a great blessing of wisdom. This is just a side door for cultivating the golden body and forming sarira, which still differs from the true method of cultivation. However, this method can only be transmitted to Buddhists. Originally, you had your own foundation and shouldn't have these two things, but since you possess the power of Mahavairocana and are highly compatible with the Buddhist Dharma, that's why you achieved that effect just now."

  Actually, Fahai had just seen Xu Xian condense a thin layer of golden body outside his body, and he was also extremely surprised. He didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the golden body disappeared. Fahai's own true golden body existed at all times, and with a thought, it would appear. Unlike Xu Xian, whose golden body temporarily existed due to the seal, but whether Xu Xian would eventually condense into a golden body, Fahai didn't know either.

  Xu Xian never thought of becoming a Buddhist, he just thought that as long as his body and mind were united, he would have such an effect. If he added the power of true words to it, he didn't know if it would be even stronger. The practice of uniting heart and mouth was relatively simple, in coordination with the Dah Lei Yin technique, the Zhong Zi Jue (a type of incantation) seemed to have a stunning effect on the mind, rather than focusing on defending oneself. With my understanding, it could attack the opponent's movement. If he could also coordinate with the Wu Dong Ming Wang Yin (a type of seal), it would truly be an integration of offense and defense.

  But when he combined these two things, Xu Xian suddenly realized how difficult it was. He tried ten times and didn't succeed once. Xu Xian simply put down his specialty to attack the unmoving Ming Wang seal method. This unmoving Ming Wang seal method originally only succeeded one or two times in ten attempts. When facing a real enemy, where would you have time to try? If it doesn't work once, it's a matter of life and death. Now Xu Xian's most important thing is to guarantee the success rate of the unmoving Ming Wang seal.

  However, even if it only succeeds once every ten times until nightfall, it is already a remarkable progress in Fa Hai's eyes. He thinks that if he can put down his worldly thoughts and focus on cultivation, he will truly live up to the four words "brave, meticulous, progressive". With himself as a famous teacher guiding him, he will have fewer setbacks on the path of cultivation. It is imaginable that a new star in the Buddhist world is about to rise. But thinking about Xu Xian's current attitude, he also knows that it is not easy to escape the worldly dust. However, affliction is Bodhi. With this child's wisdom, as long as he suffers a bit in the worldly dust, there will definitely be a day of great enlightenment.

  However, Xu Xian still found a clever way to start Hui Xin's state with a high success rate. Moreover, to seal the Wu Dong Ming Wang Yin, as long as one enters the Hui Xin state at the beginning, the true effect of Wu Dong Ming Wang Yin will be to calm the mind and stabilize its nature, which can stop Hui Xin. Therefore, the actual consumption of Gong De is only that initial moment.

  Moreover, he found that under the state of forming an unmoving king, spitting out true words would be more likely to succeed and the effect would indeed be extraordinary.

  Xu Xian had tried to use the power of water spirit to drive this seal, but its effect was far from using the power of the sun. Apart from the difference in quantity, the difference in quality is the most crucial, just as Fa Hai said that the dazzling power of the great sun seems to be really suitable for the Buddhist Dharma.

  Recalling the time at Zhou Xue Dao, that Taoist master said he wasn't very talented, but now he claims to be a genius. Xu Xian finally got to show off and it's true that men fear entering the wrong profession.

  But as for letting Xu Xian become a monk, don't even think about it.

  His future wife was a heavenly woman. The Qingming Festival is just around the corner. However, Xu Xian couldn't help but think of someone, "Ming Wang, are you okay?"

  At this time, a sad cry was heard from the direction of the great hall. Master Yuan Kong had passed away." Fanghai and Xu Xian were both stunned for a moment. Although one was a high monk who had transcended life and death, and the other was a stranger who had not spoken to him more than a few words, they could not help but sigh in their hearts.

  The Fa Hai let out a loud roar and the evening bell rang out clearly.

  In the drifting bell sound, the two people walked towards the direction of the main hall with their hands clasped together.

  Meanwhile, someone on a painted boat in West Lake is gazing afar towards Lingyin Temple.

  Going out