The sky is vast, the wilderness is boundless, the wind blows the grass low and cattle and sheep can be seen.
Deep in the grassland, towering snow-capped mountains are stacked one after another. The Buddhist holy place, Vajra Terrace, is built against the mountain, and the Golden Summit Temples are stacked, holy and magnificent.
The gilded treasure vase and the prayer flags fluttering in the wind complement each other. Even the wind carries the whispering sound of chanting, which makes people calm their minds and inexplicably produce the urge to let go of everything and convert to Buddhism.
The ancient Buddha statue in the precious temple and the lingering smell of incense.
Jiang Yuebai brought the eight-year-old monk Niankong and followed the young monks from Jingangtai through one palace after another.
"If you don't want to stay here, tell me now and I can send you somewhere else, or back to Tianyan Sect." Jiang Yuebai asked Niankong in a low voice.
Nian Kong shook his head, smiling, "No, I like it here. I can feel the presence of Buddha here."
"You've only been reading the sutras for a few years, and you already know about the Buddha?"
Nian Kong said seriously, "I don't know how to describe it, but I can just feel His presence, in the wind, in the sun, in my heart, and anywhere between heaven and earth."
Hearing this, the monk leading the way in front couldn't help but look back at Niankong and nodded slightly.
Jiang Yuebai looked around, and what she felt was the power of incense and vows. It was a kind of power different from spiritual energy, a very wonderful and indescribable power. Mixed with the sound of chanting, it could make people calm and peaceful.
"The Buddha is in the temple. Please come in, donors."
Jiang Yuebai nodded in thanks and led Niankong into the main hall. The interior of the hall was surprisingly simple, with only a row of unique Buddha statues and neatly placed worn cushions.
Wu Chen had a face full of white beard and a solemn expression. He sat quietly on the cushion in the front. His aura was no different from that of an ordinary person. Jiang Yuebai could not tell at all that he was a Divine Transformation cultivator.
"Tianyan Sect's Jiang Yuebai pays homage to the Buddha Wuchen."
"Greetings to the Buddha Wuchen."
Jiang Yuebai led Niankong to pay their respects. Wuchen slowly opened his eyes, looked at Niankong, and then looked at Jiang Yuebai.
"It turns out that the one Ruosheng risked his life to send away that day was you."
Jiang Yuebai did not deny it, "The purpose of my visit has been stated in the letter from my master. This is Nian Kong."
Wu Chen looked at Nian Kong carefully again and asked, "Little monk, why do you want to enter Buddhism?"
Nian Kong said fearlessly, "Because I was thrown in front of the temple when I was born, and it was the abbot and the Buddha who raised me. The abbot said that I have a connection with Buddha."
"What Buddhist scriptures have you read?" Wu Chen asked again.
"I've read it..." Niankong said slowly while counting on his fingers.
Wu Chen would occasionally ask a question or two, and Nian Kong would answer in a confused manner. When the two met for the first time, Jiang Yuebai felt like a master and a little disciple, and they got along very well.
After a moment, Wu Chen nodded slowly, "You are born with wisdom and have the privilege of seeing Lingshan. Are you willing to become my disciple and stay here to chant sutras and meditate?"
Nian Kong glanced at Jiang Yuebai, "But I still have to help Brother Ruosheng rebuild the Prajna Temple. I have already promised Sister Yuebai, so I must do it."
"You are so young and you have kept your promise. That's great. Don't worry. When you are capable enough, I will help you rebuild the Prajna Temple in the Flowing Sand Region. This is what I deserve."
Niankong then nodded, indicating that he was willing to take Wuchen as his master.
Wu Chen called a monk and took Nian Kong to familiarize himself with the environment of Vajra Platform.
Suddenly, Jiang Yuebai and Wu Chen were the only ones left in the hall, sitting on mats facing each other.
Jiang Yuebai hesitated and said, "Niankong is a kind-hearted child. If he makes great achievements in Buddhism in the future, the matter of Prajna Temple... you should send me a message and I will find another way."
Wu Chen was silent, took out a long wooden box and handed it to Jiang Yuebai.
"This 'meditation incense' is made by me personally. You can light one when you enter meditation. The cause and effect of this matter are mine. You don't have to worry about it."
Jiang Yuebai looked at the wooden box and knew that from then on, this matter would be an internal matter of Buddhism, and Buddha Wuchen didn't want her to get involved anymore.
Jiang Yuebai tightly grasped the wooden box and couldn't help asking, "Buddha, if he were alive, could he come back? I often feel that he is still here."
Wuchen turned his prayer beads and said quietly, "All dharmas arise from causes and conditions, and all dharmas perish from causes and conditions. The Buddha says that all dharmas arise and perish from causes and conditions are empty."
"Empty?" Jiang Yuebai smiled bitterly. "If everything is really empty, why is there reincarnation in the underworld? It is said that the soul is immortal after death and will be reincarnated from generation to generation. Is this all empty?"
Wu Chen paused while turning his rosary beads, raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Yuebai, "Does the donor have any obsession in his heart that he cannot let go of?"
Jiang Yuebai felt as if his heart was stabbed, and he smiled and said, "Not really, it's just that I've been thinking about reincarnation recently because of the four seasons, and I'm curious about life and death because of reincarnation."
"I want to know if people can be resurrected after death, and what is the so-called reincarnation in the underworld? How can a person's soul reincarnate into another person? Can an incomplete soul reincarnate? If half of a person's soul goes to the underworld, can it be retrieved? If it can't be retrieved and only half is left..."
“Cough cough cough!”
Wu Chen coughed and interrupted Jiang Yuebai, taking out a scripture from his sleeve. Buddhism and Taoism have different concepts and have been arguing for thousands of years. There is no point in saying more.
"If you are interested in Buddhism, this Samsara Sutra may be helpful to you."
Jiang Yuebai respectfully accepted the scriptures. Outside, a bell rang. Wu Chen politely thanked the visitor and left first.
Jiang Yuebai sighed while holding the scripture. She had been feeling a little uneasy recently, and she had seen some bad signs when observing the stars at night. She didn't know where to go. Unable to figure it out for a moment, Jiang Yuebai got up and went outside to find Niankong.
When Niankong was found, he had already changed into the monk's robes of Vajra Platform. He was smiling and talking to Jiang Yuebai incessantly about the new things he saw at Vajra Platform.
Judging from his behavior, he really likes it here and is much happier than when he was in Tianyan Sect. After all, here are people who share the same ideals as him and can discuss Buddhism with him instead of arguing about the differences between Taoism and Buddhism.
Jiang Yuebai left Nian Kong the Qi and Blood Pills and Bone Tempering Pills needed to practice the "Nine Transformations of the Golden Body Art". He was to refine them whenever he had time along the way, and they were enough to last him for three years.
As separation was imminent, Niankong was in a clear mind and did not feel too reluctant, and even comforted Jiang Yuebai.
"If Sister Yuebai misses me, please come and see me. I will chant sutras and pray for you every day. When I have enough magical power, I will set up a longevity tablet for you."
Jiang Yuebai did not respond, but just smiled and touched Nian Kong's head. After this separation, they were afraid that they would never see each other again, and they only hoped that they could meet again in the upper realm in the future.
Walking out of the Vajra Platform, Jiang Yuebai saw from afar Xie Jingshan following a fat monk carrying spiritual vegetables up the stairs.
The fat monk was only at the Qi training stage, panting and sweating profusely, while Xie Jingshan kept chattering in his ear.
"… I'm just curious. You monks don't eat meat. How come you're so fat just by eating vegetables and tofu every day? We Taoists often eat monster meat, but we've never seen anyone eat like you…"
The fat monk was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and he couldn't afford to offend Xie Jingshan, a Jindan cultivator, so he could only quicken his pace and go up the stairs.
"Xie Jingshan!"
Jiang Yuebai called him from afar, and Xie Jingshan let the monk go and walked towards Jiang Yuebai.
The monk disappeared as if he had been pardoned.
"This is a sacred place for Buddhism. Don't be so outspoken."
Xie Jingshan looked in the direction where the fat monk disappeared, "I'm just curious, you see the Maitreyas in Buddhism are all so fat, but our Taoist ancestors are all immortal, why is that?"
Jiang Yuebai interrupted him, "Where are Yunshang and Ge Yuchan?"
Xie Jingshan came back to his senses. "They went to the Canglang Ancient City in the south with a few foundation-building period Vajra Platform monks to eliminate the Demon Wolf King. I heard that a lot of cattle and sheep of nearby herdsmen were eaten, and recently they have started to eat people. The Demon Wolf King is too cunning, and he always escapes. We have surrounded and eliminated him seven or eight times..."
As Xie Jingshan was speaking, a beam of light from a flying sword shot out from the south and was caught by Jiang Yuebai. After looking at it, his expression changed slightly.
"What's wrong?" Xie Jingshan asked.
Jiang Yuebai handed him the flying sword, "Yun Shang and Ge Yuchan were chasing the Demon Wolf King. They found something strange in the snowy mountains west of the ancient city. They feel something is not good. Let's go over and take a look. Let's go!"
(End of this chapter)