Li Qingshan warned Little Ann again and again. The two of them made their way up the mountain path together. They obviously did not bow with every step like mortals. They passed by everyone quickly and arrived below Great Buddha mountain in the blink of an eye, right before the entrance of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga.
They were unable to advance any further here. Two protector generals that stood thirty meters tall stood on the left and right of the entrance. They held their chests and bellies, each wielding a weapon. At first glance, they even seemed like two statues.
But suddenly, their eyes swiveled and landed on Li Qingshan. Li Qingshan's breathing halted slightly. It really is the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga after all. Just the two protector generals at the entrance can actually make me feel threatened.
Looking back, there were thousands of houses built at the foot of the mountain. There were regular monks who specially guided believers into the houses, arranging their meals and even distributing silver.
Unlike the temples of his past life, a sect like the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga did not need the money of mortals, nor did they rely on invading land to survive. They only needed mortals to offer up their faith. Over thousands of years, just how terrifying of a force would they become?
"Who is below the steps? Why aren't you bowing?"
A receptionist monk asked loudly from the high walls that resembled city walls. He was no longer a regular monk. Instead, he was a Qi Practitioner, a true disciple of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. Several tens of thousands of people worshipped on the square at the foot of the mountain, so Li Qingshan and the young man's figures stood out particularly.
In particular, everyone who saw Little Ann along the way was stunned. The young man even forgot to kowtow and looked straight at her. The receptionist monk saw Little Ann and could not help but be taken aback. Afterwards, he lowered his head in a hurry and chanted, "Amitābha."
Li Qingshan said, "We're not believers. We've come to see the Annihilum Light Chan Master."
"Junior uncle Annihilum Light is in secluded cultivation. He doesn't receive visitors, so you better return!"
Before the receptionist monk had even finished speaking, a streak of golden light suddenly rose up from a majestic hall on Great Buddha mountain, landing at the entrance and turning into an old monk. He was the Annihilum Light Chan Master himself, gazing at Little Ann in delight.
"One Will, you're finally here."
"Junior uncle Annihilum Light." The reception monk was surprised and bowed in a hurry.
The Annihilum Light Chan Master often occupied the position of head monk in the Bodhi courtyard. He was indifferent and liked peace and quiet. Even if he was a direct disciple, it was extremely rare to see such a change in expression. Today, he had personally come out to welcome two insignificant Foundation Establishment cultivators, and he even revealed such an expression. It was truly rare.
Little Ann put his palms together and bowed, "Master."
"Follow me!" The Annihilum Light Chan Master waved his hand, and the huge entrance behind him opened loudly. Sunlight passed through, landing on Li Qingshan's face. He squinted his eyes slightly.
"The door is open! The door is open!"
Calls rang out from below the mountain. The main entrance of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga was not usually open. The disciples of the monastery also entered and exited through a small door below. Only when the main entrance was open like this would they be welcoming esteemed guests.
The Annihilum Light Chan Master glanced at Little Ann before waving his hand.
A melodious bell rang out from the top of the mountain. At first, it was just one, followed by a hundred bells ringing across the entire mountain, drowning out the chanting and ringing through the entire mountain.
The receptionist monk was dumbfounded as well. He studied Li Qingshan and Little Ann. Let alone two Foundation Establishment cultivators, even two Golden Core cultivators did not have the right to receive such treatment.
This woman seemed to be the final disciple of his senior uncle Annihilum Light, but she was only a disciple, so she was even less qualified.
Golden light shone brightly as the bell chimed together. It was a grand sight.
Li Qingshan eased up slightly. As it seemed, the Annihilum Light Chan Master still valued Little Ann very much. That way, she would not be bullied. Actually, this was just him worrying for nothing. With Little Ann's current strength, just how many people could bully her across the entire nine provinces?
The Annihilum Light Chan Master walked at the front, and Little Ann followed closely behind. Li Qingshan followed as well. The Annihilum Light Chan Master glanced back at him, and Li Qingshan smiled. The Annihilum Light Chan Master said nothing more.
Little Ann welcomed the light and stepped into the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. Her seaweed-like hair and her plain clothes were all coated with a layer of golden light.
The entire mountain was alarmed. The various head monks emerged from their doors and gazed at the entrance in the distance.
Among the head monks, the Annihilum Light Chan Master had always kept a low profile, indifferent to the affairs of the world. Yet today, he had done something so high-profile, which truly surprised many people.
He represented the entire Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, expressing his politeness and respect towards a new disciple, as well as expressing how much the entire monastery valued her. He told everyone, including the abbot of the monastery, not to underestimate her.
But was she worthy of him?
… …
The towering pagodas were like a forest, blocking out the sunlight and radiating with faint, golden light. They possessed a wondrous power. This power was not powerful, but it was like sunlight and rain, nourishing everything silently. It was filled with warmth and benevolence, enough to make people submit.
There were the śarīras of past eminent monks. Śarīras were equivalent to the golden cores of regular cultivators. They could only be condensed after undergoing the second heavenly tribulation. Just from the endless forest of pagodas, it was possible to sense just how much the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga had accumulated.
From afar, it did not seem like it, but he could sense the dignified feeling when he was there. The pagodas were all over thirty meters tall, and many of them were even taller than Li Qingshan's original daemon body.
Li Qingshan thought, These pagodas probably aren't just for commemoration. Instead, they've become one with the entire mountain. They're probably some kind of defensive formation.
Little Ann did not look around. It was as if he was not walking through the forest of pagodas, being watched by thousands of gazes. Instead, he was walking through an empty forest alone.
The Annihilum Light Chan Master smiled. Many of the observers in the monastery secretly praised him as well. The spirit of "One Will" was truly extraordinary.
As for Li Qingshan, he looked around like a tourist visiting a historical site, but he was also unfazed by the forest of pagodas.
… …
The golden peak of Great Buddha, the grand hall.
Li Qingshan had never seen such a majestic hall before. It was like another mountain had risen up on the mountain. He understood that this was the "buddha head" of Great Buddha.
Gazing into the hall, the tathagata buddha sat in the centre, standing several hundred meters tall as he overlooked the masses. Bodhisattvas and arhats stood to the left and right, as well as guardian deities, blue deities, and dragons and elephants. There were many of them, depicting the appearances of the various buddhas and living beings.
A monk brought his palms together as he stood before the buddha. He was bald and beardless, wearing a great red kasaya. He seemed to be in his forties, but his eyes were as deep as the ocean.
They differed from Li Qingshan's impression of the benevolent, peaceful, and virtuous monk. Although the middle-aged monk remained calm and collected, he gave off a sense of sharpness and dignity. He was less than seven feet tall, but he did not seem short when standing before the three-hundred-meter-tall buddha. Instead, he possessed a fearless spirit that stood shoulder to shoulder with the buddha.
He was the current abbot of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, the Dauntless Monk, as well as one of the "Monk Kings" revered by the Great Xia empire. Beside him were the various head monks. They all had different appearances. There were old and young, male and female. Some were benevolent, some were cold and solemn, some had hair, and some didn't.
However, the auras they gave off were each more powerful than the last. Although Li Qingshan had killed a few Golden Core cultivators in the past, he dared not be careless when he faced any one of them, let alone the Dauntless Monk. If it were not for his determination, he basically would not have been able to look him in the eye.
They were all Foundation Establishment cultivators, but Fu Qingjin from the Sword Collection palace could sweep through a large swathe of them. Gu Yanying did not care about regular Golden Core cultivators, but she still found the Soaring Dragon Elder with the Soaring Dragon sword troublesome. The Dark Queen had even demonstrated her terrifying strength that could crush Golden Core cultivators before Li Qingshan in the past. Even if they were at the same level of cultivation, the difference in strength was worlds apart.
None of the three great sects of the Green province had an undeserved reputation. The Golden Cicada Spirit King had been one of the Seventy-two Daemon Kings several thousand years ago. If he wanted the Chant of Deva-Nāga, he would have to rely on luck and trickery. He would not be bold enough to steal it openly or secretly.
If Little Ann had followed the Annihilum Light Chan Master to the Bodhi courtyard silently, there would never have been such a situation. Normally speaking, Little Ann would visit the various head monks in the various courtyards after settling down. However, if he wanted to see the Dauntless Monk, he would need even more luck.
However, since the Annihilum Light Chan Master had already opened the gates and rung the bell, the monastery obviously had to respond. The Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga obviously had to respond and verify whether this "One Will" had the right to receive such treatment.
The greater the courtesy, the greater the pressure. The Annihilum Light Chan Master waited outside with Little Ann before entering the hall. He bowed towards the Dauntless Monk and stood in an empty seat.
As her master, he had already given Little Ann an opportunity. Whether she could grasp it or not would be up to her. If she succeeded and proved herself, it would be endless glory. The entire Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga would support her cultivation. If she failed, then he would be making a fool of himself. It would also make him seem like he had a poor eye for people and acted inappropriately.
Little Ann nodded towards Li Qingshan. Li Qingshan gave her a thumbs up, encouraging her.
She stepped over the high sill with a bare foot and stepped into the hall. She raised her head to look at the buddha, lowered her head to look at the Dauntless Monk, and then lowered her head to look at her own figure on the shiny floor. She slowly made her way over and sat down on the empty cushion under the watchful gazes of the monks.
A monk said, "You don't bow before the buddha. You're insolent and rude."
Little Ann said, "Clay sculptures and stone sculptures. Where is the buddha?"
"The buddha's light illuminates all, bringing salvation to all living beings. It exists everywhere."
"Seeing me is me. Seeing no living beings."
Li Qingshan knew that the debate had already begun. Although he did not quite understand it, he could tell how forceful Little Ann was. He secretly panicked inside, Joining the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga safely is the right thing to do. Why must you confront them head-on? The Dauntless Monk is just like his name. You can tell with a single glance that he's not a good person. If you anger him, it'll probably be bad for you.
The various head monks took turns to ask questions, raining down on him like a storm, lashing out and scolding him loudly. Little Ann was expressionless as she answered them all. She did not panic at all.
Suddenly, Li Qingshan discovered that the Annihilum Light Chan Master was standing there silently with a smile on his lips. He seemed to be extremely satisfied. Then he looked back. Many disciples of the monastery stood outside the hall silently, listening attentively. It's like they've gained something, and it's like they've lost something.
As a result, he stopped worrying. So that's what these monks fall for.
Late in the morning, the great hall was filled with words, constantly bombarding him with questions. Little Ann answered freely, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.
The head monks all secretly admired him. With such a root of wisdom and comprehension, he was worthy of such a great gift.
The Dauntless monk who had remained silent the entire time suddenly took a step forward. He shone with golden light, turning into a guardian king that was three hundred meters tall. He glared at Little Ann, wielding the pillar-like staff of Demon Subduing and suddenly coming to a halt in the hall.
With a clang, the hall caved in, covered in cracks. Clearly, he had truly lost his temper.
He swung down the pillar-like staff.
"Exorcism!" (To be continued)
Legends of the Great Sage
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