Chapter 445: Chapter 163: Buddha Speaks of the Powerful Warrior, Mental State Contends
His complexion was sallow, even more ordinary than Feng Manlou himself; he was indeed the second disciple of the Awakened from Buddha Country, Hui Neng.
As Jiang Li casually slayed a demon but then encountered the second disciple of the Awakened, a curious light appeared in his eyes as he met Hui Neng’s gaze.
Buddha Light illuminated all ten directions, and on the Bodhi Tree, two identical figures faced each other, "At the end times, Devil’s Child and Devil’s Grandson, donning kasayas, entering temples, in Buddha’s name, committing acts of demons."
The vision Jiang Li once saw when he contemplated the "Moluo Sword Manual" was replayed, projected into the heart of Hui Neng through their gaze.
Like an immovable mountain, the monk’s body suddenly trembled, his pupils dilating as if losing focus.
Rarely encountering a disciple of the Awakened, Jiang Li naturally remembered the doubts that had arisen when he first saw this scene and decided to probe.
"Master!" exclaimed Hui Neng.
However, in the next instant, his gaze steadied, and his scattered pupils refocused, sharply staring at Jiang Li like a sword, "Moluo Sword Manual!"
"Indeed."
Jiang Li said with a smile, "Worthy of being a disciple of the Awakened, to be able to break free from the Illusion Realm so quickly."
At the same time, Jiang Li finally confirmed something: the Buddhist Zhen Ru he had encountered previously was indeed the Awakened.
This person had made a pact with Karma Tathagata that "if the Awakened does not appear, Tathagata will not leave seclusion," and should have remained in seclusion within Buddha Country. Unexpectedly, he had appeared during the great drought in Yong Province without anyone noticing and had even given Jiang Li a Buddha Seal.
Realizing the true identity of Buddhist Zhen Ru, Jiang Li always felt there was something mysterious at play.
’Am I like the proverbial Tang Monk’s flesh, sought after by everyone?’ Jiang Li couldn’t help but mutter to himself.
The dealings with Kunxu Immortal Palace were one thing, merely coveting Jiang Li himself, but the Feng family and Buddhist Zhen Ru gave off the vibe of playing a deep game.
"Moreover, you seem unaware that I have mastered the ’Moluo Sword Manual’..."
As his voice began, he was in front, and as it ended, Jiang Li, like a fleeting shadow, moved clearly past by Hui Neng’s side, "Didn’t the insider within Buddha Country tell you this?"
"Or perhaps, you are completely unaware of that insider?"
Looking forward from before, and suddenly behind, Jiang Li’s figure shifted, both real and illusory, seemingly false yet true. In a blink of an eye, he multiplied into ten figures, either walking or standing with hands behind back, each exhibiting different manners but all facing Hui Neng together.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Faced with such a bizarre illusion, Hui Neng brought his palms together without responding, merely chanting a Buddha’s name and suddenly stepping forward.
Tap!
His footstep hit the muddy ground, making a crisp sound as mud splattered, falling to the ground and rolling like beads several times before dispersing.
Like shrinking the distance, he stepped in front of one of the "Jiang Lis," pushed his palms outward as naturally as opening a door.
That "Jiang Li" reacted as quickly as a real person, meeting the palm push with a sword finger, but before the finger could touch the palms, the figure of "Jiang Li" directly collapsed.
The force hadn’t fully manifested, but the momentum acted first, just the force of the movement destroyed an Illusion Body.
’Buddha’s Scripture of the Strongman Moving Mountains...’ Jiang Li mentally recited.
"Buddha’s Scripture of the Strongman Moving Mountains" actually tells a story about Buddha traveling through Juyinajie Country and seeing five hundred strong men unable to move a large stone mountain, which he then lifted with one finger.
Overall, the story was lackluster with nothing much to say, mainly discussing strength, like how the strength of a hundred ordinary cows equaled one water buffalo, a hundred water buffaloes equaled one green ox, stacking up like boxes, going through a dozen or so terms.
In the end, there was a sudden turn from power to wisdom, recounting the strength of Tathagata’s divine power, which was the power of wisdom. Even the three thousand great worlds could not compare to it.
This Buddhist country’s Body Refining Divine Skill, which is named after this scripture, is a Cultivation Technique that transitions from power to wisdom, discussing the validation of the Dao through power.
At that moment, Hui Neng started to move, displaying the formidable aspects of "Buddha’s Scripture of the Strongman Moving Mountains". He pushed his palm to obliterate the Illusion Body, shifted his position, and with each step, a lotus appeared. In a flash, his body underwent nine transformations and the residual shadows flickered past; all ten Illusion Bodies were extinguished.
Then, with a sway of his body, Hui Neng returned to his original position, his hands together in a prayer as if he had never moved.
Despite possessing tremendous strength, his movements were like a gentle breeze, his power controlled and restrained. It was evident that Hui Neng was completely on the righteous path, governing strength through wisdom rather than merely pursuing power.
"Amitabha," Hui Neng chanted the Buddha’s name, saying, "The Moluo Realm may indeed be cunning, yet our Buddhist country’s divine skill is no less inferior."
If the Buddhist country’s techniques were not up to par with the "Moluo Sword Manual", it wouldn’t be a case of the Awakened and Karma Tathagata competing as equals, but rather of the Buddhist country being assimilated.
Hui Neng effortlessly extinguished the Illusion Body, and observing his movements, he seemed to penetrate the illusion, realizing that Jiang Li’s true body was not among them, thus easily dispelling the illusionary forms.
"Lil’ monk has achieved the Great Mirror Wisdom," Hui Neng calmly said, "Your Demon Realm cannot confuse this monk."
The Great Mirror Wisdom, being purely flawless wisdom, could discern reality from falsehood and see through all methods. Theoretically, it could completely counter the "Moluo Sword Manual."
However...
"If that is so, why did you waver earlier?"
Jiang Li’s voice echoed around, elusive and shifting, his presence like a Heavenly Demon everywhere, stirring the hearts of people.
The scene from just before seemed to reappear in front of Hui Neng, making him involuntarily waver.
In the name of Buddha, but doing the deeds of demons...
As this thought flashed through his mind, Hui Neng’s spirit involuntarily fluctuated.
"It seems you think the actions of the Buddhist country now are the deeds of demons," Jiang Li chuckled, "But isn’t that the very purpose of the existence of gods and Buddhas? If there were no suffering in the world, why would people seek gods or worship Buddhas?"
Hui Neng felt even more unsettled.
"Mystic Sect also practices accumulating external power," he blurted out, "Immortals and gods demonstrating Dao Fruit, needing to eradicate demons to protect the Dao. The people from Mystic Sect who came to Liangzhou Province also aim for the chance to demonstrate Dao Fruit."
Great disasters provide a golden opportunity for cultivators.
Demons, ghosts, and monsters took the opportunity to create chaos, demonstrating Dao Fruit.
Men, gods, immortals, and Buddhas opposed them, demonstrating Dao Fruit.
In reality, Jiang Li was also part of it.
"Demonstrating Dao Fruit is not wrong, but to add fuel to the flames is the act of evil spirits," that voice around him faintly replied, "You are feeling guilty."
Feeling guilty implies that Hui Neng also thought the Buddhist country would add fuel to the flames, feeling guilty, therefore, meant his mental state could no longer remain calm.
Jiang Li’s figure appeared again in Hui Neng’s eyes. Reaching out, he pointed from afar without any sword light nor visible Qi Mechanism but with Sword Intent stirring the heart demon. In Hui Neng’s eyes, Jiang Li’s figure suddenly blurred, transforming into Buddhist Zhen Ru—
No, it was Karma Tathagata!
The previous vision of Karma Tathagata replaced Jiang Li, pointing at him from afar.
This was a third-grade pointing!