Chapter 1 The West Mountain

West Mountain was a large mountain outside Yujing City, covering a hundred *li* in radius. Although not majestic, it was densely forested with complex terrain and numerous peaks, featuring flowing springs, waterfalls, and rocky woodlands.

The mountain was home to foxes, badgers, wolves, and wild beasts. Every winter, nobles and aristocrats would venture into the mountains for hunting expeditions.

However, at this moment, a young novice monk, no older than fifteen or sixteen, was walking through this mountain.

Soon, he spotted a small temple named Qiuyue Temple (Autumn Moon Temple), an obscure place with only a dozen people, including the abbot.

*Deng deng deng*—

San Zang knocked on the wooden door. After a short while, a monk, only in his early twenties, emerged from the temple.

"Amitabha," the monk said, placing his palms together. "This humble monk, Faming, greets the little master."

San Zang returned the gesture, saying, "This poor monk, San Zang, greets the Dharma Master."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they entered Qiuyue Temple together. San Zang first went to the main hall to respectfully greet the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of this world, though he inwardly disdained them.

"Little Dharma Master, your heart is not sincere." A slightly weathered voice came from an old monk with a kind face and bright eyes, as if he could see into people's hearts.

San Zang looked over and smiled nonchalantly. "You say my heart is not sincere. What is sincerity? What is insincerity?"

"With a sincere heart, one worships the Buddha, and the Buddha's teachings will naturally become clear," the old monk said with a faint smile, placing his palms together.

"Then, what about one who allows wine and meat to pass through the intestines, while keeping Buddha in their heart? Is that heart sincere or insincere?"

"This…"

The old monk hesitated slightly. "Drinking wine and eating meat is already breaking the precepts. The so-called 'Buddha in the heart' is merely lip service."

"What about the Hevajra Buddha? He is a Buddha, yet he promotes the doctrine of 'dual cultivation of male and female.' Are his followers sincere or insincere towards the Buddha?" San Zang pressed.

"Amitabha…" The old monk placed his palms together, clearly unable to argue with San Zang.

This was normal. Tang San Zang was no longer the person he once was and was not one to adhere to conventions. Moreover, he was fond of sophistry.

San Zang also chanted a Buddhist invocation before temporarily settling down in Qiuyue Temple.

In the evening, Faming approached San Zang again. "Little Master, we will be doing evening prayers later. Would you like to join us?"

Hearing this, San Zang shook his head. Watching the clouds drift outside the window, he said calmly, "Born, we sit, not lie down. Dead, we lie down, not sit. A stinking skeleton—what merit is there in daily rituals?"

Faming was suddenly stunned, staring at San Zang, dumbfounded. This was actually a Zen saying filled with Buddhist principles.

Those who didn't understand wouldn't even be able to comprehend it, but those who truly understood would know that this Zen saying was full of profound mysteries.

San Zang looked at his expression, secretly pleased. Showing off was indeed addictive. He looked at Faming, anticipating him to continue creating opportunities for him.

"Little Master, please wait a moment," Faming quickly said before running towards the side hall. San Zang naturally didn't stop him, even welcoming it. This was the opportunity he was waiting for.

Before long, San Zang, who was lying down in the room, heard a series of footsteps. He saw Abbot Wenxin of Qiuyue Temple leading everyone into the room.

"Dharma Master San Zang, Faming told me a Zen saying earlier. Did you say it?" Abbot Wenxin asked, his eyes gleaming with a keen light, as if expecting something.

The previous sentence contained hidden mysteries, but after decades of cultivating Buddhism, he could naturally discern the meaning, which was clearly telling him: are you learning rituals or seeking the Buddha? Rituals can never be completed. If you are seeking the Buddha, the Buddha has no fixed form. How can this path be followed by learning rituals?

Such a profound Zen saying actually came from a young novice monk who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. Abbot Wenxin also found it incredible.

"I said it. So what?" San Zang smiled. What conditions are needed for the highest level of showing off?

First, an opponent. Second, onlookers.

Now that both were satisfied, he knew that he had the opportunity to begin the next stage.

Seeing this, Wenxin felt something and asked, "What is *chan* (Zen)?"

San Zang: "Is."

Wenxin: "What is the Eye of the True Dharma?"

San Zang: "Is not."

Wenxin: "What is emptiness?"

San Zang's expression became increasingly strange, but he still said, "Break."

Wenxin: "Is that so?"

San Zang: "Is not!"

Wenxin: "Why answer if it is not?"

San Zang smiled. "Why ask if it is not?!"

The two asked and answered, the questions sharp and the answers quick, causing the monks on both sides to discuss among themselves.

"Did you understand?"

"No, they seem to be talking about something very new."

"Alas, it's too profound. It's truly a mystery!"

After a long while, Abbot Wenxin sighed. "Amitabha, Dharma Master speaks truly."

He completely changed his view of the young monk before him. Although young, he had a Buddhist nature in his heart. If he were to enter those world-renowned Buddhist sects, he would surely become a Buddha's son.

"You flatter me," San Zang said with a smile. He was too familiar with this dialogue. He didn't even need to think; he could just copy and paste it. But it didn't matter as long as it was useful.

Moreover, it was, after all, another version of himself speaking about Buddhist principles. Wasn't that still him?

"Is Dharma Master willing to enter Da Chan Temple (Great Zen Temple) for cultivation? Although this poor monk is useless, I do have some connections and can help Dharma Master enter Da Chan Temple to study Mahayana Buddhism," Abbot Wenxin said. He truly hoped that San Zang would enter Da Chan Temple, so that a Buddha's son would surely emerge in the Buddhist world in the future.

But San Zang shook his head and said, "What I want to learn, they cannot teach me."

The monks were in an uproar, and Wenxin couldn't help but sway, barely managing to steady himself. That was Da Chan Temple, which dominated the Central Plains, with a hundred thousand warrior monks, extremely extravagant, and wealthy enough to rival a nation!

In this world, how many forces could compare to it?

But San Zang said that Da Chan Temple could not teach him what he wanted to learn.

"What is it that you want to learn?" Wenxin couldn't help but ask.

San Zang had been waiting for this moment. He slowly stood, put his hands behind his back, slowly walked to the window, and looked up at the shifting clouds in the sky. He said, "I want this sky to no longer block my sight. I want this earth to no longer bury my heart. I want all living beings to understand my will. I want all the Buddhas to vanish like smoke!"

As soon as these words came out, it was like a bolt of lightning in the clear sky. Abbot Wenxin and the other monks were all frozen in place, their eyes filled with disbelief.

After a long while, Abbot Wenxin constantly twirled his prayer beads. "Amitabha… Amitabha…"

Such words were not just insincere; they were meant to destroy the Buddha!

Originally, he thought that San Zang, who could speak such Zen sayings, was a person with wisdom and potential, but who would have thought that, in addition to a Buddhist heart and wisdom, this guy was also full of rebellious spirit!

He looked at San Zang and, after a long silence, spoke again. "In Dharma Master's heart, what is the Buddha?"

At this time, he was already using a tone of asking for guidance. Even though San Zang had said such disrespectful words earlier, his Buddhist heart and wisdom still made Wenxin admire him.

Therefore, he thought of asking this question.

"In Abbot's heart, what is the Buddha?" However, San Zang did not directly answer him but asked in return.

"The Buddha in my heart is like the ancient well in this courtyard, constantly reflecting upon it, examining my own heart," Abbot Wenxin said, reciting a Buddhist invocation.

"That is wrong," San Zang said. "The Buddha originally has no form, the Buddha originally has no roots, but there is Buddha everywhere, and Mahayana Buddhism can be found everywhere."

As soon as these words came out, they were like a great bell, shaking Wenxin's Buddhist heart. He hurriedly asked for guidance. "What does it mean that there is Buddha everywhere?"

San Zang looked at the horizon, smiling like the Buddha holding a flower, and said, "One flower, one world; one grass, one paradise; one tree, one floating life; one leaf, one Tathagata; one grain of sand, one paradise; one square, one pure land; one smile, one worldly fate; one thought, one purity."

"This poor monk… is convinced."

Abbot Wenxin bowed deeply, and the other monks did the same.

"We are exchanging ideas as fellow seekers. You and I are both Buddhas. What is there to be convinced or unconvinced about?" San Zang said. "On the path of seeking the Buddha, we are all travelers and scripture seekers. There is no need to care about the methods of others. Seeking the Buddha within oneself is the true path of the world."

Abbot Wenxin bowed again, but after thinking about it, he still said, "Please guide this Dharma Master on the path to seeking the Buddha."

San Zang paused for a moment and smiled. "I have a story here. Listen to it first. Once upon a time, there were two eminent monks debating. The first eminent monk said: 'I have a mirror in my heart, and I constantly wipe it, making it bright and shining, enough to reflect myself.' The second eminent monk said: 'I have no mirror in my heart. What is the use of wiping it?'"

Everyone present was stunned. Some seemed to understand, while others seemed to be on the verge of understanding.

"The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind is like a bright mirror stand. Constantly and diligently wipe it, lest it be stained with dust." San Zang's voice brought them back to reality, but before they could understand the Buddhist principles in this sentence, they heard San Zang continue, "Bodhi originally has no tree, the bright mirror is also not a stand. Originally there is nothing at all, where can dust be attracted?"

In Buddhism, the Bodhi tree often refers not to a plant but to a symbol and commemoration, representing the great wisdom of Buddhism and the Buddha in the hearts of the world.

And San Zang's sentence was saying that there was no Buddha in his heart, nor were there ten thousand dharmas and ten thousand phenomena. Everything was empty, without seeking or thinking, so naturally, there would be no worldly thoughts.

"Amitabha." Abbot Wenxin's face now showed a smile. Looking at San Zang, he seemed to see the true Buddha. "Please allow this Dharma Master to serve by your side and listen to the Dharma of the true Buddha."

He asked San Zang for the path to seeking the Buddha, but San Zang told him that there was no Buddha in his heart. This had another explanation, which was: I am the true Buddha!

This was true wisdom!

It perfectly matched his sentence, "There is Buddha everywhere!"

"I am originally a traveler of the world, but today I also want to have a place to return to. If Abbot doesn't mind, this little monk would like to cultivate in Qiuyue Temple," San Zang said, his eyes shining.

But at this time, Abbot Wenxin couldn't care about these things. Hearing that San Zang was willing to stay, he was overjoyed and quickly said, "Of course, it is nothing but good. To have Dharma Master sitting here, this Qiuyue Temple is truly fortunate for three lifetimes."

San Zang smiled. His initial goal had been achieved.

And just a few days later, San Zang took over the position of abbot of Qiuyue Temple. Abbot Wenxin had to beg and plead before he finally agreed.

Of course, this was San Zang's intention: to play hard to get!

However, when they were about to write San Zang's name into the annals of Qiuyue Temple, they were still startled. After all, they had always thought San Zang's name was "San Zang" (Three Treasures), but who would have thought it was "San Zang" (Three Burials).

Burying Heaven! Burying Earth! Burying All Living Beings!

Such an arrogant Dharma name was truly shocking.

Moreover, the methods that San Zang implemented after becoming abbot were even more incomprehensible.

However, there were also things that made them pleasantly surprised, such as the Buddhist cultivation methods and martial arts that San Zang took out.

And just as San Zang became abbot, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Little White Dragon also began their respective plans.

……

Time flew by, and ten years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside Yujing, a Zen temple stood, named Qiuyue Temple. Now, it was the most famous Zen temple in the Yujing area, known as the orthodox Mahayana Buddhism, acting uniquely, yet admired by the world. Even its power was feared by the Da Qian imperial family.

It was said that there were now eighteen Martial Saint masters in Qiuyue Temple, and each of them had the strength of a peak Martial Saint. Their essence and energy were like wolf smoke, condensing their own unique fist intent and spirit. Their speed was even more extraordinary, and they were also known as the Eighteen Arhats of Qiuyue Temple.

In addition, there were disciples who specialized in Buddhist teachings, had passed the Lightning Tribulation, and had achieved the realm of Ghost Immortal.

Such strength was already top-notch in the entire Da Qian Empire. After all, the current Da Qian Empire had only been established for thirty years. Although experts were constantly being born, there were only a few well-known Martial Saints. Yet, Qiuyue Temple had produced eighteen of them at the same time.

Even Ghost Immortals were present, which naturally amazed the world.

And on this day, within the Qiuyue Temple, which had been expanded several times, an old monk held a golden book and walked to a secluded courtyard.

All the disciples of Qiuyue Temple knew that this was the most core area of Qiuyue Temple, but there were no restrictions at all. Even the newly entered novice monks could come here.

"Abbot! Abbot!"

The old monk looked old, but he was swift as the wind, with restrained divine light, faintly overflowing with transcendent power.

*Creak!*

The door opened, and a very young-looking monk walked out. Ten years could not leave a mark on him. He was still like a teenager, but his strength was already different.

"What brings you here?"

San Zang looked at Dharma Master Wenxin. Now, Wenxin had entered the realm of Ghost Immortal through Buddhist cultivation and had passed the fifth Lightning Tribulation. In the current Da Qian Empire, he could be considered one of the top experts.

"Abbot, the current Da Qian Emperor has sent an invitation, summoning all virtuous scholars, grandmaster Martial Saints, Human Immortals, and Ghost Immortals to Yujing, intending to compile 'Martial Scripture' and 'Dao Scripture' to serve as the general outline of martial arts and Daoist techniques!" Dharma Master Wenxin said to San Zang.

"Oh?" San Zang heard this, then smiled. "Since the current Emperor has invited us, our Qiuyue Temple will naturally respond."

"Elder Wenxin, this time, you will lead the way, and all the Martial Saints and Ghost Immortals in the temple will go. In addition, let Fahai also accompany you on this trip," San Zang said.

"Fahai is also going?!"

Wenxin was not surprised that the Martial Saints and Ghost Immortals were going, but he did not expect San Zang to let Fahai go with them.

You should know that even he had only seen Fahai a few times in the past ten years, but each time, the other party would refresh his understanding. He was a true genius born for Buddhism and martial arts!

There had always been a rumor in Qiuyue Temple that if San Zang was the true Buddha, then Fahai was the Buddha's son, who had received the true teachings of the Buddha and whose strength was earth-shattering and shocking.

"After ten years of hard cultivation, he should go out and see the world," San Zang said. The cultivation methods of this world were easy in the early stages, and the improvement was not obvious. With the several systems he had mastered, as long as the talent was good enough, it was not difficult to cultivate a strong person within ten years.

And Fahai was the disciple he had cultivated.