Chapter 676: Chapter 440: Seeing the Beautiful Corpse Again, Jealousy and Rivalry
"Shenxiu, you lead such a group of Vajra Monks into Qiantang, isn’t that seeking death?"
"Do not listen to others’ flattery, calling you the Free Buddha Son, unmatched in Buddhism and so on. And these one hundred Vajra Monks, I know that they specialize in the Vajra Demon Suppression Secret Technique. Together, they might form the Great Sumeru Vajra Demon Suppression Array and hold out for a few breaths under my hands, but what use is that?"
"If I wish, I could capture all of you now and refine you into Buddha slaves."
As soon as the words of Lian Sha Arhat fell, he immediately took action. The Scarlet Blood Lotus in his hand silently bloomed, red light pervaded, shattering the sky filled with Buddha Light, halting the chanting of Buddhist hymns. The various lotuses withered, and those protector Heavenly Dragons trembled and wailed, their flesh and bodies sprouting "Blood Lotuses" as their Essence Blood Source Qi was rapidly drained. The sky bloomed with Blood Lotus, surrounding Master Shenxiu and the Vajra Monks.
With casual ease, Shenxiu monk was brought to a life-and-death situation.
Indeed, the Power of a demon monk of the Arhat Level was terrifying.
Tao Qian put himself in their shoes: against Lian Sha Arhat, the People Species Bag couldn’t collect him, the Toad God Wa Dang couldn’t hit him, the Nine Toad Pearl, Yu Ding, and other All Treasures were also ineffective.
"Not an opponent, and if a conflict arises, the outcome wouldn’t be much better."
"However, since Shenxiu dares to come, he must have a backup plan."
And immediately, two Dao Heart Thoughts landed.
Surrounded by Blood Lotus, Shenxiu Buddha’s son looked at the Scarlet Buddha Lotus with a face full of compassion and said, "When the little monk came, my master once said: What Lian Sha Arhat has cultivated is ’Sutra of the Lotus of the Sublime Dharma’, which is also the Buddhist Law of our Great Freedom Temple, yet it was stolen by your temple and perverted into this form."
"Buddha Lotus transformed into Evil Lotus, devouring all things, is the path of Evil Demons."
After speaking, he once again recited the Buddha’s verse:
"The source water is always pure, gradually becoming murky as it flows."
"Greedy hearts become devious over time, wishful thoughts lead to a muddled nature."
"Does the Arhat know, you have strayed from the path, and if you awaken now and turn to cultivate the True Mahayana Buddhism, there’s still a glimmer of hope."
"Although the little monk is dull, he too has perused the Lotus Sutra. Allow the little monk to recite it for the Arhat..."
Saying this, Shenxiu did not avoid anyone.
In front of everyone, he began to recite the Great Lifebook ’Sutra of the Lotus of the Sublime Dharma’ from the Free Temple.
Instantly, within and outside the city, regardless of what forces or Cultivation sects the cultivators belonged to, their eyes lit up and they listened intently.
After hearing just a few sentences, everyone knew: it was the real deal.
This also included the many demon monks within the provincial city, who started to listen seriously.
In a moment, flowers fell chaotically from the sky, Golden Lotus burst from the earth.
Almost everyone seemed to have gained some understanding.
Yet the Buddhist Scripture was ultimately profound, and even with Buddha’s son reciting, it was not possible to gain great benefits, except for those who already were powerful Buddhist Practitioners.
For example, Lian Sha Arhat.
He considered himself to have strong Cultivation and profound Buddhist Law, and listened with great interest. He even quickly gained some insight, and his face showed even greater delight.
Until a short while later, an abrupt change occurred.
Centered around the ugly monk Shenxiu, strands of golden vapor spread, merging into the Blood Lotus, transforming them into Golden Lotus, and slowly began to envelop Lian Sha Arhat as well.
Realizing this, Lian Sha’s expression drastically changed, and he bellowed:
"Silence!"
A Blood Buddha’s apparition appeared in the sky, unimaginable Mana bursting forth.
It not only instantly disrupted Shenxiu’s recitation but also seemed to be on the verge of suppressing him. Fortunately, over a hundred Vajra Monks quickly formed an array, protecting Shenxiu within.
Above the provincial city, Lian Sha was furious:
"The Great Auspicious Bright Cloud!"
"Good, really good."
"Auspicious, that bald thief dare not give up on trying to convert me. That string of Auspicious Buddha beads must be on you, right? He doesn’t dare to come himself but lets a junior sneak attack me, shameless to the extreme."
Lian Sha spoke in such a way that everyone could hear that this involved enmity between Lian Sha Arhat and another Arhat from the Great Freedom Temple.
And on Shenxiu’s body, there indeed was a Buddha Treasure that could target Lian Sha Arhat.
Tao Qian’s mind also echoed with Yuan Gong’s explaining voice, only to hear him laughingly say:
"Lian Sha, this foolish baldy, always arrogant, thought he could take advantage of the young, just now if Shipi Kongchan hadn’t been watching and secretly messaged him, he almost capsized in the gutter. Although absorbing the Auspicious Bright Clouds won’t result in being Enlightenment, he would have definitely suffered a loss in Cultivation and faced a great embarrassment."
"The Auspicious Arhat he mentioned is another interesting baldy from the Great Freedom Temple."
"When he was young, for some reason, he took a liking to Lian Sha. Seeing him committing evil and slaughtering a city, he made a grand vow, saying he would not undergo Daoist Transformation until he converted Lian Sha."
"That sounds nice, but in Lian Sha’s view, the Auspicious Arhat regarded him as a stepping stone for the Daoist Transformation Tribulation, and they became true enemies with a mortal grudge."
"But if Auspicious really came, I’m afraid only Shipi in this city could fight him. Look, now Lian Sha is shouting so happily, but if they were to really face off alone, he would definitely be converted by Auspicious."
...
A secret history straight into the ears.
Also at this moment, Shenxiu, unfazed by the failed sneak attack, as if he had known it would happen, smiled and said:
"Arhat speaks incorrectly!"
"There are Three Arhats in the provincial city. Although the little monk is dull, he knows it is impossible to sneak attack the senior, and reciting the ’Sutra of the Lotus of the Sublime Dharma’ is truly sincere, only hoping the Arhat can understand the True Skill."
"As for Auspicious, my senior brother, he also instructed before he left: Kongchan, Shipi, and Lian Sha, all three seniors are monks who comprehend Buddhist principles deeply. If there’s a Dharma meeting, they certainly wouldn’t reject the little monk’s request for a Scripture Debate."
"My master also said: If the little monk could defeat your temple’s Demon Buddha Son and prove that our Free Temple is the Buddhist True Dharma, then this Earthly Buddha Country should also be taken over by us, the Free Temple."
"How do the Three Seniors feel about this proposal?"