Chapter 1 The Great Debating Hall

With a single sentence, "I am the Dao," he won a hall full of applause.

It wasn't that Lu Changsheng's answer was exceptionally complete, but that he established a sense of confidence.

The Xuanxin Dharma Master came to the Central Continent to debate Buddhist teachings, defeating all the geniuses of the Central Continent.

He was establishing his own invincible heart.

Step by step, he arrived at the Great Luo Holy Land. With each victory, he strengthened his confidence and reinforced his beliefs.

Now that he had arrived at the Great Luo Holy Land, the Xuanxin Dharma Master's confidence was flawless.

And the Dharma debate in the world of immortals and heroes wasn't a simple war of words.

More importantly, it was about crushing the opponent's confidence, making them doubt their own beliefs. Only then could one be considered victorious.

Otherwise, if it were just a war of words, there would be many sophistries that would be difficult to answer.

Therefore, this kind of debate.

The questions asked must be related to one's own or the opponent's ‘Dharma’.

And the opponent's answer must first directly address the core issue, and then use one's own ‘Dharma’ to explain your ‘Dharma’.

Only a perfect explanation could be considered a correct answer. An imperfect explanation wouldn't count as correct.

The Xuanxin Dharma Master came to the Great Luo Holy Land.

Lu Changsheng's first question was, what is Buddha?

It seemed like a relatively difficult question.

And Xuanxin gave a corresponding answer: Those who save others are all Buddhas.

He used his own Buddhist Dharma to explain Lu Changsheng's question.

And his answer wasn't bad.

Even though Lu Changsheng thought it was wrong and offered a better point of view, it didn't mean anything.

Xuanxin's confidence was still there!

Losing one match didn't mean anything.

Then Xuanxin used Lu Changsheng's question to ask in return. In fact, at this time, Xuanxin had already set a trap.

Because the perfect answer was, all beings are the Dao.

If Lu Changsheng answered with this sentence, it would mean that Buddhism and Daoism shared the same origin.

But if Lu Changsheng didn't answer with this sentence, then he would make such an explanation, meaning that the situation was a tie.

Perhaps some people wouldn't have thought of this, but the higher-ups of the Daoist sect were very clear about the situation. Therefore, they were somewhat nervous, not knowing how to break the deadlock.

But what they didn't expect was that Lu Changsheng said, "I am the Dao."

This sentence not only established Lu Changsheng's invincible heart, but more importantly, it perfectly broke the stalemate.

No, in fact, from the very beginning, Lu Changsheng had already set a trap.

He was just waiting for Xuanxin to fall for it. As a result, Xuanxin fell for it.

Not only did he fall for it, but he also helped Lu Changsheng establish his confidence!

It could be said that this was a battle of extremely high strategy.

With one question and one answer, there was infinite wisdom.

Xuanxin lost. He lost the first round miserably.

This was also why Xuanxin's expression changed.

In the Little Thunderclap Temple of the Western Desert.

When Master Puzhi saw this scene, he couldn't help but put his palms together and say, "Great wisdom."

The monks remained silent. The Xuanxin Dharma Master, who had always been proud and invincible, had actually lost. Although it was only the first question and answer, it felt like a bad start.

The reason why the Little Thunderclap Temple could see the scene of the Great Luo Holy Land was entirely because the Great Luo Holy Land hadn't severed this Buddhist Dharma. Otherwise, Master Puzhi wouldn't have been able to see this scene. This was with permission.

Great Luo Holy Land.

Lu Changsheng didn't show much surprise. On the contrary, he remained calm and even valued his opponent very much.

After all, he had debated his way to the Great Luo Holy Land, defeating the nine great holy lands and countless aristocratic families. How could such a person be underestimated?

One could be confident!

But one must never be overconfident.

Lu Changsheng was fearless, but not blindly so.

"Great wisdom indeed! This humble monk has been enlightened!"

Xuanxin stood up and gave Lu Changsheng a Buddhist salute.

The second round of debate began.

This time, Xuanxin asked the questions.

"Life has eight sufferings: birth, old age, sickness, death, love, hatred, separation, and resentment. My Buddha has unsurpassed scriptures that allow people to transcend suffering and reach the other shore. What Dharma does the Daoist sect have to free people from suffering?"

Xuanxin asked as the second question.

Lu Changsheng replied without thinking.

"The Dharma of nature!"

"What is the Dharma of nature?"

"Follow nature!"

"What is following nature?"

"When born, indulge in life. When old, enjoy one's later years. When sick, think broadly. When dead, return to one's roots. When in love, be passionate. When hating, learn to let go. When separated, learn to cherish. When resenting, learn to be calm. When seeking the unattainable, learn to move forward. When the five aggregates are blazing, understand wisdom."

"Buddhism guides and leads, causing people to forget the eight sufferings, while Daoism is different, causing people to remember the eight sufferings, understand the eight sufferings, be able to pick them up, and also be able to put them down. This is the profound Dharma of the Daoist sect."

Lu Changsheng said calmly.

Everyone praised him greatly.

Xuanxin used the eight sufferings as a topic to praise the Buddha's unsurpassed scriptures.

And Buddhism's way of dealing with the eight sufferings was to forget all worries, believing that people suffer because they are too attached.

But Lu Changsheng's answer was even more brilliant.

He believed that the eight sufferings of life were inevitable. Instead of trying to put them down, one should pick them up and experience them properly: birth, old age, sickness, death, love, hatred, and separation.

If it's love, then be passionate.

If it's hatred, then learn to let go.

If it's resentment, then strive forward.

If it's separation, then learn to cherish.

Forgetting is an escape.

Only by facing it bravely is the truth.

This Zen wisdom was admirable.

The Xuanji Dharma Master couldn't help but take a deep breath and put his palms together again, saying, "Amitabha, benefactor is truly of great wisdom. This humble monk has been enlightened."

He was indeed enlightened.

He wanted people to forget their troubles, believing that the three realms were empty, but Lu Changsheng directly pointed to the heart, his realm and his wisdom were higher than his.

He was sincerely convinced.

Soon, Lu Changsheng raised his second question.

"A fishmonger and a high monk are neighbors. The fishmonger slaughters fish every day, incurring heavy sins. The high monk chants scriptures for all living beings in the world every day. One day, the fishmonger and the high monk agreed to get up early. The high monk gets up early every day to chant scriptures and pray for all living beings in the world, while the fishmonger gets up early every day to slaughter fish, covered in blood."

"May I ask the Dharma Master, after the two die, who can go to the Western Paradise?"

Lu Changsheng asked this question.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned and dumbfounded.

Did this question even need to be answered?

Of course, it was the high monk who could enter the Western Paradise?

Was he going easy after winning two matches?

Was he showing the demeanor of the Daoist sect?

That wasn't bad, but it was a bit of a gamble.

Everyone didn't know what to say.

However, some people believed that this question was by no means so simple.

The Xuanxin Dharma Master thought seriously.

But there was only one incense stick's worth of time.

Finally, the Xuanxin Dharma Master slowly opened his mouth and said.

"The fishmonger went to the Western Paradise."

His answer completely bewildered everyone.

This was a freebie question, and you still answered it wrong?

"Why?"

Lu Changsheng asked calmly.

"I can guess it, but I dare not say it."

Xuanxin took a deep breath and replied.

"Why don't you dare to speak?"

Lu Changsheng asked.

"It involves the foundation of Buddhist Dharma, it cannot be spoken, it cannot be uttered, it cannot be guessed."

Xuanxin looked at Lu Changsheng and answered.

"If you don't answer, then you lose!"

Lu Changsheng looked at Xuanxin and said.

"It's just the second round."

Xuanxin replied.

Which made Lu Changsheng nod.

And the crowd was completely confused, not knowing what the two were talking about.

However, the voice of the Great Luo elder rang out.

"In the second round, Xuanxin did not answer, so he is deemed to have lost. Lu Changsheng will provide the answer."

The voice rang out.

Lu Changsheng would answer this question.