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Chapter 349: Saint Path Prototype, Long Time No See (Part 1)
Chapter 349: Saint Path Prototype, Long Time No See (Part 1)
"Unable to fight, so you resort to slander. Is this the Saint Path you follow?"
Li Hao said coldly. The other party was trying to ruin his reputation and diminish his Incense.
The Buddhist Sect's dignity needed to be restored, and for that to happen, someone else's dignity had to be lost. Many things in the world worked this way, like a balance scale tilting.
However, he noticed something strange in another direction.
The Incense Power that continuously drifted over did not diminish. Instead, shortly after the other party spoke, it suddenly increased significantly.
The Incense he had previously lost from several cities seemed to have returned in large part.
This unexpected change left Li Hao surprised and puzzled.
Neither he nor Jue Ming had anticipated that, after Jue Ming recounted Li Hao's past, people would focus on Li Hao's talent, finding it too monstrous.
Regardless of whether he practiced demonic arts or had a certain character, he came from the Mortal World, yet he now stood above Buddhist disciples, looking down upon the prodigies of this realm, and even Semi-Saints were at a loss against him. All of this was too incredible, leaving people in awe.
"I am the Formless Buddha, without form or root, without desire or greed. I use the heart of the Formless Buddha to transcend the world's injustices and subdue all demons. Since you are a demon, suppressing you is my path!"
Jue Ming said indifferently.
"Since you are the Formless Buddha, why does the Buddha-Demon have a form? All beings have no form, and demons are also a form of all beings. The Buddhist Heart can give rise to demons, and the Demon Heart can give rise to Buddhas. The opposite is the movement of the Dao. If you can't comprehend this, your Saint Path is nothing but self-deception!"
Li Hao said sternly.
After these words, his Literary Dao gained several thousand experience points.
Li Hao noticed but didn't have the time to ponder it.
Jue Ming was momentarily stunned by Li Hao's words. The phrase "the opposite is the movement of the Dao" contained the essence of the Great Dao, giving a sense of a Saint Path prototype.
He felt a chill, as this young man was monstrously talented, seemingly on the brink of stepping into the fief of a Semi-Saint and opening his own Great Dao!
In the Buddhist Hall, Wen Sheng's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Li Hao to have such a profound understanding of the Great Dao. This young man seemed to grow stronger with each confrontation, showing rapid growth.
However, perhaps this was the result of his accumulated foundation, which was now being unleashed.
Regardless, he saw the shadow of a Sage in Li Hao, with the seed of a Saint Path beginning to sprout.
This was the significance of the Heaven's Pride Battle. Many prodigies, when they cultivate in isolation, face limited stimulation. But when they clash with others, they are more likely to unleash their potential and grow rapidly.
At that moment, as Li Hao and Jue Ming spoke, a compassionate and resonant Buddhist teaching echoed from above:
"Amidst Amitabha, well done."
A single Buddhist chant silenced the whispers in the crowd.
Countless people looked up, gazing at the figure on the Buddhist Hall, draped in a jeweled robe, seated on a lotus platform, surrounded by Buddhist light and virtue, as if embraced by the Great Dao.
"Jue Ming, this young practitioner is right. You have already fallen into form."
The Buddhist Venerable spoke slowly, not blaming Li Hao but addressing Jue Ming's issue.
Jue Ming was momentarily stunned, finding it hard to believe. But soon, a trace of shame flashed across his face. He lowered his head, clasped his hands together, and softly chanted, displaying a devout demeanor.
"All phenomena arise from the mind. The world is like dust, formed by the mind."
"All beings are in the sea of suffering, bound by karma. All beings have form, yet all beings have no form. I am all beings, and all beings are me. I am the Tathagata, and all beings are the Tathagata!"
The Buddhist Venerable's gentle words seemed like a sermon, resonating with everyone present. Through the Realm Stone, his words spread throughout the entire Canglan World.
In the air above the Buddhist Hall, it seemed as if the Great Dao was vibrating, harmonizing with his voice.
Countless people felt a tremor in their Sea of Consciousness, a mix of awe and dizziness, as if they were gaining enlightenment.
"The Buddhist Venerable is teaching, discussing the Dharma!"
"All beings are me? This means that all things in the world exist within my mind. If my mind dies, the world will cease to exist?"
"All beings are one with me, so contention and jealousy are meaningless. Gain and loss are all part of me."
Many people were deeply moved, absorbing and digesting the wisdom opened up by the Buddhist Light of the preaching.
Jue Ming's eyes were somewhat dazed. Earlier, Li Hao's words had nearly planted a thorn and a crack in his heart, pushing him toward the Saint Path. But now, in the gentle and soothing words of the Buddhist Venerable, that crack was being soothed.
He also realized that he had been too focused on the form.
The Twin-Born Buddha Prince, the Buddha-Demon, and the Suppression were all one and the same. They were a form, and there was no need to distinguish between them.
"One flower, one world; one Buddha, one Tathagata."
"All beings are equal; good and evil are but a single thought."
The Buddhist Venerable's gaze fell on Li Hao, and he said softly, "Young benefactor, you are young but possess extraordinary talent. However, you have taken a wrong path. Today, I allow you to join our Buddhist Sect. I will help you transcend your demonic nature until you reach the shore beyond."
Li Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, unaffected by the Venerable's preaching.
Although the preaching revealed the Great Dao and resonated with heaven and earth, making it easy to be influenced, one could remain clear-minded unless they had cultivated the Saint Path themselves.
Li Hao did not have the Saint Path, but when he severed his bloodline in the depths of the Abyss, he had forged his will with the supreme Dao Will, achieving true self-awareness. Thus, under the Venerable's preaching, his thoughts remained true to himself.
"How do you define the Buddha-Demon?"
Li Hao looked up and met the Venerable's gaze, speaking directly.
Hearing this, the crowd below was stunned, all looking at him with amazement.
At that moment, they were all influenced by the Venerable's preaching, feeling a sense of devotion and enlightenment. But this young man was questioning the Venerable, an attitude that only appeared during rare Sage Discussions.
During Sage Discussions, the exchanges were extremely intense, akin to life-and-death battles. If it was a casual debate on a certain point, the impact on both sides was minimal, serving more as a mutual probing.
If one's Saint Path foundation was questioned and failed to hold up, it could lead to the collapse of the Saint Path, a drastic drop in cultivation, the fading of incense, and a fall from Sage to Dao Art. The consequences were dire.
The Venerable, hearing Li Hao's question, maintained a compassionate and gentle expression, making it impossible to gauge his emotions:
"The Yogacara states that there are four kinds of demons: 1. The demon of aggregates. 2. The demon of afflictions. 3. The demon of death. 4. The Heaven Demon."
"The demon of aggregates includes the form aggregate, the feeling aggregate, the perception aggregate, the volition aggregate, and the consciousness aggregate—our body and mind."
"The demon of afflictions encompasses all the afflictions of the world, such as desires, lust, and emptiness."
The Venerable continued softly, "The demon resides in the hearts of all beings. When the Heart Demon grows, it leads to murder, robbery, and chaos, just like demons."
"The Demon Path is also like this. It seeks quick success and resorts to any means, ultimately leading to self-destruction."
" Cultivation in favorable conditions can never lead to Buddhahood!"
"Cutting off all thoughts and seeing through the sea of suffering is the path to Buddhahood. This is the distinction between the Buddha and the Demon."
He was answering Li Hao while also preaching to the masses of Canglan World, spreading the Dharma.
Li Hao's thoughts surged. At that moment, he did not mind being used as a tool to promote the Dharma. He said:
"If so, all beings are demons, and the Heart Demons in the hearts of all Buddhists have yet to be cut off. With countless disciples in the Buddhist Sect, many are still on the path of slaying demons."
The Venerable smiled, "Slaying the Heart Demon is a lifelong cultivation journey. But your Heart Demon has been influenced by the Demon Path too deeply, leading to a complete fall."
Li Hao sneered inwardly. He knew that the Venerable was well aware of how he absorbed Slaughter Grievance, yet still insisted on saying this, erasing any respect he might have had.
Knowing that the Venerable was fabricating, he was even more immune to the preaching.
"The Buddha often says that all beings are equal, but to me, all beings have never been equal!"
Li Hao's eyes turned cold, "The three teachings and nine streams, the nobles and generals, and the commoners and beggars—can they be equal?"
"Can the status of a top scholar and a scholar be equal?"
"Can the power of the Dragon Race and demons be equal to that of flowers, trees, and spirits?"
"Can the brilliance of the sun and the moon be equal?"
"Some are born with perfect beauty, loved by all, while others are born ugly, despised and scorned. Where is the equality in this?"
The Venerable smiled slightly. Questions like this could be answered even by a Semi-Saint of the Buddhist Sect.
"All these inequalities arise from the chaos caused by the Heart Demon."
The Buddhist Venerable said, "Princes, dukes, generals, and ministers all face death, just like common beggars. Scholar-officials and students are all scholars, but the pursuit of achievement and wealth leads to envy, ambition, and the desire to rise by stepping on others. Dragons, demons, flowers, and trees all have spirits and can cultivate. What difference is there?"
"The sun and moon shine together. Without the moon, who would know the brilliance of the sun?"
"Beauty and ugliness are merely superficial. Your words are still attached to appearances."
Li Hao laughed and said, "You avoid the real issue. If beauty and ugliness are just superficial, why does the Buddhist Sect gild golden statues?"
"Princes, dukes, generals, and ministers all face death, but their lives are vastly different!"
"Some are born with great strength, while others are born weak and ill. You speak of equality, but where is this equality?"
The Buddhist Venerable replied indifferently, "What you say is influenced by greed, anger, and delusion. Once you let go of all obsessions, you will see everything in its true form. The true form is the mind. A person born with great strength might be timid, while someone born ill might have a resilient heart."
Li Hao said, "Is that so? Even if that's true, timidity and resilience are different. How can there be equality?"
"You see everything as the work of heart demons and desires, but the world itself has differences. Flowers come in countless varieties, each with its own beauty. In early spring, you don't see winter plum blossoms, and in winter snow, you don't see new bamboo shoots."
"Since they are different, how can they be equal?"
The Buddhist Venerable frowned slightly. Li Hao's earlier words were just the discontent of ordinary people, but his current words had a deeper meaning.
Especially the phrase, "Since they are different, how can they be equal?" It cut through the levels of greed, anger, and delusion, reaching the core.
"The world is a sea of suffering. All suffering comes from not transcending beyond the shore. Standing in the sea of suffering, life is naturally bitter. But if you stand on the shore, you will see the ebb and flow of the sea, the interplay of all beings", the Buddhist Venerable said.
Li Hao shook his head and said, "The world is a sea of suffering, but some drown and struggle in it, while others build great ships to enjoy and idle away their time. The flowers beyond the shore may be beautiful, but those on the ships may not be willing to go ashore to pick them."
"Equality does not exist in the world. Eagles and sparrows are naturally predators and prey."
"Local gentry and the wealthy exploit commoners in the same way."
"But eagles have their claws, the wealthy have their means, and the powerful have their authority."
"If you want equality, you must remove the eagle's claws and knock out the hunting dog's fangs. Otherwise, how can you make them as gentle as rabbits? It's like wanting to rid the world of heart demons, make the powerful humble, and have them live as ordinary people, while commoners also worship the Buddha. In the world of the Buddha, there is no power or hierarchy, but the Buddha also has distinctions like bodhisattvas, arhats, and buddhas."
"How can your disciples not bow to you?"
Hearing the exchange between the two, countless people were stunned, feeling somewhat dazed.
The words of the Buddhist Venerable resonated with the Great Dao, making them easy to understand. But Li Hao's words seemed somewhat obscure, leaving them a bit confused, yet they felt there was some profound truth in them.
Wen Sheng smiled faintly, his eyes showing appreciation.
He was Wen Sheng, who did not believe in Buddhism. All Heavens Sages would only consider their own Saint Path as the supreme Great Dao, dedicating their lives to perfecting it.
To put it simply, they believed that everything outside their Saint Path was nonsense.
But the problem was, all sages thought this way.
At this moment, Li Hao's denial of the Buddhist Path aligned with Wen Sheng's thoughts, so he nodded frequently.
"Past and present are all part of destiny. Young layman, you only see the present, but everything has karma, and everything is destiny. The eagle of this life may have been a sparrow in a past life, paying off its karmic debt. The ruler of this life may have been a beggar in a past life, and gains and losses are determined by heaven."
The Buddhist Venerable said.
This was another part of the Buddhist Path that complemented the Saint Path, the concept of karma and the cycle.
Only then could the idea of equality among all beings be complete.
Li Hao heard this and smiled lightly. He knew that Buddhism spoke of the past, present, and future.
"I only cultivate the present, not the past or the future. I live in the moment, and I only know the present!"
Li Hao said, "Moreover, if you speak of past destiny and karma, then karma is not the same for everyone. Your words also admit that eagles and sparrows have different statuses, with past and future karma serving as compensation. If we only consider this life, then everything is different!"
"A grain of sand, a Buddhist realm. You only see one flower, but you do not see the whole leaf."
The Buddhist Venerable said calmly.
"I only know that the world is not equal, but I still love it."
Li Hao gazed at him, speaking each word clearly:
"All things have flaws, why strive for perfection!"
"I know that flowers and trees cannot compare to dragons and birds. I will not say that flowers and trees can match them, but I still love them."
“I know that commoners and beggars are not as wealthy as gentry, but I still wish to converse with them, drink wine, and paint.”
“I know that the moon's brilliance can never match the sun, but I marvel at the moon's radiance.”
“All things are unequal, but it is precisely this inequality that makes the world splendid and vibrant. I will admire the power of Dragon Monsters, the beauty of flowers and grass, the delicacy of flowing water, and the scenery of towering mountains!”
“All things have their highs and lows, and it is precisely this that makes me love them!”
His words rang out clearly, and it seemed that a faint hum echoed between Heaven and Earth.
Beside Li Hao, there was even a faint rumble of Great Dao resonance, like thunder.
Countless people who heard Li Hao's words felt a sense of dizziness and awe.
On the platform, the young man stood with his foot on a Buddhist Disciple, engaging in discussion with the Venerable, his posture reaching from earth to sky, radiating a vast and righteous aura.
This scene was deeply etched into the hearts of many.
Moreover, with the low hum of the Great Dao, they seemed to grasp Li Hao's Dao Will.
The sun and moon, the yin and yang, all things have their flaws, but they also have their strengths.
Those born with great strength surpass ordinary people, and that is their advantage.
If everyone were equal, it would be like cutting off one's claws and teeth. If all people were equal, they would all be mediocre.
This concept contradicts the teachings of the Buddhist Sect, where the Venerable had said that all beings are without form, all beings are me, and I am all beings.
However, Li Hao's Dao Will was that all beings are still all beings, and he is just one part of all beings. Everything in the world is also just one part of all beings.
Each shines brilliantly, without the need to outshine the others, each radiating its own light.
Compared to the Buddhist Path, many people suddenly felt a sense of longing and affection for Li Hao's Dao Will.
The Venerable, upon hearing the Great Dao thunderous resonance around Li Hao, his compassionate smile and gentle gaze slightly faded, indicating that Li Hao's words were not mere fabrications but had been acknowledged by Heaven and Earth, forming the embryonic form of a Saint Path.
In the Buddhist Holy Land, there is a Thunder Sound Tower, named after the Great Dao thunderous resonance, a necessary process for advancing to the Semi-Saint stage.
“He actually already has his own Dao Will, and he is about to form the foundation of a Saint Path!”
“The Buddhist Sect's all-me, he is the unique-me. I wonder what kind of path it will be if his Saint Path is condensed.”
“To debate with a Sage and prove the Great Dao thunderous resonance, this is truly extraordinary. What a thousand-year monster!”
Countless people witnessing this scene were speechless with shock.
This scene might even surpass the All Heavens Struggle of the Supreme Young Hero Battle in its intensity.
It is hard to imagine how spectacular it would be if this young man were to participate in the All Heavens Struggle.
In the Buddhist Hall, the Sword Saint's expression became slightly more serious. He cultivated the Path of All Beings, and Li Hao's words, which triggered the Great Dao thunderous resonance, seemed to add a hint of Spirit Light to his Sword Dao.
In the distant Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, beside the Sword Cliff behind the Sword Tower, the Sword Master, dressed in light silver, sat there, not fishing.
At this moment, he seemed to hear something and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The Quota Battle was taking place in the Buddhist Holy Land, and the Holy Land had relaxed its laws, so his probing was not considered an offense.
“This kid really surprises me.”
The Sword Master's eyes held a smile as he recalled the days he spent with the young man. Qiu Wuheng had come here to fish and comprehend the Sword Dao, and this young man spent his days accompanying him. Could it be that he was using this time to comprehend the Saint Path?
(End of Chapter)
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