https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-434-433-The-Eastern-Blue-Emperor/12602356/
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Chapter 434: 435. Come and Go Without a Trace (Part 1)
Chapter 434: 435. Come and Go Without a Trace (Part 1)
Lei Jun perused the divination slip, his eyebrows lifting slightly in contemplation. What could possibly transpire at the Nan Jin Putuo Temple? he wondered. The reference to "south" and "north" strongly implied that the matter was largely connected to the Beichao's Sumeru Buddhist Sect.
However, according to Lei Jun's current intelligence, the master of the Sumeru Buddhist Sect, Vimalasara, hadn't been spotted in the mortal realm for an extended period and was likely occupied with affairs in Sumeru.
The masters of the Treasure Sect, Vanta, and the Kamma Sect, Jatari, in the Han and Ming realms were probably in similar situations.
With Vimalasara's absence, it was atypical for the Sumeru Buddhist Sect to undertake such a significant initiative independently.
On the other hand, the Western Paradise had also been relatively subdued lately.
They had been concentrating their efforts on solidifying their influence within the Nan Jin Dynasty.
Based on current intelligence, in terms of overall prowess, the Sumeru Buddhist Sect eclipsed the Shabak Buddhist Sect.
Nevertheless, after sustaining consecutive setbacks at the hands of the Vajra and Lotus Sects, this superiority wasn't as pronounced.
Additionally, the Shabak Buddhist Sect also had to contend with the Ling Shan Wu Sect in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
The previous incident where the Golden Khan, Ang Qinfu, borrowed a path from Sumeru to pass through had also made the Shabak Buddhist Sect more cautious. They wouldn't dare instigate a conflict without absolute certainty.
Thus, the allusion to "north and south Bodhi" could portend either Vimalasara's reappearance in the mortal realm or the presence of a unique characteristic at the Nan Jin Putuo Temple that would entice the Sumeru Buddhist Sect to embark on such a perilous endeavor.
When considering the most distinctive trait of the Nan Jin Putuo Temple lineage, Lei Jun's thoughts didn't immediately turn to the current abbot, who was a member of the Shabak Sect, but rather to the Nan Jin Crown Prince. The prince had entered the Eastern Palace after studying Buddhism at the Putuo Temple, renowned for its Zen-Buddhist martial arts lineage.
Could this matter be somehow related to him?
With no fresh leads on the Jade Pure Miro Cave, Lei Jun decided to refer back to the divination slip to see if it offered any new insights.
He scrutinized it intently once more.
The critical juncture was tomorrow at the Yushi hour, which afforded him ample time.
Lei Jun departed from the capital of Nan Jin, Jianye, and ventured a thousand miles south to the northern foothills of Yunzhou Mountain.
This locale was seldom frequented by people.
With a sweeping glance, Lei Jun ascertained that the northern reaches of Yunzhou Mountain itself didn't possess much value.
Considering the phrase "a thousand miles of rainbow," this third-grade opportunity could emanate from either Jianye or the Nan Jin Putuo Temple.
The Jade Pure Heaven's Law Mirror had been Lei Jun's constant companion during his journey to the Two Jin realms.
Bathed in the mirror's radiant light, he first surveyed the surroundings and then turned his gaze northward, scrutinizing the expanse between Jianye and the Nan Jin Putuo Temple.
Having already selected this relatively favorable divination slip, Lei Jun resolved to remain at Yunzhou Mountain and wait patiently.
Through the observation afforded by the Jade Pure Heaven's Law Mirror, Lei Jun noticed that the Nan Jin Putuo Temple was currently teeming with pilgrims.
However, aside from the devout, Lei Jun also discerned several individuals who seemed out of place.
Among them were laypeople and Buddhist monks who appeared to be serving as escorts.
"The Nan Jin Crown Prince is here," Lei Jun surmised.
Even after ascending to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince hadn't entirely discontinued his visits to the Putuo Temple and the Western Paradise.
To be precise, the Nan Jin Emperor himself was a frequent visitor to the Western Paradise.
However, on this occasion, it seemed like a clandestine visit.
The Jade Pure Heaven's Law Mirror hung high in the sky, scrutinizing the interior and exterior of the Nan Jin Putuo Temple.
Although the current abbot of the temple, Abbot Yuanfeng, was a disciple of the Shabak Sect and had cultivated to the Nine Heavens Law Body realm, his attainment and prowess were insufficient to detect Lei Jun's surveillance through the Jade Pure Heaven's Law Mirror.
As Lei Jun expanded the scope of his observation, he soon detected another group of covert Buddhist experts in the distance.
They were stealthily approaching the Nan Jin Putuo Temple, clad in the familiar garb of the Sumeru Buddhist Sect.
The lining of their robes was white, setting them apart from the blue-robed practitioners of the Vajra Sect and the red-robed adherents of the Lotus Sect.
"They've arrived," Lei Jun nodded slightly, maintaining his seated position as he continued to observe quietly.
Even though Vimalasara was not present, the Sumeru Buddhist Sect had dispatched a substantial number of experts this time.
The Nan Jin Putuo Temple might not be able to withstand them alone.
The northern and southern dynasties had been locked in conflict for many years, and both sides were vigilant and on high alert.
The arrival of so many Sumeru Buddhist Sect experts, unnoticed by others, hinted at a clandestine scheme lurking beneath the surface...
At that moment, inside the Nan Jin Putuo Temple, within a serene meditation chamber, only two figures sat facing each other.
One of them was a young man who appeared to be in his thirties, his eyes closed as if he had entered a meditative state.
He was none other than the current Crown Prince of the Nan Jin Dynasty, Cao Kong.
He had exchanged his customary ornate attire for the monastic robes he always wore during his visits to the temple.
With his eyes closed in meditation, his round face exuded an air of solemnity and dignity, despite his hair flowing down his shoulders.
At that moment, he had entered the profound state of "neither perception nor non-perception," a pivotal stage in his Buddhist practice.
The martial arts lineage of the Buddhist Sect emphasized both combat techniques and the cultivation of spiritual powers. Externally, their training methods resembled those of martial arts cultivators and the pill-cauldron sects of the Taoist School.
In terms of speed and explosive power, they naturally lagged behind martial artists of the same level.
However, their offensive and defensive capabilities were exceptionally formidable.
The Buddhist Sect's Dharma Drive, tempered through countless trials, possessed immense power in every movement, as if capable of seizing dragons and toppling elephants, moving mountains and filling seas.
While their defense wasn't as robust as that of Taoist pill-cauldron cultivators who directly cultivated their energy pills or original energy pills, their physical resilience was comparable or even superior.
Additionally, their endurance surpassed that of Taoist pill-cauldron cultivators and was better than that of martial artists of the same level.
However, regardless of lineage, Buddhist practice emphasized the cultivation of the spirit.
Even in Zen martial arts, the focus was directed inward.
Unlike most martial artists, who might suffer a significant decline in strength due to external injuries and the loss of qi and blood, the mental fortitude of Buddhist practitioners ensured the resilience of their Dharma Drive, preventing external wounds from causing internal weakness.
A strong and unwavering spirit led to a robust and resilient Dharma Drive.
Seated across from the Nan Jin Crown Prince Cao Kong was his former mentor, Abbot Yuanfeng of the Nan Jin Putuo Temple.
Lei Jun nodded slowly as he looked at Cao Kong.
During the Southern Jin Dynasty, among its numerous princes, one stood out due to his inherent aptitude for Buddhism and exceptional abilities. This revelation brought great joy to the Bodhi Temple, Little West Heaven (Xiao Xi Tian), and the Shakyamuni Sect.
With his gift, as long as he studied Buddhism, he would naturally stand out among the sons of the Southern Jin Emperor.
Furthermore, with the nurturing and assistance of the Bodhi Temple and the Xiaoxitian, Cao Kong’s accomplishments would become even more remarkable.
In other dynasties or times, it would have been difficult for Cao Kong to compete for the position of crown prince, let alone eventually ascend the throne.
However, in the Southern Jin Dynasty, everything was different.
Despite numerous controversies, Xiaotian Xismall and Shakyamuni were assured in their capability to suppress the discord and ultimately aid in Caoxong's rise to the throne.
"Master."
After a long while, the Crown Prince of Southern Jin opened his eyes, having ended his meditation. He looked towards Master Yuanfeng, his expression calm and his breath steady.
Master Yuanfeng smiled and nodded, taking out an object.
The Crown Prince, Cao Kong, fixed his gaze on it and saw that it was a branch of the Bodhi tree interwoven with gold, white, and blue.
Cao Kong was slightly surprised, but his expression remained calm. "The Three-Colored Bodhi?"
Master Yuanfeng smiled and said, "This was personally instructed by the Venerable One to be sent from Shakyamuni to you."
Cao Kong's expression was neither sad nor joyful, but he pressed his palms together and bowed, saying reverently, "The Buddha is merciful."
His calm attitude pleased Master Yuanfeng even more, and he echoed the Buddha's name, "The Buddha is merciful."
The three-colored Bodhi branch floated out of his hand and hovered in front of the Crown Prince.
The Southern Jin Dynasty lacked the blessings of a prosperous nation, and with its inherent deficiencies, the support that Cao Kong could receive from the nation's destiny was limited. It was far less beneficial to his cultivation than what the previous crown prince of the Great Tang, Zhang Hui, and the current crown prince of the Great Han, Xiang Jing, had received.
To put it bluntly, even his father, the Southern Jin Emperor, found the nation's destiny insufficient. How much less, then, for the Crown Prince?
Cao Kong's practice of the Emperor's technique could only be considered marginally beneficial, and it held more symbolic value in terms of his identity and status.
Moreover, as the spiritual energy of the heavens and the earth had not yet started to surge in the Two Jins, there was still a considerable distance for Cao Kong to reach the Nine Heavens Law Body realm.
As a genius in the Zen Buddhist cultivation tradition, he was expected to attain the Nine Heavens unless something unexpected happened.
The only question was when.
Without mentioning the threat posed by the Northern Jin Dynasty and the Vimukti Buddhist Sect, the situation within the Southern Jin Dynasty itself could not be considered completely peaceful.
For the Crown Prince Cao Kong, it would be better to attain the Nine Heavens Law Body realm sooner rather than later.
The Emperor's technique of this mortal realm was of limited help to him.
However, this Three-Colored Bodhi was of great help.
To be precise, it was not just beneficial to the Zen Buddhist cultivation tradition but also a supreme treasure to the entire Buddhist cultivation traditions.
Shakyamuni obviously valued Cao Kong highly and was willing to invest such a treasure in him.
"Spend these days cultivating quietly in the temple," Master Yuanfeng instructed. "Although the environment here is not as serene as in Shakyamuni, it is still quieter than in the royal capital of Jianye."
Cao Kong pressed his palms together and said with a smile, "Master, your disciple's thoughts are greedy. I must be mindful of the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion."
Master Yuanfeng also smiled and said, "Where there is Buddha, there is a path to cultivation. In the midst of the mortal world's chaos, one must find peace within oneself. By planting such wholesome seeds, one can eventually attain the pure land of Shakyamuni."
"Master's teaching is right," said Cao Kong. "Shakyamuni is a place of cultivation, the Bodhi Temple is a place of cultivation, and the royal palace is also a place of cultivation."
He bowed to Master Yuanfeng, then held the Three-Colored Bodhi and sat cross-legged, entering meditation once again.
The Three-Colored Bodhi began to tremble slightly, and the surface of the branch emitted radiant light in gold, white, and blue.
Unfortunately, Cao Kong's cultivation was interrupted not long after he started.
Lei Jun, who was waiting at the northern foot of Yunzhou Mountain, kept his eyes on the approaching time indicated in the divination—the second day, at the hour of the rooster.
Under the observation of the Jade Pure Heaven's Omnidirectional Divine Mirror, he saw that the battle in the distant Southern Jin's Bodhi Temple had already begun.
Buddhist cultivators from the North, the Vimukti Buddhist Sect, had attacked this sacred Buddhist site in the South.
The battle escalated rapidly, reaching a fever pitch in no time.
With many Buddhist cultivators from the North, including more than one cultivator at the Nine Heavens realm from the Vimukti Buddhist Sect, the sudden attack put Master Yuanfeng of the Southern Jin's Bodhi Temple in a difficult position.
But the conclusion came swiftly.
The Southern Jin capital was not far from the Bodhi Temple, and although the Southern Jin Emperor did not personally intervene, a large number of powerful Southern Jin cultivators rushed to the temple's aid.
Additionally, powerful cultivators from the Southern Jin's two other major Buddhist sites, Xuantian Temple and Tianlong Temple, also came to their support.
Nevertheless, the crucial element that tipped the scales and ensured the security of Bodhi Temple was the direct intervention by Baoning, the abbot of X Small Western Heaven.
With the appearance of the top cultivator in the Southern Jin, the Northern Buddhist cultivators had no choice but to retreat, suffering considerable losses in the process. Their attempt to steal the chicken ended up losing them the rice as well.
Nevertheless, Abbot Baoning of X Small Xiantian was not pleased.
Cao Kong's journey to Bodhi Temple was kept discreet, and only a select few knew of his plans, both within the Buddhist community and in the royal capital of Jianye.
The members of the Sumeru Buddhist Sect may not be as powerful as the great demons, but having so many of their experts infiltrate the Southern Dynasties without a trace was still cause for concern.
(End of Chapter)
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