Chapter 318: Paint a Big Picture
Lu Ren's expression grew increasingly strange. Although he harbored countless complaints in his heart, he knew his own affairs best. The Ten Lands True Scripture he practiced now was an amalgamation of the essences of both the Buddhist and Taoist Sects, and even included many other elements.
If this is considered orthodox within the Buddhist Sect...
Lu Ren suddenly recalled something. Although the primary focus of the Ten Lands True Scripture was once the Ten Lands Great Accomplishment Golden Body Bodhisattva Path, he later cleverly obtained the Real Buddha's True Scripture from Subodhi, and also acquired the Immortal Skin and Jade Bone from Ji Quanzhen, as well as the True Martial Emperor Body from Li Changming.
It's fair to say that the Real Buddha's True Scripture served as the soul, the Immortal Skin and Jade Bone as the framework, the Ten Lands Great Accomplishment Golden Body Bodhisattva Path filled the flesh, and the True Martial Emperor Body made up the internal organs.
Given such a hodgepodge, it's no surprise that the Buddhist Xuanzang referred to him as Buddha's Son. If he were to take a stroll through the most orthodox Taoist Sect, those high-achieving true cultivators would also call him Taoist, thus acknowledging him as a Taoist.
It's truly a case of making a fuss over nothing. If only I could beat you, I'd definitely smash your head.
Seeing Lu Ren's uninterested appearance, Xuanzang said, "Our Mani Temple traces its origins back to the legacy of Shakyamuni, spanning 136 generations. Although we've established ourselves in a bitterly cold region, believers remain constant, with incense always burning. Today, it even shows signs of prosperity."
"And then?" Lu Ren poked at his gums.
Xuanzang, slightly excited, exclaimed, "With your pure and ultimate cultivation in Buddhist Dharma, and your genuine Buddha's Will, you've even condensed the Bodhisattva Path Fruit and Merit Wheel, surely a great benevolent person!"
Oh, so I'm a great benevolent person?
Lu Ren suddenly understood. It seemed all the people he had killed before were definitely not innocent.
Lu Ren, somewhat intrigued, asked, "I wonder what it's for?"
Xuanzang earnestly replied, "To bring the Buddhist Sect back to the Human Race gathering places! To reopen Buddhist cultivation and let the glory of the Buddhist Sect shine once more upon the lands where humans dwell.
And your appearance will undoubtedly unite countless branches of the Buddhist Sect, forming a magnificent power to crush, allowing the Buddha to reappear in the world."
He looked at Lu Ren.
"At that time, you will surely be bathed in endless incense wish power, surpassing Shakyamuni Tathagata Buddha, achieving an unprecedented Extreme Realm!"
Xuanzang, without any concealment, expressed his excitement, unable to control his emotions, even with tears in his eyes.
And he fixed Lu Ren with a gaze of such fiery intensity, resembling someone who had just seen a five-million-dollar prize, making Lu Ren feel a compulsive urge to throw something.
Unfortunately, his power was still too low. If he were in the same realm as Xuanzang, Lu Ren wouldn't even hesitate to strike with his fist.
Indeed, this was the case.
Lu Ren thought to himself, these old bald heads, a thousand years ago during Great Ming's anti-Buddhist campaign, were left with only a few cats escaping to other regions or retreating into the wilderness, when their temples were destroyed.
Having hibernated for a thousand years, they must have returned with a vengeance for revenge!
As for Xuanzang's words, they didn't affect Lu Ren at all.
But standing with her ears pricked, Guo Muyang listened to Xuanzang painting a big picture for Lu Ren, truly getting excited, her little face turning red, peeking in through the door with wide eyes, waiting to see how Lu Ren would respond.
Lu Ren glanced at Guo Muyang with disdain.
This girl was truly a country bumpkin; Xuanzang's proposal was as dry as can be, far from the small bosses on Earth in Huaxia who wouldn't even offer you food for the pie they draw, yet you'd be gratified to work as a 007.
Lu Ren remained unmoved.
Xuanzang was getting a bit anxious.
"Buddha's Son, what do you think?"
"I simply find it bizarre." Lu Ren stared at Xuanzang, "Why did Master Xuanzang identify me as Buddha's Son at first sight?"
Unsurprised by the question, Xuanzang took out a wooden box, carefully presenting a Buddha Pendant to Lu Ren.
This was a Buddha Pendant carved from willow wood, only the size of a thumb, with a patina showing its age, possibly an ancient relic that had withstood the millennia.
What surprised Lu Ren the most was that it was filled with a rich Buddhist aura, not majestic, but rather similar to the righteous Qi nourished by the Confucian Sect when focused on cultivating Buddhist Dharma to a certain realm.
This aura of harmony and tranquility clearly belonged to an unimaginable existence, often handled, and over time, bestowed a profound spiritual essence upon the Buddha Pendant.
In the span of a millennium, even plants exposed to such a rich environment of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism could transform into human form, growing into formidable Great Demons.
For plants and stones that rarely became spirits, once they did, they would possess a power that shook the world.
What more for a human-carved Buddha Pendant.
Seeing Lu Ren not taking it, waiting for his next move, Xuanzang let out a bitter laugh and explained, "This is a self-carved image of Buddha Shakyamuni, often played with, imparting unimaginable spiritual essence."
While speaking, Xuanzang respectfully placed it on the table, bowed three times, and then, with it in hand, said to Lu Ren, "While in the Mani Temple, this wooden Buddha image suddenly emanated an unusual phenomenon, and under its guidance, I rushed for three months from a million miles away to this place, and only discovered it after consulting with hidden Buddhist disciples in the area."
Upon saying this, Xuanzang couldn't help but sigh, "Who would have thought that after a thousand years, even Great Ming has declined."
Then, he laughed heartily, "It's surely the rise of our Buddhist Sect!"
He glanced at Guo Muyang clinging to the door, chuckling, "Since the wooden Buddha acknowledges you, there must be no mistake; otherwise, why would the Pure Yang Dao Body follow you and become your Dao Companion?"
Guo Muyang blushed shyly at his words, instantly warmed to Xuanzang, despite having no moral judgment yet.
Evidently, this made her feel quite pleased.
Lu Ren silently glanced at Guo Muyang, his face indifferent as he said, "This is my disciple."
Upon hearing this, Guo Muyang pouted, obviously displeased.
Xuanzang was slightly dazed, then, with a knowing smile that suggested all men shared the same tastes and inclinations, he nodded repeatedly.
"I understand, I understand. Now, as the Buddhist Sect is established in harsh lands, far from Human Race gatherings, growth can only be achieved through continued propagation.
I, too, had a fine disciple who eventually became my Buddha Consort."
Lu Ren was speechless. It seemed that due to severe living conditions of the Buddhist Sect on Beidou, they were willing to discard even their pride.
Lu Ren said, "Now that you've opened a new Human Race gathering far from Human Race lands, with all being disciples of the Buddhist Sect, establishing an Earthly Buddha Country, why are you still dissatisfied?"
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