On the Golden Summit, a deep silence fell, broken only by the sound of prayer beads turning. Occasionally, the Buddhist light behind a monk's head would dissipate, and he would tumble from the air.
The Old Tathagata swept his gaze across the assembly, taking in the expressions of the Bodhisattvas, Venerables, and Arhats. Li Tianxing, the former Heavenly Demon Cult Master, had appeared before the monks in Si Youyou's breathtaking beauty, shattering their focus, wounding their Buddhist hearts, and spawning countless distracting thoughts.
Even when the Old Tathagata had just unleashed his vast Buddhist powers, rousing the physical remains of the many Tathagatas within the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, it could only suppress the turmoil for a time.
When the Buddhist light behind one's head faded and one fell from the sky, it signified the shattering of the Buddhist heart. The Buddhist path emphasizes spiritual cultivation; once the Buddhist heart is broken and tainted by karmic fruit, the mind collapses. Those who fell were no longer monks but ordinary mortals.
They plummeted from the heights, from a realm far removed from the mortal dust, back into the thick of it. Some might turn back, finding their way to the shore again. Others might leave the Great Thunderclap Monastery to struggle in the mortal world, seeking liberation. But once the mundane mind took hold, liberation would be difficult to achieve.
Si Youyou's beauty had caused many of the Great Thunderclap Monastery's upper echelons to fall, resulting in severe losses.
However, this could not be blamed on Qin Mu and his companions. They had already warned the Old Tathagata, but he had insisted on seeing Grandma Si's true face, testing their Buddhist hearts.
On the mountain, a few individuals' Buddhist hearts remained stable, utterly unmoved. These eminent monks were non-human beings who had achieved enlightenment through different paths. Though Grandma Si was beautiful, she belonged to a different race. These monks could perceive no beauty in her at all—only a mere physical shell.
"Your cultivation is still insufficient. You cling to the external form and have not seen the true suchness."
The Old Tathagata surveyed his surroundings, instructing the monks: "You see her beauty and cannot maintain your composure, yet you do not realize that what you perceive as beauty is merely your own notion of it, not true beauty. For instance, Senior Brother Hai Kong, do you find her beautiful?"
He was addressing an eminent monk who had achieved enlightenment as a non-human being. The monk replied, "She and I are of different races. I cannot feel her beauty."
The Old Tathagata smiled. "Beauty that cannot be felt across different races is not true beauty—it is merely the external form. Beauty is the great truth, the great suchness, the great awakening, the great wisdom. Cult Master Li, this physical shell you are obsessed with is not true beauty. Among the myriad beings, your beauty encompasses only the word 'human'—do you not see how narrow that is?"
All the monks felt a sudden moment of enlightenment. Qin Mu also found the Old Tathagata's words highly reasonable. As expected of the one who had attained great awakening, he might truly be able to subdue Li Tianxing, this inner demon.
The reason Li Tianxing wished to become Grandma Si was precisely because her beauty had muddled his Dao heart, giving rise to evil and demonic thoughts, making him desire to become her.
Grandma Si giggled and said, "Old Tathagata, of the myriad paths in the world, our Heavenly Demon Cult encompasses only the word 'human.' Your Buddhist path claims to encompass all paths—can you truly cover them all? Enough talk. What ability do you have to subdue me?"
The Old Tathagata smiled faintly and took out a bronze mirror, handing it to a nearby Venerable. "Give this mirror to her."
The Venerable accepted the bronze mirror, descended from the high platform, and approached Grandma Si. Upon seeing her appearance, his heart began to pound wildly, and he quickly closed his eyes, not daring to look further.
He presented the bronze mirror. Grandma Si took it, gazed at her reflection with self-pity, and chuckled, "Truly a stunning beauty—even I feel compassion for myself."
The monks, seeing her alluring demeanor, found it difficult to maintain their composure.
The Old Tathagata smiled. "Now, turn the mirror over."
Grandma Si flipped the mirror over. Inside, a white skeleton appeared, vaguely resembling her after death.
"What does Cult Master Li think?" the Old Tathagata asked with a smile. "No matter how stunning a beauty you are, at the end of life, you are but a handful of withered bones. Do you still find the bones beautiful?"
Grandma Si threw the bronze mirror to the ground and crushed it underfoot, saying casually, "It is nothing but a trick to deceive ordinary mortals—talk of 'rouge and skulls.' Tathagata, I understand the principle. Unlike you, who wishes to live splendidly in the next life, I find this life of mine to be fiery and magnificent enough. Seeking the next life is the act of a coward. Your little trick cannot subdue me. You say a single mirror can convert me? Why don't I take a stroll through your Great Thunderclap Monastery instead, and we shall see whether you convert me or I convert all your monks, great and small. Shall we wager?"
The Old Tathagata frowned slightly. "You have no wisdom root."
The Blind One secretly thought, "This is not good," and said, "Dao Brother, all this talk of wisdom roots is nonsense. Why not just act directly and subdue her!"
The Old Tathagata pondered for a moment. "After all, Cult Master Li was once a Demon Cult Master. I will take her into the Thousand Buddha Pagoda to subdue her. Monks, your concentration is shallow and your cultivation insufficient. Stay outside the Thousand Buddha Pagoda and provide your support."
The monks agreed and descended from the high platform, gathering around the Thousand Buddha Pagoda. Some monks inside the pagoda also hurriedly walked out, not daring to remain inside.
The Old Tathagata smiled. "Cult Master Qin, you too are a Demon Cult Master, with deep demonic nature. Since ancient times, Buddhism and demons have been separate. As a guest Cult Master seeking assistance, I will not subdue you. However, during my subduing of Cult Master Li, I hope you will remain at the Great Thunderclap Monastery, listen to the Buddhist teachings, and dispel the hostility in your heart, so that you may create less killing karma in the future."
Old Ma and the Blind One understood perfectly. The Old Tathagata intended to keep them at the Great Thunderclap Monastery. If they could be converted, that would be ideal. If not, they would be unable to leave.
Qin Mu was overjoyed and laughed, "Senior Brother's insight is profound! Then we shall trouble you. May Senior Brother soon subdue that old demon Li Tianxing—what a great merit that would be!"
The Old Tathagata smiled faintly and ordered, "Let these benefactors stay in the monastery."
A Venerable hesitated, "World-Honored One, many places within the monastery are sacred sites of our teachings. If they wander around recklessly..."
"Let them be. The Great Thunderclap Monastery has nothing to hide," the Old Tathagata replied. "When the State Preceptor came, I showed him the Tathagata Mahayana Sutra. Even if the Heavenly Demon Cult Master commits evil, can it be worse than the State Preceptor? Cult Master Qin is also one of the sentient beings. There are no outsiders in the Great Thunderclap Monastery."
The Venerable agreed and came over to lead the group.
Qin Mu laughed, "Senior Brother, does the monastery have vegetarian meals? We've been eating greasy food during the New Year recently and would like something light."
The Venerable glanced at him, turned his prayer beads, suppressed the urge to subdue the demons, and said, "If the Cult Master stays at the Great Thunderclap Monastery, you may be provided with vegetarian meals for a lifetime."
Qin Mu laughed heartily and said to the Blind One, "They're not afraid we'll eat them out of house and home."
The Blind One snorted coldly, "Old Ma, do you think the Tathagata can subdue Li Tianxing?"
Old Ma hesitated. "A single Tathagata cannot, but within the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, there are a thousand Tathagatas—all who have achieved clarity of mind and seen the true suchness. They likely can. But they are all deceased, and Cult Master Li is also extraordinary... What I fear now is that the Old Tathagata will deliberately not subdue Cult Master Li, instead trapping Grandma Si in the pagoda. If Grandma Si is trapped here, we will also be trapped here."
The Venerable led them to a side room. "Benefactors, please make yourselves at home. The bookshelves are filled with Buddhist scriptures. Please feel free to browse."
Qin Mu looked over and saw numerous Buddhist scriptures on the shelves. Old Ma shook his head. "These Buddhist scriptures here contain only the teachings, not the supernatural powers. Just have a look."
The Venerable said, "Supernatural powers cannot overcome karmic forces. Does Ma Wang Shen not understand this?"
Old Ma replied calmly, "Without supernatural powers, how can one resist karmic forces? Are you a disciple of the Tathagata? Then you are also my junior brother. Your level is too low. Step aside—there is no need for you to display your shallow knowledge before me."
The Venerable, filled with shame and embarrassment, turned and left.
The Blind One said serenely, "Old Ma and I are just a couple of old bones; staying here is fine. But Mu'er, you are the Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult. To be trapped here for life—wouldn't you wither away and die here? I'll find an opportunity to send you down the mountain."
Qin Mu shook his head. "Wait until Grandma Si has recovered first. Blind Grandpa, Old Ma, it's rare for us to visit the Great Thunderclap Monastery. Let's go look around."
Old Ma smiled. "Didn't you want to see the Hundred Dragon Diagram for a long time? I'll take you to see the Celestial Dragon reliefs."
Qin Mu was delighted.
The three of them walked out of the side room and saw an old monk sitting outside, chanting scriptures to the qilin. The beast was already fast asleep, snoring thunderously.
"Even trying to convert Fatty Dragon?" Qin Mu exclaimed, amused and exasperated. He said to the old monk, "Chan Master, this brute consumes half a dou of Red Fire Spirit Pills daily. Can you afford to feed him if you convert him?"
The old monk stopped chanting, glanced at him, and said, "I can afford it."
Qin Mu clicked his tongue. "Truly wealthy. Please continue, Chan Master."
Old Ma led the way, descending through the clouds to the mountainside. Pointing ahead, he said, "That is the Hundred Dragon Diagram."
Qin Mu looked and saw numerous massive pillars standing in a forest. Each pillar was carved with celestial dragon reliefs. Below the pillars, hundreds of monks were observing the dragon carvings, seeking to comprehend the Dao and supernatural powers from them.
Many monks were testing their powers, their qi transformed into dragon shapes that soared through the air, accompanied by brilliant Buddhist light—quite an impressive sight.
Other monks were engaged in combat, verifying each other's learning and insights.
Several old monks, upon seeing them approach, immediately greeted Old Ma with respect. "Senior Brother has come."
Old Ma returned the greeting, showing no negligence.
One old monk said happily, "Senior Brother made quite a splash here back in the day. We still remember your impressive bearing."
Qin Mu stepped forward and stood before one of the dragon pillars, examining it closely. He sighed with admiration. The myriad postures of celestial dragons—the stone carvings on this pillar depicted them with vivid perfection.
Old Ma was skilled in carving, using wood to create lifelike sculptures. He must have once imitated these carvings here.
The Hundred Dragon Diagram was indeed the key to cultivating the Eight Thunderclap Forms, but the true key was the Tathagata Mahayana Sutra. Without it, it was difficult to bring the Eight Thunderclap Forms to their ultimate perfection.
However, Qin Mu had already comprehended the Great Unified Cultivation Method. His attainment in the Eight Thunderclap Forms was not inferior to those who cultivated the Tathagata Mahayana Sutra.
Just then, a voice suddenly called out, "Cowherd!"
Qin Mu turned to look and saw a monk in white robes staring at him in surprise. The monk looked somewhat familiar. Suddenly, Qin Mu realized and exclaimed joyfully, "It's the young monk Mingxin! We met at the Grandmother Temple in the Great Ruins!"
The young monk was called Mingxin. Old Chan Master Jing Ming had brought him to find Old Ma, using the Khakkhara staff to challenge him. Mingxin had been won by Qin Mu, and the staff had fallen into Qin Mu's hands before being gifted to the Demon Ape.
Monk Mingxin walked over quickly. He had grown considerably taller, slightly taller than Qin Mu.
Qin Mu had only begun his growth spurt in the last six months and had shot up in height as well.
Mingxin looked him over and said eagerly, "Haven't seen you in years. I wonder if your skills have improved?"
Qin Mu sighed with emotion, "They have. Ever since I defeated you, I've made extraordinary leaps in progress."