Chapter 73

Zhu Ganglie stayed at the Suoluo Temple for three days. It wasn't until the great bell of the Honglian Temple's grand ceremony rang that he opened his eyes, walked out, and prepared to see the Buddha relic and the cultivation level of the ancient Honglian Buddha.

Zhu Ganglie, transformed into a monk, followed the crowd into the ancient Honglian Temple. As the grand ceremony unfolded, countless monks gathered, creating a bustling scene.

A handsome monk in a large red robe, barefoot, slowly approached. With each step, a white lotus flower appeared under his feet, appearing and disappearing, causing amazement among the monks and the common people.

Zhu Ganglie glanced indifferently and knew that this Honglian Patriarch had enlightened five senses but had not yet formed a relic, matching his current level of Buddhist cultivation.

However, the golden Buddha tower in the Honglian Patriarch's hands surprised Zhu Ganglie, making him focus his attention.

At the top of the small golden tower, a relic as round as a pearl emitted a stream of Buddhist aura. In the white halo, a Buddha's shadow flickered, displaying a divine and mysterious presence, making people dare not underestimate it.

"Actually, it's the relic of an ancient Buddha. No wonder the Daxing Temple has a ten-thousand-foot Buddha light, blocking my path. With this treasure, I can cultivate immortal energy and become an immortal!"

At this moment, a huge whirlwind appeared in the air, emerging from a layer of dark clouds. A reckless voice laughed loudly, echoing throughout the Daxing Temple.

"An expert at the Yuanshen stage!"

At this moment, Zhu Ganglie's expression changed. A six-circle Buddha light appeared behind his head, and the Qingyang Ancient Lamp in his hand emitted a golden light. The image of countless people worshipping surrounded his body, forming a small Buddhist kingdom.

"Huh! A Dharma instrument at the ninth major perfection level?"

After protecting himself, Zhu Ganglie saw a huge dragon claw reach out from the air, grabbing towards the Honglian Patriarch. The Honglian Patriarch emitted golden light from his body, with Buddha light shining behind his head. Using the relic in his hand, he transformed into a huge ancient Buddha to resist the giant dragon claw.

"Roar!"

The claw did not grab the relic, and a red giant dragon roared angrily, flying down from the sky, its huge body wrapping around the ancient Buddha transformed by the Honglian Patriarch.

"Qiantang Jun?"

Seeing the giant dragon, the Honglian Patriarch's face changed drastically, and he roared in anger, his eyes flashing with fear.

"Please, Brother, help me!"

Faced with the dragon's entanglement, the ancient Honglian Buddha saw the divine power displayed by Zhu Ganglie and loudly called for help.

Hearing the Honglian Patriarch's cry for help, Zhu Ganglie was unwilling to act. This was a giant dragon at the Yuanshen stage, and even ten of him might not be a match. He was about to retreat, otherwise, he would surely die if caught by the dragon.

However, before Zhu Ganglie could retreat, he saw a huge dragon claw reaching for the Qingyang Ancient Lamp in his hand.

"What a greedy dragon!"

Zhu Ganglie's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes filled with anger. He pointed with his hand, and a huge Buddha shadow appeared, a hundred feet tall, holding a huge stone tablet and smashing it towards the red giant dragon.

The red giant dragon trembled, its red scales cracking, and dragon blood splattered.

When Zhu Ganglie acted, countless monks immediately sat cross-legged, chanting scriptures. Some high monks who had enlightened their Buddhist consciousness fought against the red giant dragon.

Countless Buddha lights attacked the dragon.

"A bunch of bald monks, asking for death!"

The red giant dragon let out a long roar, its body twisting. Its huge tail swept across, sending countless monks flying. Its huge head emerged from the clouds, its eyes like lanterns, coldly staring at the Honglian Patriarch and Zhu Ganglie.

The ancient Buddha shadow transformed by the Honglian Patriarch was directly shattered, and the Buddha light formed by Zhu Ganglie's Qingyang Ancient Lamp also broke into pieces.

"Hum!"

At this critical moment, Zhu Ganglie shouted, and the scattered Buddha lights instantly condensed, forming a circle of golden Buddha light in front of him.

Taking advantage of this gap, Zhu Ganglie quickly retreated. As he retreated, he pointed at the Qingyang Ancient Lamp, and circles of Buddha light enveloped the monks and common people who had been knocked away, preventing them from being injured.

The common people and monks were enveloped by the Buddha light, transforming into small figures, gathering in the light of the lamp wick.

After gathering these people, Zhu Ganglie withdrew from the battle. At this moment, he saw the ancient Buddha shadow protecting the Honglian Patriarch directly shattered, and the golden tower in his hand was dragged into the clouds by a giant dragon claw.

"Dragon, you dare to take our Buddhist treasure! We will never rest until we have avenged this!"

The Honglian Patriarch, covered in blood, roared at the red dragon in the sky, no longer resembling a high monk.

Seeing the Honglian Patriarch's severe injuries, Zhu Ganglie stepped forward, and circles of Buddha light entered his body, healing his wounds.

"Thank you, Brother, for your help. I did not know of Brother's cultivation, and I have been negligent. May I ask for Brother's Dharma name?"

After recovering, the Honglian Patriarch bowed to Zhu Ganglie from a distance. Although he was disheartened, he did not dare to be negligent in front of a high monk not weaker than himself, especially after seeing the Qingyang Ancient Lamp in Zhu Ganglie's hand, which added to his respect.

"I am Shifang, a wandering monk. I happened to be here for the Honglian Grand Ceremony, so I came to pay respects!"

Zhu Ganglie recited a Buddhist chant and spoke slowly.

"Now that the dragon has taken the Buddhist treasure, our cultivation is insufficient to protect it, which is a great sin. We are unable to retrieve the treasure. I want to go to Tianxing Mountain to seek the Tianxing Chan Master to retrieve the treasure. I hope Brother Shifang will accompany me, which will increase our chances."

As the Honglian Patriarch spoke, he looked at Zhu Ganglie with a hint of pleading.

Hearing the Honglian Patriarch's words, Zhu Ganglie hesitated. He had killed Fashan in the Zhu Zi Kingdom, who claimed to be a disciple of the Tianxing Chan Master. His purple-golden bowl was still in his Yuanyang Ruler, but he did not expect to have to seek out the Tianxing Chan Master.

He did not want to go and said, "I wonder what the Dharma of the Tianxing Chan Master is like?"

"The Tianxing Chan Master has already achieved the golden body of Buddhism and is cultivating Buddha light. He is a well-known high monk."

The Honglian Patriarch's words made Zhu Ganglie feel even more uneasy, and he decided to retreat. "Since the Tianxing Chan Master has achieved the golden body, he can seek out the dragon. However, as a wandering monk, I fear I am not as capable as the Chan Master, so I will not accompany Brother!"

As he spoke, Zhu Ganglie pointed at the Qingyang Ancient Lamp, and the countless common people and monks enveloped by the light fell back to the ground, immediately bowing to Zhu Ganglie.

"Please, Brother Shifang, do not refuse. Today, our Daxing Temple has suffered a great calamity. I hope Brother will help us. I am willing to give Brother the Dharani Sutra of the Daxing Temple to study. In a month, I will go to Chang'an to pay respects to the emperor and will introduce Brother to the emperor. With the emperor's help, Brother can spread Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty!"

Seeing Zhu Ganglie's refusal, the Honglian Patriarch made a promise.

"Chang'an?"

Hearing the Honglian Patriarch's words, Zhu Ganglie's heart was slightly moved. He stepped forward and asked softly, "Does Brother know Yuan Shoucheng?"

The Honglian Patriarch felt that Zhu Ganglie was somewhat swayed and stepped forward. "Yuan Shoucheng is a disciple who guards the scripture pavilion of the Qingyang Palace in Chang'an. I know him, but he has no cultivation. I wonder why Brother is asking about him."

"Can Brother Honglian introduce me to him?"

Zhu Ganglie's face lit up, and he asked.

"I have an old relationship with the master of the Qingyang Palace and am willing to introduce Brother Shifang!"

"Thank you, Brother Honglian. I will go to Tianxing Mountain with Brother!"

At this moment, Zhu Ganglie no longer hesitated and spoke.