Chapter 42

As the monk ascetic watched Mr. Le gaze into the human world, he couldn't help but follow Mr. Le's line of sight. At that moment, something extraordinary happened. In an instant, the ascetic monk found that his gaze had penetrated the vast space and all the obstacles in its path, instantly traversing thousands of miles to see the Green Dragon Temple in the Huaxu Kingdom. He even saw the ancient tree where he had once meditated. In the sunlight, the green leaves on the tree were clearly veined and tenderly transparent, shimmering with light.

Just as he saw this leaf, the ascetic monk suddenly felt a surge of weakness, his legs buckling, nearly causing him to fall to the ground. Mr. Le, seeing this, supported the ascetic monk and quickly covered his eyes, blocking his gaze. He shouted in his ear, "Focus your mind, and let your spirit return."

The ascetic monk's vision went dark, and his spiritual awareness, which had traversed thousands of miles, was forcibly cut off. He struggled to clear his mind and steady his spirit, no longer using his eyes. He then circulated his inner spiritual energy, regulating his breath and restoring his vitality. Gradually, the discomfort in his heart subsided. After standing and regulating his breath for a long time, he finally recovered, and Mr. Le released his hand from his eyes.

The ascetic monk opened his eyes and bowed to Mr. Le, saying, "Thank you, sir, for your help! To see a thousand miles and capture the myriad phenomena of the world, I never thought you had reached such a realm. I am ashamed, ashamed."

Mr. Le had a look of apology on his face and bowed, saying, "I was rash, and I have involved you, Master."

It turned out that Mr. Le had just used his great spiritual power to penetrate all obstacles and observe the human world, specifically the place where Lu Zheng came from. According to the ascetic monk's cultivation, he had attained the Heavenly Eye, one of the six supernatural powers of Buddhism. This power is based on the mind, and the stronger the mind, the stronger the power. At the beginning of cultivating the Heavenly Eye, one can see extremely distant and minute things while in a meditative state, which is far beyond the small supernatural power of creating illusions through the mind that Lu Zheng possessed.

When the Heavenly Eye is cultivated to a high level, its mysteries and profundities go far beyond this. In terms of what one can see, as long as the mind reaches it, everything can be seen clearly, achieving the realm of "observing all three realms without missing a speck of dust." Moreover, one can see some beings of the six paths that ordinary people cannot see. The highest realm of the Heavenly Eye is said to be able to see the causes and effects of three lifetimes and the arising and ceasing of all beings, a great supernatural power of Buddhism that is beyond comprehension.

The ascetic monk had cultivated the Heavenly Eye to a certain level, able to see distant scenes and discern the appearances and characteristics of beings, such as seeing through the true form of the tiger demon at the Two-Boundary Mountain. However, with his current cultivation, it was impossible for him to see the human world from the Two-Boundary Mountain. Such a distance was beyond his mind's reach. But at that moment, he unintentionally used Mr. Le's spiritual power as a guide, essentially hitching a ride. In other words, what he saw was not what he himself saw, but what Mr. Le saw.

Since his realm had not yet reached that level, turning the impossible into the possible was extremely strenuous. In an instant, his magical power was completely drained, and his inner spiritual energy was naturally mobilized. Therefore, just one glance had left him mentally and physically exhausted, unable to stand steadily. If Mr. Le had not promptly covered his eyes and cut off the spiritual connection, the ascetic monk might have exhausted his spirit and died from overexertion.

This situation is like a three- or four-year-old child trying to carry a few hundred pounds; how could they not be crushed? This is similar to how Lu Zheng's small supernatural power consumes his vital energy, except that the ascetic monk's Heavenly Eye is a real supernatural power. He had cultivated the Vajra supernatural power, making his vital energy and spiritual energy solid and internal, the foundation of his supernatural power. Under normal circumstances, even if his supernatural power and magical power were completely drained, it would not affect his inner spiritual energy. This shows how dangerous the situation was, which is why Mr. Le bowed in apology.

The ascetic monk stepped aside, not daring to accept such a great bow, and said, "A hundred years in one glance! I only saw a leaf, but if I were to open my Heavenly Eye to observe the human world, I might die of old age before I could even take a look, and my consciousness would dissipate in an instant."

Mr. Le, seeing his dejection, consoled him, "When the realm is reached, the supernatural power will naturally be complete. Why worry, Master? Diligently cultivate, and you will eventually achieve the fruit."

The ascetic monk smiled and let go, then asked, "Speaking of which, the prophecy has troubled me for a long time. The Buddha Mountain and Dao Sea are self-evident, but the three teachings—could there be another teaching besides Buddhism and Daoism? ... " At this point, a light flashed in the ascetic monk's mind, and he exclaimed, "Ah! From human to immortal, from human to Buddha, from human to human... Mr. Le, you told me that I am a descendant of the Holy Sect. Could the three teachings refer to Buddhism, Daoism, and the Holy Sect?"

The ascetic monk's expression suddenly changed, but Mr. Le remained calm, smiling without speaking. The ascetic monk, seeing his silence, asked again, "Could the Holy Sect have truly achieved the realm of the Buddha and the Dao, where all causes and effects are irrelevant? If so, why is the path of the Holy Sect not spread in the world?"

Mr. Le shook his head and replied, "This teaching was not created by the Holy Sect but was obtained from the human world. The Holy Sect merely seeks to verify this path."

The ascetic monk was puzzled, "Obtained from the human world? The three teachings, to save the human world, does the last line 'to save the human world' imply that a great calamity will come to the human world, and the children of the three teachings will emerge to face it?"

Mr. Le smiled slightly and answered indirectly, "Monk, to be honest, the jade pendant at the Sun and Moon Cottage has been waiting for thousands of years!"

Upon hearing this, the ascetic monk's face changed dramatically. Recalling Mr. Le's words and repeating the prophecy, he suddenly understood, "He is... "

Mr. Le waved his hand, interrupting him. The ascetic monk suddenly realized, looked back at the Sun and Moon Cottage, and said, "I understand!"

Mr. Le smiled, clasped his hands together, and said, "Amitabha!"

The ascetic monk also clasped his hands together, his face serene, and smiled, "Lu Zheng, this child, I originally intended to take him as a disciple, but he is determined to avenge his companion Tang Xiaojiu, which goes against the initial purpose of our Buddhist practice. If he forces himself to cultivate, he might go astray. I have been troubled by this, unsure whether to take him. Now, I realize that the jade pendant he carries is extraordinary, and I should not make a decision lightly. It turns out that Lu Zheng's karmic connection is here, and I am just the one who leads him."

Mr. Le nodded and bowed, "Monk, the time is not yet right. Please do not tell anyone about this."

The ascetic monk's eyes showed a hint of doubt, but he said, "I will keep it to myself. After the demon calamity, I wonder what new calamity will come to the human world. That fence..."

Mr. Le smiled, "Everything is predestined! Why worry, monk? Life is full of ease!"

The ascetic monk also smiled, "I was overthinking it."

As they were talking, Mr. Le suddenly raised an eyebrow, turned to look in a direction, and smiled, "I wanted you to stay longer, but it seems that's not possible... Monk, someone is looking for you at the White Tiger Temple!"

Mr. Le's supernatural power was profound and mysterious. The ascetic monk knew something was happening at the White Tiger Temple and said, "Thank you for letting me know... Mr. Le, I will take my leave. I won't say goodbye to the child. Please tell Lu Zheng to take care of himself. Amitabha."

With a Buddhist chant, the ascetic monk leaped, his robe fluttering like a large bird, descending towards the Two-Boundary Mountain and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Only a few verses faintly echoed from the void: "Knowing my own suffering, I know the suffering of all beings; to relieve the suffering of all beings, I must first relieve my own. In the vast red dust, I come and go freely."

After the verses faded, Mr. Le stood alone in the wind, the tea on the table cold. Seemingly in response to the verses, he said, "Life is full of ease!" but his words lacked the usual carefree tone and were filled with more reflection.

"Did the monk leave?" someone spoke behind him. It was Li Yi, looking serious.

Mr. Le took a deep breath, "He finally came, and now he's gone."

Li Yi, dissatisfied, said, "This monk, how could he leave in the middle of a conversation? He drank my tea and didn't even say hello to me. How rude!"

Mr. Le laughed, "It's fine. Maybe he thought he was being too talkative. Besides, what he had to say and do has been left behind. This time, the thatched cottage owes the monk a favor."

Li Yi frowned, "Lu Zheng? Is this child really the child of the three teachings in the prophecy?"

Mr. Le said, "Didn't you see the Six Dragons Pendant?"

Li Yi thought of the mysterious "Great Brother" and became even more annoyed, frowning even more, "I hope not!"

Mr. Le heard the awkward tone in his voice, looked back at him, but Li Yi turned his head away. Mr. Le couldn't help but laugh loudly, a sound so loud and cheerful that it seemed to make the surrounding clouds pause to see who was laughing so heartily.

On the Two-Boundary Mountain, two figures, one black and one white, stood in the wind for a long time.

When Lu Zheng was told that the ascetic monk had left, he and Xin'er were resting on the steps of a wooden bridge. The sun was setting, and the two children were exhausted from running. The Sun and Moon Cottage didn't look very large from the top of the Two-Boundary Mountain, but just that one garden seemed endless. They walked, played, and chatted for a long time without seeing the end, as if the sea of flowers was boundless.

Lu Zheng remembered what the ascetic monk said: wherever a person goes, the fence follows, and it cannot be avoided. If the fence is like that, could the garden be the same? The Sun and Moon Cottage looked simple but was full of mysteries.

He and Xin'er chased butterflies, looked at all kinds of strange flowers, listened to Xin'er name the flowers, and watered and weeded them. They soon broke out in a sweat but felt an unprecedented joy. The little girl in front of him made the usually quiet Lu Zheng talk endlessly. As they rested on the steps, he was enthusiastically telling her about the amusing stories of the Venerable Mingkong from the Green Dragon Temple.

When Lu Zheng first met Tang Xiaojiu and Venerable Mingkong, it was Tang Xiaojiu who took them to the Green Dragon Temple to steal buns. They were caught by Venerable Mingkong, who was carrying a bundle of firewood. The little monk calmly asked what they were doing and then went to stack the firewood.

Tang Xiaojiu, recognizing a smart person, immediately smiled and replied, "We're on your side!"

Venerable Mingkong smiled and countered, "I'm a monk, and you're a thief. How can we be on the same side?"

Tang Xiaojiu, quick-witted, immediately said, "Monks call people 'donors'; thieves call people 'victims.' Donors lose their money and become victims, and victims support us and become donors. In the end, they spend their money to support us. So, aren't we on the same side?"

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New book, please support and recommend! Thank you everyone!

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Lu Zheng, when told that the ascetic monk had left, was sitting on the steps of a wooden bridge with Xin'er, resting. The sun was setting, and the two children were exhausted from running. The Sun and Moon Cottage didn't look very large from the top of the Two-Boundary Mountain, but just that one garden seemed endless. They walked, played, and chatted for a long time without seeing the end, as if the sea of flowers was boundless.

Lu Zheng remembered what the ascetic monk said: wherever a person goes, the fence follows, and it cannot be avoided. If the fence is like that, could the garden be the same? The Sun and Moon Cottage looked simple but was full of mysteries.

He and Xin'er chased butterflies, looked at all kinds of strange flowers, listened to Xin'er name the flowers, and watered and weeded them. They soon broke out in a sweat but felt an unprecedented joy. The little girl in front of him made the usually quiet Lu Zheng talk endlessly. As they rested on the steps, he was enthusiastically telling her about the amusing stories of the Venerable Mingkong from the Green Dragon Temple.

When Lu Zheng first met Tang Xiaojiu and Venerable Mingkong, it was Tang Xiaojiu who took them to the Green Dragon Temple to steal buns. They were caught by Venerable Mingkong, who was carrying a bundle of firewood. The little monk calmly asked what they were doing and then went to stack the firewood.

Tang Xiaojiu, recognizing a smart person, immediately smiled and replied, "We're on your side!"

Venerable Mingkong smiled and countered, "I'm a monk, and you're a thief. How can we be on the same side?"

Tang Xiaojiu, quick-witted, immediately said, "Monks call people 'donors'; thieves call people 'victims.' Donors lose their money and become victims, and victims support us and become donors. In the end, they spend their money to support us. So, aren't we on the same side?"

---

New book, please support and recommend! Thank you everyone!

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