SWNOVELXO Chapter 895 Chapter 896: The Patron and Our Buddhist Sect Are Destined
895 Chapter 896: The Patron and Our Buddhist Sect Are Destined
By the coast, within a Formation, Li Xiaobai slowly walked out, and the nearby cultivators all cast sideways glances his way. To be the only person emerging from a prestigious Teleportation Formation in Nuo Da was a clear sign of no ordinary status. No one came to cause trouble nor to strike up a conversation; everyone's faces bore the expression that other people's affairs were none of their concern.
This coastal area was a vast island, with ships coming and going ceaselessly. Merchants were everywhere close to the seashore, with an abundance of stalls that dazzled onlookers.
Li Xiaobai swept his gaze around briefly; the stalls mostly sold materials from the corpses of Demonic Beasts from the Sea Clan, predominantly of lower grades and varying quality. He also noticed that the island had many monks—baldies in yellow robes, faces full of piety, chanting sutras and mantras in groups. Their Merit Values, clean four-digit numbers, ranged between three and five thousand, surrounded by cultivators listening intently to the monks, deeply immersed in understanding.
Whenever a cultivator's face showed a look of epiphany, the Merit Value above the monk's head would increase by one. They were earning Merit Value through this way of enlightening sentient beings, and the method seemed quite effective—much faster than the ordinary cultivator's pace of comprehending scriptures.
"Quite interesting. No wonder Ergouzi is always thinking of enlightening the masses; there's such a benefit to it."
Li Xiaobai chuckled softly, turning to leave as he had no interest in such activities.
"This benefactor looks unfamiliar; is this your first time visiting Salvation Island?"
From the heart of the crowd by the roadside, a young monk in gray robes stood up and walked towards Li Xiaobai, a pleasant smile on his face.
The other monks ceased their chanting and slightly lifted their gazes toward the roadside. They had just noticed that in the midst of the passing crowd, only this man seemed utterly indifferent to their teachings and was prepared to leave after only a brief glance, which displeased the Buddhist monks.
"Salvation Island?"
Li Xiaobai was somewhat puzzled.
"It seems the benefactor truly is here for the first time. No wonder you are not familiar. This island, known as Salvation Island, was constructed long ago by a Living Buddha from the Western Continent using Great Divine Power. Although officially under the influence of the Eastern Continent, this place is actually a Pure Land. Here, cultivators are prohibited from initiating conflicts. It serves as a bridge of friendship built by the Living Buddha between the eastern and western continents."
"Benefactor, you must have come here intending to head to the Western Continent, right?"
The monk in gray robes said with a smile.
"Indeed, I do have some important matters that require me to travel to the Western Continent. May I ask, Master, how might I proceed?"
Li Xiaobai clasped his fist and bowed politely as he made his inquiry.
"Master I am not, but let me offer this suggestion: I perceive a karmic connection between the benefactor and our Buddhist Sect. Why not sit down and listen to the sutras with the other benefactors for a while? Later, when my senior brothers return to the Eastern Continent, I can perhaps arrange for you to accompany them."
The monk in gray robes proposed understandingly, his tone gentle, making it difficult for one to refuse.
"No need. I am indeed in a hurry and shall not impose upon the Masters' teaching any longer."
Li Xiaobai waved his hand, indicating his intention to depart immediately. He was being pursued by the Blade Sect, and a large number of cultivators at the Heavenly Immortal Realm might soon arrive. It would be best for him to leave quickly.
"Such resistance from the benefactor—could it be that you look down upon the scriptures that this poor monk has been teaching?"
"Well then, today this poor monk takes the liberty of reciting the Six Syllable Mantra, what do you say?"
A monk in a yellow robe at the center of the crowd spoke softly with a smile on his face. His tone was affable, betraying no hint of an edge.
But Li Xiaobai knew these monks didn't want to let him go.
"The Six Syllable Mantra?"
"Master Ming De is going to recite the Six Syllable Mantra?"
"I've been on Salvation Island for such a long time, yet I've never heard about the Six Syllable Mantra. Master Ming De truly is a high-ranking monk from the Buddhist Sect, with profound Buddhist Law, to be able to comprehend the Six Syllable Mantra!"
"Today is a lucky day!"
Listening to the words of the monk Ming De, the surrounding cultivators were all abuzz, not only they but also the cultivators who were listening to the insights of other monks by the roadside couldn't help but widen their eyes when they heard the commotion. It was quite rare to hear a Buddhist monk recite the Six Syllable Mantra.
Once, a Half-Saint Strong Expert carried countless resources to travel to the Western Continent, just to hear the Six Syllable Mantra from an abbot. Unfortunately, he returned without success, which shows how precious the Six Syllable Mantra is. To be able to hear it is no less than an enormous opportunity.
"Kid, you're fortunate. Today Master Ming De opened his golden mouth for you. This is your chance. Aren't you going to thank Master Ming De quickly?"
"Yes, you little rascal, you don't know any better, to actually dare to confront a high-ranking Buddhist monk. Fortunately, the master is kind and benevolent and doesn't hold it against you. Quickly kneel and give thanks!"
"Let me tell you, to respect the master is to respect all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens, and in the future, you will be rewarded!"
"Don't make a joke out of your own fortune and destiny..."
In the crowd, they spoke one after another, pointing fingers at Li Xiaobai, their words filled with rebuke.
Seeing more and more cultivators gathering around, Li Xiaobai had a puzzled look on his face: "What is the Six Syllable Mantra?"
"It seems this benefactor is not only visiting Salvation Island for the first time but is also likely stepping out of the Eastern Continent for the first time today, isn't it?"
Master Ming De smiled slightly, purposefully raising his voice a few notches to ensure that more nearby cultivators heard him.
"The so-called Six Syllable Mantra is comprised of six words within the Buddhist Sect. In truth, anyone knows these six words and can recite them, but depending on the depth of one's understanding of the Buddhist Law, the effect when each monk recites them is vastly different. The same six words, recited by an abbot of the Buddhist Sect, differ greatly from those recited by a novice monk. Thus, the Six Syllable Mantra is also the best method to test a disciple's depth in Buddhist Law.
"However, a monk like me, who is usually ignorant and negligent in spiritual practice, is quite ashamed. I fear to lose face for the Buddha if I recite the Six Syllable Mantra publicly, so I seldom recite it in front of others. But today, to let the benefactor understand our Buddhist Cultivation Technique, I am willing to risk embarrassment, sacrificing my own face to awaken the benefactor's Buddha-nature!"
Master Ming De said with a faint smile, and his words made the cultivators look at him in a new light. Truly, a master is a master, not only deeply versed in the Buddhist Law but also so humble - this is what a true Buddhist monk is.
"What do you say, benefactor? Would you like to hear this monk recite the Six Syllable Mantra?"
Master Ming De looked toward Li Xiaobai and asked aloud.
Whoosh!
The crowd all turned their gaze toward Li Xiaobai, their eyes filled with envy. This lucky fellow had made the master speak.
"Cough cough, then I shall be all ears to the master, my thanks."
Li Xiaobai felt a crawling sensation with all eyes on him and, before he knew it, thousands of cultivators had gathered nearby. He too became interested in seeing what astonishing methods this Buddhist monk intended to display.
Having such an enhancement in his understanding of the Buddhist Sect would give him some preparation for his journey to the Western Continent.
What he didn't know was that at this very moment on the island, many resentful and venomous gazes were fixed on this spot.
Many monks reciting scriptures on the island watched as the cultivators beside them left one by one, gathering around the monk Ming De with a shadow of gloom in their eyes.
A monk also dressed in a yellow robe and surrounded by many others furrowed his brow slightly at the grand scene.
"Ming De really has good tactics, actually going to speak the Six Syllable Mantra. By starting this precedent, he has even drawn away the guests of poor monks like me. Now that he has taken the lead, even if a poor monk like me were to recite the Six Syllable Mantra, it would be quite difficult to bring the guests back."