I See the Aura of the Great Emperor in All My Disciples
Chapter 1489 - Chapter 1489 Chapter 1489 Discussing Taoism and Zen

Chapter 1489: Chapter 1489: Discussing Taoism and Zen! Chapter 1489: Chapter 1489: Discussing Taoism and Zen! The Buddhist Sect within the Cangxuan Continent had no specific hierarchical divisions.

After all, its believers were numerous, spread throughout the entire Chaos Realm… even reaching into other Great Realms.

For this reason, basically all powers refrained from intentionally provoking the Buddhist Sect.

They all understood that with so many believers, the accumulated Faith Power had reached an extremely terrifying extent. When the people of the Buddhist Sect attacked with Faith Power, there were few who could withstand it.

However, the Buddhist Sect also did not vie with other powers for resources, nor did they initiate conflicts with the strong among those powers.

They primarily targeted rogue cultivators and ordinary mortals, spreading their teachings to them and convincing them to believe in the Buddhist Sect, thereby increasing their Faith Power.

Faith Power was the main reason why the Buddhist Sect had endured for so long.

…

At this moment,

Having spent seven days,

Ning Chenxin, through various spatial nodes, finally arrived in the territory of the Buddhist Sect on the Cangxuan Continent.

The territory of the Buddhist Sect was vast.

Four-fifths of the eastern part of the Cangxuan Continent belonged to the Buddhist Sect.

Here, there were no so-called cities–only mountains of varying heights, and atop each mountain peak stood a monastery.

This place seemed devoid of darkness; no clouds obscured the sun, and golden light ceaselessly bathed each mountaintop, every monastery.

And as one moved toward the center, the mountains grew taller and the monasteries larger.

This also indicated a higher level for the monastery.

When Ning Chenxin arrived at the outermost bounds, she could see numerous devout Buddhist Sect believers coming in and out, their faces displaying a mechanical-like devotion.

Just at the periphery, there were so many pilgrims, so many believers.

Even for a mere mortal, this Faith Power could accumulate to an extremely terrifying degree.

Reflecting on the old nun’s words,

Ning Chenxin came here seeking a solution, an answer…

Ning Chenxin then walked toward a mountain in front of her.

Most of those climbing upwards were ordinary mortals; even if there were cultivators, they would not fly but would honestly ascend the bluestone staircases, step by step, slowly climbing.

Moreover, those ascending would usually stop to bow towards the monastery above upon reaching each new plateau.

This seemed very normal, yet for some reason, Ning Chenxin felt something was amiss.

There was an atmosphere that did not quite fit.

But she could not put her finger on it.

Ning Chenxin frowned slightly and continued upward. Everything would be clear once she reached the top.

However, Ning Chenxin moved quickly, and unlike the others, she did not bow with each step, which drew the attention of the surrounding pilgrims.

Some pilgrims ignored her, continuing their own devotions–one staircase, one bow.

Others called out directly, “This is the land of the Buddhist Sect! Your attitude shows no respect for the Buddha!”

Ning Chenxin, however, did not pay them any heed.

But hearing these words only deepened her doubts.

Whatever the case, such a fanatical attitude–no longer devotion, but bordering on pathology!

These believers were definitely not normal.

Without paying them any mind,

Ning Chenxin moved swiftly, too fast for these ordinary mortals to even catch a glimpse of her passing, feeling only a gust of breeze.

Before long, she had already reached the mountaintop.

The monastery was not large, but it was crowded with people.

The gates stood wide open, flanked by monks in robes.

Whenever someone entered, they would stand at the doorway, make three deep bows and nine prostrations before the monks would let them in.

Ning Chenxin frowned, and as she stepped forward to enter.

One of the novice monks guarding the gate stopped Ning Chenxin and said, “Donor, your heart is insincere, please leave.”

Ning Chenxin asked, “What constitutes a sincere heart?”

“One must kneel and bow before the Buddha to ask for an audience. Only then does the Buddha sense sincerity and allow you to meet him,” the monk said with his hands pressed together.

Ning Chenxin retorted, “One shows sincerity through prostration? How then do you discern between genuine devotion and an act?”

“The Buddha will determine that.”

The Buddha likely referred to the top figures of the Buddhist Sect.

As for determining sincerity, Ning Chenxin naturally did not believe it. He suspected this method was just a way to better harness the power of the common mortal’s faith.

However, without having confirmed his suspicion, Ning Chenxin did not argue and simply said, “Please inform the master that I am here to discuss the Dao and debate on Zen.”

Upon hearing this, both novice monks furrowed their brows slightly, then returned to normalcy before finally raising their heads to take a careful look at Ning Chenxin.

After looking at him, their expressions grew solemn, and one said, “I will go and inform the abbot.”

“Thank you.”

It did not take long.

The novice monk gestured for Ning Chenxin to follow, “Donor, please come with me.”

Ning Chenxin followed the novice monk.

He glanced around. Within the temple, a chant resounded.

The chant felt like someone was reading the Buddhist scriptures in front of you, yet it continuously lingered in Ning Chenxin’s ears.

The visitors directly walked forward, approaching the main hall entrance, kneeling and bowing to the three golden Buddhas within.

Ning Chenxin could clearly see above the heads of those kneeling visitors, thin wisps of golden halos drifting out and merging into the golden Buddhas.

Faith Power.

Seeing this reminded Ning Chenxin of Buddha Mountain in the Wilderness Realm.

Although they had done nothing, their motives did not seem pure.

The novice monk led Ning Chenxin around the main hall to a small room at the back.

Inside the room, an old monk with a long white beard, wearing a kasaya, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, striking a wooden fish as he recited the Buddhist scriptures.

The novice monk bowed with his hands pressed together and said, “Abbot, he is here.”

The abbot ceased reciting and nodded slightly.

The novice monk left the room, closing the door behind him.

At that moment, the abbot looked at Ning Chenxin, his face adorned with a merciful smile, and gestured to the cushion in front of him.

Ning Chenxin took a seat as indicated.

“Do you wish to discuss Zen with this old monk?”

Ning Chenxin nodded, “Confusion lies within my heart, I ask the abbot to enlighten me.”

But the abbot merely smiled and said, “The first confusion stems from the fact that you, donor, do not believe in the Buddha.”

“Can faith in the Buddha dispel confusion?” Ning Chenxin asked indifferently.

The abbot nodded unabashedly, “Since you’ve come to our Buddhist Sect, naturally, believing in the Buddha will clear your doubts.”

Ning Chenxin said, “So many people in the world have doubts in their hearts. Must they all believe in the Buddha?”

“Dao techniques follow nature. Only by honoring natural law and not by coercion can one help to dispel doubts. Is this not the intention of your Buddhist Sect?”

The abbot opened his eyes at that moment, his gaze as sharp as a swordbeam.

Ning Chenxin met the abbot’s gaze unflinchingly.

From their exchange, it seemed they had not yet started discussing Zen.

However, in reality, the battle over the Dao had begun the moment Ning Chenxin stepped into the room.

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PS: I’m on a trip with my family for the May Day holiday, so there’s only one chapter today, and I owe one. (I’ll try to make up for it tomorrow if I have the time. If not, I’ll start making it up on the 4th.)

May Day is still a time to be with family, so I kindly ask for your understanding, everyone.

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