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墨書 Inktalez
Daoism originated in ancient Huaxia, beginning with the cultural ancestor Fuxi, who created various cultures and studied the divination of Bagua. During the Warring States period, Laozi authored texts that established him as the founder of the Daoist Sect. Over thousands of years, the Daoist Sect flourished, thriving in an era rich with Spirit Energy, where countless talents emerged, bringing great glory to the sect. However, those within the Daoist Sect, having cultivated their abilities, viewed ordinary people as insignificant and engaged in relentless slaughter, leaving the populace in despair.
Laozi Li Er unified the Daoist Sect and was later referred to as the Supreme Old Lord, the first Saint. He transmitted the Tao Te Ching to guide future generations, promoting moral teachings and educating all beings.
Six hundred years later, Buddhism was introduced to Huaxia from India. The ideological tenets of Buddhism coincided with those of Daoism, advocating that all beings are Buddhas and that through past hardships come future riches. This was highly esteemed by the Emperor of Humanity and spread among the common people.
For two thousand years thereafter, Buddhism remained a state religion throughout various dynasties, flourishing in culture. Yet, Daoists continued to believe that Buddhism was rooted in Daoism and did not regard it highly until Buddhism began to infiltrate Daoism, competing for cultivation resources. This led to a war between the two factions after years of friction and disputes.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Empress Dowager Cixi came to power, promoting Buddhism while dismissing Daoism. This caused stagnation in the development of Daoist culture and severed the transmission of cultivation practices. Several Supreme figures from the Daoist Sect were enraged and killed Cixi, who was protected by Buddhists. Consequently, war was declared against Buddhism, resulting in a brutal conflict with countless casualties on both sides.
Later, a figure emerged from Buddhism who practiced only Buddhist teachings without engaging in its powers; his name was Xiao Guyan, known as the Incarnation of Buddha. He invited representatives from both Buddhism and Daoism to negotiate peace and quell their hostilities. Following this, Buddhism withdrew from further disputes. After achieving Nirvana, Xiao Guyan became the leader of Buddhism. Witnessing the slaughter of common people by both factions, he could not bear their suffering and ordered Buddhists to abandon their powers in favor of pure teachings.
This Xiao Guyan is none other than Master Xu Yun from a century ago. Having lived through four dynasties and five emperors, during his time even amidst chaos within the Daoist Sect, there was no disturbance from Buddhism.
There is a poem that goes: "Sitting through five emperors and four dynasties, unaware of how many times I have witnessed change; enduring countless trials and tribulations has made me aware that worldly affairs are impermanent." This speaks of Master Xu Yun.
At his moment of Nirvana, his physical body transformed into a Seven-Colored Relic filled with boundless Buddhist teachings. However, this relic was stolen under evidence pointing to individuals from the Daoist Sect. This incident merely ignited further conflict between Buddhism and Daoism, ultimately leading to a Dark Turmoil within the Daoist Sect as Buddhism abandoned its powers for decades. Few masters remained as they were slaughtered by Daoists. Subsequently, another great war broke out among Daoists themselves; before it concluded, they clashed with military forces as well. Ultimately overwhelmed by foreign firearms and artillery, the Daoist Sect suffered severe losses; its few remaining high-ranking members struggled to hold their ground and sought peace with the military.
The common people needed military governance; relying on Daoist ideology and laws proved unreliable. For many years, military forces secretly suppressed Daoism during this dark historical period with scant documentation available—hence it is referred to as Dark Turmoil.
Amidst this chaos, only Master Xu Yun's Leiyin Temple survived intact while other Buddhist temples fell under military control. Secular individuals could enter these temples based on their studies of Buddhism and become professional monks.
Leiyin Temple is an ancient site associated with Buddha's teachings in Huaxia located in Dunhuang. It is said that over two thousand years ago when Buddhism entered Huaxia, Leiyin Temple was established as its first temple.
I rushed through the night and arrived at Dunhuang Desert at dawn.
Leiyin Temple is located in the heart of the desert, next to Moon Well. This place rarely sees visitors, and when I arrived at the entrance of Leiyin Temple, the doors swung open. On either side stood a young monk.
One of the young monks noticed me approaching from a distance and asked, "Are you here to offer incense, benefactor?"
I replied, "I'm here to find someone."
"May I ask who you are looking for at Leiyin Temple?" the young monk inquired.
"I'm looking for your Abbot or someone in charge of the temple. It's important, so please inform them quickly," I said.
The two monks exchanged glances and silently communicated with each other. One of them said, "Benefactor, both Abbots are not in the temple at the moment. Please come back another day."
I shook my head, my expression growing impatient. "If I had known you would be this tedious, I wouldn't have asked. What a hassle."
With that, I strode directly into Leiyin Temple. The two young monks attempted to block my path, but I struck upwards at their chins with both hands. They flew back and crashed against the courtyard wall, losing consciousness.
I walked through the outer courtyard of Leiyin Temple and entered the main hall. A venerable old monk emerged, holding a candlestick. I asked, "What do you intend to do with my two friends? Where are they now?"
"The poor monk does not understand your meaning. Please take your time and do not rush," the old monk replied.
I snorted in response. In Zhou Compass's time-reversal vision, that monk with a glowing forehead had nearly killed Chang Liulang. If it hadn't been for the monk who carried away Douding intervening, I certainly wouldn't have bothered asking questions now; I would have simply wiped out Leiyin Temple.
Several monks outside the main hall noticed my hostile demeanor and began to gather inside, exchanging worried glances.
I unleashed my Dao Qi and raised my left hand slightly. The monks were lifted off the ground uncontrollably. "I don't have much patience. You have ten seconds—either bring me to my friends or let Buddhist Sect and Leiyin Temple vanish from this world forever. No one will be spared, regardless of age; you decide."
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..." I began the countdown.
The Old Monk's expression remained calm as he said, "So you are from the Daoist Sect. No wonder your killing intent is so strong."
As the Old Monk finished speaking, a monk floating in the air suddenly let out a terrible scream, his body shattering into pieces. The other monks cried out in fear, and the Old Monk's gaze shifted slightly, seemingly surprised that I dared to kill.
Hearing the commotion, the monks from Leiyin Temple rushed toward the front hall. As they approached within ten feet of me, they all began to float.
"No need for a countdown; you will soon understand the consequences of provoking me," I said calmly, looking at the Old Monk.
Just as I was about to unleash my fist to kill everyone, a furious roar echoed: "Demon! How dare you kill my people from Leiyin Temple!"
The one who appeared was the Young Monk from Qingliang Temple, whose forehead had turned red when he almost killed Chang Liulang.
"Just as I was looking for you, you showed up." I released everyone and swatted the composed Old Monk aside with a single slap. The Young Monk was enraged, his eyes wide with fury. "You seek death!"
He threw a punch at me, and I countered with one of my own. I stood my ground while the Young Monk was sent flying backward, crashing into a Buddha statue and splitting it in two.
The Young Monk's fist twisted in pain as he gritted his teeth, red light emanating from his forehead as he glared at me.
A sense of dread washed over me as I suddenly vanished from in front of the Young Monk. Confused, he looked around as the red light on his forehead faded.
I reappeared beside a candlestick behind him and struck both of his eyes with my fists, leaving them bruised and swollen. Then I drew the Fish Intestine Sword and lunged toward his forehead.
"Please show mercy!" a deep voice called out.
I quickly withdrew my hand and sheathed the Fish Intestine Sword back into my sleeve. The newcomer had a square face with a short beard on his chin; it was the Middle-Aged Monk who had carried away Douding.
The Young Monk seethed with anger, shouting as he prepared to charge at me, seemingly unaware of ever having suffered such humiliation.
"Step back!" the Middle-Aged Monk commanded.
The Young Monk, his face filled with defiance and clutching his bruised eye, took a step back, his lips forming a fierce expression.
The Middle-Aged Monk looked at me and asked, "You force us to reveal ourselves with threats of violence without understanding the situation. What is it you seek?"
I replied, "Let’s not beat around the bush. I possess a Daoist Sacred Artifact that allows me to see the past. You brought people to Qingliang Mountain and took my two friends away. I need an explanation."
The Middle-Aged Monk furrowed his brow, seemingly hesitating. The Young Monk beside him said, "Master, this madman cannot be left alive!"
The Middle-Aged Monk said, "I am Poor Monk Haikong. May I ask for your name?"
I answered, "I am Yang Hao, with no master to speak of."
"Ah, so you are the protagonist of the Hua Shan Uprising, a remarkable talent from the Daoist Sect—Hai Kong, Benefactor Yang Hao," Haikong remarked.
I said, "No need for pleasantries. I just want to know where my friends are."
Haikong replied, "Follow me."
I followed the monk Haikong into the main hall, weaving around the Buddha statues until we reached the back courtyard. In the courtyard, two rows of solemn-faced monks sat on cushions, clad in robes with shaved heads marked by ritual scars. They glanced at me as I approached but continued reciting sutras expressionlessly.
Passing through the Buddhist hall in the back courtyard, Haikong bowed to a rather fierce-looking Wrathful Buddha and clasped his hands together in prayer. He then twisted the candlestick beside the Wrathful Buddha.
The candlestick turned with a clinking sound as the Wrathful Buddha rotated, revealing a downward-opening passageway that was brightly lit and not too steep.
"Please," Haikong said, glancing back at me and gesturing for me to enter.
I didn't hesitate and followed Haikong into the cave until I saw a vast space.
"Ten Thousand Buddha Grotto?" I wondered aloud. I had seen a scene like this in a handwritten note by an Ancestor Master in the Scripture Repository of Longhu Mountain. According to that note, the Ten Thousand Buddha Grotto was buried with secrets about attaining Buddhahood and was a pilgrimage site for the Buddhist Sect.
Before me, the Ten Thousand Buddha Grotto was incredibly spacious, with niches carved into the walls, each housing stone Buddhas in various poses. In the center of the Ancient Cave stood what appeared to be an altar, upon which lay the figure of a desiccated old man. He was dressed in black, his face shriveled, clearly having been dead for many years.
Behind the old man, Douding looked pained. Golden light surged from his body and flowed into the old man's corpse, which began to show signs of revival at an astonishing rate.
Surrounding the altar, a group of monks chanted Buddhist prayers. Three elderly monks sat at the corners of the altar, their chanting echoing throughout the Ancient Cave, accompanied by a faint fragrance.
There were ancient rumors that after Nirvana, a Buddhist Master’s physical body could become sacred, imperishable and waiting for future generations to revive it. It was evident that these people intended to transfer whatever was within Douding into the old man's body!
I clenched my fists and flew toward the altar. Haikong remained behind me without moving, but the entrance we came through had closed. A group of monks radiating golden light stood up, their eyes filled with murderous intent.
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