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Xuanbing Buddha actually comes from Earth!
Zhao Yang was overwhelmed with excitement; nothing could be more shocking than this news. He had a secret he could never share with anyone, not even his parents, because this body did not originally belong to him. His soul had crossed over from Earth, and this secret was something even his master, Wukong, might not know. Yet, Xuanbing Buddha had directly stated that he came from the same place.
However, when Zhao Yang recalled the name Xuanbing Buddha had just mentioned, he finally understood who the person before him truly was!
Shen Xiu!
The one who was supposed to be the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in history!
The one who created the most famous verse in Buddhism!
The one draped in white robes, known as the most handsome monk in history, the Heavenly Genius, who could compose poetry in seven steps!
He was also the person Zhao Yang admired and lamented the most in his life!
Shen Xiu, whose secular surname was Li, was born in Bianzhou. He recognized characters at three years old, read extensively by seven, practiced swordsmanship at eight, achieved Enlightenment at nine, and could communicate with spirits by ten. At seventeen, he encountered Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, who enlightened him to enter the Buddhist Sect, studying under Five Ancestors Hongren. Within three years, he had read all Buddhist texts and transcended ordinary understanding; with a smile, he made flowers bloom and revived withered trees.
Having attained Great Achievement in Buddhist teachings, he founded the Northern School of Zen and became a prominent figure in the Buddhist Sect. However, one day, Five Ancestors Hongren was about to ascend to paradise and summoned his two most favored disciples to test their wisdom against each other. One of them was called Huineng, who possessed an extraordinary memory and could draw inferences from a single instance; he excelled in the art of sophistry.
On that day, Hongren posed a question based on a sacred object of the Buddhist Sect, asking them to compose a verse.
Though Shen Xiu was exceptionally wise, he was still young and kind-hearted; he had never considered the order of poetry. He immediately recited: “The body is the Bodhi Tree, the heart is like a Bright Mirror Platform. Always diligently wipe it clean; do not let dust settle.”
Hongren was overjoyed. He had always known that Shen Xiu possessed immense talent. This verse compared dust to troubles and the mirror to the human heart, suggesting that one should constantly observe their heart for troubles and remove them if present—“Always diligently wipe it clean; do not let dust settle.” Eliminating troubles is one of the core practices of Buddhism.
However, it turned out that Huineng composed another verse that would become legendary. This verse ultimately became the foundation for Huineng’s rise to prominence over the historically wise Shen Xiu.
Huineng said: “Bodhi has no tree; Mirror-like is not a platform. Originally there is nothing; where can dust settle?”
Thus, the position of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism was given to Huineng.
As a result, contemporary and later historians have rated Huineng as the most intelligent, while Shen Xiu has been somewhat overlooked. After the new world emerged, some began to vindicate Shen Xiu, arguing that his verses were more realistic and leaned towards materialism, whereas Huineng's verses highlighted emptiness and leaned towards idealism, suggesting that Shen Xiu was therefore more outstanding.
In reality, these interpretations are quite forced. There are many rumors throughout history regarding this story; some say Huineng was merely a firewood carrier, while others claim he was just an illiterate little monk, with even his verses written by someone else. However, regardless of the rumors, everyone can agree that Shen Xiu composed his poetry first!
This brings us to the issue of precedence. Those familiar with sports competition rules know that the order in which athletes perform can influence judges' scores. Generally, the first athlete to compete is at a disadvantage because judges lack a reference point. Thus, even if the athlete performs exceptionally well, they cannot receive a high score, let alone a perfect one. In contrast, subsequent athletes who perform slightly better than average tend to receive higher scores. Therefore, in some sports competitions, those who perform first are awarded additional points during final scoring to ensure fairness.
Shen Xiu's mistake was being the first to compose poetry. His error lay in his kindness; he did not realize the malice in people's hearts. Setting aside the issue of who composed poetry first, Huineng's lines—“Bodhi has no tree; the mirror-like is not a platform; originally there is not a single thing; where can dust alight?”—were all aimed at Shen Xiu as rebuttals. At first glance, Huineng's verses seem more rhythmic and persuasive. But why couldn't truly wise individuals see that Huineng was targeting Shen Xiu? A Buddhist should not critique and refute others' verses merely to elevate oneself; such narrow-mindedness and cleverness are unbecoming of an enlightened monk.
Furthermore, modern society repeatedly advocates for originality in works. Huineng's verses were not original but rather derivative. Just as Thomas Edison invented the light bulb after experimenting with over 1,600 materials and conducting more than 8,000 tests, a second person seeking to create their own light bulb would not need to go through such extensive trials. They could simply follow Edison's approach and produce a light bulb directly or even modify it into a flashlight or car light—making it appear more aesthetically pleasing and useful. This illustrates that true wisdom stems from originality rather than imitation.
It is like the saying: the first person to dare eat crab is the bravest.
Huineng's verses not only directly countered Shen Xiu but also contained inaccuracies because the line “Bodhi has no tree; the mirror-like is not a platform” is misleading.
At that time, perhaps Bodhi trees were unsuitable for growth in Central China. Even Buddhist masters were uncertain whether there truly existed sacred Bodhi trees in this world; however, such trees do exist in India! Therefore, claiming “Bodhi has no tree” reflects ignorance. The “Bright Mirror Platform” is similarly a treasure of Buddhism—just like relics—it genuinely exists.
Thus, for Zhao Yang, who thinks clearly, both Five Ancestors Hongren and Sixth Patriarch Huineng are merely figures of little significance.
After Huineng attained the position of patriarch in Zen Buddhism, Shen Xiu vanished from history. Some say Shen Xiu committed suicide after seeing a male corpse dressed in monk robes by the riverbank—a figure matching Shen Xiu's stature—while others claim he was murdered since the corpse was headless.
Zhao Yang expressed his thoughts and inquiries about this former Xuanbing Buddha named Shen Xiu—the one who resembled a child.
Xuanbing Buddha shook his head and said, “That was three thousand years ago. Back then, I fortuitously crossed over into the cultivation realm; my homeland has long turned to dust. I have long forgotten it all; there’s no need to mention it.”
Zhao Yang nodded; this was the True Buddha. Time flew by, and even if there were grievances in his heart, they had long since dissipated. Those so-called True Buddhas and the Five Ancestors had returned to dust. The Earth was simply not suitable for cultivation; it was a reality where all illusions did not exist.
The figure of Xuanbing Buddha became increasingly elusive, and the cracks on his face began to appear more clearly and terrifyingly. Xuanbing Buddha looked at Zhao Yang with concern in his eyes and said, "This injury was inflicted by the High Priest. He was once a young attendant by my side, originally a trusted confidant of the Queen named Wu Rong. He followed me for a hundred years when I was being hunted down, learning many skills. Who would have thought that his heart was not right? He seized the fortunes of several Transcend Tribulation Ascend cultivators, attempting to break through the barriers and return to his homeland. Although I do not know what he truly intends to do, based on my understanding of him, if he returns, it will surely bring suffering to the world. I could not bear to kill him, so I let him contemplate in the Cultivation realm. Who knew that instead of repenting, he began to massacre Transcendence Stage Experts in the Cultivation realm, seizing their fortunes? Even his Sun and Moon Divine Eye was taken from the Ghost Shadow God King six hundred years ago. With the Sun and Moon Divine Eye, he can conceal all traces of himself; I cannot detect where he is. Who would have thought that after three thousand years of hard cultivation, he finally achieved supreme Dao Fruit and fought me to a standstill, only to be severely injured by my Bright Mirror Platform."
Tears suddenly welled up in Zhao Yang's eyes as he asked, "Do you really possess the Bright Mirror Platform?"
Xuanbing Buddha nodded. "I had it three thousand years ago. It is precisely because of the Bright Mirror Platform that I attained Enlightenment faster than others."
Xuanbing Buddha's form flickered between clarity and obscurity, his voice devoid of joy or sorrow.
"No!" Zhao Yang denied it. "My path is for all beings; all beings are equal, yet they vary greatly. Anyone can attain Dao; anyone can become a genius. However, human hearts differ vastly. You are the person I respect most in my life, aside from my master and disciple Wukong!"
"The Divine Monkey Beneath Buddha's Palm Mountain?"
Zhao Yang nodded; he felt no need to hide anything from Xuanbing Buddha.
"No wonder you are so wise; it turns out you are his disciple. The master of Consort of Rain, Sun Daoren, is probably an incarnation of Divine Monkey. I have met Sun Daoren once; unfortunately, that girl possesses extraordinary talent but refuses to ascend to the heavenly realm due to her emotional tribulations. If you encounter her one day, you should advise her."
Zhao Yang nodded but felt somewhat puzzled and asked, "With your cultivation level, why do you not go see my master's true form? Also, you have already become a Buddha; how could the High Priest possibly injure you like this?"
Xuanbing Buddha smiled gently and said, "Because I am also an incarnation."
Seeing Zhao Yang lost in thought, Xuanbing Buddha continued, "In the Cultivation realm, there is no celestial energy; cultivators' lifespans rarely exceed a thousand years. To maintain longevity requires special methods; the art of rejuvenation is how I have lived for three thousand years. However, my cultivation has been steadily declining and is no longer at the level it was when I ascended."
"Xuanbing Buddha" spoke, and a radiant light began to emanate from his entire being, showing signs of fading away.
"What’s wrong?" "Zhao Yang" asked anxiously. Although it was merely a projection of "Shen Xiu," to him, it was a unique entity with its own thoughts and actions—the "True Buddha"!
"There isn't much time left. When I saved you in the 'Haotian Secret Realm,' both I and the 'Lord of the Demon Realm' caught a glimpse of a part of your future. He wants to eliminate you quickly, so be careful when you encounter him in the future. The 'Cultivation' world will undergo tremendous changes because of you. I will pass on to you the supreme teachings of the 'Buddhist Sect.' With the 'Chaos' in your hands, the safety of the 'Cultivation' world will depend on you."
After speaking, a ball of golden light flew from "Xuanbing Buddha's" small palm and entered "Zhao Yang's" body. Then, from "Xuanbing Buddha," a seemingly ordinary "Bright Mirror Platform" flew out and hovered before "Zhao Yang." Following that, "Xuanbing Buddha" transformed into a golden soft light that enveloped "Zhao Yang." He waved his hand to capture the golden soft light, then looked at the "Bright Mirror Platform." In the center of the mirror-like surface stood a towering giant holding a "Golden Buddha," staring at them.
"Zhao Yang" smiled as he activated his "Divine Sense" to read and interpret the "Bright Mirror Platform." Soon, he breathed a sigh of relief and sent the golden soft light into the platform. Quickly, the "Bright Mirror Platform" underwent slight changes; like blood being thicker than water, strands of flesh began to coalesce, gradually forming a small "Golden Buddha," resembling what should have been the "Transmutation" of "Xuanbing Buddha."
However, not long after, cracks began to appear on the small "Golden Buddha," with alarming fissures spreading across its skin.
With a sigh, "Xuanbing Buddha" said, "You forcefully extend my life once more, but at most I can only last for a few years. Eventually, I will still turn to smoke."
"Xuanbing Buddha" remained expressionless, calmly speaking.
"Zhao Yang" clasped his hands together in respect towards "Xuanbing Buddha," then walked toward the front courtyard of "Xuanfo Temple."
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