Chapter 213: Seeking Revenge
"Sword Hall, notify the twelve Guardian Elders and the eight Supervisory Envoys of the Holy Religion. Tell them to go to the Tu River outside the capital."
Qin Mu closed the dossier and handed the notes he had written over the past few days on the insights into the Spirit Treasure Immovable Zen Sutra to the Sword Hall Master. "I've been studying the Spirit Treasure Immovable Zen Sutra these past few days, searching for its weaknesses. It's all recorded here. Have them take a look first. The other Hall Masters should stay put and await my orders."
The Sword Hall Master accepted the order and rose to leave.
Qin Mu summoned Hu Ling'er and Dragon Qilin, instructing them to remain at the Imperial Academy for the next few days. He then went to the end of the Scholar's Lane, found Wei Yong, and said, "Brother Wei, has the Duke of Wei returned?"
Wei Yong replied, "He just returned from suppressing the rebellion the day before yesterday."
Qin Mu said, "Trouble Brother Wei to go home and tell the Duke that there's something interesting to see at the Nantuo Detached Palace."
Wei Yong was puzzled but smiled. "My old man loves a good spectacle, but he doesn't go for just anything. If it's not big enough, he definitely won't go. He'll make sure the entire capital hears about it! What's going on?"
Qin Mu said, "Just go. You'll know when you get there."
Wei Yong was curious and went down the mountain with him. Qin Mu parted ways and headed straight to the Listening Rain Pavilion in Flower Lane.
Fu Qingyun hurried over to greet him. "Cult Leader..."
Qin Mu raised his hand, signaling her not to say more. Suddenly, a series of crackling sounds came from within his body. His bones shifted, and his figure grew taller, transforming into a burly yet lean man who looked like a barbarian from beyond the frontier.
Fu Qingyun was startled. "The Art of Creation? Which of the seven chapters is this?"
Qin Mu's body emitted a faint golden glow. He changed into a set of rough, coarse clothes and took the Thousand Stupa Tower from his Gluttonous Bag. The tower, over ten feet tall, was held in his hand. The thousand stupas spun continuously, producing a tinkling sound, with faint Buddhist chants emanating from within.
"Hall Master Fu, stay here. Do not act rashly. Await my orders."
Qin Mu dragged the Thousand Stupa Tower, stepped out of the Listening Rain Pavilion, left Flower Lane, and walked straight toward the Nantuo Detached Palace.
The Nantuo Detached Palace was originally the residence of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. The Nantuo Temple was one of the most prominent Buddhist sects, second only to the Great Thunderclap Temple. After its abbot, Sun Nantuo, submitted to the imperial court, the Nantuo Temple became a major sect under the court's authority.
Sun Nantuo was deeply versed in Buddhist teachings, upright in character, and hated evil as if it were his enemy. He was known as an Arhat and held the official post of Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. After the Nantuo Temple allied with the court, many other Buddhist monasteries also pledged allegiance, a feat largely attributed to Sun Nantuo's efforts.
After Sun Nantuo converted the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor residence into the Nantuo Detached Palace, it became the primary preaching site for the Nantuo Temple. Many young monks from the temple came here to listen to sermons, and some noblewomen from the families of princes and ministers, who were devout Buddhists, also often attended.
However, these noblewomen often suffered from the loneliness and bitterness of their secluded lives. Some came with ulterior motives, using the guise of worship to form illicit relationships with young monks to alleviate their solitude. Others, older and less attractive, kept young monks as companions. It was common in the capital for monks to frequent women's private chambers.
Some elderly monks also kept young women, indulging in nightly revelry, which drew considerable criticism.
Although Sun Nantuo was aware of the misconduct among his disciples, his official duties were heavy and numerous, leaving him no time to discipline them. Moreover, the capital's customs were liberal, with women being bold and even the Empress Dowager having lovers, so he chose not to interfere.
The emperor had repeatedly arranged marriages for Sun Nantuo, who refused three times but accepted the fourth. Thus, he was a half-monk, half-layman, making it difficult for him to sternly rectify his disciples' behavior.
Scandalous incidents often occurred at the Nantuo Detached Palace, but Sun Nantuo turned a blind eye.
Nevertheless, he still hated evil and never showed any leniency toward officials of demonic origins in the court, often rebuking them openly.
That day, a commotion arose outside the Nantuo Detached Palace. Monks from the Nantuo Temple rushed out, including several of Sun Nantuo's direct disciples, shouting, "Someone outside is selling a Buddhist treasure! The Thousand Stupa Tower, which is in the same lineage as our Nantuo Temple's Spirit Treasure Immovable Zen Sutra! It's the temple's lost supreme treasure that disappeared hundreds of years ago!"
The crowd gathered outside the detached palace and indeed saw the lost supreme treasure of the Nantuo Temple, the Thousand Stupa Tower. A throng of monks surrounded it, blocking the street, with some noblewomen squeezed in among them.
In the midst of the crowd stood a tower made of a thousand stupas, each carved from jade and arranged in seven tiers. Each tier was a cylindrical scripture holder engraved with sutras, capable of rotating. When they spun, the sutras emitted light and Buddhist chants.
Each tier also contained treasures such as crystal, garlands, relics, lamps, yellow jade, and agate.
The thousand stupas stacked together formed a tower—this was the renowned supreme treasure of the Nantuo Temple, the Thousand Stupa Tower, also known as the Thousand Stupa Pagoda!
This treasure had long been lost, disappearing during a period of turmoil. Its reappearance now caused the monks of the Nantuo Detached Palace to flush with excitement, eager to seize the tower immediately.
However, this was the capital, and they couldn't act recklessly.
The seller of the Thousand Stupa Tower was a young man of foreign appearance, standing beneath the tower and activating it.
The Thousand Stupa Tower was originally not tall, each stupa only about three inches high, but under the young man's activation, each stupa grew to over ten feet, making the total height of the tower sixty to seventy zhang—a truly astonishing sight. The scripture cylinders spun, and sutras continuously flashed with light, accompanied by majestic Buddhist chants, creating a spectacular scene.
The foreign barbarian spoke in a loud voice, "This is a family heirloom of mine, meant only for a destined person. I come from the grasslands beyond the frontier, a shaman of the Loulan Golden Palace. This treasure was passed down from my ancestors, who once saved an old monk. The monk gifted it to them. I have come to the Yan Kang Kingdom to witness the heroes of this great land and find a destined person for this treasure."
"Senior Brother Yuanjing, is this our Nantuo Temple's supreme treasure?"
A monk quietly asked a handsome young monk beside him. This Senior Brother Yuanjing, though young, was one of Sun Nantuo's direct disciples, holding a high position. He had studied under Sun Nantuo for many years and was thoroughly familiar with the temple's history. He nodded. "It is indeed our Nantuo Temple's supreme treasure, the Thousand Stupa Pagoda! The pagoda is inscribed with the Arhat Nantuo Sutra, and successive abbots have infused it with Buddhist power. It cannot be forged."
Yuanjing's eyes flickered, and he suddenly called out, "You barbarian, this is a treasure of our Nantuo Temple! Return it immediately!"
Qin Mu glanced at him and said, "Monk, this treasure was gifted by a high monk to my family, so it is mine. I only give it to a destined person."
Suddenly, another young monk laughed. "How do you define a destined person?"
Yuanjing looked at him, his heart tightening. This young monk, also handsome, was another of Sun Nantuo's disciples, Monk Yuanfeng. The two had a long-standing grudge over a woman, having clashed covertly many times. Though they maintained a facade of harmony in public, behind the scenes, they had long since fallen out.
Clearly, Yuanfeng planned to obtain the Thousand Stupa Pagoda from this foreign barbarian, earn merit in Sun Nantuo's eyes, gain his favor, monopolize his teacher's affection, and push Yuanjing out.
Qin Mu set down the Thousand Stupa Pagoda and said solemnly, "I come from beyond the frontier. Seeing the splendor of this great land, I am filled with admiration, believing it to be a place of outstanding people and spiritual energy. This Thousand Stupa Tower is no ordinary object. I am willing to use this treasure to test the heroes and champions of this great land. If anyone can defeat me at the same cultivation level, I will gladly offer this treasure."
Meanwhile, Wei Yong and the Duke of Wei left the Duke's residence and arrived outside the Nantuo Detached Palace. The Duke glanced at the scene and shook his head with a smile. "What's there to see? Just some brat from the Loulan Golden Palace looking for trouble with the Nantuo Temple."
His voice was loud, carrying clearly for several streets.
These streets were home to princes and ministers. Hearing the Duke's words, they emerged from their residences to watch from a distance, instantly livening up the scene.
Seeing the growing crowd, the Nantuo Temple monks realized they couldn't simply seize the tower by force. A monk in a yellow robe smiled and said, "So if I defeat you, I can take the Thousand Stupa Pagoda?"
Though the Duke of Wei seemed uninterested, he still called out loudly, "Baldy, he said at the same cultivation level! You can't just ignore the rules! Where's Sun Nantuo? His treasure appears, and he's off lying on some woman's belly again?"
Wei Yong looked around, puzzled, thinking to himself, "How did Brother Qin know there would be something interesting to see here? Where is he?"
Qin Mu said, "If you defeat me, you can take the Thousand Stupa Tower. Though the frontier may not be as prosperous as this great land, our word is as good as gold."
The yellow-robed monk was about to step forward when Yuanjing moved ahead of him, smiling. "I'll take the pagoda! Senior Brother, I am Yuanjing, at the Five Luminaries Realm. May I ask for your guidance?"
Qin Mu said solemnly, "Loulan Golden Palace, Ban Gongcuo, Five Luminaries Realm!"
Yuanjing erupted with aura, activating the Spirit Treasure Immovable Zen Sutra. His body radiated brilliant Buddhist light, and behind him, a phantom of a Spirit Treasure Great Buddha appeared. The great Buddha had a thousand arms, each holding a different treasure: crystal lamps, jade lanterns, bows, arrows, maces, pestles, and various other artifacts.
The great Buddha suddenly merged with Yuanjing and vanished. Yuanjing's body shone with treasure light, and he formed a treasure seal with his hands. Taking a step forward, his hand seal transformed into a Crystal Seal, his palm glowing like crystal as he struck at Qin Mu.
This was the power of the Spirit Treasure Immovable Zen Sutra. This Buddhist technique was known as the Thousand Treasures. When cultivated to the Transcendent Realm, one could form a Thousand Treasure Great Buddha with immense power.
Before reaching the Transcendent Realm, one could transform the thousand treasures into a thousand different hand seals, each with unique power and effect.
Though Yuanjing was only at the Five Luminaries Realm, his cultivation was profound. He had mastered over a hundred of the thousand seals of the Spirit Treasure Immovable Zen Sutra. Combined with the Arhat Body, which made him as tough as vajra and impervious to blades and spears, his defense was also astonishing.
Yuanjing's seal erupted with brilliant treasure light. Around his palm, an area of two to three zhang seemed to form a crystal realm, with Buddhist chants emanating from the light—a truly extraordinary sight.
Qin Mu stood still, then suddenly raised and lowered his hand. With a thunderous boom, the crystal realm, the Spirit Treasure Great Buddha, and the Crystal Seal were all shattered by a single slap. A large pit appeared in the ground, with Yuanjing crushed into a pile of mud inside.
The monks were startled. The Duke of Wei stroked his beard, frowning. "This barbarian's moves are crude, but his cultivation is absurdly strong... What's his name?"
Wei Yong quickly replied, "I think it's Ban Gongcuo."
The Duke muttered to himself, "Something's off. This technique doesn't seem like the Loulan Golden Palace's Venerable Loulan Sutra..."
——Zhai Zhu's rhinitis is acting up again, and he has a cold. His nose is like a faucet, it's frustrating.
The cold is a bit heavy today, so the update will be a bit late.
Zhai Zhu's cold is quite severe, so the update will be delayed. Please forgive me.