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Chapter 235: The Power of the Dragon and the Elephant, Action at Night

Night falls in the township on the edge of the city.

The fields, woods, and sparse houses were all hidden in the silent darkness.

Only a few lights were dimly visible, waiting for people returning home at night.

In a large Buddhist temple, prayer flags are fluttering and umbrellas are hanging high.

On the walls around, colorful thangkas are eye-catching, painted with strange and mysterious religious patterns, telling ancient Buddhist stories.

At this time, the evening class was at its climax, with the sounds of bells and drums roaring and shaking the heart.

Hundreds of believers, lay Buddhists, and lamas sit in an orderly circle around the towering altar in the center, forming a solemn and sacred mandala for practice.

Their faces looked pious and they were muttering to themselves. The sound of their chanting lingered and echoed in the hall, as if they were whispering to the statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Sitting on the altar was a middle-aged lama who was about forty years old.

He was wearing a black and red monk's robe with gold embroidered edges on the collar and cuffs, showing a sense of low-key luxury.

His cheeks looked thin and angular, and a pair of tortoise-shell-rimmed glasses rested on his high nose bridge, adding a touch of elegance to his temperament, and two carefully trimmed mustaches gave him a touch of majesty.

At this moment, his eyes were slightly closed, and he was sitting in a standard cross-legged position. His body was as steady as a mountain, as if he had merged into one with the altar.

Place your hands in front of your abdomen with your fingertips lightly touching.

As the scriptures were chanted, the air around seemed to fluctuate slightly, leading the rhythm of Sanskrit sounds, immersing the entire Buddhist hall in a solemn and peaceful atmosphere of practice.

At the same time, the chanting beneath the altar became more and more powerful, like a surging river, surging with endless power of faith.

Beads of sweat gradually appeared on the foreheads of lay Buddhists and monks, but their eyes became more and more determined, and under the light, their persistent belief in seeking Buddha's help sparkled.

The Buddhist chanting passed through the carved doors and windows of the temple, drifted towards the mountains and forests outside the temple, startled a few roosting birds, and then blended into the boundless night.

At this time, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door.

There was a slight "creaking" sound.

Two lamas in black robes hurried in and looked directly at the lama sitting high on the altar.

They paused slightly, as if they had something important to report but were afraid of disturbing this sacred practice.

Then he tiptoed to an empty seat and sat down, clasped his hands together, chanted scriptures with everyone else, and quickly joined the evening class.

Before I knew it, the night had deepened, the sound of chanting faded, and the evening class was coming to an end.

The lay people and monks slowly stood up, put their hands together, and bowed deeply to the presiding officer on the altar to express their gratitude for this day of practice.

Afterwards, they exited the hall in an orderly manner and disappeared into the corridor shrouded in darkness.

Only the slightly swaying oil lamp and three figures were left.

The lama sitting on the altar slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the two people who had come in before, and opened his lips slightly:
"Zaxi, Doji, are you back?"

"Your Majesty."

The two lamas put their hands together, bowed their heads, and responded with respectful tones.

"How was it this time out?"

Looking at the two people's empty hands, the Venerable couldn't help but frowned: "Where is the golden benba bottle?"

Hearing the question from the venerable, Tashi, who was leading the group, stepped forward, with a slightly guilty look on his face, and reported:

"Today, disciples and others followed the order of the Venerable to search for the whereabouts of the holy object. During the process, we encountered some twists and turns, but fortunately, we finally fulfilled our mission and obtained a key piece of information."

Seeing that the disciple under his seat was evasive in his words and obviously had not completed the task as expected, the Venerable showed a trace of displeasure on his face and said in a deep voice:

"Explain it to me in detail."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhaxi swallowed his saliva and chose to report truthfully:
"According to your prediction, two of our disciples went to Liuli Old Street where the holy object once appeared. After asking around, we found an antique dealer named Xu Sanduo. He recently obtained something from the Xishan ancient tomb, which is suspected to be the golden Benba bottle we are looking for, so we went to investigate."

"After entering the store, we didn't try to beat around the bush and directly told the owner our intentions. We thought that he was just an ordinary businessman and would cooperate with us after seeing our preparations."

"But Xu Sanduo played dumb and refused to tell the truth. I was anxious and resorted to coercion to make him know how powerful I was and surrender."

"Who knew that there was a powerful character in the store at this time, who caught us off guard..."

"Yes."

At this point, the impatient Doji immediately took over the conversation:
"Your Excellency, that man is very skilled in martial arts. He subdued Zhaxi with one move. His tactics were very fierce."

"I was standing guard at the door, but it was too late for me to help. He even knocked me down. I was about to use my ability to deal with him, but Senior Brother Zhaxi stopped me..."

Upon hearing this, the Venerable frowned even tighter, his eyes full of doubts:

"Can I subdue both of you just by using martial arts?"

Seeing this, Zhaxi quickly added:

"Your Excellency, that man not only has exquisite martial arts moves, but also has astonishing strength. If calculated according to the level of the Dragon Elephant Prajnaparamita, he has reached at least the eighth level. I have now cultivated to the fifth level. Compared with him, there is a huge difference between us. I have no power to fight back."

He observed the opponent's words and expressions while explaining carefully to prove that it was not his fault that he was incompetent, but that his opponent was too strong and beyond his ability.

The Venerable's eyes narrowed slightly, and he wondered secretly when such a powerful figure appeared in the Dongdu martial arts world.

You should know that the Dragon Elephant Prajnaparamita Kung Fu is the supreme guardian skill of Tantric Buddhism, which is divided into thirteen levels.

This skill is fierce and powerful, extremely domineering, and its function is very simple, which is to enhance the punching power, as the saying goes, one force can defeat ten skills.

Every time one cultivates a level of Dragon-Elephant Prajnaparamita, one possesses the power of a dragon and an elephant, that is, the power of a giant python plus an adult elephant, roughly estimated to be around three tons.

If one practices to the eighth level, the impact force of a punch can reach at least twenty tons, and the destructive power is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

In this technological age where spiritual energy is scarce, being able to reach this level by relying solely on physical strength can already make one a local hero.

Even in the Tantric Buddhism which pursues the indestructibility of the physical body, there are only a handful of such people.

The Venerable thought about it, nodded slightly, and chose to trust Tashi's judgment, and then asked again:
"Do you know his origins? Could he be a member of another faction that is preparing to fight for the holy relic?"

"Forgive me for my incompetence. We were at a disadvantage at the time and had no ability to investigate its origins in detail."

Zhaxi's face was filled with shame, and he continued:

“However, it was precisely because of this person’s help in the interrogation that we learned from Xu Sanduo that the Golden Benba Bottle had fallen into the hands of the Lu family.”

"The Lu family?"

Upon hearing this, the Venerable narrowed his eyes slightly behind his lenses, as if he was considering the credibility of the words.

Although he had only been in Dongdu for less than a year, he had already heard of this old chaebol family.

The Lu family has extensive influence in both the black and white worlds, and they have connections everywhere. If they really get the Golden Benba Bottle and want to snatch it away from them again, there will be a lot of variables later.

Tashi and Doji stood where they were, not daring to move. They lowered their heads and held their breath, quietly waiting for further instructions from the Venerable.

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the flickering candlelight. The light and shadows danced on the faces of the three people, reflecting expressions that were either solemn or nervous.

After a long while, the Venerable asked again:
"What happened after that? Did you hear any more news?"

Tashi's heart trembled, knowing that the Venerable wanted to ask him whether he had verified the situation.

So he lowered his head and replied respectfully:
"On the way back, the two disciples went to find an informant they knew and found out that the Lu family's recent actions were indeed unusual. It seemed that they were being secretly targeted by several other forces." "Also, I got a message from an underground black market trading point. Someone secretly leaked that the collector of the Golden Benba Bottle planned to send it to the annual International Shadow Auction."

“So, I think it’s very likely that the Golden Benba Bottle has fallen into the hands of the Lu family.”

Doji also stepped forward and said anxiously:

"Your Excellency, this golden Bamba bottle should have belonged to our Black Cult. We must not allow it to flow into the auction. It would be a loss of face for us. If the Cult Master learns of this news, I'm afraid he will blame us."

The Venerable nodded slightly, with a gleam of light in his eyes:
"The Lu family... Humph, they are a chaebol family that has always had connections in the East Capital. But this time they actually leaked the news. I'm afraid they have ulterior motives..."

He murmured to himself, tapping the altar beneath his seat with his fingers, as if thinking of a strategy.

After a moment, he slowly spoke:
"Since a year ago, I was demoted to the Eastern Capital to preach. Although I have experienced hardships, I have also been fortunate to receive the call of the Lord."

"Now I have received news of the birth of the Golden Benba Bottle. It seems that God is blessing me. If I can seize this holy object and bring it back, it will surely help me regain my foothold in the church. When I return to the Snow Region in the future, I may even be able to use this merit to compete for the position of Dharma King!"

The Venerable stood up, his tall figure looking even more majestic in the candlelight.

"The Golden Benba Bottle is related to the inheritance of the Dharma lineage. It is the key to opening many rituals and reviving the prestige of the Black Sect. I am determined to obtain it. Since all forces have heard the news and made moves, we cannot just sit there and wait for death."

The venerable glanced at the two of them fiercely and then said:
"Zaxi, Duoji, you should continue to pay attention to the movements of all parties in the next few days, especially keep a close eye on the Lu family. Report back immediately when you have any news. When the time is right, we will take action. Even if it is a dangerous place, we must bring the Golden Benba Bottle back to the temple."

"As long as you work faithfully, I will not treat you unfairly. When I ascend the throne of Dharma King in the future, you two will be my left and right protectors."

"As you command, Your Excellency!"

Tashi and Doji responded in unison, clasping their hands together with fiery intent in their eyes.

The Venerable waved his hand:

"Go down and get ready."

The two men bowed and left, and silence returned to the hall.

Only the Venerable was standing on the altar, staring at the night scene outside the window, as if he was still thinking about something.

....................................

hotel room.

The crystal chandelier is like an upside-down tree of stars, casting a curtain of brilliant light.

The combined stereo system plays soothing classical music, like the gentle flow of a stream.

"Creak" sound.

The heavy and delicate glass door of the bathroom was pushed open, and the misty water vapor drifted out, carrying the comfort after bathing.

Fang Cheng was barefoot, wearing only a bath towel, revealing his firm and well-defined chest muscles.

Her hair was wet, with a few strands falling in front of her forehead, adding a touch of laziness and casualness.

The lighting in the room was adjusted to a perfect warm yellow color, which was neither glaring nor dazzling, creating a cozy and luxurious atmosphere.

The melodious melody slowly echoes in my ears, as if I were in a quiet music hall.

Fang Cheng walked towards the window, and the electric curtains slowly slid open to both sides, revealing an entire floor-to-ceiling window.

The lush scenery of the hotel garden greets you, and the colorful flowers seem to be covered with a layer of light gauze.

Looking from afar, Yulong Lake is like a huge mirror, emitting fine silver light, embracing the stars in the sky and the hazy moonlight.

Such poetic scenery is so refreshing to see.

After being intoxicated for a while, Fang Cheng turned around and his eyes fell on the dining car.

The waiter has delivered the midnight snack we ordered earlier.

Some of the steaks had just come out of the pot, still sizzling with steam and filled with the aroma of meat.

Fang Chengxin pinched a piece and stuffed it directly into his mouth.

His sharp teeth cut into the steak, and the gravy instantly burst in his mouth. He couldn't help but chew even harder, and his cheeks bulged.

He swallowed it in two or three gulps and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Fang Cheng then picked up a bottle of red wine worth thousands of yuan, uncorked it, and gulped it down like mineral water.

After drinking a lot, he wiped his lips and hummed comfortably:
“This is how you enjoy life…”

It seems like it would be really nice to have money in the future and book a room in a hotel for the whole year.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Fang Cheng couldn't help but smile at himself.

I used to say that my uncle made a fortune and spent money lavishly, but now I have become like that too.

Perhaps it proves the saying that those who are close to vermilion will be red, and those who are close to ink will be black.

But money should be spent once you earn it. Being a miser is never a good thing.

Fang Cheng thought to himself that after he successfully sold those antiques, he could buy a car for transportation.

Having a car makes it more convenient to go to work or go out for errands, and you can also take the opportunity to practice your driving skills, killing two birds with one stone.

But this matter cannot be rushed, it will take at least a week or two.

When he thought of antiques, Fang Cheng's expression became a little more serious.

After what happened yesterday afternoon, he suggested that Xu Sanduo temporarily close the shop and stay out of the spotlight.

After all, when the two lamas were communicating in the language of the Snowy Plateau, Fang Cheng could hear it clearly, and it seemed that there was a big man named Venerable behind them.

The origin of the Jinbabenping is extraordinary, and it must involve many forces.

Once a small antique dealer like Xu Sanduo gets involved in this, he will probably be swallowed up to his bones.

Even Fang Cheng himself, faced with such a complicated situation, could not guarantee that he would be able to escape unscathed.

While thinking, Fang Cheng's eyes looking out the floor-to-ceiling window suddenly froze, as if his attention was attracted by something.

But outside the hotel gate, I saw my uncle walking hurriedly towards a black business car parked not far away.

Through the car window glass, you can vaguely see the people sitting inside, both men and women, with different appearances.

They were either sitting upright or whispering to each other, exuding a sense of mystery.

One of them was an old man wearing round-frame glasses, and he seemed to be the mysterious customer who appeared in Master Lin’s shop a few days ago.

Fang Cheng frowned slightly.

Even though we had only met once, I would never make a mistake with my photographic memory.

Could they be my uncle’s business partners?
Just as I was secretly speculating, I heard a low and powerful engine sound again.

Fang Cheng turned his head and saw a red sports car with smooth lines coming into view.

The beautiful woman driving this coupe is bright and charming, with gentle eyes. It is Lin Chuqiao.

She was seen driving her car, following the business car slowly towards Huxi Road, and soon disappeared into the night.

(End of this chapter)