Confucian and Taoist scholar

The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the heavens still exuded a majestic and solemn aura.

But a dazzling light shone from the sky, illuminating the entire space.

When everyone came to their senses, they found themselves back in the Garan Temple, without having moved an inch, and even their movements were exactly the same as before they went to that space.

"Hey……"

Qingwan stood there, only to find that her hands were empty; the weapons she had been holding were gone, neatly stored away in their original place.

It felt as if everything that had just happened was a dream.

The crowd looked around and saw that the Buddhist monks who had been killed were still there.

However, they soon discovered that those people had only left behind an empty shell.

A gentle breeze swept by, and in the blink of an eye, those people's bodies, along with their clothes, turned into ashes and scattered.

Among the crowd, Gongyang Ming frowned.

He did not enter that space. What he saw was that the Buddha made a move, and in just a moment, all the monks present vanished into thin air.

This is the scene that most people see, and they are inevitably shocked by the power of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the sky.

Even if it is just a thought, and not a real ancient sage, it is still unmatched.

But then the Buddha's image in the sky slowly withdrew its large hand, slightly raised its eyebrows, and its face became more benevolent.

All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the heavens slightly opened their mouths, and their Buddhist chants resonated far and wide.

This time, not only the area near Mount Garan, but the entire Garan region resounded with Buddhist chants, creating a magnificent spectacle.

The remaining eminent Buddhist monks were all astonished upon hearing this sutra.

This is yet another sacred text they have never heard before.

The chanting of sutras by all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas resonated with the monks, causing their internal Buddhist power to flow more smoothly.

Some eminent monks wanted to memorize the scriptures, but they couldn't remember a single word.

It's like being bathed in a spring breeze, yet you can't grasp it or fully experience its meaning.

The Buddha's light shines throughout the world, and all living beings are bathed in it.

Outside of the Buddhist monastery, strange phenomena have appeared in various Buddhist temples.

In the north of Wei, the raging snowstorm ceased, and the weather gradually cleared.

In other areas where the snow and wind are less intense, signs of spring are already emerging and all things are reviving.

Inside the imperial palace in Luoyang.

The Wei emperor, who was leisurely enjoying himself, was suddenly startled and summoned someone to perform a spell.

Soon, the scene of the sacred land of Garan appeared before Emperor Wei's eyes.

Within the clear image, there is a hazy area, which is where the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest their divine power.

Emperor Wei's eyes shone brightly, and he sensed something. He exclaimed in shock, "It's Buddha! Quickly, take me there!"

Emperor Wei didn't even care about his appearance and hurriedly ordered someone to send him to the temple.

With the help of a powerful sorcerer, Emperor Wei arrived at Mount Garan in just a moment.

Emperor Wei looked up at the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the sky, his eyes filled with shock, and his heart was filled with unease.

He planned to have Yuan Tao challenge the Buddhist sects, but unexpectedly, someone actually summoned all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas...

Emperor Wei's hair was slightly disheveled and his clothes were in disarray, but he had no time to tidy himself up. He stood there respectfully worshipping Buddha, feeling the Buddha's boundless grace.

"My great Wei is destined for prosperity..." Emperor Wei thought with delight.

It should be known that this was a manifestation of the Buddha and other ancient Buddhas, a momentous event unprecedented in the history of the Wei Kingdom.

If this matter were to be publicized, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation throughout the world.

If Buddhism could flourish throughout the world, it would undoubtedly make their Wei Kingdom even more prosperous and powerful.

Regardless of which side invited these Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, it was a good thing for Emperor Wei.

After all, he himself did not personally stand up against the various sects of Buddhism. Even if there were Buddhas invited by people who do not support Mahayana Buddhism, he could still salvage the situation.

If the Buddhas were invited by Yuan Tao's side, things would be much easier to discuss.

The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the heavens chanted Buddhist scriptures, and their voices were incomparably profound.

After a while, the recitation of a true scripture was completed, but the sound of chanting continued, echoing between heaven and earth.

The next moment, Buddha spoke slowly and solemnly.

"Do no evil, do all good, purify your mind... Excellent, excellent!"

After he finished speaking, the Buddha and the other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas transformed into light, illuminating the world.

With piety and reverence, everyone watched as the illusory images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the sky disappeared.

Under the final, colorful light, all living beings were blessed once again.

In Lu Zheng's little world, a seven-colored lotus mark suddenly appeared.

The lotus mark rushed straight towards the Taiping Codex and disappeared into it in the blink of an eye.

This is a gift left to Lu Zheng by all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas before they disappeared: the immense power of heaven and earth, the essence of the Great Dao, capable of forging artifacts and achieving enlightenment...

The entire code of law burst forth with vibrant colors in an instant, only to quickly lose its brilliance.

An invisible, powerful aura rippled out and vanished in a flash.

Lu Zheng clearly felt that the quality of the Taiping Codex had greatly improved, and it was approaching the level of a seventh-realm Dao-seeking artifact.

The Legalist school's methods ultimately failed to achieve the Great Way.

Even the Buddha's true intention could not elevate this scripture directly to the level of a Dao artifact; it was not as simple as creating a Buddhist scripture.

What this Taiping Code will ultimately become depends on whether Lu Zheng can establish his principles in this world.

Beside her, Qingwan touched her brow.

She could sense that a Buddhist scripture had been added to her literary palace.

This is the very scripture that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas just recited—a Buddhist scripture that has long been lost to the world. It can complement the scripture annotated by Lu Zheng and help those in the Buddhist community with their practice.

She observed clearly just now that many people couldn't even memorize the scriptures.

From now on, if Buddhists want to study this sutra, she will be the only one with a copy.

"hey-hey……"

Qingwan grinned. Without a doubt, she and Lu Zheng had a certain degree of control over how Buddhism would develop in the future.

In other words, the two of them will become the supervisors of Buddhism in the State of Wei.

Qingwan felt that Yuan Tao and his people probably never expected that they would have such great power.

Qingyi raised her little hand and looked at it; a lotus mark was faintly visible on the back of her hand.

She felt like she had become much stronger than before...

In the Buddhist temple on the other side, Yuan Tao discovered that the scriptures that had just disappeared had returned to his hands.

Yuan Tao was overjoyed, and then, in front of everyone, he put the scriptures away again.

Seeing this scene, none of those present dared to harbor any ill intentions. In their eyes, the Crown Prince of Wei was able to summon all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with a single sutra, even the Buddha himself had manifested his divine power. To try and snatch the sutra from the other side would be a death sentence, requiring more than a hundred lives.

"Excellent! The Buddha has manifested! The true lineage of Buddhism has appeared in the world! The Great Wei Dynasty is destined to rise..."

A hearty laugh drifted over.

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man dressed in thin clothes striding towards the main hall of the temple.

Someone had already recognized the middle-aged man and quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty..."

"His Majesty!"

"See Your Majesty!"

……

When the people around saw Emperor Wei, they all bowed and greeted him.

When Yuan Tao saw Emperor Wei approaching, he quickly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"

At this moment, Emperor Wei walked briskly and looked radiant.

He had just learned the whole story from his entourage.

It was Yuan Tao who used the true scriptures to invite the Buddha to manifest his divine power, thereby eliminating some Buddhist monks in order to intimidate other Buddhist sects.

Had he known this would happen, Emperor Wei felt he should have personally presided over the Wuzhe Assembly; he had truly missed the best opportunity.

However, it's obviously too late to regret it now.

Emperor Wei smiled and said, "Very good, very good, Yuan Tao, you truly are my good crown prince. I knew that entrusting this matter to you would surely gain the approval of Buddha and the ancient Buddhas and Bodhisattvas..."

Emperor Wei showered Yuan Tao with praise.

A scene of a loving father and filial son.

Emperor Wei then said, "You will continue to preside over the Unobstructed Assembly. I will pay my respects to all the Buddhas here."

Upon hearing this, the crowd decided it was not appropriate to linger there. They gave the main hall to Emperor Wei and thoughtfully closed all the doors.

Yuan Tao instructed Ku Xin and a few others to continue holding the Wuzhe Assembly, and to have them continue to spread Mahayana Buddhism, explain the true scriptures and the newly established precepts.

Afterwards, Yuan Tao led a group to invite representatives from various Buddhist sects and temples to another location to discuss matters.

Now that all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have departed, it is time for the Wei court and the Buddhist community to truly sit down and negotiate various matters.

At this point, Yuan Tao was full of confidence and could make many demands in order to benefit the court and the people and reduce these sectarian temples.

As for how far Yuan Tao can negotiate and how much concession the Buddhist sect can make, Lu Zheng can't help for the time being; he should just wait for the outcome.

Lu Zheng and his group left the Garan Temple, making room for those who still wanted to discuss Buddhist scriptures.

Just as they left the temple, a figure hurried over.

"Oh ho, you guys are here too!"

Qingwan glanced sideways, her eyes lighting up, and said with a smile, "Daoist Yunxiao, you've actually come too! Aren't you compiling scriptures in Shu?"

Yun Xiao leaned closer and whispered, "Let's go, let's talk over there..."

The group arrived at the edge of a grove of trees, where no one was around.

Yun Xiao waved his whisk, blocking others from prying eyes, and then said, "I was originally compiling scriptures in Furong City, but my junior brother foresaw something happening in Wei and sent me here to take a look..."

"I'm really lucky. I just arrived at the temple and I've already witnessed the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifesting. Tsk tsk tsk, nothing like this has ever happened before."

Yun Xiao arrived just in time, and as soon as he reached Mount Garan, he witnessed the scene of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifesting, which truly surprised him.

At that time, he was thinking that this seemed to be the first time such a situation had occurred in the Buddhist community of Wei.

Yun Xiao smiled broadly and said leisurely, "It's a pity that my junior brothers didn't come. What a loss! Listening to the Buddha and the others preach just now has given me some enlightenment. It was definitely worth the trip. Hehe, you guys must have gained some insights too, right?"

Qingwan nodded, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and said, "A little bit."

Yun Xiao said, "A little? If your cultivation level were higher, you might gain more. But don't be greedy. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity; it's good enough to gain something..."

Yun Xiao offered words of comfort, saying that encountering such a scene was a great opportunity, and whatever the gains were, it was something to be happy about.

Qingwan nodded in response, "That makes sense."

Yun Xiao stroked his beard and sighed, "Speaking of which, the chanting of scriptures by the Buddhas is truly extraordinary! I listened for a while just now, and it felt incredibly profound, as if I could reach out and touch the Great Dao—it's truly miraculous! However, I couldn't remember a single word of what the Buddhas were chanting; I forgot it as soon as I heard it. I reckon it's the supreme scripture of Buddhism, not just anyone is qualified to memorize it..."

Qingwan couldn't help but ask, "Do you still want to hear that scripture?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao shook his head and said, "Forget it. Listening to too many Buddhist scriptures like that might affect my Taoist cultivation..."

Yun Xiao paused, looking somewhat worried, and said, "Alas, if His Majesty knew that Buddhism had produced a true scripture, and that the Buddha himself had appeared with ancient Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, he would definitely urge us to speed up the writing of the scripture."

The thought of his important mission immediately made Yun Xiao feel worried again.

I thought I was just taking some time to see what was going on in Wei, but I did see it, and it was quite a spectacle, even influencing the entire world and the Daoist sect to some extent.

Lu Zheng asked, "Daoist priests, how much of your scripture writing is complete now?"

A hint of emotion flashed in Yun Xiao's eyes as he whispered, "It was only finalized last month that we would compile it based on your fragment of the Taiping Jing."

Hearing this, Qingwan's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed, "What? Wasn't this already confirmed?"

Yun Xiao said quietly, "In the beginning, only most people agreed, but later more Taoist masters were gathered, and everyone kept arguing and discussing, so it dragged on until now... It was Empress Furong who made the final decision, otherwise there would still be more debate."

Qingwan couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You guys are really slow. How much time has passed and you still haven't started making things up?"

Yun Xiao spread his hands helplessly and said, "You can't blame me."

He consistently supported the compilation and supplementation of the Taiping Jing, striving to complete the task assigned by the Shu Emperor as soon as possible.

As a result, some people insisted on arguing endlessly and held differing opinions.

Qingwan shook her head and sighed, "When a snow mountain collapses, no snowflake is innocent."

"Uh……"

Yun Xiao's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but say, "What kind of analogy is that? It can't be that bad, can it? An avalanche has already happened."

Qingwan, with her hands behind her back, said, "Even Buddhism has produced a true scripture, and you haven't even managed to squeeze out a single word... If I had known, I should have had Lu Zheng write one out directly and then have him go and pay homage to the Taoist patriarch. Maybe that would have been faster?"

Qingwan couldn't help but look at Lu Zheng and blink.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I don't have that much ability."

The situations in Taoism and Buddhism are quite different.

The reason he was able to annotate the true Buddhist scriptures and attract the Buddha's true intentions was mainly because the Buddhist community was in a state of utter corruption and needed someone to step forward and correct its ways.

The Taoist sects are generally more orthodox; at least some righteous sects exist, and some people can even invoke the thoughts of ancient Taoist sages.

Compiling scriptures is no easy task, and as for annotating scriptures, the classic commentaries currently circulating in the Taoist community are not bad either.

Even if Lu Zheng were to annotate any classic, he might not be able to do it any better.

He was able to use his brain to compile some fragments of the Taiping Jing, which was already the limit of his abilities at the time.

Even if he were to write something now, it wouldn't make much difference.

Lu Zheng doesn't have much energy to focus on this kind of thing right now. He has already laid a foundation, so it's better to let the Taoist masters continue to brainstorm and compile scriptures.

Yun Xiao listened to Qing Wan's words, assuming she was joking, and didn't think much of their meaning. (End of Chapter)