Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 81 Kumārajīva coughs up blood again...

"May I ask Master Jieyi, how does one practice Chan meditation?"

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk is sitting in meditation."

"If sitting meditation can lead to Zen practice, then wouldn't everyone in the world who sits down be able to become a Buddha?"

“This humble monk, Jiechen, will answer this question. Zen practice is present in all aspects of life. You can practice Zen while sitting in meditation, and you can also practice Zen while cleaning. The Buddha is present in all things.”

“Master Jiechen, you are mistaken. I remember the Sixth Patriarch of Zen said, ‘Originally there is nothing, so where can dust settle?’ Since it is a pure place, why do we need to sweep away the dust?”

"This humble monk, Jie Xian, answers this question precisely because someone cleans the place, making the Buddhist temple a pure land. It is only by entering the monastery that one can be separated from the secular world."

"Well said. The world is full of troubles. No matter how much you try to clean your sanctuary, it will never be truly clean. The hustle and bustle of the world is only a wall away from you. Can you really isolate yourself from it?"

Bodhidharma fought against three opponents and held his own.

Li Zhaoting covered his mouth and chuckled softly.

If the atmosphere weren't so serious, Li Zhaoting would have loved to burst out laughing. At this moment, Li Zhaoting completely understood Bao Butong; the acupoint for speech was indeed very convenient.

Why are you laughing, benefactor?

“I laugh at Jieyi for being reckless and lacking in wisdom. Bodhidharma has neither the broad mind of Bodhidharma nor the wisdom of sudden enlightenment. He is truly ridiculous.”

A group of monks were debating scriptures. I thought I would hear lofty discussions and see golden lotuses springing from the ground, but it turned out to be just nonsense. I didn't want to laugh, but I couldn't help but laugh.

Were you speaking human language just now?

All sentient beings can attain Buddhahood.

Why can't a person who meditates attain Buddhahood?

Simply calm your mind, suppress your desires, sit down and recite Buddhist scriptures, and you will take the first step toward becoming a Buddha.

The Buddhist temple is a place of purity, and what is pure is the mind.

In this life, we cannot live without grains and daily necessities. What we need to purify is our inner self, and what we need to clean is our worldly dwelling. Since we are in this world, why try to escape?

How can one attain Buddhahood without entering the mortal world?
Since you are obsessed with the idea of ​​becoming a Buddha, it means that your heart is mixed with desires and your mind is impure. How can you become a Buddha?
What is pure and what is impure?

What's this about an empty door or not?

What do you mean by "the world is just a wall away"?
If there is truly "nothingness in the beginning," why bother about purity or the inner or outer gate? I'm tired of hearing all this rambling on.

Why not just start fighting!
I think this is more interesting.

Li Zhaoting signaled to both sides that they could begin.

Jieyi rubbed his bald head.

Damo Zhi looked completely bewildered.

Jie Xian stood up and clenched his fists.

In debating scriptures, one should be warned against being eloquent.

He's incredibly good at fighting.

The Great Xiangguo Temple has thirty-six unique skills, similar to the seventy-two unique skills of Shaolin. Jie Xian has mastered them all, making him three or four levels better than the thirteen unique skills of Shaolin.

Jie Xian was also the only monk besides the abbot who was qualified to learn the "Mahavairocana Mantra".

The Great Sun Tathagata Mantra requires extremely high spiritual attainment.

Just like the stone carvings at Lingjiu Palace.

If your skills are insufficient, the more you watch, the more dangerous it becomes.

It's not that I'm being overly protective of my own knowledge, nor that I'm greedy for rare and precious skills, but rather that the entry requirements are too high. If Yan Hui were to pass on the Mahavairocana Mantra to others, it would be tantamount to murder for money.

Master Yan Hui did not wish to fight, but before Li Zhaoting could finish speaking, Kumārajīva immediately spoke up: "What Young Master Li said makes great sense. We are clumsy with words, and even if we debate for three days and three nights, we will not be able to convince the other party. Why not use martial arts to verify the Buddha's teachings? Please guide this humble monk, Master."

Kumārajīva lowered his head and looked respectful.

This was Kumārajīva's hobby.

A low-key and humble way of showing off.

They always address the other person with an elevating status.

Referring to oneself always lowers one's status.

Use the most humble, polite, and respectful words to utter the most arrogant and domineering remarks.

In some ways, Kumārajīva's hobbies are very similar to online short dramas, with the politeness of the first eighty episodes culminating in the explosion of the final episode.

The more humble the tone, the more aggressive the pretentiousness.

His domineering aura erupted like a tsunami.

Bai Yutang asked in a low voice, "Master, the sect rules forbid us from betraying our country and turning against our masters. Why did you speak up for those two foreign monks just now? Master Yanhui's face turned green."

Feng Suzhen explained: "Bodhidharma and Kumārajīva were both masters of debate. If it came to debating Buddhist teachings, unless Master Yanhui himself stepped in, none of the monks in the temple could out-argue them. Your master seized on the loophole in their language and forcibly reversed the situation, turning the debate into a fight. Although Kumārajīva was highly skilled in martial arts, he could not defeat Master Jiexian."

"What if they don't fall for it?"

"Your master will ask his friends for help."

Feng Suzhen rolled her eyes at Li Zhaoting.

If Kumārajīva insists on debating, Li Zhaoting will definitely arrange a meeting in three to five days, and in the meantime, he will quickly summon Tang Zhuquan and then leave immediately.

Let Tang Zhuquan and Kumārajīva debate!
Tang Zhuquan naturally disliked anything with words, knew nothing about Buddhism, and was best at arguing and bickering. The two of them would talk at cross purposes, and it was all a matter of whose voice was stronger.

Kumārajīva clearly had a sense of shame.

Tang Zhuquan has a maximum of three chances to speak.

Then they can have a martial arts contest to determine the winner.

In fact, in a world where martial arts are at their peak, debate is meaningless; what difference does it make whether you win or lose?
Ultimately, it all comes down to martial arts skills.

I probably can't win an argument with you.

However, I can draw my sword and kill you.

The Great Chess Master of the Han Dynasty, may your glory live on forever!
Kumārajīva understood this principle very well. He knew that Li Zhaoting would not give him a chance to argue. If he dared to say no, Li Zhaoting would immediately draw his sword and kill him.

Kumārajīva was not afraid of Li Zhaoting, but if he and Li Zhaoting were to both be severely injured, how could he steal the secret manual?

Many thoughts flashed through my mind.

The optimal solution is to agree to the martial arts contest, following Li Zhaoting's lead, to test the strength of the Great Xiangguo Temple. If its strength is too great, Kumārajīva can temporarily avoid a direct confrontation.

When he took Duan Yu to Huanshi Water Pavilion, they accidentally ended up at Mantuo Villa. In Langhuan Jade Cave, Kumārajīva found the Xiaoyao Sect's ultimate skill, "Xiao Wuxiang Gong".

The Lesser Formless Skill is a unique Taoist art, the essence of which lies in its lack of form and appearance, leaving no trace, being small and without form.

This concept can be explained as follows: if an object is broken down into infinitesimal sizes, into elementary particles, these elementary particles can form all things in the universe.

With the Lesser Formless Skill as its foundation, it can activate the unique skills of various schools and sects. Kumārajīva was overjoyed and diligently practiced the Lesser Formless Skill. With this skill, he could unleash the Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques. Not only was the power greater than before, but the risk of going into demonic possession was also reduced. Most of the hidden injuries accumulated in his body were healed.

The extraordinary skills that he dared not practice, refine, or haphazardly attempt in the past have now all been mastered.

Kumārajīva was very confident in his martial arts skills.

Jie Xian stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this humble monk is clumsy with words and not good at debate, which may have made you laugh. Fortunately, I am proficient in a few martial arts styles, so please give me some pointers, Your Majesty." "It should be the master who gives pointers to this humble monk."

"Your Majesty is too kind. Please make your move."

Jie Xian held his left hand upright and his right hand in a fist.

Kumārajīva raised his hand and unleashed a powerful Vajra Fist towards Śīlabhadra's vital chest and abdomen. His kasaya billowed as true energy filled its surface, transforming it into a spherical shape.

The Robe Subduing Demon Skill!
Essentially, it's a kind of "sleeve skill".

This method requires an extremely high level of foundation, but once mastered, a casual flick of the wrist can unleash tremendous power. For senior masters, it is an essential skill for showing off.

The most suitable weapon for this method is a cloak.

Monks rarely wear cloaks, using their robes as weapons, hence the name "Robe Subduing Demon Skill".

With his keen eyesight, Jie Xian immediately recognized that Kumārajīva was using a Shaolin martial art. Jie Xian had previously sparred with the Southern Shaolin monks as a representative, and was familiar with the unique skills of all thirty-six branches of the Southern Shaolin, as well as the Shaolin sect itself. He raised his hand and unleashed a palm strike, effortlessly deflecting the powerful punch.

Kumārajīva's robe fluttered as he used it to cover his hands as he unleashed a series of rapid and lightning-fast attacks, as if he had seven or eight arms, instantly unleashing seven ultimate techniques.

Jie Xian remained calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient. He used only his left hand to defend himself. No matter how many variations Kumārajīva made, no matter how strong the wind howled when he attacked, as long as he delivered his palm force, Kumārajīva would inevitably change his move. He could break through all his moves with a single palm strike.

This palm strike is not a knife-cutting or axe-carving technique, nor is it a forceful attack with a spear or halberd. Instead, it uses minimal force to deflect a great weight, employing only gentle techniques with a unique Buddhist softness.

Like a Buddha's lamp, like Buddha's light.

It is gentle yet resilient.

Compassion manifests in resilience.

The Great Compassion Palm!
The unique skill created by Master Liaojie, a high-ranking monk of the "Liao" generation at Daxiangguo Temple, possesses both the compassion to save all people and the fierce wrath of a Vajra, making it a rare and invaluable skill.

Kumārajīva was surprised. Although he had not used his full strength, he had used more than a dozen special techniques in a row, but he had not been able to force his opponent to retreat even half a step, nor could he force his opponent to defend himself with both hands. Jie Xian was far too powerful.

Kumārajīva was unaware that Śīlabhadra's martial arts skills were consistently among the top five at the Daxiangguo Temple, and his actual combat strength was among the top three.

Master Yanhui, along with those old monks of the "Liao" generation, possessed more profound skills and richer combat experience than Jiexian. They even created their own martial arts techniques that suited them. However, they were old and their bodies were declining.

If they were ten years younger, Jie Xian could at most take one of them down with him. But there are no ifs. Time is the most ruthless blade. Even with the might of a tyrant, time will eventually erode him and leave him bedridden.

Battles require the right timing, location, and people.

For a Buddhist temple, which branch has the most combat experience? The Arhat Hall? The Bodhidharma Hall? These branches specialize in martial arts, but their combat experience may not be extensive.

The most experienced are those in the monastic college.

Only the monastic monastery was a place of constant fighting.

The goal of the Disciplinary Academy is for all disciples.

We must hold ourselves to the highest standards and ensure that no matter who makes a mistake, the disciplinary court can take action.

Coincidentally, Jie Xian was the head of the Vinaya Academy.

What's even more unexpected is that Jie Xian actually became a monk to avoid trouble. He had committed a murder in his early years and originally wanted to avoid it for a while, but later he sincerely converted to Buddhism.

Compared to other disciples, Jie Xian possesses a ruthlessness rarely seen among Buddhist disciples. The more intense the battle, the calmer his mind becomes, allowing him to observe the enemy's martial arts techniques with focused attention.

If Kumārajīva used esoteric Buddhist techniques, Jīvaṇā would likely not understand them. But if Kumārajīva used Shaolin skills to show off, since everyone here is a Zen Buddhist, how could Jīvaṇā not understand them?
Kumārajīva unleashed a series of ingenious moves, including the Shadowless Kick, the Leaf Finger, the Vajra Fist, the Thousand-Leaf Tathāgata Hand, the Flower-Picking Finger, and the Maha Finger.

The dazzling skills left people speechless.

Kumārajīva had a dignified and solemn appearance, clearly a high-ranking Buddhist monk. When he unleashed his full power, palm prints and leg shadows appeared in all directions, as if he were a thousand-armed Buddha.

At the height of the battle, Kumārajīva opened and closed his hands, unleashing the Prajñā Palm, the number one divine palm of Shaolin. The palm wind howled, seemingly there yet not there, and the power of the palm had already dissipated into the void.

As the number one palm technique of Shaolin, the Prajna Palm's moves are not particularly sophisticated; they are all simple and unrefined. Its essence lies in Prajna wisdom and in its endless pursuit of knowledge.

There's no end to learning the Prajna Palm technique.

The more one practices, the purer one's inner energy becomes; the stronger one's palm strikes become; and the more one practices, the more refined one's techniques become. There is no need for diligent study and hard work; one relies entirely on one's own understanding of Buddhist teachings, which is in complete harmony with the Zen philosophy.

Recognize your own mind, see your own nature, and you will become a Buddha.

The Prajna Buddhist teachings emphasize emptiness. When the Prajna Palm technique reaches its final move, "utter emptiness," it is neither empty nor non-empty. The palm force dissolves into nothingness, without form, sensation, perception, volition, or consciousness. Form is emptiness, and so are sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental objects. The palm force is emptiness, and emptiness is the palm force.

Kumārajīva was a high-ranking monk of the Esoteric School. After mastering the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin, he also had a deep understanding of Zen Buddhism. He was highly intelligent, his heart was clouded, but his mind was not chaotic.

Even the Sweeping Monk himself admitted that Kumārajīva was well-versed in Buddhist teachings, had a clear memory and discernment, was well-versed in classical texts, and could eloquently debate without hindrance. His basic knowledge was more solid than anyone else's.

It's just that too many distracting thoughts lead to obsession and demonic possession.

In terms of martial arts, Kumārajīva could easily comprehend all the moves of the Prajñā Palm, but he did not know how to perform the last move, and he could not get the hang of it despite his great efforts.

Kumārajīva comprehended the concept of emptiness that is not emptiness, and his palm strike surpassed that of 99% of the Shaolin monks. However, it was utterly impossible for him to comprehend the ultimate state of complete emptiness.

Seeing that Kumārajīva had used the Prajñā Palm, Jīva dared not be careless. He used both hands at the same time, his left hand with the Great Compassion Palm and his right hand with the Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands, to grab Kumārajīva's throat.

In an instant, the attack shifted from ranged to close combat.

Close-quarters combat, every move is dangerous.

Because the bodies are pressed so tightly together, some moves only have a three-inch space between them. When grappling, only the fingertip can move, making it extremely dangerous.

Four arms were intertwined, four hands were clenched into dragon claws, the two men's finger strength clashed, neither able to subdue the other. The floor tiles beneath their feet suddenly cracked. Suddenly, Jie Xian's little finger twitched slightly, using a half-inch point to strike Kumārajīva's wrist pulse point. Kumārajīva couldn't dodge in time, and the pulse point was lightly touched by the finger strength, causing his arm to immediately become sore, numb and weak.

If Jie Xian had malicious intentions, he could easily twist Kumārajīva's arms into a pretzel by using his finger strength to flip them upwards, but he obviously wouldn't do that.

Jie Xian took a half step back, stopping short of making a direct confrontation.

"Amitabha, the Wisdom King has great skill."

"The Great Xiangguo Temple is full of hidden talents, and this humble monk is no match for Master Jiexian. I have lost this battle."

Kumārajīva left very decisively.

Damo Zhi looked completely bewildered.

Why did you run away?

That's not what we said!
Li Zhaoting guessed why Kumārajīva wanted to run away.

Judging from the traces of his moves, Kumārajīva must have practiced the Lesser Formless Skill, which enabled him to activate Shaolin's ultimate techniques.

It's fine in the short term.

However, the foundational martial arts are Tantric, the internal energy cultivation methods are Taoist, and the defensive martial arts are Zen. One must either integrate the three schools of thought or suffer a qi deviation.

The hidden injury may seem to have been resolved, but it is actually more deeply embedded, penetrating deep into the eight extraordinary meridians. Unless one completely abandons all martial arts skills, it may backfire at any time.

You can fight with different moves, counter each other's moves, and clash with powerful attacks, but you must never fight with your inner energy.

When martial artists reach the point of competing in internal energy, even a small mistake can cause serious damage. The hidden injuries in his body erupted at this moment, and Kumārajīva could not hold on.

Kumārajīva must run!

He ran to a small alley outside the wall and vomited blood.

He cannot publicly show his disheveled state.

This is his dignity!

(End of this chapter)