Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

Huiming stunned everyone. Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Li Xiuyuan, he was helpless.

"Daoji, begin presiding over the Water and Land Dharma Assembly!"

Then, Huiming got down to business.

Indeed, today is the Lingyin Temple's fourth annual Water and Land Dharma Assembly, presided over by Li Xiuyuan. Every year on this day, a great many monks and guests come to attend.

After hearing Huiming's words, Li Xiuyuan nodded and replied, "Mm."

Li Xiuyuan had no choice but to give the old monk face.

As he spoke, he looked around and noticed that there seemed to be far fewer monks visiting today.

Li Xiuyuan pondered for a moment and said, "What's wrong? There are far fewer monks visiting today, not even half the usual number."

As he spoke, he glanced at the crowd in the square, which was packed with people, numbering at least five or six thousand.

"Really? I don't think so."

Guangliang couldn't help but disagree with Li Xiuyuan, believing that there were still quite a few monks visiting today.

Li Xiuyuan said indifferently, "You don't know anything. In the past, when our Lingyin Temple held the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, there were so many people that they couldn't even squeeze through the door. The line stretched all the way to the foot of the mountain. But look at today."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but give Guangliang a powerful shot.

Chapter 292 Master Shengde

"Ouch!"

Guangliang cried out in pain and looked at the crowd in the square, only then realizing that many people were missing.

"It seems so!"

Guangliang covered his head and replied.

Li Xiuyuan said calmly, "It's not just a possibility, it's definitely true."

As he spoke, he concluded that today's number of people was half that of the usual Dharma assembly.

"Amitabha!"

After chanting his Dharma name, Huiming said, "Daoji, you are the abbot of Lingyin Temple. I hope you can investigate this matter thoroughly."

After saying this, he chanted Buddhist scriptures. Huiming knew in his heart that Lingyin Temple was able to flourish entirely because of Li Xiuyuan.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and replied, "Abbot, rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly."

As he spoke, he thought to himself, "This Lingyin Temple is under my control. Who on earth dares to rob monks here? How can I not be furious?"

Li Xiuyuan pondered for a moment and said, "Biqing, you can quietly go over there later and ask the monks in the square what strange things are happening down the mountain."

He paused for a moment, then added, "I'm about to go and preach the Dharma."

After saying that, he walked straight up and landed on the small attic.

Li Xiuyuan glanced indifferently at the monks and guests below the stage and said, "Amitabha!"

As they spoke, the crowd bowed and said, "Greetings, Holy Monk."

Li Xiuyuan began his sermon, and we could hear him gently saying: "Bodhi has no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Buddha-nature is always pure, where can dust alight!"

The mind is a Bodhi tree, the body a mirror stand. The mirror is inherently pure; where can dust settle?

Bodhi has no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is nothing, so where can dust alight?

As Li Xiuyuan began his sermon, golden lotuses seemed to bloom from his mouth, captivating everyone present. The entire Lingyin Temple quieted their minds and listened attentively.

Furthermore, Li Xiuyuan's voice could be heard for miles around; normally, even people at the foot of the mountain could hear him preaching.

After a long silence, Li Xiuyuan said calmly, "Amitabha, this sermon is over. Please return home."

With that, he waved his hand, stood up, and turned back.

"Respectfully seeing off the holy monk!"

Everyone spoke in unison.

Li Xiuyuan's teachings were somewhat useful; the monks and guests who came to listen gained some understanding, but the degree of their understanding depended entirely on the individual.

"Master Abbot, something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

As he spoke, Bi Qing came running over, panting heavily. At this moment, Li Xiuyuan returned to the courtyard and stepped down from the altar.

Seeing Bi Qing rushing over, Li Xiuyuan shouted, "Bi Qing, what kind of behavior is this, rushing around like this?"

After saying that, he glared at Bi Qing with his tiger-like eyes, and Bi Qing realized that he had gone too far. If the monks saw this, wouldn't he be laughed at?

"Yes, yes, this disciple knows he was wrong, Uncle-Master."

As he spoke, Biqing quickly apologized.

After seeing that Bi Qing had calmed down, Li Xiuyuan asked calmly, "Bi Qing, what exactly happened?"

Having said that, he was a little curious, but based on the original story, he could roughly guess what was going on: someone would try to steal him from the monk.

"Reporting to my uncle, based on what just happened, it turns out that there is a monk at the foot of the mountain who is actually the reincarnation of the legendary Manjushri Bodhisattva, so many people go there to worship him."

Nearly half of the people at Lingyin Temple have been lost, and it's all because of that person.

Then, Biqing explained the whole story.

Li Xiuyuan nodded upon hearing this and replied, "Yes, I understand!"

As he spoke, he thought to himself, "The reincarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva can only deceive ordinary people. It's impossible for him to deceive Li Xiuyuan."

At the same time, Li Xiuyuan also guessed that the person must be Shengde!

This person was a plaything of Manjushri Bodhisattva's mount, named "Fire Spirit Pearl". Years ago, it was playful and descended to the mortal world, where it met a clam spirit and secretly fell in love with her. However, the clam spirit could not escape the tribulation of lightning.

The Fire Spirit Pearl sacrificed its inner core to revive the clam spirit, but the Fire Spirit Pearl, whose soul was scattered, mistakenly entered the demonic path and was taken in as a disciple by the Lord of Qiankun Cave, becoming the junior brother of Dapeng.

"Uncle-Master, what should we do? That monk who stole our food, won't he have nothing to eat in the future?"

As he spoke, Bi Qing became a little anxious, which was understandable.

The people at Lingyin Temple, no, the people in the Buddhist community, all live off the donations from monks and guests. The more prosperous your temple is, the more enjoyable your lives will be.

"Yes! Junior brother, you must think of a way to get the monks back."

As he spoke, Guangliang couldn't help but complain. At the critical moment of life and death, his little conflict with Li Xiuyuan was naturally nothing.

Li Xiuyuan replied calmly, "Don't worry, I've got everything covered!"

Having said that, he felt completely calm. Perhaps the Daoji in the original story would have found it extremely difficult to deal with Shengde.

But for Li Xiuyuan, there was not much challenge at all. Unless Manjushri Bodhisattva personally intervened, he was not afraid.

As Li Xiuyuan pondered this, Huiming, standing beside him, asked with some concern, "Is Daoji alright?"

As he spoke, he also looked intently over, hoping that Li Xiuyuan could resolve the issue.

The prosperity of Lingyin Temple over the years is all thanks to Li Xiuyuan's efforts. Otherwise, Guangliang and Biqing alone would probably have trouble even making ends meet!

Li Xiuyuan replied calmly, "Master, don't worry! Don't you know my abilities?"

He paused for a moment and then said, "I will go down the mountain tomorrow and resolve this matter."

Since Li Xiuyuan had been giving a sermon outside for half a day, he had no choice but to wait until tomorrow to descend the mountain. He also needed to notify certain individuals.

"Ok!"

Huiming nodded solemnly. After considering Li Xiuyuan's abilities, he was no longer too worried.

The meeting of these few people has temporarily come to an end. In short, regarding the matter of the reincarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva, Li Xiuyuan will go down the mountain tomorrow to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Chapter 293 Fire Spirit Bead

In the meditation room, Li Xiuyuan said calmly, "Mingzhu, rest with me tonight. Tomorrow, when we go down the mountain, we will be able to find the Fire Spirit Orb."

Having said that, he smiled and gazed at Mingzhu.

But Mingzhu was wearing a wide-sleeved, loose-fitting blouse made of hibiscus-colored silk brocade with embroidered patterns of five pheasants soaring among clouds.

The patterns on her gauze dress were woven with dark gold thread, and each phoenix feather was adorned with tiny, round rose quartz and tiger's eye stones. The scattered beads and tassels shimmered like starlight and were as radiant as flowing clouds, exuding a magnificent and noble air.

Mingzhu's face was as pretty as a peach blossom in spring and as pure as a chrysanthemum in autumn.

Her eyes were bright and clear, her eyebrows were delicate and her nose was straight. A dimple appeared on her cheek, and she was absolutely beautiful. Looking at the blue sky, white clouds and green leaves outside the house, her skin looked even more radiant and as soft as jade.

"Really? Holy Monk!"

As she spoke, Mingzhu's expression became slightly excited. She thought of Xiaolingzi's life-saving grace and insisted on meeting him in person no matter what.

Li Xiuyuan replied casually, "Yes, you'll see him tomorrow."

After saying that, he pulled Mingzhu into his arms, and the two of them began to make love.

Mingzhu felt no resistance, after all, it wasn't the first time, and after practicing the Tathagata Sutra, she became more and more obedient to Li Xiuyuan's words.

The next day, Li Xiuyuan came out and took Mingzhu down the mountain. As for the others, there was no need for them to come along.

After all, neither Guangliang nor Biqing, though reincarnations of the fat and thin immortal children, had awakened their memories. They could only be of some use in life-or-death crises.

Therefore, Li Xiuyuan did not intend to let them come. Most importantly, he was confident that he could handle Shengde with his own abilities.

After Li Xiuyuan brought Mingzhu down the mountain, he saw that the town was extremely prosperous, with a constant stream of people coming and going and the shouts of vendors never ceasing.

After seeing the dazzling array of goods, Li Xiuyuan had no interest whatsoever. In the end, they were just ordinary items that could no longer satisfy his curiosity.