My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Thin wisps of smoke rise, the ancient temple stands serenely.

In the stillness of the Buddha's presence, the sound of the chime resonates in meditation. (Note)

Qianfa Temple is hidden in a secluded valley outside the capital city, surrounded by mountains. Although it is in a remote location, it is a tranquil place.

Master Huikong, holding prayer beads, passed through the mountain gate and entered the temple.

Everywhere you look, you see the scenery of the temple: ancient trees reaching for the sky, birds singing, a scene of tranquility and peace.

When the monks in the temple saw him, they all put their palms together in respect. Master Huikong nodded slightly in return, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He entered the hall and looked up at the Buddha statue inside. The Buddha statue was solemn and majestic, with a compassionate and merciful expression, as if it could see through all the suffering in the world.

Master Huikong's gaze lingered on the Buddha statue for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes.

The path of spreading the Great Brahma Dharma in Bactria was fraught with difficulties, but he believed that the Dharma was boundless and would eventually be able to influence the world.

Just then, a middle-aged monk hurried over, looking anxious and with worry in his eyes.

He approached Master Huikong, bowed deeply, and said urgently, “Master, you have finally arrived. You know the attitude of the Great Xia Emperor towards Buddhism. Now, the entire court and the public are following the lead of the new National Preceptor and drawing closer to the Dao. What should we do?”

The Great Xia Dynasty was originally known for its Taoist practices, and it had ten famous Taoist temples and ten other monasteries that were far removed from the world.

In contrast, despite the strong support from the Great Brahma Kingdom, the Qianfa Temple's current situation is beyond its reach.

Recently, due to the appearance of Chu Lengyu, the status of Daoist practices in the Great Xia Dynasty has risen rapidly.

The Xuanzhen Temple, also built outside the city, used to have few worshippers and guests, but now it is sought after by nobles and commoners in the capital, and its threshold is almost worn out by the crowds.

All the monks of Qianfa Temple saw all of this, and although they were envious, they were powerless to change it.

Now that the highly respected Master Huikong has finally arrived, the middle-aged monk immediately came to seek guidance.

Upon hearing this, Master Huikong sighed softly, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "The Buddha's teachings are boundless and fearless in the face of difficulties. The appearance of the Imperial Preceptor Chu Lengyu may be our turning point."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged monk was filled with doubt.

He looked up at Master Huikong and asked, "Grand Preceptor, are you referring to Chu Lengyu? Isn't she rumored to be a cultivator? What does she have to do with our Buddhist sect?"

Master Huikong smiled slightly and said, "So what if they are cultivators? Buddhism encompasses all things, and cultivators are also among sentient beings! If we can form a connection with her and use her power to spread Buddhism, then the propagation of Buddhism in Great Xia will surely be twice as effective with half the effort."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged monk's face showed a look of sudden understanding, followed by some worry: "But, would the Imperial Preceptor be willing to help us?"

“I have been observing her in secret for a long time,” Master Huikong said calmly. “Her power does not conflict with Buddhism. As long as we can find a suitable way, the Chu National Preceptor may well become our help.”

The middle-aged monk nodded. Since the master said so, there must be a reason for it.

……

Although the envoy from Nanli was temporarily unable to travel, he did not give up.

He knew that if a small country wanted to establish itself, it had to rely on a strong one. And Chu Lengyu was undoubtedly the strongest person he could currently come into contact with.

"I must find a way to get the Chu State Preceptor's attention," the Nanli envoy muttered to himself as he paced back and forth in the room.

He had originally hoped to take the lead and unite envoys from other countries to jointly promote cooperation with Chu Lengyu, but he did not expect that it would fail due to the conflicts and disputes between the countries.

He worried that if he couldn't find a new way to attract Chu Lengyu's attention, Nanli would likely lose its advantage in this game.

Just as he was feeling dejected and pacing back and forth, Master Huikong reappeared at the entrance of the post station.

Upon seeing this, the envoy from Nanli became curious. He quickly composed himself, pushed open the door, and walked with steady steps, calm and collected, displaying the demeanor of an envoy from a nation.

"Master, where have you returned from?" the envoy from Nanli asked respectfully.

Master Huikong clasped his hands together, his expression serene, and replied, "I have just returned from Qianfa Temple and discussed some Buddhist matters with the monks there."

Upon hearing this, the envoy from Nanli had a sudden thought.

He knew that Master Huikong, as the protector of the Mahata, held a high position in Buddhism, and his opinions often influenced the decisions of the entire Brahma Kingdom.

So he tentatively asked, "Master, what are your thoughts on the matter of the Chu State Preceptor?"

Master Huikong replied, “The power of the Chu State Preceptor is indeed awe-inspiring. But I believe that if her power could be combined with the Dharma, it would surely play an even greater role.”

He paused slightly, then continued, "Therefore, this old monk has decided to launch a debate to persuade the Chu State Preceptor to convert to Buddhism with the profound teachings of Buddhism!"

Upon hearing this, the envoy from Nanli gasped in shock, his heart filled with astonishment.

He had only asked casually to test Master Huikong's opinion of Chu Lengyu, but he never expected that the master would have such a plan!

Although he knew very little about Buddhism, he understood the importance that Buddhists placed on debate. If Master Huikong could truly persuade Chu Lengyu… no, that probably wouldn't work.

"Master, your Buddhist teachings are profound," the envoy from Nanli exclaimed, though inwardly he was quite unconvinced.

Clearly, he did not believe that Chu Lengyu would switch allegiance because of a few words from this old monk.

In his view, her achievements today are not only due to chance and luck, but also to her extremely strong will and character.

How easy is it to persuade someone like that?

If Master Huikong were to initiate a debate, it would inevitably provoke the resentment of the Great Xia. However, this matter was unrelated to Nanli, and the Nanli envoy had no intention of stopping it. On the contrary, he was happy to see it happen and hoped that this turmoil could bring him some turning point.

Now he has come to his senses and understands why the Great Xia government suddenly sent troops to place them under house arrest.

Unfortunately, no one expected that the seemingly peaceful Great Brahma Kingdom would also want to compete this time.

Master Huikong seemed confident and smiled, saying, "Although the Chu National Preceptor's power is great, she is still confused. The Buddha's teachings will guide her and help her find the true path."

The envoy from the south sensed the confidence in Master Huikong's words and, seeing how certain he was, was at a loss for words.

Although he believed in his heart that Master Huikong would fail, he dared not show it on the surface. After all, Master Huikong's status and position were undeniable, and he could not easily offend him.

He asked again, "I wonder if the Chu State Preceptor will accept the challenge?"

Master Huikong glanced at him, seemingly sensing the doubt in his heart.

He calmly said, "Envoy from Nanli need not worry, this old monk has a way to invite the Chu State Preceptor to come."

Having said that, he turned and left, leaving the Southern Li envoy standing there in a daze.

_______________________

Note: Thin wisps of smoke rise, the ancient temple is serene, and near dusk, the worshippers are quiet. Three or four tolls of the evening bell, carried by the west wind—how can this inspire the monks to meditate? —Ma Zhiyuan, "Shouyang Melody: Evening Bell at a Misty Temple"