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

The next morning, the emperor learned of the passing of Master Huikong.

A hint of surprise flashed across his face, but it didn't linger for long. He quickly regained his composure and decided to read today's diary first.

"Today, I refute the so-called debate within Buddhism."

"A test was set up in place of the lamp of wisdom and the glass lamp."

"But Master Huikong did not pass."

The emperor paused slightly upon seeing this.

The glass lamp of wisdom, which made its first appearance yesterday, has already sparked much discussion among the crowd.

It is said that it is exquisitely carved and can emit golden light, calming people's hearts and making them forget worldly troubles.

Even Master Huikong could not pass the test before the Luminous Lamp, vomiting blood and falling into a coma. It is conceivable that others would not dare to challenge it for a while.

Then, he couldn't help but recall Master Huikong's calm and gentle face, but unexpectedly, he suddenly passed away last night.

This sudden news stirred a sense of emotion within the emperor.

Finally, he let out a sigh.

He originally intended for Chu Lengyu to participate in the Buddhist debate and defeat Master Huikong in front of the public in a fair and square manner.

Her idea was clearly different from his, and she directly offered another method.

The emperor was not angry; instead, he couldn't help but reflect on his own actions.

Perhaps it was because Chu Lengyu had been too cooperative with him lately that he had become arrogant and forgot that she was not someone he could control and order around at will.

Furthermore, he lost his composure when facing envoys from various countries, always trying to show off something to make them submit.

Chu Lengyu became the object of his attempt to leverage, which made him feel a sense of guilt and regret.

Soon, the emperor finished his self-reflection and continued reading.

He became curious about what else Chu Lengyu would write in her diary today.

"I also learned about the Great Brahma Dharma when I was reading historical records before."

The emperor couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly, surprised by Chu Lengyu's wide range of interests.

"Perhaps all Buddhist teachings are similar. The Buddhist teachings of the Great Brahma Kingdom are largely similar to the Buddhist principles I knew before, and they have many things in common."

"However, the Buddhist community in the Great Brahma Kingdom still has a narrow perspective, and has never produced any famous theories or great Buddhist scholars from Earth."

Chu Lengyu's tone carried a hint of regret, as if she had a clear understanding of the limitations of the Great Brahma Buddhist sect.

After reading these lines, the emperor stopped and carefully pondered the attitude they conveyed.

Judging from these words, Chu Lengyu does not seem to completely deny Buddhism; on the contrary, she seems to have some recognition and understanding of it.

This surprised him.

Because the emperor previously had no fondness for Buddhism, disliking that they did not engage in production but only knew how to win people's hearts, and that they were of no significant use to the dynasty's rule.

Moreover, the emperor disliked the Buddhist teachings that life is suffering and that one should let go of grudges.

He believes that while these ideas may reduce interpersonal conflicts, they can also erode people's fighting spirit and make them weak and incompetent.

However, because of the contents of this diary, the emperor suddenly felt an urge to learn about the broader Buddhist teachings that Chu Lengyu knew.

He imagined what Buddhism would look like if it were free from narrow-mindedness, and whether it would have a deeper wisdom, a broader vision, and be able to encompass all things in the world and understand the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

The emperor was filled with curiosity and anticipation.

In her diary, she continued writing.

"The relics sent by the Buddhist community contained a phantom of the Buddha, attempting to guide me to convert to Buddhism."

This sentence was followed by a detailed illustration, as if capturing the fantastical scene of that moment on paper.

In the picture, a Buddha several meters tall sits cross-legged in the air, his whole body shimmering with golden light, as dazzling as the morning sun, exuding boundless majesty and compassion.

Standing before it, Chu Lengyu appeared small, yet her resolve was unwavering.

Behind her was a faint phantom of Buddha, devoutly chanting prayers.

The emperor was greatly surprised when he saw the painting. He hurriedly examined it carefully, scrutinizing every single detail.

Last night, a Buddha image suddenly appeared outside the city, shining with golden light and extremely conspicuous.

Although the image of that Buddha only existed for a brief moment, it was still witnessed by many people and aroused widespread discussion.

The emperor originally thought that it was just a commotion caused by Chu Lengyu and did not think much of it. However, now that he saw this painting, he suddenly realized that there was another reason behind the golden Buddha!

Upon hearing about the Buddhist debate proposed by Master Huikong, the emperor felt a sense of foreboding.

He realized it was a trap!

A trap set for him, for Chu Lengyu, and even for the entire Great Xia Dynasty!

A cold sweat broke out on his back instantly.

Judging from Chu Lengyu's description, the phantom of the Buddha hidden in the relics is by no means benevolent, and the intentions behind it are certainly not honorable.

The emperor imagined the phantom trying to seduce Chu Lengyu, and a chill ran through him.

If Master Huikong's plan had truly succeeded last night, and Chu Lengyu had been abducted to the Great Brahma Kingdom to study Buddhism, wouldn't she have to abandon the path of immortality cultivation and instead devote herself to Buddhism? This greatly terrified him, and he could not accept such an outcome.

For many years, the Great Brahma Kingdom has maintained a friendly demeanor, and its monks, aside from spreading the Dharma among the people, have never done anything out of line. They have always kept a low profile and have never caused any trouble for the Great Xia Kingdom.

The only contradiction between the two is the transmission of the Dharma.

Previously, the monks planned to build the Huguo Temple in the capital city, but the emperor rejected the plan. However, the monks did not protest and instead built the Qianfa Temple, which was located in a secluded corner outside the city, where they lived in peace.

Therefore, the emperor never suspected that the Buddhist envoys might have such sinister intentions.

He always believed that the monks of Brahma were kind-hearted and detached from worldly affairs.

But now it seems that you can only know a person's face but not their heart!

Although they appear kind and unassuming, they harbor just as many schemes and calculations as others.

The emperor felt a wave of fear, but also a deep sense of relief.

Clearly, Master Huikong's painstaking plan has failed, and Chu Lengyu will reject the temptation of the Buddha's illusion.

The emperor took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

He understood that he had to be more vigilant and cautious in handling the relationship between Great Xia and the other countries, and he must never allow such a conspiracy to happen again!

"His mental illusions were exquisite, yet my heart remained unmoved."

Chu Lengyu's handwriting, like her own attitude, is clear and powerful, with each stroke revealing a unique and proud spirit.

Even the emperor, a reader, was moved by her writing.

This cultivation diary not only records her observations and experiences, but also expresses her attitude and insights on the path of cultivation.

Her understanding of cultivation, her tempering of character, and her insight into all things in the world amazed the emperor more and more as he read on.

He saw the resilience and perseverance of a cultivator, as well as the inner peace and clarity in her heart.

After reading the diary, the emperor put down the book in his hand and sighed, "The road is treacherous, yet my heart remains calm; I have never made a choice. I must be taught to walk steadily, for thorns and brambles will surely grow along the way." (Note)

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Note: This is from Zhang Wenfu's "Cangling" (Tang Dynasty).