This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 275 Waiting for the Right Opportunity
From Xi Miao's sleeve flew out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Monk Mo Ke sat outside the exquisite pagoda, talking and writing as he painted.

The situation within the Five-Colored Divine Peak gradually became clear, and Zhuang Lin finally completed the story of Monk Mo Ke himself.

Monk Moke was originally a highly accomplished monk. At the moment of his passing, he was favored by the Bodhisattva and was able to obtain a higher level of cultivation, namely the Buddhist divine path.

As his cultivation progressed, the World-Honored One and the other Buddhist masters said that Monk Moke was the reincarnation of the Five Directions Protector, and that as his cultivation reached its completion, he was able to return to his rightful place.

Therefore, the monk Moke eventually filled the vacancy of the Five Directions of the Dharma, becoming the Dharma Master Moke.

After that, having attained enlightenment and receiving offerings from sentient beings, Mahagateti's practice progressed rapidly. During this process, he remained peacefully in the monastery, never asking too many questions, and at most listening to lectures on the Dharma.

Until the Five Directions Protectors received the decree to oversee the Five-Colored Divine Mountain.

Before that, Mokha Jieti also knew that a great change had occurred, but he was not entirely clear about what exactly had happened. He only knew that a great mess had broken out in the heavenly realm.

The Five-Colored Divine Mountain is a secret realm, a terrifying place shrouded in great magical power, a battlefield, and is also guarded by a demon king. In reality, he is being kept under guard there.

The place was filled with boundless malevolent energy, as if there was an uncontrollable resentment. Even the Five Directions Protector, perhaps because of his lowest cultivation level, had nightmares and heard terrifying roars.
Day after day, year after year, that menacing aura never dissipated.

Being confined to the Five-Colored Divine Mountain year-round, and unable to leave despite the restrictions and isolation, Mokha Jiedi could still receive some incense offerings. However, this environment made it impossible for him to undergo a stable tempering process, and Mokha Jiedi's Buddhist heart gradually underwent a certain change.

Seemingly influenced by that resentful aura, a sense of resentment also arose within him.

The old monk spoke, wrote, and drew simultaneously, presenting the complexities of his inner world in this way. People like Zhuang Linxi Miao seemed to be able to glimpse the changes in his heart and empathize with him.

“I am suffering. I have only ever wanted to cultivate in peace. What crime have I committed? Why have I come to this?”

The old monk murmured, his voice calm, a reflection of his inner state back then. However, it was probably not calm back then, and even Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao could sense it.

"My own cultivation is insufficient; what virtue or ability do I possess to serve as one of the Five Directions Protectors? It is all merely driven by desire."

Another question, and yet another reflection of my inner thoughts.

Subsequently, the impure power of the incense, entangled with desires, stirred up another side of Maha Gandhi's heart.

As expected, Mokha Jiedi fell into demonic possession and caused chaos within the Five-Colored Divine Peak Secret Realm before being suppressed.

It is unknown when, but a temple dedicated to the Bodhisattva Erxiang Tianyin was built outside Luoyang City, and it is also unknown when, but the old monk Moke became the abbot there.

Although the evil Buddha was suppressed in that pagoda, perhaps the original intention was for the old monk to suppress the evil side and then return to his rightful place, the evil Buddha somehow still received incense offerings from Mahakala and became even stronger.

Until the evil Buddha took advantage of the chaotic and violent energy generated during the war to overwhelm the good side.
The old monk's narration ends here; Zhuang Lin already knows what happened afterward.

Now the old monk has truly found himself again, and with Zhuang Lin's help, he has relinquished the status that was never meant for him. With the desire to eliminate his delusions, the evil Buddha will naturally perish.

The old monk had stopped writing and then sat down at his desk to calmly chant sutras.

After a long while, Zhuang Lin finally looked up from the table and towards Xi Miao and Wuming beside him, as well as Liu Hongyu and the other students who had unknowingly gathered around, and several senior agents from the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations.

Zhuang Lin nodded slightly to everyone, feeling relieved. In his eyes, everything the old monk said was good.

The painting on the table was not a simple depiction. With a flick of his sleeve, Zhuang Lin projected the image on the paper into a radiant pattern in the air under his magical power.

At this moment, it was as if a mirage of the colorless divine mountain appeared in a small patch of sky in front of the exquisite pagoda. There were overlapping mountains, the sky was gray, sand and stones were flying everywhere, and there was a faint sense of terror lurking in the dark.

In this dimly lit mountain region, a five-colored giant mountain with five peaks standing side by side, resembling five fingers, stands out prominently in the center!
It really is Wuzhishan!
Seeing this scene, Zhuang Lin was already certain of it.

Zhuang Lin felt his heart pounding with excitement, an indescribable feeling that he could only bear alone.

Compared to Zhuang Lin, Xi Miao and the others were equally excited, but their feelings were definitely different.

“Amitabha, this humble monk has done everything in his power to present everything. I hope that Your Majesty will allow this humble monk to return.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Lin snapped out of his daze and looked at the old monk.

"Where does the master wish to go?"

"Just go back to where you came from!"

Zhuang Lin was slightly surprised.

"But Master, don't you know that the Ullambana Festival will be here in a few years? At that time, even if the other two evil Buddhas in the pagoda try to suppress their connection with the original body, the Two-Faced Heavenly Sound Bodhisattva will definitely know about the changes at Foguang Temple in Luoyang!"

The old monk opened his eyes and looked at Zhuang Lin with clear eyes.

"This humble monk naturally understands. Consider it a sign that I have overcome my demonic obstacles. I simply do not understand why Buddha has come to this, why he has reached such a state. Your Majesty, please rest assured, this humble monk will not speak further about your matter."

"And what about them?" Zhuang Lin looked at the exquisite pagoda, referring to the two remaining evil Buddhas, who were almost certainly the two avatars of the Bodhisattva of Two Aspects who had fallen under the influence of the evil Buddha Mokkha and were enjoying incense offerings.

The old monk frowned slightly.

"That depends on how much they know."

Xi Miao stepped forward and looked at the old monk.

"Actually, they don't know much. Even if they have heard words from immortals brought to the Dharma-ending Age, they will only be regarded as absurd. It's just that they have seen me."

Xi Miao's eyes flickered slightly, and after thinking for a moment, she looked at the pagoda.

"Even now, they are still desperately suppressing their connection with their original bodies, simply because such demonic forms will inevitably be destroyed by their original bodies. Am I right, Master?"

The old monk Mo Ke nodded slightly.

"Indeed, if the Two-Faced Heavenly Sound Bodhisattvas were aware, they would surely destroy this body. They should be without knowledge or feeling; let alone falling into the realm of evil Buddhas, even if they had a self, they would not be able to survive! Because this humble monk once, well, did something similar."

Xi Miao nodded.

"That makes things easier, Master. We'll just put on a show. It'll be like I helped you before by using illusion to trap these two evil Buddhas. Everything they see and hear is an illusion. Anyway, they're so afraid of me, hahaha!"

"But after we subdued the evil Buddha, you went to the South China Sea and tested the Two-Phase Bodhisattva himself!"

Upon hearing Zhuang Lin's words, Xi Miao showed no sign of nervousness, instead responding with a playful laugh.

"Yes, let's just consider it a deliberate test to see if the Two-Faced Bodhisattva knows about his clone transformation. I'm capable of doing something like that!"

After saying that, Xi Miao winked at Zhuang Lin.

"Do you think I would do such a thing, sir? The Second Bodhisattva knows what kind of person I am. Even if he has his own thoughts, at most he will feel a little awkward when he sees me in the future. He probably won't say anything unless I ask him!"

"Of course, knowing my nature, I will definitely get to the bottom of this. I'm quite looking forward to how he will answer me when the time comes, why the Bodhisattva's incarnation fell into the form of a heretical Buddha!"

Zhuang Lin thought for a moment and then smiled, looking at the old monk with a hint of mischief.

"Master, it seems the ball is back in your court. Monks don't lie, so how do you cover it up?"

The old monk clasped his hands together, looking at Zhuang Lin with a very calm expression.

"This humble monk does not know what the two beings experienced when they were trapped in the illusion, nor does he know who came to help the female immortal. However, it seems that crossing time and space to the Dharma-ending Age where spiritual energy is depleted must be utterly absurd!"

Xi Miao smiled to the side, almost forgetting that the old monk really didn't know who she was, so there was no need to say anything.

That solves the problem, and it might even have other benefits.
-
The film studio quickly returned to normal, but the pagoda was gone. News reports stated that the hidden danger was discovered inside the pagoda, which was eventually destroyed and will require time to rebuild.

Zhuang Lin personally escorted the old monk Mo Ke back to Foguang Temple outside Luoyang City.

The old monk has not only rediscovered himself, but he is also no longer an ordinary person, and his magical powers are gradually being restored.

In Foguang Temple, the pagoda returned to its original position, but the evil Buddha suppressed within it had already fallen into two forms.

Outside Foguang Temple, Zhuang Lin parted ways with the old monk as before, while Shen Qingyou accompanied him.

"Take care, Master. If you have any other ideas before the Ullambana Festival, you may go and seek him out."

"Yes, Master, you know where to find me. If I'm not here, just leave a message for my master and mistress, and I'll see it when I return!"

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk understands!"

The old monk bowed, and Zhuang Lin and Shen Qingyou returned the bow with their hands clasped together. Then the two turned and left one after the other, while the old monk watched from outside the Foguang Temple.

After Zhuang Lin had taken a few steps, the old monk suddenly asked a question.

"The calamities of heaven and earth, does the Holy Venerable have a solution?"

Zhuang Lin paused, and Shen Qingyou also stopped instinctively, but only the latter looked back once, while the former continued to walk away.

"I have come here to face this calamity!"
-
Shen Qingyou naturally stayed at the medical clinic again after returning to ancient times, and reunited with her master and mistress.

After returning to Hidden Immortal Valley, Zhuang Lin left behind a token and a letter, gave some instructions, and then went directly to the East Peak to go into seclusion. The situation is much better now than before, and all that's left is to wait for the right opportunity a few years from now!

(End of this chapter)