Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 99: Quit Sex
"Senior brother, is this where the precept against killing is kept?"

"That's right! This is a forbidden area of ​​our Great Xiangguo Temple. Junior Brother, remember to stay right behind me!"

Jie Wen was extremely proactive. Seeing a great opportunity, he decisively brought Zhan Zhao to the forbidden area.

Although it was said to be a forbidden area, Daxiangguo Temple was located in the center of the capital, a magnificent temple complex amidst the bustling city. Due to environmental constraints, they could only excavate deeper and deeper.

Following Jiewen into a scripture pavilion, and after passing through a hidden door, the two began to ascend stone steps that clearly extended downwards.

Zhan Zhao's eyes revealed curiosity and contemplation.

Historically, beneath the capital city of the Northern Song Dynasty lay a vast drainage system known as the underground drainage network.

That wasn't intentionally created; rather, it's because, with the changes in water levels throughout history, the original old city was buried beneath the new city, which can be called the Warring States period strata.

Over time, the Warring States period strata became underground channels and waterways, attracting beggars, refugees, and bandits, and were known as the Worry-Free Cave.

But such a thing clearly doesn't exist in this world.

Given the strength of the righteous martial arts sects in the capital, it was impossible for them to allow thieves to gather right under their noses.

What's the difference between that and the Valley of Villains being located in the capital?
However, the absence of Wuyou Cave does not mean that the capital city lacked underground structures.

Zhan Zhao followed Jie Wen down the path and felt that this forbidden area must be located in the underground structure of Bianjing.

Just as he was thinking about how to remind his senior brother to be careful of the surrounding structure, lest the world's number one thief make a hole and crawl in, his expression suddenly froze.

"Ok?"

He sensed eight imposing and powerful auras ahead of him.

"Don't worry, junior brother. There are eight Dharma protectors guarding inside."

Jie Wen said something and slowly pushed open the stone door.

Eight monks, each with a different appearance, sat cross-legged, all with their eyes closed and palms clasped, like clay sculptures.

Judging from their auras, Zhan Zhao realized that these people were all top-tier experts, not much worse than him.

Jiewen believes that the decline of martial arts talent at Daxiangguo Temple is both correct and incorrect.

The mistake is that, compared to the entire martial arts world, Daxiangguo Temple is still considered to be full of powerful figures.

These eight guardian monks alone are enough to overpower even the leaders of small sects, yet they are being used to guard the forbidden area, never leaving its side—it's simply extravagant.

The correct point is that, compared to the peak of Daxiangguo Temple, it has indeed declined, with a significant decrease in the number of grandmasters and near-grandmasters.

Of course, this was probably the case for all parties after the Song-Liao War.

Otherwise, the Liao Kingdom wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths to set up the scheme of the real and fake Zhao Wujiu; they could have just sent a bunch of grandmasters to attack.

Returning to the Dharma Protector Monk.

Jiewen clasped his hands together, bowed solemnly to them, and then said in a low voice, "Most of these are senior uncles of the Chi generation, and most of the Jie generation are my senior brothers. They voluntarily sit here in silence to ensure the safety of the Buddhist soldiers."

In reality, there are only four Dharma protectors guarding this place on weekdays, and they take turns guarding it in pairs.

It was only after receiving Bai Xiaofeng's warning about the treasure heist that all eight masters came out together.

Even when eating vegetarian food and using the toilet, only one person would leave, while the other seven experts would guard the Buddhist soldiers.

This state could not continue indefinitely, but it remained so until the six monks with negative karma returned to the temple and underwent this round of "ordination."

After Jiewen finished bowing, he silently stepped forward.

Even though he was behaving normally and was leading Zhan Zhao forward, as Zhan Zhao got close, he suddenly felt his feet sink—

Eight streams of energy, like Vajra chains, bound and bound the air, causing it to suddenly condense like an iron plate.

Instead of resisting, he activated the Six Minds Clarity Technique.

Suddenly, the chanting faded away, and the overwhelming force dissipated like a gentle breeze.

The pressure is gone.

The group of Dharma protectors remained motionless, their expressions showing approval.

You passed!!

Jie Wen was not surprised at all.

His high regard for Zhan Zhao was not simply an endorsement of his master's decision.

In the Great Xiangguo Temple, there are quite a few people who can comprehend the superior teachings from the Pure Tathagatagarbha, but few can comprehend it as quickly and thoroughly as Zhan Zhao. It is rare to find someone who has been exposed to Buddhism since childhood, let alone someone who became a monk later in life.

This is indeed a sign of wisdom.

Zhan Zhao also felt that he had a natural talent for wisdom.

In his view, if one method is understood, all methods are understood; Buddhist teachings, Taoist practices, and cultivation techniques are all insights into the mysteries of the human body and the natural world.

In layman's terms.

A truly skilled person becomes skilled at everything they cultivate.

This is probably why Venerable Wanjue was able to pass all seven lists.

After passing the test of the Dharma protectors and officially passing through the stone gate, the expected unique and eye-catching Buddhist weapon did not appear.

The first thing that came over me was a sense of unease.

"Well!"

Zhan Zhao's expression changed.

His blood and qi began to surge, and his true qi began to circulate involuntarily, with the thirteen acupoints he had condensed showing the most obvious effects.

Jiewen's steps also slowed down, and he said with a wry smile, "Junior brother, do you understand now? If the precept against killing didn't have such a miraculous effect, there would be no need to keep it here as a guard."

Zhan Zhao asked, "What exactly is its remarkable effect?"

Jie Wendao said: "In mild cases, it causes restlessness and unease, and the blood and qi become turbulent; in severe cases, the true qi becomes disordered, and all sorts of strange phenomena appear."

Zhan Zhao: "..."

Are you sure this isn't the He Shi Bi jade?
If a divine object has similar effects, that's fine.

But the He Shi Bi is used as an imperial seal, which affects one's vital energy and true strength. The Killing Ring is a weapon, so who can wield and use it?

No wonder he was used as a test subject for monks with negative karma.

"bass--"

As the two were talking, they finally opened the innermost stone door, and a strange sound entered their ears.

The "precept against killing" was placed on a knife rack in the center of the stone chamber.

It resembles neither a sword nor a knife, with a blade that is two feet and three inches long and about three fingers wide.

The heavy blade has a dark tone, neither the cold sheen of metal nor the warm texture of wood.

Upon closer inspection, the surface is covered with cracks resembling tree bark, with faint dark red lines peeking through each crack, as if life were pulsating within them.

The blade is blunt and thick, without any sharpness, and appears to have no lethality.

But the hilt was wrapped in a faded kasaya robe, and a small bronze bell hung from the end of the hilt, the clapper of which was a piece of withered bone.

The faint sound of the instrument was coming from there.

"This is a relic of the Buddha's bone."

Jiewen said in a deep voice, "This artifact from the Tang Dynasty is said to be a relic left behind by Bodhidharma, possessing infinite wondrous uses!"

Zhan Zhao did know about the Buddha's skull relic.

It refers to the skull of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Legend has it that when Shakyamuni Buddha entered Nirvana 2,500 years ago, his disciples found a piece of his skull, four teeth, a middle finger bone, and several relics from the ashes after his cremation.

The Buddha's skull relic enshrined at the Buddha's Temple on Niushou Mountain in Nanjing is the only one of its kind in later generations.

In the world of martial arts, Bodhidharma is undoubtedly more approachable. As the founder of Zen Buddhism, it is normal for Daxiangguo Temple to worship him.

Putting aside relics, which are difficult to verify, Zhan Zhao endured the discomfort in his body and observed the Buddhist weapon.

He could only sense that the entire weapon emitted a strange odor mixed with sandalwood and blood.

If you stare at it for too long, the blade seems to tremble as if it were alive, and a strange, heavy sound gradually rises in your ears—

On one side, there was the solemn chanting of Buddhist scriptures; on the other side, there were heart-wrenching screams.

Two completely different sounds were strangely intertwined.

In this chilling echo, the Buddhist weapon that resembled a ruler seemed to transform into a twisted door, through which one could vaguely see the endless karmic fires burning in Avici Hell. But just as the fear receded, the sound suddenly changed again.

The chanting grew louder, the screams subsided, and thousands of golden lotuses bloomed before our eyes, with bodhisattvas bowing their heads amidst the radiant Buddha light.

The precept against killing no longer exudes a fierce aura, but rather the calming fragrance of sandalwood.

One thought can turn you into a demon, another into a Buddha.

For the first time, Zhan Zhao forgot to activate the Six Hearts Clarity Technique and simply moved forward step by step.

Jiewen's eyes showed a strange expression, but he remained silent and observed from the sidelines.

At the Great Xiangguo Temple, not everyone is qualified to see the precept against killing.

However, every monk who has taken the precept against killing is someone whom the temple considers to have a bright future, and the meeting is arranged at an appropriate time.

It is not only a spiritual test for monks with negative karma.

It is also a spiritual test for all eminent monks.

However, the condition of monks burdened with karmic burdens is often unstable, which is why they need to return once a year for a check-up, while senior monks in the temple do not need to.

Because the first meeting is the most authentic way to observe a person's mental state.

What kind of person is he exactly?

What qualities are revealed deep within one's heart?
The outcome will be clear at this moment.

What put Jiewen at ease was that Zhan Zhao's brows did not reveal any cruelty, lewdness, madness, paranoia, or even insanity, nor any other evil thoughts or emotions.

This is not unfounded worry.

You can know a person's face but not their heart. Ten years ago, he had a senior brother who was equally gifted. He was compassionate and had an extreme love for living beings. He couldn't even bear to step on an ant.

However, after breaking the precept against killing, he revealed the evil and cruelty in his bones. In order to take the precept against killing for himself, he even wanted to take Buddhist weapons and kill his way out of Daxiangguo Temple.

Strangely, the precept against killing disappeared for all martial artists at that time, and it did not affect that senior brother at all. As a result, the monks were unable to stop him for a while, and it was only by the abbot's personal intervention that a major disaster was averted.

From then on, the precept against killing was placed in this underground stone chamber. Even if the holder went mad, the guardian monks outside would simply slam down the heavy stone door, resolving the problem directly.

Of course, nobody wants that to happen.

Zhan Zhao's current performance proves that he is true to himself, and Jie Wen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

From now on, the temple can train them with confidence and boldness.

But then, something strange happened.

Zhan Zhao also did not show any positive emotions such as joy, excitement, relief, or sudden enlightenment.

Instead...

A sense of confusion emanated from him.

'who I am? ’

'Where do I come from?'

'Where am I going?'

Zhan Zhao is currently grappling with three philosophical questions.

From the perspective of Buddhism, this is "no self".

One must break free from attachment to self in order to see one's true nature.

From a personal perspective, only he would think this way.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhan Zhao suddenly came to his senses and found that his hand was already gripping the killing ring.

The discomfort of churning blood and disordered internal energy that I felt earlier did not reappear. It was as if the Buddhist weapon had been subdued and was obediently at my command.

He felt a chill run down his spine, and instead of being pleased, he was alarmed. He quickly put it back.

As expected, Jie heard that he had put it back before speaking: "Junior Brother, did you feel like you had subdued it just now?"

Zhan Zhao said, "Is it just my imagination?"

"Not bad!"

Jiewen smiled bitterly: "It was a misconception. I made a fool of myself back then, thinking I was the chosen one of the Buddha's weapons, and ended up losing face quite a bit..."

"call!"

Zhan Zhao also breathed a sigh of relief: "Senior brother, this killing ring is a bit strange. Is there really no one in the temple who can truly possess it?"

"Actually, there is."

Jiewen was somewhat embarrassed: "Anyone who has mastered the 'Mahavairocana Mantra' of our temple can use it freely without being affected in the slightest."

Zhan Zhao: "..."

Doesn't that mean it doesn't exist?
The most treasured scripture of Daxiangguo Temple is the "Mahavairocana Mantra".

The reason why this peerless divine skill, which ranks second on the list of mental cultivation techniques, is ranked second and below the "Martial Morality Sutra" of the "Laojun Temple" is precisely because no one has mastered the "Great Sun Tathagata Mantra" for a long time, while someone has mastered the "Martial Morality Sutra".

Therefore, the order of the two was reversed.

'Putting everything else aside, given the characteristics of this Buddhist weapon, even if Bai Xiaofeng were the world's number one thief, how could he possibly steal the treasure?'

Now that Jiewen had answered, it proved that the precept against killing was unclaimed. Zhan Zhao couldn't help but think about the problem of stealing the treasure, and he followed Jiewen outside.

This trip was fruitful.

He was in a peculiar mental state.

The Buddhist teachings have made further progress.

But it's okay to use it occasionally. What price would one have to pay if one were to actually use this Buddhist weapon for cultivation?
One of the most obvious costs is a change in temperament.

I'm afraid I really will become a monk.

By observing vegetarianism and reciting Buddhist scriptures, one can purify the six senses.

So he has made his decision.

Unless he can subdue this Buddhist weapon and make it no longer able to affect him in the slightest, he will never go near it again.

Let the monks burdened with sins and filled with remorse undergo this test.

Jie Wen brought Zhan Zhao to the forbidden area, allowing him to get up close to the Killing Ring, and finally returned to the main topic: "Junior Brother, have you made up your mind?"

Zhan Zhao asked instinctively, "What have you decided?"

Jiewen said, "Give him a temporary Dharma name. With your Buddhist attainments, as long as you put on the kasaya and give him the Dharma name, you will have no problem entering the Pang residence."

Zhan Zhao asked, "Then what Buddhist name should I adopt?"

Jiewen's spirits lifted, and he announced the astonishing Dharma name he had been preparing for a long time: "Junior brother is a monk of the Jie generation, and there happens to be a Dharma name that no one has taken yet. What do you think of 'Abstaining from Lust'?"

Zhan Zhao stopped in his tracks and stared at him intently.

The *Jiewen Zhengjing* explains: "The word 'form' here does not refer to physical beauty, but rather to all forms and appearances in the world—mountains and rivers, palaces and pavilions, even this physical body—all are form."

“Abstaining from lust is not about escaping the world, but about seeing through the emptiness of all phenomena. Those who uphold this name have truly comprehended the profound truth that form and emptiness are not two.”

“Junior brother, you temporarily took over the position of the Six Doors' Divine Constable. You can relinquish it so easily; that is cultivation.”

"Now that this is also a form of spiritual practice, why not break free from prejudice and give it a try?"

After a long silence, Zhan Zhao asked, "This isn't your actual Buddhist name, is it?"

Jiewen quickly replied, "No, no."

Zhan Zhao said, "You don't have to use it at any time, right?"

Jie Wen nodded repeatedly: "Anytime is fine, anytime is fine."

"Cultivation?"

Zhan Zhao finally said, "Alright then."

……

late at night.

Zhan Zhao, who was sleeping, suddenly sat up and slapped his forehead hard: "The vow against killing has misled me! How could I have agreed to it!"

(End of this chapter)