Chapter 100 of 100

Chapter 100

16 min read3,945 words

The deified Zuma appeared even more imposing, with his bronze-colored skin adorned with vivid snake tattoos. Six feathers were inserted into his head, and he sat cross-legged on the altar, gripping a long snake in his hand, its head pointing outward, flicking its tongue.

In front of the statue, the offering table was set with wine, three sacrificial animals, and fruits.

On the walls beside the offering table were brightly colored murals, depicting scenes of Indians hunting, defending their homeland, and performing sacrificial dances, with a large snake running through all of them.

"Daoist Master, is there a problem?"

Wang Zhong, seeing Ren Farong's furrowed brows, hurriedly asked.

"In the Taoist temples of China, it seems quite out of place to have a guardian deity in the form of an Indian!"

Ren Farong looked at the hall, somewhat displeased.

"Indeed, it does look out of place. It would be better to design it according to the traditional general figurine!"

You Xuande, after a moment's observation, also gave his opinion.

"Your suggestions are good, but I'm afraid Zuma won't agree!"

Wang Zhong said, somewhat troubled.

"In our temple, we must follow our rules!"

Ren Farong said firmly, leaving no room for doubt.

"What if he doesn't agree?"

Wang Zhong asked.

"Then we will kill him!"

Ren Farong's eyebrows arched, speaking with a domineering air.

"Our Daoist sect is the orthodox lineage of the Xuanmen, the true successor of Chinese civilization. Zuma is merely a barbarian from a foreign land. Giving him a position as a guardian deity is already a great favor. If he is not content, we will have to fight him!"

As if to verify Ren Farong's words, Wang Zhong heard a faint sword cry.

...

"Senior Brother, this Daoist Master Ren has a great killing intent!"

After Ren Farong left, Wang Zhong said softly.

"Although Daoist Master Ren comes from Louguantai, he is a sword cultivator, dedicated to slaying demons and eliminating evil."

You Xuande said with a smile.

"That makes sense!"

Wang Zhong nodded in understanding.

Wang Zhong entered the yin realm at night and communicated with the great snake Zuma. To his surprise, Zuma readily accepted Wang Zhong's request, leaving many of Wang Zhong's prepared arguments unused.

"Lord, why did you agree so easily?"

After Wang Zhong left, a spirit ancestor curiously asked.

"Your magical power is insufficient, so you don't know. Two purple auras are rising from the Zhenwu Daochang, indicating the presence of two great masters! One of the auras contains a profound sword intent!"

Zuma's head tilted back, and the thought of that overwhelming sword intent made his entire body feel cold and numb, his hair standing on end.

He had a premonition that if he did not agree, he would surely face great danger!

With Zuma's consent and time still on his side, Wang Zhong had a full-body chainmail general figurine made, and the murals inside the temple were changed to scenes of ancient Chinese warfare!

In the following days, Wang Zhong would often seek advice from Ren Farong and You Xuande on Daoist studies. Although Wang Zhong's Daoist foundation could not compare to that of Ren Farong and You Xuande, his forward-thinking and quick mind provided many insights to the two Daoist masters.

Gradually, the discussions turned into Wang Zhong continuously presenting new questions and new ideas, while Ren Farong and You Xuande were responsible for researching and answering them. These ideas greatly influenced their research. Daoist Master Ren Farong found many flaws in his interpretation of the *Tao Te Ching* and planned to make significant revisions upon returning to China.

Of course, the one who benefited the most was Wang Zhong. Like a sponge, he greedily absorbed knowledge. With Daoist Master Ren Farong's guidance, he gained a deeper understanding of the *Tao Te Ching*.

"Junior Brother, do you know the Sixteen Golden Ingots?"

Ren Farong looked at Wang Zhong and asked with a smile.

"The Sixteen Golden Ingots are a closely guarded secret of Daoism and Esoteric Buddhism, extremely precious. It is said that there are only sixteen characters, but each character is worth a golden ingot."

Wang Zhong's eyes lit up, and he said eagerly.

"Back then, obtaining these sixteen characters was no small feat, costing a great deal of money and many prostrations. The famous 'Sixteen Golden Ingots' were worth ten taels of gold per character. Now, I will give them to you freely."

Ren Farong chuckled and nodded.

"Please, Senior Brother, teach me!"

Wang Zhong stood up, his face serious and respectful, and bowed.

Seeing You Xuande about to rise to avoid the situation, Ren Farong shook his head and said with a smile,

"Although this method is precious, Wudang may have similar techniques. Daoist Brother, there's no need to avoid it!"

"Learning the Sixteen Golden Ingots is important for both Daoism and Esoteric Buddhism. Listen carefully and practice well; it is very beneficial for the body. The method involves standing, whether in a horse stance or any other posture. 'One inhalation, one lift'—inhale through the nose, lift below, press down above, connect the two energies, 'energy returns to the navel'; 'one lift, one swallow'—swallow the saliva, 'water and fire meet.' This is the Sixteen Golden Ingots."

Time passed quickly in the teaching and learning, and soon it was December 1st of the new calendar, the first day of the eleventh month in the lunar calendar.

This day was the first day of the Pig month, and according to the *Seven Luminaries and Four Remainders* method of selecting auspicious days, today was the day of Mercury.

Xuanwu Dadi, the God of the North, is the deity of water, and today is the most suitable day for the consecration ceremony!

The consecration ceremony would be held at the hour of Si (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM), as this is the time when the sunlight is brightest, and it also symbolizes the harmony of water and fire.

However, it was not yet 7:00 AM, and the island and the temple were already filled with believers. The main hall, the Laojun Hall and the Zhenwu Hall, were crowded with people, and latecomers could not even find a place to stand.

The incense burners in front of the mountain gate and the main hall were filled with bright yellow wish incense, and the blue smoke rose, enveloping the entire temple.

Later arrivals, unable to find a place to offer incense, simply threw their incense and candles onto the ground in front of the incense burners, and with the help of the Daoists, they were lit like a bonfire.

Subsequent visitors continued to throw their incense and candles into the fire.

"Abbot, there are too many believers, and the main hall is already full!"

A young Daoist rushed into the abbot's room to report to Wang Zhong, Ren Farong, and You Xuande.

"Have the local police arrived? Ask them to maintain order. All the Daoists in the temple should go to the main hall to lead the believers in chanting the true scriptures to prevent panic and stampedes!"

Wang Zhong and the two Daoist masters briefly discussed and gave the instructions.

"Yes, Abbot!"

The young Daoist understood the urgency and hurried out.

"Daoist Brother Xuankongzi, the consecration ceremony must not fail. I need you to personally oversee it!"

Wang Zhong, seeing the young Daoist leave, was still somewhat uneasy and turned to the old Daoist sitting at the lower seat.

"This is your duty, Abbot. There's no need to be polite. I will go to the main hall!"

Xuankongzi had been in seclusion on Wudang Mountain for decades and held a position just below the various Daoist masters. He had also helped manage the temples, and his experience was extensive. You Xuande had sent Xuankongzi to assist in the management of the Zhenwu Daochang.

Wang Zhong was naturally delighted, as he would not be in the temple most of the time.

Soon, the sound of chanting could be heard from outside, indicating that Xuankongzi was leading the believers in chanting!

"The incense offerings are so abundant, it's beyond my expectations!"

You Xuande's face showed excitement as he said happily,

"This is all thanks to Junior Brother Zhenwu. Junior Brother Zhenwu is well-respected in the Australian region and has run many advertisements on Australian TV, which is beneficial for the spread of Daoism. Moreover, this place is where five dragons converge, and the feng shui is excellent!"

"With a talent like Junior Brother Zhenwu, the prosperity of the Wudang Daoist lineage is just around the corner!"

Ren Farong's face also shone with pride as he said with a smile.

"Daoist Brother Ren, your words are too modest. This is not only a joy for the Wudang lineage but also a joy for Chinese Daoism!"

Master You Xuande said with a smile.

"Master You is right. I was too focused on the surface!"

Ren Farong paused, then smiled.

"Xuan Gong established a temple in Los Angeles, developing white believers and spreading Buddhism in the West, greatly benefiting the Buddhist community. Daoism, thanks to Junior Brother Zhenwu, has established a temple in Australia, spreading Daoism, which is a great fortune for our Daoist community!"

Ren Farong stroked his beard and said with a smile.

"Daoist Master Ren, you are flattering me. How can I be compared to Xuan Gong!"

Wang Zhong waved his hands, somewhat flustered.

Xuan Gong, also known as Venerable Xuanhua, established the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in the United States, converting white Christians to Buddhism and spreading the Dharma in white society. He was revered as the third greatest monk in Chinese history, and upon his passing, he left behind over 4,000 relics.

The first two were the Sixth Patriarch Huineng and the Tripitaka Master Xuanzang!

There's no need to elaborate on Master Xuanzang, as anyone who has read *Journey to the West* knows that the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures was a long and arduous one, spanning thousands of miles.

The achievements of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng were no less than those of Master Xuanzang, as he wrote the first and only Chinese scripture, the *Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch*.

It is well-known that the Buddhist scriptures were written by the ancient sages of India, the Buddha Shakyamuni. Due to their lower level, others could only write books, not scriptures.

The *Lankavatara Sutra* and the *Diamond Sutra* are important classics for verifying the mind in the Zen school, but the only scripture that can truly be called the Zen school's scripture is the *Platform Sutra*. The appearance of the *Platform Sutra* marked the formation of the Southern Zen school and was a revolution in Buddhist history.

Venerable Xuanhua being called the third greatest monk in Chinese history speaks to his status and achievements!

Ren Farong's words were a slip of the tongue, and thinking of Venerable Xuanhua's achievements, he felt a deep sense of reverence.

With the integration of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, the practice of both Buddhism and Daoism is no longer rare.

For example, Mr. Nan Huaijin from Taiwan, who was proficient in the classics of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, manifested a purple-golden body upon his passing.

"The Australian police have arrived, and the order has been restored!"

Master You Xuande, seeing many white police officers through the window, said with a smile.

"They arrived quite quickly!"

"This is due to the system. The West is more service-oriented. Of course, our country is also trying to become more service-oriented, but it will take time."

Wang Zhong said with a smile.

"Junior Brother Zhenwu, you don't look like a Daoist; you look like a mentor!"

Daoist Master Ren Farong pointed at Wang Zhong and joked.

"Thanks to your kind words, maybe one day I will become a mentor!"

Wang Zhong, not taking it seriously, joked back.

"When that happens, I'll treat you to a meal as a token of gratitude!"

"Alright, I'll be waiting!"

The old and the young laughed and joked, and neither Ren Farong nor Wang Zhong realized that this conversation would come true, with Wang Zhong later becoming a doctoral supervisor in the philosophy department.

The *I Ching* is often seen as a book of divination, but in fact, it is a philosophy!

With China's rise, Eastern culture has once again taken the world stage, and prestigious universities like Harvard and Cambridge have opened courses on *I Ching* and Eastern philosophy!

Divination is just one of its applications!

Not just Chinese philosophy, but most mature philosophical systems in the world have predictive functions!

It is laughable that people buy the box and return the pearl!

Entering a treasure mountain but returning empty-handed!

Truly laughable and lamentable!

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