Chapter 5, The Ten Thousand Character Mantra Banner

Regarding the recitation of mantras, Mi Xiaojing had long mastered it. Even before he learned to speak, he listened to various mantras every day. By the time he turned ten and began his studies, he was already self-taught and could recite many mantras.

Uncle Zhao, the lunch box is placed at the door, I will return it myself later

Holding a string of wooden prayer beads carved from a single piece of wood, as the mantras are chanted, the beads swiftly move between the fingertips. With each movement, there is an infusion of intention, and as the practitioner's cultivation of the scriptures deepens, these beads will also give rise to a certain will.

Reaching this stage of cultivation is a process of accumulation that requires persistent practice. There is no need for any special techniques or methods; it is simply ordinary cultivation. In simple terms, the current practice involves reciting mantras, transforming the body, and developing the treasures of the true self

Beside the kang, there is a small shrine, and on a little offering table, three small ceramic bowls are arranged side by side. The middle bowl serves as an incense burner, with several burnt incense sticks inserted into it. This is the place where Mi Xiaojing worships the ancestors. The ceramic bowls on either side contain wild fresh fruits, which are offerings from Mi Xiaojing to the ancestors

The entire room, though extremely simple, is kept impeccably clean, without a speck of dust. No matter how worn or old it may be, Mi Xiaojing insists on maintaining cleanliness; he absolutely does not allow himself to be dirty or untidy, and the same applies to the room. Every morning, after getting up, Mi Xiaojing diligently cleans the room and tidies up the courtyard

In front of the earthen kang, by the entrance, there is a very small bamboo bookshelf. This was a gift from my junior brother Zhang Ke. He has been weaving bamboo items since his humble beginnings. The bookshelf is neatly arranged with several scriptures.

Having eaten and drunk to satisfaction, Mi Xiaojing finally sat down on the earthen kang after returning the food box to the main kitchen, crossed his legs on the mat, and began his evening practice

Yanmuh and Tianlangmu are collectively known as the two major woods of the Yan family, and they are excellent for making Yan beads. Of course, the Yan family also has other high-quality woods such as Jianglongmu, Xitanmu, and Chenxiangmu, which are premium materials for crafting Yan instruments. However, when it comes to making Yan beads, Yanmuh is of the highest quality

Beside the bookshelf are several stacked bamboo woven boxes, which actually contain very little—just some worn-out patchwork clothes and a few scraps of coarse cloth with needles and threads. When clothes are torn, one must mend them oneself, a skill that Mi Xiaojing had already learned by the age of five

A long-term worker from the kitchen approached, carrying a bamboo food box, and he respectfully bowed.

Every disciple of the Yanhui sect, upon reaching the stage of Yanhui, will experience the emergence of a certain object from the sect in their heart, such as a virtual fish or a virtual item, mostly consisting of everyday objects, varied in nature, and almost never identical.

This is the true time for Mi Xiaojing's cultivation

Over the years, Mi Xiaojing has certainly become accustomed to this. At most, he would take out some of his own pickled sauerkraut or salted vegetables, or perhaps some chili sauce, to adjust the flavor. A steamed bun weighs about half a pound, and four mixed grain buns are enough to fill his stomach.

In other words, in Mi Xiaojing's heart, there are two towers, one encased within the other

Mi Xiaojing has already understood that this tower is actually composed of true words. Of course, he does not know that the true word tower in his heart has actually been influenced by the Yanbao Wanzi True Word Pagoda, which is how it was formed and has grown.

These are all low-level transformations. Generally, after taking refuge, it is difficult for disciples who have such transformations in their hearts to attain high levels of cultivation, as their inherent nature of transformation is already relatively poor, and naturally, their comprehension will not be high either

Due to its affiliation with the ascetic sect of the Xiyan School, the food of the Xiyan School has always been exceedingly simple. Upon opening the food box, there are only four large bowls of mixed cornmeal buns, one large bowl of vegetable soup, and one small dish of pickles. This constitutes the evening meal of Mi Xiaojing

Mi Xiaojing personally polished eighteen wooden beads, which he has been cultivating for a full three years. This is his only self-made cultivation tool. Every time he practices, he takes it off his wrist, recites the incantation, and rotates the beads. After three years, they have become glossy and black, reflecting light like a mirror.

After organizing the backpack, some wild fruits, herbs, and wild vegetables were placed on the bluestone platform to dry. Only then did Mi Xiaojing carry a wooden bucket and arrive at the water well by the corner gate

The recitation of the mantra by Mi Xiaojing consists mainly of some basic mantras, focusing on single characters. He is now able to chant two-character mantras, while he has long mastered the single-character mantras, reciting them effortlessly. However, he still stumbles a bit with the two-character mantras.

After Mi Xiaojing took refuge, what appeared in his heart was a tower, a tower that was only one layer when it first emerged. Now, after cultivation, it has grown into a two-and-a-half-layered illusory tower, also known as the heart tower

Uncle Zhao, the long-term worker, nodded, placed the food box at the door of the meditation room, and turned to leave

Those with relatively good qualifications may manifest virtual forms of auxiliary weapons such as tripods, battle staffs, large axes, and precious swords. Practitioners possessing such auxiliary weapons are more inclined towards combat and belong to the category of combat practitioners within the auxiliary sect.

Mi Xiaojing picked up the food box, set down the kang table, and then opened the food box

What Mi Xiaojing does not know is that within his virtual tower, there exists a subtly concealed small point. This small point is located at the base of the virtual tower. If Mi Xiaojing were able to see it clearly, he would discover that it is another tower.

Once the two-character mantra is mastered, Mi Xiaojing's strength will rise to a new level

Little Master, this is tonight's meal

The power of mantras is divided into release and absorption. During practice, reciting mantras serves to cultivate the illusory tower within the heart, allowing one to comprehend the wisdom and strength of the mantras.

Certainly, with Mi Xiaojing's capabilities, he has yet to perceive this treasure of the Yan realm. This treasure is concealed within Mi Xiaojing's virtual tower, and in fact, his conversion is also influenced by this Ten Thousand Character True Word Banner

At the Xiyan Gate, once you reach the third stage of the Yuanjue period, which is the Enlightenment stage, you are entitled to forgo dining at the large cafeteria and enjoy the privilege of having meals delivered to your door

The so-called derivation is the treasure within the body, transformed by a single thought

Having fetched a bucket of water, I returned to the front of the house, took a simple bath using a piece of coarse cloth, dried my body, changed into a patched garment, and tidied up the room

This string of prayer beads was made by Mi Xiaojing himself. When he converted to the Yan sect, he accidentally obtained a piece of Yan wood core, which was of such high quality that even the head of the Western Yan sect felt a twinge of envy, but was too embarrassed to snatch it from a child, thus this piece of Yan wood core remained with him

Each time the mantra is recited, these mantras will manifest on the empty tower of the heart, as if reciting a small scripture once makes the empty tower a little more solid. Moreover, the words of the mantra that are recited will be inscribed upon the tower. The base of the tower already has quite a few inscriptions that can manifest without the need for recitation

The more sophisticated ones include long banners, canopies, lighthouses, treasure towers, and mantra banners, among others. There may even be representations of the transforming dragon, golden platform, and transforming ancestors.

This tower is renowned in the realm of the Transcendent, the Ten Thousand Character Mantra Banner

On the earthen kang, there is also a mat, which was used by Mi Xiaojing during his meditation when he sat cross-legged and recited mantras