Chapter 3, Sweeping Away the Divine Powers, Thunder Roars in the Nine Heavens (I)

Lian Xingzhen said: "Tomorrow, the master will observe from the sidelines. Among the disciples who have come with me, there are several who are skilled in the arts of machinery and construction. Although they may not compare to the great alchemists, they are not without their usefulness. Tomorrow, everyone will witness the methods of my Taiyi True Sect."

Regardless, the influence of Cihang Jingdian is not to be underestimated by anyone in the world. Coupled with the might displayed just now, it clearly demonstrates their strength. Since Master Mianyue has spoken, the people in the hall fell silent, eager to hear what Cihang Jingdian has to say. For several consecutive days, although the envoys from Cihang and Taiyi have arrived at Yulong Manor, they have not made any public statements. The recent commotion among the crowd was intended to pressure these major powers into making a declaration.

Mingyue Dao: "We have come from afar as guests, and there should be a way for guests to behave. How can we impose harm upon innocent servants with knives and axes? I kindly ask all of you, benefactors, to exercise restraint"

The Taiyi True Sect aims for the purpose of cultivating the Dao to achieve immortality, emphasizing the reliance on the spiritual veins of immortal mountains, absorbing the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon, eliminating the dross and preserving the essence, and transcending to become an immortal. Consequently, its disciples are widely distributed across famous mountains and rivers, establishing caves in the mountains for meditation and cultivation. Based on the division of their territorial boundaries, they are categorized into thirty-six regions, each presided over by a teaching official who commands a specific area. The Master Teacher is selected from among the thirty-six teaching officials and resides at the headquarters, Longchi, issuing commands to disciples of the Dao throughout the world.

The Taiyi True Sect has thirty-six teachings, and Lian Xingzhen possesses the strength of a great sword master, ranking among the upper echelons within the thirty-six teachings, yet not reaching the level of the outstanding. However, since the rise of the Holy Lotus Sect, the Taiyi True Sect has grown closer to the Holy Empire, appointing a number of individuals from the Holy Empire to positions within the teachings, thereby fostering a more amicable relationship between the two parties. In light of the recent incident in Silver Valley, the Empire was shaken, yet did not dispatch a diplomatic mission, leading some to question whether this Lian Teaching Master represents the Taiyi True Sect or if he also serves as a representative of the Empire.

However, with benefits come drawbacks. The monks' practice, while having numerous advantages, is also subject to many limitations. The power of Buddhism emphasizes compassion; if a monk who observes the precepts frequently engages in acts of violence and sheds the blood of countless individuals, what can be said about their practice? Therefore, the monks' practice is constrained by the precepts. Once they violate these precepts, commit severe acts of killing, or abandon their faith, their spiritual power will significantly diminish. It is even possible that a lifetime of cultivation could be rendered meaningless in an instant. Thus, for thousands of years, people on this earth have known that there are many masters in the Compassionate Navigation Silent Palace, sometimes even more than all other forces combined on the earth, yet their overall combat effectiveness is not particularly impressive.

A single chant of the Buddha's name resonates profoundly, embodying an unparalleled purity of Buddhist power. Upon entering the ears, it not only invigorates the spirit but also brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the heart, dispelling all negative emotions. This is truly the utterance of a high monk from the Buddhist community, and such cultivation can only originate from the esteemed monks of the Compassionate Voyage Silent Pavilion

Unlike monks, the disciples of the Taiyi True Sect join the religion primarily to cultivate themselves and attain immortality. Their practice of the Dao is not aimed at seeking divine salvation, and thus there is no concept of faith power. Consequently, they cannot merge Buddha power with true energy. Their methods of cultivation are somewhat akin to those of magicians, as they explore the fundamental origins of the universe and integrate themselves with natural elements. Therefore, their martial skills possess elemental attributes and exhibit tremendous power. Additionally, the practice and application of elemental techniques yield significant results with minimal effort. Coupled with the treasured technique of the Qian Kun Jue, they have been able to stand on equal footing with the Cihang Jingdian for millennia, remaining resilient through the ages.

Feng Xiang's mind was slightly settled as she entered the hall holding a tea tray. With a sidelong glance, she noticed that everyone in the hall was looking with admiration towards a group of over ten monks in the southwest corner. At the forefront was an elderly monk, around sixty years old, with a completely white beard and hair, his large sleeves of the cassock billowing gracefully, resembling a sage from a painting. His eyes seemed somewhat drowsy, yet the earlier chant of the Buddha had reverberated throughout the hall, commanding respect from all. He was none other than Master Mian Yue, the abbot of the Cihang Jingdian Luohan Hall.

Lian Xingzhen hails from a family of military generals and was once a prominent general of the Holy Empire. Although she is a woman, her voice is resonant and powerful, exuding the demeanor of a military leader, fierce and robust. However, more than her words or her sword, her identity piqued the interest of everyone present.

The Luohan Hall is responsible for the instruction of all disciples in the Cihang Quiet Hall, which includes martial arts. The monks serving in the Luohan Hall are equivalent to martial arts instructors, and the head of the Luohan Hall serves as the chief instructor. His mastery of Zen skills is naturally formidable.

Buddha power can be generated by the faith of believers, or it can be bestowed by the deities, although such instances are extremely rare. Nevertheless, it is significantly faster than cultivating magical power or true energy. When a monk successfully integrates Buddha power with their own true energy, their strength doubles. Therefore, within the Compassionate Voyage Silent Hall, experts abound, looking down upon other sects. Moreover, Buddha power can also produce divine energy. In addition to emitting light, purifying, and healing, the unique ability of monks to sweep away obstacles makes sorcerers across the world grit their teeth in frustration. This is also a primary reason why the Compassionate Voyage Silent Hall has stood firm on the earth for a thousand years.

The words themselves lack much novelty; however, they come from the mouth of a revered monk, which necessitates careful consideration. Nevertheless, being sent here by the Cihang Jingdian, this individual is certainly not the kind of pedant who only knows how to preach lofty principles. After curbing the radical intentions of the Divine Fist Alliance, Master Mian Yue said: "Friends from various places have traveled a long way to gather here at Yulong Manor, which is indeed a matter of fate. However, the host has not shown up, and as monks, we cannot just linger here all day, taking advantage of the host's hospitality. It would be better for you and me to take the initiative tomorrow and go to Silver Valley to see how things stand."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze immediately shifted to a group of Daoists on the right side of the hall. This was the position of the Taiyi True Sect. The leader, a long-haired Daoist nun, appeared to be around forty years old, standing an impressive height of 1.8 meters. With thick eyebrows and large eyes, her demeanor exuded a heroic spirit. Although she was draped in a Daoist robe, her presence resembled that of a female general on the battlefield. At her waist hung a large sword, and she was Lian Xingzhen, one of the thirty-six representatives of the Taiyi True Sect, also the leader of this delegation, standing out as a striking figure among dozens.

Cihang Jingdian belongs to the Buddhist system, and the practice model of its monks differs from that of ordinary warriors. The strength of an individual is not solely determined by the true energy or internal breath within, but is also significantly related to one's Buddhist power. Buddhist power is essentially the power of faith, cultivated through sincere devotion to the Buddha, recitation of scriptures, purification of past karma, realization of one's true nature, and gradual development of Buddha-nature, which then transforms into Buddhist power. This is known as the practice of the Small Vehicle. If one can widely propagate the Dharma, save all sentient beings, educate the masses, and embody great compassion, one can also generate Buddha-nature and transform it into Buddhist power, which is known as the practice of the Great Vehicle. Buddhist power is essentially the power of faith, cultivated through sincere devotion to the Buddha, recitation of scriptures, purification of past karma, realization of one's true nature, and gradual development of Buddha-nature, which then transforms into Buddhist power. This is known as the practice of the Small Vehicle. If one can widely propagate the Dharma, save all sentient beings, educate the masses, and embody great compassion, one can also generate Buddha-nature and transform it into Buddhist power, which is known as the practice of the Great Vehicle

Master Monyue, you are too polite. "Lian Xingzhen stood up straight and clasped her hands in front of the monks of Cihang, saying, "Before I set out this time, the Master of the Teaching conveyed a message through the Water Mirror, indicating the goodwill between our two sects. This time, we must do our utmost to work in harmony with Cihang. Since the Master has extended an invitation, how could Lian Xingzhen dare to refuse?"