Chapter 130, Awakening Pattern
Chapter 130, Awakening Pattern
Xiangguo Temple was built at the foot of the mountain behind the imperial city. Because the area near the imperial city was heavily guarded and often patrolled by the imperial guards, Hua Changxi came directly on a cloud.
On weekdays, Xiangguo Temple is only responsible for receiving royal relatives and some important dignitaries, and ordinary people are not allowed to get close to it.
Hua Changxi didn't want to reveal his identity, so he wore the black robe he got in the ghost market.
The monks of Xiangguo Temple had indeed seen important people and big scenes. Faced with Hua Changxi, who descended from the sky in a black robe, they all remained calm and motionless as a mountain.
Hua Changxi told the gatekeeper monk that she was asked by Master Changmei to come and see the abbot. Then she waited at the gate for a quarter of an hour, and a monk came to lead her into the temple.
Xiangguo Temple is built on the mountain. As you enter from the mountain gate, the terrain rises with each courtyard you pass.
When passing through the first courtyard, Hua Changxi was attracted by the lotus pond in the center of the courtyard.
The lotus pond is not only filled with rich spiritual energy, but also has a golden lotus in full bloom.
"Young Master, what is this golden lotus?"
The monk leading the way kept walking, with a proud look on his face: "This is the golden lotus of merit."
Hua Changxi followed the monk who led the way and asked curiously, "What is the function of this golden lotus of merit?"
Hearing this question, the leading monk just smiled.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Hua Changxi asked another question: "Can all Buddhist temples grow the Golden Lotus of Merit?"
The monk who led the way laughed and said, "You are joking, lady donor. Only temples that have accumulated great merit can grow the golden lotus of merit."
Hua Changxi's eyes flashed. She opened the Five Finger Mountain, ignited the Dan Fire in the Dan Sheng Temple, explained medical skills in the Qihuang Hall, and opened the Lingguang Hall. Do these count as merits?
"Can the Golden Lotus of Merit only be grown in Buddhist temples, or can it be grown by anyone who has accumulated merit?"
Hearing this, the monk who led the way stopped and looked back at Hua Changxi: "Countless monks in this temple have come forward one after another to save all living beings, and only then was this golden lotus of merit planted."
Hua Changxi: "Is it so difficult to grow, young master? How do you grow golden lotus? Do you need seeds?"
The monk who led the way glanced at her and shook his head: "I don't know."
Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Hua Changxi did not ask any more questions. He then passed through several courtyards and was taken directly to the courtyard where the Arhat Hall was located.
"Please wait a moment, lady. I will report to the abbot right away."
Hua Changxi stood in the courtyard and watched the monk leading the way into the hall.
In the Arhat Hall, Master Wuchen and Jingle had not left yet. Both the master and the disciple wanted to know the origins of the female Taoist friend who assisted the Long-browed Arhat.
Master Wuxiang saw what the two were thinking, but he didn't chase them away.
After the monk who led the way entered the main hall, he said to Master Wuxiang, "Abbot, the female donor has arrived." He paused, "The female donor has been asking about the Merit Golden Lotus along the way, and it seems that she wants to plant the Golden Lotus."
After hearing this, Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen looked at each other in surprise.
Master Wuxiang smiled and said, "Please invite the female donor to come."
Soon, Hua Changxi was led into the hall.
Seeing that she was wearing a black robe and a Fuwa mask on her head, Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen looked at each other silently again, while Jingle looked at Hua Changxi curiously.
After Hua Changxi entered the hall, he first greeted Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen, then took a look at Jingle and recognized him as one of the people who escaped from Jiuyou that day. Then he handed over the package containing the Changmei Arhat robes and the Bodhi beads.
"Master Changmei is selfless, and I admire him very much. This is his relic, please keep it well, Abbot."
Master Wuxiang took the package, opened it, looked at the cassock and bodhi beads inside, and said with sorrow: "Thank you, female donor, for returning Junior Brother Changmei's belongings."
Hua Changxi was still somewhat shocked when he thought of the scene where the Long-browed Arhat rushed out to stop the demons but was dispersed. "Abbot, please accept my condolences. I have returned the remains of Master Changmei, and I will not disturb you anymore."
Master Wuxiang quickly called out to the man, "Donor, please stay."
Hua Changxi: "Master, is there anything else?"
Master Wuxiang: "Jingle has already told me that if they hadn't met you, they wouldn't have been able to escape from the Soul Devouring Well. Now you have specially returned Junior Brother Changmei's belongings. I should express my gratitude no matter what."
Hua Changxi said quickly: "Master, you don't have to be polite. I am just following my heart."
Hearing this, Master Wuxiang smiled and said: "The donor is a person of profound wisdom. There is nothing else in Xiangguo Temple, only the Juechi on the ordination platform is still of some use. The donor may wish to visit the ordination platform, and perhaps you will gain something unexpected."
As soon as Hua Changxi heard the word "ordination platform", she instinctively wanted to refuse. Buddhist monks have many rules and regulations, and she didn't want to be bound by them.
However, before she could say anything, Jing Le, who saw that she wanted to refuse, spoke first.
"Donor, the Awakening Pond of Xiangguo Temple was nurtured by the relics of several generations of abbots under the care of the power of the magic lamp. If we can gain something from it, it will be very helpful to the monks."
Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression changed.
Relics, the power of the magic lamp.
Hua Changxi looked at Master Wuxiang: "Master, what is the magic lamp?"
Master Wuxiang smiled and said, "The Great Jin Founding Divine Lamp."
Hua Changxi: "Didn't they say the magic lamp was destroyed?"
Master Wuxiang sighed and said, "The magic lamp has indeed been destroyed, but the lotus petals of the magic lamp are preserved in Xiangguo Temple."
Hua Changxi asked quickly, "Does Xiangguo Temple preserve both the black and white lotus petals?"
Master Wuxiang nodded: "Of course."
Hua Changxi thought of what Steward Leng said, that as long as the white flame was ignited, the black flame could be controlled, and immediately decided to go to the altar: "Then I will respectfully obey your command."
Master Wuxiang smiled and personally led Hua Changxi to the ordination platform. Master Wuchen and Jingle also followed.
The ordination platform is where monks of Xiangguo Temple receive ordination. When Hua Changxi arrived, he instinctively became serious.
"Donor, that is the Awakening Pond, just put your hand into it."
On the ordination platform stone, there stands a transparent tank more than one meter high that looks very much like a glass fish tank. There is nothing in the tank except for a twelve-petal lotus lamp with black and white flames burning at the bottom. There are eight white jade petals and four black jade petals.
Hua Changxi came over and looked at the lotus lamp carefully: "Is this the magic lamp?"
Master Wuxiang: "This is only part of the magic lamp. The magic lamp has thirty-six white lotus petals and thirty-six black lotus petals, a wick and a lamp holder. It has been nearly five hundred years since the magic lamp was destroyed, and Xiangguo Temple has only collected twelve lotus petals."
When Hua Changxi heard this, his heart moved. He didn't expect that the magic lamp had so many lotus petals.
Seeing that Hua Changxi was still not moving, Jing Le could not help but remind him, "Donor, please put your hand into the Awakening Pond and try to see if you can produce Awakening Marks."
Hua Changxi still didn't move. He looked at Jingle, whose eyes were clear and bright, and then looked at Master Wuxiang: "What will happen if I put my hand in?"
Master Wuxiang saw Hua Changxi's alertness and said with a smile: "If the donor is intelligent enough, the lines of enlightenment will appear on his hands." Hua Changxi: "What if I don't have any wisdom?"
Master Wuxiang: "Then naturally there is no reaction."
Hua Changxi asked again: "Do the two masters and this young master Jing Le have the awakening pattern? Can I see it?"
Seeing that Hua Changxi was so wary, Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen looked at each other helplessly.
Jing Le couldn't help himself again, and looked at Hua Changxi seriously: "Of course there is, but the awakening pattern will only appear at certain times. Donor, don't worry, you are my savior, I will not harm you."
Hua Changxi was not embarrassed when his heart was touched: "I have been cheated before, so of course I have to be more careful."
Master Wuxiang reminded: "Donor, there is nothing wrong with being cautious, but don't let the past trap you, or you will lose more than you gain."
Hua Changxi didn't say anything, looking at the transparent tank. She really didn't feel any malice from the three people, but she really wanted to solve the problem of the black flame. After a moment of silence, she still put her right hand in.
As soon as the hand entered the tank, ripples appeared in the tank, which was originally empty. Then, a black fish condensed on the lotus lamp that was burning with black and white flames.
Seeing the black fish, Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen's expressions changed, and Jingle also exclaimed in surprise.
Hua Changxi didn't understand what was going on. Before she could ask, the black fish rushed over and bit her, then quickly sank into the back of her hand.
"what happened?"
Hua Changxi didn't feel anything unusual, but he was still shocked. He quickly pulled his hand out, just in time to see a black fish pattern on the back of his hand that was very similar to the black fish in the Tai Chi diagram.
The pattern flashed and disappeared quickly.
Hua Changxi looked at Master Wuxiang and the other two and asked, "What's going on with this black fish pattern?"
Master Wuxiang looked at her with a complicated expression: "That is the awakening pattern."
Hua Changxi saw that Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen both looked serious, so he quickly asked, "Is there something wrong with my Awareness Mark?"
Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen remained silent.
Jing scratched his round bald head in confusion: "Why is it a black fish pattern?"
The white jade lotus petals in Xiangguo Temple are twice as many as the black jade lotus petals. Logically, they should inspire more good thoughts in people's hearts and make them generate fish patterns with alternating black and white colors and more white lines.
Hua Changxi immediately asked: "What should it be like?"
Jing: "It should produce black and white fish patterns."
Hua Changxi's heart moved, thinking of the black flame in his body. He looked at Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I have met people from Shura Sect before. During the fight with them, they shot the black flame on the black jade lotus petals into my body."
Upon hearing this, Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen both showed a look of realization.
Master Wuxiang: "I see. Then you must control the black flame in your body and don't let it engulf you."
Master Wuchen directly took out a scripture and handed it to Hua Changxi: "This is the Heart Purification Mantra. Reciting this mantra can calm your mind and, to a certain extent, control the growth of the black flames. The donor has saved me. This is my thank you gift."
Hua Changxi took the "Heart Purification Mantra" and seeing that Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen both attached so much importance to Heiyan, he became more respectful towards Heiyan in his heart.
Then, she looked at the white jade lotus petals in the jar again, "Isn't it said that the white flames on the white jade lotus petals can also ignite the desires in the heart? Why haven't I been ignited?"
Master Wu Xiang: "It takes an opportunity to ignite the white flame. Some people can ignite it easily, but others cannot."
Hua Changxi frowned: "I heard that black flames stimulate the evil side of people, and white flames stimulate the good side of people. It's not easy for me to ignite white flames. Does it mean that I am a very evil person?"
Jingle said quickly: "Of course not, the donor was able to save me and others, he is a kind person."
Hua Changxi looked at him and said nothing more. She was just asking casually and she didn't think she was a bad person.
The white jade lotus petals of Xiangguo Temple did not help her ignite the white flame. It was probably because her hand was in the vat for too short a time, or it was suppressed by the black flame in her body?
Whatever the reason, if she gets the chance in the future, she will try to get a white jade lotus petal herself.
Afterwards, Master Wuxiang gave Hua Changxi a token to enter and exit Xiangguo Temple, and told her that there would be monks giving lectures at the temple on the first and fifteenth day of every month, and asked her to come and listen more when she had time.
"Thank you, Master."
Seeing that it was getting dark, Hua Changxi didn't stay in Xiangguo Temple for long, and Jing Le took the initiative to see him off.
On the way out of the mountain gate, Jing Le once again thanked Hua Changxi for saving his life: "Donor, I am from the Dixiu Temple. If you feel it is inconvenient to come to Xiangguo Temple, you can go to the Dixiu Temple to listen to the monks' lectures."
Hua Changxi was a little surprised: "So you are not a disciple of Xiangguo Temple."
Jing shook his head and said: "My master and Master Wuxiang are from the same school, so I can be considered half a member of Xiangguo Temple."
Hua Changxi asked with a smile: "How do you know I don't want to come to Xiangguo Temple?"
Jing smiled and said, "The donor has received the Xiangguo Temple entrance and exit token, and his mood is not fluctuating."
Hua Changxi looked at him and said, "You are quite smart."
Soon, the two arrived at the gate of Xiangguo Temple.
Jing watched Hua Changxi walk away, then turned back. When he returned to Arhat Hall, he happened to hear Master Wuxiang and Master Wuchen talking about the black fish pattern that Hua Changxi had created.
"After the Self-Awareness Pool was formed, there were only five people whose Awareness Markings were completely black fish patterns. Thinking of the turmoil caused by those five people, I still feel a little scared."
"That female donor was able to severely injure the Nether Dragon. Her cultivation must be very high. Now is a time of trouble. I hope she will not end up like the five people mentioned above."
Jingle walked in and said, "Master, I think you are worrying too much. The female donor was able to save me in the Soul Devouring Well, so she must not be a bad person."
Master Wu Chen looked at his disciple and said, "The black fish pattern formed by that female donor has no fish eyes. She may not be a bad person, but she is most likely a loveless person."
Jingle doesn't understand what a loveless person is: "As long as they are not evil people, that's enough."
Master Wuchen sighed: "The heart of a person without love is a desert. He turns a blind eye to the sufferings of the world. Even if he sees them, he will choose to be a bystander."
"It would be fine if these people were just ordinary people, but if they are powerful people with profound cultivation, once they suffer injustice and feel that the world is dark, they may become more dangerous than the villains."
Seeing his disciple's bewildered face, Master Wu Chen said nothing more: "You will understand in the future."
After Hua Changxi left Xiangguo Temple, he did not go back to the Medical Department directly, but flew to Lingguang Hall on a cloud. After arriving at the main hall of Lingguang Hall, he immediately checked his body.
Although she didn't sense any ill will from the three people, the matter of the black fish pattern still made her feel a little uneasy.
After checking everything inside and out, even the Nascent Soul in the Dantian Qi Sea, Hua Changxi breathed a sigh of relief only after making sure there was nothing unusual. However, when she thought of the black fish pattern that flashed by on the back of her right hand, she was still a little hesitant.
"Awakening."
"It will only appear at a specific time, so what is that specific time?"