CHAPTER 552: CHAPTER 507: ZEN JADE DISC, THE REAL DEAL, ARHAT BROS!

Afterward, he ignored the noise of the crowd, unable to hear clearly.

Turning instead to face the Book Cliff, he bowed with clasped hands and fists to give thanks:

"Thanks to Ancestor Master Kasyapa’s guidance, grateful to the high monks, Amitabha..."

Then, standing there, he internalized it, consolidating the martial principles of the Buddhist Sect he had gained.

Seeing this scene, Venerable Shi, who was watching beside him, smiled knowingly.

To understand gratitude, the matter of taking refuge in the Buddhist Sect seems more assured...

He then uttered a Buddhist name to disperse the monks.

Venerable Shi had spoken, so the crowd had no choice but to leave reluctantly, looking back every few steps.

Their gazes towards Meng Chuan were filled with envy, curiosity, admiration, and defiance...

After they left, the monks couldn’t help but discuss among themselves:

"Amitabha... could it be that Ancestor Master Kasyapa passed down the supreme Buddhist scriptures to him?"

"Not so, how could an outsider comprehend the wonders of Buddhist scriptures?"

"Senior brother, you may not know, but out in the world, he is already renowned, known as the most famous martial genius in Great Chu today.

Accomplished in every way, he may well be a natural Buddha child wandering outside our temple."

"...that’s a bit exaggerated."

Some Shaolin disciples were so focused on Buddhist teachings that they didn’t even own a smartphone, naturally unaware of the outside world.

"Indeed, not long ago, he made headlines.

With the body of a mortal, he could subdue the so-called Great Demon..."

"Blessings upon blessings, not of this world..."

For a time, the fame of Meng Chuan.

His enlightenment at the Book Cliff spread to Shaolin, leaving a deep impression.

...

Meng Chuan digested the Buddhist principles, feeling deeply moved.

He pondered in his heart:

"In the future, when I practice those two high-difficulty hard skills of Buddhist teachings, my proficiency should improve at a faster pace."

But it’s still not enough, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

He was lacking much in this path and needed to supplement it.

At the same time.

Seeing his realization complete, Venerable Shi slowly landed beside him.

Meng Chuan had long been aware that a high monk was always beside him, protecting him.

At this moment, while expressing his gratitude, he observed for an instant.

The monk’s robe was orange-yellow and simple, the wide sleeves drooping with a hint of solemnity.

Only the cuffs were adorned with faint cloud patterns, his eyes clear as an autumn stream, his presence exuding harmonious solemnity.

At a glance, he was a high monk who had attained the Dao.

"Junior Meng Chuan from the Northern United University inadvertently disturbed the high monk’s tranquility, please forgive me."

Venerable Shi nodded and said:

"This humble monk is Shi Xinghuai, known to the world as [Empty Dust Guardian]; I have seen your visit letter.

You just came to Shaoshi Mountain yesterday, and you’ve already gained enlightenment at the Book Cliff, Amitabha, young donor has a great root of wisdom."

Meng Chuan knew this Shaolin Venerable was also a renowned Shaolin master.

"...Venerable Shi flatters me."

After experiencing the matter of Wugen Sheng Lin Yue.

The more he heard about "roots," the more he felt something was off...

Dao root, wisdom root, Imperial City root...

These sorts of things didn’t sound like compliments...

Venerable Shi clasped his hands together:

"This time you came to Shaoshi Mountain, it’s precisely because the Buddha thought in your heart is blooming in a bright place, guided by the summons of your inner heart, blessings..."

"...blessings."

Then there’s superstition, it’s not that mystical...

Subsequently, he cast aside the distracting thoughts in his mind and responded:

"Venerable’s insight, this junior does not understand these things, just long admired the Shaolin classics for a long time, wanted to come to the mountain to learn a thing or two."

Initiating, still with green tea rhetoric.

Saying too much leads to mistakes, if he’s driven down, that would be uncomfortable...

Venerable Shi nodded, smiling:

"Young friend wholeheartedly turns to the Buddha, I suppose you will surely gain some insights in the future."

"Blessings upon blessings..."

"Come, I’ll take you up the mountain, do you have a place to go?"

"My master and Dharma Master Bai Bao have an old acquaintance, he told me to first go there to pay my respects."

Venerable Shi was somewhat surprised, his brow furrowing:

"Amitabha, Divine Monk Bai Bao is our Shaolin’s unparalleled celestial king of the contemporary era, young friend, when you go, hope you study diligently."

"Understood."

All the wonders of the outer mountain had been seen, and there wasn’t much left to visit elsewhere.

Meng Chuan then followed him up the mountain.

The two moved quickly, even though the mountain path was rugged, he still followed with steps covering tens of meters.

Yet Venerable Shi, at the front, though walking slowly, always remained half a step ahead of him.

Meng Chuan understood, it must be the body technique divine power of Shrinking Ground into Inches.

Venerable Shi walked leisurely, then turned his head and asked:

"Young donor, at Kasyapa Ancestor Master, what did you comprehend?"

Thinking that Meng Chuan could actually learn martial arts from enlightenment, he couldn’t help but ask.

He replied:

"Apart from a secret technique, there are also some martial principles of the Buddhist Sect, I could only grasp some superficial ones, better not to say them and make Venerable laugh."

"Blessings... young friend, the scene of vitality entering your body, how did it happen?"

"Senior, it’s related to the secret technique passed down by Ancestor Master Kasyapa."

"What secret technique?"

"Formless Sutra."

"Formless Sutra?"

"Formless Sutra secret technique."

After going around for a while, Venerable Shi became even more puzzled...

[Formless Sutra] was indeed stored in the Sutra Library, he had also studied it, it belonged to the category of Grand Freedom Heart Sutra Spell.

Its relation to martial arts and secret techniques seemed not great...

"Young friend, could you recite it to me?"

Venerable Shi wanted to hear the differences in this Formless Sutra, could it still be a case of the real and fake Monkey King?

"No problem."

Kasyapa was, after all, an Ancestor Master of Shaolin, from whom he received this secret technique.

Returning it to Shaolin was within the duties.

After listening to Meng Chuan recite the scripture, Venerable Shi pondered.

Moments later, his eyes brightened.

He understood why Meng Chuan had an epiphany.

He pondered in his heart:

"Ancestor Master Kasyapa actually holds another affinity’s Formless Scripture, calling it a Secret Technique, which is indeed not an exaggeration..."

He said to Meng Chuan:

"Donor Meng, for being able to retrieve the lost scriptures for our temple, you deserve a great merit, well done..."

"Venerable Shi exaggerates, I am already immensely grateful to be able to learn."

There were no other rewards.

Meng Chuan worried that Venerable Shi, like Ancestor Master Kasyapa, could also analyze faces with "mind-reading" skills.

So he refrained from overthinking it...

These great abilities in mental ways could often analyze human thoughts through body sensations and expressions.

The matter of the panel was too mysterious, and Venerable Shi definitely couldn’t think of it.

But if he grumbled inwardly about Shaolin’s stinginess, he would most likely notice...

However, Meng Chuan didn’t care much and quickly forgot about it.

He went up the mountain today to study the Buddhist martial studies and martial arts.

With a layer of "reciprocity," it is expected that the path of learning would be much smoother.

...

Back mountain.

After bidding farewell to Venerable Shi, Meng Chuan strolled through Shaolin alone.

Earlier at the back mountain’s gatekeeper, he had already exchanged a visiting letter for a "Bodhidharma Zen Jade Disc."

Zen Jade Disc, Copper Token, and Sandalwood Talisman.

These are the three types of Shaolin tokens.

The jade disc in his hand was only the size of a bottle cap.

Carved from warm jade, it displayed the image of Ancestor Master Bodhidharma meditating facing a wall.

Its texture was delicate to the touch, which warmed his hand, serving as proof for seeking education at the temple.

The copper token was of the second tier, with the holder regarded as an honored guest within the temple.

The sandalwood talisman was the lowest, only used for entrance to and exit from Shaolin Martial Arts University.

Rubbing the jade disc twice, Meng Chuan placed it into the tiger head waist badge.

Venerable Shi also used his power to imprint a red stamp on it.

With this stamp, except for secluded areas meant for senior monks and key places within the temple,

Shaolin Martial Arts University was accessible without obstruction.

Of course, the Sutra Library was naturally one of the key places of Shaolin...

The one he longed for the most was to freely read scriptures in the Sutra Library.

Venerable Shi did not grant this right.

The other party didn’t mention it, so he dared not ask...

But it was fine, for he had the connection with Master Bai Bao, so it should not be a significant issue...

Earlier, Venerable Shi had directed the location of the Moon Platform Garden.

Along the way, Meng Chuan was not in a hurry, strolling and exploring.

People who had just seen him at the Book Cliff greeted him incessantly, offering guidance:

"Senior Brother, turning left ahead is our real Grand Hall of Shaolin. It’s a bit different from the outside, and you can go inside to visit."

"Got it, thank you...to this Junior Brother."

"Well done, Junior Brother will take his leave now."

From hearing Meng Chuan’s words, he contributed another martial arts secret technique to Shaolin.

With this kindness, pointing the way was no big deal.

After expressing his gratitude, Meng Chuan followed the direction toward the "authentic" Grand Hall.

In fact, this kind of thing, involving two versions of an important religious building of a sect,

is practiced by both Tao and Buddhist sects.

One is located outside for tourism and admiration, used to offer to the Immortals and Buddhas, frequented by pilgrims, scented with incense and smoke.

The other is hidden in the "heartland," where both Tao and Buddhist sects conduct their rites for inviting the Immortals and Buddhas for worship.

Though they differ in name, the Taoists call it Zhaijiao and the Buddhists call it Mass Service...

Therefore, only by going to Shaolin’s internal Grand Hall could he see the "real thing"...

...

The Grand Hall.

The vermillion gates stood tall, with the golden bodies of the Three Buddhas seated centrally, solemn and dignified.

Candlelight flickered, sandalwood incense lingered, with Arhats lining the entrance, the entire hall was grave and majestic.

Meng Chuan was deeply shaken upon stepping inside.

"The demonic influence on the Eighteen Arhats seems to have affected Shaolin as well..."

In the lineup, several figures were noticeably missing.

The Buddhist sect has many Arhats, with a maximum number of five hundred.

The Eighteen Arhats are specific representatives within the Arhat group, and thus he did not dare to make hasty conclusions.

He had already done his homework on this.

As per Buddhist tales,

the five hundred Arhats generally refer to the five hundred Bhikkhus who participated in the first Buddhist council after the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha, passed into Nirvana.

Additionally, there’s a belief aspect to it.

Five hundred Arhats are regarded as representative figures who achieved true fruition among Buddha’s many disciples, with their names and titles affixed by later generations.

As for the Eighteen Arhats, there’s no multitude of views.

Originally they were "Sixteen Arhats," the sixteen disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha.

They were entrusted by Shakyamuni Buddha.

To refrain from entering Nirvana, to always stay in the world to uphold the true Dharma, hence gaining fame among the five hundred Arhats.

Subsequently, two more Arhats emerged, bringing the number to Eighteen Arhats.

They are revered as "Subduing Dragons" and "Taming Tigers."

Meng Chuan had his understanding of why this occurred.

"The two stood out in the incense belief among the five hundred Arhats.

They naturally joined the Little Sixteen Arhat group, becoming the Eighteen Arhats..."

After all, in the reality threatened by the Celestial Demon, the five hundred Bhikkhus have mostly become a collective term.

Regardless of demonic influence, they are gradually fading in the minds of ordinary people.

Meng Chuan speculated that this was probably another method by Great Chu to counteract the demonic influence.

The Zen Ancestor Land quietly complied.

After greeting a few Arhat buddies, he slowly walked into the hall to observe.

The central seat hosted the Shakyamuni Buddha of the Sahā world.

On the left side, the Medicine Buddha of the Eastern Glazed World.

To the right was Amitabha of the Western Pure Land.

Meng Chuan knew well these three supreme Immortals and Buddhas.

Moreover, he saw an old acquaintance to the left of Shakyamuni...

The attendant on the right was unfamiliar.

On the left, it was the statue of Ancestor Master Kasyapa, whom he had just seen at the Book Cliff...