Seeing Meng Zhao reveal a noncommittal expression, Monk Huikong's face did not look good either. He said,
"If Dragon King Meng does not believe me, then I shall give you this secret Buddhist technique, this method of Artifact Spirit Cultivation. You may judge and consider it yourself. How about that?"
Only then did Meng Zhao nod. Even if he did not accept the Hengshun Bell, obtaining a secret Buddhist technique from Monk Huikong—an extremely advanced method involving Primordial Spirit cultivation—would still be a sure profit with no loss.
Monk Huikong could see it now: Meng Zhao was the sort who would not release the hawk until he saw the rabbit. He could only use voice transmission to pass this secret Buddhist technique on to Meng Zhao.
In truth, the essential formulae were not numerous and did not appear overly complicated. It was simply extraordinarily difficult to enter the path. After all, one had to begin with the Primordial Spirit. Even Great Grandmasters found it difficult to cultivate it. Secret martial arts whose threshold was the Heavenly Being realm were truly few and far between.
According to Monk Huikong, this method originated from Esoteric Buddhism. A great Chan master had created it by drawing upon the methods of Esoteric Buddhism's Joyful Zen.
Joyful Zen had similarities with, yet also differences from, the Daoist School's dual cultivation methods.
It placed greater emphasis on the state of joy, tranquility, and serenity that arose in the heart after consummation. Through this, one stirred the buddha-mind, saw through the barriers of emotion and human desire, and diligently cultivated the great path of Buddhist Dharma. It was a supreme method, pure yet not licentious, and also contained the principles of yin and yang joining and mutually aiding one another.
However, because many people lacked sufficient concentration