The Scripture Recitation Hall.
Li Changfeng followed Abbot Hongchen into a large hall, where a magnificent golden Buddha statue, several tens of feet tall, stood majestically. Incense and candles were offered around it, and a group of disciples were chanting sutras while striking a wooden fish.
Abbot Hongchen handed Li Changfeng a copy of the Diamond Sutra and had him sit on a futon. "You will stay here and recite the Diamond Sutra six hours every day, carefully feeling the true meaning and principles contained in this sutra! This will help dissolve the negative energy within your body!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng was immediately shocked. "Six... six hours! Abbot Hongchen, you're not joking, are you?! Apart from eating, drinking, and relieving myself, I've been chanting scriptures here the whole time!!"
Abbot Hongchen said gravely with a stern face, "This is the only way to save you! Even six hours a day might not be enough to save you. It also depends on your understanding of Buddhism. If you don't want to die, then obediently recite the scriptures. I will also be there to recite scriptures and bless you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng felt a heavy weight in his heart. He hadn't expected that he had been so severely corrupted by the malevolent energy. He could only grit his teeth and agree to the request.
Li Changfeng then calmed down, slowly opened the Diamond Sutra, and began to recite it. Before he could finish a few lines, he felt a surge of irritation in his heart. A demonic energy was causing him to go berserk, and he even had an urge to destroy everything. His pupils even turned slightly red.
Upon seeing this, Abbot Hongchen's eyes narrowed. While chanting sutras to bless the situation, he transmitted his voice, "Jue Kong!! Calm your mind! Do not be disturbed by external things!"
The Abbot Hongchen's telepathic message was like a sudden blow to the head, echoing in Li Changfeng's ears and continuously reverberating in his mind.
The sudden words jolted Li Changfeng awake, filling him with alarm. He hadn't expected that just a few words could trigger his inner demons, and that things had gotten so serious!
Li Changfeng's face was solemn as he chanted the sutras more earnestly, slowly trying to understand the true meaning and principles within them. However, after only a few lines, his inner demons began to erupt again, but the Abbot Hongchen realm, standing beside him, intimidated him and dispelled his distracting thoughts with chanting.
Each time Li Changfeng awoke from his inner demons, he was drenched in cold sweat and exhausted. He would then resume chanting scriptures. This continued for two hours before Li Changfeng could no longer hold on. His head was throbbing with pain, and he lay on the ground, gasping for breath.
Abbot Hongchen also looked extremely tired. He was chanting sutras and blessing the monks while occasionally giving Li Changfeng a sharp rebuke, which was very mentally and physically exhausting.
He said wearily, "Go home and get some rest today! Come back tomorrow! I'm a little exhausted too!"
Li Changfeng nodded with difficulty, and suddenly faint golden light slowly emanated from Li Changfeng body and flowed into Li Changfeng head.
He felt a refreshing coolness in his head, which dispelled the turbidity in Li Changfeng head and even relieved a lot of the pain. He felt extremely comfortable and lay on the ground with a look of enjoyment on his face.
Abbot Hongchen immediately noticed this, "These are... Buddhist Beads blessed by my Abbot brother, the abbot!!"
"Jue Kong! Quickly take the Buddhist Beads out of your Storage Ring!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng took out his Buddhist Beads without saying a word. He immediately felt an even stronger coolness enter his brain, making him feel refreshed!
Abbot Hongchen nodded upon seeing this, "Just as Jue Kong! From now on, you should take it with you every day when you chant sutras, no! You should keep it on your person every day, even when you're eating, drinking, or relieving yourself. This will be good for you!"
Li Changfeng nodded solemnly upon hearing this, "I understand!"
Upon hearing this, Abbot Hongchen slowly said, "Let's stop here for today! We'll continue tomorrow. I'm tired too, so I'll be leaving now!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng immediately stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Abbot Hongchen, you've worked so hard! Thank you so much!"
Upon hearing this, Abbot Hongchen waved his hand, saying, "You've done so much for Shaolin over the years! What I've done is nothing. I'm leaving; you don't need to see me off!"
After respectfully seeing Abbot Hongchen off, Li Changfeng went to eat something and then went back to his bedroom to rest.
The next morning.
Li Changfeng got up early, already aware of the danger he was in, so he arrived at the Scripture Recitation Hall early in the morning. Abbot Hongchen was there even earlier than him, waiting for him for a long time. The two greeted each other and began chanting.
With the calming effect of the Buddhist Beads, Li Changfeng was able to chant for a much longer period of time, up to a quarter of an hour. Then, his demonic thoughts began to erupt again, but he was able to get through it safely under the protection of Abbot Hongchen.
Four hours later.
Li Changfeng had reached his limit, which was much better than yesterday. Both of them looked exhausted and mentally drained. After saying goodbye to each other, they went back to rest.
One year later.
Li Changfeng had been able to hold on for six hours, but his inner demons still flared up, and the two of them felt extremely exhausted after each time they finished chanting the sutras.
However, the two of them did not come away empty-handed. Li Changfeng became much calmer and less prone to anger and irritability. He could now use his true energy and control it more skillfully. His energy concentration was also much stronger, and it was estimated that he could condense and compress it to a size of seventy-five zhang, making it even more powerful!
Abbot Hongchen's Buddhist teachings were even more profound. Every time he comforted Li Changfeng, it could be said to be suppressing demons. The more one suppresses and converts demons, the more profound one's understanding of Buddhism becomes. Therefore, Abbot Hongchen also benefited greatly from this.
"Ding! New main quest added: You must compress and condense your true qi to fifty zhang within three years to cope with the upcoming difficulties. Experience Points, Cultivation Points: 20 points!" The sudden system voice startled Li Changfeng.
The system had been silent for almost a year, and now it suddenly started ringing, and there was a hurdle to overcome, but no one knew what that hurdle was!
"Enough! There's no point in thinking too much! Since we're here, let's make the best of it!" Li Changfeng's mind was much calmer, neither impatient nor hasty, responding to all changes with unchanging strategies.
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Changfeng no longer needs Abbot Hongchen by his side; he can chant sutras alone for six hours. His temperament has greatly improved, and he can face everything calmly, without being impatient or hasty. All the resentment in his body has been cleared away.
Abbot Hongchen looked at Li Changfeng with a face full of relief, "You've finally overcome this difficulty!"
Li Changfeng said with great gratitude, "I am so grateful for Abbot Hongchen's careful protection over the years! Otherwise, I would probably have died suddenly from a qi deviation!"
Abbot Hongchen waved his hand. "Amitabha! I have also gained a lot! My understanding of Buddhism has improved a lot. In fact, helping demons is also helping oneself. By seeing the demons possessed by others, one can understand the existence of demons in one's own heart. Helping others is helping oneself!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng's face turned solemn. "This statement contains profound Buddhist teachings!"
Abbot Hongchen patted him on the shoulder and said calmly, "Take it in and savor it!"