The Examination Begins (Part Two)

The rear courtyard of the Debate Hall was a grove, planted thickly with great trees in imitation of Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Garden.

The final debates would take place here.

Many rush cushions lay on the ground in this debating courtyard.

Beneath the oldest tree.

Stood four Dharma Thrones.

The temperature difference between day and night in the Secret Dharma Region was immense. At this moment, the sun was just rising. In a while, it would be the hottest part of the day, when the monks were drenched in sweat and drowsy. That would also be when the debates among the Sutra Student Monks outside reached their conclusions.

The Sutra Student Monks who emerged victorious from their classes would enter here in succession, sit on the rush cushions, and debate.

Fortunately, the courtyard had many tall trees.

At that time, this would instead be the most "comfortable" place, far better than being outside beneath the blazing sun with nowhere to take shelter.

Beneath the tallest, oldest tree stood four Dharma Thrones.

At this moment, the tallest and most exalted of the four Dharma Thrones was empty.

It was cushioned with yellow brocade and white silk, also suggesting a lotus throne.

It was even inlaid with emeralds, pearls, and agates, a magnificent sight.

That was a seat where only this temple's Abbot Venerable could sit.

Even more beautiful than this Dharma Throne was the Abbot Venerable's Dharma dais, a symbol of the transmission of the Dharma Lineage. It represented not merely splendor, but also majesty and power.

Besides it stood three other Dharma Thrones. Someone was already seated on one of them: a senior monk with bare shoulders, dressed in deep red monastic robes. He occupied the third seat in order, revealing his exceptionally distinguished standing.

It was no illusion. As Lu Feng walked in, the senior monk who had long since taken his seat saw him. More precisely, he might have come specifically for Lu Feng.

Upon seeing Lu Feng, he said, "You are Zhasa of Ganye Temple?"

Lu Feng hurriedly pressed his palms together and bowed. "In answer to you, Lama, this humble monk is Zhasa of Ganye Temple."

Standing beside Lu Feng, Master Zhiyun also bowed to this man.

"Martial Uncle Mingfa."

Master Zhiyun spoke quickly, his manner exceedingly respectful.

"Elder Mingfa."

Lu Feng also hurried to address him.

Paying Lu Feng no further attention, he stared at Zhiyun and said, "What is this, Zhiyun? You intend to take this child as your attendant monk?"

Elder Mingfa's disregard for Lu Feng was neither arrogance nor deliberate dismissal.

It was simply how things ought to be.

Were it not for this sudden incident, a Sutra Student Monk like Zhasa would never have registered in his eyes.

Were Zhasa not valued by someone now, with Elder Mingli constantly by his side.

He would not even have needed to lift a hand himself to skin Zhasa alive.

Those beneath him would have acted on his wishes and done it themselves.

This, too, was called divining the wishes of one's superiors.

Neither of them could straighten his back while speaking to Mingfa.

Lu Feng did not straighten up. He remained bent at the waist in an extremely uncomfortable posture.

Because he saw that Zhiyun was doing the same.

However, Master Zhiyun seemed to be bent not out of respect, but because he was being "forcibly suppressed" and could not straighten up.

Huge beads of sweat kept falling from his head and seeping into the ground, yet he still dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. Instead, he said, "You misunderstand, Martial Uncle Mingfa. That is not the case.

"The abbot's intention is that, since this child has yet to take his vows, he should do so after attaining an 'immovable mind.' His Yidam will be chosen according to the heavenly stem and earthly branch of his birth year, or his birth year and month. If that does not work, his sex and temperament will be used to choose his Yidam."

"Then his Lama will be selected based on the Yidam he chooses."

Master Zhiyun continued speaking "with utmost respect."

"Oh?"

Elder Mingfa seemed somewhat surprised. He said, "To think that the matter of a mere Sutra Student Monk choosing a Lama for his empowerment could draw the Abbot Venerable's attention?

"What a rare occurrence.

"I would like to see just what is so special about this Sutra Student Monk that he could catch the Abbot Venerable's discerning eye.

"Could it be that, after all these years, I have been like a horse-appraising monk without eyes, misjudging a fine young colt?

"If I truly misjudged him, that is no matter either."

Elder Mingfa said, "Then why don't I become this Sutra Student Monk's Lama? With my abilities, serving as a Sutra Student Monk's Abhisheka Lama would be more than within my means!"

"Even the Abbot Venerable ought to grant me that much face!"

Elder Mingfa spoke lightly, then extended a hand.

"You there, Sutra Student Monk. Come, come, come!"

"Let me examine your root bone."

"Let me examine your true nature."

Every utterance of "come" carried an irresistible, strange allure that compelled one to move forward. Behind him, a compassionate, kindly Green Tara seemed to be summoning Lu Feng over.

Upon hearing Elder Mingfa's summons.

Master Zhiyun's pupils dilated in horror.

He said repeatedly, "Martial Uncle Mingfa, you mustn't, you mustn't!"

Lu Feng felt only that an utterly dark black hole had appeared before his eyes, as though all light and color lost their meaning within it.

He unconsciously walked toward it.

One step.

Two steps.

Then he stopped.

A senior monk who had passed the fifth-stage scholarly degree and cultivated this temple's Great Mudra to the Sixth Stage of the Gradual Path was someone whose actions Lu Feng could not possibly resist. Even Master Zhiyun could do nothing. Yet, unexpectedly, Lu Feng had actually stopped.

No images had appeared on the Ancient Scroll even now.

But the Ancient Scroll had still protected Lu Feng's last thread of awareness.

Lu Feng once again felt the Ancient Scroll grow hot, and he regained some clarity. Horrified, he could only silently invoke the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra!

Om mani padme hum.

Om mani padme hum.

Om mani padme hum.

After an unknown number of invocations, Lu Feng's Ancient Scroll actually allowed him to stop his legs-but this was also because what he faced was enticement.

Even now, Elder Mingfa had not used force!

"Om!"

Seeing that the other party would not move, an image of a Great Terror deity seemed to appear in Lama Mingfa's pupils. It was somewhat weaker than the "White Vajra" enshrined by Master Zhuogedunzhu, yet the sense of terror it inspired surpassed that of the "White Vajra."

This was a "seed."

Once it fell into Lu Feng's heart, sooner or later he would become a living corpse, someone else's puppet.

At that very moment.

Came the sound of an iron rod striking the ground.

Every strange phenomenon vanished completely, and that seed, too, was burned to ash by wrathful fire.

Another senior monk walked in from outside the courtyard, and Zhiyun also straightened his back.

"Senior Brother Mingzhi!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, even Elder Mingfa had to rise and bow to him.

This man wore an extremely sumptuous outfit with a shoulder vest, resembling a suit of armor. Several Dharma-protecting Lamas followed beside him, carrying his ritual implements.

He looked round and plump, entirely unthreatening, yet he was the highest-ranking Judicial Monk in the entire temple.

The elder of the Discipline Hall.

Mingzhi!

Elder Mingzhi looked at Mingfa, then glanced at Zhiyun. "Enough. The Abbot Venerable will be here soon. Sit down, all of you."

Having spoken, he took the second seat in order.

And remained utterly still.