Lu Feng answered, "I shall faithfully obey your instructions, Lama."
Elder Mingli nodded.
Lu Feng knew that, whatever the reason, once Elder Mingli became his Yidam Lama, his words were equivalent to those of the "Yidam." Whatever he said had to be followed in accordance with the Dharma, without the slightest delay, and Lu Feng could conceal nothing from his Yidam Lama.
As a monk who had received empowerment.
He had to revere and love his Yidam Lama as he would the Yidam himself.
Lu Feng pressed his palms together and prostrated himself before Monk Mingli, who gladly accepted. As Lu Feng's Yidam Lama, he was entitled to such observance. In theory, he and the monk before him were bound together; whatever happened, if disaster befell Monk Mingli, Lu Feng would inevitably be implicated.
If disaster befell Lu Feng, Monk Mingli might also be implicated. For now, though, Monk Mingli appeared to be a good teacher, because his very first move had brought Lu Feng a cushy post. Judging by Monk Yongli's earlier conduct, this clerk's position was very leisurely, and visits from elder-level senior monks were probably uncommon.
There was also spare money to be had, and perhaps even an offering.
Otherwise, Monk Yongli would not have behaved so outrageously here.
Acting without restraint.
A monk like Lu Feng.
Could have four to six attendant monks.
The temple permitted this. A senior monk such as Elder Mingli was allowed an "official residence," complete with all its facilities, including servant monks and clerks who worked for him. The temple supported the servant monks, so Elder Mingli did not have to trouble himself over them.
Lu Feng was different, however. For a higher-ranking monk like him to have six or so servant monks, he needed the backing of his Dharma Lineage's temple, considerable abilities of his own, or a monastic official's post supported by the temple. Only then could he maintain servant monks of his own.
The number of servant monks he had depended on his own abilities; it was not something the temple arranged. Lu Feng had known none of this. Elder Mingli explained it all to him in detail. Moreover, as Mingli's disciple, Lu Feng possessed many powers that could not be openly stated but were nonetheless real.
Zhiyun left with the man and the corpse. Though only a door separated them, Zhiyun would not listen to what was said inside, because Elder Mingli's intention was clear: he wanted to speak privately with his disciple about matters that could only be discussed behind closed doors. Naturally, Zhiyun would not be so tactless as to deliberately eavesdrop.
On this subject, Monk Mingli also told Lu Feng frankly that the discipline monks of the Discipline Hall were a group vested with tremendous judicial authority within the temple, and their head was Elder Mingzhi. Elder Mingli was his deputy. Though born a slave servant, Monk Mingli also owned six estates and several thousand slaves in Achubu Prefecture outside the temple.
The discipline monks did not merely wield exclusive authority within the temple.
Outside the temple, their power only grew greater, never smaller. Even monks banished from the Endless White Pagoda Temple could lord it over others in its affiliated temples outside.
Elder Mingli knew all this. Although he was a deputy with Elder Mingzhi above him, Elder Mingzhi did not concern himself with affairs. Matters great and small were all managed by his deputy, Elder Mingli.
These slaves supported Monk Mingli alone. If something happened to him, Lu Feng could inherit some of his authority. At the very least, Lu Feng could take over some of the forces Monk Mingli had painstakingly cultivated.
All of this was power.
Power that could let Lu Feng ascend to heaven in a single step.
Lu Feng listened to it all without a ripple in his heart, knowing none of this came for free. The reason Monk Mingli had chosen him as a disciple was...
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"I will perform a blessing empowerment for you. To complete the first level of blessing empowerment, you must fast for one day and one night, wash, bathe, and meditate.
"Only then can I empower you.
"And after your first empowerment, until your third, you must not eat beef, mutton, or dog meat, approach women, or defy your Lama. Most importantly, your state of mind must not waver in the slightest."
If Lu Feng wanted to practice the King Mingzhu Dharma Lineage, the Lama for his first level of empowerment could only be Mingli.
"I want you to inherit my mantle, carry on my Dharma Lineage, and shelter my descendants."
Elder Mingli fixed Lu Feng with a needle-sharp gaze, making him feel an overwhelming pressure.
As for the higher empowerments.
Lama Mingli did not tell Lu Feng who would administer them.
But Mingli knew very well that many who wished to practice the King Mingzhu Dharma Protector Mantra spent their entire lives stuck at the first stage-the first empowerment and offering. They never advanced their practice any further. Over all these years, apart from Mingli himself, who had progressed further in his practice.
The other monks had all stopped after a mere taste.
Mingli was currently the same, having stopped advancing his practice. But his failure to progress further was not out of fear; it was because he had yet to find a way back.
So, upon meeting Lu Feng.
He said bluntly, "The King Mingzhu Dharma Protector Mantra is the foremost supreme protector mantra of the Original Dharma Temple. Even now, the number of people who have mastered it is no more than one finger's count, and those who can withstand its empowerment are one in a hundred.
"I once took six disciples."
At this point, he pointed to his prayer beads of six skulls and said, "None of them withstood the first empowerment. Before they even visualized King Mingzhu, merely visualizing me as their Yidam Lama turned them into Malevolent Ghosts and shattered their 'Immovable Mind.'
"So I subjugated all six disciples and made them my Dharma Protectors.
"You are the seventh, and the most promising. I want you to inherit my Dharma Lineage."
After saying this, Elder Mingli continued sternly, "Because making offerings to King Mingzhu requires offering yourself. What is required is a 'Mind Offering.'
"First, offer up your 'fear,' your 'wrath,' your 'love and hatred,' and your 'sense of gain and loss.' Then give your six consciousnesses, the four emptinesses, the six emptinesses, and the sixteen emptinesses.
"Offer them up step by step. The slightest error will turn you into a Malevolent Ghost, forever denied rebirth."
After speaking, Elder Mingli took out an ivory token. Wisps of intangible Ghost Resonance coiled and circled over it, carving and writing. Then Elder Mingli hung it at Lu Feng's waist and said, "You are now my disciple, as well as the monastic official here. Find yourself an attendant monk.
"Your stipend should support one monk. Simply have your attendant monk come here to work each day. Go fast and practice. After one day and one night, come to the Mandala on the mountain behind the temple.
"I will perform your blessing empowerment at the King Mingzhu Mandala. Do not think comprehending 'Immovable Mind' was already perilous enough."
Elder Mingli said, "I do not mind having another skull here. The scripture debate is held once a year. I still have time."
With that, Elder Mingli left.
After walking out of the watchtower, Lu Feng took a deep breath and continued silently reciting the mantra, advancing his practice.
When there was no other choice.
He only had to walk the one remaining road.
That was also the sole advantage of having no choice.
There was no need to worry about matters that were not his to worry about.
Do well with what lay before him.
Before you continue