Immovable Yidam, Witness to Emptiness

On Lu Feng's Ancient Scroll, the ghosts that had originally appeared in the Endless White Pagoda Temple on the rear mountain had vanished without a trace after he left the temple. But when he arrived in the village, it depicted a Malevolent Ghost hiding behind the scripture banners, parting them with both hands to peer outside.

Its appearance was hazy and indistinct.

There was only an extraordinarily lifelike sense of something peering out.

But now, those invisible hands were painting on the scroll again. This time, the painting was very rough: an eye appeared in a sky that looked as though it had been piled together, peering down.

No matter how well someone hid, they could not escape that eye's scrutiny.

It even felt as though this eye would seep out through the Ancient Scroll, emerge from it, and multiply on other people's bodies, making them vessels for its eyes. Unfortunately for it, Lu Feng's Ancient Scroll had no fear of such things. The eye could not even detect where the Ancient Scroll was.

The weather around them also changed. The wind in the night was like a host of unbridled black dragons, sweeping in from every direction. Windblown sand blinded the eyes, and, more frightening still, even the heavens seemed to change.

High above, great masses of clouds were dragged over the little village.

The packhorses could no longer be restrained. They broke free of the attendant monks' hands and fled in every direction. The gale was almost strong enough to carry people away, and a black storm instantly enveloped the entire village.

Elder Mingli remained unaware.

He did not even lift his eyelids and continued bestowing the empowerment upon Lu Feng. Great luminosity radiated from his hands and fell upon the crown of Lu Feng's head as he once again formed seals to empower him, granting the blessings and wisdom of the Buddhas. Sitting cross-legged, Lu Feng naturally uttered the fundamental Seed Syllable buried within his fundamental nature.

"Om!"

The Seed Syllable tumbled out of Lu Feng's lotus throne, rose with the wind from his vital breath, and turned into a brilliant radiance that poured from his mouth. His hands also formed a secret seal, resting one atop the other over his navel.

At this, "Elder Mingli" picked up the Kapala Bowl, found various medicinal ingredients in the chest, and placed them inside. After shaking and stirring them, he offered it up with both hands, bowed his head and bent at the waist, saying, "May the Plague Lord grant an offering."

As "Elder Mingli" spoke, the ritual curtains in the great hall began to flutter. After "Elder Mingli" had "requested alms," he advanced without feeling. Darkness as thick as ink poured from his body, and from within it extended a large hand drenched in blood.

There was also a Vajra Curved Knife in his hand. Powerful Ghost Resonance emanated from this "Plague Lord." Unfortunately, the great hand behind "Elder Mingli" was not tainted by any Ghost Resonance whatsoever. Quite the opposite: once his arm appeared, countless Malevolent Ghosts wailed upon it.

"Elder Mingli's" face now resembled a Malevolent Ghost's. Light from some unknown source fell upon him, leaving his whole body flesh-colored with an "azure-blue" cast.

A figure from some unknown place overlapped with him. Illusory visions appeared beside him from time to time, displaying all manner of "sacrifices."

After this arm appeared.

These phenomena grew even more intense!

The appearance of this arm seemed to terrify all the Malevolent Ghosts. The Malevolent Ghost within had no ability to resist at all, and the Vajra Curved Knife easily sliced off his head.

He let out a soundless "wail" that shook the surroundings. Even the earth nearby seemed to grieve at this Malevolent Ghost's injury!

The head rolled onto the ground, and "Elder Mingli" planted his foot upon it, assuming a "posture of subjugation"!

Even so, this Malevolent Ghost still had not died.

"Elder Mingli" had expected all of this. He held the Kapala Bowl in both hands, and another hand reached out from behind him. This other great azure-blue hand turned the headless Malevolent Ghost upside down and crushed him with force!

"Blood" fell into the Kapala Bowl.

It mixed with the medicinal ingredients.

It gave off a repellent smell-not "stinking" or "nauseating," merely a discomfort with and instinctive revulsion toward another kind of "extreme."

At this, "Elder Mingli" also crushed the Malevolent Ghost's head beneath his foot. A wave of "eerie aura" vanished.

It entered Lu Feng's body.

"Elder Mingli" noticed none of this either. But when he went to "measure" the medicinal ingredients, he discovered that there was a little less "blood" inside.

He hefted it in both hands, testing its weight.

There was less.

It should have been seven qian. Now there was less!

The "fresh blood" inside was not "fresh blood." Malevolent Ghosts had no fresh blood.

This was the entire Malevolent Ghost's "essence," the reason and meaning of his existence.

Having done all this, "Elder Mingli" walked out holding the Kapala Bowl and looked at the other ghostly beings standing in the courtyard.

Besides Lu Feng, there was now one more thing in the courtyard.

It was that black goat.

When the black goat saw "Elder Mingli" emerge, it lowered its head, aimed at the wall of the great hall, and charged into it hard without a backward glance!

There was a crisp crack.

The goat had actually dashed itself to death against the wall.

Even its neck was crooked.

It lay dead on the spot!

"Elder Mingli" was not surprised. He merely cut off the goat's head and carried the bloody thing over to Lu Feng, continuing to collect goat's blood in the Kapala Bowl to make up the weight.

Only after confirming that it weighed exactly seven qian did he bring the Kapala Bowl to Lu Feng's lips. "Drink this."

After Lu Feng drank it, tremendous Ghost Resonance immediately swept through his entire body!

"Elder Mingli" remained motionless at the sight, watching this Ghost Resonance enter Lu Feng's body and rapidly manifest upon him.

Lu Feng was about to turn from a living person into a Malevolent Ghost!

"Elder Mingli" immediately chanted a secret mantra and placed the goat's head on Lu Feng's body.

Blood dripped from the goat's head. Copious blood covered Lu Feng's body, turning into one secret mantra after another. Mingling with "Elder Mingli's" secret mantra, they seeped into Lu Feng's body, boring straight inside!

The milky whiteness around Lu Feng suddenly dispersed! It turned into individual lotus petals, guarding him on all sides!

It turned out that Lu Feng had been within the chakra beneath his navel all along!

He had merely been deceived by a delusive barrier earlier and fallen into an "obstruction."

Now, the view before Lu Feng suddenly opened up. Beneath his feet, every lotus petal was covered in the incomparably sublime "Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra." The entire lotus throne began to turn, and every revolution brought boundless merit. Outside, Lu Feng formed a practice seal with both hands, while brilliant light shone beneath his navel!

The "Om" in his mouth was even more deep and resonant, as though countless secret mantras and words of truth were hidden within it.

Even monks who had never cultivated could see the golden light shining from beneath his navel!

Hearing his "Om," they too would feel their hearing sharpen and their vision clear, their wisdom growing.

At this, "Elder Mingli" struck Lu Feng on the head and barked decisively, "Now, open your eyes, Yongzhen! Seeing me today is as seeing the Yidam!

"I am your Yidam! You must obey my words without the slightest delay. Do you understand?"

Hearing this.

Lu Feng suddenly opened his eyes. But at that moment, the Ancient Scroll against his chest was extraordinarily hot, so hot that even he could not endure it, making him shudder involuntarily.

After that shudder, he saw that there was nothing before him.

Only "Elder Mingli's" voice rang out.

Yet there was not the slightest trace of the Yidam he was supposed to see!

He could see everything around him, including the Kapala Bowl with blood still remaining inside, and the headless goat carcass lying dead beside him.

Only the Lama before him, bestowing empowerment upon him.

He could see nothing at all.

It was as though everything were an illusory dream.

Sorry, sorry. I looked up a little information and was a bit late.