Recaps

Lu Feng studied his Ancient Scroll and realized the scenes of Malevolent Ghosts were changing as his blessing from the Subjugation of Malevolent Ghosts neared its end. As night fell, he recited the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra in the dilapidated hall, unaware that six Malevolent Ghosts had gathered outside and the true danger had begun.

• Lu Feng examined the Ancient Scroll, confirmed that his three tasks remained incomplete, and questioned what the Fire Rooster Year's contamination meant.
• Lu Feng saw that the Chang Ghost and Tiger Ghost had filled his Ancient Scroll with wisdom that would last only a little over five more days.
• Lu Feng decided not to investigate the Malevolent Ghosts in the rear mountain's stupa burial grounds and hoped the Ancient Hall was free of them.
• As night fell, Lu Feng recited the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra while turning his Kapala rosary, whose beads became jade-white and held Malevolent Ghosts.
• Six Malevolent Ghosts formed from monks appeared outside the hall and tried to attack Lu Feng, but the Great Compassion Resonance pinned them outside as he remained unaware.

Lu Feng’s mantra practice awakened a compassionate mind, and he accidentally began a Fire Offering inside the abandoned mandala, setting the rear mountain ablaze. As the monastery’s elders sealed the exits to investigate, Lu Feng remained inside with the six Malevolent Ghosts.

• Lu Feng recited the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra and awakened a compassionate mind through the Kapala rosary’s empowerment.
• Lu Feng used luminous fire to begin a Fire Offering against the six Malevolent Ghosts outside the hall.
• The Fire Offering ignited the abandoned mandala and spread flames across the Ancient Hall and rear mountain.
• Zhiyun saw the fire but could not reach the locked rear mountain.
• Elder Mingfa ordered every entrance locked and forbade anyone, including Zhiyun, from leaving without his written order.

Lu Feng survived an abandoned Mandala’s fire offering by keeping his mind immovable, then awakened and subdued six Malevolent Ghosts through compassion. After a black sheep delivered a Thangka, he found its transmission lineage appeared broken within the Endless White Pagoda Temple.

• A fire offering in the abandoned Mandala caused Hungry Ghosts to devour Lu Feng’s body, senses, and consciousness while Great Terror assailed his mind.
• Lu Feng recited a single-syllable Secret Mantra, offered himself completely, and maintained an Immovable Mind through the ordeal.
• After the Great Offering, Lu Feng awakened and subdued the six Malevolent Ghosts linked to him by karma through Great Compassion Resonance.
• A black sheep brought Lu Feng a Thangka, which contained cultivation instructions but no yidam for empowerment.
• Lu Feng concluded that the Thangka’s Transmission Dharma Lineage was broken within the Endless White Pagoda Temple.

Lu Feng subdued six malevolent ghosts, gained an immovable mind, and spent the night safely inside the ancient hall. At dawn, the black sheep left, and Zhiyun arrived to check on him.

• Lu Feng examined the Thangka but put it away, deciding to wait until he knew more about its seed syllable and principal deity.
• He considered how his immovable mind and compassionate heart might help him withstand the Great Terror and approach King Mingzhu.
• Lu Feng tested the six ritual implements, finding that the butter lamp concealed him from ordinary malevolent ghosts and the Damaru soothed them.
• Lu Feng watched the black sheep outside the hall until sunrise, when it vanished into the darkness.
• Zhiyun hurried to the hall and asked whether Lu Feng had been safe; Lu Feng said the night had passed without incident.

Lu Feng completed the final step of becoming a monk in the Endless White Pagoda Temple as Monk Zhiyun outfitted him in red robes and ritual implements. After Lu Feng struck the Great Sutra Hall’s gong three times, the monks gathered for the Great Offering.

• Monk Zhiyun asked Lu Feng to protect his illegitimate son if the temple’s Lineage ever suffered calamity, then reflected on the many obstacles Lu Feng would face after earning his Kalyāṇamitra degree.
• Monk Zhiyun obtained three sets of red robes and ritual implements from the storehouse monk and had Lu Feng put on one set.
• Monk Zhiyun led Lu Feng to the Great Sutra Hall, where Elder Mingfa sat as Chief Seat and the monks watched.
• At Monk Zhiyun’s signal, Lu Feng struck the ritual gong three times, and the monks hurried to gather for the Great Offering.

Lu Feng watched the great offering proceed without disturbance, then told Zhiyun that he wished to worship King Mingzhu. Zhiyun warned him to consider carefully and pointed out another path of wisdom at the temple.

• The monks gathered in the Great Sutra Hall, where they received tea, rice porridge, and copper coins according to their rank and duties.
• Lu Feng observed the offering calmly as the monks followed the temple's rules and concluded with a hymn and bows.
• Elder Mingfa left before the final signal, and the other red-robed scripture monks followed him out.
• After the remaining monks departed, Zhiyun invited Lu Feng to choose a Lama and asked which Yidam he wished to worship.
• Lu Feng named King Mingzhu, and Zhiyun advised him to consider carefully because the temple also offered the Vajra Bodhi Mahā Mahāmudrā path.

Lu Feng chose King Mingzhu as his personal deity despite Zhiyun explaining the rare and demanding qualifications required, and Elder Mingli took him to register at the Scripture Institute. Elder Mingfa heard of Lu Feng’s progress but chose to wait for the Abbot Venerable’s coming death and the upheaval he expected to follow.

• Zhiyun warned Lu Feng that worshipping King Mingzhu required extraordinary spiritual qualities, but Lu Feng reaffirmed his deliberate choice.
• Elder Mingli gave Lu Feng a bag of offerings and asked about his Dharma name, personal deity, and Scripture Institute registration.
• Lu Feng said his Dharma name was Yongzhen, declared his wish to worship King Mingzhu, and followed Elder Mingli to register at the Scripture Institute.
• As they passed monks and slaves, Lu Feng quietly recited the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra, and Zhiyun and Elder Mingli noticed his compassion resonance.
• Elder Mingfa learned that Elder Mingli was taking Lu Feng to the Scripture Institute, dismissed the report, and continued waiting for the Abbot Venerable to pass into nirvana.

Elder Mingli registered himself as Yongzhen’s Yidam Lama and punished Yongli by banishing him to Bayang Village under a speech prohibition. After Zhiyun removed Yongli and the dead attendant, Mingli offered Yongzhen the monastery’s registration clerk position.

• Elder Mingli reprimanded Yongli for eating and drinking at work, then ordered him to leave the monastery and replace a monk in Bayang Village.
• Elder Mingli registered himself as Yongzhen’s Yidam Lama, with Zhiyun remaining silent about the arrangement.
• Elder Mingli placed a speech prohibition on Yongli, saying it would be lifted when he reached Bayang Village and met the monk there.
• Zhiyun took Yongli and the dead attendant away, leaving Elder Mingli to offer Yongzhen the registration clerk position.

Lu Feng became Elder Mingli’s disciple and monastic clerk, learning about Mingli’s power and the dangers of inheriting the King Mingzhu Dharma Lineage. The chapter ended with Lu Feng preparing to undergo his first empowerment, despite the risk of becoming a Malevolent Ghost.

• Lu Feng accepted Elder Mingli as his personal-deity Lama and learned that the bond brought obligations as well as access to Mingli’s authority and resources.
• Elder Mingli explained the discipline monks’ judicial power and said Lu Feng could inherit some of his estates and influence if anything happened to him.
• Elder Mingli instructed Lu Feng to fast and follow strict rules before receiving the first blessing empowerment for the King Mingzhu Dharma Protector Mantra.
• Elder Mingli revealed that his previous six disciples had become Malevolent Ghosts during their first empowerment and warned Lu Feng that failure could deny him rebirth.
• Elder Mingli gave Lu Feng an ivory token, appointed him a monastic clerk, and told him to find an attendant monk before coming to the mountain mandala for empowerment.
• After Elder Mingli left, Lu Feng continued reciting the mantra and resolved to follow the only path available to him.

Lu Feng settled into his new quarters as a senior monk and meditated on the Dharma Mandala gifted by the Black Sheep. The Black Sheep appeared in his room that night but could not find him, while the monks outside briefly showed signs of its influence.

• Lu Feng fasted and moved into private quarters with help from Monk Yongqing, sent by Elder Mingli.
• Lu Feng studied the Dharma Mandala and focused on the Black Sheep until the Ancient Scroll against his chest grew hot.
• Lu Feng awakened and used the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra, his Damaru, and Prayer Wheel as Ghost Resonance filled the room.
• The Black Sheep searched the room but could not find Lu Feng, while a yellow-robed monk outside began to rot.
• At sunrise, the Black Sheep left, and the yellow-robed monks recovered, though their eyes briefly turned square like sheep's eyes.

Lu Feng's great compassion resonance awakened the seventh lotus petal and transformed the six eminent monks' ghosts into his protectors as he used a mudra and mantra to purify the room. Outside, the ghosts summoned him to the Rear Mountain Stupa Burial Ground, while Monk Yongqing became a malevolent ghost after fleeing to report what he had seen.

• Six eminent monks' ghosts circled Lu Feng and their great compassion resonance opened the seventh lotus petal, pushing the yellow-robed ghosts away from his room.
• Monk Yongqing approached the door, sensed danger, and ran, while the yellow-robed monks' bones burst from their bodies and called Lu Feng to the Rear Mountain Stupa Burial Ground.
• Lu Feng saw the ghost resonance beneath the ground and absorbed milky-white light as the six eminent monks' ghosts honored him and prayed for him.
• Lu Feng formed several mudras and used the mantra "Mi," bringing great luminosity and stillness as the six ghosts became dharma protectors.
• Monk Yongqing felt his skin and flesh cut away, saw his body still running, and became a malevolent ghost.

Monk Yongqing transformed into a powerful Malevolent Ghost, while Lu Feng presented an invisible Thangka during questioning by Elder Mingli. When Mingli tried to reveal it, the Thangka’s power resisted him, and Lu Feng drew on the Ancient Scroll’s protection to contain its influence.

• Monk Yongqing regenerated with a thousand hands and eyes, and an invisible force seized the yellow-robed monks as the Discipline Lama arrived.
• Elder Mingli questioned Lu Feng, who explained that the black sheep had dug up a Thangka and placed it before him.
• Elder Mingli could not see the Thangka in Lu Feng’s hands, but believed his disciple and suspected it was connected to Monk Yongqing’s transformation.
• Elder Mingli formed the Six-Syllable Manjushri Sword Seal and recited a Secret Mantra, causing the Thangka to appear to Lu Feng.
• Elder Mingli summoned King Mingzhu’s wrathful presence, and mantra seals from the Thangka crawled toward Lu Feng’s hands.
• Lu Feng shut his eyes and focused on emptiness, as the Great Sun Tathagata’s image shrank into a Bindu and settled in his Umbilical Meridian Chakra.

Elder Mingzhi subdued Elder Mingli’s wrathful transformation, but Lu Feng’s Thangka vanished, prompting Elder Mingli to prepare a journey northwest to investigate ancient matters tied to Lu Feng. Elder Mingfa learned of the incident and revealed his intention to subjugate an unseen presence, advance his Dharma mastery, and eventually outlast the temple’s other monks.

• Lu Feng continued reciting a mantra as Elder Mingzhi beat back King Mingzhu’s hands and made offerings to calm Elder Mingli’s wrathful transformation.
• Elder Mingli returned to normal and told Elder Mingzhi that Lu Feng had been holding something, but Elder Mingzhi said he could not identify it or act against it.
• Elder Mingzhi left, and Elder Mingli saw that Lu Feng’s Thangka had disappeared and told him to prepare to leave the temple.
• Elder Mingli said they would travel northwest by packhorse to consult manor lords about ancient matters connected to Lu Feng.
• Elder Mingfa learned of the events, called them a severed Dharma Lineage, and told an unseen presence that he intended to subjugate it before going to Zajuben Temple.

Lu Feng traveled with Elder Mingli to the Ganing Lineage estate, where they hoped to learn how to resolve the malevolent ghost attached to him. As darkness fell, Elder Mingli revealed Sunrise Temple with a golden Great Sun and led the procession inside to rest.

• Lu Feng left the Endless White Pagoda Temple with Elder Mingli and recited a mantra to comfort the horse-tending monk who helped him mount.
• Elder Mingli explained that the Ganing Lineage served King Mingzhu as spirit shamans and said their prophecies might resolve Lu Feng's problem.
• Elder Mingli promised to teach Lu Feng the Immaculate Body Yoga Great Mudra so he could protect himself while unable to practice his King Mingzhu Dharma Protector Mantra.
• As dusk approached near Abian Village, Lu Feng spotted a black goat watching him from the darkness.
• When the Guide Monk could not find the great tree that marked Sunrise Temple, Elder Mingli summoned a golden Great Sun to reveal the tree and the temple.
• Elder Mingli ordered everyone to rest at Sunrise Temple and remained behind Lu Feng as the packhorses entered the village.

At Sunrise Temple, Lu Feng discovered that a Malevolent Ghost was confined inside the main hall and used his Great Compassion Resonance to help the coughing monks. Elder Mingli then performed a ritual that brought Lu Feng into deep meditation, where a principal deity formed as forces gathered around the temple.

• Lu Feng entered Sunrise Temple with Elder Mingli and found scripture pillars and drapes suppressing a Malevolent Ghost inside the main hall.
• The Malevolent Ghost’s resonance made attendant monks cough and develop pustules, but Lu Feng expelled the resonance from them and burned the resulting blood clots.
• Elder Mingli explained that the temple had acquired its Dharma Protector after a disgraced great monk was banished there, and that the surrounding village had dwindled.
• Elder Mingli bathed Lu Feng with safflower water and chanted as Lu Feng entered a profound meditative state.
• A principal deity formed in Lu Feng’s milky-white radiance as powerful winds swept toward the temple, and a figure from Lu Feng’s shadow merged with Elder Mingli’s shadow.

Lu Feng underwent Elder Mingli’s empowerment as a ghostly ritual unfolded around him, and the Ancient Scroll absorbed part of a Malevolent Ghost’s essence. After drinking the offering and breaking through the delusive barrier, Lu Feng opened his eyes but could see everything except the Yidam before him.

• A storm engulfed the village as an unseen eye appeared on Lu Feng’s Ancient Scroll, while Elder Mingli continued the empowerment.
• Elder Mingli’s body overlapped with a Plague Lord, who killed a Malevolent Ghost and crushed it, though some of its essence entered Lu Feng.
• A black goat charged into a wall and died, and Elder Mingli used its blood to bring the offering to seven qian before making Lu Feng drink it.
• Ghost Resonance began turning Lu Feng into a Malevolent Ghost, so Elder Mingli placed the goat’s head on him and chanted secret mantras.
• The milky barrier around Lu Feng dispersed, revealing that he had been meditating within the chakra beneath his navel as his Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra shone.
• Elder Mingli ordered Lu Feng to open his eyes and see him as the Yidam, but Lu Feng saw everything around him except Elder Mingli.

During the empowerment, Lu Feng saw through the false Elder Mingli and received a hidden transmission from the Abbot Dharma Venerable. The vision ended with Lu Feng beginning to cultivate Tummo, while the Abbot Dharma Venerable directed him toward Zajuben Temple to complete his Yidam practice.

• Lu Feng endured the strange empowerment in silence as Elder Mingli tried to make him visualize a Yidam Lama.
• When Elder Mingli asked what he saw, Lu Feng replied that no Lama appeared before him, and the figure began to crumble into sand.
• The fading voice ordered Lu Feng to recite the Diamond Sutra for fifteen years, observe four prohibitions, and seek the Treasure Tent Protector Mandala at Zajuben Temple if he could not visualize a Yidam.
• Elder Mingli returned and declared himself Lu Feng's Yidam Lama, but Lu Feng realized the true transmitter had been the Abbot Dharma Venerable.
• Lu Feng discovered that Tummo had taken root in his body and began guiding it to rise through his chakra.

Lu Feng attained the first perfection of the gradual path, gaining divine strength, then supervised the punishment of the attendant monks and carried them to a nearby village for care. He remained there with several old temple monks while the group prepared to leave for the next Wula Station that afternoon.

• Lu Feng circulated the fire and Great Compassion Resonance through his body until he achieved the first perfection, divine strength perfection.
• Lu Feng emerged at dawn and learned from Elder Mingli that attendant monks were to be whipped for failing their duties the previous night.
• Lu Feng watched the beatings without intervening, then used Great Compassion Resonance to soothe the unconscious monks.
• Lu Feng stopped the punishment monks from throwing the injured men into the dust and carried them to a nearby village, making six trips to bring everyone there.
• Lu Feng met several old monks from the temple while the group awaited its afternoon departure for the next Wula Station.

Lu Feng treated the villagers and monks at Sunrise Temple while learning about travel through the Secret Dharma Region. Elder Mingli prepared to leave that afternoon, warning that the route ahead was uncertain and that the Dakini’s morning winds could sweep travelers away.

• The villagers and monks prostrated themselves before Lu Feng, who asked them to heat water so he could bathe and told them he needed no offerings.
• Lu Feng reported his actions to Elder Mingli, who gave him ointment for fire sickness and allowed him to help the villagers.
• Elder Mingli told Lu Feng that the group would leave in the afternoon, described the dangers of traveling through the Secret Dharma Region, and warned that their servants might die repaying the day’s kindness.
• Lu Feng returned to the village, applied the ointment to the attendant monks, and had the Malevolent Ghosts chant the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra to help treat them.
• Lu Feng questioned the monks about travel and conditions in the Secret Dharma Region, and they promised to answer everything they knew.

Lu Feng learned the dangers and customs of traveling through the Secret Dharma Region, then chanted mantras around a village and strengthened his great compassion resonance. As the group set out for Wula Station, Elder Mingli told him to subjugate an Obstacle Mara and use it as a mount.

• Lu Feng asked the monks about wilderness travel and learned to avoid the Dakini's breath, observe local taboos, and beware of untamed tribespeople.
• After bathing, Lu Feng refused to let the monks use his bathwater as medicine, then chanted mantras for the villagers as he circled their village.
• Lu Feng's great compassion resonance connected with the temple's Stone Pillar and grew stronger as he recited the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra.
• The group packed and departed for the abandoned Wula Station.
• Elder Mingli told Lu Feng that he was ready to subjugate his first Obstacle Mara, and Lu Feng asked where he could find one.

Lu Feng traveled with Elder Mingli’s party while studying secret scriptures about Obstacle Maras and the dangers near the uninhabited region. When unnatural rain clouds swept toward them, Elder Mingli ordered the party to abandon supplies and warned Lu Feng to trust no one but him once the rain arrived; enormous figures emerged within the storm.

• Elder Mingli gave Lu Feng esoteric scriptures describing Obstacle Maras, Dharma Protectors, and Malevolent Ghosts along the route.
• Elder Mingli explained how the Ganing Lineage’s Spirit Shaman witnessed the Abbot Venerable’s passing and reincarnation ceremonies.
• Lu Feng and Elder Mingli saw black clouds and rain approaching at unnatural speed, and the guide monk feared the rain god had come.
• Elder Mingli sent Zhiyuan and Zhian to make the monks discard nonessential supplies and sent Zhiquan ahead to check Wula Station.
• Elder Mingli warned Lu Feng not to speak to anyone who returned from ahead and told him to trust only Elder Mingli during the rain.
• The party hurried onward as enormous figures appeared within the storm clouds and rain.

Lu Feng and Elder Mingli's party endured a rainstorm filled with Outer Gods, but another dragon-type Wild God appeared and forced them to flee toward Wula Station. Elder Mingli carried Lu Feng away as the group scattered, while some monks fell and became Malevolent Ghosts.

• Elder Mingli warned the group to control their horses, and Zawa calmed Lu Feng's mare as Lu Feng told him to stay close.
• Lu Feng secured the scriptures in waterproof saddlebags, and Elder Mingli ordered the Dharma Protector Lamas to coat and light their torches with grease.
• Lu Feng and the others saw towering figures pass through the rain and a gigantic female body flicker among the clouds; some people were drained of moisture and reduced to flying sheets of skin.
• A drumlike sound made the rain slant, and Elder Mingli recognized another dragon-type Wild God and ordered the party to abandon the packhorses and flee toward Wula Station.
• Elder Mingli used his Malevolent Ghost to carry Lu Feng away, while several monks fell and became Malevolent Ghosts and the remaining Dharma Protector Lamas fled by their own methods.
• A creature flew low through the rain and sucked rainwater and muddy water upward into its body.

After surviving the storm, Lu Feng helped the monks recover at the abandoned Wula Station and learned that the Dakini had pursued Elder Mingli. He suspected the celestial phenomenon might have come for him or the Lama, and the chapter ended when someone wearing Endless White Pagoda Temple boots arrived.

• Lu Feng woke in a fortified tower, apologized to Elder Mingli for failing to protect the scripture and Buddhist treasure, and was told he was not to blame.
• Elder Mingli sent Lu Feng to distribute medicinal broth, count the survivors, and patrol Wula Station with Zawa and the others.
• Lu Feng found that the group had lost several attendant monks but had kept most of their packhorses, and Zawa explained that the Dakini had chased Elder Mingli away before vanishing.
• Lu Feng wondered whether the celestial phenomenon had been drawn to him or Elder Mingli while Monk Zhiyuan recorded their experience as secret text.
• Lu Feng heard hoofbeats and saw a figure outside wearing boots marked with the emblem of Endless White Pagoda Temple, prompting him to wonder if Monk Zhiquan had returned.

Elder Mingli performed daily rites to protect his scriptures and treasures, then prayed to King Mingzhu for guidance about his disciple Yongzhen and the Ganing Lineage. Outside the watchtower, Lu Feng lit his butter lamp and saw that the monks were carrying something on their backs.

• Elder Mingli sealed his wicker chest with mantras and offerings to protect its scriptures and ritual objects from intruders.
• Elder Mingli subdued the Yaksha King within himself through a vision of King Mingzhu, while attendant monks performed offerings and dances.
• Elder Mingli recalled that Yongzhen had few options beyond the Endless White Pagoda Temple, though Ganye Temple still retained its Qubilghan seat.
• Elder Mingli prayed to King Mingzhu for a revelation about Yongzhen, the Ganing Lineage, and the se he had seen.
• Lu Feng lit his butter lamp at the watchtower doorway and saw that the monks outside carried something on their backs.

Lu Feng attacked the Malevolent Ghost clinging to Monk Zhiquan, using the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra to bind and burn it. Zhiquan stopped him, warning that the ghost was the Ubao God's companion deity and killing it would provoke the god's wrath.

• Lu Feng saw Zhiquan resisting a shape-shifting Malevolent Ghost while Elder Mingli and the other monks remained inside the watchtower.
• Lu Feng prepared his prayer wheel and Kapala rosary, then advanced while reciting the Six-Syllable Great Brightness Mantra.
• Lu Feng's compassion manifested as golden flames that formed a sword and struck at the Malevolent Ghost.
• Zhiquan used a Vajra Bell and secret mantra to force the Malevolent Ghost back as Lu Feng's flames bound and scorched it.
• Zhiquan grabbed Lu Feng and begged him to stop, warning that the Malevolent Ghost was the Ubao God's companion deity.