Once Li Qingshan had a thought, crossing thousands of miles of vast, misty waters was only a matter of an instant.
Once his form solidified, he was already suspended in the air above a strangely shaped island.
The island, shaped like a giant whale floating on the sea, with its head and tail clearly defined, appears even more ancient and desolate under the bright moonlight and shimmering waves.
A night breeze swept by, bringing with it the salty sea mist and the astringent scent unique to the island's trees.
The island is rugged with rocks, like the jagged spine of a giant beast, piercing the night sky in darkness; the dense forests cast overlapping, swaying shadows under the moonlight.
The shadows of houses and camps are faintly visible, scattered along the mountainside, with scattered lights flickering in the night. These dim lights do not suggest the tranquility of a fishing village; instead, they exude a rough, fierce, and heavily guarded atmosphere.
This place is the infamous " Giant Whale Island " in the South China Sea, which is usually avoided by ordinary merchant ships.
However, under Li Qingshan's now incredibly profound spiritual observation, capable of penetrating even the smallest details of the universe, a far more complex and profound underlying nature lies hidden beneath the surface of this island.
His divine sense was like formless water, or like the moonlight that filled the sky and the earth, silently spreading over every inch of the island and every corner.
Those "pirates" who occupied the island, though dressed as maritime strongmen, upon closer inspection, possessed a vitality far exceeding that of ordinary bandits. Their movements and postures subtly revealed a pattern, making them far superior to a rabble of robbers and thieves.
What's even more intriguing are the subtle details of their clothing, accessories, speech, and behavior. Some of the older men wear worn-out jade ornaments at their waists, their style ancient and not in line with the current Great Qian Great Zhou's army. Even in this pirate's lair, the occasional display of reserve and a certain sense of a fallen aristocracy in the conversations of some people are like fireflies in the night, difficult to completely conceal.
Deep within the island, in what appear to be ordinary stone houses or hidden caves, lie dormant forces as solid as ancient rocks.
Its powerful inner strength is like the aura of an ancient sword yet to be drawn from its sheath.
The aura it possessed carried the unique "Vajra" quality of Buddhist martial monks after tempering their bodies, thick and solid, yet mixed with an indelible chilling aura and profound sorrow from having experienced bloodshed and witnessed the downfall of their sects. It vaguely matched the rumors of the Great Zen Temple catastrophe that shook the world decades ago.
"A place teeming with hidden talents, reclusive scholars, and remnants of martial monks—it's quite an interesting place." Li Qingshan's thoughts shifted slightly, and he already understood the origins and circumstances of these people.
At this moment, the increasingly keen and profound perception deep within his primordial spirit, which had become even more acute since comprehending the true meaning of the " Past Amitabha Sutra," was as if plucked by an invisible string, clearly capturing a unique and subtle Daoist rhythm emanating from somewhere on the island.
The ripples were like the earth itself—heavy, real, and silent, yet bearing everything; they were also like this fleeting moment in the long river of time, impossible to freeze, yet undeniably real.
This is a kind of "grasping the present moment," focusing all one's spirit and will on this "now," thereby unleashing a magnificent meaning that encompasses all existence in the present world!
"So that's exactly what they meant." Li Qingshan's eyes brightened slightly.
With his goal clear, he no longer hesitated.
With a slight sway, it was like a drop of ink falling into clear water, or a wisp of night breeze brushing across a hillside, instantly "merging" into the soil and rock layers on the island's surface.
The layers of soil and hard rocks, some tens or even hundreds of feet thick, seemed to become invisible and intangible phantoms before him, easily penetrated without disturbing a speck of dust or triggering any of the island's light or dark, simple or sophisticated security formations or mechanisms.
For the vast majority of practitioners in this world, his way of existence and means of travel at this moment are almost the embodiment of "rules", surpassing their conventional understanding of Tao techniques such as "Escape from the Earth" and "Penetrating Through Stone". Ordinary material obstacles are useless.
In an instant, the pressure and darkness dissipated, and he found himself deep beneath Giant Whale Island.
This is a huge, naturally formed grotto that has been silent for countless years.
The grotto is spacious and deep, no less than ten zhang high and nearly a hundred paces in circumference. The four walls are all made of jagged and strange rocks formed by underground water erosion over millions of years. The rocks have bizarre shapes and cast strange shadows under a dim light of unknown origin.
The air is filled with a rich, pure earthy scent and the unique, deep, slightly fishy aroma of the soil and rocks, isolating it from all the noise of the earth.
In the center of the grotto, on a huge, naturally protruding stone platform resembling a lotus seat, sits a solitary Buddha statue.
The Buddha statue is about 16 feet tall. Its entire body presents a dark and restrained reddish-gold color, which has been weathered by countless years. It does not have the dazzling brilliance and solemn appearance of ordinary golden Buddha statues in temples. On the contrary, because of its heavy and simple color, and even some mottled, it adds a sense of the vicissitudes of time and an inner, undeniable sense of powerful strength.
It sits cross-legged on a rough lotus pedestal, also carved from natural rock, in a peculiar posture, quite different from the common Buddha statues that either have compassionate lowered brows or majestic and angry eyes.
One hand hung naturally at his sides, his arm outstretched, his slender fingers gently touching the ground of the stone platform below. His posture was extremely peaceful, as if it were not a deliberate "ground imprint," but rather a natural intimacy and flesh-and-blood connection with the earth beneath his feet that bears all things. It was as if he was using the most silent language to soothe and communicate with the vast and boundless Mother Earth.
The other hand is raised in front of the chest, palm open, with the middle and index fingers bent and interlocked, forming a peculiar mark that is neither quite round nor quite a ring.
At first glance, the mark appears simple, even somewhat random, but upon closer inspection, it complements the overall posture of the Buddha statue and the seemingly closed yet not closed...
The seemingly droopy eyelids convey a sense of profound mystery.
The ring did not seem to be empty; rather, it possessed a great power and wisdom that subtly "nested" and "grasped" the entire myriad phenomena, the ever-changing world, and the real and illusory world, revealing a magnificent image of "embracing the present world" and "grasping the moment" with absolute confidence.
The Buddha statue was completely empty.
There were no standing bodhisattvas, no wrathful vajra protectors, no swirling incense, no offerings of lamps and fruits, and not even the most common traces of Buddhist scriptures, chanting, or prayer ribbons.
It sits quietly and aloof in the center of this dark grotto, having endured countless years of earth's moisture and the erosion of time.
However, it is precisely this extreme "emptiness" and "solitude" that, as if cleansed of all artifice, highlights the Buddha statue's unique charm and artistic conception—powerful and unparalleled, self-reliant yet closely connected to the real world at hand—without any interference.
This feeling was pure and direct, like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. The moment Li Qingshan saw it, his mind was cleared, all his distracting thoughts settled, and he felt something in his heart.
Upon closer inspection, this large Buddha statue is not entirely of one color. It is draped in a stone-carved "merit robe," on which ancient scriptures, as fine as fly heads, are engraved with extremely delicate and exquisite brushstrokes. The characters are simple and ancient, containing a unique power of Zen philosophy.
"Constantly reciting the original text without hindrance is truly wondrous; this is meritorious—" Li Qingshan's eyes shone brightly as he scanned and studied the scriptures on the kasaya word by word.
These texts expound a doctrine that is quite different from the usual Buddhist talk of compassion and emphasis on the afterlife; it is more realistic, more direct, and focuses more on the power of the "present moment."
Its core meaning is that in order to cultivate supreme merit, one must first have the power to protect merit and practice the ideal; in order to explain the principles of heaven and earth, one must also have the power to make people listen and obey.
Without the absolute power to seize the present and dominate the moment, one's thoughts will be stagnant, and everything will be hindered. No matter how beautiful one's grand ambitions may be, they will ultimately remain mere illusions.
The past is gone, and although Cause and Effect remain, they cannot be changed; the future has not yet arrived, and its variables are infinite and unpredictable; only by firmly grasping the "present" moment and possessing the strongest power to dominate the current situation can one cultivate oneself, conduct oneself in the world, and achieve one's goals, which is the most powerful and authentic state.
This large Buddha statue, draped in a kasaya, has a peculiar face. Its large ears almost reach its shoulders, and its lowered eyebrows and eyes seem to be looking down at all living beings, or perhaps gazing at itself. The corners of its lips are slightly raised, forming a meaningful expression that is neither a smile nor a frown.
One of His hands hangs down to touch the ground, connecting with the earth; the index and middle fingers of His other hand point straight to the sky, signifying soaring to the heavens.
This is by no means a simple combination of the "earth-touching mudra" and the "teaching mudra," but rather a domineering spirit that naturally embodies the idea of "I am the only one in heaven and earth" and "seize the present and dominate the moment!"
This imagery, along with the scriptures on the robe, perfectly interprets the true meaning of " Present Buddha."
"Not clinging to past causes, nor dangling hope for future results, shattering illusions, but grasping only the present reality—what a true Present Buddha!" Li Qingshan's eyes flashed with sincere admiration as he exclaimed in praise.
The path embodied in this Buddha statue is vigorous and diligent, emphasizing practical cultivation and worldly power. It forms a subtle and perfect contrast and complement to the Eternal tranquility path of the Past Amitabha Sutra, which anchors itself in the past and seeks the undying true self. Each has its own strengths and is a supreme Dharma gate that directly points to the Great Way.
While admiring it, he had a thought, and his pure and vast primordial spirit power, like a flowing stream or an all-pervasive breeze, began to meticulously envelop and examine the entire crimson-gold Buddha statue.
It goes beyond the external form, texture, and traces of time; it penetrates into the interior of the Buddha statue to explore any possible vital structure, spiritual imprint, or hidden restrictions.
As the thoughts deepened and became entangled, a slight "click, click" sound came from inside the Buddha statue, as if the internal fibers of dry wood were being slightly loosened and peeled away under the pull of some force.
Although the surface of this Buddha statue is reddish-gold, it is actually carved from some kind of strange wood, and the wood has a unique vein structure like the heartwood of a thousand-year-old tree.
As his thoughts delved deeper into the wood's veins, a strange sense of familiarity arose within him.