Conversion
Several Arhat disappeared one after another, without a trace.
Beneath the seemingly eternal and peaceful surface of the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm, a hidden yet chilling undercurrent finally began to stir.
As the missing Arhat failed to return, the causal deductions also failed to yield any results.
A cloud of unease began to gather in the minds of the Buddhist leaders.
The World-Honored One's Chan Assembly is a supreme Dharma assembly that has been prepared for many years since overseas Buddhist practitioners crossed the sea to the East. It aims to communicate with the Supreme Being and lay the foundation for the Buddha Kingdom in this world, and it cannot tolerate the slightest mistake.
So, a month before the Zen assembly officially began.
A will from a higher point on Spirit Mountain quietly descended.
The review has begun.
There were no grand announcements, no disturbances to the lives of those at the bottom. Everything proceeded in silent order and under the vast power of Buddhism.
First, the vast network of Buddha's light and vows that enveloped the entire sacred realm had its filtering mesh quietly "tightened".
The gentle, pervasive Buddhist aura, at certain times and in certain areas, becomes like the most precise probe, meticulously scanning every trace of alien energy and tracing all recent unusual fluctuations and ripples of cause and effect.
Countless tiny, dust-like golden Sanskrit characters, yet imbued with profound Buddhist principles, emerged from the Buddha statues, sutra pillars, and stupas throughout the sacred realm. They moved and intertwined in the air like living things, forming an invisible "net of cause and effect" that enveloped heaven and earth.
Anyone or anything that has had contact with the missing Arhat and is connected by a causal link will be marked and sensed by this net.
Teams of [Patrolling Monks], rarely seen on ordinary days, dressed in pure black robes, with a deep and unfathomable aura and sharp and piercing eyes, appeared silently on various levels of the sacred realm.
They held specially made Buddhist treasures in their hands.
The "Mirror of Karma" that reflects the true nature of reality.
Tracing the remaining fragments of the "Past Shadow Lotus Platform".
The Brahma Bell of Mind Reading " that senses fluctuations in thought.
All registered Arhats within the Holy Land, including those Foundation Establishment Arhat have recently entered or left, are subject to rounds of overt and covert checks.
The entire Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm seemed to have transformed into a finely crafted Buddhist millstone, gently yet firmly grinding through every corner, attempting to sift out any discordant "impurities."
The Buddha's light still shone brightly, and the chanting remained solemn, but beneath that magnificent appearance, an invisible, chilling sense of desolation and stagnation permeated the hearts of every Arhat with even a slight awareness.
The figures that used to wander around freely are now fewer.
Their discussions and exchanges became more cautious and tentative.
Besides the scent of sandalwood, there was also a subtle tension in the air.
Under this thorough cleanup led by high-ranking Buddhist and Daoist leaders, and even with the attention of Bodhisattva-level will, many "secrets" that were originally hidden in the shadows have finally been exposed.
Seven days later.
Deep within the Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm.
A magnificent hall, normally hidden behind layers of Buddhist light and restrictions, and constructed entirely of flawless white jade, slowly emerged.
The hall was spacious and lofty, its dome inlaid with countless star-like relics, casting a cool and eternal radiance.
The ground was so shiny it reflected the surrounding scenery, making the space seem even more deep and unfathomable.
All the Foundation Establishment Arhat in the entire Spirit Mountain Sacred Realm have gathered here.
At this moment, in the center of the hall, thirteen figures were bound by invisible Buddhist power, kneeling on the cold jade bricks.
They were still wearing the robes of various Arhat, and there was more or less a halo around their heads.
But at this moment, these lights were all dim and trembling, and their faces were filled with a sense of helpless dejection.
These thirteen people possessed mixed and chaotic auras, completely out of place with the pure and vast sacred Buddhist atmosphere surrounding them.
Upon closer examination, one of them revealed that the foundation of his Law Power faintly revealed the righteousness, integrity, or sharp Sword Intent of various sects of the Southern Righteous Path.
The other two possessed a more subtle and treacherous aura, carrying the Sha Qi and predatory nature unique to the Northwest Demonic Sect.
It was during this major review that these imposters were "screened out" from the group of Arhat at Spirit Mountain!
Most of these people were spies who infiltrated the country three thousand years ago during the time of the Buddhist monks' eastward journey and the great chaos in the Southern Yin Kingdom, using their clever disguises and special treasures.
At this moment, all of them are exposed to the cold light of this Pure Land Hall because of the severe investigation conducted by the monks and nuns some time ago.
Today is the day when Shi Xiu publicly executes these thirteen people!
Buzz-
A slight tremor ran through the void.
At the highest point of the hall, on the previously empty nine-tiered Vajra Lotus Platform, a figure suddenly appeared without warning.
It was a monk whose face was obscured, dressed in extremely simple gray robes, and barefoot.
He emanated no dazzling Buddhist light, nor did he exude any intimidating pressure; in fact, he was barely noticeable.
But the moment he appeared...
The entire Pure Land Hall was completely "frozen".
The next moment!
The gray-robed monk slowly opened his eyes.
What kind of eyes were those?
It was neither the eyes of the Arhat Huijue, nor the piercing pupils of the fierce Vajra.
Those eyes, at first glance, were a chaotic void, like the primordial chaos before creation, but then they reflected the vast world and the boundless mortal realm.
The joys and sorrows of all beings, the Six Paths of Reincarnation ----
Countless scenes arise and vanish within it, moving at a speed beyond comprehension, yet so clear it sends shivers down one's spine.
Ultimately, all these images collapsed and coalesced, transforming into two points of the purest, most extreme, yet also the coldest compassion.
It is something stripped of all personal emotions and subjective will, as constant, vast, and unquestionable as the Principle of Heavenly Dao.
The irresistible "compassion".
"Amitabha."
The gray-robed monk spoke, his voice not loud, yet it resonated simultaneously in the deepest recesses of the Purple Mansion and the very source of the Divine Soul of the thirteen imposters.
It wasn't just hearing, it was being "indoctrinated".
"The sea of suffering is boundless; delusion is the shore."
Dear benefactors, why have you come to this point, sinking into Outer Dao and unable to find liberation?
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right hand, pointed his index finger at the thirteen people below, and gently touched them.
"Buzz-!!!"
An indescribable chant erupted from every inch of the thirteen people's flesh and blood, and every strand of their Divine Soul!
[World-Saving Buddha Sound]
At the same time, all thirteen people let out a shrill, twisted, yet silent scream!
The righteous light and demonic Sha Qi emanating from them melted and dissipated at a visible speed, like ice and snow under the scorching sun!
The foundation of our sect's Cultivation Method, painstakingly practiced for hundreds of years, was forcibly impacted, dismantled, and covered up by this all-pervasive Buddhist chant!
What's even more terrifying is their consciousness and memories.
The gray-robed monk's eyes were like two mirrors reflecting and cleansing everything in the Buddhist realm.
As far as the eye can see, the thirteen individuals embody their life experiences, memories, emotions, obsessions, loyalty to their sects and Lineage, and identification with the Daoist tradition.
Everything that forms the foundation of the "self" begins to crumble and be rebuilt like a sandcastle under the boundless, cold, and compassionate light of Buddha!
"Only by taking refuge in the Buddha can one attain true freedom."
"Abandoning falsehoods is to see the true nature of reality."
"The world is full of suffering, but the Buddhist realm is a paradise."
Each verse, imbued with supreme transformative power, was like the hardest brand, carving directly into the deepest recesses of their Divine Soul.
Overwrite the original beliefs and plant a new core of absolute devotion and dedication to Buddhist Order.
A righteous True Person, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, blood gushing from the corner of his eye, attempted to sever the invading Buddhist chants with Secret Method Secret Method his sect. However, the technique was annihilated in the even more vast Buddhist light as soon as it was activated, and his memories and insights became blurred and unfamiliar.
A demonic cultivator roared, urging his innate demonic energy to counterattack. However, the moment the demonic energy met the gray-robed monk's gaze, it evaporated completely like morning dew meeting the sun. Instead, it transformed into pure nutrients, which were absorbed by the Buddhist light, accelerating his conversion process.
Their eyes, initially filled with struggle, anger, and fear, gradually became lost and empty.
Ultimately, it was gradually filled with that pure, fervent "devotion" that had been stripped of all personal impurities.
The robe on his body seemed to be an extension of his flesh.
The light behind his head stopped trembling and instead began to spontaneously absorb the Buddhist energy within the hall, becoming solid and radiant, exuding a pure aura indistinguishable from that of a true Arhat.
The whole process seemed slow.
In reality, within that frozen spacetime, it was only a few breaths.
The gray-robed monk slowly withdrew his finger.
The sense of stillness in the hall receded like a receding tide.
The light began to flow again, and the dust particles continued to fall.
The thirteen "imposters" who had been kneeling on the ground slowly stood up on their own.
Their faces were serene, their eyes clear yet fervent, their entire being radiating a harmonious Buddhist aura. Facing the grey-robed monk on the lotus platform, they bowed deeply in unison, their voices filled with a rebirth-like joy and absolute faith. "Namo World-Honored One!"
"I was enlightened by the Bodhisattva, abandoned darkness and turned to light, and heard the true Dharma. From this day forward, I take refuge in the Three Jewels, vowing to propagate the Buddha's teachings and universally liberate all sentient beings!"
His voice was loud and clear, his conviction was firm, and there was no trace of the previous hostility or strangeness.
Inside the Pure Land Hall, the Buddha's light seemed to shine even brighter.
The gray-robed monk—a true Bodhisattva Realm —nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the thirteen "newborn" Arhat. The vast compassion in his eyes remained unchanged, yet there was not a ripple of emotion.
"Good."
"Having entered the Buddhist order, one should abide by the precepts, diligently practice the Dharma, await the meditation assembly, and cultivate good karma widely."
"Go."
The thirteen newly Arhat bowed respectfully once more, then turned and walked steadily out of the Pure Land Hall with serene expressions. They quickly merged into the endless Buddhist light and chanting of the sacred realm, and their identities and struggles from a moment ago were no longer discernible.
Inside the hall, emptiness and silence returned.
Only the jade brick floor remained pristine, reflecting the starlight of the relics on the dome, as if the terrifying conversion that had just forcibly reversed the fate of the thirteen Foundation Establishment True Person, stripped away their old selves, and reshaped their Buddha-nature had never happened.
The Bodhisattva's figure has quietly faded away, as if it had never appeared.
At the edge of the white jade square outside the Jingye Hall, the Buddha's light shines like a tapestry, and the sound of chanting is as vast as the sea.
The Foundation Establishment Arhat had been summoned here stood solemnly, witnessing together the entire process by which the Bodhisattva forcibly converted the thirteen fellow practitioners, stripped them of their past lives, and led them to Buddhism.
Qi Yun, an avatar of Fahai, stood in the middle to rear of the group of Arhat, wearing a dark blue monk's robe, with a peaceful face and eyes that were no different from the surrounding Arhat in their tranquility.
Stripping away memories, distorting will, and reshaping beliefs—is this the so-called "conversion" of Buddhist practitioners?
Qi Yun's thoughts flowed silently between his clone and his true self, carrying a hint of cold scrutiny.
This method is even worse than soul-searching and spirit-refining!
Soul searching at least leaves behind some fragments.
This transformation involves fundamentally negating and replacing the "self," completely reshaping it into another "me."
With a sigh, Qi Yun gathered his thoughts.
In front of the Pure Land Hall, the ceremony was over, the figure of the gray-robed Bodhisattva had long since disappeared, and the thirteen "newborn" Arhat had also been led away.
The Arhat in the square chatted in twos and threes about what they had just witnessed, their expressions a mixture of awe, emotion, and relief, and the atmosphere eased slightly.
Like the other Arhat, Qi Yun looked thoughtful, slowly turned around, and prepared to return to Cloud-Resting Chan Monastery with the flow of people.
Just as he turned around, a gaze fell upon him.
Without warning, it landed on his back.
"Um?"
Deep within Qi Yun's clear and peaceful eyes, a cold, sharp glint, like a sword blade suddenly rising from a deep pool, shot out like lightning, following the perceived trajectory of the light!
Follow with your gaze!
Passing past the figures of Arhat had not yet completely dispersed and were still gathered in twos and threes chatting in the square;
Passing through the majestic and solemn, yet now deserted, white jade gate of the Pure Land Hall;
Beyond that, amidst the dense sea of clouds and the glow of Buddha's light, the golden roofs of the temples appeared and disappeared—
Finally, his gaze settled on the other side of the square, beside a slightly elevated white jade railing.
"It was him?"
Gazing at the departing figure, Qi Yun's lips curled into a slight smile, revealing a hint of interest.
Long time no see, Your Highness!