Legend of the Great Sage (Chapter 401-Chapter 500)

Most of Xiao An’s attention was not on the discussion. Instead, she was thinking about Li Qingshan’s safety. However, as she was always expressionless and her replies were clever and alert, even the Annihilum Light Chan Master failed to notice this. If he found out Xiao An had only been using minimal effort to deal with him, who knew whether he would become angered and displeased or even more delighted.

Xiao An’s dark pupils were perfectly still. Through her eyes, the gloriously-adorned hall seemed to become a transparent black and white. The rich fragrance of sandalwood was light yet tasteless. The Annihilum Light Chan Master opened and closed his mouth, mentioning subtle buddhist dharma that only slipped through her mind. The sound of morning bells and evening drums were barely discernible and distant too.

This was not because her senses were not sharp, but rather she was close to a state of emptiness and formlessness as described by buddhism. Regular buddhist disciples could spend three years facing a wall, and a moment of this was enough to enlighten them and allow their cultivation to leap forward. She was in this state right now.

Thunk!

Xiao An heard a loud sound, and she turned around in delight. Li Qingshan stepped into the great buddha’s hall. He formed an extremely distinct contrast to his surroundings. His bronze skin, shining eyes, and resonant laughter broke the silence.

Li Qingshan arrived beside Xiao An and bowed deeply. “I’m Li Qingshan. Greetings to the Annihilum Light Chan Master. I’ve heard how Xiao An had the pleasure to study under a renowned master like you. Having witnessed the solemnity of your bearing, you truly do live up to your name, Annihilum Light Chan Master.”

The Annihilum Light Chan Master did not even glance at Li Qingshan, like he did not exist. All he could see was Xiao An. As the head monk of the Bodhi courtyard in the Annihilum Light Chan Master, he could be regarded as powerful even among cultivators who had undergone the second heavenly tribulation.



However, he was not looking down on Foundation Establishment cultivators like Li Qingshan. Instead, that was merely his nature. Prior to meeting Xiao An, he had already practised meditative silence for twenty years.

Meditative silence was extremely renowned among chan sects, which focused on letting go of the obsessions of speech. However, it was rumored in the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga that his meditative silence was not for cultivation at all but purely because he did not want to talk and waste time expounding the buddhist dharma to others.

During the half a day he had spent here, he had almost spoken more words to Xiao An than everything he had said in the past decade in the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. If the disciples of the Bodhi courtyard found out about this, their jaws would definitely drop and begin suspecting whether their master was actually an imposter or not.

But clearly, the Annihilum Light Chan Master was not particularly fond of Li Qingshan who had just barged in.

Mind Enlightenment went up and tried to persuade him gently. “Junior brother, it’s best if you leave for now!”

“In the past, the One Thought master said I had a destiny with the buddha. I’d like to listen to the Annihilum Light Chan Master’s profound buddhist dharma and see whether I actually have a destiny or not.” Li Qingshan smiled at Xiao An, finding himself a cushion to sit down on.

Xiao An smiled faintly. The moment of beauty left all the monks in the hall slightly stunned. Some who did not have self-restraint naturally developed some impure thoughts.

The Annihilum Light Chan Master frowned. He had no idea what the Aspect of Heavenly Fragrance and Beauty was, but he could not help but think of a legend. In the legend, when the buddha attained buddhahood under the bodhi tree, the demonic māra came to stop him, conjuring celestial maidens to delude his enlightened heart.

He had never seen celestial maidens, but her smile made her buddhist nature fade away, going from a buddhist genius to a celestial maiden conjured by demons. This was also the first time he truly took notice of her appearance before realising he had probably been over worrying. She was still a child after all, so having some impure thoughts was unavoidable. If she really was completely pure and stainless, then it would be unbelievable. She would resemble a demon more that way.

The Annihilum Light Chan Master turned his withered face, and his eyes recovered their turbidity, finally looking at Li Qingshan. His still heart suddenly rippled.

He was the only obstacle to her cultivation!

“As the buddha says, three pairs of listening ears may be too many for certain dharma. You want to listen to my sermons, but I wonder if you have that right, sir?”

TL: “Three pairs of listening ears may be too many” is a Chinese saying that describes something as top secret. Basically, you want to keep it between two people (two pairs of ears), without a third person knowing (the third pair of ears).

In contrast to the hoarseness when he gave sermons, the Annihilum Light Chan Master’s voice suddenly became mighty, grand, and magnanimous with a hint of a lingering dragon’s roar. It fell from above, pouring directly into Li Qingshan’s head.

Li Qingshan’s face changed and immediately dismissed his thoughts. His soul began to shake as he felt like electricity was running through his body.

Is this the Chant of Deva-Nāga!?





Chapter 498: A Godless World | Legend of the Great Sage




Li Qingshan experienced even more pain than when he endured Zhou Tong’s heavenly lightning. This was not because the Annihilum Light Chan Master wanted to kill him, but rather due to the intense reaction from the ox demon and the tiger demon to the Chant of Deva-Nāga. It was like pouring water into boiling oil, surging instantly.

Rumor has it that the Chant of Deva-Nāga possesses the ability to suppress all daemons, demons, ghosts, and monsters. Sure enough, it’s true. Has he discovered something? Which is why he’s purposefully testing me?

The Annihilum Light Chan Master had not realised Li Qingshan’s original form as a daemon. Instead, he had other thoughts in mind. Not only could the Chant of Deva-Nāga suppress all daemons, but it could also purge the evil thoughts and desires from a person’s heart.

If Li Qingshan truly had some inappropriate intentions towards Xiao An, he could use this to eliminate them, saving any unnecessary troubles that might have happened with his visit. If he refused to let them go, then he would suffer extreme agony.

However, Li Qingshan’s face only changed slightly before recovering. As a matter of fact, he was even calmer and more composed than when he first arrived.

Is my judgement wrong? If that’s the case, I don’t have to make things too difficult for him. People are creatures of feelings, so it’s unavoidable if you can’t always let go. If I use force, I would be resorting to a lesser method of dealing with this. I’ll develop ill will with my disciple. The Annihilum Light Chan Master stopped the Chant of Deva-Nāga.

Actually, Li Qingshan had used the Spirit Turtle’s Method of Sea Suppression ability to suppress anything, pacifying the unsettled ox demon and tiger demon and becoming as calm as a meditating old monk. When the spirit turtle submerged in the sea, it was as still as a rock. Of course, this was also because the Annihilum Light Chan Master had never unleashed his true strength, or fleeing frantically would be the only thing Li Qingshan could do apart from transforming and fighting him.

“Is this the ultimate cultivation method of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, the Chant of Deva-Nāga?” Li Qingshan asked with a smile.

“Seeing how open-minded and level-headed you are, you do indeed have some destiny with the buddha, sir.”

“What? The Chant of Deva-Nāga?” The monks were all stunned. Apart from Xiao An, no one else had sensed anything from the probing and clash earlier.

“Could you pass it onto Xiao An?” Li Qingshan tried his luck.

……

Li Qingshan arrived on Benevolence island alone as he sighed inside, The phoenix’s feather sure won’t come easily!