Chapter 160: The Temple in the Mountain Hollow—Fayan Temple

Li Ting raised her head and glanced up at the mountain gate.
Inscribed upon it were three large characters—Dharma Eye Temple!
"Dharma Eye Temple?" Li Ting muttered.
Zhao Feng, residing within Li Ting's body, was utterly shocked.
"Dharma Eye Temple? The supreme eye of the Dharma? Could this be a coincidence?"
Li Ting blinked. "A coincidence? What coincidence?"
Zhao Feng shook his head. "Nothing, just a cult organization!"
Li Ting frowned. "A cult organization?"
"Yes!"
Li Ting looked at Xuyun beside her. "Master, is there something wrong with this temple?"
Xuyun shook his head. "The temple itself has no issues, but the people inside certainly do!"
"How so?"
It was not Li Ting who asked this question, but Zhao Feng.
"Hahaha!" Xuyun chuckled softly. "Come with me!"
"Alright!"
Xuyun lifted his feet and walked toward the mountain gate.
Li Ting hurried to follow.
Originally, Zhao Feng wanted to take control of Li Ting's body, but no matter what, Li Ting refused to hand over control!
The two of them walked through the mountain gate.
This Dharma Eye Temple was decorated with magnificent solemnity; at a single glance, it clearly cost no less than fifty million.
Fifty million! What kind of concept was that?
The fortune of the Xiang family, the uncrowned kings of Chenzhou City, was only around ten million.
Building a single temple actually required fifty million. One could only wonder what had happened to this world!
It seemed that the Buddha truly only delivered those with a predestined affinity.
Walking past the gate, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower greeted their eyes, while directly opposite the entrance stood the Hall of Heavenly Kings.
They continued walking forward.
Behind the Hall of Heavenly Kings, flanked on the left and right, were four grand halls: the Hall of Guanyin, the Hall of Ksitigarbha, the Hall of Manjushri, and the Hall of Samantabhadra.
Behind these four halls lay a massive plaza, and beyond the plaza stood the Great Hall of Mahavira, a fixture of every Buddhist temple across the land.
The three of them arrived in front of the Great Hall of Mahavira.
Looking back toward the outside of the mountain gate, they saw a vast lake situated directly before it.
Zhao Feng was astonished. "What lake is this? It's so huge! If not for Dragon Lake, this would be the largest lake around!"
Xuyun calmly spat out three words: "Mindless Lake!"
"Mindless Lake? What a great name!"
Zhao Feng praised.
Xuyun shook his head. "It's a fine lake, and a fine temple! It's just that the people here aren't all that great."
Zhao Feng frowned. "Master, how so?"
Xuyun gazed into the distance. "Mount Huangbai is spiritually rich and wonderfully scenic, adorned with green hills and emerald bamboo, making it exceptionally suited for the artistic conception of Buddhism."
Zhao Feng frowned, failing to fully understand. "Master, what is the Buddhist conception?"
"Hahaha!" Xuyun chuckled. "If you observe carefully, you will notice that Buddhist monasteries across the land are invariably nestled among lush, graceful hills rather than treacherous, towering peaks!"
Zhao Feng stroked his chin in thought. "I really never noticed that!"
"Hahaha!" Xuyun smiled. "These matters are trivial. Let us wander around here instead."
"What is there to wander around here?" Li Ting asked.
With his hands clasped behind his back, looking out at the distant Mindless Lake, Xuyun murmured, "This temple boasts such thriving incense offerings that it is a rarity throughout the entire Dragon Kingdom!"
"By day, you will witness the most solemn place in the world. If you come here, you will discover that the Pure Land described in the Buddhist scriptures is no grander than this."
"To put it without exaggeration, this is the Holy Realm of Mount Grdhrakuta."
Zhao Feng stroked his chin in deep thought.
Controlling Li Ting's body, he suddenly spoke up: "And what about at night?"
"Hahaha!" Xuyun laughed. "If it is at night..."
Without finishing his sentence, Xuyun added, "If you wish to see the scene at night, I can wait until nightfall..."
Zhao Feng frowned, struggling to understand what Xuyun was really getting at.
Perhaps these monks were simply like this, always fond of speaking in ambiguous, riddling phrases.
Zhao Feng took a deep breath. "Very well, then we shall wait until nightfall!"
"Haha!" Xuyun smiled. "Let us go to the temple's reception hall to register our stay!"
Zhao Feng was familiar with the concept of registering a stay.
It meant that wandering monks or pious believers arriving at a temple late in the day with nowhere to rest could go to the reception hall and request lodging for a single night.
Zhao Feng nodded. "Alright, let us go register!"
The elderly monk Xuyun lifted his feet, stopped a passing monk to inquire about the location of the reception hall, and then headed straight toward it.
Zhao Feng hurried to follow.
The two of them arrived at the reception hall.
Xuyun stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves and his eyelids drooping, looking completely unperturbed and aloof, offering neither words nor any other action.
Zhao Feng, standing beside him, gritted his teeth in irritation; the old monk was treating him like a mere attendant.
"Sigh!"
Zhao Feng let out a breath. At this moment, he was still borrowing Li Ting's body.
On duty in the reception hall was a young monk.
Hearing footsteps, the young monk looked up and saw Xuyun and Li Ting.
He merely glanced casually before his gaze settled upon Li Ting.
An expression of astonishment flashed within his eyes.
Though this look lasted only for a split second, it was captured by Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng frowned, feeling a sense of strangeness in his heart.
Logically speaking, monks in a temple who devoted themselves to spiritual cultivation and severed all worldly attachments should not have their minds stirred by female beauty.
Zhao Feng stroked his chin, silently noting the young monk's reaction.
Controlling Li Ting's body, Zhao Feng walked toward the monk.
"Amitabha!"
Zhao Feng placed his palms together and bowed deeply.
The young monk hastily stood up, pressed his palms together, and chanted a greeting in the name of the Buddha!
The young monk asked, "What brings the benefactor here?"
Zhao Feng chuckled and pointed behind him at Xuyun. "This is Dharma Master Xuyun, hailing from Mount Yunjun. I am a pious lay protector under Dharma Master Xuyun."
The young monk nodded. "So that's how it is!"
Only then did the young monk look toward the elderly monk Xuyun. "Dharma Master Xuyun, this humble monk pays his respects!"
Xuyun stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyelids drooping, and uttered a faint, flat acknowledgment.
The young monk frowned, feeling that this old monk was somewhat arrogant.
"Hahaha!" Zhao Feng hastily laughed. "Dharma Master Xuyun is simply like this by nature; please do not take offense!"
The young monk waved a hand. "It is no matter! Dharma Master Xuyun must possess profound spiritual attainment, so a degree of pride is inevitable!"
Controlling Li Ting's body, Zhao Feng once again brought his palms together. "May I ask how the Master is addressed?"
The young monk smiled. "This humble monk is named Yaoxing."
"Oh!" Li Ting put on a surprised expression. "So it is Master Yaoxing!"
Yaoxing was slightly stunned. "You know of me?"
"This..."
Li Ting found herself in a difficult spot because Zhao Feng had suddenly stopped speaking.
Li Ting's face turned livid with anger.
She cursed inwardly: "You damn Zhao Feng, why did you stop talking?"
"Damn Zhao Feng!! Bastard Zhao Feng!!"
Yaoxing looked at Li Ting expectantly. "Benefactor, have you heard my name before?"
"Heh, hehehe..." Li Ting could only manage an awkward laugh.
Just as Li Ting was about to say she had never heard of him, Zhao Feng spoke up once again.
Zhao Feng said, "I know of you. You presided over the Chan-qi meditation retreat at Gaomin Temple!"