A strange scene unfolded at the Dharma King Temple. First, Lixuan took the opportunity to attack Huo Yuanzhen, questioning the legend of the Shaolin Temple. However, he was fiercely rebutted by Huo Yuanzhen, who left him utterly defeated and unable to speak up, his pride shattered. Even now, Lixuan dared not speak.
Then, Dharma King Likong, the abbot of Dharma King Temple, took to the stage, hoping to leverage his home-field advantage and his profound Buddhist knowledge to challenge Huo Yuanzhen on a technical level. However, not only did he fail to achieve his objective, but he ended up making a fool of himself, leaving him feeling embarrassed and awkward.
Seeing the two previous monks falter, Lizhi, a senior monk, could no longer sit idly by.
Originally, he thought that Huo Yuanzhen, a mere novice monk, was not worth his attention. But now, seeing this young monk was far from what he had expected, with a sharp tongue and a quick mind, able to grasp the crux of a matter with ease.
Although Lizhi knew that this "Yi Jie" monk was deliberately putting on a pitying façade, the fact remained that he did so so convincingly that it didn't matter if Lizhi believed it. As long as the common folk believed, it would suffice.
Now, seeing that Lixuan and Likong had failed to assert control, Lizhi knew that he had to step in, or the Dharma King Temple's attempt to bring light to the legend of its godly relics would be a failure, and its dignity would be shattered.
Clearing his throat, Lizhi stood up.
Although it was only a simple cough, everyone in the hall could hear it clearly. Some wondered how such an elderly monk's cough could be heard so clearly from a distance. Was it that their senses had suddenly sharpened?
Guanshan Yue's face changed slightly and he whispered to Huo Yuanzhen, "Master, this old monk... his internal energy is very strong."
"How strong are we talking?" Huo Yuanzhen asked.
"Compared to me, only stronger, not weaker."
Huo Yuanzhen understood the level of Guanshan Yue's power. He was a master at the peak of postnatal cultivation, already on the verge of entering the innate realm, ranking among the top in Henan.
If Guanshan Yue said that Lizhi's internal strength was only stronger and not weaker, it meant that this old monk was at least at the peak of postnatal cultivation, or perhaps even an innate expert.
However, even if he were an innate expert, Huo Yuanzhen was not afraid. After all, the current situation was not one for fighting. Even if a fight did break out, Huo Yuanzhen was confident that he could easily escape using his skills.
Lizhi stood up and gestured for Likong to sit down, then turned his gaze toward Huo Yuanzhen.
"Amid the Buddha's blessings, this humble monk, Lizhi, the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple in the capital, greets the Abbot Yi Jie of Shaolin."
Although Lizhi was the abbot of Great Xiangguo Temple, he still was not the head abbot, so his tone towards Huo Yuanzhen was respectful, as was proper.
However, the truth was that Great Xiangguo Temple was the leading temple in the land, while Shaolin Temple was merely a small Buddhist institution. The status of Huo Yuanzhen and Lizhi was not equal.
Lizhi's words were intentional, trying to show his generosity and gain favor with the crowd.
Huo Yuanzhen saw through this immediately and, with a bow, responded, "Great Xiangguo Temple is the national temple, and Lizhi master is a revered monk. I am unworthy of such a greeting."
Since Lizhi had shown respect, Huo Yuanzhen did not want to overshadow him and thus refrained from making any grand gestures, waiting for Lizhi to make the first move so he could respond appropriately. Huo Yuanzhen did not want to create a frivolous impression in front of others.
Seeing that Huo Yuanzhen did not take the bait, Lizhi's face grew a little darker, but he continued, "Earlier, I heard the words of Abbot Yi Jie, and every sentence was a profound truth, as if receiving enlightenment, truly opening my eyes. The saying, 'Heroes come from youth,' applies to our Buddhist teachings as well."
Huo Yuanzhen smiled and remained silent. There was no need to engage with these meaningless pleasantries.
After exchanging a few words of courtesy, Lizhi shifted the conversation, "However, I do have a question that I hope the Abbot can clarify."
"Please, Lizhi master, ask."
Lizhi, the old monk, said, "In Buddhism, we speak of the four great emptinesses. I wonder, Abbot Yi Jie, what do you think these four are?"
Huo Yuanzhen thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I do not know."
Upon hearing that Huo Yuanzhen did not know, Lizhi's face showed a smug expression as he began to show off, "In our Buddhist teachings, the four great emptinesses refer to the four elements: earth, water, fire, and wind. These four elements encompass everything in the world, and the Buddha once said, 'All is illusory.' Only when you truly disregard the existence of these four elements can you understand the true meaning of the four great emptinesses."
Huo Yuanzhen remained silent, instead turning his attention to Guanshan Yue beside him, speaking with him as if he hadn't even heard Lizhi's words.
Lizhi, the old monk, felt a bit irritated but continued, "There is also another interpretation, that the four great emptinesses refer to the qualities of hardness, wetness, warmth, and movement. These are called the 'greats' because they are universally present in all things, not just the natural elements. In other words, the four greats refer to the inherent qualities of every object, including humans, making them more fitting than the earth, water, fire, and wind."
Lizhi spoke proudly, glancing at Huo Yuanzhen, but saw that he was still laughing with the monk beside him, not even paying attention.
Initially, Lizhi had wanted to teach a lesson, but the young monk was ignoring him, making it feel like punching a pillow. His irritation grew, but he persisted, "However, I believe there is another interpretation of the four great emptinesses. They refer to the mind, the Buddha, the self, and all sentient beings. All four are empty; the true nature of phenomena is emptiness, without wisdom, without delusion, without sagehood, without ordinariness, without giving, without receiving! Only those who have understood this truth are qualified to teach and save others."
Clearly, Lizhi believed that he had reached this level of enlightenment, which is why he spoke with such confidence.
He thought this long-winded explanation would surely stun Huo Yuanzhen. However, when he looked again, he saw Huo Yuanzhen and the monk beside him still joking, completely ignoring his words.
Though Lixuan, Likong, and others looked at Lizhi with adoration, they were not the ones he sought to educate. The real goal was to silence Huo Yuanzhen.
Unable to hold back his frustration, Lizhi finally shouted, "Yi Jie! What are you doing? Have you even been listening to what I've been saying?!"
To Lizhi's surprise, Huo Yuanzhen slowly lifted his head and, with a calm expression, said, "All is empty, so why are you so angry? Lizhi master, your cultivation still needs work."
A single, simple sentence felt like a heavy blow, leaving Lizhi stunned and speechless. He stood there dazed, unable to respond.
This was the greatest humiliation. Here he was, spouting grand teachings, only to be mocked and exposed as someone who couldn't even keep his own temper in check. It was utterly humiliating.
The people in the audience, who had originally been impressed by Lizhi's speech, now began to view him with disdain. They realized that the true Shaolin Abbot, Huo Yuanzhen, was far superior, and Lizhi, the monk from the capital, was nothing more than a pompous speaker.
The crowd's eyes turned to Lizhi and his fellow monks with a mixture of ridicule and pity, making them uncomfortable. If the ceremony hadn't already started, they might have walked out right then and there.
Seeing the three monks lose all credibility, the local magistrate, Lu Xuezhang, could no longer sit still. He quickly stood up, saying, "Let's not discuss these matters further. The auspicious time is almost upon us. If we don't proceed with the opening soon, it will be too late."
Lixuan quickly added, "Yes, yes! We've been too caught up in the conversation with Abbot Yi Jie. Let's hurry up and proceed!"
With that, the three monks regained a bit of their composure. Although they knew the ceremony was already a mere formality, they still had to carry on to the end.
Likong stood up and loudly announced, "The auspicious time has arrived. The Dharma King Temple's godly relics will be revealed. Please welcome the Buddha's blessing!"
At his signal, Lixuan hurriedly called for the red silk covering the Great Buddha Hall to be removed, and the music began to play once more. At that moment, Huo Yuanzhen spoke up again.
"Masters, I see the sun has shifted slightly. The time for the ceremony is about precision. Generally, the opening should be done at noon. Are you sure you haven't missed the right time? If you've gone over, be careful the Buddha doesn't get angry."
Likong glared at Huo Yuanzhen, his patience running thin. "How could the Buddha be angry at us? The time has not passed, and even if it has, it has nothing to do with you or Shaolin. Just stay quiet and watch."
Huo Yuanzhen smiled and replied, "It's not my concern, indeed. I'll remain silent and just watch."
With that, Huo Yuanzhen sat back down, amused, watching the monks hurriedly pull down the red silk covering.
PS: Every book has its thrilling moments as well as its slower buildup. I advise the readers not to jump to conclusions if a chapter feels slow, as it is simply setting the stage for the grand events to come.