Chapter 1474 - 798: Xiao Chen and Yi (Double-Length) (Part 3)

Speaking of it, the pig-face mask has not been worn for quite a long time.

.........

At the same time, southeast of Chang'an City, Qinglong Temple.

The evening drum had just ceased, yet the largest plaza within the temple remained densely packed with devoted men and women, numbering perhaps in the thousands, stretching out to the side halls. The crowd was silent, with only the sound of the evening breeze stirring the banners.

All eyes were focused on the front of the imposing Great Hall, upon the temporarily erected high magic platform. There was only one person on the platform—Master Huipu.

Qinglong Temple, not the oldest temple in Chang'an, was nearly desolate during the wartime of the previous dynasty. It was only after the founding of the current dynasty and several renovations that the incense gradually revived. This Master Huipu came from the Western Regions a year ago, resided here, and within a short time, became renowned throughout the Capital for his profound mastery of the Buddhist Law and his mysterious divine skills. Even the palace had heard of him. The temple borrowed the monk's prestige, and now Qinglong Temple was among the most prosperous in incense offerings within Chang'an City.

Master Huipu was draped in a golden thread kasaya, sitting cross-legged on the Lotus Platform, with a compassionate and serene expression, delivering a sermon in a steady tone not too loud or soft, reciting a passage from the "Lotus Sutra".

The sound was not loud, yet filled Qinglong Temple, showing the vast divine skills.

The Great Hall gates behind him were wide open, and inside, the gigantic statues of the three Buddhas of Past, Present and Future, with their golden bodies, appeared solemn and respectful, their eyes cast down as if watching the monk preaching the Buddhist Law. Coincidentally, the oblique rays of the setting sun happened to pass through the high window grills of the hall, illuminating the statues, and through the reflection of their golden bodies, seemed like beams of light converging without deviation, enveloping Master Huipu's head and shoulders, appearing like pure light emitted from himself, sacred beyond measure.

Many followers were moved to tears, chanting the Buddha's name in low voices, feeling that to personally listen to such a great master preaching the Supreme Skill was indeed a blessing cultivated over many lifetimes.

Master Huipu's sermon reached the chapter "Metaphor of Herbal Medicines," expressing that the Buddhist Law nurtures and nourishes like cloud and rain, with all beings having different roots and receiving varied benefits.

"…Like a great cloud, raining upon all, flowers, woods, and medicinal herbs, according to their species, are fully nourished, each gaining growth…"

However, just as the echo of the words "growth" lingered without falling, his steady tone abruptly halted.

As if something invisible had suddenly gripped his throat.

Master Huipu's eyes widened in terror, looking towards the source direction, instinctively trying to stand up from the Lotus Platform, but failed to do so,

How, how could it be...

How could it be there?

The doubt was beyond answer, as the backlash from the destruction of the Array Hub surged back a hundredfold along the secret threads.

Master Huipu felt a sweet sensation at his throat, an intense heat rising that couldn't be spat out, remaining within him, growing increasingly hot, as if igniting from the lungs, burning as though his soul was being plunged into a pot of oil.

Below the platform, the followers bewildered by the interruption in the sermon looked up confusedly.

Yet they only saw a golden flame suddenly igniting on Master Huipu's kasaya, then two, three, countless flames rapidly consuming him in a fierce blaze.

"Uh…ah!"

A scream, unlike any human sound, rang out amidst the karmic fire, then was silenced by the flames.

The congregation below instantly erupted in chaos, with cries of panic, screams, and the sound of chairs falling creating a cacophony. The followers in the front row pushed back frantically, while those behind, still puzzled, jostled and trampled, amidst utter disorder.

Inside the Great Hall, the statues of the Three Buddhas remained silent with their eyes downcast, their golden bodies shimmering in the increasingly bright blaze, with the reflected light still casting over the monk, who had now been consumed beyond recognition, soon to vanish without a trace.

Looking again at the spot,

only a scroll of the "Lotus Sutra" and a burnt Lotus Platform remained,

perhaps the only relic with merit around him.