Dawn broke.
The monks of Hanshan Temple rose early. Young novices stoked fires and cooked meals, while others swept fallen leaves. Warrior monks descended the mountain to fetch water, and Zen monks entered meditation, chanting scriptures.
A faint scent of incense permeated Hanshan Temple. Even passing birds would linger on the courtyard trees for a moment, quietly listening to the Buddhist chants.
However, this peace and serenity were suddenly shattered.
The Maha Pagoda, located to the west of Hanshan Temple, suddenly erupted with a dark light, followed by a tremor that shook the earth. Even the warrior monks carrying water were thrown to the ground, staring at the Maha Pagoda in shock.
Jiangnan Province was not located in an earthquake zone, so earthquakes were theoretically impossible. The anomaly at Hanshan Temple was clearly not a natural phenomenon. This left only one conclusion.
Something was wrong with the Maha Pagoda!
As the new Abbot and the head of Hanshan Temple, Zen Master Ben Heng rushed towards the Maha Pagoda.
At the foot of the Maha Pagoda, Zen Monk Miaohua had dismissed the other monks and was guarding the pagoda alone.
Upon his arrival, Ben Heng immediately asked Miaohua, "Miaohua, what happened?"
Miaohua's expression was grave, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"The malevolent thoughts of Yan Shouyi, which were suppressed beneath the Maha Pagoda, have suddenly surged in power. The Maha Pagoda could not bear the strain and almost failed to contain him!"
Even Ben Heng, who had seen much of the world, was momentarily flustered. He murmured in surprise, "How long has it been already..."
The Maha Pagoda was so powerful that even if five Ben Hengs were pressed beneath it, there would be no chance of escape.
Yan Shouyi's malevolent thoughts grew stronger as his physical body grew stronger. The surge in power of these malevolent thoughts meant that Yan Shouyi's physical body had also experienced a significant increase in strength.
This young man had left Hanshan Temple only a few days ago. What had he gone through?
Suddenly, Ben Heng seemed to recall something. He shouted, "Everyone, descend the mountain immediately!"
Descend the mountain?
Miaohua was puzzled. What necessitated everyone leaving the mountain?
"Yan Shouyi's sudden surge in power must have been stimulated by external factors. For these malevolent thoughts to grow stronger, they need to absorb energy from their surroundings!"
After Zen Master Ben Heng's explanation, Miaohua immediately understood.
He too became somewhat panicked and hurriedly followed Ben Heng away from the Maha Pagoda, while also signaling all the monks of Hanshan Temple to descend the mountain with them.
As is the way of monks who embrace compassion, as they descended, they would pick up small animals they encountered on the path and carry them down the mountain.
Miaohua and Ben Heng were the last to leave Hanshan Temple. After confirming that no one remained within the temple, they were about to descend when they felt a chill run down their spines.
A malevolent, eerie aura, filled with the scent of death, was spreading from the Maha Pagoda!
As they descended, they looked back. They saw all the vegetation around the Maha Pagoda withering at a visible rate. The small animals that had not managed to escape down the mountain began to rot the moment they were touched by the evil energy, instantly turning into brittle bones.
The malevolent thoughts suppressed beneath the Maha Pagoda were absorbing the life force of their surroundings to strengthen themselves!
Miaohua felt a surge of post-event fear.
If his master had not noticed the signs and ordered everyone to descend the mountain in time, all the monks in Hanshan Temple would likely have had their life force drained by that young man's malevolent thoughts!
Miaohua dared not even imagine the scene of dried bones within Hanshan Temple.
The group fled all the way down the mountain before the malevolent thoughts stopped absorbing life force.
Looking back, Hanshan, which was once lush and vibrant, was now bare, as if scorched by fire.
The monks could not help but chant Buddhist sutras, to help the departed souls in the mountain.
Finally, a monk could not help but ask Ben Heng, "Abbot, what... what is happening?"
Ben Heng did not wish to reveal the truth to these monks. He sighed heavily and instructed, "A demon is suppressed beneath the Maha Pagoda. Recently, the seal has been in danger of loosening. Miaohua, starting today, you will lead ten Zen monks each day to continuously chant scriptures to stabilize the seal, and also arrange for ten warrior monks to ensure your safety."
"Yes, Master." Miaohua agreed.
But the other monks were somewhat frightened.
The scene they had just witnessed was too shocking. Many monks who had been vegetarians their entire lives had never seen such a bloody and terrifying spectacle. To ask them to return to Hanshan Temple would require considerable psychological preparation, let alone approach the Maha Pagoda.
The task of pacifying everyone's minds would naturally fall to other monks. Ben Heng did not need to concern himself with these matters.
He needed to consider why Yan Shouyi's strength had suddenly surged, and when he could find the Demon Subduing Pestle to return and eliminate his malevolent thoughts.
He could not let Hanshan Temple continuously clean up his mess.
At this moment, a monk responsible for monitoring the movements of folk religious sects hurried to Ben Heng and whispered something into his ear.
Upon hearing this, Ben Heng first showed a look of shock, then took the other man's mobile phone and began to read the information on it carefully.
Seeing this, Miaohua could not help but ask, "Master, what has happened?"
Ben Heng put down the phone, his expression complicated.
"It turns out that the legendary Lower Volume of the Lu Ban Scripture is actually the Daoist scripture that folk religious sects have always wanted to compile. The latest news is that Yan Shouyi, in Changbai Mountain, has completed the missing content of the Lower Volume of the Lu Ban Scripture, written this astonishing masterpiece, the 'Min Jiao Dao Dian,' and has presented it directly to all inheritors of folk religious sects without reservation!"
"This!..."
Miaohua was at a loss for words. His shock was more than ten times that of Ben Heng.
If this were true, if the 'Min Jiao Dao Dian' were truly useful, Yan Shouyi would likely become the most important figure in the history of folk religious sects. To say he would be remembered for generations would be an understatement!
Broadly speaking, in a thousand years, Yan Shouyi would be the founding patriarch of the Min Sect!
"The Folk Custom Research Society has also changed its name to Min Sect," Ben Heng said with a smile. "Yan Shouyi is determined to bring all inheritors of folk religious sects under his banner, to unite everyone."
"Is this good or bad for us prominent sects?" asked the monk responsible for monitoring folk religious sects.
Ben Heng replied, "If it were anyone else, it might be good or bad. But if it is Yan Shouyi, it is definitely good."
"Amitabha!"
Miaohua clasped his hands together and murmured, "It seems that the conflict between the two sects will soon come to an end."
"Yes, that's right," Ben Heng nodded, then looked at the bare and lifeless Hanshan Temple. "Yan Shouyi must have had some fortuitous encounter in Changbai Mountain. Perhaps even I am no longer his match if we were to clash again. Now, I can only hope that this young man can find the Demon Subduing Pestle as soon as possible and quickly destroy the malevolent thoughts suppressed beneath the Maha Pagoda."
Such powerful and terrifying malevolent thoughts residing in Hanshan Temple made Ben Heng feel uneasy, as if he were sleeping with a bomb that could detonate at any moment.