Chapter 1

The black Mercedes-Benz was stopped dead in its tracks by a monk using his mortal body. Hands accustomed to hard labor pressed against the hood, preventing the steel beast from moving even an inch forward.

The roar of the engine sounded like a mournful wail.

The driver, a lay disciple, turned pale with shock. His hand, adorned with a wristwatch, gripped the steering wheel tightly, trembling slightly. The reporters following behind immediately recognized a golden opportunity and set up their equipment.

The driver instinctively wanted to release the accelerator upon hitting someone.

However, the old monk beside him opened his eyes and patted the disciple's leg.

Before he could react, the disciple's foot slammed the accelerator to the floor. He turned sharply to look at the benevolent-looking old monk beside him, his eyes filled with shock, anger, and disbelief. If the monk outside exerted his strength, he would be the first to die.

They were using his life to smear the monk outside!

He was filled with regret, but it was too late. The modified four-cylinder engine roared to life, like a raging beast determined to crush the monk in front.

Yuan Jue frowned, changing his grip from pressing to supporting, and took three steps back.

His left hand pressed against the bottom of the car, but he did not unleash his power to resist.

He let out a low shout and lifted his hand, directly supporting the car.

Then, with a burst of strength from his arms, he lifted the entire vehicle. By the time the driver belatedly released the accelerator, Yuan Jue shouted, "Get out!" and with a shake, overturned the car. The driver tumbled out, disheveled and battered. Ku Rong had no choice but to reveal himself.

Standing in place, hands clasped together, he said with a benevolent expression:

"This young master, why do you stop this humble monk?"

Yuan Jue first placed the car to the side of the road.

Then, he clasped his hands together, returned the greeting, and said slowly:

"Venerable Ku Rong? This humble monk has a question."

"Shakyamuni once said that the Dharma should not be spread through supernatural powers. Why then do the Eight Schools of Buddhism manifest supernatural powers to spread the Dharma?"

Ku Rong replied calmly:

"Although Buddhism should not reveal supernatural powers to the world, there are exceptions."

"Seeing this great world, where demons run rampant, we wish to show compassion, actively break the precepts, and widely transmit the Dharma."

"So that the people of the Divine Land will not be harmed by demons and ghosts, we are willing to break the precepts and fall into Avici Hell."

"Compassion?"

Yuan Jue murmured a few times, then suddenly laughed loudly, stepped forward, and asked in a clear voice: "This humble monk asks!"

"Why spread the Dharma by displaying supernatural powers?"

Ku Rong said: "For the sake of all beings."

Yuan Jue asked again:

"If you attract beings with supernatural powers, then do they seek power, or the Dharma?!"

"Are you transmitting the Buddhist Dharma, or supernatural powers?!"

Ku Rong was silent for a moment, then said: "Both the Buddhist Dharma and supernatural powers."

Yuan Jue shook his head and said: "You are wrong. To lecture on the Buddhist Dharma while displaying supernatural powers is like climbing a tree to catch a fish."

"All beings come seeking supernatural powers. How can they obtain the Buddhist Dharma?"

"And to seek supernatural powers without the Buddhist Dharma is the path to becoming a demon."

"As for your claim of widely spreading the Dharma out of compassion."

"I ask you, have you ever aided the people of the Divine Land in their suffering?!"

"Seeing demons and ghosts wreaking havoc in the world, have you ever broken the precepts to slay demons and eliminate evil?!"

"I ask you, is human life not short, have you upheld the precepts? Have you practiced diligently?!"

"If you do not uphold the precepts, how can you speak of breaking them!"

The tall monk stepped forward, his voice like a booming bell, each sentence a direct question, piercing the heart. His eyes shone like blazing flames: "I ask you..."

"What exactly is the Dharma you cultivate?!"

…

The series of questioning showed no mercy. Ku Rong's face was ancient and simple, he said:

"Amitabha."

"The Pure Land Dharma is boundless. All phenomena are principle, all cultivation is nature. Practice is extremely ordinary, but the benefits are supremely wonderful. The practice of reciting the Buddha's name is the final destination of all schools of thought, including the Vinaya, Teachings, Chan, and Esoteric schools; it is the shortcut for humans, gods, mortals, and sages to attain Buddhahood. All Dharmas flow from this Dharma Realm. All practices return to this Dharma Realm."

Yuan Jue's face showed extreme disappointment, and he said: "This, is this your Buddhist Dharma?"

"Reciting the Buddha's name? What kind of Buddhist Dharma is that?"

He shook his head and said:

"Dharma has the dual meanings of upholding its own nature and guiding beings to understanding. It is the general term for all things. All things maintain their own nature, never changing, this is upholding its own nature, thus the original mind and nature of sentient beings is the Dharma."

"And using upholding its own nature as a guide, sentient beings can understand all things, this is guiding beings to understanding."

"All Dharmas are Buddhist Dharmas, that is, all phenomena."

"Buddhist Dharma is just a name, it does not create Dharma, but discovers the law. He is a summarizer, a pioneer who has taken a step ahead, not a god who grants every request. The Dharma was not even created by him, so how can you achieve enlightenment by reciting his name?"

"Moreover, this humble monk has one last question."

Yuan Jue exhaled a breath of turbid air, stepped forward, his voice like a booming bell, and said:

"Shakyamuni has long since passed into Nirvana!"

"Then what exactly is inside the so-called Buddha's true body?!"

"Have you heard of Mara's disciples wearing kasayas and living in temples?!"

"Are you Buddhas? Or are you demons?!"

Are you Buddhas? Or are you demons!

These last few sentences were like thunder, striking at the vital point.

The reporters felt a violent shaking in their hearts, followed by the excitement of realizing they had a big story. They hurriedly recorded the event, or directly forwarded it to the internet. Ku Rong's original composure finally cracked under the weight of these words.

He was filled with anger. His eyes lowered, and he took a step forward. In an instant, his energy surged, and his entire being reverted to the physique of a man in his early thirties. Muscles bulged, radiating a brilliant golden light, and faint Buddhist radiance emanated from his body. Hands clasped together, his voice like a booming bell: "Amitabha."

"Does the monk know of realms?"

Yuan Jue raised his eyes: "The Vajra Realm of Buddhism, known as immaculate inside and out, impervious to all Dharmas."

"Also known as the indestructible Vajra."

He was displaying Buddhist supernatural powers through human strength.

Those watching this scene on the internet were shaken.

Ku Rong said slowly: "Why does the monk come here seeking a quarrel?!"

"Daring to obstruct the Buddhism of our Divine Land?"

"Seeking a quarrel?"

Yuan Jue wore a bamboo hat on his head, carried a Zen staff on his back, clasped his hands together, and said calmly: "You are mistaken."

"This humble monk has come to deliver you."

Ku Rong was filled with anger.

"Good monk!"

After making his decision, he discussed deleting the video with the reporters, intending to subdue the monk first.

His broad hand had just been raised.

Yuan Jue took a step forward, seemingly slow but actually fast, and in the blink of an eye, was already in front of Ku Rong.

This was the ultimate attainment of the Buddhist supernatural power of swift travel.

Ku Rong's pupils contracted sharply. Yuan Jue had already raised his hand and pressed it against the monk's forehead. The exterior of Ku Rong’s brilliant and pure Vajra body suddenly fluctuated violently like water waves. The young monk held one hand upright in front of his chest, carrying the master forward step by step, smashing through rocks and trees, his voice calm:

"Constancy and inconstancy, joy and joylessness."

"Self and no-self, purity and impurity."

"This is Ku Rong."

As the last sentence was spoken, Yuan Jue exerted force with his five fingers, and Ku Rong's Vajra body instantly shattered.

From the physique of a strong middle-aged man, he shrank back into an old and withered state.

Yuan Jue casually threw him to the ground.

The monk clasped his hands together and said calmly: "Relinquish supernatural powers, and the Buddhist Dharma of the spiritual platform can be seen."

"Go and cultivate."

Ku Rong's face was pale, and he coughed up blood. His life was not in danger, but his aura had vanished, turning from a Vajra in the world into an ordinary person, filled with extreme unwillingness and pain.

"You, you, you..."

"Do you really want to directly obstruct my Buddha?"

The monk who had crushed the Vajra body with one hand shook his head, clasped his hands together, and explained softly to the people in front of the camera:

"Without cultivating the Buddhist Dharma, supernatural powers are useless."

He reached out and took down the package behind him.

Inside was the Zen staff, or it was difficult to define whether it was a Zen staff. There were nine rings on it, which jingled as he walked, but when this Zen staff appeared, the old monk's breathing suddenly stopped, his pupils contracted, and soon, someone asked in confusion: "A nine-ring tin staff?"

Why does it seem familiar?

In history and legends, what is related to the nine-ring tin staff...?

They instantly reacted, and a sense of scalp-numbing fear washed over them.

Yuan Jue lowered his eyes and said softly: "This, is what it means to directly obstruct!"

He stepped forward, the nine-ring tin staff in his hand jingling.

His voice was broad and gentle, passing through the equipment in front of him, and ringing in everyone's ears.

"Chan is Buddhist nature, Only Consciousness is Buddhist Dharma."

"Transmitted by the Buddhist monk Xuanzang, the Consciousness-Only School, Yuan Jue."

"Having heard that there is a debate between Buddhism and Daoism, after this, this humble monk will ascend to Tiantai Mountain and debate the Dharma with the Buddhas."

"Amitabha."