#320 - Bodhi Gāthā (4000 words, two in one)
These people who are chasing after us are like dogs, with incredibly sensitive noses.
Xu Ming thought he had shaken these guys off, but they came chasing after him again.
He didn't know how they managed to find his tracks.
But Xu Ming is different from Shi Xin.
Shi Xin would leave them with their lives, and would never kill them no matter what.
But Xu Ming would only send them to see King Yama as soon as possible, and most of them wouldn't even get the chance to see King Yama.
Because Xu Ming would hack them into oblivion.
In the beginning, Shi Xin would say things like, "Spare their lives, don't kill any more."
But Xu Ming simply wouldn't listen.
Xu Ming isn't some saint, and even if he were a saint, he probably wouldn't be so compassionate.
Repay kindness with kindness, and repay malice with justice—that's Xu Ming's motto.
Later on, Shi Xin stopped trying to persuade him.
Because it was useless to try.
Shi Xin would only help them to be reincarnated after Xu Ming killed them.
Xu Ming didn't care about that.
Others want to kill me, and I kill them—that's my business. Other than that, whatever Shi Xin wants to do is her own business.
Besides, Xu Ming felt that Shi Xin's reincarnation was a waste of effort.
Because Xu Ming usually went all the way, not only killing their physical bodies, but also destroying their souls!
If they didn't even have souls, what was the point of Shi Xin's reincarnation?
And because the people who came to kill Xu Ming were of that level of strength, they couldn't worsen Xu Ming's injuries.
So Xu Ming fought and rested, and after five days, the injuries on his body were almost completely healed.
After his injuries healed, the system's voice rang out in Xu Ming's mind again.
Xu Ming discovered that the system had a characteristic.
If it was just a one-on-one battle, and only a few people were killed, then the rewards would usually come out very quickly.
But if you killed a dozen or even hundreds of people, then the rewards would be delayed until the system determined that you had indeed escaped the previous event, or felt that you had the ability to survive, before it would announce the rewards to you.
【Detected that the host fought against Yang Yang of the Northern Wilderness, the number one person on the Azure Cloud List: Sword Intent +20, Sword Qi +20, Discernment +10, Blood Qi +30】
【Detected that the host fought against Cui Jian, the number one young person in the Southern Realm Demon Kingdom: Sword Intent +20, Sword Qi +15, Sword Skill +15.】
【Detected that the host has seized the immortal spiritual fruit—Blood Bodhi Main Fruit, rewarding the host with "Bodhi Gatha."】
【Bodhi Gatha: The host can write this verse on ordinary Qi-replenishing talismans. If the talisman is dissolved in water and drunk, mental power can be increased by 30%, attack power can be increased by 10%, spiritual power concentration can be increased by 10%, martial artist's true energy can be increased by 10%, and endurance can be increased by 20% (others can also use it).】
【The host has achieved the achievement "First Time Obtaining an Immortal Spiritual Fruit": The host's affinity for immortal spiritual fruits +50. When the host consumes immortal spiritual fruits, the medicinal effect can provide 20%.】
【Detected that the host killed Zeng Rong and others... Sword Qi +100, Sword Intent +100, Blood Qi +100, Defense +30.】
As the system's voice fell, Xu Ming's divine sense gradually recovered.
Xu Ming was quite satisfied with the system's rewards this time. This Bodhi Gatha could not only be used by himself, but also by others.
And the method of use was very simple, the cost was very small, and even the entire army could use it.
Just imagine, if the three thousand Dragon Leopard Iron Cavalry or the Blood Slaughter drank this talisman water, wouldn't it be equivalent to opening a small Musou mode on the battlefield?
It's just that Xu Ming discovered that when he defeated some weaker cultivators, the points added were very few, and sometimes no points were added at all.
"What's wrong?"
Shi Xin, who was on the side, looked at Xu Ming in a daze, blinked her eyes, and asked softly.
She felt that Xu Ming had been distracted for a long time just now, and was worried that there was something wrong with his injuries.
"It's nothing." Xu Ming shook his head. "By the way, shall I tell you a story?"
Looking at this Bodhi Gatha, Xu Ming also thought of a story.
Xu Ming felt that this story shouldn't shake Shi Xin's Buddhist heart, but only arouse her deep thoughts, so giving her this Bodhi Gatha could be regarded as a thank you for her help when he was injured.
"What story?" Shi Xin turned her head, tilted her head, and asked curiously.
Xu Ming thought for a while: "This story took place in a distant, ancient, and brilliant country. It's a story about Buddhist principles."
Shi Xin nodded, even more curious in her heart.
Xu Ming organized his language and slowly opened his mouth:
"The story begins with the fifth patriarch of the Central Plains Zen sect, Grandmaster Hongren, who wanted to find a successor from among his disciples who could inherit the mantle of the Dharma and continue the sect style of the Zen sect. So he gave a writing assignment to all his disciples, asking them to show their wisdom in understanding the mind and seeing the nature from the Prajna wisdom of their own nature.
Grandmaster Shenxiu was a disciple of Grandmaster Hongren and had followed Hongren for many years. At that time, Grandmaster Shenxiu was already over fifty years old and had a deep understanding and attainment of Buddhism. He was the chief disciple.
Among Hongren's many disciples, he had the highest voice for the succession, so everyone had the highest expectations for Grandmaster Shenxiu.
In the temple, there was also a disciple named Huineng.
Huineng didn't recognize a single character. In his early years, he made a living by chopping firewood. He accidentally heard the Diamond Sutra, so he vowed to study Buddhism. So he traveled from his hometown to Dongshan Temple to find Grandmaster Hongren.
At that time, Huineng said to Grandmaster Hongren that as long as he could study Buddhism, he was willing to be a disciple who cooked and cooked in the kitchen, and that would be enough.
Huineng was naturally able to participate in the gatha that Grandmaster Hongren asked his disciples to write, but no one paid attention to this disciple. After all, who would pay attention to someone who cooks and cooks?
At that time, Grandmaster Shenxiu wrote—
"The body is a bodhi tree, the mind is like a bright mirror stand.
Always wipe it diligently, don't let it attract dust."
After Xu Ming finished reading these four lines of poetry, Shi Xin lowered her head and pondered carefully.
Xu Ming glanced at Shi Xin's appearance and smiled, how do you feel about these four lines of poetry?
Shi Xin nodded: "In the eyes of the little monk, these four lines of poetry are actually very well written, but I always feel that something is wrong somewhere."
Xu Ming smiled and thought that he was worthy of being a disciple of the master of Thunder Sound Temple: "Where do you think is wrong?"
Shi Xin shook her head, her beautiful willow eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Little monk...can't say."
Xu Ming retracted his gaze and just continued to tell the story.
"At that time, everyone praised it after reading it, but only Zen Master Hongren remained silent after seeing it. So he summoned Shenxiu to the main hall and judged that although his gatha had enlightened Buddhist Dharma, he still hadn't enlightened the true meaning of Buddhist Dharma. So he asked Shenxiu to go back and write another one.
But Shenxiu didn't produce a gatha after returning for several days.
Shenxiu was puzzled, how could he not have enlightened the true meaning of Buddhist Dharma?
And one day, Huineng saw the gatha written by Shenxiu, but because Huineng was illiterate, he asked a senior brother to write down his feelings next to him.
When the monks in the temple saw this Bodhi Gatha, they were all shocked after reading it.
Later, Zen Master Hongren also came to see it and praised it greatly in his heart.
When Grandmaster Hongren knew that Huineng had written this gatha, he was even more happy.
Grandmaster Hongren thought to himself that a person who couldn't recognize a single character could have such a thorough "sudden enlightenment", which was really a rare talent.
So, Grandmaster Hongren passed the mantle to Huineng.
The poem that Huineng wrote is these four lines—
"Bodhi is originally not a tree, a bright mirror is also not a stand.
Originally there is nothing, where does dust attract?""
After Xu Ming finished telling the story, Shi Xin's eyes suddenly lit up, and then quickly lost their light again.
She walked forward with Xu Ming in a daze, and the Buddha's light behind her was looming. Even around her, there seemed to be illusions of golden lotuses of Buddhism constantly flowing.
Xu Ming knew that Shi Xin was now entering a state of enlightenment.
Xu Ming didn't disturb her, but continued to walk forward.
Shi Xin also followed behind Xu Ming in a daze.
After half an hour, Shi Xin's eyes gradually regained their radiance, and the halo behind her head also dissipated with the vibration of the spiritual power around her.
The Buddhist Dharma sound was constantly spreading throughout the mountains and forests.
Xu Ming clearly felt that the spiritual power in Shi Xin's body was constantly condensing, and finally formed a materialized existence, floating in the dantian.
And this thing is called the Golden Core by cultivators.
"Forming a golden core, you are one of us. Congratulations to Grandmaster Shi Xin for entering the Golden Core Realm." Xu Ming said with a smile.
Shi Xin blinked her eyes: "All thanks to the benefactor, the little monk owes the benefactor a favor."
Xu Ming shook his head: "That's not the case. I just told a story casually. Grandmaster Shi Xin was able to break through, in your Buddhist words, it's all Grandmaster Shi Xin's creation."
Xu Ming was indeed not being humble. Xu Ming just told a story. If Shi Xin didn't understand it, she would go back and think about it slowly, and it wouldn't matter.
Moreover, Xu Ming felt that he had been bullying Shi Xin all these days, often shaking her Buddhist heart, which was indeed a bit embarrassing. She even almost fell into a lower realm several times because of his "teasing".
As a result, he didn't expect that Shi Xin would actually understand something after hearing such a story, which was indeed Shi Xin's creation.
"I wonder if Grandmaster Hongren, Grandmaster Shenxiu, and Grandmaster Huineng have any ancient books circulating in the world? The little monk wants to read them." Shi Xin asked.
In Shi Xin's view, these three masters were all people of great wisdom, and there were no successes or failures.
Xu Ming shook his head, "This is just a story I heard. Whether this dynasty exists in this world or not is another matter, so where would I find ancient books?"
Just kidding, this is a story from another world. Where am I going to find ancient books for you?
A hint of disappointment flashed in Shi Xin's eyes, "That's really a pity."
"Indeed, a bit," Xu Ming echoed, not saying anything more, just walking forward.
Shi Xin followed beside Xu Ming, adjusting the spiritual energy within her body. Shi Xin had just reached the Golden Core Realm and still needed to calm her spiritual energy.
"Where does Benefactor Xu want to go now?" After walking for a long time, Shi Xin asked.
Actually, Xu Ming didn't know where to go either.
His main goal was to obtain the main fruit of the Blood Bodhi.
Now that he had obtained the main fruit of the Blood Bodhi, he didn't have any clear goals.
"Just wandering around," Xu Ming said.
Since he didn't know where to go, he would just wander around and take a look.
If there was anything good to snatch, he would go and snatch it.
If there was nothing good, then he would wait for the passage from the Rootless Secret Realm to the outside world to open.
Moreover, Xu Ming also wanted to find Yan Han and Qing Wan.
If Yan Han and Qing Wan needed anything, he would help them snatch it.
Besides, this place was indeed quite dangerous. He always felt uneasy if he didn't see them.
"Okay."
Shi Xin nodded.
Anyway, as far as Shi Xin was concerned, wherever Xu Ming went, she would follow.
The two continued to walk aimlessly through the mountains and forests.
As they walked, Shi Xin raised her head and suddenly asked Xu Ming, "Benefactor Xu, are you really not going to join my Buddhist sect? I think if you were to join the Buddhist sect, you would definitely achieve great things."
Shi Xin still hadn't given up on inviting Xu Ming to join the Buddhist sect.
Xu Ming yawned, "I've already said, if you cultivate with me, then I'll go back to Leiming Temple with you to be a monk."
"…"
Shi Xin lowered her head, silent.
Xu Ming turned his head and looked in Shi Xin's direction, discovering that compared to when he first brought it up and Shi Xin's expression showed resistance, she now seemed to be considering the possibility of such a thing.
"Forget it, forget it, seeing how resistant you are, I'd better not become a monk," Xu Ming quickly finalized the matter.
If she really agreed and learned from the Buddha to cut flesh to feed eagles, then he really couldn't handle it.
At that time, the abbot of Leiming Temple would probably suppress him.
He had heard that Shi Xin was not only a disciple to the abbot of Leiming Temple, but he also treated her like a granddaughter.
"Anyway, the journey is boring, how about I continue to tell you stories?"
Xu Ming changed the subject, trying to divert Shi Xin's attention.
"What story?" Hearing that Xu Ming was going to tell a story again, Shi Xin's eyes lit up.
At this moment, Shi Xin was like a little girl who loved to listen to bedtime stories, with a hint of cuteness in her expression.
Of course, this wasn't because the stories Xu Ming told were so good, but because the stories Xu Ming told contained some Buddhist principles, which were thought-provoking.
"Let's tell a story about an old monk and a young monk…"
Xu Ming thought for a moment and organized his words.
"Once upon a time, there was an old monk and a young monk. When they were crossing a river, they met a woman…"
Xu Ming slowly spoke, and Shi Xin listened quietly.
The two walked between the mountains and forests. Above the sky, the setting sun cast its glow, dyeing the sky a dark red. The whole world seemed to be draped in a red dress.
The red glow gradually lengthened the silhouettes of the two…
