Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 436 - 40: The Sumeru Monks Kneel to Welcome

Chapter 436: Chapter 40: The Sumeru Monks Kneel to Welcome

Sumeru Mountain, where monks from all over gather during the Buddha Meeting, millions of monks move like a flock of sheep along the grand road, step by step, kneeling as they converge towards the Spiritual Mountain.

Gu Wen wore a conical hat and a light veil to obscure his figure, blending into the crowd unseen.

There were rumors that the Buddha’s Golden Body could benefit the world, and only then did he realize the significance of his journey.

Before reaching the foot of the Spiritual Mountain, Buddha stupas were as numerous as a forest, temples were countless, and monks numbered in the tens of millions on both sides of the hundred-mile grand road.

In those temples, there were not only hundreds of thousands of golden Buddhas but also millions of tons of Golden Bodies.

At each entrance, a large iron scale was placed; benefactors visiting the temple would put gold and silver treasures on the scale. Monks, while chanting Amitabha Buddha with eyes closed, held Buddha Beads in their left hand and counted the gold and silver with their right.

Gu Wen observed for a long time, only to hear the phrase, "Our Buddha is bound by fate, Benefactor’s fate is not enough, please return."

It turned out that even becoming a monk required money, perhaps only in this way can so many monks be supported.

Merely at the foot of this Spiritual Mountain, these millions of non-producing monks represented an endless pit, unlike the cultivation of the Daoist and Demon Paths. Many monks chant scriptures their whole lives but remain in mortal flesh, eating and drinking.

Unlike most Daoist cultivators who, once they reach Foundation Establishment, fear neither cold nor heat, and upon reaching Golden Core, subsist on the wind and dew.

Buddhist cultivators refine their minds and understand the positions of the Buddha Ancestor.

Consequently, the number of Buddhist cultivators is several hundred times that of the Daoist, any somewhat wealthy person can enter a temple to become a monk.

Even in modern society, it’s hard to support so many idle people.

The sound of chanting was like the tides of the sea, followed by a distant bell from the Spiritual Mountain, encompassing all wishes and chants, sending the profound Buddhist intent floating up to the Nine Heavens.

Daoist refine qi, Buddhists refine intent, Demons refine the body.

This is a rough classification of the Three Religions and a very straightforward explanation. Admittedly, Daoists also have Primordial Spirits, Buddhists also practice Body Refinement, and Demons cultivate qi.

Yet those who ascended the pinnacle of the three teachings mostly followed these rules; Sword Buddha emphasizes intent, using momentum to pressure others.

Gu Wen plucked a wisp of incense smoke with his fingertips and tasted it in his mouth.

Mixed with Spiritual Energy and desires, it constituted a polluted energy according to Daoists, seeking purity, and even to Demons, it was somewhat toxic.

Delving deeper, one could sense the vastness of Buddhist teachings.

The power of intention already had a function similar to Spiritual Energy, but it still relied on and needed to be mixed with Spiritual Energy to form.

The power of the incense smoke was fifty percent stronger than ordinary spiritual power, or even more, but the cost was endless desires.

Where there is gain, there is loss.

The breath of a little person in Buddhist law grows by an inch where it reduces by two inches elsewhere, progressing in Buddhist law.

He had learned the method of using intention. The Qi Sea little person brought his palms together in a bow, bowing towards a special thought that appeared within himself.

"Amitabha Buddha, it seems Benefactor is destined with our Buddha."

A sweet female voice came through, and Gu Wen turned back to see a beautiful-looking nun approaching him.

He was slightly dazed, reminded of someone he once knew, and soon snapped out of it.

The nun in front of him, except for her attire and gender, was vastly different from the Jade Sword Buddha.

Her waist was wrapped in kasaya-like white clothes, fitting closely, outlining her figure, her face like a peach blossom, her eyes like autumn water.

Her entire body exuded a sense of sanctity, only her eyes were full of allure.

Not quite like a proper nun, but there was no rule saying that Buddhist nuns had to be tightly wrapped.

Perhaps sensing the wisp of intention he had just bowed out, she came to make his acquaintance.

"Indeed, it seems I really have a connection with nuns."

Up till now, Gu Wen did not know many monks; however, nuns appeared one after another.

The white-clothed nun said, "Benefactor has realized a wisp of Buddha’s intent, may I have a look?"

Gu Wen shook his head, and the white-clothed nun immediately showed a disappointed expression but did not get angry. She clasped her hands and said, "Benefactor must be here to sightsee, may I ask which Fellow Daoist are you, and do you have an interest in joining our Buddhist practices?"

She could not discern the level of cultivation of the figure covered in front, but it must be some great power interested in Buddhism.

Each Buddha Meeting attracted such individuals, seeking to break through other magic skills, finding these teachings well-suited to themselves, and thus gradually converting to Buddhism.

Also, some sought a respectable identity, hence shaved their heads and entered the monastic life.

Since the Qingcang Immortal began, such individuals have become increasingly numerous, especially from the Demon Path, with at least a third of the great powers converting to Buddhism, rapidly enhancing the strength of various temples.

Gu Wen asked, "Which Buddha?"

"Joyful Buddha, join our Buddhist practices, day and night, every moment, Dual Cultivation leads to enlightenment."

The white-clothed nun’s voice carried a seductive tone, not minding the many monks around.

Gu Wen had discerned from the start that her Cultivation Technique was unconventional, but still, the nun’s public declaration made him laugh, and he asked, "The path of Dual Cultivation exists in the other two sects too, how is yours different?"

The nun said, "Daoist Sect talks about heavenly marriage, looking for souls that resonate, mostly advocating lifelong fidelity. Whereas the Demon Path values quantity over quality, keeping women like livestock, which has now been eradicated by the Daoist Sect."

Gu Wen nodded, "Indeed, Qianfeng Tower never served meat, and many brothels don’t dare to openly engage in prostitution."

He and Chi Yu Zi had visited more than one brothel, because those places offered food, drink, and entertainment, and most Spiritual Wine was only supplied to brothels, with places like Qianfeng Tower being exceptions.

Thus, although Gu Wen still had a pure Yang body, he was quite familiar with the customs of the Cultivation World.

As in his previous life, the profession of prostitution had gone underground.

The level of secrecy depended on local law enforcement, such as in Unclean City where staying in a Superior Room included a sleeping maid.

Lord Buddha ate really well.

"It seems Fellow Daoist understands well, but our Buddhist practice is different, our fellow cultivators who practice Dual Cultivation are pure Buddhist disciples, pure as virgins, and do not require Fellow Daoists to stay forever."