HBWnovel Chapter 069 Grand Sacrificial Ceremony
Chapter 069 Grand Sacrificial Ceremony
Chapter 069 Grand Sacrificial Ceremony
Ji Lianxing's pinch made Lin Fei realize that the monk's words were probably not so simple, so he kept quiet and waited for Ji Lianxing to speak.
Sure enough, Ji Lianxing immediately replied with a smile, "The more gods you worship, the more gods will protect you. My husband is just here to pray to the Bodhisattva for peace of mind."
The monk looked at Lin Fei with some doubt, but continued, "Amitabha, sincere worship will naturally bring divine protection. Our temple enshrines many deities, I wonder what Master Zhao wishes to ask for, and which Buddha he is worshipping?"
Ji Lianxing said, "Knowing the past, understanding the present, and comprehending the future, may I ask, Master, my master wishes for peace and happiness for all people in the world, and for all living beings to be brothers and sisters. Does your temple have such a Buddha?"
The monk said, "You jest, benefactor. The world is a sea of suffering, and even the Buddha could not cross to the other shore. How could there be such a Buddha in this world?"
Ji Lianxing said regretfully, "That is a pity. If there really is such a deity in this world, my master has a special offering to make to your temple."
The monk asked, "I wonder what offerings Master Zhao makes?"
Ji Lianxing said, "Nothing special, just three sticks of incense and one white lotus."
“Well said, well said, it’s just routine business, please don’t take offense, Master Zhao.” The monk laughed and then stepped aside. “Please come in, Master Zhao, the abbot has been waiting for a long time.”
It turns out that Ji Lianxing and the monk had been talking in riddles for a long time, exchanging coded messages. Luckily, Ji Lianxing was there; if he had come alone, he would have been exposed.
Lin Fei and Ji Lianxing followed the monk into the temple. Lin Fei used his voice to transmit a message to Ji Lianxing: "Knowing the past, understanding the present, and knowing the future, may everyone in the world be safe and well, and may all living beings be brothers and sisters. This White Lotus Sect really knows how to boast."
Ji Lianxing also transmitted her voice, saying, "You haven't seen anything even more outrageous, little Taoist! You come from the Jade Emperor Sect, so you must be well-versed in Taoist scriptures, right? Let me ask you, in your Taoist scriptures, which god created heaven and earth?"
"Naturally, it is the great god Pangu."
"Then who is the god who gave birth to all things?"
"It's the goddess Nuwa."
"Who was it that taught the profound principles of heaven and earth and created the supernatural powers of Taoism?"
"It is the Three Pure Ones, the Patriarchs."
……
"Even your Taoist sects, with their long and rich history, dare not claim all the credit for a single god. But the White Lotus Sect is different. Whether it's creation of the world and the transmission of knowledge, it's all attributed to the same person." Ji Lianxing sneered repeatedly, "You righteous people designate the White Lotus Sect as one of the Eight Evil Sects; do you think everyone else in this world is an evil sect?"
"So these guys are really shameless!" Lin Fei had already secretly defined the White Lotus Sect.
"Alright, we're about to meet the branch altar master. That branch altar master is quite skilled; since you're not yet able to speak, your telepathic communication might be overheard. Once inside, don't communicate with me telepathically; just follow my instructions." Ji Lianxing telepathically said, "Before the White Lotus Saintess arrives, we must not alert her, lest all our efforts be in vain."
As they were talking, the monk in front led the two to a main hall: "Abbot, Master Zhao Xi has arrived."
A voice came from inside the hall: "Understood, go and greet the guests!"
A monk dressed in a yellow robe walked out of the main hall. He put his hands together in prayer. Lin Fei thought he was going to say "Amitabha," but to his surprise, the monk said directly, "Eternal Mother, how has Brother Zhao been lately?"
It was rather strange for a monk to say such a thing. The monk looked around and, seeing that only Lin Fei and his companion had arrived, asked, "Brother Zhao, where are the offerings the altar master asked you to prepare?"
While listening to Ji Lianxing's telepathic message, Lin Fei replied, "Brother Jingzhen, it's all my fault for that unruly servant who ruined the prepared offerings!"
"I told you long ago that your servant is utterly useless!" Monk Jingzhen seemed quite displeased, and snorted, "The sacrificial ceremony is about to begin. Let's see how you explain this to the altar master later!"
"No, no, it's because the Altar Master wants me to maintain the appearance of a kind person so as to attract believers! Someone has to do those underhanded things, right?" Lin Fei appeared very flustered: "Brother Jingzhen, you must say a few more words for me in front of the Altar Master later!"
"Alright, considering the many merits you have made in the past, I'm sure the altar master won't make things so difficult for you. Come in with me!" Monk Jingzhen led the two into the main hall and to a huge Buddha statue.
The monk Jingzhen placed his hands on the Buddha statue, veins bulging on his forehead, and with a sudden burst of force, shouted, "Open!"
He actually managed to turn that huge Buddha statue around – it seems this old monk also possesses the strength of the Body Tempering Realm.
The Buddha statue was turned aside by the monk Jingzhen, revealing a passageway taller than a person. The monk Jingzhen said, "Brother Zhao, please go in. I still need to greet the visitors outside."
……
Following the dark passage, after a short while, the space suddenly opened up before us. Beneath the temple lay a subterranean palace.
Torches were lit all around, illuminating the entire underground palace. Moreover, the entire underground palace was built in a magnificent and resplendent style, much grander than the temple above.
In the very center of the underground palace stood a massive altar, beneath which rested four golden white lotuses. A large crowd had already gathered around the altar.
Through Ji Lianxing's telepathic communication, Lin Fei learned that these people were all prominent figures from Zhao Family Village and nearby counties, including some government officials.
It seems that the White Lotus Sect is indeed powerful, having infiltrated even the lower levels of the Southern Tang government.
After Lin Fei and his companion entered, many more people dressed in white arrived one after another. Finally, when the monk Jingzhen entered, everyone was present.
At this moment, the monk Jingzhen also changed into white robes, no longer wearing the yellow kasaya he had worn before.
"Kneel down!" Ji Lianxing suddenly transmitted her voice to Lin Fei. Lin Fei, confused, followed the others and knelt on the ground. Everyone's faces were filled with fervent fervor as they shouted, "Primordial Chaos, without birth or growth. First came chaos, then growth. The first growth formed a primordial egg. The primordial egg burst open, and heaven and earth became black and yellow. The first to descend to earth was named Daluo. The Unborn Mother, the true home of emptiness!"
Lin Fei didn't understand what was going on, so he could only mingle among these people and mutter a few words here and there.
They chanted it three times before they finally stopped. Then, the monk Jingzhen stood up and loudly proclaimed, "The sacrificial ceremony begins! Please invite the altar master!"