Chapter 171: Knocking on the monk’s door under the moon
"Emperor Tang, you can't go out——"
In the Prince Jin's Mansion, Li Shimin was striding forward. Several people in the courtyard were admonishing each other. The person who forcibly stood in front of Li Shimin was Bai Zhi, the current guard commander of the Prince Jin's Mansion.
Whether it was Li Zhi's confession before leaving or Yang Chan's instructions before retreating, Li Shimin and Changsun Wugou were the ones who must be protected with all their strength.
Everyone in the Jin Palace knew about the journey to the west, but the sergeant who just came to deliver the letter made it very clear that there were several scary-looking monsters coming to the west of Chang'an City.
"Commander Bai, the person who came here is my sworn imperial brother. For the benefit of the Tang Dynasty, he traveled west to learn scriptures for seventeen years. Now that he has finally come back, how can I not go and meet him?"
Even though Li Shimin had retired for many years, he still had a vague understanding in his heart that he had to end Tang Xuanzang's journey to the west.
In fact, Li Shimin had a premonition a few days ago.
When a large amount of merit fell from the sky, more of it was absorbed by the Golden Dragon of National Luck. This Golden Dragon of National Luck, which symbolized the destiny of the Tang Dynasty, instantly became solid.
It turned out to be just a four-clawed golden dragon. After absorbing these merits, another dragon claw grew from between the waist and abdomen, reaching the "golden immortal" state.
Another small part was directly submerged into Li Shimin's body.
After all, he was the one who made the journey to the West possible, and the "Purple Gold Bowl" and "Customs Clearance Document" he bestowed upon him continued to accumulate merit for Li Shimin along the way.
In this way, Li Shimin, who was originally only in the middle stage of "Celestial Immortal", actually directly caused the thunder disaster of "True Immortal".
It is also because of his low level that the merits of traveling to the West cannot be underestimated, not to mention that he is also the one who initiated it.
Today's Li Shimin is also in the early stage of "True Immortal". He has even cultivated the "Cangming Jue" taught by Li Zhi to the third level. He has left all the generals of the Tang Dynasty behind.
"Your Majesty, if you really want to go, we will protect you together!"
Seeing that Li Shimin had made up his mind, everyone stopped trying to persuade him and left the eldest grandson Pingting, Ao Ling, Xue Qian and Yun'er to look after the house. After all, the eldest grandson Wugou was still there.
Everyone else rushed to the west gate of Chang'an to greet him.
Yes, Li Shimin was also a man with a big enough profile. Back then, when many generals returned in triumph, he would often go ten miles out of the city to greet them, not to mention the fact that he had to pick up Tang Xuanzang who had returned from a hundred and eighty thousand miles away.
"Father, why did you come out in person?——"
A group of people from the Jin Palace had just arrived outside the "Suzaku Gate" and happened to meet the important civil and military ministers led by Prince Li Chengqian.
Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, Li Jing, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin were among the crowd. Even Wei King Li Tai, who had given birth to many children recently, actually appeared in the crowd.
"Cheng Qian, you don't have to go over there, just ask Brother Yao, Shu Bao and Yao Jin to follow. Everyone else can go their own way."
Seeing such a large formation of Prince Li Chengqian, I guess I heard the message from Tang Xuanzang. Rather than greeting Tang Monk, I might as well say that I came to protect Li Shimin.
"This... well, I will leave now. The Daming Palace is ready and my father can use it at any time."
Now that Li Shimin had said so, Prince Li Chengqian did not insist anymore. He bowed to Li Shimin and left with a group of civil servants.
"Your Majesty, I have just received a report from General Su that several monsters have appeared in the west of the city. Is this Master Sanzang's arrival a strange one?"
Qin Qiong has been in charge of the protection of Chang'an City since he was restored, and both the left and right Qianniu Guards are firmly in his hands.
When Li Shimin travels, naturally these few guards will not be the only ones. Yan Chixia and the eunuch chief Zhang Anan have personally led two hundred masters of the "Li Jing Sect" to hide around.
"Haha, you guys don't know. According to Pheasant Nu, Master Sanzang has three disciples with extraordinary powers, namely the Monkey King of the Immortal Realm, Marshal Tianpeng and General Rolling Curtain."
"However, although these three people have great magical powers, they have strange appearances. I think Su Dingfang mistakenly thought they were monsters."
Li Zhi told not many people about the Journey to the West quartet. Fortunately, Li Shimin was one of the insiders. When he heard that "monsters" were coming to the west of Chang'an City, Li Shimin was sure it was those people.
......
"Your Majesty——"
"Your Majesty——"
After leaving the Zhuque Gate, go directly to the west, and after passing through several cities, you will arrive at the west gate of Chang'an City - Jinguang Gate.
At this time, the "Jinguang Gate" had already been prepared and the city gate was tightly closed, but General Su Dingfang was alone outside the "Jinguang Gate" talking to Tang Seng.
Su Dingfang had nothing to do with Tang Seng's "rash" behavior just now. Who made him and the other party's realms so different?
More importantly, Su Dingfang discovered that the "customs clearance document" in his hand was indeed from the Tang Dynasty. It was stamped with the jade seal of the Tang Dynasty and was written by Li Shimin himself.
The seal may be imitated, but Li Shimin's "flying white" hand has its own characteristics.
Since these are all true, neither the holy monk in front of him nor those behind him are kind-hearted people at first glance. If these people really want to harm Chang'an, can anyone stop them?
"Hahaha, my brother is really back. It's been seventeen years, it feels like a lifetime ago——"
Looking at Tang Monk in front of him, Li Shimin was filled with emotions.
He is not lamenting the passing of time. With his current cultivation level in the early stage of "True Immortal", if nothing unexpected happens, he will have no problem living for thousands of years.
It’s just Tang Xuanzang in front of me...
Naturally, Li Shimin couldn't see through Tang Seng's state, but he unconsciously wanted to salute him. It seemed that Tang Seng's whole body had an indescribable charm?
"Amitabha, after seventeen years of separation, I didn't expect that our country, the Tang Dynasty, would become very popular in cultivation. Even Your Majesty has reached the realm of 'true immortal'. It's so gratifying and congratulatory——"
Tang Seng clasped his palms together again, and praised and sighed repeatedly in his mouth, but there was a strange look in his eyes, which was just fleeting and not noticed by anyone.
"Haha, what does my little cultivation mean in the eyes of Yudi? I once heard Pheasant Nu say that as long as Yudi can successfully reach Lingshan, he will be able to achieve the golden body. I must have become a Buddha immediately.
?"
Li Zhi naturally had nothing to hide from his father. Even if he didn't tell Xiyou in too much detail, he still told his father the general outline.
"Amitabha, even if the poor monk has become a Buddha and an ancestor, he is still a monk in the Tang Dynasty. The scriptures of the Great Thunder Sound Temple in the West are here. The poor monk should try his best to spread them to the Tang Dynasty, and pray that the Tang Dynasty will have good weather and long-term peace and stability." Tang Seng is still the same Tang Seng, but Li Shimin feels that Tang Seng is no longer the same Tang Seng.
"These three people at the back are the disciples accepted by Yu Di, right? I heard from Pheasant Nu that these three people are all people with great magical powers."
At this time, the three brothers behind Tang Seng also came over and were surprised by the magnificence of Chang'an City in front of them.
Along the way westward, I encountered so many countries and cities, but I have never seen a place as majestic as Chang'an.
Especially Sun Wukong, whose bright "fiery eyes" swept across the entire city of Chang'an, stayed in one place for the longest time, and even shook his head in confusion.
"What your Majesty said is true. The poor monk was able to reach the West Heaven safely only because of the protection of these three disciples."
"This is the poor monk's first disciple, Sun Wukong, who is now the 'Victorious Buddha'. This is the second apprentice of the poor monk, and Zhu Wuneng, the current 'Pure Altar Envoy', and the last one is the third disciple of the poor monk.
Today's 'Golden Arhat' Sha Wujing."
Since Li Shimin asked, even if it was just out of politeness, Tang Seng introduced his three apprentices to Li Shimin.
"Hehe, you are worthy of being your Majesty of the Tang Dynasty. This magnanimity cannot be compared with that of other countries. My name is Zhu Wuneng, also known as Zhu Bajie, and I was originally Linfan, the 'Tianpeng Marshal' of Heaven."
"On the way to the West to learn scriptures, I, the old pig, have the best relationship with your family, Jiulang. When I see Emperor Tang, you are like meeting my elder. By the way, where is Jiulang? Why didn't he come out?
?"
This Zhu Bajie is a very familiar person. He said this, but he was already thinking about how to enter Chang'an City and have a big meal.
"Haha, Marshal Tianpeng is really funny. It's a pity that Pheasant Slave is out for something and is not in Chang'an City now, so he can't come to greet you."
"My dear brother, dear monks, this is not the place to talk. How about we go to the Daming Palace to have a talk? The meat and vegetables dishes have been prepared, just waiting for you to arrive."
Li Shimin had an illusion. Logically speaking, he was most familiar with Tang Seng, but it was far less enjoyable than chatting with the ugly Zhu Bajie.
"Hehe, that's a good feeling. Master, back then Jiulang once said, 'Food and wine go through the intestines, but the heart of the Buddha remains.'"
"Now that Master and Senior Brother have become Buddhas, and I, Lao Zhu, and Junior Brother Sha have also attained the Golden Body, I guess this fast should have been abolished long ago, right?"
In fact, Zhu Bajie had a profound meaning when he asked this question in public. In fact, before arriving in Xitian, some of them ate meat and drank a lot.
But at the moment when Tang Monk was named "Zhan Tan Merit Buddha", Zhu Bajie seemed to feel that the master around him was a completely different person?
However, he didn't tell anyone about his suspicion, he just kept it secretly in his heart, just like he did with his senior brother Sun Wukong.
Even though Zhu Bajie is rough-skinned and fleshy, he may be the most attentive person in the entire Journey to the West team.
Zhu Bajie clearly remembered that after that incident, his senior brother no longer called him "idiot" or "big guy", but instead called him "Bajie" seriously.
Junior Brother Sha has been a dull gourd from the beginning to the end. He has not spoken much for so many years, and the little white dragon appears in the form of a dragon and horse all day long.
But Zhu Bajie knew that that person was probably concentrating on his cultivation.
Ever since, in the following years on the way to learn scriptures, Sun Wukong and Tang Seng were more likely to talk, and Zhu Bajie was talking to Tang Seng, and occasionally they would be called "Big Brother" or "Bajie".
The closer he got to Lingshan, the more Zhu Bajie's thoughts became heavier. Inexplicably, he missed his junior brother Li Zhi.
When I came to Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty this time, I was visiting with my master. More importantly, Zhu Bajie came to see Li Zhi.
Regarding his own affairs, he didn't understand it back then. After so many years, he still didn't understand it. He needed to ask Li Zhi for an "explanation".
As for "other people's" matters, Zhu Bajie hasn't thought about it yet.
......
Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall.
"My dear brother, please have a drink -"
Li Shimin took the lead in picking up the wine glass, and Li Jing, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin and other generals also picked up their own glasses.
"Come on, come on, drink to win, drink to win - Master, doesn't it taste good to you when you drink that plain wine?"
After all, Sun Wukong is a monkey. Others can sit steadily, but he sometimes sits upright, sometimes stands up, and sometimes even squats on a chair. How does he look like a successful Buddha in cultivation?
"Amitabha, there are three thousand avenues, and Buddhism is not static. I don't force you to be restrained by my teacher. Are you going to restrain the poor monks instead? Haha..."
Neither Tang Sanzang, who was "trained" by Li Zhi, nor the former "Golden Chanzi" himself, was a foolish monk who would not change his ways. Today is the occasion again, and the disciples do not avoid eating meat and vegetables, so Tang Seng would not say that.
What.
However, he has studied Buddhism for many years and has become a "Zhantan Merit Buddha". Naturally, every word and deed must follow Buddhist principles.
After three drinks and five dishes, Li Shimin put down the cup in his hand.
"Now that the study of Buddhist scriptures has come to an end, I wonder what the next step for my disciples and disciples is going to be?"
"Amitabha, the disciples of the poor monk each have their own duties, and they will also have their own places to go after today. The poor monk will stay in Chang'an temporarily and plans to build a stone pagoda in the 'Daci'en Temple' in 'Jinchangfang'." p>
"This pagoda does not need to be too high, only five floors are enough. The scriptures brought by Daleiyin Temple are all in Sanskrit. The poor monk should translate them one by one into the Chinese language."
As Tang Monk spoke, he pulled out a quarter-folded piece of white silk from his large sleeve robe.
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When you unfold it, you will see that it actually looks like a five-story tower. There are many small characters densely marked on the side, indicating the size of each place and the purpose of each floor of the tower.
"My brother's move was a blessing to thousands of people in the Tang Dynasty. I will immediately make arrangements to build the pagoda and strive to complete the pagoda within one month."
The Tang Dynasty today is already different from the Tang Dynasty in another time and space. As long as the talent is allowed or the family has enough money, almost everyone is practicing.
However, among the current craftsmen in the Ministry of Industry of the Tang Dynasty, most of them are born with talents in one of the five elements, metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They are assigned to the corresponding departments according to different talents.
The cultivation level of these people may not be very high. Most of them are only in the "foundation building" stage. Anyone who can cultivate to the "golden elixir" stage can lead a division alone.
Even the current Minister of Industry, Yan Liben, recommended by Li Zhi, is only in the middle stage of "Nascent Soul".
However, it was this group of people that gave Li Shimin the confidence to make a one-month commitment after taking a cursory look at the drawings.
"Amitabha, poor monk, thank you so much for your majesty. Your majesty has helped me in Buddhism, and the poor monk will spread the word to the Buddha. Your majesty's merits are immeasurable——"
......
The news of Tang Xuanzang's return to Chang'an City spread like wildfire. In an instant, it spread throughout the streets and alleys of Chang'an. Whether it was traffickers or high-ranking officials, they were all talking about this person and this matter.
Especially some older people who had witnessed the incident at the "Huasheng Temple" vividly told the people around them the cause and effect of the incident.
After the banquet, just as Tang Seng said, the apprentices went their separate ways.
It is said that Sun Wukong returned to "Huaguo Mountain", while Zhu Bajie went to Gaolaozhuang, but he begged Emperor Tang to spread the news for him. After Li Zhi came back, he must go to Gaolaozhuang and even send him a message. p>
As for the taciturn Monk Sha, I don’t know where he went, and even Monk Tang and others didn’t ask a question.
As for the white dragon Ma Ao Lie, he transformed into a human form and lived in the Jin Prince's mansion grandly.
There is no way, even if Li Zhi is not here, this person still has an acquaintance.
Ao Ling, the seventh princess of the East China Sea, is also one of the women recognized by Li Zhi. In this aspect alone, isn't Ao Lie also Li Zhi's uncle?
Of course, Ao Lie's stay was not proposed by himself, but was requested by Ao Ling.
Now that King Jin Li Zhi is away, Princess Jin is in seclusion again, and Bai Zhi, the commander of the guards with the highest level of cultivation in Prince Jin's Mansion, is far from a match for Ao Lie.
With Ao Lie's presence, the Jin Palace and even the entire city of Chang'an can be more stable.
Naturally, Ao Lie would not refuse such a request, and Li Shimin would not object either. He even asked Bai Zhi to open all the defensive formations in the Jin Palace to Ao Lie.
No one else, because Li Zhi once told his father that among the people traveling to the West, the most trustworthy ones are the senior brother Sun Wukong and the little white dragon Ao Lie.
In this way, Ao Lie settled down in Prince Jin's Mansion, silently making preparations for the "Daluo Jinxian" thunder tribulation.
If others want to deal with the "Daluo Jinxian" thunder tribulation, they may only worry about the risk of the thunder tribulation itself, but Ao Lie is different.
There is a curse in the dragon bloodline. There has not been a new "Great Luo Jinxian" for thousands of years. Could it be that just because he traveled to the west, Ao Lie could break such a curse?
Ao Lie is not confident enough yet. He is waiting, although he doesn't know what he is waiting for.
In his spare time, Ao Lie got along very well with Bai Zhi, Qin Huaiyu and Luo Tong, and even shared his own cultivation experience for their reference.
Of course, the more important thing is that Ao Lie is giving advice on the cultivation of his cousin Ao Ling.
"Nine Transformations of the Divine Dragon" is a skill that Ao Lie obtained from the remnant soul of Zhulong. In the past ten years, Ao Lie has not dared to be lazy for a day to reach where he is now.
You must know that this "Nine Turns Divine Dragon Art" is a real "Daluo Jinxian" level skill. Otherwise, how could Ao Lie have made such an advance?
Now that Ao Lie has achieved success in cultivation, he will naturally not be stingy with his cousin.
"Third brother, I think if you combine your 'Nine-turn Divine Dragon Art' with the 'Physical Art', the physical body you can cultivate will become even more powerful."
The dragon clan is born with the gift of "celestial beings", and its physical body is second only to the witch clan.
Although the "Nine Turns of the Divine Dragon Technique" is a complete exercise, it also focuses on body training, and each turn corresponds to a dragon claw.
For example, at this time, Ao Lie was already close to the peak of the "Taiyi Golden Immortal". He was a seven-clawed white dragon and was unparalleled among the entire younger generation of the Dragon Clan.
As for Ao Ling, after learning the "Ti Jue" from Li Zhi, he has also cultivated to the level of Xiaocheng. He is also considered a strong player in the "Golden Immortal" realm, so he naturally understands the power of the "Ti Jue".
"'Tijue'? What is that?"
Ao Lie was a little puzzled. After all, his "Nine Transformation Divine Dragon Technique" was given by Zhulong Ancestor. It was a real "Daluo Jinxian" level technique. How could it be comparable to any other techniques?
?
"This is it. It was passed down by Jiulang. Everyone in the Jin Palace is practicing it. Third brother might as well give it a try."
A little white light flashed, and a simple and obscure text appeared in Ao Ling's mind.
"It's a good thing, but Ling Mei gave such a valuable thing privately to my little brother, Jiulang..."
Ao Lie was able to tell what was good and what was bad, but he felt that it was inappropriate for his cousin to do this.
"Giggles, what is the friendship between third brother and Jiulang? Others don't know that little sister doesn't know it? Besides, Emperor Tang has made no secret of the entire defensive formation of Prince Jin's Mansion from you. I think Jiulang won't mind if you come to practice this body."
It’s secret.”
Having said that, Ao Ling did not fully explain it, that is, the higher the level of cultivation, the more feedback Li Zhi will receive.
This is the result of benefits to both parties. It does not mean that Ao Ling, a new daughter-in-law, is helping her husband plot against her cousin.
In the blink of an eye, it was already two months later.
In the past two months, the incense in "Da Ci'en Temple" has reached its highest peak in history.
Especially a month ago, when the five-story tower needed by Tang Monk was completed, Tang Emperor Li Shimin personally led the civil and military ministers to come to congratulate and open the tower.
"My dear brother, the stone tower has been completed. I don't know what to call it?"
Looking at the bare tower eaves without any writing, Li Shimin asked.
"Amitabha, my Buddha traveled all over the world to save all sentient beings. I once performed an act of 'turning into a pigeon to save lives', which even a poor monk was amazed by."
"Among the many birds, our Tang Dynasty is unique in its style of flying geese. If not, how about calling the tower the 'Big Wild Goose Pagoda'?"
Tang Monk pondered for a long time and bowed deeply to the west.
"'Big Wild Goose Pagoda'? What a good name. I wonder if I would be lucky enough to inscribe this plaque?"
Well, you are the Lord of the Tang Dynasty, you have the final say.
Li Shimin said this, what else could Tang Seng say?
"This tower is completed, and the plaque is waiting for your majesty's calligraphy..."
With the "Big Wild Goose Pagoda", I never saw Tang Monk leave again.
But on every first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, Monk Tang would sit on the fifth floor of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Countless monks or believers and disciples would gather under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda to listen to Monk Tang preaching the "Mahayana Teachings."
Spring passes and summer solstice passes, summer passes and autumn comes, without interruption.
......
"Amitabha, this donor is late. Master Xuanzang's lecture has ended. If you want to listen, you have to wait until the first day of the next month."
On June 15th, the moon was high in the sky, even though it was already the time of the watch, it was still a bit hot.
The young novice in charge of sweeping under the "Big Wild Goose Pagoda" was about to close the courtyard door, but was stopped by a man wearing a black gauze hat and black robes.
"You're polite, young master. I'm not here to listen to the Dharma, but to reminisce about the past with 'Jin Chanzi'. I'd like to thank you, young master."
But it was a gentle voice. The person deliberately suppressed it, then took out something from his sleeve and handed it over.
Under the bright moonlight, it seemed like a string of ordinary rosary beads.
It's just that this person's hands are extremely white, as if they are even whiter than the bright moonlight?