Chapter 94 Wu Zetian, Guanyin!

  This morning when Wu Yuan got up, he didn't feel too good. It seemed as if something unpleasant was about to happen, especially when he thought of the Buddhist assembly at Dasangguo Temple, Wu Yuan felt a headache coming on.

  The Tang Empire, where Buddhism and Taoism coexisted, with constant rivalry between the two. This even extended to architecture. Over a period of fifty years, the three pure ones of Taoism were carved higher and higher, while the Buddhist patriarchs and bodhisattvas were carved larger and larger than those of Taoism. This extravagant behavior eventually led to the issuance of an edict by the imperial court, prohibiting such competition.

  The Dasheng Temple cost 2.8 billion yuan and took three years to renovate, it will be the largest religious center in Chang'an City, with a total capacity of tens of thousands of followers for spiritual practice.

  I really don't want to participate, what if I meet Guanyin Bodhisattva, should I be a black bear spirit or sell cuteness as a black bear spirit?

  Of course, the above is just a rant. According to Yuan Chengfang's statement, Li Shimin and Yu Xianrong will attend this grand event today.

  Alas, thinking of his past misdeeds made Wu Yuan's head ache.

  The problem is that it can't be avoided, today is the day set by Yuanzhang, Wu Yuan needs to use this Dharma assembly to get the connections he wants.

  "Then let's go, brother will take you to see sister-in-law."

  The road was very smooth, it's just that Wu Zetian liked rabbits and almost bought a white rabbit, which delayed us for a while.

  "Do you like rabbits this much?"

  Wu Yuan asked Wu Zetian with some curiosity.

  "Uh-huh, when I was a kid, I often fantasized that I was the Jade Rabbit in the Moon Palace, alone in the Guanghan Palace, with no one bullying me, and my mother accompanying me everywhere."

  The girl's eyes sparkled with stars until Wu Yuan pulled her into the Temple of the Great Sage.

  Fortunately, everything is fine, and we have finally arrived at the designated place for listening to Buddhist scriptures.

  In the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism, Emperor Gaozu of Tang Li Jiancheng was biased towards Taoism and suppressed Buddhism, while Li Shimin often spoke for Buddhism. Today, at the lecture meeting, he also came to listen in. Yu Xianrong saw Wu Yuan's arrival, turned his head away, pretending not to recognize this scoundrel, but carefully sized up Wu Zetian again.

  As for Wu Yuan, he sent her a text message, which meant: Sister, I've brought my younger sister with me, can you give us some face?

  The air is filled with the scent of sandalwood, and the sound of Sanskrit chanting continues to echo in my ears.

  Everywhere are monks, each sitting cross-legged, waiting for today's protagonist to take the stage.

  In a daze, Wu Yuan was somewhat bewildered.

  If in the world of Journey to the West, more than a decade later, Master Xuanzang would come to lecture on Hinayana Buddhist scriptures. Then, the second most powerful figure in Buddhism, Guanyin Bodhisattva, would appear here and after a conversation with Master Xuanzang, she would bestow upon him the Seven Treasures Robe and the Zen staff before disappearing into thin air.

  That was a crucial point, and Wu Yuan had some wild thoughts. From then on, Tang Monk embarked on his romantic journey to the Western Heaven, with countless female demons waiting for his arrival, but unfortunately, he was often interrupted by Sun Wukong before being cleaned up and sent to bed.

  At that time, he should have become a middle-aged man and resolved his feud with Yu Xian. The two of them lived happily together. This was much better than the happiness of Master Xuanzang's parents. According to Wu Yuan's inquiry, Master Xuanzang's father was a top scorer in the imperial examination and entered university, where he won the affection of a beautiful woman. They soon had a child, but unfortunately, when they went on a trip, their plane was hijacked. The hijackers killed Chen, the top scorer, and took some hostages away, including Tang's mother. From then on, Master Xuanzang became an orphan without parents. What's even more painful is that his grandfather believed in Buddhism and had become a monk, so he took little Chen to the temple to raise him. As a result, the world lost a talented student and gained a young monk.

  "Older brother."

  The girl behind him spoke in a soft voice, like a mosquito, with one hand pulling on Wu Yuan's hem, curiously looking at those monks. Those people's bald heads looked very interesting.

  "Just take a good look, these are all virtuous and wise monks."

  His palm gently stroked Wu Zetian's little head, and Wu Yuan smiled and said.

  Perhaps, Guanyin Bodhisattva will not appear again. After all, the world has changed beyond recognition. Li Shimin is not the Son of Heaven, Li Jiancheng holds the power, Wu Zetian cannot become the Empress, let alone that incredible Journey to the West, how can it be?

  It's better to take a plane for such a long distance. The Buddhist door in India has declined, and the main body of Daluo Temple is gone, not even leaving any residue.

  Satellites have detected every corner of the earth, and those messy countries don't exist at all.

  =============

  On the platform, Yuan Chengfang is quite good. The Buddhist scriptures say that every sentence is a way, and they are profound and simple. Even ordinary people can get something from it.

  At that time, what method did Guanyin use to persuade Master Xuanzang to go west to fetch scriptures?

  Mahayana Buddhism

  However, in this world today, the so-called Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism have long been thoroughly studied by people. For hundreds of years, cultural exchanges and archaeological excavations have presented Buddhist scriptures one after another.

  At this time, what other good Buddhist scriptures can make people pursue regardless of everything?

  Wu Yuan didn't understand. It was as if someone had told him that one day, there would be a book that would make him infatuated and forget everything, then devote himself wholeheartedly to studying it.

  Of course this is impossible, but...

  Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, and there was also the possibility that it was a martial arts manual or a treasure map.

  "Brother, I'm a bit scared, those monks look quite fierce."

  "Don't be afraid, monks are all bald, prisoners are like that too. Don't worry, most of the monks here are good people."

  "Are all monks good people?"

  An old man beside Wu Yuan looked at the two with a cold smile and said, "The law of the Western Regions has no monarchs or fathers and sons. It deceives the foolish with three incantations and six paths, pursues past crimes, and peeks into future blessings. They recite Sanskrit phrases to try to escape punishment. Birth and death are determined by nature; rewards and punishments depend on human rulers. Now I hear that common people are all pretending to be Buddhists, saying it's because of the Buddha. From the Five Emperors and Three Kings, there was no Buddhist law. When the ruler is wise and the ministers are loyal, the years will be long and prosperous. It wasn't until Emperor Ming of Han established the Hu God that Buddhism began to spread in China. But this is actually a barbarian invasion of China, not something to be believed."

  Wu Yuan shook his head and didn't intend to argue.

  After Buddhism entered the Central Plains, it went through countless debates and various theories emerged. Daoists were very disgusted with monks, and many literati did not like Buddhism either.

  The debate on the platform was still going on, and Wu Yuan looked around with some boredom. Yu Xianrong was not far from Wu Yuan, but unfortunately, under this circumstance, he couldn't greet him, and Emperor Taizong of Qin, Li Shimin, had just given him a stern look.

  I don't know, will someone come in to sell kasaya and zen staff later? Does Guanyin Bodhisattva look beautiful or not, will she discover any abnormalities in her body?

  If she says another word, you mischievous monkey, what to do? The relationship between the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Guanyin Bodhisattva is quite subtle.

  At that time, will Guanyin Bodhisattva collect Sun Wukong?

  Suddenly, Wu Yuan felt his body was a little hot, but that heat wasn't like flames, it was more like the warmth after drinking a small amount of wine or waking up from sleep with sweat all over.

  Wu Yuan looked towards the heat source with a slightly tilted head.

  Then he stood there in a daze.

  Wu Zetian's body was radiant, with layers of light wings surrounding her. From a distance, the light wings looked like lotus flower petals, enveloping Wu Zetian. A brilliant yet gentle glow emanated from the girl's body!

  This light as gentle as water and waves was seen not only by Wu Yuan but also felt by the people around him, including the reporters from the TV station.

  This light is so pure, so good and so bright. Bathed in this light, all the troubles, sins or desires in one's heart become calm. An old man suddenly falls to the ground, shouting loudly, "The Bodhisattva has manifested!"

  The camera of the TV station turned to Wu Yuan at the first time, no, it was Wu Zetian.

  The girl quietly stood up and walked towards the high platform.

  At this time, Wu Yuan's body couldn't move, and a mysterious power had him trapped.

  But his mind was clear, and he saw the change in Wu Zetian's eyes - no longer evasive and innocent, but a kind of disillusionment with all things worldly, with the vicissitudes and compassion of the world.

  On top of Wu Zetian's head, there were three halos, which are identity symbols that only Bodhisattvas or Buddha have in Buddhist images.

  And Wu Zetian's appearance was also changing. With every step she took, she seemed to have grown half a year older, and by the time she reached the front of the lecture platform, her body and face had become incredibly mature, transforming into that of a 25- or 26-year-old woman!

  So beautiful, so stunning!

  A small red mole appeared on her brow, and she held a sheep fat white jade clean bottle in her hand!

  "Avalokiteshvara?"