Cultivating Buddhism

In the Buddhist scriptures, it was said that carving or painting statues of Buddha was an act of great irreverence. Yet, in reality, countless ancient temples in the mortal world possessed Buddha statues, and their walls were adorned with murals. The Stone Buddha statue on the peak of Waishan at Lanke Temple reached high into the clouds, and the Buddha's body, which transformed into the Banruo Peak after his death, was also a type of Buddha statue. Even the Elysium World within this Go board contained countless Buddha statues. Conversely, the Daoist sect that ruled this world had never erected a statue for Haotian. This situation harbored deep implications.

The Buddhist sect's erection of countless Buddha statues surely had its reasons—Ning Que wanted to try starting with the Buddha statues to see if he could sever the connection between the Buddha and sentient beings. This was his way of cultivating Buddhism.

However, some things were easy to comprehend in thought and satisfying to speak of, but incredibly difficult to execute. This snow mountain was majestic; if it was considered the starting coordinate or the gathering of the Buddha's original Buddhist nature in this world, then the vast stone field where he stood was only equivalent to one of the Buddha's toes. What was more troublesome was that the black stone on the mountain was extremely hard; even when he channeled his Haoran Qi and swung his saber, he found it very difficult.

The pitch-black iron saber repeatedly hacked down upon the cliff, producing thunderous explosions that shook the stone fragments, yet it usually only shaved off a thin layer of stone skin. At this rate, even if Ning Que only wanted to round the Buddha's toenail, it would probably take a very long time.

"When others are in a hurry, they temporarily clasp the Buddha's feet, but you are actually grooming the Buddha's toenails."

Sang Sang found his actions incomprehensible. She could not fathom how Ning Que's remodeling of this Buddha mountain could change their current predicament.

Ning Que did not stop swinging his saber, replying, "Even if I explain, you won't understand. Once it's finished, you'll see. The so-called cultivating Buddhism is simply cultivating the Buddha."

These two words of "cultivating" clearly carried different meanings. Sang Sang said, "Even so, do you know how to cultivate? The Academy only knows how to destroy; since when does it know how to build?"

The statue of the Buddha on Waishan had been severed by Jun Mo's iron sword, and he was currently hacking at Banruo Peak. It seemed the Academy was indeed better at destroying Buddha statues than restoring them.

Ning Que wedged his iron saber into a crack in the cliff, pried loose a large boulder the size of a watermelon, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said, "You have a prejudice against the Academy... Who says we don't know how to build? We can build Chang'an City, so why can't we carve a Buddha statue?"

Sang Sang said, "You can't even weave willow branches properly, yet you want to carve something decent?"

Ning Que replied, "I told you, I've calculated this carefully. I've been thinking about it since we were on the other side of the river. Didn't I build a boat out of fir wood? That was my practice."

"Using a wooden boat to practice carving a Buddha statue? That sounds completely unreliable."

"What's unreliable about it? At worst, the carved Buddha statue will just be a bit ugly; it won't ruin anything."

Sang Sang felt tired and did not want to argue further, so she fell silent. Ning Que did not mind, continuing to ramble and swing his saber at the cliff, the thunderous bangs sending black stones flying in all directions.

The countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the field outside the golden lotus pond could not hear his words, but seeing what he was doing, the expressions on their faces gradually turned solemn. In particular, the hundred-zhang-tall Azure Lion in front appeared extremely furious and uneasy. It kept roaring violently toward the pitch-black sky, the mane on its neck radiating Buddhist light; when it shook its head, the standing hairs of its mane looked like countless swords.

Ning Que leaned on his saber to rest. Seeing the Azure Lion's change, he dazed for a moment, then laughed aloud, pointing in its direction. "Look! That big cat's fur is standing on end!"

Sang Sang paid him no attention.

Hearing the laughter echoing from the mountain, the Azure Lion grew even more furious. It shook its head wildly, creating fierce air currents that tore apart the high clouds! Amidst the earth-shaking roars, its mane hairs radiating Buddhist light shot out, turning into hundreds of black shadows that pierced through the clouds and rushed toward the mountain!

The thousands of golden lotus ponds around the mountain were restrictions left behind by the Buddha, which even the Azure Lion could not cross. However, its mane was lifeless, allowing it to launch long-range attacks. The lion's mane fell like rain upon the cliff, dense impact sounds echoing as stone fragments splattered. Each hair of the mane was like an extremely sharp long spear!

Three hairs of the mane transformed into spears and stabbed directly toward Sang Sang's body. Ning Que's expression changed. He rolled to her side, opened the Big Black Umbrella, and drove its handle firmly into the stone surface. Sang Sang's body was not destroyed, but a small white mark appeared on her cheek. She possessed a divine body; one could imagine how terrifying the power contained within those mane hairs was!

"Look, they are truly afraid. This proves that what I am doing is indeed effective." Ning Que gripped the umbrella handle tightly, pressing close to Sang Sang's tall figure, whispering in her ear.

The Azure Lion's long-range assault continued, dull impact sounds echoing across the cliff. Two large mane hairs struck the Big Black Umbrella, causing Ning Que's palms to go numb. Immediately after, the countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the field also unleashed their dharma treasures. However, their cultivation bases were far inferior to the Azure Lion's; only the magical treasures of a few great Bodhisattvas reached the cliff, while the rest fell into the golden lotus pond.

Above the golden lotus pond, there seemed to be an invisible membrane. The dharma treasures of the Buddhas shattered into splatters of golden light upon contact. Those dharma treasures all contained Buddhist light, making the lotus pond even more brilliant, even illuminating the pitch-black sky.

Ning Que narrowed his eyes, feeling Sang Sang's pain within his own body, and silently looked toward the field. After a long time, the attack finally stopped. The countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas fell silent, and the Azure Lion shook its head, roaring in unwilling frustration.

Ning Que closed the umbrella, stood up, and looked toward the field, furious yet helpless. The Buddhist might of those great Bodhisattvas and the Azure Lion was not something he could currently withstand. He pointed the Big Black Umbrella toward the field—a gesture full of insult. He did not care if those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas understood; cursing did not require the opponent's comprehension.

Then he looked at the Azure Lion, which had lost some of its mane, and cursed, "Keep shaking it! If you have the guts, shake off all that fur and turn into a bald donkey! Our Academy specializes in dealing with bald donkeys!"

The Azure Lion responded with a furious roar but could do nothing to him. Ning Que grew even angrier because Sang Sang had almost been injured, and because those dharma treasures had transformed into Buddhist light, making her even weaker and more pained.

He carried Sang Sang on his back, tying the umbrella handle to his chest to ensure the Big Black Umbrella completely shielded her. Then, he took his iron saber and walked back to his original position. This mountain was truly sturdy; even the Azure Lion's attack had only shattered a thin layer of the surface.

Carrying Sang Sang and holding the black umbrella, Ning Que bent over and repeatedly swung his saber at the hard cliff, resembling an old farmer in a bamboo hat diligently plowing under the scorching sun. Cultivation was always the most arduous activity of mankind. Sweat constantly dripped from his hands, soaking into the stone fragments as if watering the mountain.

"It's really exhausting." He wiped his sweat, panting, "Why is it so tiring?"

Sang Sang said, "I once planted chili peppers in the yard in Weicheng, and it wasn't tiring."

Ning Que felt his self-esteem wounded and replied, "That's because you were born with a cold constitution and don't know how to sweat. Why don't you try being like me? Sweat is pouring everywhere, making my hands slippery. Of course it's tiring."

Sang Sang's voice was weak but still devoid of emotion. "You are useless."

Ning Que hated most being told he was "useless," especially by his own woman.

"That's because you are fat! Carrying someone as heavy as you, how could it not be tiring! Back in Weicheng, why didn't you carry me to till the soil and prune the branches! You bear the primary responsibility!" he shouted in anger. "When we were young, carrying you wasn't this disadvantageous. I'm not asking you to be skin and bones, but when choosing a body, couldn't you have chosen one that is a bit more slender and well-proportioned?"

Sang Sang asked, "Do you like slender people?"

Ning Que replied, "This isn't a matter of liking or not! I am speaking purely about the issue of weight."

Sang Sang said, "You still like slender people."

Ning Que threw his iron saber to the ground. "I already said this isn't about liking or not!"

Sang Sang said, "The divine body I chose was naturally perfect. It was only because your master poured a stream of mortal intent into it before the gates of the Divine Kingdom that it became fat. If you want to blame someone, you should blame him."

Ning Que silently picked up his iron saber and continued carving the mountain.

Sang Sang said, "Keep talking."

Ning Que choked for half a day before spitting out a sentence: "A disciple does not speak of his master's faults."

Sang Sang asked, "How will your cultivating Buddhism cure my poison?"

Ning Que replied, "You and I are husband and wife as one. If I become a Buddha, you will naturally become a Buddha too. Don't talk about curing poison; by then, this crowd of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will all be our underlings. How delightful."

Sang Sang asked, "How did you think of this method?"

Ning Que said, "Why ask so much? Just obediently listen to your man. Who am I? I am the male lead of this story, and you are the female lead. In times of danger, the male lead must naturally stand up to protect the female lead, resolve all difficulties, so that the two can finally live happily ever together."

"Live happily? I'm a bit tired, I'm going to sleep for a while," Sang Sang said.

Ning Que felt her voice was somewhat sweet, like drinking sugar water, making his dry throat turn sweet and filling him with joy.

Sang Sang began to sleep, a slumber that lasted for three years. When she woke, the Buddha's right foot had been remodeled, transformed into an exceptionally delicate foot that looked very familiar. Ning Que had sweated and plowed for three years, and finally, there was a harvest.

He had carved the Buddha's foot into Sang Sang's foot.