I Can Traverse Multiple Worlds-Chapter 40 - 410: Wang Xiao’s 3 Refuges

CLANG!

A clear sword’s ring overpowered all other sounds within Wuxiang Temple.

A sword light, like a rainbow, tore through the sky.

A figure, treading upon the sword light, descended from the heavens like a Banished Immortal.

He was dressed in white robes, his face clean-shaven. He looked to be around forty or fifty, with a ramrod-straight posture, like a sharp sword himself.

Everyone was startled by the figure’s grand entrance.

Immediately, they collected themselves and stepped forward to offer their respects.

"This humble monk, Zhi Kong, greets the Priest."

"This humble monk, Huiran, greets the Priest."

The figure waved his hand.

"There is no need for such formalities. I have come at the invitation of Zen Master Zhi Kong to witness this grand event, the doctrinal debate between your two temples that occurs once every twenty-five years. I wonder, which Buddha’s Son and which Scripture have the two temples sent out for the debate?"

Huiran looked at the dark-skinned lama beside him and spoke.

"Daru, come forward and pay your respects to the Priest."

The monk named Daru walked out slowly, his palms pressed together.

"Shenrab Miwo. I am Daru, and I greet the Priest."

Zhi Kong also looked toward Wang Xiao, who was standing to the side.

Wang Xiao understood. He stepped forward, his palms pressed together.

"Amitabha. This lowly monk is Wu Chen. I greet the Priest."

He knew that this Priest before him was one of the nine great Priests of Celestial Sword Mountain, and his name was Li Jiuyan.

Although Li Jiuyan had not yet reached Acupoint Refining Perfection, his inheritance from Celestial Sword Mountain made him a tier stronger than an ordinary Human Immortal of the Refining Acupoints realm.

Li Jiuyan looked at Wang Xiao and Daru, nodded slightly, and praised them.

"Excellent, excellent. Both of you have strong foundations and complete spiritual auras. You have the bearing of Human Immortals. It seems today’s doctrinal debate will be a clash of titans."

"However, a debate is a debate. You should know when to stop, so as not to damage the harmony between you."

Right now, Wang Xiao was deliberately concealing his aura. Even a Human Immortal of the Refining Acupoints realm like Li Jiuyan would not be able to discover Wang Xiao’s true realm without a specific examination.

Huiran smiled. "Of course. Although Yuan Chu Temple and Wuxiang Temple have different doctrines, we are all monks. It is only right that we respect one another."

"Khenpo Huiran speaks the truth," Zhi Kong added.

Both men knew the other was just spouting empty words.

In the many doctrinal debates of the past, both sides would end up fighting to the death. There was no sense in holding back.

After all, the outcome would determine the temple’s development for the next ten years!

In the last few competitions, Wuxiang Temple had always been one step behind, and their Buddha’s Sons were all severely injured.

This was because Wuxiang Temple’s cultivation techniques emphasized accumulating power for a later burst, so their cultivation progress was slightly slower in the early stages.

And since they hadn’t found a Buddha’s Son of outstanding talent, they had always been at a disadvantage!

However, the tables had now turned!

Zhi Kong wasn’t even sure if he was still a match for his own disciple, let alone some mere ’Scripture’ from Yuan Chu Temple.

He thought for a moment, then continued, "However, if Wuxiang Temple wins this doctrinal debate, I ask that the honorable Priest bear witness and ensure that Yuan Chu Temple honors its old agreement to cede half of its grounds."

Li Jiuyan’s eyes glinted as he looked toward Huiran. "Khenpo Huiran, I trust you will honor the agreement?"

Huiran pressed his palms together. "Naturally."

Li Jiuyan nodded. "Very well. Let us begin. I have long heard of Wuxiang Temple’s Great Compassion and Great Mercy Vajra Palm and Yuan Chu Temple’s Heaven and Earth Myriad Laws Void Clarity Fist. Today, I shall finally have the chance to witness them."

After speaking, he sat down in an armchair that had been prepared for him in the plaza.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Wang Xiao and Daru walked to an empty space in the center of the plaza.

Standing a few dozen feet apart, they pressed their palms together and bowed to one another.

Daru spoke first. "Since this is a place of Buddhism, I invite Zen Master Wu Chen to ask the first question."

According to the rules, the doctrinal debate was divided into a philosophical debate and a martial one, Martial Zen.

Although the final victory was always decided by Martial Zen,

a symbolic philosophical debate was still required beforehand.

This was also a way to affect the opponent’s Zen mind.

If one won the philosophical debate and disrupted the opponent’s Zen mind, one’s chances of winning the subsequent Martial Zen would increase!

Wang Xiao, however, was rather dismissive of this so-called philosophical debate.

In his heart, might made right!

’No matter how eloquently you speak, you can’t say another word after someone smashes your head in with a single punch!’

However, despite his thoughts, he still followed the rules and posed a question to his opponent.

"If I may ask, what is merit?"

Although Wuxiang Temple and Yuan Chu Temple had different doctrines, both shared the concept of merit.

Daru thought for a moment before answering, "Merit, naturally, comes from copying scriptures, building temples, erecting statues, recruiting monks, forming good connections, purifying the body, upholding the precepts, and maintaining a heart of reverence for Heaven and Earth. That is how one obtains merit."

Upon hearing Daru’s words, all the monks from Yuan Chu Temple nodded in agreement.

This was perfectly in line with their sect’s doctrine. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Wang Xiao shook his head. "Amitabha. By doing that, you will not gain any merit."

Daru’s brow twitched. "Then tell me, what does count as merit?"

Wang Xiao said leisurely, "True merit comes from within. It is the ’work’ of seeing your own true nature, and the ’virtue’ of seeing all living beings as equal. To have no obstruction in one’s thoughts, moment to moment—that is true merit. Your heart is full of seeking; you see not your true self, much less all living beings. From where would your merit come?!"

His tone grew harsher and harsher, as if trying to break open Daru’s very heart-mind!

Daru’s expression shifted slightly. He retorted, "Equality for all living beings is just empty talk. My sect teaches that the Myriad Laws are natural. Everything must be sought externally to transcend the self, remain unchanged through myriad kalpas, and attain enlightenment. What you speak of is but a lesser path."

His tone was grave, not daring to show the slightest carelessness or concession.

Once he was overwhelmed by his opponent’s presence, it would be extremely detrimental to him in the upcoming Martial Zen.

Wang Xiao smiled faintly. "If everything must be sought externally, then the self that you transcend will surely be impure. With a mind covered in dust, how can you speak of remaining unchanged through myriad kalpas?"

Daru countered, "Flowing water can wash away stains. A passing wind can carry away dust. As long as one questions one’s own heart-mind while seeking externally, how could it be covered in dust?!"

"Wrong," Wang Xiao said, shaking his head.

"Where am I wrong?!" Daru shot back, raising his eyebrows.

Wang Xiao pressed his palms together and slowly recited a Buddhist gatha: "Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Since there is nothing from the start, where could dust alight?!"

Hearing this gatha, Daru’s face changed abruptly.

He knew he had unconsciously fallen into his opponent’s trap.

The moment his opponent recited this gatha, his own understanding was immediately relegated to a Lower Grade!

"Good, very good," Zen Master Zhi Kong couldn’t help but exclaim.

’To be able to recite such a gatha... this disciple of mine has already far surpassed me in his understanding of Buddhist Techniques.’

The other monks of Yuan Chu Temple also looked grim.

Even though their doctrines differed from Wuxiang Temple’s, they could not refute this gatha.

They could only admit that their opponent’s Buddha’s Son possessed an extraordinary comprehension of Buddhist Technique!

Daru’s eyes darted about as he spoke, "Since your mind is void and clear, and you advocate the emptiness of all things, then why does your Buddhism still have the Three Refuges: taking refuge in the Buddha, taking refuge in the Technique, and taking refuge in the monks? In the end, these are still forms of external seeking—seeking the Buddha, seeking the Technique, seeking the monks!"

Hearing Daru’s rebuttal, the eyes of the Yuan Chu Temple monks lit up.

Using his opponent’s own Zen arguments to attack his doctrine—this move was truly a fatal blow to the heart!

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiao simply replied in a placid tone,

"You are mistaken again. Taking refuge is not about external seeking, but about illuminating the mind and seeing one’s true nature."

"In other words, everyone has their own Three Refuges. Would you like to know what this lowly monk’s Three Refuges are?"

Daru’s eyes flashed. "Your Three Refuges?"

Wang Xiao stepped forward into the open space, extended a hand, and said, "If you please."

"Is he starting the Martial Zen already?"

The people around them hadn’t expected Wang Xiao to be so quick to make a move.

However, seeing this, the people from Yuan Chu Temple breathed a sigh of relief.

If the debate had continued, they were genuinely worried that Daru’s Zen mind would be damaged.

After all, they could also see that when it came to understanding their respective doctrines, Daru was no match for the other’s Buddha’s Son.

A tide of Inner Qi surged within Daru’s body. He said, "Then let me see your Three Refuges!"

"Amitabha. As you wish."

Wang Xiao took a step forward.

BOOM!

A sound like the rumble of Celestial Thunder and the shaking of the earth instantly rang out!

Wang Xiao instantly closed the distance to Daru and, to Daru’s utter astonishment, threw a punch.

Then, he followed with a kick.

Before Daru could even react, he was sent flying.

Immediately after, a brilliant Sword Shadow erupted from within Wang Xiao’s body and slashed toward Daru.

"AHH!"

Daru cried out in alarm. He couldn’t even mobilize his Inner Qi; he could only watch helplessly as the sword fell.

However, the sword stopped just inches from the top of Daru’s head, not striking down.

Then, Daru heard Wang Xiao’s indifferent voice drift over.

"A punch, a kick, and a sword..."

"These are this lowly monk’s Three Refuges!"