Walker Of The Worlds-Chapter 2819: The Main Peak Of The Green Lotus Temple
The other elderly men in the temple were similar to him in demeanor and aura, but none looked as ancient. Some appeared to be in their sixties, others perhaps in their nineties, with deeply lined faces and snow-white beards. Yet the power exuding from their bodies betrayed appearances. Their auras were vibrant and pulsing, like that of youthful teenagers at the peak of cultivation, filled with vigor and spiritual insight.
They all wore ceremonial kasayas dyed in deep reds and radiant yellows, flowing robes stitched with symbols of the Dharma. In their hands, each held a string of prayer beads—some simple and wooden, others glimmering faintly with spiritual energy, infused with years of meditation.
The most ancient-looking of them sat at the head of the chamber, distinguished by a kasaya of lustrous gold. It shimmered with a mystical sheen, as though woven from threads of sunlight itself. A palpable energy surrounded him, as though he were more spirit than man. In his hands, he held a massive string of prayer beads—each bead the size of a clenched fist and carved with intricate Sanskrit inscriptions.
If one looked closely, illusions could be seen within each bead—phantasms of a hundred monks chanting in unison, their forms ephemeral, flickering in and out like candlelight.
Beside the ancient monk rested a finely carved wooden fish bell, paired with a small mallet. Though it seemed simple at a glance, the artifact emanated a deep and immeasurable aura. The very air around it seemed to ripple slightly, as if the object sat at the intersection of time and silence. Estimating its power was like trying to measure the depth of an ocean using a teacup.
Several incense burners lined the main chamber symmetrically, one on either side every few meters. Coils of smoke drifted lazily toward the rafters, carrying with them a heady aroma that calmed the mind and stilled the heart. Even a single breath of this incense could offer clarity, insight—or perhaps even an epiphany. It was no ordinary fragrance but a spiritual balm honed over centuries.
Yet the most eye-catching object within the sacred hall was none other than the Grand Statue of the Buddha. Towering over two hundred meters in height, the statue was forged entirely of pure, radiant gold. Its surface had been blessed by generations of monks—each prayer and chant woven into the metal like invisible threads of light.
The Buddha's face bore a serene, all-knowing expression, gazing down with a compassion that seemed to transcend time. Around its radiant form hovered several luminous halos, each glowing with True Buddhist Aura. The air shimmered in its presence, and time itself felt as if it moved more slowly near it.
With such sanctity layered into every brick, breath, and beam of the hall, merely stepping within its bounds made one wonder: was this still a temple of men, or a heavenly palace nestled upon the mortal plane?
The old men seated cross-legged on their prayer mats seemed undisturbed by such grandeur. Their gazes extended outward, passing effortlessly through the thick stone walls of the temple as though they were peering through a curtain of fog.
"Hushu brought along companions this time," one of the elders said, his voice as soft as a breeze but carrying unmistakable authority.
"Amitabha. Abbot, it looks like your pupil has brought in a child full of faith," another elder said, joy warming his tone.
The ancient man at the head of the chamber—the abbot of the Green Lotus Temple—slowly opened his eyes. The movement of his eyelids made his wrinkled skin shift like dry parchment.
He was the temple's guiding star, a true master of the Buddhist Path, and one of the unfathomable experts of the Silent Lotus World.
"Mmm… this child," the abbot said slowly.
The elders fell silent, waiting for him to elaborate, but he said nothing more.
"Looks like the abbot has taken an interest in this child. Shall we invite him over?" one of the elders asked.
"Of course. Anyone that Hushu brings here will be worthy of it."
"Though that other child he brought in… I don't like the look of him."
"True… His demeanor seems unsuitable for this place."
"How far can he come?"
"At most, the ten thousandth step."
"Yes, that is enough to not be disrespectful."
With their consensus reached and the abbot remaining silent, the elders began to chant in low voices. Their words reverberated through the air like ripples in still water.
The array protecting the mountain shifted imperceptibly, and an invisible mark was placed on Lin Mu and Daoist Chu without them ever realizing it.
Meng Bai, however, received no such blessing.
"There are over forty thousand steps on this mountain, with several temples located along the way," Monk Hushu began to explain as they reached the gate. "And at every ten thousand steps, there is a temple."
"Forty thousand steps? That's quite a lot," Meng Bai said, glancing up at the colossal mountain.
He could only see up to a thousand meters—the rest disappeared into the mist-shrouded heights above. The stone steps twisted and climbed like a serpent, their final destination lost to sight.
"Is there something special about these steps?" Lin Mu asked.
"Indeed. Depending on your affinity with the Buddhist Path, you will be able to ascend more of them. Beyond that, only those granted special permission may pass certain thresholds," Monk Hushu explained.
"How far can I go?" Meng Bai asked with curiosity.
"Probably the first temple," Monk Hushu answered plainly.
"Oh…" Meng Bai hadn't expected such a limit.
"Don't worry. Going further would be beyond your ability to handle. There is wisdom in restraint," Monk Hushu said with a soft smile.
"I see," Meng Bai nodded.
"What about me?" Daoist Chu asked.
"The first temple," Monk Hushu said again, this time with confidence.
"You can't tell for Meng Bai, but you can for me?" Daoist Chu raised a brow.
"You're lucky you can even enter the temple," Monk Hushu replied with a playful smirk.
"Ugh… I know, I know." Daoist Chu rolled his eyes. "I'll just stay back with Meng Bai then."
