Chapter 1552: Chapter 1197: The Fated One! Dharma Power!

"Amitabha Buddha! Master Jiang, it has been a long time since our last farewell at Leifeng Tower. You still look as spirited as ever!"

Inside the Shaolin Temple, suddenly a Buddhist chant echoed out, and immediately, a group of Shaolin High Monks dressed in kasaya emerged from among the novice monks, prompting the other monks to pay their respects. Leading them was a plump, big-eared monk smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, none other than the high monk Hui En of the Hui Generation of Shaolin.

Beside Hui En stood Hui Qi, with nine chess-piece-shaped scars on his head, and the gentle and youthful-looking Hui Yun. The Shaolin Abbot was trailing behind these three, keeping in step.

"Master Jiang, Ying Yuan Living Buddha, please come down for a discussion!"

Hui Qi smiled in invitation, waving his wide sleeves.

Immediately, there were monks beginning to depart, clearing the area at the mountain gate.

"It seems these monks have already anticipated our intentions."

Jiang Dali smiled faintly at Ying Yuan. He stomped his foot, and with a roar, the Demon Dragon pulled the Fire Qilin downwards.

Over time, the Demon Dragon has gradually absorbed much of the energy at the two bulges on its spine, its power clearly enhanced. Its strength has grown stronger; even after flying with the Fire Qilin loaded for four hours in the sky, it no longer feels exhausted as it once did. Now it dives down vigorously, stirring up a fierce wind and slamming the iron cage carrying the Fire Qilin onto the ground with a "clang."

Jiang Dali and Ying Yuan both leapt down and landed in front of the Shaolin monks.

"Amitabha Buddha! Welcome Master Jiang, welcome Ying Yuan Living Buddha!"

The Shaolin Abbot Xuan Mie stepped out, his sagely appearance kindly addressing Jiang Dali and Ying Yuan with a Buddhist salute.

Ying Yuan smiled and returned the greeting. Jiang Dali raised his hand, saying, "Abbot, no need for pleasantries. Surely you understand my purpose here. The world’s situation has drastically changed. I am pressed for time and cannot afford polite exchanges; let’s get straight to the point."

As he finished speaking, his eyes already looked toward Hui En and the others.

Although the Shaolin Abbot is considered the actual leader of the Shaolin Ancestral Court, decision-making at the level of Dharma’s Heart is obviously beyond the power of the Shaolin Abbot, who hasn’t even reached the Returning to Truth Realm or the Heavenly Human 9th Realm.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Hui En smiled warmly and nodded, "Master Jiang remains straightforward as ever. So be it; indeed, the world has undergone significant changes. Even the many Abnormal Disciples once accepted by our Shaolin have mysteriously vanished collectively. Master Jiang, you have always had close ties with Abnormal People, and this is something the elder monk wishes to inquire about."

Having spoken, Hui En turned and gestured in invitation, welcoming Jiang Dali to go inside the temple for a cup of vegetarian tea and a leisurely discussion.

Jiang Dali turned his head and instructed the Demon Dragon and Fire Qilin to stay put. Then, together with Ying Yuan, they proceeded to the abbot’s court, surrounded by the high monks, to deliberate on important matters.

...

After a cup of tea.

Inside the abbot’s court.

Jiang Dali sat opposite the monks, drinking tea and discussing matters, casually pulling out a metallic dice-like Dharma’s Heart and placing it "clack" on the sandalwood table. He said, "Master Hui En should recognize this item, right?"

Hui En smiled and replied, "This item is indeed the treasure of our temple, Dharma’s Heart, created by Brother Hui Ke in the past. The elder monk naturally recognizes it."

Jiang Dali snorted, his voice heavy, "This item was obtained from the prayer beads you gave me back then. Initially, I did not discover it, but your temple’s Sweeping Monk found it and took it out, which led to a fatal disaster. Do you not feel guilty because of this?

I have never understood why you gave this to me without my knowledge and never sent anyone to retrieve it after the Sweeping Monk died. What was the purpose?"

Hui En sighed, "Amitabha Buddha! When Brother Hui Xing volunteered to go to Heaven Mountain back then, he had already prepared to go to Western Pure Land to pay homage to Buddha. Although we are deeply saddened, we cannot resolve our sorrow now that the matter is over. We can only hope that Brother Hui Xing’s sacrifice was not in vain.

And it seems, Brother Hui Xing and the elder monk did not choose wrong. Master Jiang, you are indeed the most suitable person to possess this Dharma’s Heart."

"Why me?"

Jiang Dali slapped the table, directly embedding the Dharma’s Heart into the table, yelling angrily, "I never like others arranging my affairs, especially when I’m kept in the dark. Elder monk, I need a reasonable explanation."

His sudden anger caused a momentous change in the atmosphere; threads of fierce, tyrannical energy emerged, transforming him into the figure of an Angry-eyed Vajra, causing tumultuous waves inside the courtyard, leaving everyone present visibly altered in color.

"Master Jiang, please calm down!"

Hui Qi quickly advised in a low voice.

"Amitabha Buddha! Master Jiang, please do not misunderstand."

Hui En shook his head and spoke calmly, "Initially, when this old monk gave you the prayer beads, I had not decided to entrust the Dharma’s Heart to you. At that time, the old monk noticed your heavy hostility, with a risk of easily falling into the demonic path, hence the prayer beads were given to you. We hoped that the hidden power of the Dharma’s Heart within the prayer beads could purify the hostility in you, preventing you from straying further, especially since you were allied with us Shaolin back then. Of course, the old monk wished no harm would come to you..."

"Oh?"

Jiang Dali’s expression slightly eased, finding the explanation somewhat acceptable, as he indeed faced several instances of losing control when his demonic nature reached level 10, and Hui En’s prayer beads helped calm his mind and stabilize his energy.

Hui En continued, "Later, Junior Brother Hui Xing used the connection of the Dharma’s Heart to locate your position and contacted you. It was then that we unexpectedly discovered you could gain recognition from the power within the Dharma’s Heart, proving you are a person with a karmic connection with our Buddha."

"Indeed!"

Hui Qi also gazed at Jiang Dali with astonishment, saying, "This is why we did not retrieve the Dharma’s Heart from you even after Junior Brother Hui Xing passed away, because you might be the person of destiny Hui Ke mentioned."

"Person of destiny?" Jiang Dali frowned.

Hui Yun, who had not spoken up until now, said, "Back then, when Hui Ke created the Dharma’s Heart and sealed the location of that world-threatening weapon, the later generations of us Shaolin disciples have upheld his and the Dharma Ancestor’s legacy, hoping to destroy that weapon capable of overturning the world.

But until our generation, none of us have been able to destroy that horrifying weapon with certainty.

Recently, with several more senior brothers passing away over the past decade, the number of experts in Returning to Truth Realm within Shaolin has also declined compared to the past, making the destruction of the terrifying weapon recorded within the Dharma’s Heart feel like a distant dream.

But now, an outsider like Master Jiang can gain recognition from the Dharma Power, and even Junior Brother Hui Xing chose you before passing; you may indeed be the destined person Hui Ke spoke of before his passing."

Hui Qi pondered, "Before Hui Ke passed, he once said when the Ancestor broke through the final step and used Heavenly Vision to see the horrific thing that even drove the Dharma Ancestor mad into his final meditation without being able to destroy it. Perhaps even gathering the strength of all future Shaolin generations cannot destroy it.

But as Buddha said, ’A single torch can provide light and warmth to thousands of people, and yet remain unchanged, much like blessings shared.’ The responsibility of safeguarding the world is the duty of the people, not for one, and we Shaolin, being the guardians and inheritors of the Dharma’s Heart, must continue to pass it on. One day, a person with great ability and destiny will take up the duty of destroying the terrifying weapon."

As the words were spoken, the courtyard settled into solemn silence, everyone’s gaze focused on the pondering Jiang Dali, whose brows furrowed.

The smile always present on Hui En’s face disappeared, solemnly saying, "Master Jiang! You may indeed be the one capable of destroying the terrifying weapon recorded within the Dharma’s Heart!

With the world in turmoil, there are certainly evildoers coveting the terrifying weapon recorded within the Dharma’s Heart. Shaolin alone may not be enough to bear this responsibility, so we need Master Jiang to walk the path with us. You coming to Shaolin today is fate."

"Bullshit! I hate this mystical fate stuff! It’s like making someone out to be a fool!"

Jiang Dali cursed inwardly, glancing at the Dharma’s Heart embedded in the table, coldly saying, "You all certainly have patience. If I never came looking for you, would you have never contacted me, hoping this hot potato stays with me forever?"

Hui En smiled and said, "Master Jiang, I knew you would surely come, because if the Dharma Power resonates with you, there’s a predestined connection that would eventually bring you to us Shaolin; this is an unavoidable fate."

"Is the reason I can resonate with the Dharma Power in the Dharma’s Heart because of the Earth-level Mahavira Power Seed that the Demon Lord Bai Suzhen once struck into my body?"

Jiang Dali’s heart moved as he pondered.

Whatever Dharma Power is concerned, he feels nothing.

But back when he was headed to Heaven Mountain, Bai Suzhen did implant an Earth-level Mahavira Seed Power within him, perhaps that’s why when the Sweeping Monk used the Dharma’s Heart to lock onto him, it stirred the Dharma Power, who knows.

However, this speculation has no substantive evidence for now, so Jiang Dali held himself back, crossed his arms, and eyed Hui En saying, "Alright! Since you all say I have destiny with your Dharma Ancestor, capable of destroying the terrifying weapon recorded within the Dharma’s Heart, now tell me, how should I go about destroying it?

As far as I know, the Dharma’s Heart not only records the location of that terrifying weapon but also serves as a seal. If opened, it would reveal the location and bring it back into the world. Without being completely prepared, this is something that cannot be triggered."

"Exactly. This must be what Ying Yuan Living Buddha told you."

Hui En glanced at Ying Yuan, slightly nodding, then smiled saying, "At present, opening the Dharma’s Heart is certainly not the best timing, the best method is for Master Jiang to achieve new insights or further improve your strength, so we are willing to take you to the Dharma Cave and Wooden Man Alley. If you truly are the destined person referred to by Hui Ke, then surely there will be great gains!"

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(Additional update in the early morning!)