After being silent for a while, the black-robed monk finally reacted and said with a bitter smile, "What scriptures could this destitute monk possibly expound for you? If Lord Warden Commander wishes to hear scriptures, you should go to Deercry Temple. Even if not to seek that old senior in the small temple at the back mountain, you should at least find the abbot."

In terms of profound Buddhist Dharma, among all the monks in the world, there were likely none who could compare to those two.

Chen Chao shook his head and said, "The scriptures I want to hear, those two cannot expound."

The black-robed monk frowned and said, "This destitute monk can? This destitute monk has not studied the Buddhist scriptures much."

This was indeed true. Although the black-robed monk was the most talented among this generation of monks at Deercry Temple, like that black-robed Nation Teacher, in his early years he had always studied the doctrines of kingship and hegemony, focusing on governance. As for the Buddhist scriptures, he had not delved deeply into them, because his style had always been quite similar to that former figure recognized by the temple, so they had not imposed strict requirements on him.

Chen Chao smiled and said, "A monk who has merely read Buddhist scriptures, expounding them is of no use to me."

At this point, the black-robed monk understood and nodded. "So that is the case."

Chen Chao looked at him and said calmly, "To advance forward from the end of Nepenthe, to cross that chasm, is very difficult. The Sword Sect's Sect Master worked his entire life for it, received guidance several times, and in the end only barely cultivated that one sword above Nepenthe."

The completion of that sword meant that the Sword Sect's Sect Master had crossed that threshold. But he had originally thought that the Fuyun Realm was the end. Only after truly reaching that realm was it like climbing a high mountain - upon reaching the summit and looking into the distance, he discovered there was still another mountain ahead.

In truth, such matters had long been explained clearly by predecessors in cultivation.

The Great Dao was long and without end.

The black-robed monk asked curiously, "Is it truly only the Sword Sect's Sect Master who is in this so-called Fuyun Realm?"

Chen Chao glanced at the black-robed monk and said frankly, "Previously, Wuyang was at this realm, you know that. With the foundation of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, there is no way there was only Wuyang alone. Even now, in the back mountain of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, there are probably still a few old daoists at this realm. But after reaching this realm, what they think about more is continuing forward, and they will no longer concern themselves with worldly affairs."

"However, I went to Myriad Heaven Palace, and there were no such existences there. It seems that the Infatuation Daoist Temple is indeed unique."

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes. Among the Fuyun cultivators in this world, aside from the few hidden in those so-called divine mountains and immortal mountains unknown to others, only the Infatuation Daoist Temple likely had several.

As for the demon race, aside from the Demon Emperor, perhaps some old monsters who had been cultivating in seclusion for a long time might be at this realm, but they would certainly not be common.

The Fuyun Realm, as that white-robed girl had said, was itself a rare thing.

In her era, it was also the highest level of combat power within a sect.

"There are also some people out at sea. Their number should not be small, but they likely will not reveal themselves."

Chen Chao casually mentioned matters out at sea.

However, since those people pursued higher realms and eternal life with single-minded focus, there was no need to worry about them for now. After all, the greatest problem at present was the demon race, and the one that needed to be considered most was that Demon Emperor.

The black-robed monk said with emotion, "Looking at it this way, only you can deal with the demon race."

Chen Chao did not speak modestly, only said, "If it were not so, I would not have come to you to expound scriptures."

The black-robed monk thought for a moment and said, "I do not know many scriptures, but there seems to be one Buddhist scripture that is very suitable to be expounded to you at this moment."

Chen Chao looked at the black-robed monk in front of him with curiosity.

The black-robed monk was not in a hurry. He simply smiled and asked, “Do you know why that Nation Teacher back then was willing to bear such a terrible reputation to become the Nation Teacher?”

Chen Chao smiled and said, “For all living beings under heaven, for the common people. So-called reputation does not matter at all. You should know that.”

The black-robed monk asked, “Then when His Majesty rose in rebellion back then, it was for the same reason, right?”

Chen Chao shook his head and said softly, “When Uncle raised his army, I think there was only one reason, that he did not want my aunt to just die like that. As a feudal prince, as the son of Emperor Lingzong, he could have died just like that himself, but he could not watch my aunt die alongside him. If they had been ordinary people from the start, there definitely would not have been something like raising troops in rebellion. Becoming emperor was never what my uncle truly wanted.”

“So in the end, it still takes a firm resolve to accomplish something. Even if that so-called resolve seems unexpected to the world.”

“In cultivation, it is often said that one must cross the sea of suffering to reach the Great Beyond. Then Nepenthe, only by truly forgetting sorrows can one achieve Nepenthe. But in truth, destitute monk believes that at the very beginning, one must first be firm in a certain conviction. Most cultivators are firm in the belief that they can reach the end of the Great Dao, but later, after lingering too long at a certain realm, they lose that resolve, and naturally can no longer move forward. The matters of this world are actually very simple; it is just that people make them too complicated.”

The black-robed monk smiled and said, “This destitute monk has read through many Buddhist scriptures in the monastery. The Buddha spreads the Dharma, and the world offers incense, this is actually a transaction. In destitute monk’s heart, there is actually no Buddha.”

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “When there is no Buddha in your heart, then you are the Buddha.”

The black-robed monk did not respond to this, and only said, “This destitute monk believes that what Buddhist disciples under heaven seek is simply peace of mind.”

Shaving off one’s hair and entering the empty gate, in the end what one seeks has always been just those words - peace of mind.

Only after attaining peace of mind can one attain a tranquil heart.

Chen Chao thought for a moment and smiled, “What scripture is this?”

The black-robed monk smiled and said, “It is the worldly scripture in this destitute monk’s heart.”

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes, then stood up from the bench, sat cross-legged on the ground, took a deep breath, and said seriously, “Then I ask the master to properly give a sermon on this worldly scripture.”

The black-robed monk also stood up, brought his hands together, and said, “This destitute monk is willing to be of service.”

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