Chapter 250 — Rouge and White Bone

" The blind elder snorted.

"Old Master Huo, do you think the Tathagata can subdue Fan Xuanshu? " Old Master Huo hesitated, then said, "One Tathagata may not suffice, but in the Tower of Ten Thousand Aspects there are a thousand Tathagatas, all beings who stilled their minds, clarified their natures, and beheld true Suchness.

Most likely it can be done. Only they are all long dead, and Cult Master Li is no ordinary being either. .

.

What worries me now is that the Old Tathagata may deliberately fail to subdue Cult Master Li, deliberately trap Granny Zhu in the tower.

If Granny Zhu is trapped here, we too will be trapped here. " The venerable led them to a side chamber and said, "Benefactors, lodge here as you please. The shelves are full of Buddhist sutras; read them as you like. " Shen Mu looked. There were indeed many sutras on the shelves. Old Master Huo shook his head.

"The sutras here contain only text, no divine powers. Glance at them and be done.

" The venerable said, "Divine powers cannot withstand karma. Does the Horse King God not understand?

" Old Master Huo said calmly, "Without divine powers, how does one withstand karma?

Are you a disciple of the Tathagata? Then you are something of a junior brother to me. Your realm is too low.

Withdraw; there is no need to parade shallow understanding before me.

" The venerable, ashamed and mortified, turned and left. The blind elder, serene and composed, said, "Old Master Huo and I, with our old bones, may as well lodge here. But Shen, you are the cult master of the Dark Demon Cult. To be trapped here for a lifetime — would you not grow old and die in this place?

I will find a chance to send you down the mountain. " Shen Mu shook his head.

"We wait until Granny is well. Blind Grandfather, Old Master Huo, it is rare that we come to the Great Tingming Temple.

Let us take a look around.

" Old Master Huo smiled. "Haven't you long wanted to see the Hundred Dragons Diagram? I will take you to see the dragon reliefs.

" Shen Mu was delighted.

The three walked out of the side chamber, and there outside the door sat an old monk, chanting sutras at the dragon qilin, which had already fallen into a dead sleep, snoring thunderously. "Even the fat dragon is to be converted?

" Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He said to the old monk, "Master, this lump eats half a peck of Scarlet Fire Spirit Pills a day.

If you convert him, can you afford to keep him? " The old monk stopped chanting, glanced at him, and said, "I can afford it.

" Shen Mu clicked his tongue. "Truly rich. Master, please continue.

" Old Master Huo led the way ahead, descending through the cloud layer to the mountainside, and pointed forward. "There is the Hundred Dragons Diagram.

" Shen Mu looked.

Great pillars stood in a forest, each carved with a heavenly dragon in relief, and beneath the pillars hundreds of monks were studying the dragon reliefs, seeking to comprehend the Dao and its divine powers. Many monks were testing their powers, their vital essence transforming into dragon shapes that danced across the sky, and Buddha-light blazed forth — a sight most extraordinary.

Others were sparring, verifying what they had learned and understood.

Several old monks saw them approach and hurriedly saluted Old Master Huo. "Elder brother has come.

" Old Master Huo returned the salute without slighting them. One old monk said joyfully, "Elder brother cut such a figure here in those years. We few still remember your bearing then.

" Shen Mu stepped forward and stood before one dragon pillar, studying it closely, marveling inwardly. The heavenly dragons in all their hundred postures — the stone carvings on this pillar rendered the bearing of the heavenly dragon to the very last detail.

Old Master Huo was skilled at carving, carving in wood with lifelike results; he must once have copied and carved here. The Hundred Dragons Diagram was indeed the key to cultivating the Eight Tingming Arts, but the true key was the Tingming Mahayana Sutra. Without the Tingming Mahayana Sutra, it was very hard to cultivate the Eight Tingming Arts to their utmost.

Yet Shen Mu had already comprehended the Great Unification Art, and his attainment in the Eight Tingming Arts was no weaker than one who cultivated the Tingming Mahayana Sutra. Just then, a voice suddenly cried, "Cowherd!

" Shen Mu turned and saw a monk in white staring at him in astonishment.

The monk's face was somewhat familiar, and Shen Mu suddenly understood, and said joyfully, "So it's little monk Chenghuai! We met at Granny Temple in the Wasteland! " That little monk was named Chenghuai. The white-browed monk Jingming had brought him to seek out Old Master Huo and wager Ximilo against him; Chenghuai had been beaten by Shen Mu, and Ximilo had fallen into Shen Mu's hands, and Shen Mu had passed it on to the Xuanliao Demon Ape.

Monk Chenghuai came quickly over. He had grown considerably taller, a little taller than Shen Mu. Shen Mu had only begun to grow in the past half year, and his height too had shot up.

Monk Chenghuai looked him over and said eagerly, "Haven't seen you in years.

I wonder if your skills have improved?

" Shen Mu said with feeling, "They have. Since beating you, I've advanced by leaps and bounds, no longer what I was.

"