Chapter 565 – The Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga (1/2)

They were unable to advance any further upon reaching there. Two guardian gods stood to the sides of the gate with great vigour, each wielding a weapon. At first glance, he even mistook them to be two statues.

But suddenly, their eyes swiveled and landed on Li Qingshan. Li Qingshan’s breathing halted slightly. It really is the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga after all, just the two guardian gods who watch over the entrance of the monastery can make me feel threatened.

Looking back, there were thousands of buildings established at the foot of the mountain, specially for regular monks to provide guidance to their believers, ranging from residences, arrangements for food, and even the issuing of silver taels.

Unlike the temples of his past life, a sect like the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga did not require the donations of mortals, nor did it profit from the land it owned. It only required mortals to contribute their belief to them. Having accumulated over numerous millennia, just how terrifying of a force would this be?

“Those standing below the steps, why do you not bow?”

A monk in charge of reception asked loudly from a high wall that resembled the walls of a city. He was already different from those mortal monks. Instead, he was a Qi Practitioner, a true disciple of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. Several tens of thousand people were prostrating themselves in the square at the bottom of the mountain, so Li Qingshan and Xiao An’s standing figures stood out very much.

In particular, everyone who saw Xiao An along the way was left stunned. The young men even forgot to bow, ogling straight at her. Even when the monk for reception saw Xiao An, he could not help but be taken aback before lowering his head in a hurry and muttering “amitābha” a few times.

Li Qingshan said, “We aren’t believers. Instead, we’ve come to see the Annihilum Light Chan Master.”

“Senior uncle Annhilum Light is currently in secluded cultivation and is not receiving guests. It’s best if you return!”

Before the monk for reception could even finish speaking, a streak of golden light suddenly rose up from the majestic halls on Great Buddha mountain, landing at the entrance and turning into an old monk. It was the Annihilum Light Chan Master in the flesh, gazing at Xiao An gladly.

“One Will, you’ve finally come.”

“Senior uncle Annhilum Light.” The monk was taken aback, bowing in a hurry.

Xiao An brought her palms together in an orderly manner and bowed. “Master.”

“Come with me!” The Annihilum Light Chan Master waved his arm, and the huge gate behind him opened loudly. Sunlight poured through, landing on Li Qingshan’s face and making him squint his eyes.

“The gate’s opening!” “The gate’s opening!”

Calls rang out from below the mountain. The gate to the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga normally never opened. The disciples of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga all entered through a minor entrance below. The only ever opened the main gate to receive important guests.

The Annihilum Light Chan Master glanced at Xiao An before waving his hand.

The melodious sound of a bell rang out from the top of the mountain at first, and afterwards, the entire mountain rang with bells, drowning out the chanting and spreading across the entire Great Buddha mountain.

The monk for reception was stunned. He studied Li Qingshan and Xiao An closely. Let alone two Foundation Establishment cultivators, but even two Golden Core cultivators had no right to receive such treatment.

The girl seemed to be senior uncle Annhilium Light’s final disciple, but she was a disciple at most, which made her even less qualified.

Golden light shone brilliantly. The sounds of bells rose and fell together. It was grand and imposing.

Li Qingshan eased up slightly inside. As it seems, the Annihilum Light Chan Master still views Xiao An with great importance, so he probably won’t allow her to suffer any abuse. Actually, he was purely overthinking. With Xiao An’s current strength, how many people could abuse her across the nine provinces?

The Annihilum Light Chan Master walked at the front and Xiao An followed closely behind, so Li Qingshan followed along too. The Annihilum Light Chan Master glanced back at him, and Li Qingshan smiled at him, so he said nothing.

Xiao An followed the light and stepped into the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. Her seaweed-like hair and her pale clothes were dyed with a layer of golden light.

The entire Great Buddha mountain had been disturbed. The various head monks emerged from their courtyards and gazed at the entrance in the distance.

Among the various head monks, the Annihilum Light Chan Master had always approached matters discreetly, indifferent to most affairs, yet he had done something so conspicuously today, leaving many people astounded.

He represented the entire Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, presenting a new disciple with a courteous reception and respect. He was also expressing to the entire Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga just how much he valued her, so that no one, not even the abbot of the monastery, should underestimate her.

But did she truly deserve something like this?

The buddhist pagodas that stood in great numbers resembled a forest, blocking the sunlight. They glowed with a gentle, golden light, hiding wondrous power. This power was not brutal in any way or form. Instead, it was like the sunlight, the rain, and the dew, silently nourishing the surroundings. It was filled with warmth and benevolence, enough to fill people with admiration.

They stored the śarīras of past, revered monks. Śarīras were equivalent to the golden cores of regular cultivators. They could only be condensed after undergoing the second heavenly tribulation. Just the boundless forest of pagodas was enough to demonstrate how deep the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga’s foundations ran.

He was unable to sense it when he looked at it from afar, but as he stood among them, he could feel their solemn dignity. These pagodas were all over thirty meters tall. Some of them were even larger than Li Qingshan’s original daemon form.

Li Qingshan thought, These pagodas probably aren’t just for remembrance. Instead, they’ve become part of Great Buddha mountain, probably some form of defensive formation.