Chapter 79 Guanyin Bestows Treasures
Tip: Level up by 1, current level 16.
...
Sitting cross-legged, silently utilizing the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound divine skill, experience points grew bit by bit, like accumulating sand into a pagoda.
The matter of the Journey to the West was imminent, and the urgency in his heart prevented Jiang Liu from wasting even a moment. In recent days, despite the liveliness of Chang\'an City, he paid no mind and continued his cultivation until, at last, he had raised his level to 16.
As his level reached 16, naturally, he gained an additional skill point. After briefly considering where to allocate this extra skill point between the Demon-Subduing Mantra and the Guanyin Mantra, Jiang Liu decided not to rush and use it immediately but rather to wait until he was fighting monsters before deciding.
After all, as long as the skill points were in hand, he could use them at any time.
The Demon-Subduing Mantra was a skill book that had dropped from a Demon Marshal Level Electric Light Leopard in the Demon-Suppressing Hall. It was a monk occupation skill book for level 15 that genuinely increased attack power with a BUFF effect.
Although it was only of Primary Level, it could add an impressive 100 points of attack power to allies, which demonstrated this skill alone could offer a higher boost than the attack power provided by the Demon Subduing Staff of Perfect Quality. This illustrated the extraordinary support abilities of the monk profession.
In recent days, Chang\'an City had been abuzz with excitement. A few days ago, a dragon\'s head fell from the sky, shocking the people of the city. Then, the Emperor of Tang couldn\'t sleep at night and had to have Yuchi Gong and Qin Shubao guard at night for peace.
However, it wasn\'t possible for these two generals to stand guard at the door every night. Therefore, the Emperor of Tang had a paint artist sketch their likenesses and affix them to the door.
It wasn\'t long before news of the Emperor\'s demise spread, sending shockwaves throughout the land...
Although Jiang Liu had been focused on cultivation these days, striving to enhance his strength to face the great ordeal of the Journey to the West, he was nevertheless aware of the Emperor\'s passing.
However, as someone familiar with the original story, Jiang Liu knew that it wouldn\'t be long before the Emperor\'s true spirit wandered in the Underworld, met his father and brothers, saw countless lost souls in Hell, and then would be revived.
Indeed, Jiang Liu had just finished his meditation and grooming when he stepped out of the Zen Room for breakfast. Along the way, disciples of the Great Buddha Temple gave him respectful salutations, and from their conversations, Jiang Liu heard the news of the Emperor\'s sudden revival the night before.
As the Emperor of Great Tang, whether it was his passing or his revival, it naturally became the topic of interest for everyone.
Having just finished breakfast, Jiang Liu was about to return to the Zen Room to rest, when suddenly, an eunuch from the palace arrived with an Imperial Decree. It stated that the Emperor wished to gather one thousand two hundred monks to hold a grand water and land ceremony to pray for the liberation of lost souls from the Underworld.
The task of gathering monks from all over was naturally entrusted to the Great Buddha Temple.
And the one to preside over this ceremony was assigned to be the Holy Monk Xuanzang.
After all, he was officially recognized as a Holy Monk, an Imperial Brother, and a monk with the deepest Buddhist connections in history.
The Saint Monk Longhai showed no displeasure about Jiang Liu presiding over the ceremony. After the incident with the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Jiang Liu could even invite the Tathagata to show his divine presence. Longhai had no reason to feel jealousy or discontent towards his affairs.
On the contrary, Saint Monk Longhai felt great joy about the upcoming water and land ceremony.
A gathering of one thousand two hundred monks for an unprecedented grand ceremony? Wouldn\'t this be the most magnificent event ever held within the borders of the Great Tang?
This event was naturally a significant boon to the reputation of the Buddhist Sect.
Jiang Liu, of course, could not refuse such a task. He silently prepared, selecting two Buddhist scriptures to read aloud during the ceremony.
All these were mere formalities, not worth his time to memorize the scriptures.
One thousand two hundred monks couldn\'t be gathered in a moment or two. The Imperial Decree was issued, and with the Great Buddha Temple taking charge, it took a full five days to gather the entire number of one thousand two hundred monks.
During these five days, the venue for the Water and Land Dharma Assembly was also hurriedly prepared.
Aside from the necessary time for daily life, Jiang Liu spent all his time meditating and cultivating, earning over ten thousand Experience Points each day through cultivation.
However, the amount of Experience Points required to level up was increasing, and he didn\'t know how long it would take to reach level 17.
Today, with only one day left before the official holding of the Dharma assembly, suddenly, a bald, barefoot monk in tattered clothes appeared in Chang\'an City, selling kasayas and monk\'s staffs on the streets.
Despite the scabrous monk\'s unremarkable appearance, the kasaya and staff he held seemed to be treasures. Naturally, people approached him to inquire.
"The kasaya is priced at five thousand taels, and the staff at two thousand taels," the price the scabrous monk quoted made countless people shake their heads, thinking the monk had gone mad.
Just then, Prime Minister Xiao Yu\'s carriage arrived, and the guard troop cleared the streets.
But the scabrous monk neither dodged nor avoided, instead heading straight towards the Prime Minister\'s carriage.
...
But within the Great Buddha Temple, it was distinctly felt that the Journey to the West was drawing near. Jiang Liu spent his days hidden in the Zen Room, cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, and the other monks, thinking he was preparing the essential scriptures for the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, did not dare to disturb him.
However, this day, a eunuch from the palace arrived at the temple, stating that the Emperor of Tang had invited Holy Monk Xuanzang to the palace for a chat.
Hearing that the Emperor of Tang summoned him, Jiang Liu did not hesitate, quickly made some preparations, and then set out for the palace.
Perhaps, with the day of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly approaching, the Emperor of Tang had some matters to explain to him?
"Come, bring the items out..." Following Jiang Liu\'s entrance to the palace, after exchanging greetings, Li Shimin wasted no time and spoke to the eunuch by his side.
"Eh? Are you giving me something?" Jiang Liu thought to himself with surprise, having assumed that Li Shimin sought him out to discuss the Water and Land Dharma Assembly.
Following Li Shimin\'s order, two eunuchs came forward, each holding a tray; one tray bore an exquisite kasaya, and the other a horizontal monk\'s staff.
"This is..." Seeing these two items, Jiang Liu\'s heart tensed.
"Imperial Brother, isn\'t this fate? Prime Minister Xiao Yu encountered a scabrous monk in the streets of Chang\'an selling a kasaya, asking for a total of seven thousand taels. He said wearing this kasaya, one can avoid reincarnation, and wielding this staff can prevent poisoning.
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Since you are the Holy Monk of Great Tang and cannot avoid the laborious task of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, I wished to purchase these and gift them to you."
"But who knew, once the scabrous monk learned they were to be gifted to you, he refused to take a single coin."Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn
"Indeed, it seems like Bodhisattva Guanyin has sent the Brocade Kasaya and Nine-Ring Staff," hearing Li Shimin\'s words, how could Jiang Liu not understand the situation?
He sighed inwardly but also felt some joy. The Tathagata had said Princess Gaoyang was revived and cultivating under Bodhisattva Guanyin; he wondered if she had come with Gaoyang this time?
Logically, before setting off to the west, letting himself and Gaoyang meet would be permissible; wouldn\'t this strengthen his resolve for the Journey to the West?
Moreover, logically, allowing Princess Gaoyang to meet the Emperor of Tang could also improve the Buddhist Sect\'s image in the Emperor\'s eyes, right?
With a mind full of thoughts, Jiang Liu maintained a composed demeanor, reached out to accept the two treasures, bowed his head and lowered his gaze, focusing on the items in front of him.
These two treasures should be of higher quality than the Vidyaraja Crown given to him by Saint Monk Longhai, right?
As Jiang Liu\'s gaze rested on them, the details and attributes of the two treasures were revealed before his eyes.