Volume 3: Can You Hold On? Chapter 7: Thunder Sound

  Xu Xian was overjoyed, "Little Qian, how are you here?" He was extremely worried about Little Qian (not clear), even though he knew her magical powers were extraordinary, this worry could not be put down.

  Xiao Qian sighed inwardly, Master indeed didn't remember what happened back then, but seeing her surprised expression, he was also delighted, just about to speak.

  But then Xu Xian said with a look of urgency, "How did you end up here? This big monk has extraordinary powers and loves to interfere in other people's business. You'd better leave quickly!" In his heart, he thought that even if Xiaolian was strong, she couldn't be stronger than Fahai. If she were to discover this, she would immediately use her golden alms bowl to capture them and throw them into the Lei Feng Pagoda to wait for Bai Suzhen. He had already risked himself by crossing over, and now he was putting someone else in danger too - how could he live with that?

  "No, hurry and hide in here, I'll take you down the mountain right away." He said, taking out a pale yellow ancient jade from his bosom and hastily handing it to Xiaoxian.

  Xiao Qian saw that he was wearing the ancient jade on his body and was overjoyed, and seeing his anxious appearance, she was even more deeply moved. "Sir, aren't you supposed to be studying with Master Fahai?"

  "It's no use trying another method, if you get involved again, it would be a case of losing both wife and soldiers."

  Xiao Qian covered her mouth and smiled: "Hehe, what's with the 'wife' talk. And how could Master Fahai be as bad as you say."

  Xu Xian was speechless, "You know Fahai?"

  Xiao Qian tilted her head and said: "Yes, sometimes I even listen to him recite scriptures. These days he has been at Lingyin Temple. But it's not very interesting."

  Xu Xian scratched his head in surprise, he hadn't expected it to be like this. After thinking about it, Fa Hai wasn't the kind of person who would capture demons at every sight either, so he felt relieved.

  Then Xiao Qian told the story of Hei Shan Lao Yao again, feeling that it was still quite interesting, and now her husband was much more vivid and interesting than that night! The two chatted and laughed about past events, tidying up the attic, in this regard Xiao Qian was more useful than Xu Xian. In the end, Xu Xian simply sat on one side, watching Xiao Qian busily going up and down, dust flying everywhere, but she remained spotless, smiling cleverly, elegant and refined like a fairy.

  Finally relieved, both of them let out a sigh. Xu Xian sat there with some dust on his face, and Xiao Qian smiled as she reached out her hand to help him wipe it off.

  Her cool fingertips brushed across her face, and Xiao Qian smiled at herself, with a radiant smile.

  Xu Xian had seen many talented and beautiful women, such as his senior sister Yu Xuanji and the courtesan Cai Feng. However, his senior sister always maintained a strict demeanor, except for that one time during the Lantern Festival when she lost her composure, after which she went into seclusion and hasn't been seen since. As for Cai Feng, she was too distant from him, only meeting a few times, and he had never taken her to heart.

  Only the little Qian in front of him, from the rescue at Lanruo Temple to the intimacy on the road, was always close and seemed within reach. At this moment, he involuntarily grasped that soft and boneless hand, and Little Qian's face turned red, but she didn't struggle free.

  Xu Xian suddenly remembered the purpose of his entry, hastily let go, awkwardly coughed twice, feeling that in front of Xiao Qian's clarity and gentleness, as a man he was being tested all along.

  "Did you hear that?" asked Fa Hai.

  Xu Xian shook his head, and suddenly the bell of Lingyin Temple rang loudly. The temple was in an uproar, with everyone exclaiming that something strange had happened. It turned out that the big bell was ringing by itself without being struck. Then they heard Yuan Kong's scolding voice, and it slowly quieted down. But the big bell on the platform of Wild Words continued to ring non-stop, one sound after another. Xu Xian counted silently, and it didn't stop until it had rung 49 times. Presumably this number was also calculated by Fa Hai. Xu Xian turned his head and looked at Fa Hai with a surprised expression. Was this the subtlety of the Great Thunder Sound Technique?

  Fa Hai himself was unclear, and didn't say much: "I'll try once more, if it's clear then it's clear, if not then forget it!" Xu Xian had no resentment or annoyance in his heart. On the contrary, he became even calmer, thinking for a moment, suddenly remembering Fa Hai's words "listen with your heart".

  Yes, not using the ear, but using the heart. Immediately mobilizing the spirit and soul, he bowed his body and said: "Master, please!" As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately entered the state of usual cultivation, but he didn't dare to absorb the power of the sun in broad daylight. However, the main star inside his body had already emitted its light to the extreme, and a hint of golden light was cast from his eyes. At this moment, the merit badge was also circulating with light.

  Fahai nodded in approval. This child's enlightenment was truly extraordinary. Using the Buddhist scriptures to test him was being a bit petty on his own part. He didn't say much more, just another nod of his head.

  A deafening roar exploded in Xu Xian's heart, like the sound of thunder and a lion's roar, causing his spirit to surge. This time, Xu Xian clearly felt the powerful aura emanating from Fa Hai, "seeing" it spread out like a halo. Xu Xian stood still for half a moment, as if savoring, as if lost in thought.

  "Do you understand? The mortal world also has something called 'Lion's Roar Skill', but it is just an ordinary method of circulating energy, you should know the principle of rare and subtle sounds."

  Xu Xian sank into thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand." Although it was only once, he was extremely sensitive in the state of "jue", and he had just used the "Hui Xin" method to slow down the memory of that instant in his mind infinitely, replaying it countless times, and already had many epiphanies.

  Although it will take time to truly master such a method, there is no doubt that a direction and path have been established. This is the difference between having someone teach you and not having anyone teach you; the beginning of practicing any method is just this kind of direction. It's like the "zha ma bu" stance in secular martial arts - if you're an outsider, you might not even know what "zha ma bu" is, and even if you do, it's hard to understand how to do it correctly; maybe after practicing for ten years, there still won't be any effect, or perhaps it will even have negative consequences.

  Fahai said in a low voice, "Now that you understand, let out a loud shout to your master! When the time comes, whether you hear it or not, it will be considered as entering the door. At that time, I will have other teachings and tests for you." This Dharma of Thunder Sound is the foundation of all incantations, and even in Buddhism, it is a secret method. Fahai did not hold back on this, but if one day he really wants to learn the Great Bright Mantra, there will be another test, and Fahai also needs to gradually guide him into the door.

  Xu Xian saw Fa Hai's sincere transmission of his Dharma, and couldn't help but furrow his brow, saying: "If one day my Way is different from yours, Master, or even opposite, what should I do?"

  Fahai burst out laughing and said, "We are not bound by worldly laws. If you can muddy the waters of my Tao, then let's have a discussion. If we can't come to an understanding through discussion, then let's compare our skills. I will surely trap you inside that large bell and shout seventy-seven times forty-nine times, and see if you become enlightened or not."

  Xu Xian was initially speechless, for a big fist is the ultimate truth! Later, he couldn't help but laugh, what a refreshing monk! Isn't this how one should be when cultivating? As long as there's a path that's wide enough and walked far enough, there will definitely be a strong fist to match. At that time, no need for idle chatter, just compare and see who's stronger. Nothing to be ashamed of. But amidst the monk's refreshing demeanor lies a hint of "cunning", openly intending to bully someone with shallow cultivation and limited days of practice.

  "Alright, Master," Xu Xian said loudly. "Let's see whose way will prevail in the future." He thought to himself: You bully me because I'm weak, but I'll bully you because you're outnumbered. When the time comes for us to "discuss our ways", it won't just be me, your disciple, coming alone. We'll have Left Little White and Little Green, smashing your clan and beating you until your face is swollen and bruised.

  Two people exchanged a smile, each with their own thoughts, but both felt satisfied. Xu Xian was pleased because he had obtained a magical skill that he could use to his advantage and truly had his own strength. Fa Hai was pleased because he had established a master-disciple relationship, which would allow him to control Xu Xian in the future.

  As for the problem of Guan being unable to control Xu Xian, he hadn't even thought about it. For over a thousand years, he wasn't just eating idle food. However, unless absolutely necessary, force still couldn't be used. Xu Xian's emotions weren't something that could be coerced by force either, and required patience to guide him slowly. Letting a young person who had never experienced the bitterness and hardships of the world enter the empty gate was indeed unrealistic. He himself didn't start cultivating until he was over 40 years old. But in any case, this cause had already been planted, and it would only wait for the results to come one day. And as for time, he had plenty of it.

  Xu Xian walked out of the house, and the warm sunlight shone on his body.

  Pan Yu walked over and said: "Looks like you've learned it."

  Xu Xian burst out laughing and said: "That's natural, I'll just wait until I've practiced the ultimate technique, then that Teacher Fu will know that Xu Xian isn't a piece of dough for him to manipulate at will."

  Pan Yuzhen gave him a look and sighed: "Are you really determined to take this path?"

  "Don't worry, power is just a means to an end. It's not necessary to particularly extol it or deliberately belittle it. It all depends on how I manipulate it. As long as this heart remains unchanged, what difference does it make which cultivation method I use?"

  Pan Yu worriedly said, "Who would have thought that they wouldn't change, but the heart is like a wild horse, most difficult to control!" Just like I didn't expect to meet you, and now I'm even more unable to control myself.

  "It's up to you now!" Xuxian laughed and said.

  "Rely on me?" Pan Yu was surprised.

  Xu Xian gazed at the lush green treetops, where sunlight was condensing. "As long as you're by my side, I'll understand what kind of person I should be. If I really ran to a deep mountain and old forest to cultivate for 40 or 50 years, and came out to see that all my beautiful friends had withered away, wouldn't it be strange?" This one sentence probably scolded many cultivators into submission.

  Pan Yuxiao laughed and said, "Just in time, someone has invited you to drink flower wine. Let Hanwen experience the beauty of the world, lest one day he really thinks about it and runs into the deep mountains to become a wild man."

  "Please drink the flower wine! Who is so good at accumulating virtue?" He took over the invitation and looked at it, smiling: "Riding a colorful phoenix to paint a boat into the Yangtze River to visit Chibi, Jin Shengjie's brush"

  Xiao Qian was slightly disappointed and lowered her head, but what Xuan Xian did not expect was that Xiao Qian did not use her most lethal resentful gaze on him. Instead, she smiled faintly, stretched out her cheek, and said softly: "I know, Master is fond of me, but Master also has no choice, right? I understand, Master will understand too." As she spoke, Xiao Qian gradually became transparent and transformed into a gentle breeze that dissipated away.

  Xu Xian sat still, lost in thought for a long time. It seemed like he had remembered something and muttered to himself: "Is it really that I don't understand?" He immediately shook his head, as if trying to shake off the hesitation and confusion in his mind.

  Xu Xian stood respectfully in front of Fa Hai: "Master, I've memorized it." Pan Yu and Tong Yuan stood on the side, both happy for him.

  Fa Hai's eyes gleamed brightly, his voice loud and clear: "Really memorized it?"

  "Really, I've got it memorized!" Xuxian blurted out. Only after speaking did he feel that in the instant just before, it was as if he couldn't control himself. This chrysanthemum - rather than saying it was something he said on his own, it would be better to say it was forced out of him. There wasn't even a possibility of lying.

  Fa Hai nodded and said: "Alright, I'll teach you this Big Thunder Sound Technique."

  Xu Xian furrowed his brow and said: "This is the Great Thunder Sound Technique." At that instant, Fahai's voice seemed to contain immense majesty, making one feel compelled to submit.

  "I can teach you the most powerful magic of Buddha, which is the Vajra Anger Eye and the Great Thunder Sound Technique. The Vajra Anger Eye is a four-faced, eight-armed, six-pronged golden body, while the Great Thunder Sound Technique is the foundation of all Tantric mantras. If you practice deeply, you can learn the Mahavairocana Mantra and recite the Six Syllable Secret Mantra. Are you willing to learn?"

  Xu Xian naturally said: "I'm willing to learn!"

  "Good, I'll teach you the Great Thunder Sound Technique. This technique is not to be transmitted to six ears, everyone retreat." Pan Yutong and Fang Zhang immediately went out, leaving only Fa Hai and Xu Xian behind.

  Fa Hai said: "I'll demonstrate it for you now, listen carefully."

  Xu Xian nodded and concentrated his spirit. Suddenly, Fahai's mouth opened wide as if he let out a loud roar, but no sound came out.