Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

At this moment, the progress of the Incense Offering Ceremony seemed to have paused, as everyone's gaze fell upon Daoji.

He had already been marked with six Scars of Precepts, and as a disciple of the Holy Monk Longhai, everyone wondered if the scarring could continue.

The few high monks performing the incense ceremony also stopped, their eyes on Daoji, and the hundreds of young monks remaining in the square looked on eagerly.

Even Li Shimin, the Emperor of Great Tang, stood up.

The situation with six incense scars was indeed a grand event.

Moreover, there was a possibility that the scarring could continue!

Everyone wanted to know how many incense scars could ultimately be reached.

With his head bowed, having successfully received six incense scars, Daoji felt a surge of excitement in this moment of universal attention. Suddenly, he became the center of attention, a feeling that was intoxicating.

However, with his head bowed, nobody could see his expression; they only heard his voice slightly trembling with excitement, "Thank you, Master!"

The Holy Monk Longhai did not speak, and the great incense in his hand fell on Daoji's bald head.

His wrist lifted, the incense fire did not extinguish, and the seventh incense scar successfully imprinted.

Seven! There were seven incense scars now!

Ignoring what the others might be thinking, the Holy Monk Longhai hesitated slightly, took a deep breath, and then continued to place the great incense on Daoji's head.

His wrist lifted again.

The incense fire, as if it would never extinguish, had now marked the eighth incense scar on Daoji's head.

The entire venue was so quiet that it seemed one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was agape, staring at the eight incense scars on Monk Daoji's head.

With such a connection to Buddha, he was second only to the Holy Monk Longhai.

Such a significant event, rarely seen in decades.

Looking at the incense in his hand, the hands of Holy Monk Longhai trembled slightly; then he slowly moved to imprint it on Daoji's head again.

If successful, Daoji would be the second monk within the Great Tang to achieve nine scars, and in the eyes of Holy Monk Longhai, he was about to become his sole heir.

Everyone held their breath, watching the movements of Holy Monk Longhai.

Under the gaze of all, the incense fire fell upon Daoji's head for the ninth time.

After a long while, Holy Monk Longhai lifted his wrist.

On Daoji's head, nine incense scars were clearly visible!

Nine incense scars!

Countless people gasped; after decades, the Great Tang finally saw the emergence of another monk with nine incense scars!?

And everyone present was a witness to this grand occasion.

The Holy Monk Longhai, though a highly attained monk, faced with such a grand occasion, was so excited that his face turned red, his hand holding the great incense trembling slightly, then he moved to imprint on Daoji's head once more.

But this time, the incense fire went out.

He sighed deeply; the incense fire finally extinguished. Holy Monk Longhai didn't know what to feel at that moment, as if he was relieved yet also sighed with regret.

After a moment of silence and composing his emotions, the Holy Monk Longhai returned the extinguished incense to a nearby high monk and looked at Daoji with eyes that were both joyful and loving, "Amitabha, good disciple, your connection to Buddha is profoundly deep. From now on, you will be my direct disciple, and in the future, you will take over the Great Buddha Temple," he said.

"Thank you, Master!" In front of everyone, these words from Holy Monk Longhai filled Daoji's heart with great joy.

Nine incense scars were enough to prove his connection to Buddha, and if he were to assume the position of abbot of the Great Buddha Temple in the future, he would undoubtedly be the foremost monk of the Great Tang.

"Congratulations, Holy Monk, on obtaining a fine disciple! Congratulations, Brother Daoji!" Following the words of Holy Monk Longhai, all the monks in the audience shouted in unison.

Everyone only felt envious that Daoji could become a disciple of the Holy Monk and the designated successor of the Great Buddha Temple; there was no jealousy.

After all, the connection to Buddha through nine incense scars said it all.

"Brothers, I am spiritually exhausted. I'll leave the subsequent matters to you," said Holy Monk Longhai, helping Daoji up and speaking to the surrounding high monks.

Suddenly having acquired a disciple like Daoji, who also had nine incense scars, Holy Monk Longhai felt emotionally stirred, somewhat eager to transmit profound Buddhist teachings and Demon-subduing divine skills to him.

Buddhist Sect's Divine Skills, unlike other cultivation techniques, require one to have sufficient Buddhist fate to cultivate higher levels of Buddhist Divine Skills!

"Senior brother, please feel free!," said a few high monks respectfully in response to Saint Monk Longhai's words.

After decades of waiting, he finally found a successor to inherit his mantle, a moment everyone could understand Saint Monk Longhai's excitement.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! I must take my leave along with my disciple," Saint Monk Longhai explained before addressing Emperor of Tang, Li Shimin.

"Holy Monk, please proceed, congratulations on finding a successor for the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound!" Emperor Li Shimin sincerely congratulated him and did not try to make him stay.

After apologizing, Saint Monk Longhai left the scene of the Incense Offering Ceremony with Daoji.

Nobody thought their departure was inappropriate.

Another monk with nine Scar of Precepts has emerged; soon, the whole Great Tang will know of this event, a spectacle rarely seen in a hundred years for the Buddhist Sect within the Great Tang.

However, despite the stirring event, the work of the Incense Offering Ceremony must continue.

Yet, after Saint Monk Longhai had left, although the Incense Offering Ceremony had not yet ended, it seemed rather insignificant now.

The matter of Daoji having nine Scar of Precepts was so captivating that the interest and enthusiasm of the young monks who continued the ceremony were not as high as before.

"Gaoyang, let's also return; we have seen enough..."

Even Saint Monk Longhai had left, and Emperor Li Shimin had no desire to remain, he whispered to Princess Gaoyang beside him.

"Father, this Incense Offering Ceremony is almost over, might as well see it through to the end," without turning, Princess Gaoyang scanned the remaining three to four hundred young monks and replied.

"Very well, as you wish," Li Shimin smiled indulgently and nodded in agreement.

Jiang Liu, still quietly among the crowd, watched as the Incense Offering Ceremony proceeded normally without any particularly noteworthy monks appearing.

Even when a disciple with four scar appeared, it seemed no one was too interested anymore.

"Next, from Jinshan Temple, Jiang Liu."

After a moment, Jiang Liu heard his name called and moved toward the stage.

Similarly, upon hearing this name, Princess Gaoyang straightened up, her beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Liu.

Her gaze, like a magnet, lingered long and hard.

...

At the Great Buddha Temple, inside the grand hall.

Saint Monk Longhai and Daoji offered several sticks of incense to the Golden Elephant of Tathagata and then, Saint Monk Longhai's gaze fell on Daoji, his expression much calmer.

"Disciple, you have lit nine great scars, which speaks to your deep connection with Buddha, a joyful yet poignant matter."

"Please enlighten me, Master."

Joyful he could understand, but poignant, Daoji found perplexing as he looked at Longhai in surprise.

"There is a saying, 'The higher you stand, the colder it gets.' The higher your position, the greater your responsibility. Setting that aside for now, do you know why our Great Buddha Temple is located within Chang'an? It is because, at the founding of Chang'an City, there was a Demon Cave beneath it that connected directly to the Demon Realm.

Our Great Buddha Temple suppresses it, ensuring peace in this region."

"As the Demon Path grows rampant, constantly assaulting us, even my Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound seems barely sufficient lately. Now that you are my disciple, I will pass on the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to you in hopes you will help me and the entire world bear this burden..."

Suddenly hearing such a profound secret, Daoji looked shocked.

However, driven by noble duty, he felt a surge of emotion: "Master, rest assured, disciple..."

Thump, thump, thump!

But before Daoji could properly express his stance, suddenly, a series of ancient bell sounds resonated through heaven and earth, as if from a very distant place, yet strikingly clear.

"What's happening? Why would there be bell sounds during the Incense Offering Ceremony!?" Daoji wondered in surprise, feeling a sense of clarity in his mind upon hearing the bell.

"Abbot! Abbot!"

Just then, a young monk rushed into the grand hall and came before Longhai, even falling to the ground in his haste.

"What happened?" asked Saint Monk Longhai, looking at his disciple who appeared completely disheveled.

"Ten...twelve Scar of Precepts... Someone has lit twelve Scar of Precepts..."