Chen Tang saw the gaze of Master Kong and knew that he certainly couldn't escape this situation.

The Vajra Relic was in his Dantian.

He couldn't very well cut open his abdomen and hand over the Vajra Relic.

Fortunately, when it came to fighting, he was rather skilled.

Xiling Secret Sect, hmm...

Chen Tang pondered.

Abbot Ben Guang looked in the same direction as Master Kong, and with a puzzled expression asked, "Zen Master's meaning is that the method to break the impasse is with him?"

"Yes."

Master Kong nodded and said, "Let him go."

Abbot Ben Guang said, "But the Esoteric Sect has come to contest martial arts with our Buddhist Sect. This young man's age is suitable, but he's not part of the Buddhist Sect, is he?"

Master Kong asked, "The Esoteric Sect doesn't have requirements regarding lay disciples or ordained disciples, right?"

Abbot Ben Guang hesitated, then said, "There's no such restriction."

When Master Kong heard this, he waved Chen Tang over.

Chen Tang stepped forward.

Looking at him, Master Kong said with a smile, "If Donor Chen does not mind, you can join us as a lay disciple of the Buddhist Sect."

This is one of the Nine Great Sects after all.

Being a disciple of the Zen Sect, Chen Tang certainly didn't mind.

However, he still looked hesitant and did not agree immediately.

Although it's for lay disciples, it's still the Buddhist Sect, and he's heard there are some strict precepts; what if he can't even eat meat in the future?

He preferred a more carefree life, something lighter.

"Do lay disciples need to shave their heads, are there any restrictions?"

Chen Tang cautiously asked, "Can we eat meat, can we marry?"

Don't underestimate these issues; they are critical to future happiness and must be clarified in advance.

Abbot Ben Guang heard this and couldn't help but shake his head silently.

He was greatly disappointed with the young man before him.

Master Kong, however, was unconcerned, smiled without speaking, merely gazing in the direction of the temple entrance.

"Hahaha!"

At this moment, a hearty laughter came from outside the door.

Chen Tang turned his head to look.

He saw a man and a woman entering Xiping Temple hand in hand.

The man wore plain clothes, had a tall figure, an impressive demeanor, a broad forehead, long eyebrows, and deep-set eyes.

The woman looked gentle and had a mild smile, appearing very kind and friendly.

The clothing of both was simple, but they exuded an indescribable noble aura from head to toe.

The man in plain clothes held the woman's hand and as they walked towards the main hall, he said, "Young brother, rest assured, lay disciples in the Buddhist Sect can eat meat heartily and even get married!"

"Oh?"

Hearing the man's confident tone, Chen Tang believed it a little.

The man in plain clothes and the woman entered the main hall.

The man in plain clothes bowed to Master Kong and solemnly said, "Disciple Ming Yuan, greets Master."

"Du Clan greets Master."

The woman gave a slight bow in greeting.

Master Kong nodded slightly and laughed, "You've returned."

Chen Tang sized up the man in plain clothes, cupped his hands and said, "Brother, are you a lay disciple of Master Kong?"

"Exactly."

The man in plain clothes nodded with a smile and said, "That's why I can clearly tell you, lay disciples aren't bound by so many rules."

Chen Tang exhaled lightly, feeling relieved, and said, "Then I will join the Master's sect as a lay disciple."

Abbot Ben Guang frowned deeply.

This young man had no sense of propriety.

Abbot Ben Guang admonished, "Hurry and kneel, kowtow to the Master as a gesture of apprenticeship!"

"No need."

Master Kong waved his hand and said, "These rituals are just methods to discipline disciples; all beings are equal, not to mention between master and disciple. There are no such rules here."

With just a few words, Abbot Ben Guang felt a wave of shame wash over him, feeling utterly abashed.

Master Kong looked at Chen Tang and said, "From now on, your Dharma name will be Ming Jing. The body is like a Bodhi Tree, the mind like a bright mirror stand. Constantly clean them diligently, let there be no dust or grime."

"Ming Jing..."

Chen Tang murmured softly.

He faintly recognized the four phrases Master Kong spoke, and subconsciously said, "Bodhi originally has no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is not a single thing; where can dust alight?"

As his words fell.

The main hall suddenly fell silent.

Abbot Ben Guang stared at Chen Tang in astonishment, his eyes filled with shock.

The man in plain clothes internally repeated the four lines Chen Tang recited and marveled, looking at Chen Tang with more admiration.

Master Kong's expression was complex, and he sighed softly.

The four lines Chen Tang recited were indeed at a higher level of mental realm compared to his own four lines.

This disparity could be felt even by someone unfamiliar with Buddhist teachings.

He had meditated and worshipped the Buddha for over a hundred years, his cultivation had reached great heights, but he never expected to be surpassed in understanding Buddhist teachings by a teenager.

In that moment, Master Kong's heart, always calm like a placid lake, rippled with unease, and he felt a trace of defeat.

Could it be that the melding of the Vajra Relic and this young person is not a coincidence?

Could the Relic have chosen its host through spirit communication?

These four Buddhist verses, in Chen Tang's past life, had a story.

The Zen school's Fifth Patriarch, Hong Ren, near the end of his life, wanted to pass down his legacy, so he asked his chief disciple Shenxiu to compose a verse.

The four lines composed by Shenxiu were: The body is like a Bodhi Tree, the mind like a bright mirror stand. Constantly clean them diligently, let there be no dust or grime.

However, Hong Ren was not completely satisfied, feeling these verses fell short of truly seeing one's nature and mind.

Later, an illiterate novice monk, Huineng, added four more lines to these verses, saying: Bodhi originally has no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is not a single thing; where can dust alight?

And Huineng became the Sixth Patriarch of the Zen Sect.

But in this world, there are only the initial four Buddhist verses, without Zen Master Huineng's four additional lines.

Chen Tang was unaware of this anecdote and history; he only heard these four lines in a song sung by a superstar in his past life and memorized them.

At this moment, what he'd casually spoken unexpectedly stirred profound reflections among the present.

Abbot Ben Guang's view of Chen Tang, once dismissive, had changed.

"Marvelous, marvelous!"

Master Kong chanted softly, looking at Chen Tang with glowing eyes, and said, "Ming Jing, you have the wisdom root. So young and you already have such a deep understanding of Buddhist teachings. Why not shave your head and truly join the Buddhist Sect..."

"No, no, no!"

Before Master Kong could finish, Chen Tang shivered and quickly shook his head.

"Brother, why does our Dharma name have a 'Ming' prefix and not follow the lines of Ben, Yuan, Ke, and Wu?"

Chen Tang hurriedly changed the subject and asked casually.

The man in plain clothes explained, "Formal ordained disciples of the Buddhist Sect have their lineage names arranged according to tradition, but lay disciples receive a Dharma name based on the master's preference."

"Junior brother, you won't be able to call me brother anymore, you should call me senior brother."

Ming Yuan smiled gently.

"Greetings, Senior Brother, Senior Sister-in-law."

Chen Tang greeted with a cheerful smile.

At this moment, he felt a stirring and turned his gaze.

He saw at the entrance of Xiping Temple an elder with a majestic and towering figure, hands behind his back, stepping slowly into the temple.

The elder had a beard like steel bristles, eyes shining brilliantly, scanning the surroundings, pausing briefly on Master Kong, before swiftly moving on.

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