The crystal Buddha suddenly flashed with a light golden swastika.
Kong Ming and Jing Xin monks were both moved at this moment.
Their gazes fell upon the crystal Buddha and even me.
Although their expressions didn't change, their eyes couldn't hide their surprise.
The swastika, appeared in a light golden hue.
In Buddhist teachings, this held significant meaning.
Only when Buddhist Dharma and Zen intention reached a certain realm would a golden swastika appear.
In their Shaolin sect, there were many eminent monks.
Many could recite Zen intentions, but those who could cause the crystal Buddha to display a golden swastika could be counted on one hand.
Yet now, I, an outsider, although I recited the Great Compassion Mantra smoothly.
There were still some syllables where my pronunciation was clearly inaccurate.
However, I still managed to make the crystal Buddha's swastika appear golden.
This was rather inexplicable.
And this, in Buddhism, was often referred to as 'roots of wisdom' (huigen)...
It had nothing to do with the duration of Buddhist devotion, but was innate.
Because someone who hadn't practiced Buddhism, to try and achieve Zen intention by reciting a few scriptures.
And thus influence the crystal Buddha, causing its internal Buddha patterns to resonate.
And thereby causing a change, was fundamentally impossible.
Of course, there was one type of person who could, those with innate roots of wisdom.
But such people were exceedingly rare, one in ten thousand.
Therefore, Shaolin had devised this test.
And offered the Shaolin treasure, the Vajra Demon-Subduing Pestle, as a reward.
On the surface, they claimed it was to find a destined person.
In reality, it was merely to go through the motions for this testing event organized by the Dao Alliance.
But who knew they would encounter me today.
With just a few recitations, a golden swastika appeared.
How could Kong Ming and Jing Xin not be moved.
As for me, I continued to stare intently at the Great Compassion Mantra scripture before me, reciting it continuously.
Without paying attention to the crystal Buddha.
But after reciting a few phrases, the surrounding crowd suddenly became restless.
Each one exclaimed excitedly:
"Holy crap, the swastika symbol has appeared."
"Light golden, same color as Kong Ming just recited."
"Damn, this kid might actually succeed."
"Old Qin, keep reciting, go get the demon-subduing pestle!"
"..."
Hearing these voices, I slightly raised my head to look.
I discovered that the swastika symbol on the crystal Buddha's chest was already quite clear.
However, it hadn't emitted any light.
The challenge had still not been successful.
I had to continue, I paid no further mind to the surrounding chatter.
And continued reciting...
For ordinary people, reciting scriptures was truly difficult.
Not only were the pronunciations convoluted, but the characters were also obscure.
The only difference between me and most people present was that I had heard it often since childhood.
My grandmother also frequently recited the Great Compassion Mantra, and although I couldn't recite it perfectly, I could generally get the gist of it.
Even if some flawless verses were added, the impact wouldn't be significant.
I continued to recite earnestly;
"Sili sili, sulu sulu, bodhi ye, bodhi ye, tuoda ye..."
I no longer looked at the crystal Buddha.
Because strangely, this time while reciting the flawless Great Compassion Mantra before the crystal Buddha, I felt a sense of inner peace.
From initial urgency to tranquility, this process occurred very quickly.
That peculiar sensation brought a feeling of inner release.
Just like that time in the Black Demon Palace when I helped resolve the fate curse, reciting the flawless Daoist tranquilizing mantra with Qing Dai.
This Great Compassion Mantra possessed a similar wondrous effect.
And the surrounding onlookers watched with increasing astonishment.
Because they realized that the swastika symbol within the crystal Buddha was becoming increasingly clear.
The entire crystal Buddha had begun to emit a faint halo of light.
Upon seeing this, the young monk Kong Ming was startled.
He slightly lowered his head and whispered:
"Uncle Master! Zen intention has appeared."
Master Jing Xin's eyes also opened, and his face regained its calm expression.
He uttered:
"Namo Amitabha, I did not expect this alliance gathering to have such a person with innate roots of wisdom."
Master Jing Xin's voice was not loud, but everyone around heard him.
Receiving Master Jing Xin's affirmation made the surrounding crowd extremely shocked.
They were all dumbfounded.
"My heavens! Is this kid also a Buddhist cultivator?"
"He, he has manifested Buddha-nature."
"Is it true or not? This kid, apart from reciting better than us, doesn't seem any different?"
"Just now, just now this kid said his name was Qin Ze, is, is he that Qin Ze from Black Water Monastery?"
"Black Water Monastery? Holy cow, isn't that the one rumored to have pulverized Wang Qi from Dragon Tiger Mountain with a single punch?"
"..."
Upon this exclamation, the scene erupted into a further uproar.
Everyone looked at me, reciting scripture, with disbelief.
The halo emitted by the crystal Buddha grew increasingly intense.
Although not as radiant as Kong Ming's, it had indeed lit up.
The surrounding crowd's exclamations drew even more people to gather.
After all, the allure of the Vajra Demon-Subduing Pestle was immense, and many had tried and failed.
Now, with someone suddenly about to succeed in the challenge, it naturally attracted a great deal of attention.
More and more people gathered.
Many were shouting:
"Quick, quick, someone is completing Shaolin's challenge item."
"Whoa, I've got to go see."
"What a powerhouse! I'm impressed, truly impressed."
"..."
Amidst the constant surprise and clamor, I reached the final line;
"Om, sidhyantu, mandala, padaya, svaha."
As I recited the last line, I suddenly felt an absolute peace within my heart.
Within my dantian, seventeen strands of true qi flowed harmoniously.
The ball of mist that had obscured my breakthrough realm gradually dispersed.
In a state of serene peace, I miraculously touched the threshold of advancing to the peak of the Profound Core realm...