Cleaver in Hand

Xuan Xin didn't try to explain, however, the monk said he knew the answer, it was just that he couldn't expound the details.

A few people sneered. In their eyes, Xuan Xin was only pretending to be smart.

Lu Changsheng, on the other hand, knew that Xuan Xin was certain about his answer.

What made him feel surprised was that Xuan Xin not only knew the answer, but also knew what was going to happen next.

It was really out of Lu Changsheng's expectations.

Upon noticing the curious audience, Lu Changsheng repeated once more, "The fisherman will go to heaven."

The audience still didn't understand why this was so.

"The fisherman wakes the monk up everyday so the monk will chant more sutras. The monk wakes the fisherman up everyday so the fisherman will kill more fish. The sin of killing piles up on the monk while the merits and virtues pile up on the fisherman. Therefore, the fisherman will go to heaven, and the monk will go to hell," Lu Changsheng explained.

Xuan Xin remained very calm when he heard this.

"Amitabha," Xuan Xin said.

This answer enlightened the audience.

"I see!"

"I understand now!"

"No wonder it's the fisherman who will go to heaven!"

"This is profound wisdom!"

"I see!"

They were all impressed by the answer, they couldn't help but discuss with each other once again.

"Quiet!" The voice boomed out to keep everything in order.

It was time for the third question.

It was Lu Changsheng's turn this time.

"Master, is there anyone that Buddhism doesn't save?" This was Lu Changsheng's third question.

"Buddhism saves everyone without distinction," Xuan Xin answered.

"Including those who kill?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"When a man lays down his cleaver, he instantly turns into Buddha. That's why."

"Laying down one's cleaver makes the person a Buddha?"

"Once the cleaver is laid down, yes."

"Then why does Buddhism still have eighty-four thousand sutras? What are their purposes?"

"The eighty-four thousand sutras are for saving all living beings in the world. A thousand men take a thousand forms, hence, a thousand men need a thousand sutras. A thousand sutras can make a thousand Buddhas."

The debate became very intense as the two sides met squarely on the topic.

"Then… if I kill Buddha today, and then I lay down my cleaver. Can I become a Buddha?"

Lu Changsheng's eyes looked extremely cold. His imposing demeanor made dark clouds gather in the hall, bolts of lightning flashed and roared about, it was as if the formidable power could make Xuan Xin rot in hell for eternity.

Despite being under such horrible pressure, Xuan Xin folded his hands and responded, "Amitabha. As long as you lay down your cleaver, you'll become a Buddha. If killing me can make you drop your cleaver, I'm willing to give you my life."

"That's ridiculous!" Lu Changsheng scolded Xuan Xin. His voice was as vibrant as a ringing bell.

"Why?"

"The cleaver isn't in my hand. How can I lay it down?" Lu Changsheng asked.

"Where is the cleaver then?" Xuan Xin asked.

"It's in your hand." The next moment, Lu Changsheng's determined eyes stared at Xuan Xin.

"I don't have the cleaver."

"It's in your hand."

"I don't see it."

"It's in your hand."

"I can't see it."

"Brighten your eyes."

"I still don't see it."

Xuan Xin's answer was firm.

However, Lu Changsheng suddenly smiled. "Earlier, there wasn't a cleaver in your hand, however, there is one now. Look down."

Xuan Xin subconsciously took a glance at his hands, he was about to give the same answer.

But he was stunned.

All the words he was about to say were stuck in his throat. He was too shocked to speak.

Although there was nothing in his hand, Xuan Xin silently kept staring at his palm. Finally, a wry smile appeared on his face.

Then, Xuan Xin started laughing aloud.

The audience were beyond confused now.

The debate's philosophical discussion was too deep and profound for them to comprehend.

"Thank you! You made me see the cleaver in my mind." Xuan Xin stood up. He bowed nine times and kowtowed three times to Lu Changsheng. Gratefulness was written all over his face.

Lu Changsheng didn't say anything. He simply watched Xuan Xin do so.

"I get it!" Amongst the audience, an elderly cultivator suddenly exclaimed.

"What is it?"

"What does it mean?"

"Right? What were they talking about?"

"I don't understand at all."

"I'm so useless in this world since I couldn't understand them."

None of the young cultivators could comprehend the debate. Which is why they couldn't wait to know the answer.

The elderly man took a deep breath before opening his mouth, "Changsheng asked Xuan Xin if Buddhism is aimed at saving everyone.

"Xuan Xin had to say 'yes', otherwise, it would go against the original intentions of Buddhism.

"After seizing the chance, Changsheng asked Xuan Xin if those who kill would also be included.

"Xuan Xin's answer was still 'yes', however, Changsheng didn't agree with it. If simply laying down one's cleaver can make a person a Buddha, then the eighty-four thousand Buddhism sutras would be useless.

"Xuan Xin said that different people needed different sutras as they believed in different Buddhas. Those who laid down their cleavers can turn into Buddhas immediately, but you need to remember that not everyone has a cleaver.

"At this time, Changsheng used sophistry and asked Xuan Xin whether he could still become a Buddha if he dropped the cleaver after killing Xuan Xin.

"Since Xuan Xin deeply believes in his faith, he wants to turn Changsheng into a Buddha even at the cost of sacrificing himself. Because of this obsessiveness, the cleaver already appeared in Xuan Xin's heart.

"Back then, Xuan Xin still didn't realize it.

"The reason why Changsheng said that the cleaver was in Xuan Xin's hand is because he was luring Xuan Xin, trying to make the cleaver in Xuan Xin's heart come out.

"This was why Changsheng repeated the same thing three times, that the cleaver was in Xuan Xin's hand.

"However, Xuan Xin refused to believe Changsheng, he was adamant that there was no cleaver in his hand.

"At that very moment, Xuan Xin was now holding the cleaver. Therefore, the reason why Changsheng said that the cleaver wasn't there earlier was for this! Xuan Xin understood this!

"Everything is clear! This is profound wisdom! I've been cultivating for a thousand years but I still don't have it. He's the Lord of Boundless Heavens! Changsheng is absolutely the number one in all Dao sects!"

The elderly man was deeply impressed by Lu Changsheng's insights.

"I still don't get it."

"I don't see the cleaver! Where is it?"

"I get it! I understand now!"

"Me too!"

"What did you understand?"

"Ah! I see what the cleaver is!"

"Then what about you? What did you understand?"

"I'm actually still confused. I was just following them…"

"Well…"

"At least you're honest."

"Stop talking nonsense! Senior, what exactly is the cleaver?"

The cultivators were all discussing fervently.

The elderly cultivator took a deep breath before saying, "The cleaver is one's obsessiveness."

Everyone was suddenly enlightened.

"Obsessiveness? I get it now!"

"Me too!"

"I truly understand this time."

"I see."

"The cleaver is one's obsessiveness! Xuan Xin's obsessiveness was the cleaver all along! Senior Brother Changsheng knew from the very beginning that Xuan Xin came here with his cleaver. The question became the answer. That's amazing!"

The crowd was filled with admiration for Lu Changsheng.

These three rounds almost dealt fatal blows to Xuan Xin.

After Xuan Xin stood up, he calmly stared into the distance.

About an hour later.

Xuan Xin opened his mouth as he slowly said, "I lost."

These two words instantly caused a great stir.

It wasn't even halfway through the debate yet!

And yet, Xuan Xin admitted defeat himself!

This was so unexpected!

Xuan Xin continued and said, "Even after I lost, I still have some questions. Please enlighten me," Xuan Xin said.

He lost against Lu Changsheng in all the rounds.

He admitted defeat himself.

He had already lost the debate.

Despite all this, his mind still refused to accept the result.

His obsessiveness was too deep.

Therefore, the debate hadn't come to an end yet.

At this moment.

A cool breeze suddenly swept past the area.

The red maple leaves on the red hill were brought into the hall, they twirled and danced in the air.

Lu Changsheng looked very peaceful.

He kept silent and didn't respond to Xuan Xin's question.

Instead, he gently raised his hand and caught a red leaf.

His eyes were filled with wisdom.

Light specks flowed in and moved around Lu Changsheng, it made him look like a celestial deity.

The old bell in the Zenith Land started ringing.

Everything was so quiet, it was as if this silence could wash off all the worries in the world.

Since Changsheng didn't say anything, this meant that he agreed.