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Arriving at the foot of the Banshan Temple, unless one was deliberately looking for fault, most people acknowledged the beauty of the mountain scenery.

While this place wasn't a famously grand mountain range, the secluded vistas were certainly no less impressive than a national-level scenic area.

And frankly, the scenery in many scenic areas nowadays was mostly artificial staging; how could it compare to the purely natural landscape surrounding Banshan Temple?

Here, one simply had to praise the one whose funding chain broke; he was too dedicated to perfection."Novel."

He cherished every blade of grass and every tree on the mountain, so when forging paths, it wasn't the vegetation that yielded to the road, but the road that accommodated the vegetation.

He fully considered the sparseness or density of the flora, initiating the path where the vegetation was thin, transplanting these sparse plants elsewhere before the road took shape.

It was for this very reason that when people walked along the shaded path, the surrounding greenery seemed so lush and dense, completely blocking out the summer heat, leaving only waves of cool air.

The only flaw was that the winding mountain path made things a bit strenuous for some of the portly, affluent bosses.

Luckily, the temple was built halfway up the mountain; otherwise, some of those big bosses surely wouldn't have made it and would have had to order their attendants to drive down and fetch them.

Walking slowly all the way, upon reaching the central elevation of the peak, the group immediately spotted a stretch of continuous temple architecture.

The layout of the temple complex was designed by professional designers, referencing the blueprints of major renowned ancient monasteries, while also integrating the conditions of the mountain terrain. After several revisions, it finally passed the inspection of the big boss.

It took another year of construction before it stood firmly on the mountainside.

Thus, this temple might not be the finest architectural achievement under heaven, but it was absolutely the one best suited to this environment.

The Mountain Gate, the main halls, the pavilions—all the structures blended seamlessly with the mountain's topography, appearing incredibly majestic and solemn, instinctively inspiring a sense of awe in beholders.

However, it was a great pity.

Passing through the Mountain Gate, everyone noticed that the main temple entrance was sealed shut. Even the plaque hanging over the gate was draped in large red cloth, lending an air of mystery.

Of course, remembering that this was the opening ceremony, everyone quickly reconciled themselves to it.

Subsequently, welcomed by the hostesses, some individuals eagerly continued to explore the mountain scenery, while others simply rested in nearby pavilions to regain their strength.

The mountain surely contained more than just a sequence of temple buildings; the designer had fully considered the psychological needs of the pilgrims for viewing.

At every location boasting a superior view on the mountain,

there stood a viewing pavilion.

Some observant guests noted that the design of each pavilion was unique.

There were square ones, round ones, and combinations of square and round shapes; some large, some small—an endless variety, which added a certain charm.

Seeing this, many guests finally understood why the big boss’s funding chain had broken.

He was simply a perfectionist.

He insisted on making everything the best; no amount of money would suffice for such extravagance.

However, upon hearing from an insider that the big boss was a devout Buddhist, everyone felt a degree of understanding.

Wang Guan had visited Myanmar and knew that devout followers there had a custom: scrimping and saving throughout their lives in the hope of accumulating enough money to build a pagoda.

Perhaps the big boss shared a similar aspiration with the Burmese devotees—wishing to construct a flawless temple.

It wasn't until the funding chain snapped, leaving him utterly distressed, that he woke up to reality.

Regardless, the mountain scenery was magnificent.

Everyone enjoyed the sights immensely.

Especially after crossing the suspension bridge and cableway to reach the highest peak among the several mountain summits, some bosses felt a surge of grandeur, as if they could direct the rivers and command the mountains.

“Dong, dong, dong, dong…” Just then, from the middle of the mountainside, the sound of a bell suddenly rang out. The sound was broad and resonant, echoing melodiously through the valley, its lingering resonance leaving a profound impression.

“Oh, the ceremony is starting. Let’s go down and take a look.”

“Right, let’s head down.”

Hearing the sound, everyone understood its significance and turned back down the mountain.

Shortly after, the group gathered before the temple's Mountain Gate, realizing that quite a few guests had arrived today.

However, if one observed closely, these guests could be roughly divided into three categories.

The first category was naturally those invited by the Tang Group. The second consisted of peers Wang Guan had invited through his own network and connections.

The third category was the local villagers who had come from the nearby area.

Of course, at this moment, everyone was merely an observer.

To put it plainly, they were spectators, and every person knew clearly that the protagonists of the ceremony were not them, but the monks—the monks who were establishing the temple.

Two or three minutes passed, and the bell tolling continued. Those with experience naturally knew that for such a significant event as establishing a temple, a full 108 tolls were required.

But as the resonant, melodious bells rang out, echoes returned from the valley, creating a feeling of waves that refused to subside, one rising as the other faded.

As the sound waves mingled, no one felt any irritation; instead, they found it pleasantly harmonious, gradually experiencing a sense of peaceful ease.

After a long while, the resounding bell tolls finally ended.

Yet, in everyone’s mind, faint echoes of the bells seemed to linger.

“Kacha!” Simultaneously, the sealed temple doors suddenly swung open.

Immediately, under the gaze of the assembled crowd, a procession of monks slowly emerged. Each face was solemn, yet radiant, betraying an undisguisable joy.

The one leading them was naturally Banshan Monk. At this time, he was no longer dressed in simple monastic robes.

After all, as the Abbot of a temple, and on the grand occasion of its founding, he could not afford to diminish his status.

Or rather, even if he wished to lower his stature, others would likely not permit it.

In this moment, Banshan Monk was clad in moon-white silk monastic robes, draped with a shimmering golden red kasaya, wearing a monk’s cap, holding a monk’s staff, and adorned with a strand of purple sandalwood beads around his neck… In short, clothes make the man, and gold embellishes the Buddha.

His dazzling attire instantly made Banshan Monk appear even more dignified and stately, full of the bearing of a venerable high monk.

It must also be admitted that Banshan Monk was handsome. Furthermore, the relentless carving he engaged in year-round was physical labor, a form of exercise that left his physique looking robust and imposing.

Consider this: most famous monks in temples across the nation were either fat monks with round bellies or kind-faced elderly monks. Those of average build were often not good-looking and spoke with a heavy local dialect—hardly the stuff of fantasy.

But Banshan Monk was different; he could truly be described as handsome.

Wang Guan felt that if Banshan Monk had lived in ancient times, he would either be Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty or the handsome monk Bianji, a disciple of Xuanzang, who was executed in the marketplace for his affair with Princess Gaoyang.

In any case, such looks—or perhaps, such presence and demeanor—were undeniably attention-grabbing.

It wasn't just human interaction; monks too placed importance on external appearance.

Otherwise, why would the Buddha statues in temples possess increasingly solemn visages? It was precisely because looking pleasing to the eye encouraged sincere reverence and worship.

The most famous example was the Bodhisattva Guanyin: initially depicted as male, she gradually transformed into a female form, finally becoming the gentle and elegant figure in white with a willow branch we now see.

Through the "cosmetic enhancements" applied by successive generations of devotees, she became progressively more beautiful and consequently, more widely adored.

People are, to a great extent, visual creatures, drawn to all things beautiful.

In contrast, gods and Buddhas with fierce or intimidating appearances were less favored.

It’s not that they had no followers, but they remained a niche group, never capable of becoming mainstream objects of faith.

Thus, the moment Banshan Monk appeared, he immediately seized the initiative. Even if he couldn't immediately subdue the crowd, many felt a degree of goodwill, finding him noble in appearance and possessing an extraordinary temperament in every movement.

“I heard he’s a high monk from overseas, invited repeatedly by the Tang Group with great sincerity to preside over the temple.”

“That’s a good thing; foreign monks are said to chant sutras better. By the way, what is this monk’s—Master’s—Dharma name?”

“I’m not sure, but I heard the temple’s name is based on his Dharma name; we’ll find out soon enough.”

Amidst the hushed whispers, Banshan Monk composed himself. Raising his staff, he led the assembly to the base of the Mountain Gate, where they sat down and began chanting sutras.

Of course, it wasn't just simple chanting.

The monks also held various ritual instruments, such as wooden fish and temple bells. After reciting a few lines of scripture, they would strike their instruments, creating a highly regulated and rhythmic soundscape.

Seeing this, the surrounding crowd gradually quieted down, listening attentively to the scriptures, genuinely feeling a sense of tranquility in their hearts.

In a sense, the sound of the monks’ chanting was a relatively unique form of music, possessing the power to soothe the mind.

“What is that scent? It smells so fragrant.”

“It seems to be sandalwood. But are they lighting incense already? I was hoping to rush in and offer the first stick of incense after the temple officially opens.”

At this point, the previously quiet crowd murmured with a slight stir, as many people harbored the desire to offer the first stick of incense.

After all, the significance of the first incense stick offered at an opening ceremony might even surpass that of the first stick offered on New Year’s Day.

Simultaneously, someone suddenly realized something and couldn't help shaking their head: “If it were ordinary incense and candles, the aroma wouldn't be this strong…”

“Hmm, in that case, perhaps it's the monks themselves burning incense in prayer.”

“I see it! There’s a large censer inside the temple emitting smoke; the fragrance must be coming from that furnace.”

Someone with sharp eyes spotted, through the open temple doors, a massive incense burner placed in front of the Hall of Heavenly Kings—precisely between where the Bell Tower and Drum Tower stood.

Under the sunlight, this grand burner radiated dazzling, precious light, its hues indescribably magnificent and beautiful.

However, the external appearance of the large burner was not the focal point, or rather, after a few minutes, people stopped paying attention to its looks.

No one knew who noticed it first, but about five or six minutes later, someone glanced at the censer, immediately slack-jawed and utterly frozen. After a long pause, they cried out in shock: “Everyone, look quickly…”

“Look at what?” A few people followed the gaze, and in that instant, they too were completely stunned.

To be continued…