It was only then that Li Yundong understood that the Nine Ranks of Rebirth Seal was the very essence and culmination of the Great Hand Seal of True Words. He looked toward Erdeni with confusion. "Master, aren't you afraid that someone will steal the Nine Ranks of Rebirth Seal?"

Erdeni chuckled. "Heavenly Venerable, you worry too much. The Nine Ranks of Rebirth Seal is not something just anyone can execute. Only a living true god possessing immense magical power and great awe-inspiring virtue can perform it; even our Vajra Dharma Protectors in Esoteric Buddhism cannot manage it."

Li Yundong then understood and stopped asking questions. He turned his head and silently began observing the myriad Buddhas and deities within the Gilded Bronze Hall.

It is said that an ordinary person sees scenery as mere scenery, but a true master observing scenery can gain insight into the whole world and the myriad beings of the universe from a single flower or leaf.

This was precisely Li Yundong's state. After examining the Vajras executing the Great Hand Seals, and even looking at other deities holding various ritual implements in different postures, he vaguely felt that their stances held profound, hidden meaning. A thought stirred in Li Yundong's mind, and involuntarily, he began to imitate them.

Erdeni watched Li Yundong circle statue after statue within the Gilded Bronze Hall, occasionally mirroring their hand gestures, moving his hands and feet expressively. Seeing this, he knew Li Yundong had entered a state of spiritual realization. At this moment, Li Yundong was acting purely on the subconscious impulse of a cultivator achieving enlightenment. He smiled faintly, choosing not to disturb Li Yundong further, and quietly withdrew.

The Gilded Bronze Hall was one of the accessible tourist sites in the Potala Palace. After Erdeni left, quite a few travelers passed through and entered for viewing. They were immediately struck by a man standing amidst the statues, seemingly lost in a frenzy, mimicking the poses of the deities one by one. He even captured their expressions perfectly—whether ferocious and terrifying or benevolent and gentle.

These tourists were startled by Li Yundong's bizarre behavior. Some dared not linger and quickly fled the Gilded Bronze Hall, while others, braver souls, stood at a distance, raising their cameras or phones to capture him.

But the waves of tourists came and went, and as the sun began to set, Li Yundong remained deeply immersed in this meditative contemplation, unable to pull himself away.

It wasn't until late into the night that several Lamas entered the Gilded Bronze Hall and specifically lit the wall lamps inside, allowing him to continue observing the subtle mysteries within the postures of every deity without obstruction.

Li Yundong was completely unaware of his surroundings. He had entered a realm devoid of self, others, or sentient beings, fully absorbed in the profound experience of divine Buddhist power.

Throughout this series of realizations, Li Yundong distinctly felt that the posture of every divine statue possessed a unique power and majesty. For instance, the stances of deities like the Vidyārāja and Vajra primarily emphasized majesty, terror-inducing power, fear elimination, and ultimate supremacy. Their main functions were awakening beings, intimidating enemies, dispelling terror, and driving away demons.

The postures of other deities were much gentler. When the posture of the Medicine Buddha was combined with the Medicine Buddha Great Hand Seal technique, Li Yundong could feel a vibrant, life-giving energy swirling around him.

This energy seemed to represent the power of sunlight and moonlight, capable of eradicating mortal illnesses, bringing physical and mental well-being to the sick, and stabilizing the minds of the healthy.

He didn't know how long this period lasted. Li Yundong moved from one stance to another, and only after examining and imitating the postures of all several hundred statues did he casually find a spot in the hall, sit cross-legged, and enter his own Minor World, silently recalling and practicing the Great Hand Seal techniques he had learned and the Buddhist postures he had comprehended.

His meditation lasted for an entire day and night. When Li Yundong finally awoke on the second day, it was already bright daylight on the third morning. Sitting cross-legged, he opened his eyes, exhaled a long, lingering breath, then suddenly threw his head back and let out a mighty roar.

Unlike his previous roars, this long cry contained the power of true Buddhist mantra—it sounded like countless eminent monks chanting sutras in unison, like the reverberation of innumerable temple bells sounding together.

Instantly, the bronze statues throughout the Gilded Bronze Hall vibrated with the sound of Li Yundong’s voice, emitting a deep weng resonance. Immediately following this sound leaving the hall, the statues in the Halls of Complete Silence, the Sun and Moon Palaces, the Maitreya Hall, and other chambers also began to hum.

In a flash, the statues in every hall of the Potala Palace were shaken by Li Yundong’s roar, emitting a buzzing sound. It was as if all the heavenly deities were echoing the earth-shattering Buddhist call of the King of Knowledge, Acala, the Heavenly Venerable of Immovability—majestic and world-shaking. It was like great waves responding to a colossal surge, one wave piling upon the next, forming a vast, overwhelming tsunami that surged toward the heavens!

Pilgrims approaching the Potala Palace and tourists exploring within were stunned by the unusual spectacle. The pilgrims immediately prostrated themselves in reverence, believing it to be a manifestation of the deities, while the tourists looked around frantically, trying to locate the direction and source of the sound.

After his long cry, Li Yundong stood up. Although he had been cultivating for two days, he felt completely invigorated. When he opened his eyes, he saw Erdeni standing at the entrance of the hall, smiling at him without speaking.

Li Yundong walked over with a smile. "I apologize for keeping the Master waiting. How long was I in meditation?"

Erdeni joined his palms together and chanted a Buddhist invocation. "Amitabha, not long, just two days."

Li Yundong was slightly startled. "Two days? It felt like only two hours to me?"

Erdeni chuckled. "Two hundred years passes in the blink of an eye; what is two days? It is not strange that the Heavenly Venerable feels this way."

Li Yundong also smiled and returned the greeting. "The Master speaks truly. However, although two days are brief, for some people, they can feel as long as several centuries. Though I do not mind it myself, I cannot disregard the feelings of others."

Saying this, Li Yundong hesitated before finally speaking. "Master Erdeni, I have a presumptuous request; may I ask it?"

Erdeni glanced at Li Yundong with eyes that seemed to perceive everything, and said with a smile, "Heavenly Venerable, you need not speak. I already answered you with my words earlier."

Li Yundong blinked in surprise. "What words?" As soon as he asked, his heart stirred, and he tentatively inquired, "Are you referring to your words advising me not to ascend the mountain from the east?"

Erdeni laughed heartily. "What other words could there be?"

Li Yundong was shocked. "Master, you know I am going to the Sacred Mountain to retrieve the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus?"

Erdeni smiled faintly, still pointing to the sky. "The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and it is also the treasured possession of our Esoteric Sect. Of course, I know its destined origin!"

Li Yundong asked with puzzlement, "But, Master, you don't ask me what I plan to use the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus for? You are simply giving it to me?"

Erdeni burst into laughter. "The Buddha himself offered his body to feed a hawk; why should I hesitate to give something to the Heavenly Venerable, who is already an incarnation of a Vidyārāja? Furthermore, all things under heaven and earth follow their own fixed decrees. What power do I have to forcibly obstruct anything? If it is destined to be yours, no amount of obstruction on my part will be of any use."

Li Yundong sighed in appreciation, bowed respectfully and admiringly to Erdeni, and said, "The Master truly possesses the heart of the Buddha, worthy of being called a living Buddha. You command my utmost respect! But, you warned me not to ascend the mountain from the east—what did you mean by that?"

Erdeni was silent for a long time, then said to Li Yundong with deep meaning, "Heavenly Venerable, in truth, I have long known what choice you would make and what your outcome would be. But the reason I still spoke to you that way was simply to hope that you would not take that step..."

Li Yundong was instantly bewildered. He asked confusedly, "Master, what do you mean by that? Do you know that I will definitely ascend from the east? What will happen if I go up from the east? And what if I ascend from another direction?"

Erdeni smiled slightly and chanted a Buddhist invocation with his head bowed. "The Buddha said: It cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken!"

Li Yundong inwardly gave a wry smile. Why is it that high monks skilled in clairvoyance always behave this way? Can they not speak without keeping secrets?

Erdeni seemed to sense Li Yundong’s thoughts and said with a smile, "It is not that I do not wish to tell you, but speaking of it would be useless and would instead leak heavenly secrets, inviting heavenly retribution. I beg the Heavenly Venerable's understanding."

Li Yundong was slightly startled, but he quickly realized that if Master Erdeni understood clairvoyance (Sumeru-dharma), he must also understand mind-reading (Citta-dharma). Of course, he knew what Li Yundong was thinking.

Li Yundong, having no other choice, gave Erdeni a bitter smile and a bow. "Then, Master, I will take my leave for now to retrieve the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus and will return another day to express my gratitude."

Erdeni returned the bow with a smile. "Tibet has Three Great Sacred Mountains. Does the Heavenly Venerable know on which Sacred Mountain the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus grows?"

Li Yundong respectfully asked, "I request the Master's guidance."

Erdeni smiled. "The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus is a spiritual entity of heaven and earth; it conceals itself and shifts its location. It does not grow fixedly on any single Sacred Mountain. It only reveals itself when its destined person appears. Therefore, its true form could appear on any of the Sacred Mountains, but it is certain that it will manifest on the mountain where the destined person has the strongest affinity."

Li Yundong pondered briefly, then asked, "Then it must be Mount Kailash?"

Erdeni smiled. "That is for the Heavenly Venerable to discover for himself."

Seeing that he would not elaborate further, Li Yundong did not press him. He smiled, bade farewell to Erdeni, and left the Gilded Bronze Hall.

Upon exiting, Li Yundong noticed many tourists outside discussing the unusual phenomenon of the statues sounding off in unison, whispering to each other. He observed this but merely smiled, not giving it much thought. After leaving the Potala Palace, he headed toward the direction of Mount Kailash.

Li Yundong flew low when there were no people around and ran at full speed when he encountered others. After several hours, he arrived at the foot of Mount Kailash.

Li Yundong looked up and realized he was standing at the western base of Mount Kailash. He saw this steepest and tallest of the Tibetan Sacred Mountains standing majestically, like a sharp sword piercing the clouds.

Li Yundong clicked his tongue in amazement. Looking at the western slope, he recalled Erdeni's words, and a host of questions arose in his mind: Why can't I ascend from the east? Is there something wrong with the east side?

Thinking this, Li Yundong could not help but laugh at himself. Curiosity killed the cat, after all. Why not heed the Living Buddha's advice and simply ascend from a different direction?

With this thought, just as he was about to climb up from the western foot of the mountain, he suddenly heard shouts and sharp cries carried faintly on the wind. Li Yundong froze, instinctively turning his head toward the direction the sound came from.

The sound was coming from the eastern side of Mount Kailash. Li Yundong felt both strange and alarmed. He hesitated, thinking to himself: I will go take a look at what is happening. If it is nothing major, I can always circle back and climb from somewhere else.

With that decision, Li Yundong quickly circled around to the eastern side of Mount Kailash. As soon as he arrived, he clearly heard sounds of fighting and sharp shouts carried on the wind from halfway up the slope.

Li Yundong looked up and saw several figures entangled on the snow-covered slope. Two men in gray Taoist robes were fiercely attacking four Lamas, who were positioned at four corners surrounding a woman in the center.

Li Yundong activated his superior vision and recognized the woman—clad in white beneath a red robe and red boots, dressed in the manner of a Bandara—it was Meiduo!

Ah, upon opening QQ today, I saw a message from a reader telling me his sister was about to give birth and asked me to name the baby, as the child’s surname is also Li, and to send my blessings.

Heh, naming the child is best left to the parents; I won't impose. But I certainly can send my blessings—wishing the little baby good health and happiness! M