Lingxiao Mountain is like a clear and pure land in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the world, with misty fairyland and ancient temples hidden in it. The winding red walls are solemn and majestic against the backdrop of the lush mountains; the eaves of the main hall are high, and the copper bells swing gently in the breeze, with crisp sounds like the low chanting of Buddha, which goes straight into people's hearts. Monks come and go in the temple, walking leisurely, and the peaceful aura around them seems to be able to soothe all the restlessness in the world.

Nie Bo had been living here for some time. At that time, his inner demons were haunting him, and his body was full of evil spirits. All the things in the past were like evil ghosts haunting his soul, making him miserable. Fortunately, the abbot took him in with compassion and allowed him to be a sweeping monk in the front hall, cleaning the small space and sharpening his chaotic heart.

At dawn, the morning light was dim, and the bells in the bell tower were deep and long, the sound waves spread out slowly, dispersing the mist and awakening the ancient temple to a new morning. Hearing the sound, Nie Bo stood up neatly, simply tied his hair, tidied up his worn-out monk robes, picked up the broom and walked towards the front hall. The morning light penetrated the mottled shadows of the trees and fell in front of the hall, illuminating the fallen flowers and the mud trampled by the pilgrims. He took a deep breath and swept the ground with a broom. His movements were skillful and steady. The broom swept across the ground, making a rustling sound, just like the gentle sound of Sanskrit.

But how can cultivation be smooth sailing? The remaining demonic nature in the body is like a ferocious beast lurking in the abyss, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Just as Nie Bo was concentrating on sweeping the corner of the temple, an evil force rushed straight to his head, his palm suddenly became hot, and the broom was instantly out of control! The strong wind whistled and swept towards the altar on the side, and the scriptures and instruments were overturned to the ground, and the rosary beads were scattered, shocking the pilgrims in the temple to scream. Nie Bo's face was pale, and panic and regret flashed in his eyes. He hurriedly stopped, but the incident had already occurred.

The surrounding monks hurried over, their eyes varied, some blaming, some regretful, but no one said anything harsh. The abbot, wearing a cassock, walked steadily, his eyes calm as water, raised his hand to signal everyone not to panic, and said softly: "The inner demon is hard to tame, Nie Bo, don't lose your composure." Nie Bo's eyes were red, full of self-blame, and he knelt on the ground and saluted: "Master, I know I was wrong. I was careless for a moment and almost caused a disaster. I hope Master will forgive me." The abbot shook his head slightly: "Practice is a long-term battle with the inner demon. Ups and downs are common. The key is to stabilize your mind."

When the night was as dark as ink, everything was silent, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and its light spread all over the temple. Everyone fell asleep, but Nie Bo tiptoed out of the room and walked to a secluded place in the back mountain. The forest was quiet, with only the occasional cry of a night owl, and the mountain wind blowing through the bamboo leaves, rustling like a whisper. Nie Bo found an open space, sat on the ground, closed his eyes and concentrated, and began his night practice.

At night, the Lingxiao Mountain Temple was gently enveloped by the moonlight. In the silence, only the gurgling of the mountain stream in the distance seemed to be humming a soothing nocturne. The monks were all asleep. The daytime practice and labor made the silence even deeper. However, there seemed to be an invisible undercurrent surging in Nie Bo's residence.

Nie Bo was originally sitting on the mat with his eyes closed in meditation, but his steady breathing rhythm suddenly changed, beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead, his face was distorted, and his brows were tightly locked into the shape of a "chuan" character, as if he was trapped in an extremely terrifying nightmare. The dormant evil in his body seemed to sense the cover of the night, and suddenly began to wreak havoc.

"Uh ah..." Nie Bo opened his eyes suddenly. His eyes were no longer as clear as usual, but filled with a strange scarlet color, which seemed to be dripping with blood, hideous and terrifying. His body was shaking violently and uncontrollably, and his limbs were waving wildly. Wherever he touched, tables and chairs overturned and tea sets shattered. For a while, the house was filled with ping-pong sounds, which were particularly harsh in the silent night.

He held his head with both hands, his ten fingers deeply embedded in his hair, his scalp scratched with bloody marks, blood slowly flowed down his temples, staining the collar of his shirt red. A series of low roars came from his throat, like the wailing of a wounded trapped animal, but also revealed endless madness and violence. "Get out! Get out!" Nie Bo roared, his voice hoarse and cracked, echoing in the empty house.

At this time, the devil had completely dominated his body. Nie Bo stood up suddenly, his figure floating like a ghost, and rushed straight to the door. With a loud "clang", the rotten wooden door could not withstand such a brute force. In an instant, wood chips flew and the door panel fell to the ground. He rushed out of the door and broke into the courtyard. His feet stepped heavily on the stone road. Every step shook the ground slightly and raised some dust.

In the courtyard, the moon was dancing, and Nie Bo's shadow was distorted under the moon, just like a ferocious monster. He seemed to be pulled by an invisible thread and ran straight to the temple. As soon as he reached the door of the temple, a peaceful wave of Buddha power came over him. It was the sacred power accumulated by the Buddha statues in the temple over the years. Nie Bo, who was full of devilish nature, was not afraid. He raised his hand and waved it. A powerful black magic power surged out, like a black giant python rushing straight to the temple. In an instant, the door of the temple was shaken by the impact of the magic power, and the painted on the door peeled off and sawdust flew everywhere.

The monks who rushed over were horrified when they saw this, but they quickly surrounded him without hesitation, chanting the mantra of rebirth and the mantra of tranquility, trying to suppress the maniacal devil in Nie Bo's body with the power of Buddha. However, the devil is one foot high and the way is ten feet high. The devil flames rose around Nie Bo, and the power of the Buddha's mantra was defeated step by step, forcing the monks to retreat again and again, stumbling.

Just when the situation was about to get out of control, the figure of the abbot appeared quietly like a rain of blessings from heaven. The abbot put his hands together, chanted the sutra, and closed his eyes. A circle of dazzling golden Buddha light appeared around him, and the Buddha light was like a fine net, covering Nie Bo's head. The moment he came into contact with the Buddha light, Nie Bo seemed to be hit by a heavy hammer, his body froze, and the devil flames around him shrank sharply. He screamed in pain, knelt on his knees, and dug his hands into the ground tightly, with stone chips flying between his fingers.

The abbot's face was solemn but still compassionate. He increased the intensity of his chanting, and the Buddha's light became stronger and stronger, pressing towards the evil in Nie Bo's body inch by inch. After a long time, the scarlet in Nie Bo's eyes faded, and he regained a bit of clarity. His body softened and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The moonlight seemed to be relieved, and it shed its clear light, illuminating Nie Bo's tired and embarrassed face. This thrilling demonic attack finally came to an end under the suppression of the abbot's Buddha power.

At first, the magic power in his body was like a wild horse running wild, rushing around, impacting his weak meridians, making his bones creak, and sweating profusely, soaking his clothes. Nie Bo gritted his teeth, pinched his hands, and struggled to guide the spiritual power to flow slowly, trying to tame the manic magic power in his body. Every time the spiritual power moved forward an inch, the demonic nature would counterattack three points. The pain was like a sharp blade cutting his flesh and a raging fire burning his body. He almost fainted, but he was only holding on with a strong obsession.

The moonlight quietly moved, illuminating Nie Bo's face, his expression twisted in pain, his body trembling constantly. After a long time, the demonic nature in his body receded slightly, and his spiritual power struggled to stabilize. Nie Bo gasped for breath, his limbs were weak, he opened his eyes and looked at the stars in the night sky, tears welled up in his eyes. This road of cultivation is full of thorns, and every step is painful. There is no way to retreat, and the past sins are like thorns in his back. Only by gritting his teeth and moving forward can there be a day of liberation.

After this disaster, Nie Bo became more alert. When sweeping during the day, he was always alert to the movements in his body. The broom was steady in his hand, and the fallen leaves and flowers were gently swept to one place. When pilgrims asked questions, he spoke softly and patiently, showing his peace and humility. Occasionally, when the devilish nature arose, he would stop immediately, close his eyes and concentrate, and suppress it with spiritual power. Fortunately, he did not cause trouble again.

One afternoon, the sun was warm and the abbot walked to the front hall. Seeing Nie Bo sweeping the floor with great concentration, the abbot nodded slightly and said, "Nie Bo, your inner demons have been gradually subdued recently. When you sweep the floor, you are full of Zen spirit. It can be seen that your practice is quite effective." Nie Bo quickly put down the broom and saluted with his hands together, saying, "Thanks to the master's advice, I dare not slack off. Every time I lose control, I know how terrible the inner demons are. Every time I practice all night, I feel that I am one step closer to the right path."

The abbot put his hands behind his back and looked into the distance at the mountains and forests: "Good. The inner demon is a calamity but also a ladder. Only by climbing this ladder can you glimpse a higher realm. In the days to come, concentrate on your practice. Everything in the temple, every blade of grass and every tree can help you. Don't let down the tranquility and opportunities of Lingxiao Mountain." Nie Bo looked at the abbot, his eyes as firm as iron: "Disciple will remember the master's teachings, and will devote himself to Buddhism and practice diligently in Lingxiao Mountain until all the inner demons are eliminated and my true heart is found."

In the years that followed, Nie Bo quietly accumulated strength and continued to fight against his inner demons while sweeping the floor and practicing at night, accompanied by the morning and evening bells of the ancient temple, the breeze and bright moon in the mountains. The path of practice was long, but his steps became more and more determined, and he was not afraid of the bumpy road ahead. He was determined to reach the state of liberation and transcendence, and continued to write his own chapter of Buddhism in Lingxiao Mountain.

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