Minghui

Minghui is a Lotus Temple monk whose rise to the Maha seat is marked by opportunism, fear of powerful opponents, and divided loyalties. He can be an effective combatant, but his own schemes repeatedly complicate the battles in which he takes part. (Chapters 303–309, 1111–1112, 1698–1711)

Biography

A southern mission and a costly divination

As the Lotus Temple’s top disciple, Minghui escorted Murong Xia south and defended the mass killing of mortals as a form of salvation. After Li Tongya refused to host him, Minghui considered abducting Li Qinghong, but his attempt to divine her fate connected him to a power he could not withstand. To contain the spell’s light, he severed his own hand and trapped it inside his Golden Palace dharma artifact. The artifact was badly damaged; Minghui later placed it before his master, Maha Jinlian, for the light to be removed, then concealed how much he knew about the encounter. (Chapters 303–305, 307–309)

A Maha caught between schemes

Minghui later attained Non-Retrogression beneath the Golden Lotus and was recognized as a Maha by Chapter 1709. In the northern campaign, he and his senior brother Mingxiang tried to preserve their own position while secretly working against rival Maha Daisi. Minghui’s three-part incantation helped trigger the restorative power of Li Zhouwei’s Sovereign in Peril, strengthening the opposing mystic; his later lotus rain corroded Zhouwei’s dharma body but failed to delay him. After the failed battle, Minghui was reprimanded and ordered to defend the riverbank. He feared the order was meant to expose him to death, but stayed, worrying that leaving would leave Mingxiang to make a costly mistake. (Chapters 1111–1112, 1698–1701, 1709–1711)

Appearance and personality

Minghui is first described as a plump-faced monk with a gentle smile. Behind his polite manner, he is calculating, greedy, and willing to justify violence as benevolence; his instinct for self-preservation is matched by concern for his master and senior brother. (Chapters 303–305, 1112, 1711)

Abilities and cultivation

Minghui advanced from Master Monk to Merciful One and then to Maha. In battle he manifested additional heads to chant separate incantations, producing chaotic rain and bewildering light. His lotus-like rain could corrode a dharma body, but it did not stop Li Zhouwei’s next attack. His skill in divination is also considerable, though the attempt to calculate Li Qinghong’s fate left him trapped in a spell beyond his control. (Chapters 304, 1111–1112, 1698–1701, 1709)

Relationships

• Maha Jinlian: His master, who raised and trained him. Minghui credited Jinlian’s support with helping him secure the Merciful One position after a failed attempt to reach the Maha seat. (Chapters 307–308, 1112)
• Mingxiang: His senior brother and campaign companion. Minghui warned him about the danger of their political position and ultimately stayed at the riverbank partly because he feared Mingxiang would make a costly mistake without him. (Chapters 1709–1711)
• Li Tongya and Li Qinghong: Minghui’s plan to abduct Qinghong was halted when his divination trapped him, leaving him wary of the power behind the Li family. (Chapters 303–305, 307–309, 1112)

Items

Minghui’s Golden Palace is his dharma artifact. He used it to contain the dangerous light from his failed divination; after the artifact was damaged, he presented it to Jinlian to remove the light and later took it back into his custody. (Chapters 304–309)