Chapter 382: Chapter 101 Eastward Journey to Buddha Country
On this very night, a streak of thunder light flashed across the sky, traversing thousands of mountains and rivers before finally descending upon a desolate cliff.
The electric glow dispersed, revealing the figure of Zhang Zhixuan first, then, all of a sudden, bolts of lightning converged toward a figure below, sinking into the body one after another.
That was a bronze-skinned, eight-foot-tall big man, clad in ragged yellow cloth, kneeling on one knee on the ground, absorbing the intersecting thunder.
When the thunder light had all scattered, the big man slowly rose to his feet, his broad and majestic face showing a slight flicker as he lowered his head and said to Zhang Zhixuan, "Thank you, Sect Hierarch, for the rescue."
"When you address me as ’Sect Hierarch,’ it is my duty to protect you," Zhang Zhixuan said indifferently while standing on the cliff. "Moreover, it was I who personally ordered you to go to the Dinghu Sect. Your capture also bears my responsibility."
Hearing this, the big man couldn’t help but speak bitterly, "Heluo God, that sly and despicable man—if it weren’t for his sneak attack, I wouldn’t have been caught by Yaoguang Breaking Army. When we meet again, I’ll make sure he pays the price."
The Thunder Technique of the Taiping Sect was famous throughout the land, and as the Thunder God of the Taiping Sect, Lei Kun naturally understood it. Although he had been heavily wounded in the Void Illusion Realm, escaping would have been quite easy for him.
Unexpectedly, he was betrayed by a supposed ally at the last moment, injuries compounded, leading to his capture by Elder Tianpeng, who was also skilled in Thunder Technique, ultimately becoming a prisoner at his mercy.
Had it not been for dealing with Zhang Zhixuan, Lei Kun might have left his life at the Dinghu Sect.
"Heluo God has already been suppressed in Yong Province, and his avatars have scattered and hidden, unknown to anyone. His followers within the Devil God Sect have largely been taken over by our people. He has received his retribution," said Zhang Zhixuan. "Let’s spare him for now. Our sect has more pressing matters at hand."
More pressing matters...
Electric light flickered over Lei Kun’s body, his intense aura on full display.
"Heaven has died," Zhang Zhixuan announced solemnly.
Lei Kun followed his gaze toward the outside of the cliff and saw below the valley, thousands upon thousands in yellow garments bustling about. On the cliffs beneath this cliffside, the clinking and clanking sound was incessant—a huge statue was gradually taking shape.
"Yellow Heaven should rise."
The golden radiance was bright yet not glaring, spreading like water throughout the cave, illuminating the seven Buddha statues arrayed in a semicircle.
At the central point, surrounded by the Buddha statues, a glistening golden Wan Character Seal floated in mid-air, emanating an aura of serene emptiness.
In an instant, the Wan Character Seal began to spin, Buddha Light oscillated, and a vast consciousness slowly awakened.
Meanwhile, sensing the fluctuation, two Buddha Lights shot into the cave from the outside world, materializing upon touch down, revealing two austere and holy figures. They saluted the Wan Character Seal with palms together and said in unison, "Awakened."
"The Emperor has vanished from this world; his causal thread has been frozen at a particular moment."
From within the Wan Character Seal, a distant yet immense voice sounded, revealing its discovery, "Emperor Dazhou must have met with an unexpected calamity."
"Awakened is all-seeing."
The Bodhisattva in a Su Luo Robe, hair in a Coiled Dragon Bun emanating auspicious light, replied, "The White Lotus Saint Mother sent urgent news overnight, that Emperor Dazhou’s wish for eternal life led to heavenly abandonment; he encountered obstruction by Tianxuan of Dinghu Sect, Imperial College Mo Yiling, and the Mo Sect Master, becoming sealed by an opportunity seized by the Great Venerable of the Devil God Sect."
Her words were emphatic, and within the brief statement, she revealed information that was virtually identical to the actual events, as if the White Lotus Saint Mother had personally witnessed them.
The other Bodhisattva, with five tufts of hair, golden-hued and holding a Wisdom Sword, continued, "Without its leader, the Great Zhou Court is a dragon without a head, and chaos is imminent. With the Taiping Sect also lying in wait, troubled times are approaching. Just now we were discussing whether to embark on an eastern expedition to widely spread Buddhist Law."
The Buddha Country had plans for an eastern expedition.
After achieving Dao Fruit Perfection and the promotion of Manjusri Bodhisattva, the monks of Buddha Country had intended to embark east to propagate the Dharma and save all sentient beings.
However, before the plan could be enacted, a Daoist from the East appeared first, enlightening a traitor that has since remained a thorn in the Buddha Country’s side, leading to internal strife.
Thereafter, a group of Sixth Brothers rushed over, exacerbating the division and relentlessly troubling them, thereby allowing the traitor time enough to rapidly advance to Third Grade Power, catching up with the Awakened, and thus the formidable Karma Tathagata was born, contesting the Buddha Country, which halted any thoughts of an eastern expedition.
Though Guanyin later advanced in rank, by that time, the Awakened had already agreed with Tathagata: the Awakened would not intervene, and Tathagata would not emerge. Even with the addition of another Third Grade, the ability to move east was lost.
What was meant to be a temporary obstruction seemingly became one that lasted a generation.
It also brought about a dangerous rival.
Thus was formed the balance of the Six Extremes.
But now, the situation has changed.
The Emperor Dao Fruit, passed down for eight hundred years, encountered a mishap and failed to be inherited. The Six Extremes lost one, both the Taiping Sect and Devil God Sect became restless, and even the Buddha Country felt that the time was ripe.
The monks of the Buddha Country once again contemplated eastern propagation of the Dharma.
Even without the Awakened’s participation, they still harbored considerable confidence.
"It seems that your minds are made up."
A sigh of resignation came from within the Wan Character Seal. As one who had mastered the Buddhist Law, the Awakened could see the inevitability of spreading the Dharma eastward. Even if he, the Buddha leader, disagreed, he could not stop the expedition.
It would be better if the Awakened disagreed—then he would have to intervene, which in turn would strengthen the Buddha Country’s power.
As for the Karma Tathagata who was involved in this matter, the Nine Provinces should find Fire House Buddha Hell even more alluring.
Those who have turned their backs on Buddhism are also obliged to spread the Dharma.
"We have no intentions of offending the Nine Provinces, but with chaos looming, countless living creatures will undoubtedly suffer. We wish to shelter these tormented souls, to have them enter our Buddhist fold and enjoy peace," the female Bodhisattva said.
Another Bodhisattva also spoke up, "Buddha Country remains closed and self-contained, with the Eight Great Dharma Veins growing stronger over the years, each vying for territory in which to spread the Dharma. Disputes arise during doctrinal debates. Should the gate to Buddha Country remain closed, there will surely be great turmoil within."
"Please, Awakened one, grant us this favor," both Bodhisattva Great Masters once again implored in unison.
Within the Wan Character Seal, there was silence for a long time, as the two individuals maintained their plea without so much as a flinch.
As time gradually passed, and it began to seem as if the Awakened one had once again fallen into slumber, a response finally came from within the Wan Character Seal.
"Then go ahead," the voice said.
The Awakened one agreed directly, which left the two who understood the Awakened one’s heart feeling incredibly incredulous. Yet, this permission saved further complications.
It was an unexpected joy indeed.
After these words, the Awakened one had no further desire to speak; the Buddha Light calmed, and the Wan Character Seal ceased its rotation.
Seeing this, the two gave another bow to the Wan Character Seal, then turned and walked away.
After their departure, the brightness in the stone cave persisted until, at a certain moment, the seven Buddha statues surrounding the Wan Character Seal suddenly glinted in their eyes. Flakes of golden lacquer covered the stone statues, crafting their Golden Bodies.
"An era that comes but once in eight hundred years, the opportunity for Second Grade ascension is right before our eyes," the seven Buddha statues seemed to come to life as they sighed, "The mortal world is on the brink of great chaos."
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The next day, September 23rd.
In the Divine Capital Imperial City, Ziwei Hall.
Or rather, what was left of Ziwei Hall.
The grand hall had vanished without a trace, leaving only a vast void and countless fierce cracks, resembling an empty sun embedded in the ground. Sunlight streamed into the hole, shining upon a large cauldron and reflecting a faint metallic luster.
After temporarily settling the turmoil within the Imperial City, the Yin Law Department sought to move this treasured inheritance of the Jiang family. Yet the cauldron was incredibly heavy, and even the Chief of the Yin Law Department could not budge it by an inch.
To move the cauldron, it would probably require the power of someone at least of the Third Grade.
Even Third Grade power might not lift it effortlessly, otherwise the Immortal Queen wouldn’t have left it behind so nonchalantly that day.
Thus, the cauldron remained in its place, simply guarded by the Forbidden Army.
As the sun rose higher, the light shining on the cauldron grew more dazzling. A golden-red treasure light emerged from within the cauldron, blending with the sunlight indistinguishably. Gradually, the direction of the incoming light seemed to reverse, not falling upon the cauldron but emanating from within it,
As if the large cauldron itself was the Great Sun.
"Truly a heavy treasure," the Second Prince, standing at the edge of the ground void with a black-clad eunuch, exclaimed in admiration as he looked down at the cauldron in the Underground Palace, "It’s just that I don’t know who will finally claim it."
"The cauldron is a national treasure, naturally, it should go to whoever is virtuous and capable," said a man clad in a Green Dragon Robe and wearing a Purple Gold Crown, not far away, speaking indifferently.
"Oh?" The Second Prince smiled enigmatically and looked at the man, "Then Eldest Imperial Brother, in your opinion, who is virtuous and who is capable?"
The man looked to be under thirty, mature in composure yet youthful in appearance, even younger than the Second Prince who addressed him as ’Imperial Brother’, creating a strange scene.
But this was not unusual for those with cultivation, especially since the Eldest Prince’s vitality was abundant, clearly indicating that his Cultivation Technique involved life forces, naturally possessing rejuvenating capabilities.
Upon hearing the words of the Second Prince, the Eldest Prince Ji Chengtian finally shifted his gaze away from the cauldron and looked at his younger brother, saying indifferently, "Filial piety and respect for seniority define virtue; inspiring reverence among officials and steering the ship through stormy seas define capability."
"Eldest Brother might as well just announce your own name," the Second Prince said with a chuckle.
Filial piety and respect for seniority – this spoke to the Eldest Prince’s position as the eldest son.
With support from the Meng Family and others, although not every official kneeled before him, he still gathered a significant following. The claim of capturing the reverence of hundreds of officials was within reach.
The two compared the cauldron to the fate of the Great Zhou’s Jiangshan, a symbol of who would rule the kingdom. As they faced each other, a burst of cold light and Eye Power emerged, conflicting auras collided and waves of Qi Mechanism spread out in volatility.
"It seems Second Brother has some objections," the Eldest Prince spoke as a dragon-like visage faintly appeared on his face, his voice growing heavier.
"I simply can’t stand to see Eldest Brother boasting," the Second Prince replied with a sneering smile, his tone tinged with mockery.
The chilling hostility on their faces intensified, and as their Qi Mechanism clashed, tensions rose, suggesting a readiness to settle their differences by force.
If either could defeat the other, it would serve as a powerful blow against their adversary.
Just as their will to fight reached a peak and they appeared ready to come to blows, an interjecting voice, laced with reluctance, said, "Gentlemen, discussing the ownership of my cauldron in front of me, the master of it, is rather improper, isn’t it?"
A disturbance arose among the Forbidden Army, as a formidable man in a wheelchair suddenly emerged.