Chapter 135: The Intent of the Ancient Buddha Dipankara, the Peacock Great Wisdom King [4k]

The carriage was decorated with splendor. A small bronze tripod stood on the table, with sandalwood incense curling in the air.

Fang Longye sat on the soft couch, carefully examining the token in his hand.

It was the size of an infant's palm, and between the cloud patterns, the two characters "Yuanyang" were written in Daoist script, as graceful as a startled swan.

Yet the more he looked at these two characters, the more they revealed a sinister flavor.

He had obtained this token inadvertently from an Iron-Eating Beast after exploring the Honghu Immortal Mansion and wiping out the demon rabble that blocked his path.

The material of the token was not precious, nor did it have any special function.

He had kept it all along simply because the "Yuanyang" characters inscribed on it felt strange no matter how he looked at them, yet no matter how he contemplated them, he could not find what was wrong.

"Yuanyang Sect?"

"The name sounds quite righteous."

Fang Longye chuckled coldly, although he had not obtained details about this sect from the memories of Shuya Wang.

But one could figure out with their toes that the "Yuanyang Sect," which could occupy such a large territory in this land filled with demons and monsters, would be an exception? No matter how one thought about it, it could not be a righteous sect of good standing.

Otherwise, it would have been attacked by everyone long ago.

Good people who can stand out among a group of villains and still be respected by these villains are few and far between. The probability of being a great villain is eighty or ninety percent.

Putting away this strange token, Fang Longye's mind stirred, and he drove the Bishui Jinjing Beast; the carriage moved slowly, landing on the treasure mountain where Jinyang Cave was located.

The sun was cold and the clouds were desolate; birds came to perch on the branches.

Mountain clouds drifted leisurely, fluttering out from the mountain peaks, white everywhere above and below.

"Master," Ao Ying followed behind him, and seeing him surveying the surroundings, she immediately reported: "After Sister Qingli and I screened them—killing some and capturing others—the hundred or so demons remaining in this mountain area are all clever and sensible ones."

"Does Master wish to enter the cave to rest? Sister Qingli and I have already cleaned this mountain area inside and out, and she is currently inside Jinyang Cave, casting spells to restore the scenery."

Fang Longye shook his head and stepped into the entrance of Jinyang Cave; before his eyes were layers of cliffs and ancient trees, lush and verdant.

Mountain flowers were intertwined, with starlight coiled upon them, flickering incessantly.

Looking at the ground through the flowers, there were ripples in the water on the ground.

"It is indeed a good Daoist site, a pity it was ruined." Fang Longye looked at the surrounding scenery and said to Qingli not far away and Ao Ying beside him: "Enough, no need to busy yourselves. We will just rest for the night in the mountain area outside the cave."

Even after cleaning, he still felt full of disgust for this Daoist site that had been tainted by the aura of Shuya Wang.

The three of them left Jinyang Cave, chose an open space on Cloud Cliff, and released a palace-type Dharma Treasure to serve as a place to rest.

Just as Fang Longye was about to step inside, he thought for a moment, manifested auspicious clouds and colorful light, and a thought-avatar emerged and leaped into the void.

It nodded toward him and flew off into the distance.

The Incense Vow Power of a whole nation could not be wasted.

A piece of Godly Soil should originally have had thousands of laws, fine and dense, from top to bottom, colliding with each other, emitting the jade sounds of bells and drums, blocking everything.

Yet for some reason, a hole appeared, like a bottomless pit, causing the space of the entire Godly Soil to vanish incessantly.

Naturally, this was because the original owner, Shuya Wang, had been killed directly by Fang Longye, leading to the collapse of the Godly Soil.

In fact, as a cultivator of the "Divine Immortal Path," Shuya Wang had no true fleshly body, so the safest and most reliable Daoist site should have been this Godly Soil space.

But he had become tainted with the habits of the Demon Clan, liking to occupy mountains as king, and because he had no rivals in the territory of Xi Jiang Guo, he simply looked down upon the safety of the Godly Soil.

Although, indeed, even if he were situated in this Godly Domain, he could not withstand a single blow from Fang Longye.

Fang Longye's thought-avatar communicated with his Divine Golden Body on Cangmang Mountain far away, mobilizing the incense within.

A large amount of Incense Vow Power came through an unknown channel, filling the space and temporarily stabilizing this Godly Soil space that was on the verge of collapse.

Stepping inside, along the way, there were rockeries and floating water, pavilions surrounded by green bamboo, and waterfall water falling down, scattering like pearls and jade all over the ground, clinking and reflecting strange light.

Exquisite storied buildings, elegant small pavilions, and clear, beautiful cloud stones complemented each other, looking magnificent.

However, the severed limbs and arms seen on the ground from time to time, as well as bronze armor and a dilapidated war chariot with one wheel, destroyed the originally refreshing scene, instead giving one a sense of the devastation after the fires of war.

Dead silence; there was no sound at all.

It was chilly, with a coldness that pierced the bones.

It was not destroyed by others; everything in this Godly Soil was entirely tied to the Life and Death of Shuya Wang.

This was the Godly Domain; it looked real and true, similar to the Sumeru Space opened up by cultivators using Pot Heaven-type supernatural powers, but in reality, it was completely different.

For things like Sumeru Space, no matter how small, they are real and not void; even if the opener dies, it will not affect them in the slightest.

But the Godly Domain exists between reality and illusion, and its survival depends entirely on the life and death of the opener.

This thought-avatar of Fang Longye walked through this Godly Soil.

Soon, it arrived at a courtyard.

Empty steps, birdsong, and green moss marks.

Thousands of Spirit Flowers fell silently, without a sound.

Some parts of the once-exquisite pavilions had already collapsed, revealing red bricks and jade tiles; many broken walls and ruins looked somewhat eerie.

This was the central hub of this Godly Soil space. Fang Longye's thought-avatar breathed a sigh of relief and connected with all its might to the Divine Golden Body on Cangmang Mountain.

A large amount of God Dao Law, unique to Fang Longye's Divine Golden Body, filled the entire Godly Soil, rendering everything and intending to change its foundation.

Gradually, in all directions of the Godly Soil, dots of golden light appeared, turning purple and blue, then outlining patterns that intertwined with each other; the places that had originally collapsed instantly returned to their original state.

Finally, a light gate appeared, and Fang Longye's Divine Golden Body miraculously appeared within this Godly Soil.

This was only because Fang Longye's "Divine Immortal Path" had not yet ascended to Golden Immortal; otherwise, it would not have been so troublesome.

It would only require Fang Longye to cultivate one believer anywhere. The Divine Golden Body could then use the Incense Vow Power to travel through space directly.

The thought-avatar completed its task, exchanged a smile with the Divine Golden Body, and immediately dissipated.

The Divine Golden Body, through the connection of the Incense Vow Power, looked outside the Godly Soil at the situation where Xi Jiang Guo generally worshipped an ugly monster as a divine beast.

"It is time to change the faith of this nation," the Divine Golden Body muttered.

Zhongnan Mountain, Jade Pillar Cave.

Pines and rocks intermingle in a hazy glow; water falls like snow.

There are hermitages, floating pavilions, golden platforms, bamboo forests, and deep ravines.

It is suitable for sitting in stillness, viewing the moon, reading books, listening to the rain, and smelling the lotus fragrance.

Different alchemical wells and red springs, different deep willow and maple trees, different cranes, deer, tortoises, and apes, and so on—all in a thousand postures and varied forms.

Throughout the entire Grotto-Heaven, Purple-Green Qi permeates, layer upon layer.

Beneath the shade of ancient trees.

A Vermilion Mound alchemical platform.

The pavilion is three stories high, with shadows cast horizontally beneath the eaves.

Further out, the bamboo is pure and the pines are elegant; the gate stones are stained green.

The master of the Grotto-Heaven, a Daoist wearing a jade crown, is sitting opposite an Ancient Buddha.

"It seems, fellow Daoist Randeng, you have made up your mind?"

The jade-crowned Daoist asked with a smile.

Behind the Ancient Buddha Randeng, thousands of Buddhist wheels rotate, appearing slow but actually fast; immeasurable Brahma scripts are born and perish within them, expounding the Great Vehicle and Small Vehicle Dharma, omnipresent.

He smiled slightly, though his eyes seemed to hold a myriad of shifting emotions—appearing sentimental yet truly detached, difficult to describe—and said: "My true self has crossed all the Calamities and participated in the creation of the world. I do not claim to be a gentleman; I cannot provide help in times of need, so naturally, I must add flowers to the brocade." The jade-crowned Daoist shook his head and laughed: "Fellow Daoist, you went from Dao to Buddha and are now the Past Buddha, a pivotal figure in Fomen; why bother wading into these muddy waters?"

Others who bet on his true self only do so by beating around the bush; this Ancient Buddha, however, is quite something, coming directly to the door to ask 'what is one's own price.'

He truly does not fall short of his style from back then.

"Yunzhongzi, oh Yunzhongzi, are you not asking something you already know? If one does not attain the Primordial, one is ultimately but an ant."

Ancient Buddha Randeng wore a smile, his sandalwood-gold Dharma body radiating light, and said, "You are about to escape the sea of suffering; can you not pull an old friend like me along?"

"Fellow Daoist, I admire your heart toward the Dao. However, relying on a single Corpse of the Three Corpses is likely not enough. Moreover, I cannot afford the price those two gave you."

The Past Buddha is a top-tier status below the two Sages of Fomen. He did not believe that a single incarnation of this Ancient Buddha could be worth the same price.

"Why can't Ancient Buddha Randeng be an incarnation? Just like you, fellow Daoist, why must one distinguish so clearly between master and secondary?" Ancient Buddha Randeng smiled slightly.

"And I do not need you, fellow Daoist, to grant me any status like those two in the Western world. I only need you to pull me at the critical moment during the Third Tribulation of the Era in the future."

Yunzhongzi, originally light and breezy, suddenly paused. He stared at Ancient Buddha Randeng for a long time, let out a breath, and said: "It seems, fellow Daoist, you have actually reached the final step. Congratulations!"

"After wasting I don't know how many Yuanhui, I have only now caught up to my peers. And I am still trapped at this final step. What is there to congratulate?"

Ancient Buddha Randeng's expression was calm, his eyes without joy or sorrow.

Yunzhongzi closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, saying with certainty: "Very well, it shall be as you say, fellow Daoist."

"Many thanks, fellow Daoist!" Ancient Buddha Randeng performed a salute, his face sincere.

Western Paradise.

Sarira Flowers bloom, Green Lotus Shakya.

Mists and clouds drift to and fro; cold and heat do not invade, and years are not counted.

There are still Heavenly Dragons circling, flower rain falling in profusion, silent Zen incense, and great light radiating.

At this moment, one could see Brahma sounds and Buddhist chants surging in mid-air, expounding the wondrous Dharma of the Three Vehicles to achieve the true fruit. Above, supported by a Golden Lotus, an Ancient Buddha appeared, holding a precious ruler, with a spiritual lamp hanging above his head, his face peaceful and his temperament ancient and simple.

It was none other than Ancient Buddha Randeng, returned from Zhongnan Mountain. After landing, he withdrew his divine powers, steadied his mind, and stepped forward.

One could see golden flames and precious light all around, with jade trees shining brightly.

Beneath the Merit Pool, dragon scales danced.

Thousands of auspicious lights and rays of energy swirled, accumulating into a thick layer like frost and snow; stepping on it produced a squeaking sound.

"This time, I will definitely attain the Primordial." Thinking of the deal finalized with those two at Wuzhuang Guan, his mind surged with emotion.

Ancient Buddha Randeng saw the strange phenomena in the Western Paradise; the Bodhi Tree had more bright light than before, and the glazed spiritual fruits appeared more crystalline than before.

Even the white deer, spiritual monkeys, mysterious tortoises, and so on in the realm had their wisdom greatly opened, surpassing the past.

This is truly a new chapter of the era, with Heavenly Luck surging.

In this era, after the Honghuang world is perfected, the opportunity for the Primordial that descends must include a share for him.

Just at this moment, a long cry was heard, sharp and impassioned, with a clear and vast quality that spread far away; the ripples surged all around, creating red-gold starlight that collided back and forth.

Hearing the sound, Ancient Buddha Randeng shivered, hurriedly stopped his steps, and looked intently. He saw that above the firmament, five-colored auspicious light soared into the sky, stretching for more than ten thousand zhang.

Then it slowly unfolded, appearing like a tail, with fine, fragmented light shimmering, containing an indescribable mystery; seeing this was like witnessing the evolution of countless different worlds.

"Five-colored auspicious light."

Ancient Buddha Randeng gripped the Qiankun Ruler in his hand, his heart bitter; he had not expected to encounter this difficult person today.

He also did not know what this existence wanted with an old antique like him.

The next moment, the five-colored auspicious light in the firmament fell, instantly retracting and turning into a precious robe, draped over a body.

A young man paced over, his hair combed into a bun with a wooden hairpin inserted diagonally. Above his crown, auspicious clouds were raised high; blue, yellow, red, white, and black—the five colors intertwined, interpreting the sun, moon, and stars, and witnessing the creation of the world.

Upon it, a golden Dharma body appeared, facing east, white in color, wearing light white silk clothing.

With a crown, necklaces, earrings, and armlets, all kinds of solemnity, he rode a golden Peacock King, sitting cross-legged on a white lotus or a green lotus, dwelling in a compassionate appearance.

He had four arms; the first right hand held an open lotus, the second hand held a Gathering Origin fruit, the first left hand held a propitious fruit against his heart, and the second hand held a three-to-five-stemmed peacock tail.

Vast Buddhist light covered the sky and earth, permeating time and space.

"I wonder what business Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva has in seeking this old monk?"

Ancient Buddha Randeng performed a salute and asked.

He did not believe that, with his concealment of Heavenly Secrets, the near-door-blocking behavior of this Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva could be a coincidence.

"Ancient Buddha Randeng, it is rare indeed; you usually keep to yourself, I wonder where you have returned from traveling today?"

Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva came before him, looked him over, and said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"This old monk felt a stir of restlessness and sought an old friend to reminisce. Yet I did not know..."

"Enough, you old codger, stop putting on an act. The Heavenly Secrets were long ago obscured by me; even that old mongrel Zhun Ti cannot hear a single word."

"There is no harm in admitting it boldly. Besides, your plans could only deceive that little fatty Rulai. Why be so hesitant?"

Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva waved a hand, directly cutting off the explanation of Ancient Buddha Randeng.

Ancient Buddha Randeng wore a bitter smile.

"How dull," Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva said, seeing him feign woodenness, and instantly lost interest in teasing this old codger, casually flicking out a streak of five-colored Divine Light. "Here, take this and give it to that little fellow."

Having spoken, she strode away, appearing slow but moving with great speed; where the auspicious light reached, her figure vanished.

"Hoo—"

Once her figure was gone, Ancient Buddha Randeng let out a breath; this one is truly strange, yet her strength is unfathomable, and meeting her makes one feel entirely uncomfortable.

Do not be fooled by the fact that she is merely a Buddhist incarnation of that one; her strength is still significantly greater than his, a Past Buddha who is only one step away from the gate of the Primordial.

There is no helping it; who told him the original body is too strong.

Nowadays, do not look at how everyone flocks to those two at Wuzhuang Guan.

But everyone understands that in the entire Honghuang, the one closest to the gate of the Primordial is not Zhenyuanzi, not Hongyun, not the Jade Emperor, not the Demon Master... but that proud peacock.

After the Conferring of the Gods Tribulation, everyone at the time thought that proud peacock would never recover.

And the result? In one morning of enlightenment, he severed the Three Corpses in succession.

With the dust cleared, the light emerged, illuminating the Great Thousand Worlds.

The Good Corpse reincarnated as Kongzi, the Evil Corpse remained in Fomen as the Buddha Mother, and the Obsession Corpse transformed into a five-colored Phoenix, styling himself the Five Virtues Dao Venerable.

The original body broke through everything, merging into the void, henceforth roaming free between Heaven and Earth.

No one can forget the scene on the day Kongzi attained the Dao.

Heaven and Earth shook, rejoicing for it; the sky was filled with purple energy, and the Primordial Dao Fruit descended from the heavens.

As long as that one merged the Three Corpses and accepted the Dao Fruit in the identity of Kongzi, he would instantly prove the Primordial.

Yet he refused!

He refused!

An ancestor of a Dao, a Primordial Venerable comparable to the Dao and the Buddhist, he refused!

In the end, the Good Corpse Kongzi swore an oath to merge with the Dao, creating a Confucian Dao River that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the River of Time and Space.

The proud Kong Xuan was unwilling to attain the Dao through other principles, even if those were also things he had realized himself.

He was not even willing to attain the Dao through the Five Elements; this proud peacock declared that since he became famous for the "Five-Colored Divine Light," he would attain the Dao through this very supernatural power.

A clone of such a peerless figure—how could he, Randeng, a mediocre person, possibly contend with her? (End of chapter)