Seated upon the Great Sumeru Lapis Mountain, Śākyamuni opened his eyes. His gaze, normally as still as an ancient well, now shone with a diamond-like brilliance and clarity.
What met his sight was a world of extraordinary clarity and purity, one devoid of suffering, devoid of sorrow, filled only with great bliss.
The myriad sufferings—birth, aging, sickness, death, association with the disliked, separation from the loved, the inability to obtain what one desires, and the domination of the five aggregates—these constituted the eight sufferings. Here, none of them could be perceived.
This was the solemn, pure Land of Bliss that manifested from the forty-eight great vows he had made upon attaining enlightenment.
Since all beings in this realm were spared these sufferings and experienced only joy, it was named the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Yet, at this moment, Śākyamuni’s mind, which had known no ripple for many years, felt almost unable to remain composed.
This inner state was mirrored in the world around him, causing spiritual light to undulate throughout heaven and earth.
For this realm was shaped by his power of vow; thus, every flicker of joy or anger would find resonance here.
“Siddhartha, I wonder if you have sensed it?”
With these words, a Buddha-light appeared over the Great Sumeru Mountain.
Within it stood a figure radiant with glory, who gazed upon Śākyamuni with a penetrating look.
Then, he burst into silent laughter: “Indeed! With such a commotion, how could you not know? After waiting these many years, our Brahmā Tathāgata, the Future Buddha of Immeasurable Beginning and End, has finally manifested—”
“It seems the path was not wrongly chosen; this path of ending and beginning has already achieved some mastery. It has been less than ten years since that day—truly incredible.”
Śākyamuni nodded slightly: “But why can I also perceive the aura of the root of the Three Thousand Great Daos? It is as if the Future Buddha is the Dao itself?”
“Ambitious, which is exactly as it should be, isn’t it?”
The figure in the Buddha-light smiled: “Only such an individual can command our Buddhist Gate. To open up a realm and achieve a true world of ultimate, worry-free bliss. It will also allow us to seek the opportunity for True Unification. I must confess my shame; my power is insufficient. I only sensed that the Future Buddha manifested somewhere near the edge of this domain. Siddhartha, your knowledge surpasses mine; can you discern the specifics?”
Śākyamuni’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he hesitated: “It should be in the Lèpíng Realm. Strange, this realm is two thousand worlds distant from the Cāngshēng Realm.”
“Lèpíng Realm? Hmm, is that the place forcefully occupied by the Lu Family, now renamed the Cānglíng Realm?”
The voice from the figure held a trace of surprise as well.
“I recall that three years ago, we all received edicts descending from the words of the Primordial Ancient Buddha, intending to accumulate wish-power for the consecration of the Brahmā Tathāgata. How is it that there is movement so soon? The fate decreed by the Heavenly Dao is truly unfathomable. Could it be that the Ancient Buddha foresaw this?”
Pausing, the other continued: “Then, Siddhartha, do you know who that person truly is?”
This time, Śākyamuni shook his head slightly: “Bùdòng Dìngguāng, you overestimate me. If I possessed that ability, Śākyamuni would have already achieved True Unification. The key is that individual seems to harbor a sense of rejection towards our Buddhist Gate! Though he manifests the Dharma appearance as the Brahmā Tathāgata, he seems intentionally isolated. His cultivation may be shallow, yet he has witnessed Immeasurable Beginning and End and unified with the Dao. I fear even the Ancient Buddha, beyond the distance of thirteen thousand worlds, would struggle to measure his details—”
“As expected!”
Dìngguāng Buddha smiled silently, his face showing no distress, but rather joy.
“Since he has manifested in the Lèpíng Realm, discovering his identity will be effortless. Furthermore, once he utilizes the power of our Buddhist Gate, karma and affinity are established. What the future holds, we cannot predict; we can only do our best. Perhaps even the Future Buddha himself is not entirely in control—”
Mid-sentence, the Immovable Dìngguāng Buddha suddenly turned his gaze downward, deep in thought.
Below the Great Sumeru Mountain lay one hundred and three thousand smaller Sumeru Mountains.
Upon each Lapis Mountain resided a Bodhisattva and an Arhat.
At this moment, they were all awakening, and almost instinctively, they began chanting together.
“We implore the Future Buddha of Immeasurable Beginning and End to return to his place! Let us transcend sorrow and affliction, sever all vexations. Let us witness the fruit-karma of Non-Birth and achieve Nirvana—”
Waves of sacred sounds converged, vibrating throughout the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
They spread beyond this realm, reaching into the void beyond the domain.
The Immovable Tathāgata smiled: “It seems there is no need to investigate. Your assembled Bodhisattvas and Arhats possess abundant roots of wisdom. This is the fortune of our Buddhist Gate!”
Śākyamuni shook his head; the matter of the Lèpíng Realm was by no means that simple.
After several years, the Great Brahmā manifested; this could not be treated lightly.
He took out a silver bell and shook it gently. Soon, two streaks of Buddha-light flew up from the distance.
In just a moment, they arrived. Both were beings of Tathāgata fruition, and they bowed to the two figures.
“Śākyamuni, are you summoning us for the Brahmā Tathāgata?”
Śākyamuni looked at them—one was Léngqié, the other Miàodì.
At the very same moment, over ten thousand worlds away from Cānglíng, a Dragon Shadow seated in a wondrous void also opened its eyes.
The corners of its mouth twitched, seeming like a half-smile, perhaps even a wry grin.
“Immeasurable Beginning and End? What is my disciple trying to pull off now? Did he truly run off to the Buddhist Gate to prove the position of Future Buddha, to achieve the Great Brahmā Tathāgata? What a pity; the Pure Land of Bliss will likely never be pure again—”
“Forget it, I can’t be bothered to manage it. Whichever path he takes, his achievement seems destined to surpass my own as his Master. But if this comes to pass, I wonder what those old fellows of the Lu Family will think? After waiting thousands of years, the descendant most promising to inherit their foundation and exceed the achievements of those three is poached by the Buddhist Gate to become a monk. And forced by one of their own descendants, no less! Heh! That will be a good show.”
Compared to those highest-tier existences of the Lu Family, he, the Dragon Shadow, could still be considered a ‘youngster.’
Yet, despite the teasing tone in his voice, his eyes held a fierce killing intent. A cultivator of the Divine Realm dared to act so wantonly against his disciple?
Could the Burning Sky Lu Family be so reckless and self-indulgent?
“Hmm? Unifying with the Dao—what great ambition! Truly worthy of being called my Dragon Shadow’s disciple!”
With a great laugh, the Dragon Shadow rose and stepped out of that void.
The origin of the End and the merging with the Dao—the one most anxious about this must be that person, right?
Since taking Zōngshǒu as his disciple, he couldn't stand to waste a single moment.
To ensure his disciple remained safe and sound, he should begin planning ahead now.
※※※※
Within the Cānglíng Realm, atop the summit of Tianyan Mountain.
“So it is the Brahmā Tathāgata himself!”
Lù Wúbìng’s voice was somewhat suppressed by the waves of Brahmic sound and the chanting of millions.
However, for those present in this place, it was no obstacle.
Zōngshǒu heard it clearly, his expression unchanging.
The Brahmā Tathāgata was his alternate title within the Buddhist Gate.
In Sanskrit, ‘Brahmā’ signifies creation.
And Brahmā Tathāgata meant the Creating Buddha. Standing upon the lotus pedestal, Zōngshǒu looked down as if a deity had descended upon the world.
He saw the other Divine Realm cultivator, clad in scarlet armor, currently tearing open the void, activating a shuttle-shaped mystic treasure, preparing to pierce through and exit this realm.
Zōngshǒu glanced at this person casually and flicked a finger.
Boundless wish-power gathered at that single point, drawing upon the power of the Origin of Termination.
A black-and-white intertwined stream of light pierced through space in an instant, tearing through the cultivator’s body and annihilating his soul!
“Mid-stage Divine Realm? Heh—”
He uttered this phrase, seemingly mocking the three individuals who had fallen by his hand, suggesting they were too weak.
Yet, Zōngshǒu’s mind was actually in a daze.
He recalled facing the Dao Spirit Firmament Realm expert in the Cloud Realm, where he had nearly suffered complete soul annihilation.
But now, these three powerful figures, who commanded more than a dozen planes, seemed so fragile in his hands.
At this moment, with just a single thought, he could completely command this power.
And remarkably, it would not significantly damage his own foundation—
Zōngshǒu’s gaze grew distant, then he gave a self-mocking smile, struggling out of hesitation and indecision.
He mused that this power of belief and divine mandate was indeed effective for rapid progress, but as for the future, that was beyond his knowing.
It was best not to take risks and to proceed step by step. Should he really become some Buddha Venerable, some monk?
Better to keep his distance!
However, now he had become entangled in karma with the Buddhist Gate, which was truly troublesome.
He could only hope that future entanglements would not become too messy.
He turned his gaze to Lù Wúshuāng, and Zōngshǒu’s focus sharpened slightly.
“The outcome between you and me is decided—”
Lù Wúshuāng remained silent. With things having come to this, what else could he do?
With the means Zōngshǒu possessed, his defeat had been sealed from the beginning.
But he was genuinely convinced, truly defeated by Zōngshǒu’s sword, and not by this cheating-like divine ability granted by Buddhism.
His nature was resolute; he would never utter words of pleading.
Instead, he silently clutched a small, simple sachet in his hand.
This was a gift from Lù Zǐ, who had spent a full two years gathering the Soft Musk Spirit Incense to craft it.
Women were strange creatures; with such dedication, they could have focused on cultivation rather than making such a useless object.
Yet, he could not forget the peculiar feeling in his heart when he received it that day.
From then on, he wore it by his side, never letting it leave him.
Zōngshǒu waited quietly. After a moment, he finally let out a sigh. He flicked his sleeve, and Lù Wúshuāng offered no resistance. His body turned to ash, only his nascent soul remained intact.
It was controlled by Zōngshǒu’s power and sent directly into the Netherworld.
“If the Heaven-Reaping Return Liquid has any excess, I might be able to reform Lù Zǐ’s primordial soul and allow her reincarnation. May you two meet in your next lives—”
This statement meant little to others, but Lù Wúbìng was visibly moved, staring intently at Zōngshǒu, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
Zōngshǒu then reached out a massive hand and seized Lù Yántiān from afar, asking lightly: “Where is the Heaven-Reaping Return Liquid?”
Lù Yántiān let out a desolate laugh: “Can I just die quickly?”
At this moment, he could command the momentum of an entire world, but he knew what the use of Divine Realm combat power was before Zōngshǒu.
He had long since lost the will to live!
Zōngshǒu shook his head: “Buddhism emphasizes the word ‘forgiveness,’ speaking of ‘laying down the butcher’s knife to achieve Buddhahood instantly.’ I, Zōngshǒu, disagree. If one lays down the butcher’s knife, can one truly absolve the sins of a thousand evils?”
Upon hearing this, Lù Yántiān sneered coldly and tightly shut his eyes.
Zōngshǒu saw no need to ask further; he immediately deployed the Soul Searching technique, meticulously combing through the man’s memories.
It was at this moment that waves of Brahmic sound entered his ears.
“—We implore the Future Buddha of Immeasurable Beginning and End to return to his place! Let us transcend sorrow and affliction, sever all vexations. Let us witness the fruit-karma of Non-Birth and achieve Nirvana—”