Chapter 966: Superior Ritual

Chapter 966: Chapter 690: Superior Ritual

Spirit Mountain Holy Land.

Brahma’s sound is ancient, the Golden Lotus covers the ground.

Arhat Bodhisattvas from the Buddhist Sects of the Ten Directions of the Heavens, breaking through space from various realms, intertwine with the light of Buddha and a thousand auspicious energies, making the entire Spirit Mountain more solemn and sacred.

From the ancient Bodhisattvas seated on lotus platforms, impervious to time, to Venerable Arhats attaining fruit positions and guarding a side, almost all have returned to Spirit Mountain.

All to witness a grand event—the Great Merciful Shining Bodhisattva seeks gold certification in the Way today.

The news spread, and the Buddhas whispered among themselves, the sound waves like tides.

“The last time someone from the Void Sun lineage sought gold, it was the Great Free Bodhisattva eight hundred years ago.”

“The Great Free Bodhisattva cultivated arduously for four lifetimes, barely achieving four Divine Techniques, but ultimately, the foundation was lacking, unable to even condense the Gold Attribute, let alone invoke the favor of the Golden Position or unite with the Great Void Dao.”

“The Great Merciful Shining Bodhisattva is different.”

“Although he cultivated only three lifetimes, he attained the Bodhisattva fruition in the first, with a foundation far superior to his peers.”

“In the next two lifetimes, he meticulously refined the final Divine Technique to Perfection and is well aware of the various dangers, changes, and checkpoints on the path to gold.”

“This time in seeking gold, he should have some true assurance.”

“Indeed.”

“Indeed.”

Amidst the discussions, a serene, dust-free Buddha light quietly arrived, and the visitor was Chen Sheng.

He raised his eyes, seeing the vast array of Arhat Bodhisattvas, solemn and dignified, with an aura of grandeur.

His gaze calmly swept over and quickly locked onto two familiar figures.

It was his master—Miao Shan Arhat, with the silent and reticent Brother Formless standing beside him.

Chen Sheng quickly stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully spoke:

“Master, Brother Formless.”

Miao Shan Arhat slowly opened his eyes, revealing a gentle smile:

“Wuchen, you’ve come.”

They exchanged a few simple pleasantries.

Miao Shan Arhat casually inquired about his recent situation in the Southern Border, asking and softly shaking his head:

“Had I known, I would have let you join the Star Sun lineage from the beginning.”

“In the Star Sun lineage, I still have some face, and you wouldn’t have been banished to a place like the Southern Border.”

In his eyes, Spirit Mountain’s cultivation sites had strict hierarchies, clearly distinguished:

The first level is naturally Spirit Mountain’s source Holy Land, where fortune converges, and the Great Dao favors;

The second level includes various ancient temples of the heavens with deep inheritance and endless resources;

The third level involves the directly managed ten-direction temples of Spirit Mountain, orthodox and orderly, where one can cultivate in peace;

The fourth level is the border ground between Spirit Mountain and the Profound Sect, with mixed pros and cons, opportunities and dangers coexist;

And the lowest level is a region like the Southern Border.

Remote, barren, with sparse fortune, mixed with demons, and constant conflicts.

In the eyes of many Buddhist disciples, it is an abandoned corner, a near-exile equated with an undesirable place.

Miao Shan looked at Chen Sheng, his tone concerned:

“You have guarded the Southern Border for many years, amid its complexity and constant warfare, has it delayed your cultivation path?”

Chen Sheng slightly bowed, his demeanor calm and unresentful:

“Master, rest assured.”

“Closing the door, forming unity, regardless of external seasons and tides. The disturbances in the Southern Border have not hindered my cultivation at all.”

Miao Shan nodded slightly at these words, his eyes slightly assured.

He yet again meticulously enquired about affairs in the Southern Border and details of Chen Sheng’s cultivation, pondering for a long time before slowly speaking.

“One term of guard, already fifty years.”

“For the next term of guard, you may decline and return to take over the Great Snow Temple.”

Chen Sheng was startled: “Master…”

“No need to say more.”

Miao Shan gently waved his hand, his gaze turning to the depths of Spirit Mountain, with a calm that saw through the years.

“By then, my lifespan will also be nearly exhausted; it will be time for me to retire.”

“The lineage of the Great Snow Temple cannot be without a master.”

“At that time, you will succeed to the Great Snow Temple and hold the lineage orthodoxy.”

Chen Sheng’s heart sank.

He quietly calculated with his fingers, instantly understanding.

Miao Shan Arhat, with a nearing lifespan, his Dao path halted, with only a few decades of time remaining.

“Divine Technique cultivation, a heavenly moat step by step; in the end, I am trapped in a cage.”

Miao Shan, relying on the Arhat ceremony, luckily attained the fruit position, but found the second Divine Technique somewhat beyond reach.

As time wears on, his Realm is stuck at the initial stage of Arhat.

He looked at Chen Sheng, his gaze solemn, with a hint of entrusting:

“Disciple.”

“Should there be a future life, and I’m lost in reincarnation, losing my true nature…”

“Remember to save me once.”

Chen Sheng bowed, his voice steady and solemn:

“Disciple will remember this in my heart.”

“In the next life, disciple will surely seek Master, lead you out of reincarnation, and once again prove Bodhi.”

Miao Shan Arhat closed his eyes, saying no more.

Only a barely audible sigh dissipated amidst the pervasive Buddhist chants.

…

As the master and disciple conversed.

Ahead, the Golden Lotus suddenly shook violently, a fragrant breeze surged up, sweeping across the entire Spirit Mountain.

All the Arhats and Bodhisattvas simultaneously raised their heads, their expressions solemn.

Behold, the void gently trembled, and a vast, compassionate, pure and undefiled Buddhist figure emerged from deep within the ten-thousand-layer Buddha light.

It was none other than Da Ci Xian Yao Bodhisattva.

He was draped in a golden robe adorned with thousands of Buddhas, with gentle eyes full of compassion, surrounded by a faint moon-white Buddhist light, his aura profound and immovable, perfection without flaw.

Having accumulated the atmosphere of three lives, tempered by karma, and refined his Dao Heart, he was recognized throughout the Void Sun lineage as the one most likely to achieve the Golden Position of Buddhahood.

Da Ci Xian Yao Bodhisattva stood at the center of the Buddha platform, eyes slightly closed, his voice resounding like a great bell, echoing throughout Spirit Mountain and all heavens:

“Today, I initiate the [Great Void Returning to Zen ・ Star Constellation Receiving Fruit] ceremony, to inquire into the heavens and seek validation of [Void Sun], and prove the Buddha body!”

As his words fell, the heavens and earth suddenly underwent dramatic transformation.

An immense dream enveloping the entire Spirit Mountain and spanning the Shi Fang worlds descended with a roar!

The dream descended, countless stacked Buddha kingdoms emerging from the void, myriad Buddhas seated upon lotus thrones, with ceaseless, grand Buddhist chants.

The Netherworld Silent Land and the Bright Buddha Realm fused, coexisting, while a waning moon hung in the void, stars shimmering and falling.

One half annihilated and dark, one half dazzling with Buddha light, perfectly reflecting the core Dao Rhyme of Void Sun, where “Yin and Yang alternate, emptiness hides life.”

All the Bodhisattvas and Arhats trembled in their Heart Spirits, each moved:

“A great dream seeks the Golden Method!”

“An excellent Golden Seeking Ceremony!”

“Such profound foundation! No wonder Xian Yao Bodhisattva dares to directly prove the Golden Position!”

“It seems that Spirit Mountain today may indeed hope to add another Buddha!”

In front of the platform, Da Ci Xian Yao Bodhisattva’s expression was solemn as he formally initiated the first step of the Golden Seeking ceremony:

“Sacrifice Dao to receive fruit, with the body knocking on heaven.”

His surrounding Buddha light slowly gathered.

The accumulated practice, past karma, cultivation obsessions, and karmic entanglements of three lives all transformed into points of golden brilliance, gently rising, sacrificed to the vast Heavenly Dao.

Not seeking merit, nor searching for opportunities.

Only to empty all extraneous impurities from oneself, to make oneself utterly clear and spotless, perfectly attuned to the void of the [Void Sun] fruit position.

The sacrificial Dao light merged into the dream realm altar.

The entire Great Void Returning to Zen dream realm grew more stable, the movements of stars and moon clearer, and the void Dao Rhyme in the universe more intense.

As the sacrifice concluded, Da Ci Xian Yao Bodhisattva’s eyes were clear and undisturbed:

“All Dao hindrances removed, an empty body awaits fruit!”

Then, the second step officially commenced.

“Divine Techniques return to order, refining Gold Attribute.”

The Dao of Void Sun, core four principles: Void, Silence, Hidden, Crossing.

The four Great Divine Techniques appeared in the world in response, successively ascending, and rotating in closed loops within the dream realm altar, constructing the most orthodox order of the Void Sun Dao.

The first technique, [Grand Image Returning to Void], corresponds to the principle of “Empty”.

All phenomena of heaven and earth dissolve, all things return to emptiness, all laws return to silence, the front of the altar transforms into boundless void, leaving no dust or stain, fully revealing the essence of Void Sun’s emptiness.

The second technique, [All Sounds Submerge into Nether], corresponds to the principle of “Silence”.

All heavenly Buddhist chants abruptly stop, the sound of wind, stars, and human hearts quiet into silence, the Netherworld silence envelops all directions, all things cease, attuned to the nature of Void Sun’s cemetery annihilation.

The third technique, [Hidden Daylight], corresponds to the principle of “Hidden”.

Great silence hides great life, great darkness hides great brightness, in the depths of the void strands of pure yang vitality quietly gestate, in the silent realm covertly hides daylight brilliance, aligned with the wonder of Void Sun’s Yin Yang alternation.

The fourth technique, [Nether Crossing Dispels Disaster], corresponds to the principle of “Crossing”.

With the annihilation Dao body crossing living beings, with void Dao Rhyme transforming karma, darkness births light, barrenness births honor, completing the perfect closed loop of the Void Sun Dao path.

The four Great Divine Techniques cyclically interweave and mutually support, without a hint of disorder or flaw, fully demonstrating the profound foundation of three lives.

“Burn!!”

In the next instant, Da Ci Xian Yao Bodhisattva uttered a low shout.

The four Great Divine Techniques simultaneously burned out!

Magnificent Dao light soared to the sky, above the dream realm firmament, birthing four distinct phenomena corresponding to the true essence of Void Sun.

A pale, indistinct Void Sun slowly emerged at the center of the heavens’ dream realm.

Neither completely round nor entirely dim, the nascent Gold Attribute within the phenomenon gently stirred, quietly gestating.

Yet at that moment, a sudden change arose.

The budding Gold Attribute was swaying and unstable, fluctuating between light and darkness, seemingly formed yet not, appearing stable yet not, faintly revealing a crack difficult to conceal.

All the cultivators on site instantly noticed the anomaly, whispering in amazement, atmosphere tense:

“Something’s wrong! The Gold Attribute phenomena is unstable!”

“The four Great Divine Techniques perfectly returned to sequence, the ceremony is top-tier, the foundation boundless, how could such wobbling occur?”

“In seeking gold, Dao Rhyme detachment must be avoided, under such conditions, it is highly likely to end in failure!”

“Even such an overwhelming atmosphere struggles to stabilize Gold Attribute!”

“The path to seeking gold, indeed is challenging!!”