Chapter 396.1: All Buddhas Emerge, the Land of Buddha Falls!

Passing by Nine Plate Mountain, the once majestic mountains had long since become desolate. The scenery of enlightenment from the past was nowhere to be found.

When Qi Yuan brought Canary and Ning Tao here, it happened to be raining. In the past, Canary had held a banana leaf over Qi Yuan's head to shield him from the rain. She had gotten completely drenched and even sneezed. He casually cast a spell to start a fire and warm her up, only to accidentally set her tail ablaze. The vain Canary had nearly died of anger.

Now the rain fell once more, soaking all three of them together. Looking at Qi Yuan and Canary, a trace of longing flashed through Ning Tao's eyes. By now, he had been begging for alms everywhere and had acquired nearly a hundred Divine Methods.

Although ten suns hung in the sky, possessing considerable might, Ning Tao understood just how powerful the enemies Qi Yuan faced were. Every additional Star Golden Core would further increase her husband's strength. To devour a new star, however, she had to devote her full attention.

Looking at Qi Yuan and the excited Canary, Ning Tao made a decision. "Though the world changes, if one masters the power of time, some parts of the past can still be revisited."

She extended her delicate, jade hand, unleashing her Divine Domain. As if spring had just arrived, the barren Nine Plate Mountain became filled with vitality. Banana trees sprouted lush green leaves. Red flowers bloomed. Streams and mountain springs murmured gently. Moss climbed over rocks. Green vines intertwined with trees.

The scene before them was exactly as it had once been. Only the Myriad Phenomena Gate and the insects were missing.

Memories flooded back into Qi Yuan. "It's just like before, except that it lacks some intelligent life."

Just then, a banana leaf appeared above his head.

Canary blushed as she secretly grabbed his sleeve. Her cute, starry eyes were filled with anticipation, and her long eyelashes fluttered. "Isn't it better without any other living creatures? Then we can do whatever we want..."

"But it's daytime right now—"

Canary tugged at his sleeve and pulled him toward her former home. "Let's go to my house!"

Small and delicate, Canary appeared like a flower fairy.

Ning Tao also moved closer, smiling. Dressed in a black gown, she was both cool and seductive. "Husband, didn't you once say that rainy days are most suitable for sleeping?"

Canary blinked. "Two against one. The minority obeys the majority. You're not allowed to resist!"

"You're being a little unethical!"

The rain drizzled on and off. Sometimes the downpour stopped abruptly. Another day passed in blissful indulgence.

Qi Yuan once again became convinced that rainy days really were suitable for sleeping. Though, to be fair, most times seemed suitable for sleeping.

***

Time flowed onward. For cultivators, three months was merely the duration of a nap. Guiqi City was the center of Flowing Wind World and its most prosperous city. Its name was formed by combining a character from the City of No Return with one from Qi Yuan's name.[1] However, almost no one among later generations knew the origin of the city's name.

Even today, the city was bustling with activity, and Buddhist light surged everywhere. Looking around, one would think they had arrived in the City of Brilliant Bald Heads. Among every three people, one was bald. The Myriad Buddhas Assembly, which was to be held here, was the greatest event the world had seen in ten thousand years.

Of course, it was more than that. The event was also connected to the wars and possible unification of the Land of Buddha in the Fifth Heaven. Not only were many Buddhist Sons from the upper world in attendance, but countless eyes from the Sixth Heaven were also watching the Flowing Wind World, awaiting the outcome. A seemingly small Buddhist assembly carried implications for the future of their entire land.

Unlight Buddhist Son stood within Buddhist radiance, dressed in monk's robes. Anyone who saw him instinctively felt as if they were facing a young True Buddha. Beside him stood Ling Yayi, dressed respectably, his freshly shaved head gleaming brightly. Try as he might to appear deeply learned in Buddhist teachings, he still appeared sleazy and carefree.

Just then, a bald Buddhist woman strode over. "Unlight Buddhist Son, you seem to have taken a rather ordinary disciple."

Her chest was exposed under her loose white robe. Ling Yayi’s eyes went wide, before quickly shifting away and landing on the dull, bald old man beside her. He was none other than the Foolish Daoist!

Ling Yayi teased him, "Hehe, Old Fool. After shaving your head, you don't look as handsome as me anymore."

The Buddhist woman deliberately pulled her robes open even more. "This man is no good. No Buddha nature, only lustful thoughts, and not even the courage to act on them. If you want to look, then just look!"

Ling Yayi blushed, speechless. He truly could not say anything back. After all, not only had he been peeking, he had also planned to use a recording stone to capture her footage as revenge on behalf of Foolish Daoist.

Unlight Buddhist Son said in a clear yet imposing voice, "Purple Lotus Buddhist Maiden, Buddha nature isn't important. What matters is that they have the Reincarnation Power."

Purple Lotus Buddhist Maiden smiled. "That power truly resembles one of Buddhism's Infinite Mantras. The question is whether they have the comprehension to understand it."

Another Buddhist Son stepped forward, looking dignified and holy. "If they can comprehend it, the endless war might finally cease."

Any sacred land possessed at least one True Buddha as guardian, an equivalent of a Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerable. Meanwhile, the Land of Buddha contained nearly a hundred sacred lands, becoming extremely fragmented as a result.

"When Great Sun Bright Buddha comprehended the Infinite Mantra 'Great Sun Tathagata,' he obtained the recognition of the Creation Treasure, the Land of Buddha, and thus unified the land."

"How difficult that was!" sighed a Buddhist Maiden who was dressed much more conservatively.

"The Infinite Mantras at the Land of Buddha’s summit are too difficult to comprehend. Comprehend even one, and you’d achieve True Buddha status and perhaps even reach the Major Principle realm!"

Infinite Mantras were inscribed upon the Creation Treasure, the Land of Buddha. These truths were regarded as supreme treasures by Buddhist cultivators. Comprehending even a fraction brought enormous benefits.

Among them, the Infinite Mantras inscribed at the highest peak of the Land of Buddha were especially complex. Rumor held that comprehending even a small portion could allow one to enter the Major Principle realm and become the ruler of the Ninth Heaven.

Among these supreme Infinite Mantras were Reincarnation, Mount Sumeru, Karma, Merit, Great Sun Tathagata, Past, Present, and Future. Among them, a Buddhist Son had ever comprehended the Great Sun Tathagata. None of the others had ever been understood by any Buddha.

At first glance, some of these concepts seemed simple. Take Karma as an example. Which Yang Spirit did not understand some aspect of causality? Yet no True Buddha had comprehended it. Past and Present also resembled the Yang Spirit's ability to sever their Past Self and shape their Present Self, but they were entirely different. Especially Future, which seemed utterly illusory to the True Buddhas.

After all, if there was one thing every Heavenly Venerables of the Ninth Heaven knew, it was that there was no future in the Ninth Heaven. As a result, Yang Spirits could sever their Past Self and condense Present Self, yet unable to condense a Future Self.

If the Great Sun Bright Buddha had not comprehended the Great Sun Tathagata, all True Buddhas would have believed that the Infinite Mantras at the summit were simply unattainable. Now, the Land of Buddha remained trapped in endless warfare because no one else had reached his level and comprehended a supreme Infinite Mantra.

With the appearance of individuals possessing the Reincarnation Power, the various Land of Buddha naturally became eager. They had captured the Thirteen Northern Demons and intended to nurture them into Holy Buddhist Sons.

A Buddhist Son in white robes appeared curious. "Speaking of Reincarnation Power, I'm even more curious about the Blood Master. How did he obtain it?"

Purple Lotus Buddhist Maiden said regretfully, "Unfortunately, his luck was poor. Because his affinity with Buddhism was too deep, he obtained both reincarnation and the Great Sun Golden Lotus."

Sometimes, affinity required moderation. With just the Reincarnation Power, one was already qualified as a Buddhist Son candidate, but with the Great Sun Golden Lotus as well? That was another matter entirely. The lotus originally belonged to the Land of Buddha. Without it, their warring land could scarcely control the Creation Treasure itself.

Several times, the Land of Buddha had nearly fallen out of control and caused the sacred lands to tumble from the Fifth Heaven. The Great Sun Golden Lotus had to be reclaimed and returned to where it belonged!

Yet once it was stripped away, the Blood Master would become crippled even if he survived. Even with the Reincarnation Power, he would likely lose all prospects on the Buddhist path. Such was the consequence of having too much affinity.

The reason Ling Yayi sought the position of Holy Buddhist Son was to ensure that when a True Buddha stripped away the Great Sun Golden Lotus, the process would be carried out more gently.

A Buddhist Son sighed. "What a pity. Such a legendary figure, only to meet such an end."

A young novice monk couldn't help but say, "Hmph. Just some legend from a lower world. He is not worth mentioning."

A Buddhist Son warned, "Apple, you've allowed anger to arise."

With an ashamed look, the novice immediately clasped his palms together.

Unlight Buddhist Son's voice became solemn. "The True Buddhas sit in the Fifth Heaven, watching us. The Myriad Buddhas Assembly is about to begin. Take your places."

The others nodded.

Following that, an immense Buddhist voice descended from heaven. Buddhist chanting instantly filled Guiqi City, and Buddhist light surged like an ocean. All cultivators felt an urge to kneel in worship. The holy radiance that fell upon them was warm and gentle.

"The Myriad Buddhas Assembly begins!"

1. Gui (归) from City of No Return (无归) and the character Qi (齐) from Qi Yuan (齐原). In essence, Guiqi also suggests the return of Qi Yuan. ☜