Chapter 398.2: Obtaining the Myriad Phenomena Gate, Establishing the Underworld

Having received their orders, the Five Sacred Mountain Emperors departed in different directions.

On that day, people throughout the Flowing Wind World saw solemn deities riding five-colored divine oxen. Accompanied by golden-eyed divine orioles, they carried the City of No Return away from the center of the world, covering a hundred li with each step.

On that same day, others witnessed a colossal divine being riding a Fire-Eyed Golden-Maned Beast. It drank the waters of the Ends of the Earth as though an entire sea had been overturned.

The Western Sacred Mountain Emperor and Northern Sacred Mountain Emperor also returned to Canglan. They journeyed to the Moonwatch Continent, carrying the Four Forbidden Lands and the End Zone upon their backs.

***

Standing outside the Ends of the Earth, Qi Yuan suddenly remembered something, murmuring, "Great Emperor of the South Pole of Longevity, heed my command. Return to Mortal Heart Realm and carry away the Ancient Clan’s Ancestral Land. Do not reveal your whereabouts."

Thunder appeared in wide-sleeved purple Daoist robes streaked with lightning, paired with a vermilion lower robe embroidered with auspicious clouds. An imperial crown rested upon his head, exuding incomparable nobility.

"I shall obey." Compared to the other citizens, he was much livelier. "My lord, you'll have to give me the coordinates of the Mortal Heart Realm."

"Don't worry. Soon enough."

As a Primordial World, Mortal Heart Realm differed from other worlds. Had Qi Yuan never stayed there before, not even the stars illuminating the heavens could have discovered it. He could not casually expose it because it was a rather special world. That was why he had specifically sent Thunder to relocate it.

Qi Yuan said softly, "I've given you the coordinates. Don't expose yourself. Even my reach has its limits. If other Yang Spirits notice you, it’ll be a huge trouble."

As vast as his influence was, it wasn’t enough for him to wander freely through the lower worlds. Moreover, since he still had to deal with the Great Calamity, it was better to avoid unnecessary complications.

Thunder patted his chest. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After receiving the coordinates, he transformed into a streak of Violet Qi and disappeared, leaving Qi Yuan alone.

He felt distressed. "What a pity. Even the stars can't discover the Arch Star. Haa... I wonder if I’ve turned off the lights in my room before leaving? If they've been left on all this time, how many years of electricity bills would that be?"

As someone who had always been frugal, he believed wasting electricity was shameful.

Thus, he made a grand view. "One day, I shall attain the Great Dao, become the Supreme Dao Ancestor, and return to Arch Star to turn off the lights!"

***

In the following days, Qi Yuan met South Palace Big Dog, Foolish Daoist, and Bai Ze. South Palace Big Dog was especially smug, calling himself Little Buddha Ancestor Ling. The people of the Land of Buddha couldn’t deal with him. Since his master was the Supreme Buddha, calling himself Little Buddha Ancestor wasn’t exactly wrong.

Meanwhile, in the upper world, countless eyes were fixed upon the Land of Buddha. After all, the Land of Buddha's sacred lands had severed all observation of the Myriad Buddha Assembly out of nowhere. The Land of Buddha had also shaken violently. Many sacred-land-level factions were extremely curious about what had transpired within the Land of Buddha.

Soon afterward, all ninety-seven True Buddhas announced that their sacred lands had been unified. The Buddha Ancestor had returned to his rightful place, becoming the Present Buddha. As for the Past Buddhas, such as the Monkey King, Buddha Ancestor Wutian, the Ten Thousand Buddha Ancestor, and the others, they would conceal their identities and remain hidden within the Land of Buddha.

The announcement shook the Sixth Heaven. The meaning of Buddha Ancestor was clearer to these sacred lands than to anyone else. It meant that an extraordinarily powerful True Buddha, capable of comprehending the Major Principle and ruling the Land of Buddha, had appeared.

Once this True Buddha matured and stepped into the Major Principle realm, there was a good chance he could lead all the sacred lands of the Fifth Heaven into the Sixth Heaven! The Land of Buddha could leap from a second-rate sacred land to a first-rate one! Great Sun Bright Buddha’s unfulfilled aspiration would finally be realized!

Great Sun Bright Buddha's Principle had once been Great Sun Tathagata, which conflicted with the Great Sun Divine Throne, ultimately leading to his passing. In comparison, the Present Buddha’s Infinite Mantra did not conflict with any existing position. Barring extraordinary circumstances, other sacred lands predicted that after a million years, the Land of Buddha would produce another Major Principle expert.

What they didn’t expect was soon afterward, the newly enthroned Present Buddha announced war against the Moluo Clan.

The Buddha Ancestor declared, "I cultivate the Past and the Present, allowing me to glimpse the Future. The Moluo Clan obstructs the foundation of my future and must therefore be eradicated!"

The moment these words spread, the world was stunned, and the immortal realm was thrown into turmoil. The Buddha Ancestor was clearly determined to wage war against the Moluo Clan. Above all, he had only just assumed his position and did not even appear to have reached the Principle realm. Yet none of the other True Buddhas objected?

Numerous Heavenly Venerables discussed the matter in hushed voices.

"Great Sun Bright Buddha’s death was likely connected to the Taihuang Palace. The Land of Buddha has long harbored resentment, but since it cannot challenge the Taihuang Palace, the Moluo Clan has become its scapegoat."

"The Moluo Clan is only slightly weaker than the Land of Buddha, yet it has always been Taihuang Palace's loudest watchdog. Such an outcome is only natural!"

"It seems the Fifth and Sixth Heavens won’t remain peaceful."

"Great chaos is sure to follow after the Buddha Ancestor attains the Major Principle."

"I fear the Taihuang Palace will never allow the Buddha Ancestor to advance."

"The Divine Moon Palace is likely to be the greatest beneficiary of all this. Even the battle in the demon abyss may temporarily ease."

"First, the Ten Suns Heavenly Sovereign declared war on the Taihuang Palace. Now, the Land of Buddha declares war on the Moluo Clan. The immortal realm is about to descend into chaos!"

"Tell me, do you think this Present Buddha has truly glimpsed the future?"

"How could that be? It's merely a convenient excuse. How is it any different from claiming that a Moluo Heavenly Venerable stole a chicken from the Land of Buddha, so war must be declared?"

The Moluo Heavenly Venerable also responded domineeringly, "I will not only obstruct your future but sever your present as well!"

That very night, some people witnessed the Moluo Heavenly Venerable entering Taihuang Palace in the Sixth Heaven, filled with anxiety. After all, the Land of Buddha had once placed one foot into the Sixth Heaven and had nearly become one of its sacred lands.

***

Back in Canglan, the Strange Painter trembled uncontrollably as she held the Brush of Mountains and Rivers. Five majestic beings stood before her, towering like divine gods and overwhelming her with their mere presence.

Though she was only an alternative, she was still a Mythic cultivator. Yet before these five, she felt as insignificant as dust, just as she had when facing Qi Qi. Above all, these mysterious experts behaved like servants before Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan said, "Alright, we've found the land, and the Underworld Gate is here too. Strange Painter, I'll leave it to you. Paint it well for me!"

The Five Sacred Mountain Emperors hurled the cities, mountains, the Four Forbidden Lands, the End Zone, and the seawater they had gathered into the Myriad Phenomena Gate.

Thunder also arrived at just the right moment, tossing the Ancestral Land from the Primordial World into the gate.

The Strange Painter stared at the chaotic, haphazardly piled land and rivers. Taking a deep breath, she declared, "Thank you for your trust! I am willing to use my very life as pigment to paint this scroll!"

Thus, the Brush of Mountains and Rivers began to dance, transforming the world within the Myriad Phenomena Gate.