Chapter 1443
Extra Chapter 2 Talking about one family
Chapter 1443 Extra: Two Things About That Family
Guanghai, Xianshu.
In the Western Pure Land of Profound Bliss, at the Great Thunderclap Temple on Mount Ling, one sees countless ancient temples, layer upon layer, with Arhats and Bodhisattvas of various forms displayed on lotus pedestals.
In the very center of the lotus platform sits a majestic golden Buddha with eighteen arms and twenty-four heads. The Buddha's face displays various thoughts of the mortal world, holding a jeweled parasol, a flower vase, a fish intestine, a blessed vajra, a precious file, a golden bell, a golden bow, a silver halberd, a banner, and other treasures.
A surging light of Buddha's radiance rose slowly from behind the Buddha's face, like fire and pillars, piercing straight into the sky.
The pagoda and the fragrance of lotus flowers fill the eye, making it seem as if the land is different from heaven. The clouds are leisurely and the day seems long. All worldly ties end here, and the great Dharma hall remains unblemished for countless eons.
"Amitabha."
Seeing this, Guangming breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the air in this sacred mountain was sweet and much better than that of his own Fulong Temple.
Speaking of Fulong Temple, times have changed.
Back then, as the abbot of the temple, I, a mere novice monk, was not even at the Foundation Establishment stage and was destined to only become a talent for the Arhat Fulong.
But times have changed.
Since the Daoist Master came to power, the new heavens replaced the old, and the sun and moon smiled anew, who doesn't know that I, Guangming, was once valued by the World-Honored One and even served as a disciple of the Buddha?
Not to mention—there's that other one too.
Thinking of this, Guangming felt as if he were in a dream: Daoist Master, in his simple worldview, a Nascent Soul Daoist Master was already a celestial being.
No, let's not even talk about the Taoist Master.
Even a Golden Core Bodhisattva was once an unattainable existence. However, after waking up from a great dream, he actually fought against a Dao Venerable!
It even forced Dao Zun into a desperate situation where he could only flee to the heavens in a sorry state.
"hiss."
Thinking of this, Guangming gasped, a strange sense of excitement surging in his heart. The current Daoist Master was just a nobody back then.
Rounding up, am I evenly matched with the Daoist Master?
With Dao Zun's talent and comprehension, he was able to go from a nobody to a supreme being who now dominates the sea of light. I feel like I could do it too!
Guangming looked up at the sky, his gaze piercing through the heavens of the Immortal Pivot and landing on Xuming, on the [Gate of Transcendence] located in that infinitely high and distant place. Boundless and unparalleled power surged within the crack, hanging high above Xuming. No matter how high or low your cultivation level, you could see this gate.
It's like a symbol, a flag.
The existence of the [Mysterious Pivot Master of Change] and the [Gate of Transcendence] inspires every cultivator of humble origin to strive for a higher realm.
This is because in this world, [variability] is paramount.
The road ahead is not a dead end; everyone has a chance to reach the top.
Thinking of this, Guangming very skillfully released his hands, which were clasped together in the Buddhist classic, and instead made a Taoist hand seal, naturally saying:
"Infinite Heavenly Venerable!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Guangming roused himself and strode towards the depths of Mount Ling to continue his diligent cultivation. All of this was witnessed by others.
At the summit of Mount Ling, the majestic statue of the Buddha with twenty-four heads stands in the very center. His ever-kind and benevolent face suddenly lowers its eyelids, and then a slight smile plays on his lips.
"That's good, that's good."
Between the Buddha's brows, in the vast sea of consciousness, a divine thought of the World Honored One manifested, sitting upright on the lotus throne, smiling as another figure appeared before him.
[Life Cultivation] The Second Dao Ancestor, I submit to the Dao.
The Buddha's theoretical "previous lives" were all able to survive and retain their original selves because of the existence of the [Mysterious Pivot Master of Change].
"Greetings, fellow Daoist."
Guiming spoke first, a smile playing on his lips: "Truly, the workings of fate are wondrous, and the world is ever-changing. In truth, I have long wanted to have a conversation with myself."
"This statement is completely wrong."
Upon hearing this, the World Honored One shook his head: "In heaven and on earth, I alone am supreme. Fellow Daoist and I have an intimate relationship, but ultimately, you can no longer be called 'me'."
"That's true."
Guiming did not refute, but sighed, "To be fair, your situation in the Sea of Light is exactly the same as mine in the Divine Continent."
"Oh?" The Buddha was taken aback: "How is it the same?"
"They're equally weak."
Guiming looked as if he had met a kindred spirit and said in a low voice, "I heard that among the Dao Lords of Guanghai, you were the weakest back then, and anyone could step on you."
"Isn't it a coincidence? Me too. Of the seventeen Dao Ancestors back then, I was the weakest. So I was the only one who never thought of facing the final tribulation head-on. My mind was full of thoughts of leading all living beings to escape. From this perspective, you and I are indeed worthy of being from past and present lives."
The World Honored One: "."
If you put it that way, I won't agree. As we all know, a person's achievements depend not only on their own abilities, but also on the times and the context.
What era are you from?
In the ancient land of China, if not the path of immortality was flourishing, it was at least a golden age for cultivation. Under such conditions, your weakness is because you lack ability.
What era am I from?
Under the rule of the First Sage of the Vast Sea of Light, everyone is a talent. Under such conditions, I am the weakest because I am being deliberately targeted, not because there is a problem with my abilities!
Thinking of this, the World Honored One immediately wanted to argue from various angles that "I am really not the weakest. Being schemed against by the First Sage is not because I am weak, but because I was targeted by the First Sage. You would be about the same if you were in his shoes." However, before that, Guiming had anticipated the World Honored One's reaction and took the initiative to change the subject:
"On the other hand..."
"How did you become a disciple of the First Sage back then? I heard that you were the eldest disciple under the First Sage, and you followed him for a very long time."
At this point, Guiming looked on with curiosity.
After all, among all the Dao Ancestors in Shenzhou, he was the only one who was special, as he died the earliest. Therefore, he didn't really have any concept of the First Saint that everyone hated.
All that is known is that this person's Dao heart is "Supreme Ruthlessness," and he has always been unscrupulous in his dealings with others, and his conduct is despised by all Dao Ancestors.
But just how ruthless? How unscrupulous?
"To be honest, judging from his deeds alone, this initial saint was actually quite a hero. If it weren't for Dao Zun back then, he probably would have won in the end."
Guiming counted on his fingers and said slowly and deliberately, “He inherited the teachings of the Ming and Xiang sects, took in four disciples to seize their power, used external forces to kill the Ancestral Dragon, created the Other Shore, and used the Other Shore to suppress evil spirits. He then ascended to the top of the Sea of Light. After that, he competed with the Daoist Master, and finally fell in resentment because he was one step behind.”
"Humph"
At this point, the World Honored One curled the corner of his mouth and sneered, "It only sounds good at first glance. He can't be called a hero; he's just a petty person."
"But he was lucky."
“The despicable have their own passport, and he is the most despicable one, which is why he has gained power, but that does not mean he is right.”
"If you've ever actually spent time with him, you'll know how disgusting he is."
After speaking, the World Honored One even shuddered. Despite already possessing the body of a Dao Lord, he still got goosebumps all over his body, just like an ordinary mortal.
Seeing his appearance, Guiming became even more curious.
"Oh? How disgusting is it? Fellow Daoist, why don't you tell me?"
The World Honored One never hesitated to speak on matters that smeared the First Saint, so he readily nodded and said, "In that case, let's talk about it."
So where should we begin?
"Well, Fellow Daoist just asked how that old man took me as his disciple. Actually, that's not accurate. He didn't take me as his disciple first."
"He took me, Dan Ding, Butian, and Huan Yao in one fell swoop."
At this point, the World Honored One's face, which had been somewhat gloomy at the mention of the First Saint, suddenly thawed, his brows relaxed, and a genuine smile appeared on his face:
"As for the final order of the fellow disciples, we decided it ourselves."
"To be honest, fellow Daoist, I earned this position as the senior disciple through my own hard work and skill."
Withered vines, old trees, and crows at dusk; a small bridge, flowing water, and a family home.
Looking out over the vast sea of light, this place is merely a small realm, even less impressive than some large realms, appearing extremely insignificant within the sea of light. Meanwhile, on a cliff in the center of this small realm…
Four figures stood solemnly.
They each occupied a spot, their expressions varied, but without exception, their faces all carried the pride and confidence that only the "chosen ones" possess.
One of them, Shi Tianyi, carefully examined the other three.
"Our master said that status must be earned through one's own efforts. He has other important matters to attend to, and he wants the four of us to determine our own strengths and weaknesses and establish a ranking."
Thinking of this, Shi Tianyi became even more serious.
In his still relatively simple mindset, the status of one's master directly determines whether one can receive the true teachings, which is crucial for cultivation, and he cannot afford not to fight for it.
However, he soon realized that he had a great advantage.
The woman on the left had waist-length black hair and was extremely beautiful. For a moment, he couldn't tell if she was male or female, but he could immediately see her thin arms and legs.
If she were in her hometown, she would be sent to be a child prostitute.
Nothing to worry about!
The one on the right has a bit of a masculine air about him, and although he's not very old, he has quite a temper. He even dared to glare back at me when I glanced at him.
A brainless brute can be captured with one hand!
The last one. Shi Tianyi raised his head and looked at the boy directly in front of him—no, rather than a boy, he was still a child.
They're at most eight years old.
However, unlike ordinary eight-year-old children, he crossed his arms, spread his legs, and turned his nose up very high, looking like he was the most important person in the world.
Theoretically, this should be the least noteworthy opponent, but Shi Tianyi still felt a slight threat. At this moment, he could not see Huiguang, but his innate spirituality made him realize how terrifying the boy in front of him was. This was probably a genius whose comprehension far surpassed his own!
'This is bad.'
Shi Tianyi was a little nervous. He was already seventeen years old, while the two beside him were at most twelve or thirteen. If he couldn't beat this eight-year-old in front of him...
After that, I'll have to call him senior brother?
What a joke!
With this thought in mind, Shi Tianyi's expression became even more solemn. His dignity would never allow such a thing to happen, and he was determined to get the position of senior brother!
"Cough cough."
Shi Tianyi spoke first, determined to seize the initiative: "In terms of seniority, it's usually based on age. I'm the oldest here, so I'm the senior brother."
Before he could finish speaking, the masculine young man next to him immediately retorted:
"Why?"
"As the saying goes, ambition knows no age, and cultivation knows no youth. Who becomes the senior brother depends on ability. Let's have a fight, and whoever wins will be the senior brother!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the stunningly beautiful young man on the other side didn't seem to care much. He softly echoed the masculine young man, saying, "I'm fine with anything, I have no objections."
The vigorous young man was extremely satisfied with what he saw.
He first exchanged an approving glance with the beautiful young man before turning to look at the arrogant eight-year-old child.
"Little one, what about you?"
Upon hearing this, the child, whose head was tired from looking up, seemed to finally have a chance to speak. He quickly lowered his head, rubbed his sore neck, and then said in a childish voice:
Whose doll are you talking about?
"I'm your grandfather!"
After saying that, the child patted his chest and said, "You don't need to argue anymore. I, your Daoist master, have the highest talent. The position of senior brother belongs to me without a doubt!"
"Insanity!"
The masculine boy was immediately indignant and was about to give the child a good beating when he slapped him, and the boy's expression changed instantly.
The child raised his chubby little hand, which was now stronger than an impenetrable wall. With a gentle press, he pushed the masculine boy back.
"How is that possible!?"
The robust young boy stared wide-eyed, somewhat incredulous. This guy was eight years old? Could it be some old monster disguised as a child to scare him?
On the other side, the children were still somewhat shaken.
Clearly, he didn't have much combat experience; he had only reacted instinctively. He was actually a little surprised that he could defeat the masculine youth with a single palm strike.
However, this did not stop him from being smug.
"Hey, how about that? Aren't I amazing?"
The child put his hands on his hips, looked up at the sky and laughed loudly: "I'm not afraid to tell you, before I came here my master said that I am now invincible among those of the same realm!"
"In the early stage of Qi Refining, no one can rival me!"
"My magical power, spells, Dharma body, comprehension, and cultivation techniques are flawless, so you'd better just admit defeat and acknowledge me as your senior brother."
Before the child's voice had even finished speaking, Shi Tianyi began to speak.
"Cough cough!"
At this moment, his expression had returned to calm, and even a smile appeared on his face: "Little brat, I haven't even made a move yet, and you think you've already won?"
"Oh?"
The child immediately turned his nose up at him: "What? You want to challenge me too? Don't cry if you lose, I've never been afraid of anyone in the early stages of Qi Refining!"
"What about the mid-stage of Qi Refining?"
"Mid-stage Qi Refining? I'm at that too. Wait, what stage did you say you were at?"
The child was stunned, and his previously raised nostrils unconsciously lowered as he stared blankly at Shi Tianyi's aura gradually bursting outward.
In an instant, Shi Tianyi's magic power roared out. The absolute suppression of the early stage of Qi Refining by the mid-stage Qi Refining stage directly ignored all the differences in wisdom and comprehension, and pressed the child firmly to the ground. Shi Tianyi did not hold back and grabbed the child in front of him.
"That's not fair! That's not fair!"
The child struggled fiercely: "If you're so capable, lower your cultivation level and fight me at the same level! All you know is how to suppress others with your cultivation level. Can this be considered a cultivation genius?"
"Fool! This is the moment I've worked so hard to achieve such a high level of cultivation!"
"Invincible among your peers? Watch me rise to the top!"
Shi Tianyi sneered and raised his palm high.
The child stared wide-eyed, as if realizing something: "I'm warning you, my parents have never hit me, so don't do anything rash."
Snapped!
"Awooo—!!!"
In an instant, a child's loud, agonizing scream echoed from the clouds atop the mountain, lingering endlessly, interspersed with heavy, forceful slapping sounds.
Afterwards, the child was beaten so badly that he collapsed to the ground, powerless. The strong and handsome young man and the beautiful young man took advantage of the situation without any pity. As a result, the child not only failed to gain the position of senior brother, but also became the junior brother with the lowest status among the four.
The child held a grudge about this for many years.
He only stopped making trouble and took the initiative to accept the position after he discovered that his junior brother could legitimately ask his senior brothers for New Year's money.
(End of this chapter)