Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Lin Feng stood expressionlessly in the black hole as the mana around his body started to spread and form into purple clouds. They came into contact with the surrounding sea of purple light and began to massively absorb the spiritual energy.
The Cosmic Marble Buddha had left and there was time to go after him. Liang Pan stopped, and started to get his Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy too.
Yan Nanlai appeared to be doing the same, but without any semblance of joy. He looked at the black hole that was breaking apart before him and said nothing.
Lin Feng looked into the distance and telepathically told his disciples about the return of the Buddha.
“As I did not come from this world, Emperor Ru is unable to see my past and present. As long as I remain in this world, he is unable to transcend it,” said Lin Feng.
Under him, Zhu Yi and Wang Lin were the most well-versed in Buddhism. Naturally, their reaction was the quickest. Zhu Yi said, “Just like what you said, master, I suppose that there is bound to be a fight between the Buddhists and us.”
Zhu Yi had returned from the Purple Mist Sea entrance of the Black Sea. Then, he went to the inter-world passage near the Southern Wilderness. Earlier, he battled with the Zhujian Grand Sage, whom he managed to beat back.
Now, the demons who entered through the Southern Wilderness were being suppressed by Zhu Yi and the Qin Emperor Shi Yu, as well as their respective magic treasures, the Higan Golden Bridge and the Immortal Dragon City. They retreated back into the Barren Expanses with their tails between their legs.
However, no one was particularly happy that the battle in the Southern Wilderness went from defense to offense.
The reason why Zhu Yi was able to return so quickly was because he obtained news from the Purple Sea Mist that the Phoenix Grand Sage had entered the Black Sea already. She was battling with the dragons against the Great Void Sect.
The entrance of the Phoenix Tribe and the Divine Parasol Tree Tribe into the war was something unavoidable right now.
If the Great Void Sect could resist this additional pressure, then it was still fine. If they cracked under pressure, the dragons would be able to free up manpower to influence the other battles.
Zhu Yi sighed, “I wonder what’s the impact of the revival of Buddhism on the current war.”
Wang Lin said, “The power of the Cosmic Marble Buddha is indeed immense. However, he is unable to exert control over the present situation. I suppose he will be like the Emperor of the Dead. He will keep a low profile, bide his time, and gather the many Buddhist cultivators to rebuild Buddhism.”
Xiao Yan, who had returned from the Netherworld Sea and was currently in charge of the Kunlun Mountains, said, “The Virtuous Zen Master and many Buddhist disciples had left the Kunlun Mountains. However, he mentioned that he will pay you a visit first at the location of the former Great Thunderclap Temple.”
Lin Feng nodded his head and said, “That’s expected.”
He continued, “Tianhao and you shall remain in the Barren Expanses. Take care of each other and focus on Mount Taihua.”
When Lin Feng was holding the Ancient Ape Demons off, Shi Tianhao had already sent his parents back to the Divine Lands and returned. Then, he went straight for the Barren Expanses through the Southern Wilderness.
Zhu Yi replied, “I understand. The entrance of the Phoenix Grand Sage into the Black Sea will only increase the pressure on the Great Void Sect. The powerful cultivators guarding Mount Taihua may assist their brethren in the Black Sea. Mount Taihua’s defenses may weaken and hence, attract the attention of the other demons.”
Lin Feng said to Wang Lin, “Wang Lin, through my formation, go to the Celestial Mountain Yingzhou. Then, head west from the Ying Sea and wait for the Cosmic Buddha Marble on the East Sea.”
Wang Lin’s heart trembled. “Master, you are…”
Lin Feng said, “Correct, you have a part to play in completing the Way of Karma. Hence, the Buddhists will surely settle this meritorious deed with us. You shall benefit from it.”
“The future will not change because of these small deeds. Keeping them is useless, so why not just claim them all? The sooner you benefit from it, the better. The Buddha won’t be stingy.”
Wang Lin replied, “Yes, master.”
Lin Feng continued, “Yang Qing, follow your Third Senior with the Cang Heaven Blade. You can bring some of your disciples along too. The focus here is improving their cultivation, but don’t neglect their safety.”
Yang Qing said in clear voice, “Yes, master.”
Hearing that, Wang Lin said, “Many demons that intrude from the East Sea are under the Golden Roc Grand Sage…”
Lin Feng smiled, “Of course, the biggest winner this time from the return of the Buddha is naturally the Buddhists. The rest of us benefitted too, here and there. Only the Golden Roc Grand Sage suffered. Not only did he gain nothing, he lost all his assets.”
“Heavenly Charms stopped me from stopping his escape, but she will not protect him. I think she is going to after him to strengthen herself.”
“This trip for the Golden Roc is really disastrous. He may even lose his life. Even if he does not die, it will be hard for him to re-rise. His subordinates will probably leave him and hence, don’t worry about going there. Just make sure that the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage doesn’t completely dominate him.”
Wang Lin and Yang Qing understood his intentions. “Yes, master. We know what to do.”
No matter whether they kill them or send them flying back to the Barren Expanses, these were all preferable to the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage taking over the Golden Roc Grand Sage’s underlings.
After he ended his discussion with his disciples, Lin Feng remained in the sky above the ruins of the Great Thunderclap Temple.
The black hole in the sky had disappeared. One could see the world once more. However, the ground underneath him was in utter ruins. Ravines ravaged the landscape and canyons were everywhere. The formerly majestic mountains were completely gone.
In terms of appearances, this was the most ravaged place in the Divine Lands since the start of the war.
Lin Feng stood quietly in void space. While this was the territory of the Great Zhou Empire, Liang Pan did not seem to mind his presence. Instead, he returned to Tianjing City with his Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai.
If not for the return of the Cosmic Marble Buddha, he would have gained much from this trip. However, looking at it now, nothing could have stopped the Buddha’s return. To the Great Zhou Empire, this was a major threat.
While they were unfriendly with the Celestial Sect of Wonders, which had pressurized the Great Zhou Empire in many regards, the threat from Buddhism was much greater.
Yan Nanlai, the sect leader of the Great Void Sect, too left with complicated emotions. The impact of this event on the Great Void Sect was in no way lesser than Lin Feng foiling their plans earlier on in the Barren Expanses.
However, their defeat today was partially caused by their defeat then. The main problem was that the Supreme Heavenly Mirror had left the Divine Lands for the Black Sea.
Since then, developments spiraled out of the Great Void Sect’s control.
To Lin Feng, while this development was unexpected, he benefitted much from it too. The most direct benefit was obtaining the Golden Roc Grand Sage’s gate to the Starry Sea.
With this, he now possessed three gates to the Starry Sea.
With four gates, he could enter the Star Tomb from the Starry Sea. With three gates, he could forcibly shut someone else’s gate.
At the same time, with three gates, Lin Feng meant that no one could open the Star Tomb without his consent. There were only three other Starry Gates whose location was unknown and which were not under Lin Feng’s control.
Other than the gate to the Starry Sea, Lin Feng, like Liang Pan and Yan Nanlai, absorbed a large amount of spiritual energy.
While Lin Feng would eventually have to face the Cosmic Marble Buddha, the pros and cons of that confrontation depended entirely on Lin Feng.
Lin Feng watched Yan Nanlai and Liang Pan leave. He did not move but instead, remained in void space. He communicated to his Avatar of Ares, which was in the Barren Expanses with Mount Yujing, and his Thunder Dragon Avatar.
The Thunder Dragon Avatar followed Lin Feng’s instructions and went after the bone that Lin Feng had sent into a Middle World with his Barrier Breaking Stone.
Speaking about it, the reason why the Golden Roc Grand Sage was able to escape from the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage was due to this bone. Whether or not he could rise once more depended on this bone too.
However, Lin Feng had no intention of giving it to the Golden Roc Grand Sage.
Furthermore, the Golden Roc Grand Sage may not even survive the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage’s onslaught.
Lin Feng sat in mid-air, cross-legged, and closed his eyes.
After a while, he opened his eyes and noticed that void space opened. The Virtuous Zen Master appeared. He walked before Lin Feng, placed his palms together and said, “Greetings, Master Lin.”
Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, “Are you going to find the Cosmic Marble Buddha?”
The Virtuous Zen Master nodded his head and said, “The Buddha is compassionate. He comes once more to save all mortals. Earlier, I was incapable of aiding in this noble venture and I deeply regret it. Today, I hope to help the Buddha rebuild Buddhism and spread his teachings to all creations, saving them from suffering.”
“All these years, I have benefitted from time under you and learned a great deal from you. Your teachings helped me become a better cultivator, and I am eternally grateful. If you don’t mind, Master Lin, I shall continue to serve you. This time, as I head east to receive the Buddha, I am willing to serve as a bridge between Buddhism and the Celestial Sect of Wonders.”
Hearing the Virtuous Zen Master’s heartfelt words, Lin Feng sighed silently. The old monk’s cultivation was not high enough to see that he and the Buddha would surely clash with each other in the future.
Lin Feng shook his head and said quietly, “You are too kind, Virtuous Zen Master. All these years, you have worked hard for our sect and treated others fairly and generously. You contributed much to my sect and took care of many of the junior disciples. I have seen all these.”
“I will naturally not stop you from heading east. Bon voyage.”
The Virtuous Zen Master closed his hands together and bowed once more. “Thank you, Master Lin.”
After he bade farewell to Lin Feng, the Virtuous Zen Master continued eastward. At the same time, every single Buddhist cultivator in the Divine Lands, regardless of age or cultivation level, all planned on heading east too.
The other powers were observing them quietly.