Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The return of the Buddha to the Divine Lands naturally made the many Buddhist cultivators rejoice. It was as if they had completely forgotten about their previous sense of loss.
Quickly, every Buddhist cultivator in the Divine Lands started to head eastward to find the Cosmic Marble Buddha.
Even the mortal Buddhist devotees felt a strong pull in their hearts and they too wished to head east. If not for the fact that the Great Zhou Empire, the Great Qin Empire, and the other powers were looking after them, many would completely disregard the danger of demons in the Divine Lands and head east to kneel at the feet of the Buddha.
In the Divine Lands, other powers looked on at this mass movement of Buddhists. Some people hoped to trace the location of the Cosmic Marble Buddha from them.
Wang Lin, Yang Qing and the rest went to the Celestial Mountain Yingzhou through the spell formation in the Kunlun Mountains. From Yingzhou, they left the Ying Sea and appeared on top of the East Sea.
They did not need to search. Instead, they stood quietly above the rolling azure waves.
After a while, a bright light shone on the horizon where the sea and sky met. Quickly, it enveloped the entire sky and sea, illuminating the sky and sea and making them shine bright like a crystal.
There, they could see the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World. Its four sides were 48000 zhang long and it was 48000 zhang high. A gigantic Heavenly Stupa appeared before Wang Lin and the rest.
The 48000 sariras on the stupa started to shine brightly with light and illuminated all under heaven. The Vaidūryanirbhāsā World was eternally bright, without day or night.
On the top of the Heavenly Stupa, there was a Buddha who sat serenely. His face was peaceful, and he had 48000 arms. Each of his palms held a small ball of light, which shone like a star.
Wang Lin and Yang Qing stood next to each other. They clasped their hands together and bowed, saying, “Greetings, Cosmic Marble Buddha, from your juniors.”
The Cosmic Marble Buddha sat on top of the Heavenly Stupa and looked at Wang Lin and Yang Qing. Then, he nodded.
His gaze fell temporarily on Wang Lin. In his eyes, one could see countless rays of light flashing.
Immediately, the Cosmic Marble Buddha said nothing. He reached out with a palm and pointed at Wang Lin with his index finger.
One could see a golden swastika on his fingertip. The swastika left his fingertip and floated in mid-air.
It did not appear to possess any mana or energy, or any awe-inspiring power. However, the moment Wang Lin saw the swastika, his gaze flashed.
A rock appeared silently above his head. The rock was completely flat, and its surface was shiny. One could vaguely see a human figure in it.
This was the fifth spell Wang Lin came up with, the Three Life Stone.
The stone, which was like a mirror, appeared capable of showing one’s past, present, and future.
The swastika landed on Wang Lin’s stone and quickly disappeared.
In Wang Lin’s eyes, an infinite amount of light appeared to flash quickly past. His long, flowing white hair started to flutter in the air, even though there was no wind.
Runes flashed on the Three Life Stone above his head. The surface of the rock, which was like a mirror, became clearer and clearer. At last, it became as clear and bright as a crystal.
Wang Lin fell silent for a while. Then, he nodded his head and said, “Thank you, Cosmic Marble Buddha.”
His tone was flat and calm. However, the Cosmic Marble Buddha took no offense.
Like this, the two sides had settled their scores. The Buddha no longer owed the Celestial Sect of Wonders anything for the help it previously rendered. After today, no one knew if they would become friend or foe.
Now, Wang Lin could befriend the Cosmic Marble Buddha if he wished. He was he, Lin Feng was Lin Feng. No one owed anyone anything anymore.
If he performed meritorious deeds for the Cosmic Marble Buddha, it would not affect the Buddha’s future conflict with Lin Feng. Conversely, even though Lin Feng was sure to enter a conflict against the Buddha, Wang Lin would not be affected.
However, Wang Lin would not do that, even though the Cosmic Marble Buddha was more powerful than he and any meritorious deed he performed for the Buddha would greatly benefit him.
To Wang Lin, the enemy of his master was his enemy. There was nothing else to discuss.
It was not because he had no principle. Conversely, this was one of his most basic principles.
Wang Lin did not speak much usually, but he had his own way of thinking.
Today, he came only because of Lin Feng’s instructions. From a personal perspective, he did not care whether he came today or not.
After today, neither side would owe each other anything. If the Cosmic Marble Buddha battled Lin Feng and the Celestial Sect of Wonders in the future, Wang Lin would not stand by and do nothing.
Furthermore, because he knew of this eventual outcome, Wang Lin would continue to cultivate and train even harder in preparation for that day.
After he settled his debts, the Cosmic Marble Buddha had no intention of keeping Wang Lin and Yang Qing. For him, there were more important tasks ahead.
After he sent the two of them out, the Cosmic Marble Buddha lightly tapped the Heavenly Stupa. On the stupa, the bright light started to shine.
The light filled the entire heaven and earth. Above the East Sea, he created his own independent world, separate from time and space.
Looking at it from the outside, Yang Qing turned to ask Wang Lin, “Third Senior, is this the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World?”
“Correct, this world should have been inhabited by the Medicine Buddha. After all, this is the future world of Buddhism, contrasting against the Nirvana World of the past and the Central Saha World of the present. Before today, according to Buddhist canon, this world could never appear. Even Emperor Ru himself could not create this world,” said Wang Lin. “Of course, from now on, this is the present world of Buddhism.”
“However, space and time in this world will be very complex. The past, present, and future will all be intersected here.”
Wang Lin looked into the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World. He noticed the shape of the Cosmic Marble Buddha and the Heavenly Stupa becoming fainter and fainter as he said, “The Buddha that should have inhabited this world is the Medicine Buddha. Yet, it’s the Cosmic Marble Buddha now.”
Yang Qing said in a low voice, “Why does he want to reveal the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World now?”
Wang Lin replied, “To receive his followers. With them, he can rebuild Buddhism. However, he himself is unlikely to stay there for long.”
Yang Qing looked at the disappearing Cosmic Marble Buddha and the Heavenly Stupa. All that was left was a brightly-illuminated world. “If he doesn’t stay and guard this place, it means…”
His gaze flashed, and he closed his mouth. His gaze turned to the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World. He noticed that there was the shadow of a giant mountain inside.
The mountain was exceedingly huge and like a world unto itself. It almost occupied the entire Vaidūryanirbhāsā World.
However, it was different from the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World and separate from it. Like an independent world, it existed within the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World.
While he had yet to see it personally, Yang Qing could recognize it from the swirling light image. “That peak, that’s the shape of the first treasure of Buddhism, Mount Meru! Does the Buddha want to rebuild Mount Meru?”
Wang Lin shook his head and said, “It won’t be so easy. He expended a lot of energy in forming the Heavenly Stupa already.”
“Mount Meru, as you see it, is only a light shadow. It is formed from his mana and supernatural awareness and used primarily to transport others into the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World.”
Yang Qing looked over carefully and too realized there were many paths on ‘Mount Meru’. On top of Mount Meru, there was the light shadow of another Buddha, which appeared different from the Cosmic Marble Buddha.
“Is that the spell body of the Amitabha Buddha?” Yang Qing seemed to understand as he looked at the light shadow and the light shadow of Mount Meru.
Wang Lin said, “A Buddha would still need time before he could the power of his previous incarnations.”
“This spell body could help him bring people into his Vaidūryanirbhāsā World. With enough devotees, he could turn it into an avatar.”
Wang Lin looked at the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World and said, “Whoever enters here can become one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals, who would each command 7000 soldiers, or yakshas, to protect Buddhism.”
(Translator’s Note: Yakshas are guardian deities in Buddhism)
“Of course, we still do not know what kind of people the Buddha would bring into this world.”
Yang Qing looked westward and noticed Buddhist light flashing.
The brightest light faded, and an old monk dressed in lunar-white robes appeared. Wang Lin and Yang Qing recognized him. It was the Virtuous Zen Master.
The Virtuous Zen Master stopped outside the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World and did not enter immediately. Instead, he bowed to Wang Lin and Yang Qing.
Unlike when they faced the Cosmic Marble Buddha, Wang Lin and Yang Qing bowed twice to the Virtuous Zen Master and said, “May you find your Nirvana.”
The Virtuous Zen Master bowed once more, “Thank you, young masters.”
With that, he turned and saw another ray of Buddhist light appearing before him. A monk with a pure-gold body filled with cracks appeared before him. It was Monk Da Kong.
The Da Kong Monk looked at the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World and unlike others, he was not calm. Instead, he appeared slightly dazed and had an odd look on his face.
He bowed to the Virtuous Zen Master, who returned the gesture. While they were previously in the camps of the Great Zhou Empire and the Celestial Sect of Wonders, and that the Da Kong Monk was tied to the destruction of Buddhism earlier on, both sides chose not to pursue this matter anymore. Instead, they looked at the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World.
Then, they entered it together.
After the Virtuous Zen Master and the Da Kong Monk, their footsteps slowed. The Virtuous Zen Master appeared jolted and his gaze became complex. He turned back to look at Wang Lin and Yang Qing and sighed softly. After he circled Mount Meru once, he flew together with the Da Kong Monk to its top and landed on its peak.
Green lotus blossomed everywhere on top of Mount Meru. The Virtuous Zen Master, the Da Kong Monk, and the other Buddhist cultivators spread apart and each of them sat on top of a green lotus in the lotus position. They placed their palms together, and slowly closed their eyes. Silent and unmoving, they appeared to be dead.