Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
After the Virtuous Zen Master entered the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World, he turned around with a complex look in his eyes. Wang Lin and Yang Qing met his gaze, and they knew that the Cosmic Marble Buddha probably hinted to him that the eventual conflict between Buddhism and the Celestial Sect of Wonders was inevitable.
In response to this, Wang Lin and Yang Qing could only keep silent. No matter what they said, the Virtuous Zen Master was still a Buddhist cultivator. They understood that just that it would be slightly awkward.
The Virtuous Zen Master, caught between two powers, was in the most difficult spot. While the conflict was in the distant future, neither Wang Lin, Yang Qing, nor the Virtuous Zen Master was the type to numb and lie to themselves.
Outside the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World, Wang Lin and Yang Qing looked at the Virtuous Zen Master, who was sitting in a lotus position, and once again, clasped their hands and bowed.
Monks after monks traveled to the East Sea and entered the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World. Upon entering it, they sat on top of the light shadow of Mount Meru and quietly recited scriptures.
To them, this was their Holy Ground and Nirvana.
The Great Thunderclap Temple had been destroyed for more than a few decades.
For more powerful Buddhist cultivators, these decades were not much. Before the Great Thunderclap Temple was destroyed, some of them were even doing closed-door training that was longer than the few decades.
In this moment, as they sat in the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World, everything that happened before seemed immaterial.
Wang Lin and Yang Qing looked at the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World and then, turned their gazes elsewhere. Yang Qing said slowly, “Some of those who took part in the War of Buddha Annihilation came here too. Even the Mount Shu Sword Sect was alarmed.”
He cast his gaze further east and a look of suspicion crossed his face. “There seems to be someone there, but I can’t be sure…”
Wang Lin said quietly from the side, “Your feeling is not wrong. There is an Immortal Soul Second Level cultivator there and a Mahayana level magic treasure.”
“That should be Prince of the East Sea of the Great Zhou Empire, Liang Jinglie, and the Crouching Dragon Stele, a Great Zhou magic treasure.”
Yang Qing arched his eyebrows and asked, “Aren’t Liang Jinglie and the Crouching Dragon Stele guarding the inter-world passage? Shouldn’t they be repelling the demons along with the Luofu Holy Man of the Luofu Mystical Island?”
Wang Lin said, “That’s right. However, they were fighting against the underlings of the Golden Roc Grand Sage.”
“Other than the Qiong Qi Grand Sage, whom our master killed, the Golden Roc Grand Sage had two other Undying Demon Soul Third Level demons under his command. One of them was his tribesman, the Golden Feathered Great Roc called Tuo Kong. He was also known as the Tuo Kong Grand Sage.”
“The other one was the leader of the Bifang Tribe, the Bifang Grand Sage. Earlier, the Luofu Holy Man and Liang Jinglie were fighting against them.”
“As for the Peacock Grand Sage, they could not stop him earlier and had no choice but to let him pass,” said Wang Lin, frowning slightly. “Now that the Golden Roc Grand Sage is in trouble and that the Peacock Grand Sage has disappeared, it is not wise for the Bifang Grand Sage and the Tuo Kong Grand Sage to continue fighting against the humans. Furthermore, they are likely targeted by the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage.”
Since the Golden Roc Grand Sage left the black hole, the Peacock Grand Sage did not stay too. After the Buddha re-appeared, he left quickly too.
However, after the Peacock Grand Sage disappeared, there was no news about him. He did not cause trouble anywhere else in the Divine Lands, nor did he try to return to the Barren Expanses through the inter-world passage. As the second-in-command after the Golden Roc Grand Sage, Wang Lin and the rest took notice of his mysterious disappearance.
As the locations of the Golden Roc Grand Sage and the Peacock Grand Sage were unknown, the other powerful demons under the Golden Roc Grand Sage felt slightly awkward. Naturally, they did not want to continue fighting against the Luofu Holy Man and Liang Jinglie.
They had to take note of new developments.
Hence, Liang Jinglie and the Crouching Dragon Stele too were able to divert some attention away from the inter-world passage and focused on the developments on the East Sea.
To the Great Zhou Empire, the threat brought by the revival of Buddhism could not be underestimated. From a certain perspective, Buddhists were more dangerous than demons.
Yang Qing turned to look at Wang Lin and asked, “Would they attack and attempt to destroy the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World?”
“The Cosmic Marble Buddha himself has left this place without a trace. While he is still connected to the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World and has designated the Amitabha Buddha to help receive devotees and cultivators, it is not easy to track him down. I believe that the Cosmic Marble Buddha will not leave such an exploitable weakness.”
“Under these circumstances, there is no way to defeat the Cosmic Marble Buddha. Destroying the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World doesn’t seem such like a bad idea,” said Yang Qing in a low voice. “As long as the Buddha is present, he can try and revive Buddhism. Of course, he will meet with many difficulties.”
Wang Lin looked around him and shook his head. “No one knows what are the Buddha’s plans. It won’t be easy destroying the Vaidūryanirbhāsā World. Furthermore, this is a very sensitive time period. Regardless whether it’s the Great Void Sect or the Great Zhou Empire or other powers, they do not have enough resources.”
Yang Qing nodded his head in agreement, “The Cosmic Marble Buddha needed time. The War of the Two Worlds gave him time.”
“Even if the Buddha is willing to lend a helping hand, no one else is powerful enough to destroy him, especially since our master has decided to sit this one out. Right now, only Yan Nanlai of the Great Void Sect, Liang Pan and his Imperial Palace, the Tiangang Swordmaster of the Mount Shu Sword Sect, and Zhu Hongwu and his Great Heavenly Wheels could match him. Also, the Xuan Yi Holy Man of the Great Void Sect could return from Mount Taihua too.”
“Among them, the Tiangang Swordmaster’s sword heart is destroyed by master. No one knows if he can revive himself or remain moribund. Zhu Hongwu is doing closed-door training. If the Xuan Yi Holy Man and Yan Nanlai leave Mount Taihua and Mount Baiyun respectively, then the Great Void Sect will be in a perilous and defenseless situation.”
Yang Qing said slowly, “In the end, only Yan Nanlai and Liang Pan have more freedom of movement. No wonder they attacked first in the black hole. If we gather the power of all five, there is still a chance. Yet, we still can’t predict if they can successively resist against the Buddha.”
“Even with all five of them, they would have to pay a huge price to kill the Buddha, which they may not be able to bear.”
“Weakening oneself in a War of the Two Worlds will only spawn even more troubles.”
Wang Lin nodded his head upon hearing Yang Qing’s words. He turned around and said, “We should go. The Virtuous Zen Master will probably be safe here. Before the Great Void Sect and the Supreme Heavenly Mirror return to the Divine Lands, nothing should happen.”
The two of them turned and flew toward the inter-world passage leading into the Barren Expanses from the East Sea.
Yang Qing’s expression was dark, and Wang Lin looked at him and asked, “You are thinking of the Golden Cicada?”
“Yes, according to what master has described and our own encounters, this demon, while full of tricks, has a strong inclination toward Buddhism.” Yang Qing nodded his head. “What do you think, Third Senior?”
Wang Lin replied calmly, “If not for his weak period after his Cardinal Tribulations where he recuperated behind closed doors, this demon would have taken part in the War of Buddha Annihilation all those years ago. In his heart, he is a Buddhist.”
“Of course, many accused the Great Thunderclap Temple of allying with the demons back then. Hence, no one was certain if the Golden Cicada would have battled if he could. Even if he did not, it was not because of self-preservation.”
Yang Qing said, “The Buddha gave him sentience and allowed him to turn from an ordinary insect into a demon. In his heart, he is a disciple of Buddhism. He would also claim to be a direct disciple of the Buddha. Now that the Buddha is back, no one knows what he will do.”
As the two of them spoke, they arrived at the sea near the inter-world passage. There, everything had quietened down. After all, the Golden Roc Grand Sage suffered a huge loss in the Divine Lands and may likely be hunted down by the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage. He could not protect himself, and the demons under him were likely unwilling to move. They were no longer capable of causing trouble.
However, with the Tuo Kong Grand Sage and the Bifang Grand Sage, the Luofu Holy Man and Liang Jinglie could not counter-attack. Instead, they could slowly reconquer lost land inch-by-inch.
Yet, there were many signs of destruction on top of the East Sea. Many islands were destroyed and in the depths of the ocean, there were numerous deep ravines.
As the landscape changed, some underwater volcanoes started to appear. Some even appeared on the surface of the ocean and turned into new islands. There was no life on them and they were completely barren. All one could see was volcanic ashes and a fire dancing in the crater of the volcano.
The ocean was reduced to a patch of death. Nothing seemed to be alive and there was no sign of spiritual energy anywhere. It would a long time to heal.
“Eh?” Wang Lin’s expression changed slightly. He looked in the distance as he could feel someone covering an entire patch of sky, turning it into a world independent from the Greater World.
There, pulses of violent energy could be felt. The cultivation of the combatants was not low.
It was very close to the entrance of the Ying Sea.
Wang Lin enveloped Yang Qing with his mana and flew him there. There, he saw a half-sphere, which looked like a giant bowl turned upside down above the ocean.
While it was indeed turned upside-down, the bottom of the half-sphere was not in contact with the sea. The space where the two sides almost touched was blurred and those within it were unable to enter the sea. Also, they could not escape from its top.
This half-sphere appeared to be made from chunks of transparent crystals. On every crystal, a vast amount of mystic light shone. Ancient and demonic runes swirled non-stop on the half-sphere.
The entire object resembled a giant turtle shell.
Wang Lin looked at carefully and he started to understand what was going on. “The Rotary Turtle Tribe? Only an Undying Demon Soul Third Level demon can pull this off. Is this the Rotary Turtle Grand Sage under the Heavenly Charms Grand Sage?”