Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 107 - 93 Not Ashamed to Ask for Advice from a Saint

Chapter 107: Chapter 93 Not Ashamed to Ask for Advice from a Saint

Inn’s second floor.

Jade Sword Buddha gently knocked thrice on the door, only entering when she heard a "come in" from inside. She saw a figure wearing a plain white gauze covering their face, engrossed in her book, completely absorbed in whatever scripture it might have been.

She pressed her palms together and bent slightly, saying, "This humble nun has seen the Heavenly Girl."

"We are of the same generation; you needn’t be so formal," dared Yu Hua as she closed her book and looked up at Jade Sword Buddha with a smile. "You now have a different kind of style about you. I wonder if those old bald donkeys would spit blood and die upon seeing you."

The summit was small, and those who stood upon it inevitably knew each other. As a Taoist Heavenly Girl, Yu Hua naturally recognized the candidate for the new generation’s Buddha Ancestor before her.

Yet this candidate for Buddha Ancestor was rather unusual; she did not follow Mahayana, nor did she take the Lesser Path. She was neither a Voice-hearer nor a Pratyeka-buddha.

She spoke not of karma, had no regard for future lives or aspirations for the future, focusing only on the present.

In the past, present, future, the three Buddhas, it was only the Present Buddha’s position that was vacant. Outsiders thought she was short-sighted, but little did they know that Jade Sword Buddha’s sights were set further than anyone’s—she aimed directly for the supreme position of the three Buddhas.

With a voice ethereal and full of reverence, Jade Sword Buddha exclaimed, "Amitabha Buddha, a year has passed, and I did not expect the Heavenly Girl to have made further progression, harnessing the power of an Immortal for your own."

Yu Hua smiled but did not say much, for how could she bring up Gu Wen and allow others to covet him?

Despite being a nun, a nun was nonetheless a monk, and what bald donkeys loved most was to claim ’this person has a destiny with our Buddha.’ There was no guarantee against lascivious ghosts with ulterior motives.

The Buddhist, Taoist, and Demon sects secretly learned from and stole from one another, finding that the higher one climbed, the more paths converged.

"What brings you here today?"

"I wish to inquire about the changes at Heavenly Spring Mountain to see if it’s caused by the Immortality Pill."

"I do not know, but one must ascend eventually."

Yu Hua looked out the window at the lush green mountains that glistened with every shift of the sunlight. At such heights, they were no different from flatland to her, yet the real trouble was the presence of energies on par with her own.

Stronger than that of the Ancestor Tree before, within it lay power of an ’Immortal’ grade.

Yet, these were things Yu Hua would not reveal to Jade Sword Buddha, as they were neither from the same sect nor the same faith. Moreover, they could become mortal enemies over the Immortality Pill; Yu Hua was prepared to crush all past sentiments.

Jade Sword Buddha then said, "Buddhist Sect has a secret concerning Heavenly Spring Mountain. I wonder if it would suffice in exchange for an answer from the Heavenly Girl."

"Speak, if it is worthwhile, I will respond to you," said Yu Hua, her tone indifferent as if cutting through illusions, yet she had the leverage, and Jade Sword Buddha had no other option.

In today’s world, the only person closest to being an Immortal was Yu Hua alone; she was the only Immortal walking the earth. Even if not truly an Immortal, her stature and position were acknowledged by the Buddhist Sect as the ’Other Shore.’

Jade Sword Buddha said, "At Heavenly Spring Mountain, there exists an Immortal Sword, not a Taoist Soldier nor a common Immortal Artifact, but a sword that itself can make one an Immortal. I wonder if the Heavenly Girl has felt it?"

Yu Hua did not immediately answer and asked, "What is the origin of that sword?"

"Heavenly Spring Mountain was forged by our Buddhist Sect in conjunction with Broken Sword Mountain; it was the training ground for the Sword Master to transcend. And the sword is the Sword Master himself, after he achieved transcendence."

Jade Sword Buddha revealed another secret of the Buddhist Sect, which was also the biggest secret of Immortal Land, known only to the Saint Lands of the Three Religions.

Immortal Land was not created for prodigies to build their foundation on the Immortal Path; rather, it was the place where Immortals practiced.

It was not about becoming an Immortal elsewhere, but becoming one here; Immortals were born from this place.

The so-called destiny was not a protective measure but a calamity from heaven and earth for those who aspired to become Immortals.

"Bone as the blade, skin as the hilt, flesh and blood as tempering, Divine Soul to awaken its spirit. It hasn’t emerged for ten thousand years, the Buddhists thought it a failure, but now..."

Jade Sword Buddha also looked towards Heavenly Spring Mountain, the implications clear without words.

It was either caused by the Immortality Pill, or the Immortal Sword had transcended.

And if the Immortal Sword had indeed transcended, then in all the heavens and earth, only Yu Hua would be able to sense it. Returning to the Void could not peer into Mahayana; mortals could not perceive Immortals; the difference between Immortals and mortals was vast, even greater than between mortals and Mahayana.

After a moment of contemplation, perhaps just a few breaths, which to Jade Sword Buddha felt like years, every breath as heavy as mountains, Yu Hua said, "There indeed exists a being at Heavenly Spring Mountain that is on par with me."

If the other party had not revealed the existence of the Immortal Sword, Yu Hua would not have mentioned her own perception; conversely, it was different.

After a long silence, Jade Sword Buddha bowed with hands pressed together and said, "I thank the Heavenly Girl for the answer."

Yu Hua asked, "Do the Buddhist Sect and Broken Sword Mountain plan to take this sword away?"

Should the Immortal Sword be taken away, her ascent to Heavenly Spring Mountain would be much easier, and the Sword Array might not exist at all.

Jade Sword Buddha shook her head, "I do not know. How could we control the fate of the Immortal Sword? The Buddhist Sect merely seeks to form a good connection. However, given the chance, this humble nun wishes to experience the power of the Immortal Sword."

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Downstairs at the inn.

Gu Wen arrived at the innkeeper’s counter, where as before, the innkeeper bowed his head and nodded, always with a smile and a demeanor that suggested ’courtesy is good for business.’

When they first met, Gu Wen had shattered the table with a slap, demanding a lower price, thinking him to be a businessman exploiting the situation, only to discover he was actually a True Monarch.

Looking closer, he seemed familiar; he remembered, on the day True Monarch Qiang was killed, another True Monarch appeared right before he passed out.

Gu Wen asked, "Was it the senior who brought me back that day?"

"Only half correct; I carried you part of the way before Senior Ao took over."

Jiu Zhenjun answered with a chuckle, without any airs of a True Monarch, and asked, "May I know what instructions the young master has?"

His coming to Immortal Land to open an inn served two purposes: to mend his Taoist foundation and to accumulate good deeds.

All the prodigies who congregated here were future rulers of the human race; ranging from the inheritors of the Three Religions, the Taoist Venerable, the Demon Lord, the Buddha Ancestor of the Buddhist Sect, to those who command a corner of the Earth Realm, almost encompassing the entire human race.