Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 425 - 35 Sentences Huayang Venerable to Death

Chapter 425: Chapter 35 Sentences Huayang Venerable to Death

That year, the Daoist was fifty-five years old, an Immortal in form, proficient in profound Daoist Skills.

The jujube trees were laden with fruit, and as the Daoist wrote the character "Buddha," Earth Bursting Golden Lotuses surged from the ground.

"Buddhist texts say that one who can make the Earth Bursting Golden Lotus appear can be called a Buddha."

The nun bent down and touched a bit of the golden light; her fingertip immediately turned into mud.

"But you’re just a Taoist, why cultivate Buddhist Law?"

"The Buddha is inherently Dao, and Dao is inherently Buddha; even the Demon can be Buddhist or Daoist. Buddha, Dao, and Demon, all three are originally one, just like heaven and earth, yin and yang, and all beings eventually converge on the same path."

The Daoist responded emotionlessly, each word and tone imbued with profound truths.

"My path began with Dao, followed by the Buddha Sword, and lastly the Demon Sword. Yet, it’s the Buddha Sword that comes most naturally to me, the understanding most profound; now, it’s as if there were no one before me."

"No one before you?" The nun looked surprised, "This Buddha Sword has been refined by countless Buddhas over millions of years. Not to mention the Immortal Sword—have you really surpassed the Immortal Sword?"

"Indeed."

The Daoist nodded, and in an instant, palaces rose from the ground around the bamboo grove courtyard, then turned into flying snow, and in a breath, they settled back into mountains.

With one thought, mountains rose.

With one thought, countless palaces stood.

The nun couldn’t distinguish between illusion and reality, guessing that it was a transformation of Sword Intent, yet tangible as real objects.

She asked, "What kind of realm is this?"

"There’s no realm, just my realization."

"Why not give it a name, as a pinnacle achievement deserves, to let future generations understand your great Dao?"

"Cultivation is about cultivating oneself; what does it matter if future generations know? It is all but an illusion."

"I want to know the name."

"Then call it ’Myriad Forms,’ it can be compared to Buddha. I’ve never seen a Buddha Ancestor, so I don’t know how it compares to them."

"You still dare to compare yourself with a Buddha Ancestor. Initially, the Buddhist Sect wasn’t cultivated by humans but was some kind of Innate divine being. The Buddhist scriptures mention the Twelve Direction Buddha Ancestors, but in reality, very few have seen a Buddha Ancestor."

The nun changed her tone, "The Jade Sword Buddha embodies the True Buddha Ancestor; my master has evaluated it, and she needs to deal with the Devil Clan but can’t resolve the issue with the True Buddha Ancestor yet."

The Daoist’s brow lightly furrowed, his cool demeanor slightly altered.

"Back then, I wasn’t an Immortal yet, unaware of her issues."

"My master says that she and the Buddha Demon are like an egg, the Demon is the egg white, the Buddha the yolk, and she is merely the shell."

"How so?"

"One solution kills the Buddha Demon; another supports her empty shell with an equal level of great Dao. There are many compromise solutions, but success isn’t guaranteed."

"For example?"

"The Jade Sword Buddha’s master, the previous generation Buddha Sword, had a method to slay the Buddha Ancestor. My master mentioned a slim chance, only one in a thousand. However, if you go, there might be some opportunity, as you’re now an Immortal."

"That troublesome nun," remarked the Daoist.

The nun smiled, "I remember you used to follow her around every day wanting to learn swordsmanship, and she never gave you the time of day. If it were today, you could give her a good knock on the forehead."

Give her a good knock on the forehead.

The Daoist seemed somewhat tempted.

"Could I rub it?"

"If you’re stronger than her, naturally, you could."

——————————————

In the blink of an eye, spring gave way to winter.

In Xuanhuang State, winter brought no snow, and the seasons were as spring.

It is said that Qingcang Immortal, fearing that winter might affect agriculture, set up a grand array on Three Pure Mountain. To the north, he erected a mountain range to block the bitter west winds and allowed geothermal heat to arise during winter.

The annual harvest in Xuanhuang State could sustain half of the Human Race.

Gu Wen had just authorized a disbursement of five million Spirit Stones for additional repairs to the geothermal array.

He met alone with the great power responsible for the array.

The geothermal array was a matter of internal governance, belonging to the jurisdiction of the city of all directions, managed by the Earth Fire Palace, currently presided over by a True Monarch of the Yin Yang Sect, serving a thirty-year term.

In a ten-foot-wide side hall, Gu Wen sat opposite the True Monarch of the Yin Yang Sect, who appeared composed.

Gu Wen had observed that all the great powers in significant roles were very good at acting; with their cultivation level, happiness and sorrow were easily controlled, showing no outward problems.

"I’m an old acquaintance of the head of your Yin Yang Sect."

Gu Wen poured a cup of wine and pushed it towards the other party, who was flattered and drank continuously, laughing, "Subordinate once heard of the esteemed and the head’s relationship, fervently supported the Daoist Sect then, but alas, was too weak at the time to influence the sect’s will."

Back then, Yin Yang Sect was divided into Yin and Yang factions, where the Yin Venerable at the base of Heavenly Spring Mountain antagonized the Heavenly Girl.

If not for Mr. Hee, a friend of Gu Wen from the other faction, today’s first-class Yin Yang Sect could have fallen to second-class.

The Daoist Sect wouldn’t directly annihilate a sect; by taking away most of their Spirit Veins and Spirit Fields, they could ensure its rapid decline over a few hundred years.

"How is Mr. Hee doing?"

"The head sought a breakthrough years ago and hasn’t appeared since then."

Gu Wen heard thoughts intermittently, as if Taiyin Daoist charm peeled the smiling face off the True Monarch.

[The head’s personality greatly changed; not even sure if it can change back to a male form.]

"I heard he transformed into a Heavenly Person; he should be fine, right?"

"No issues, the head’s cultivation plays with creation, representing the unity of Yin and Yang."

[Breaking through by cutting off roots, self Dual Cultivation, neither male nor female. Fortunately, the females in the head’s family aren’t licentious, otherwise, who knows how many scandals there would be.]

"..."

Gu Wen, looking uncomfortable, changed the topic, "Being new to the Jade Palace, I’m not familiar with worldly matters. Today, my master asked me to inquire about the Earth Fire Palace—how goes the repair of the Ninth Transition Earth Fire Array?"

The True Monarch of the Yin Yang Sect immediately replied, "To the esteemed, the Earth Fire Palace has spent ten years and restored the Array as it was. With major checks annually and minor monthly, surely no mistakes."

[Ten out of seven repairs, wondering if those Spirit Stones might have problems. Having been in retreat for seven years, I should go back and check, just to prevent any real problems.]