Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 434 - 39: Going Straight to Sumeru Mountain After Drinking

Chapter 434: Chapter 39: Going Straight to Sumeru Mountain After Drinking

"My Buddhist Law is not even comparable to a random stroke by an old nun, not to mention one-tenth of the Buddha Ancestor?"

"Where does the belief come from that one can be unmatched without stepping outside, where does the idea that the frog at the bottom of the well is number one in the world come from?"

"And where does my invincibility come from, where does my being unmatched come from? It’s all just the wishful thinking of a mortal woman."

Gu Wen had been deceived more than once, and there was no anger in his eyes. He said, "Master, I am enlightened."

The old nun shook her head and replied, "I dare not accept such an honor. I am merely a mortal. Venerable, your Daoist skill transcends, incomparable to mine."

As early as eight hundred years ago, the old nun had heard of a supremely gifted individual who attained complete fulfillment. She often heard her quiet disciple talk about it.

How a mortal step by step defeated various prodigies.

Starting from the least, he was extraordinary.

By now, he must have already become an Immortal. An Immortal under a thousand years old, the future will certainly see another Qingcang Immortal.

"How do my Buddhist teachings compare to those of the Buddha Ancestor?"

Gu Wen, knowing his shortcomings and eager to learn, asked since his Buddhist Law was lacking.

"Like the vast sea compared to a stream, Fellow Daoist’s Buddhist Law originates only from the Buddha Sword, while the Buddha Ancestor’s Buddhist Law originates from all sentient beings. Where the wishes of sentient beings converge, a Buddha is born. Amidst the gathering of Buddhas from all directions, a Buddha Ancestor is born."

"What exactly is the original intention of Buddha?"

"Not a thing. Buddha is simply Buddha, and the Venerable is also a Buddha."

"Then why am I not comparable to the Buddha Ancestor?"

"Because Buddha spoke of the six realms, and sentient beings are unequal. Therefore, in Buddhist Law, the Venerable naturally cannot compare to the Buddha Ancestor."

The old nun and Gu Wen sat on the ground, the Buddha Sword in her hand sketching on the ground, each stroke creating exquisite Buddhist characters.

Buddhism is an order, a supreme rationale, akin to the cultivation of Dao.

Compared to Daoist Skill, which is natural, Buddhist Law emphasizes the order among sentient beings, their ranks and status are Heaven-sent.

A realization dawned in Gu Wen’s mind. He occasionally bowed his head to gaze at the Buddhist characters, at other times his face showing deep thought.

A little man in the Qi Sea sprouted a hair.

He asked again, "Then why do temples preach goodness, and why did the Buddhist Sect propose virtue earlier than my Daoist Sect?"

"Because of incense and offerings, true Buddhas do not preach goodness. It is merely a cunning method by us mortals. The Human Race is just one among countless Buddhas; in the Devil Clan, among sentient beings, wherever there is faith, there is Buddha."

The old nun spoke the true meaning of Buddha, her slow voice highlighting a streak of Buddha light in Gu Wen’s Qi Sea.

Where there is faith, there Buddha exists.

A hair grew an inch longer, the little man in the Qi Sea brought his hands together, a streak of Buddha light appeared.

He believed in the Buddha within, considering himself on the path of Buddha.

Gauging his own body, he inquired through Buddha.

"The Human Race believes in goodness, and human Buddhas preach goodness, yet many people are inconsistent in deeds and words. Venerable should know, below Sumeru Mountain is impurity; the impurity of the Buddhist Sect lies in mismatched moral conduct, subject to the scorn of the world."

The old nun slightly opened her eyes, a trace of cold light causing the mist in the mountains to frost over, as if plunging into the harsh winter.

"My Buddha is compassionate, yet unwilling to let go of a suffering child. My Buddha is compassionate, yet unwilling to shed the Golden Body and lower his head to look upon the myriad of sentient beings."

She sighed deeply, carrying a profound sense of sorrow.

"If it is so unworthy, perhaps the Demon Path is better, at least demons are consistent in what they say and do. Or perhaps the way of Daoism, with its moderate teachings on natural Daoist Skill, without relying on externals, Daoist Skill is natural."

A being nearly Immortal in the Buddhist Sect, yet filled with contempt and disdain for Buddha.

Perhaps this was why she couldn’t transcend. The dross of the Buddhist Sect gave her a sense of grievance, leading her to question the path she cultivated.

When a cultivator questions their own path, they can in no way transcend.

Perhaps by entering demonhood or Daoism through Buddha, she might find a glimmer of life.

Yu Hua once said, the great powers of the Buddhist, Daoist, and Demon sects share a certain degree of interaction, similar to the Yin Yang Sect and Yin Yang Union Sect, as well as the Buddhist Sect’s Joyful Zen. These sects all ultimately lead to the same destination.

Even tracing back, they all stem from the same lineage.

"Venerable has surely transcended, esteemed as a Mystic Sect Immortal. May I ask how you interpret Buddhism and Daoism?"

The old nun, in turn, asked Gu Wen. She had asked many other great powers outside of the Buddhist Sect, including the world-renowned Qingcang Immortal.

Everyone’s answers varied, based on their preferences. The path they cultivated was considered top-tier; the other two religions were only seen as the worst.

Only Qingcang Immortal shook his head, speaking only of the people’s suffering.

"There is no high or low in law, no nobility or baseness in the path."

Gu Wen replied nonchalantly, like some Daoist masters. He paused, then said, "If we discuss the good and bad, in my humble opinion, hypocrisy is better than blatantly evil deeds. If you truly seek a most sacred religion, then it has yet to appear in this world."

He didn’t think the Buddhist Sect was entirely bad, especially compared to the half of the Demon Path sects that had been annihilated by the Daoist Sect. The Buddhist Sect’s Sumeru Mountain had not yet fallen.

Good and evil are relative; in the context of their contemporaries, the Buddhist Sect should in no way be considered the worst.

The old nun was slightly stunned, then chuckled: "Venerable and Qingcang Immortal answered identically. Some other great powers of the Daoist Sect rate our Buddhist Sect quite highly. Daosists are generally pragmatic; it seems I am perhaps overthinking."

Or maybe it originated from powerlessness, knowing she was inferior to the Buddha Ancestor, unable to save her disciples, and could only hope for the Buddha’s compassion.

Gu Wen listened silently, not voicing his thoughts.

Because there was no need; grievances can’t be clarified in just a few words. Moreover, the old nun already had a faint shadow of the Heart Demon.

"Where is Jade Sword Buddha now?"

Returning to the initial topic, the old nun said, "Deep in Sumeru Mountain, there is a Golden Buddha Temple. Inside the temple, there is an Officer with a likeness of True Buddha, forming its own Buddha Country of faith. Yuer is being enlightened there by the Buddha Ancestor. Whether it takes months or hundreds of years, she can exit as an Enlightened Buddha."

"The only thing I can do for her is go into the temple each year wielding a sword, bringing her a Spirit Fruit to leave her with a trace of greed, anger, and ignorance. There are small paths in the mountain, guarded only by a few Bodhisattvas who are not truly followers of True Buddha. They will turn a blind eye."