Chapter 536: The Cultivation of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva

With a similarly extensive look, Tianyi sized up to Shen Lian.

After a while, he spoke, “I know that the subject of your question is inevitably difficult. I would answer if only I knew.”

Shen Lian’s voice sank, “Thank you.”

Tianyi shook his head, “My pleasure.”

“Yin Shang replacing Xia was something that had already happened in the past. Why must it happen all over again? What exactly is the matter with the Netherworld? You must surely know why, so please tell me.” Finally, Shen Lian asked the question he wanted to ask, the contents of which if heard by other people would perhaps confound them.

Tianyi did not react to the question, as if he already expected it. He sighed, “It seems that you are indeed different from us. It is true that Yin Shang replaced Xia long ago, but that does not mean that it will not happen for the second time.”

The question Shen Lian posed was not without reasons. Wen Zhong, Xia, Yin Shang, Wu Ding, and even Tianyi were all people and places of historical folklore or mythical records. But the happenings around Shen Lian were vastly different from that of myth and legend, peppered with clues and signs that gradually sowed seeds of doubt in him. Did he passed through space and time or did he reach a parallel universe similar to when Yin Shang replaced Xia? Or maybe he was truly a part of the history?

Tianyi’s answer clearly enabled Shen Lian to understand that neither did he passed through space and time nor reach a parallel universe.

Shen Lian said, “This surely contains a shocking secret. I hope you will share it with me.”

Tianyi seemed as though he was in pain, his supernatural power was distorted and it spoiled the calm and genial qualities he had all along. In the end, he sighed, “I know but I cannot tell.”

His pain gradually subsided, and finally, he said, “Even if you knew the truth today, there is no use in it. If you could obtain Taiyi, you would naturally know and this would prove that you are really the Man of Destiny.”

Shen Lian replied, “This is not the first time I was called ‘Man of Destiny’. Do not tell me that having reached this step, you still believe Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva made the prediction with nothing to base it upon.”

Tianyi regained his calmness, “That is not a prediction, that is something that will happen. Perhaps you did not know that in the Netherworld, the cultivation of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva had already surpassed that of Mahāsattva Bodhisattva. Three lives were cultivated: the past, the present, and the future. Therefore during his time in the Netherworld, he was no different from that of Daoist Master Buddha. Since the future was seen by Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, that future is a real one.”

Shen Lian astutely grasped the crux of it and questioned, “Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva cultivated in this world?”

Tianyi gave a drawn-out reply, “Correct. It seems that your inheritance did not involve the specific depictions of Taiyi and also those above it. In fact, once Taiyi is cultivated, one can pave way for the world and be the creator of beings. However, that kind of world is dependent on the Boundless Universe and therefore could properly be called a lesser chiliocosm. Its raw substance is actually a higher level of development for the things that we cultivate, for example, the place of enlightenment and Heavenly Nations, among others. But once we have the lesser chiliocosm that we ourselves paved way for, we could accommodate our own understanding of the laws of nature. In our own lesser chiliocosm, we are equivalent to the most supreme of deities. We could even be assimilated with the spirits of some of the living creatures, letting them exist with the lesser chiliocosm and gain a different type of immortality.”

Shen Lian faintly replied, “Therefore, there were deities who disseminated faith to them, and upon entering the Heavenly Nations, could become immortal. Naturally, this is not a form of deceit but this dependence upon the immortality that was gained is not stable. One could easily be deprived of it at any given time.”

Tianyi answered, “Indeed. Regardless of the fact that we are the most supreme of beings in our lesser chiliocosm, there are some things that we cannot do, namely turning back time.”

“This is something that only Daoist Master Buddha can do. Taiyi State is trivial and miles behind that of Daoist Master Buddha.” Shen Lian plainly said.

“The powerfulness of Daoist Master Buddha lies in the fact that he is able to assemble the past, present, and future states as one, regardless of the world. Moreover, they are able to finally be detached from all this. To reach that step is something we can never imagine. However, from the powers that they display, we may still be able to imitate them. One such example is where the past and future bodies become one with the current. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva has achieved that, though it is limited to this world only.” Tianyi sighed.

Shen Lian pondered, “I understand now. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva borrowed this world to imitate the state of Daoist Master Buddha. Even though he did not imitate in its entirety, it is certain that much was gained in the process. If he is as you portrayed to be, perhaps he is the one with the most hope of becoming the next Daoist Master Buddha.”

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Tianyi replied, “Correct. Maybe he has already detached but that is not certain. You understand now, do you not?”

Shen Lian said, “But I am not necessarily the person that he spoke of.”

“The one who possesses the greatest likelihood is you. The Lord of the Netherworld is not originally a person of the Netherworld. The Flower of the Other Shore will not open for a person of the Netherworld.” Tianyi replied, with a speechless look.

Shen Lian heard a sense of helplessness from Tianyi’s words. That was the unwillingness in resigning to fate. Regardless of how much one worked hard against fate, the end scenario had already been preordained. Nothing could be done to change that.

Regarding all this, Shen Lian had no feelings of rejoicing, but instead, he felt lamentable. Now he was the Man of Destiny. So what if in the future he was no longer the Man of Destiny? Just like those who received the spirit of immortality only after devoting themselves to the Heavenly Nations, it was all just an accessory and could be abandoned at any time.

Shen Lian thought to himself for a bit and said, “The next time we meet, I hope not to see you at Xia Stage again.”

Tianyi laughed and did not utter a word.

Shen Lian’s divine thoughts scattered with the wind as if they came from the future.

When the battle at Lake East had reached its most intense point, Tianyi merged with the Nine Heavens and used both hands to make a mark that looked like a bird’s beak. All around him, the incomparably drawn-out sounds of bird chirps could be heard and his back appeared as though a pair of wings had grown out.

“Heaven commissioned the swallow to descend and give birth to Shang.”

Legend had it that when the first ancestor of the Shang dynasty was born, he received the Qi of Essence of the Swallow. The Swallow was a great spiritual animal, as old as the phoenix ancestors and dragon ancestors that were born when the universe was first opened up. It was not a part of the Xia Clan’s remote ancestors.

At this time, Wuding finally understood the principles of the interaction of Gods and humans. He summoned the projection of the Swallow that had countless associations with his ancestors.

The Xia people who were watching the battle were the first to feel an extremely terrifying coercion. It may only be a projection but the vital force of the Swallow was brought out.

Sharp chirping sounds were present throughout the void, entering the spirit deeply. This caused Lei Jing’s summoning of wind and rain to suffer a heavy suppression as the manipulation of the supernatural power of the summoning of wind and rain depended heavily on the control of the spirit towards one’s supernatural power and Qi of heaven and earth.

Lei Jing’s initial strong wind and heavy rain turned into light breezes and delicate drizzles. The originally explosive sound of thunder now became sporadic tinkling sounds.

Suspended in the void above Lake East, she looked at the Wuding who was far away. At the same time, she saw her teacher who was standing even further away. He had a look that contained the slightest touch of encouragement.

Shen Lian had told her before that she would not lose. Thus, she would definitely not lose.

Lei Jing waved her hand and not one bit of the dark clouds in the sky remained A clear and immaculate starry sky was revealed.

The starlight fell upon the open plains, the moonlight rose above Lake East.

The brightest thing in the sky was a galaxy known as the Milky Way.

Starlight and moonlight emerged in the void. Wuding was naturally the most pleased after seeing this. Most of the Xia people sighed. What was noblewoman Jing was doing? She knew that Wuding cultivated the Flying Star Incantation and yet she dispersed her clouds and expanded his odds.