“In the future?”
In the boundless Vairocana Realm, where the Buddha Land was nearly perfected, Meng Qi gazed at the Moonlight Bodhisattva seated beneath the twin trees of decay and renewal, as if speaking to himself or offering a rhetorical question.
The Moonlight Bodhisattva spoke solemnly and majestically, “The Azure Emperor forged his own path, and his journey to the other shore differs from others. The being you encountered was sometimes the Azure Emperor, sometimes the Taiyi Savior of Suffering, all manifestations of one who never escaped the River of Time but, through secret techniques, survived until now, walking the world and, through your hands, awakened the Medicine Master Tathagata. After taking that critical step forward, he began to unify his past. Now, through identities such as Pure Yangzi, Dongyang Divine Lord, Medicine Master Tathagata, Taiyi Savior of Suffering, and the Azure Emperor, he has traced back from the present to the dawn of antiquity, to the beginning of the cosmic cycle. Naturally, the next step is to claim a portion of the future, so that he may truly ascend to the other shore.”
“Therefore, He is in the future.”
Not a clever saying, but a fact!
Listening to the Moonlight Bodhisattva’s detailed explanation, Meng Qi gained new understanding of the Azure Emperor’s path. Without splitting himself into the Taiyi Savior of Suffering and the Medicine Master Buddha, without transforming into Pure Yangzi or Dongyang Divine Lord, and without forgetting his past or being confused by the question ‘Who am I, and who am I meant to be?’—with his cultivation level alone—he could have easily survived until now merely by sleeping through the ages. But in doing so, all experiences from antiquity to the present would merely be personal memories, proving only that he lived long, unrelated to reversing time.
Those who forge their own paths deserve respect!
“So, how can I find Him?” Meng Qi asked, almost wincing. With his own characteristics of reaching the other shore, he could only sense the erosion of the River of Time and manipulate fate slightly. How could he possibly travel into the future?
Even the Seven Killings Monument could only return to the past!
More importantly, the future is uncertain, with countless branches. Without the Dao Fruit, it is impossible to claim all possible futures. Who knows which branch or which future the Azure Emperor has entered!
The Moonlight Bodhisattva was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled faintly.
…
The Ark of Doomsday drifted above the vast desert expanse. Sha Xuan and Xi E had prepared themselves solemnly, intending to use the weakening and restricting power of the Sword Array of Zhu Xian to delay the ancient great sages like the Bull Demon King, mentally bracing for a grueling battle. Even though they could be omnipresent and escape at any moment, they dared not be careless.
Yet now, they watched as the young boy, riding twin wheels of wind and fire, wielding a long spear and surrounded by flowing silken ribbons, appeared simultaneously in all directions—front, back, left, right, southeast, and northwest—manifesting a three-headed, six-armed form. With his spear, he pierced starry rivers; with his wheels, he ignited trinity flames; with his ribbons, he swept across the heavens. Alone, he single-handedly suppressed ancient great sages such as the Bull Demon King, Peng Demon King, and Jiao Demon King. And aside from the Bull Demon King, the others could only form arrays to defend themselves, looking extremely flustered.
Watching the effortless grace and heroic posture of Nezha, Sha Xuan and Xi E felt suddenly idle.
The Bull Demon King grew increasingly frustrated and stifled. He recalled that in the past, even with the gods of Heaven surrounding him, Nezha alone couldn’t have defeated him. Truthfully speaking, he and Nezha were at least on equal footing. Even if he hadn’t returned to his peak, Nezha had awakened early, so they were evenly matched.
But what was truly annoying was that the Sword Array of Zhu Xian restricted his divine abilities, especially his omnipresence. Now, it became a situation where Nezha could strike at will and retreat at leisure, simultaneously attacking his brothers and pushing them, whose current strength was only legendary, to the brink of collapse.
San’er’s wings unfolded, his speed was monstrous, but against an opponent who could be everywhere at once, it was useless!
As for Qingqiu, Huiguang, and Luojia, the proud Nezha didn’t even spare them a glance, let alone attack them.
In a battle of equals, the suppression from the Sword Array of Zhu Xian nearly made the battle one-sided, causing the Bull Demon King to recall the terrifying days when Nezha burned him until he screamed and chopped off his many heads.
This time, there were no gods of Heaven surrounding him, but there was the Sword Array of Zhu Xian.
The most deadly formation of the Primordial Era was no idle boast, even if it wasn’t complete!
…
Huge, frigid power poured from the “Vase” artifact, swallowing the purple lightning sword light and transforming the surrounding area into a dim, freezing wasteland. Ice mountains resembled blades, and ice spikes looked like swords, floating and sinking, nearly matching the ancient Cold Ice Killing Formation.
The moment the frigid wasteland appeared, Jiang Zhiwei could no longer be omnipresent around the three divine envoys. She could only reappear outside, slashing sword beams from various angles and unleashing sword techniques. But now she couldn’t break through the defenses of Feng Dian, Lamp Bearer, and the Vase, who were now on guard. Occasionally, they launched sudden magical attacks, nearly catching her off guard. Fortunately, her Absolute Blade instinctively warned her, allowing her to barely dodge. Thus, she could only harass them while watching helplessly as the divine envoys dismantled the city’s magical restrictions, destroyed the Six Doors Bureau and several government offices, shattering the Zhou Dynasty’s symbolic rule over the region and allowing hidden Luo Sect members to seize control.
If there had been only one divine envoy, she might have barely managed to stop him. But now, the gap was simply too great.
Just then, a figure flashed before her eyes—an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar man. He resembled her master, yet carried a deeper, more focused aura, his hair streaked with white.
“Who?” she transmitted mentally.
The man replied solemnly, “Lu Wuming.”
Lu Wuming? Jiang Zhiwei was puzzled.
The Lamp Bearer envoy also noticed the new enemy. The lamp’s glow dispelled illusions, and suddenly he laughed heartily, “A fusion technique? Su Wuming and Lu Da? Even if your legendary traits complement each other, and together they equal completeness, what is most important about a legend? Now you are not truly you, and I am not truly me—mere empty strength and traits, no different in essence from the little girl beside you!”
Was this a false legend created by a fusion technique between Master and Senior Lu? Jiang Zhiwei dodged Feng Dian’s distant strike using her omnipresence while suddenly realizing the truth. Yet according to the Lamp Bearer, even this fusion couldn’t reach the level of a false legend—just traits and strength without true essence?
Lu Wuming remained expressionless, saying nothing. First, he evaded by flashing away, then raised the sword in his hand, unleashing the Five Wisdoms and Nine Consciousnesses. A hazy, clear light surged forward, cutting through the frigid wasteland’s pivotal transformations with unstoppable momentum, rivaling the power of the Absolute Blade, yet possessing a subtle awareness that pierced through all changes.
Just as the sword light was about to strike, the Vase envoy finally reacted. He shook his hands, emitting radiant light that formed a white lotus, blocking the sword light.
“The Great Wisdom Sword!” he murmured softly.
The real threat wasn’t the fusion being with mere strength and traits, but this Great Wisdom Sword!
It was said to be the sword of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, a symbol of Buddhist wisdom—perfect and flawless, revealing all. It was thought to have been lost in the Vulture Peak, yet now it reappeared!
With this peerless sword, Lu Wuming no longer seemed to possess only strength and traits.
Purple lightning sword light followed, also striking the Vase envoy. Better to wound ten fingers than to sever one!
As the Lamp Bearer envoy was about to activate the Wandering Son’s Lamp and set up a barrier to assist his companion, he suddenly felt a bone-chilling premonition—not from cold, but from extreme danger.
Instantly, he shifted sideways by a meter, then saw a spear tip like a flame pierce from the void, passing through where he had stood moments ago, and striking the Vase envoy in the back behind the purple lightning sword light.
Puh!
The Vase envoy was pierced through, then burst into flames, turning to ashes. Both the Lamp Bearer and Feng Dian saw a handsome young boy riding twin wheels of wind and fire.
“Nezha!” they exclaimed in unison.
Omnipresent!
From the flames, the Vase envoy reappeared, reforming his body, looking quite disheveled. Had it not been for the legendary trait of “immortal projections ensuring personal survival” and his life-saving techniques, he would have been utterly destroyed.
Nezha held his spear before his chest, a faint smirk on his lips, then vanished from sight. Yet whether it was the Lamp Bearer, the Vase, or Feng Dian, all felt a chill, as if death could strike at any moment.
This couldn’t continue! They exchanged glances. It was time to unleash their ultimate techniques!
…
Maitreya advanced step by step toward Guangling, dissolving the magical restrictions and collective power of every city along the way, causing parts of the Splendid Landscape Painting to dissipate.
Just as the chanting of “Namo Jiushi Maitreya Zunfo” echoed through the city ahead, and Maitreya’s Reward Body was preparing to respond, he suddenly changed expression. With a swift motion of his right hand, he pointed left, causing white lotuses to fall from the void and form a lotus throne.
Then, a spear tip emerged, striking the lotus throne. Flames erupted, and ashes scattered.
Maitreya saw Nezha, finally understanding the subtle premonition he had felt earlier.
At that moment, a dark shadow darted forth, piercing through the Buddha Land and suddenly appearing beside Maitreya. It opened its huge mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and bit down.
Maitreya barely managed to turn his head aside, dodging the neck, but the shadow bit into his shoulder, breaking his golden body.
Only now did Fahualin and Damiao Xiang clearly see the dark shadow—it was a mighty black dog with smooth fur!
Close the gate, release Xiangtian!
Xiangtian, the divine dog, was an average-level legend in direct combat, but his surprise bites were unmatched across all worlds. In the past, Yang Jian had won countless battles using this very technique. Naturally, Meng Qi wanted to exploit this strength.
Precisely for this reason, he left Maitreya’s side open, allowing himself and Nezha to distract him while Xiangtian launched a sudden attack.
With a single successful bite, Xiangtian nearly dragged Maitreya from his lotus throne. However, Maitreya was no ordinary great Bodhisattva. At the critical moment, he spat out a glazed relic from his mouth, radiating white waves that struck Xiangtian and forced it to retreat.
…
Meng Qi, who was controlling the battle situation, did not rejoice at the sight of the Future Buddha being bitten by a dog. He clearly understood that neither Maitreya, the Bull Demon King, nor the Luo Sect envoys would lack backup plans!
More importantly, as events unfolded to this point, the reactions of other great cultivators and mighty sages were almost nonexistent, which was quite strange.
For instance, the Demon Lord of the Six Paths, the Seven Killings Daoist, and the Water Ancestor had remained completely silent.
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