“My lifelong wish is fulfilled, from now on, the affairs of immortals and gods…” Meng Qi pondered these two lines recited by Chonghe Daoist as he gazed down upon the vast earth, where peace and prosperity reigned everywhere, a stark contrast to the world decades ago when human civilization had reached its zenith.
The core source of this transformation was none other than the “Myriad Worlds Communication Network” he had personally created. Every time he witnessed its impact, a sense of achievement, fulfillment, and pride naturally swelled within him.
Yet, the Final Cataclysm was upon them, and the epoch was nearing its end. How long could such a beautiful scene last? Ten years? Fifty? A hundred? By then, everything would turn to ashes, his efforts wasted, the “Myriad Worlds Mall” collapsing, forums devoid of discussion, livestreams falling into silence, and communication groups forever quiet…
Just the thought of it filled him with melancholy and sorrow.
Suppressing his thoughts, Meng Qi returned directly to the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain. First, he sent a message into the acupoint in his left hand to avoid intruding abruptly, lest he disturb Xiaosang during a critical moment of her secluded cultivation.
Moments later, Gu Xiaosang’s consciousness seeped out, and Meng Qi’s divine sense descended, materializing into human form as he stepped into the acupoint.
Before him, a hazy, ethereal light shimmered, resembling both chaos and nothingness—as if it were the final destination of all things and the homeland of all living beings. Gu Xiaosang stood at its center, floating on a white lotus beneath her feet, slowly approaching like a small boat. With a mix of feigned grievance and playful wit, she smiled and said, “Husband must have come to discuss something important.”
“Didn’t I want to avoid disturbing your cultivation?” Meng Qi still felt uncertain about reading Gu Xiaosang’s thoughts.
“Must it always be something important for you to dare disturb me?” Her features grew even more exquisite, her aura increasingly ethereal, yet her gaze now carried a faint, sorrowful reproach.
Meng Qi found himself at a loss for words, but as he considered seizing the opportunity to press further, he noticed the corners of Gu Xiaosang’s lips curl into a smile, the earlier melancholy vanishing like ripples on water, leaving no trace.
“Husband must have encountered something of utmost importance,” she stated with certainty.
Meng Qi wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Gathering his thoughts, he recounted his experiences in the highest layer of the Nine Heavens in meticulous detail, sparing no triviality to ensure no clue was overlooked.
“Truly befitting of the Heavenly Emperor who dominated an era—his schemes are layered with illusions, truths, and falsehoods,” Gu Xiaosang mused, her first reaction being admiration for the Heavenly Emperor’s arrangements. Then, her eyes shimmered with fluid intelligence as she added, “The Demon Master plays both sides, leveraging strength against strength, turning clouds into rain with a flick of his hand. Yet, in the end, he may still be doomed to serve as a stepping stone for others. It all depends on whether he can seize a sliver of survival through the Bodhi Wonderful Tree and the Nine Forms of the Tathāgata Palm.”
“Who knows where the Heavenly Emperor has reincarnated now? Perhaps it really is Han Guang,” Meng Qi speculated casually.
“If Han Guang were truly the Heavenly Emperor’s reincarnation, the grass on his grave would already be lush and green. Otherwise, he’d be a novice monk in the Pure Land or a disciple listening to sermons in the Tushita Palace. He wouldn’t have been given so many opportunities,” Gu Xiaosang replied, her face bathed in the ethereal light, exuding a sacred and majestic aura akin to a sovereign. “The Final Cataclysm has no need for a genuine Heavenly Emperor.”
Meng Qi nodded with a faint smile. “Where do you think the Heavenly Emperor’s true resurrection scheme lies?”
“If I could guess, wouldn’t the other Nirvana-level figures have already figured it out? Thus, my guesses must all be wrong. Still, I suspect clues may lie within the Jade Emperor Mountain, the remnants of the Heavenly Court, or the Blade of Time,” Gu Xiaosang replied, her smile enigmatic. “The Heavenly Emperor’s affairs won’t affect you for now. What truly matters are the eight-word prophecy from the ancient Fusang Divine Tree. Once this calamity passes, you will soar to unparalleled heights—or become another’s stepping stone, reduced to ashes.”
“Where do you think this calamity will come from? Those eight words feel more like a curse than guidance…” Meng Qi already had his own theories but wanted to hear Gu Xiaosang’s analysis first.
When it came to matters of Nirvana, she, having inherited much of the Golden Emperor’s memories and insights, undoubtedly understood far more than he did.
Gu Xiaosang rested her cheek on her hand, her smile fading as her gaze turned serene, her beauty ethereal and indescribable. “Logically speaking, as the current leader of the Jade Void Palace, you support the Human Emperor and even aided the one from the Fusang Divine Tree in attaining the Dao. Your stance is clear, and so are your enemies. The Buddha of the Western Pure Land and the Ancient Buddha of the Bodhi Pure Land may differ in their views on the earthly Buddhist kingdom, but neither would rejoice at the Human Emperor’s success, seizing the pivotal role in the Final Cataclysm. Moreover, you destroyed one of the Ancient Buddha’s Three Corpses, creating an immense karmic debt. At the critical moment, they will undoubtedly block the two from the Tushita Palace and the Fusang Divine Tree.”
“The Human Emperor is broad-minded, willing to accommodate the demon race, while the other is the progenitor of humanity—their stance will likely soften, perhaps even aiding you. Among the remaining Nirvana-level figures, the one from the Vacuum Hometown, the Demon Buddha sealed in Mount Ling, and possibly the undead Donghuang all have ample reason to strike at you. Especially the one from the Vacuum Hometown, who once greatly aided the Fusang Divine Tree’s sovereign in attaining the Dao. If they move against you, the Fusang sovereign may remain neutral. Thus, the Ancient Heavenly Venerable of the Tushita Palace and the progenitor of humanity would be unable to intervene.”
(The Demon Buddha is sealed, so mentioning his name poses no issue.)
Meng Qi frowned slightly, not hiding his confusion. “This assumes the Nirvana-level figures have fully returned from the chaos.”
Clearly, that moment was still far off.
Gu Xiaosang’s smile returned, tinged with teasing. “Husband, do you truly know when the Nirvana-level figures will return? Even if you did, that was merely their initial plan. At a realm that defies common sense, who’s to say they can’t find a way to return ahead of schedule?”
“Fair point,” Meng Qi conceded solemnly. Some things couldn’t be taken for granted, lest he be caught unprepared.
“And this is just a normal analysis. Why is the will of heaven so inscrutable? At its core, it’s because Nirvana-level figures can peer into countless future possibilities, knowing and grasping far more than others. What seems unfathomable is simply due to your lack of understanding,” Gu Xiaosang said, her eyes deep yet shimmering with brilliance. “For instance, at this very moment, the Ancient Heavenly Venerable of the Tushita Palace could suddenly descend the Taiji Diagram and reduce you to ashes.”
“How is that possible?” Meng Qi exclaimed in disbelief.
Gu Xiaosang shot him an amused glance. “Why not? Suppose after this critical juncture, future possibilities shift, and the Ancient Heavenly Venerable foresees you inevitably betraying the Human Emperor to become a guardian of Buddhism. Wouldn’t it be better to eliminate the threat in advance and alter the future?”
“The will of heaven is inscrutable because you cannot see as far as they can.”
Her words dispelled much of the mystique surrounding Nirvana-level figures, easing Meng Qi’s hidden fears but deepening his confusion. “If so, aside from the one from the Fusang Divine Tree, any other Nirvana-level figure could become my calamity. How can I possibly prepare for that?”
Gu Xiaosang burst into laughter, radiant as the moon breaking through clouds. “Husband, you just said ‘aside from the one from the Fusang Divine Tree.’ Why exclude them?”
“Because I aided them in attaining the Dao…” Meng Qi trailed off, then blurted out, “Ah! Karma!”
Gu Xiaosang smiled faintly. “Nirvana-level figures value karma above all—you must have heard this before. Why? Without resolving karma, how can one achieve ‘emptiness through subtraction’? Every great figure who attains Nirvana is single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, their gaze fixed solely on the Dao Fruit. Thus, until your karmic debt with the Fusang sovereign is fully settled, they will never harm you, even if they don’t aid you. Similarly, since you assumed Laozi’s identity to spread teachings and deify, the Ancient Heavenly Venerable of the Tushita Palace won’t move against you until they’ve repaid you sufficiently.”
“Husband, in this calamity, you must both swiftly strengthen yourself and forge as many alliances as possible—more friends, fewer enemies.”
Meng Qi nodded slightly, ideas already forming in his mind. He pressed further, “What deeper meaning lies in the Fusang sovereign’s eight-word prophecy?”
“Cornered, with no way out—utterly hopeless.” It sounded more like a curse than guidance!
“Cornered, with no way out…” Gu Xiaosang murmured the words, then countered, “Husband, setting aside whether it’s a prophecy, what do these eight words evoke in you?”
“What do they evoke? No escape in heaven or earth… the one from the Vacuum Hometown… the realm of the dead… the Netherworld…” Meng Qi listed. “Could the key to the calamity lie in the struggle for the Underworld?”
“Possibly. Or perhaps it means you must truly die once to resolve the calamity,” Gu Xiaosang offered another perspective.
“Truly die once?” Meng Qi was stunned. “I have no past life or future rebirth. Wouldn’t that mean complete annihilation?” He fell into deep thought.
Just then, Gu Xiaosang lazily covered a yawn with her hand.
“Husband, the calamity draws ever nearer. I, too, have achieved progress in my seclusion and must venture out to temper myself—to prepare.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage