An ancient Buddha who had lived through countless epochs, a Great Divine Ability practitioner of perfected creation, wanted to take him as a disciple?
In the past, Tan Ping would have been so overwhelmed with excitement that he wouldn’t know which way was up, shedding tears of joy on the spot, kneeling in ecstasy, and kowtowing to formally acknowledge the master. Even with his pride and self-importance, even with the extraordinary phenomena at his birth, the most he had ever dared to hope for was to enter a sect or grotto-heaven overseen by an Immortal Venerable and be taken as a disciple by one of the Celestial Officials. He had never—and would never have dared—to dream of attracting the favor of a Great Divine Ability practitioner of creation, let alone someone like the World-Freedom Buddha, one of the few perfected beings below the Other Shore!
But at this moment, the first thought that flashed through his mind was:
*”I have a connection to an Other Shore heavyweight—the contemporary Primordial Heavenly Venerable, Su Meng, has lent me the Yellow Millet Pillow. In the future, I might even be able to join the Jade Void Palace and become someone as illustrious as Fang Huayin, the ‘Radiant Dawn Fairy.’ Why should I settle for being the disciple of a Great Divine Ability practitioner of creation?”*
Comparison revealed the gap. While those with perfected creation were hailed as the strongest below the Other Shore, capable of living through countless ages and even destroying entire universes, they were still merely “below the Other Shore.” The difference between them and true heavyweights was more than just a chasm—it was an abyss. With the favor of the Primordial Heavenly Revered Su Meng, who would care about the “minor” World-Freedom Buddha?
This wasn’t disdain—it was fact!
Tan Ping didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He shook his head at the World-Freedom Buddha, wearing an apologetic expression as if to say, *”This junior’s heart belongs to the Daoist path. I regretfully decline the ancient Buddha’s kindness.”*
The World-Freedom Buddha turned away, continuing to watch Gao Lan’s ceremony of re-establishing the Great Zhou Dynasty, his demeanor as carefree and unrestrained as ever. He seemed entirely unbothered by the rejection of his spontaneous offer. Yet, deep in his eyes, a trace of puzzlement flickered—he couldn’t understand why Tan Ping would refuse the goodwill of a perfected creation-level being.
*Does he have other backing?*
*Has he already been secretly taken in by another fellow Daoist?*
Seeing that the World-Freedom Buddha wasn’t angered, Tan Ping quietly exhaled in relief. Though he currently only had a connection to an Other Shore heavyweight, he hadn’t yet been formally accepted as a disciple. Provoking an ancient Buddha—a Great Divine Ability practitioner—wouldn’t be wise.
With the personal descent of the Primordial Heavenly Revered Su Meng and the suppression of the Scepter-Bearing Divine Envoy by the God-Slaying Whip, the undercurrents that even mortals like Tan Ping had sensed earlier abruptly ceased, as if they had never existed. The ceremony concluded smoothly, with the Great Zhou Dynasty re-established in the East Sea, ruling over half of the myriad islands and gaining the allegiance of numerous immortals and deities.
Inside the reed pavilion, a flawless orb of pure light rose and settled into the Nine Dragons Agarwood Chariot. Misty incense swirled, and celestial music echoed in waves.
“Farewell, Heavenly Revered!” All the immortals and deities on the island bowed solemnly. Even the World-Freedom Buddha and the Scepter-Bearing Divine Envoy rose to pay their respects, not daring the slightest negligence.
Only when the nine true dragons took flight, pulling the agarwood chariot into the infinite heights, did the Scepter-Bearing Divine Envoy finally exhale in relief, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped death.
Facing an Other Shore heavyweight who could annihilate him with a mere breath, a heavyweight whose enmity with the Luo Sect ran deep—the pressure was indescribable. Even suppressing all distracting thoughts couldn’t stop the primal fear surging from his spiritual light like a tidal wave.
*At least I’m just an envoy.*
Not daring to linger, the Scepter-Bearing Divine Envoy hastily led the Luo Sect members away.
—
After the ceremony of Gao Lan re-establishing the Great Zhou Dynasty, Xia Xiu, Liu Zubin, and the others remained on Changmen Island, hoping to encounter an immortal opportunity. Tan Ping, however, was indifferent—with his connection to an Other Shore heavyweight, none of the immortals and deities on the island held any appeal for him.
As evening fell, the group wandered through the market, inquiring about which immortal might be willing to take disciples. Suddenly, Tan Ping’s vision blurred, and he saw a handsome monk with golden-tinged skin. His aura was free and unrestrained, as if unbound by worldly ties—not even time could constrain him. On his forehead, golden swastika symbols protruded, forming the character for “Buddha.”
*The World-Freedom Buddha!*
Tan Ping’s heart pounded like a drum. He hadn’t expected this ancient Buddha to return specifically for him!
*What does he want?*
Xia Xiu and Liu Zubin also recognized the World-Freedom Buddha. Stunned and awed, their lips trembled, unable to form words for a long moment before they finally stammered, “Greetings, Buddha of Freedom!”
*Could we have Buddhist karma? Will an ancient Buddha guide us into the Pure Land?*
The World-Freedom Buddha smiled faintly, pressing his palms together in return. There wasn’t the slightest hint of condescension in his demeanor as he looked at Tan Ping and said, “Patron Tan, are you truly unwilling to follow me in cultivating the Dharma and turn back to the shore?”
Xia Xiu and Liu Zubin’s hearts sank with disappointment. So the World-Freedom Buddha had come for Tan Ping. But given the red light that had filled the room at his birth, it made sense.
Though envy gnawed at them, they had heard enough similar stories to know the proper response. Now was the time to offer sincere congratulations—not to sever ties. If their friend achieved greatness in cultivation, they might even gain a connection to an immortal or Buddhist lineage, perhaps even be introduced as disciples themselves.
Wealth, companionship, methods, and territory—connections fell under “companionship.” More friends meant more paths!
Just as they were about to congratulate Tan Ping, they turned and saw his face had gone deathly pale.
*What’s wrong?* Xia Xiu was stunned, concern flooding her.
Tan Ping forced a smile. “This junior’s heart belongs to the Daoist path. Does the ancient Buddha intend to disregard compassion and forcibly guide one with karma?”
The World-Freedom Buddha chuckled. “Karma cannot be forced. I merely wish to show the patron his true self before he makes a decision.”
He raised his right hand and pointed toward Tan Ping’s forehead. The movement seemed slow, yet Tan Ping, Xia Xiu, and the others froze, unable to react.
The touch to his forehead sent an electric jolt through him, a numbing tingle that pierced straight into his heart. Visions flickered before Tan Ping’s eyes as golden fragments of memory surged from the depths of an abyssal ocean, forming scene after scene.
*Waterways and oceans swirling around him…*
*A planet condensed from azure seas…*
*A statue of deep blue, nearly black, standing atop a black dragon…*
*The authority of the Black Tortoise, shrouded in red mist…*
*So I am the reincarnation of the Ancient Water God, who secretly reincarnated to shed the limitations of a divine body after merging with the authority left behind by the True Martial!*
Every drop of blood, every molecule of water in Tan Ping’s body seemed to stir and rejoice. Past lives and buried memories flooded back, and his eyes momentarily clouded with confusion.
“Does the patron understand now?” The World-Freedom Buddha pressed his palms together.
Tan Ping shuddered, his eyes now tinged with ancient desolation, as clear as condensed layers of water.
He sighed. “Today, I finally know who I am—but I must still decline the ancient Buddha’s kindness.”
*After all, the one behind me is an Other Shore heavyweight.*
The World-Freedom Buddha pressed his palms together again. “Well said, well said.”
With that, he turned and walked away, his form gradually dissolving until he vanished from the market.
Beyond Changmen Island, amid boundless waves, the ancient Buddha sat atop the tides, his gaze filled with deepening puzzlement:
“Not only does he possess the dharma bead of the one from the Fusang Ancient Tree, but he also has an artifact capable of reversing time…”
“Before his fall, the True Martial gave the Primordial Yang Ruler to the one from the Fusang Ancient Tree. It’s natural that the Water God, who merged with his authority, would receive something in return. But who gifted him that time-reversing artifact? Could it also be the one from the Fusang Ancient Tree?”
Unable to resolve his doubts, the World-Freedom Buddha’s eyes gleamed like colored glaze as he continued observing Tan Ping and the others through layers of obstruction.
—
As dusk deepened, Tan Ping’s group remained immersed in the shock of their encounter with the World-Freedom Buddha, walking in silence. After bidding farewell to Liu Zubin, they slowly returned to their inn.
Then, Tan Ping idly took out the Yellow Millet Pillow and saw its patterns shimmering with light, no longer as dull as before.
“It should be usable again,” he murmured to himself.
Now that he had regained the Water God’s memories, he began to sense something amiss. Smiling at Xia Xiu, he said, “Xiao Xiu, why don’t you give it a try?”
Xia Xiu, who had long been eager, didn’t hesitate. After repeatedly thanking him, she placed the pillow on the bed, lay down fully clothed, and drifted into sleep.
A faint light flashed—unnoticed by all except the ever-watchful World-Freedom Buddha.
“So it can briefly send someone back to the past…” The World-Freedom Buddha nodded imperceptibly. The “Buddha” character on his forehead began to rotate, emitting streams of light that rendered his golden body illusory, as if manipulating the River of Time.
Using that faint connection and power, he channeled his own mastery over time and quietly followed Xia Xiu upstream, curious to see where she would arrive and what she would encounter.
Visions swirled. Xia Xiu jolted awake to find herself before a roaring river, beside an ancient city steeped in history. Above the city stood a man in white robes, delicate as a maiden, his face sickly. Behind him, scattered lantern lights reflected on the river’s surface like an inverted galaxy—dreamlike and mesmerizing.
*Where is this?* Xia Xiu was utterly bewildered, yet thrilled, realizing she had likely traveled back in time!
“Ah!”
A heart-wrenching howl tore through the air, laden with guilt, agony, despair, and hatred—like a lone wolf baying at the moon or a ghost wailing at a grave. The sound darkened her own heart.
Squinting, Xia Xiu saw a man in black martial attire, a hero’s headband tied around his forehead. His heroic, masculine features were twisted in grief as he roared at the sky, cradling a flawless figure in white. Her limbs hung limp, her life extinguished.
High above, the hidden World-Freedom Buddha observed the scene, his confusion deepening:
“Outside Guangling City—the moment Gu Xiaosang died in the arms of the one from the Jade Void Palace…”
“Why return to this moment in history?”
Then, realization struck.
“The product of the Buddha’s karma-shedding was Tang Sanzang. After crossing Lingyun Ferry, Tang Sanzang shed his mortal shell, becoming the Merit Buddha, while that shell reverted to its origin—the Golden Cicada. From it, the Peerless True Buddha was born… In other words, the Buddha’s karma-shedding produced two results: the golden Buddha formed from Tang Sanzang’s spiritual light, and the Peerless True Buddha born from his mortal shell.”
“Gu Xiaosang was the product of the Vacuum Hometown’s karma-shedding. She used the one from the Jade Void Palace to discard her mortal shell, reshaping her dharma body with the Chaos Green Lotus Seed. But what of that discarded shell? Could it also give birth to something?”
“Even if the Vacuum Hometown’s karma-shedding method differs from the Buddha’s, having been taught by the Primordial, that mortal shell must still hold some mystery…”
A chilling thought struck him:
“When the one from the Jade Void Palace carried Gu Xiaosang’s body away, arriving at the lone peak where Kunlun Mountain was later established, only the pond and lotus seeds remained…”
“Where did he bury the body? Or was it secretly destroyed or replaced?”
The World-Freedom Buddha’s gaze settled on the figure howling at the sky, beginning to understand why they had returned to this moment.
The Other Shore heavyweight who had gifted the Yellow Millet Pillow was plotting something!
After drawing all attention to the Water God’s reincarnation, he was scheming right under their noses!
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