After countless eons, the Purple Heaven Palace remained unchanged—no dust had settled, nor any signs of decay. The two rows of long-burning candles illuminated the eternal darkness, their flames never extinguishing. The only difference was the deepening silence, as if no living being had set foot here for millions of years.
“Not a trace of the Dao Venerable can be found,” Meng Qi remarked, his gaze sweeping the surroundings with calm detachment, tinged with a hint of nostalgia. “It seems the only way to uncover any clues is through the Heavenly Dao anomaly. No wonder the Nirvana-level figures concluded that only at the end of the epoch, when all products of ’emptying the self’ are utterly annihilated, can the Dao Venerable and the Buddha achieve perfect transcendence. Even this epoch being the final calamity, devoid of a future, is the result of the two Dao Fruits subtly influencing reality.”
The dim surroundings accentuated Gu Xiaosang’s ethereal grace as she smiled faintly, her dimples barely visible. “Heaven leaves a sliver of hope. Thus, the Dao Venerable planted the Great Dao Tree, sowing the seeds of hope for the next epoch after complete destruction. I wonder what the Buddha left behind?”
Meng Qi chuckled, teasing, “The realm of the Dao Fruit is unknowable and ineffable—any attempt to speak or guess about it is inherently flawed. Your earlier deduction might well be wrong too. As for the Buddha, thanks to Ananda’s schemes, I once obtained a green lamp left behind by Him. Though its rank was low, the Buddha declared that if the Buddhist teachings ever declined, with demons running rampant, this lamp would illuminate the Dharma-Ending Age and guide the way to the true treasury. Now, with the Two Western Sages still present—both being ancient existences—the Buddhist teachings show no signs of decline. The ‘Dharma-Ending Age’ likely refers to the epoch’s end. Though the lamp was destroyed, my karmic ties with Buddhism remain deep—I even obtained the compendium of the Tathagata’s Divine Palm. What further developments await are beyond speculation.”
Gu Xiaosang gave him a knowing glance, half-smiling. “So, ‘Zhen Ding Tathagata’ is inevitable?”
“As it should be,” Meng Qi replied, his eyes scanning the palace halls for any remnants. Meanwhile, Gu Xiaosang’s gaze deepened, lost in thought. “The Buddha refined the Dao Venerable’s method of transcendence. Though the essence remains unchanged, it leans more toward the Mahayana tradition and the fundamental Dharmakaya of Buddhism—Vairocana Buddha. Tang Sanzang, the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, the Supreme True Buddha, the Golden Cicada’s Shell, and figures like Huanglaojun, Donghuang Taiyi, and the Heavenly Dao anomaly differ slightly in the details.”
The Supreme True Buddha’s claim of being the “One and Only Buddha” was extreme and terrifying, yet it found basis in Buddhist scriptures. The Buddha once said, “All Buddhas share the same Dharmakaya.” Across the Three Realms and Ten Directions, every Buddha’s golden body is but a manifestation of this singular, immaculate Dharmakaya—Vairocana Buddha. Before the Supreme True Buddha’s emergence, Vairocana was more of a conceptual designation, akin to the Daoist notion of “the Dao as the root of all.” Thus, the Buddha’s words could be interpreted as: all Buddhas share the same origin, all seek the Dao, and all attain the state of “Vairocana Buddha.”
But when the Supreme True Buddha declared itself as Vairocana—the one true Buddha—the “Dao” became a tangible reality. For the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, this was nothing short of horrifying. Comparing it to “Lord Ye’s love of dragons” would be inaccurate, but it captures a fraction of the dread.
As the couple conversed, a fierce wind howled through the Purple Heaven Palace, flinging open doors and sweeping out objects that landed before Meng Qi. Though few in number, they all appeared dull and unremarkable—divine objects concealing their brilliance!
Upon closer inspection, they found a stone stele imbued with the aura of the ancient Netherworld, the Central Primordial Earth where gods, spirits, demons, and immortals once coexisted—the very soil where the first Great Dao Tree took root. There were also crude stone spears and swords exuding a primal aura, seemingly fit for forging peerless treasures. Additionally, a gourd of pills contained a single grain that radiated a near-Great Luo sensation.
“To think the Dao Venerable’s abode still holds remnants,” Meng Qi marveled. Compared to the Jade Void Palace, which had been plundered over countless openings, the Purple Heaven Palace remained largely untouched. Though he could simulate the myriad worlds and epochs within his own body, manipulating time to create treasures ex nihilo, it was a tedious process—some items could only manifest in the transcendent Real World.
Gu Xiaosang smiled radiantly. “With Zhenwu fallen, these are ownerless treasures—perfect as wedding gifts for us.”
Meng Qi nodded. “Today, I finally understand why the Devil Buddha was so desperate to uncover Zhenwu’s fate. On one hand, as the Dao Venerable’s attendant, Zhenwu was entangled with Donghuang Taiyi, the Heavenly Dao anomaly, the Fusang Ancient Tree, the Great Dao Tree, and the Green Emperor. A single misstep could have led to catastrophic revelations. On the other hand, Zhenwu knew the Purple Heaven Palace’s location. Before Earth’s exposure, he could have come here—posing a grave threat to the Devil Buddha’s hidden ‘other selves.'”
Having visited Earth, Gu Xiaosang was familiar with the term “news.” She cheerfully gathered the treasures, and the couple departed the palace. Even if some items were unusable, they could be bestowed upon the Jade Void disciples—no longer would their sect appear impoverished.
Before leaving, Meng Qi solemnly closed the palace doors, erasing all traces of their presence as if no one had ever entered.
Gu Xiaosang’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Husband, you truly hold grudges—hardly the demeanor of a Nirvana-level being.”
“If ‘Nirvana demeanor’ means caring only for the struggle over the Great Dao, then I’d rather not have it,” Meng Qi laughed, taking her hand as they vanished, returning to the Jade Void Palace in the Kunlun Realm.
Time passed indistinctly in the formless chaos. After an immeasurable span, a streak of light pierced through the barriers, arriving before the Purple Heaven Palace.
Tan Ping, the reincarnation of the Water Ancestor, hovered beneath a cracked pearl—the “Ageless Heaven Pearl”—its rippling light barely shielding him from the chaos. This treasure, collected over eons during his divine existence, allowed him to traverse the chaos briefly, guided by pre-set coordinates.
“Thanks to Zhenwu’s legacy, I obtained the Dao Venerable’s abode’s marker,” Tan Ping rejoiced inwardly. This was the dwelling of one of the two transcendent beings, untouched by the Nirvana-level battles that ravaged the Buddha’s Lingshan. The rewards here promised to be extraordinary.
Moreover, his contingency—the Blue-Blooded Ones—had ensured the uninterrupted collection of treasures across the ages. Without them, even knowing the marker would be futile.
Approaching the palace, Tan Ping reveled in its undisturbed, ancient aura.
“Just as I thought. According to Zhenwu’s memories, only he knew the locations of the Dao Venerable’s salvation ark and the Purple Heaven Palace.” Unable to contain his excitement, Tan Ping channeled his powers, and under the pearl’s protection, pushed open the doors and stepped into the shadowy depths.
Moments later, furious roars echoed through the halls:
“Nothing?!”
“The mighty Dao Venerable’s abode—empty?!”
……
Back in the Jade Void Palace, Gu Xiaosang rose gracefully. “This journey has deepened my insights into the mysteries of time and the past. I must enter seclusion to consolidate them.”
“Take your time,” Meng Qi advised warmly. “After all, it’s Amitabha and the Eternal Mother who should be anxious.”
Once she sealed her chamber, Meng Qi sat upon his cloud-like dais, a radiant halo forming behind his head as he summoned his disciples.
“What instructions does the Patriarch have?” He Mu, brimming with vigor ahead of his wedding, spoke first.
From within the chaos, Meng Qi addressed He Mu, Fang Huaying, Yu Banshan, Qi Jinxiu, and Sun Wu: “The calamity has come again. Descend to aid the Human Emperor in unifying the Eastern Sea Isles.”
“He Mu may delay briefly, joining later with Jiu Li after the wedding—to signify our Jade Void Palace’s stance.”
The disciples bowed without question. “As the Patriarch decrees.”
All but He Mu departed the Kunlun Realm, descending upon Changmen Island.
……
Tan Ping returned to Changmen Island, forcing a smile to avoid arousing suspicion.
At least the Yellow Millet Pillow was usable again—its recovery periods had grown progressively longer, and this was only his second opportunity.
Lying upon it, Tan Ping had already devised his plan. Above all, he would leave an indelible mark in history, ensuring that when the time came to revisit the past, his divine and mortal selves could merge effortlessly, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Amid swirling mist and deepening gloom, he jolted awake—lying in a wilderness beneath a theatrical sky, the Nine Heavens faintly visible. Even his divine form seemed vaguely perceptible.
“Have I returned to the ancient era?” Elation surged within him—what greater opportunity could there be?
Here, he could seek out the Water Gods of this era, “awakening” them to pave his future liberation from the sea of suffering.
Just as his escape light flickered to life, a voice called from behind:
“Friend, stay a moment!”
Hearing this, Tan Ping’s hair stood on end—as if plunged into the Black Prison of Luofeng.
As a primordial deity who had witnessed the Investiture of the Gods, he knew all too well the malice and lethality behind those words.
Without looking back, he fled in terror.
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