“I do not seek the afterlife with this life of mine!”
Meng Qi held a pale golden sword, with landscapes and rivers forming a map behind him, the sun, moon, and stars arrayed in the sky. Around him were celestial deities, immortals, Buddhas, demonic gods, evil spirits, and ghost kings, all kneeling in worship. The illusions of the Red Dust of Nine Netherworlds created by the Reincarnation Seal dissipated like mist and smoke. Six dark and mysterious whirlpools swayed unsteadily, showing signs of weakening under the peerless blade of the Overlord.
The great sun, previously obscured by planets, dimmed its radiance, while the cold, broken moon was veiled in a pure glow.
The sword thrust forward. In the air, a faint sound like rippling water echoed, as if plunging into the River of Time. The blade split into two, then four, then eight, and so on, diverging from Meng Qi’s side, flowing downstream, branching into tributaries, spreading everywhere, confronting the figures rushing in from opposing currents—different futures, different reincarnations!
“Not Asking About the Past” mainly involves causal connections, based on the concept of “past matters dissipating like smoke,” and with the Seal of the One Dao at its core, it is not difficult to create. “Not Seeking the Afterlife,” however, pertains more to fate and causality, belonging to another branch of the Dao of causality. It involves the Rivers of Time and Fate and lacks the characteristics of the other shore, making it extremely difficult to create. Without the Seven-Kill Tablet to perceive it, and without Meng Qi’s grief, hatred, resentment, and suppressed emotions transforming into driving force, abandoning all external attachments and leaving no lingering thoughts or room for retreat, he would not have finally mastered the Seal of the One Dao, achieving the “Cause of All Effects,” roughly equivalent to the characteristics of the other shore. Otherwise, he would now likely be helpless like most other fish and reincarnated beings!
No one can succeed purely by themselves. Without the Seven-Kill Tablet and the Seal of the One Dao, even if Meng Qi were extraordinary, it would be futile. But the key to success or failure lies in whether, when the opportunity arises and hope appears on the horizon, one possesses the great perseverance, wisdom, and determination to pursue and seize it, free from external distractions and without yielding to weakness—a form of self-torture.
And Meng Qi did it. Ten years of sitting still, ten years of torment, ten years of waiting, ten years without seeing outsiders, ten years of cutting himself off from the mortal world.
Without storms, there is no rainbow; without suffering, one cannot reach the summit!
At this moment, Meng Qi’s essence, energy, spirit, and will burned like a blazing sun, driving the sword radiance to its zenith. The pale golden light carried the multiplied aspirations and prayers of humanity—more numerous than the sands of the river—the indomitable will of predecessors who had endured countless trials, and the boundless generosity and compassion passed down through generations. Surging forth, it dyed the illusory River of Time in a golden, crystalline hue. The sword light branched into every tributary, illuminating all that lay ahead.
All was laid bare.
The Demon Buddha changed expression, extended his right hand, withdrew the Reincarnation Seal, and held it in his palm.
The figures marked by red and black characters also shifted their expressions.
The crimson-faced beauty, radiant as the moon, delicately pinched a flower between her thumb and middle finger and flicked it toward the sword light.
The sky-devouring demon pressed his palm downward, unleashing countless demonic shadows amid piercing shrieks.
The Nine Netherworlds dragged the Nine Heavens into their depths, engulfing the sword light.
The Buddha seated upon a lotus extended his right hand, raising it serenely as boundless radiance burst forth, illuminating all directions to confront the sword lights—seeking universal salvation for all beings.
High within the chaos, the Heavenly Venerable clasped his hands together, forming a gesture akin to a seal yet not quite, and slowly pushed it toward the Human Emperor Sword.
In an instant, life and death reversed, yin and yang flickered—all things dissolved effortlessly, transformed effortlessly—such is the impermanence of all phenomena, the non-self of all laws!
One after another, the “Tathagata Divine Palm” and “Tathagata Reverse Palm” techniques were executed by different reincarnations of Meng Qi, their power and subtlety breathtaking, even affecting the great sun obscured by planets, causing it to suddenly become illusory and vanish, as if extinguished, like a dream or a bubble.
The Demon Buddha A-nan, drawing on the power of the Reincarnation Seal, unleashed a strike surpassing the limits of his current divine projection!
Destroying planets and eclipsing the sun was as easy as reaching into a pocket!
The world of Fengshen darkened, the earth trembled, the tides became chaotic, and warmth rapidly faded.
This strike was not something Meng Qi could withstand, nor could the Human Emperor Sword or the Overlord’s peerless blade, which had not fully awakened.
However, the sword light did not target those figures, nor did it resist this terrifying strike. Instead, it aimed at Meng Qi himself—at his own River of Time and Fate!
Just before the Tathagata Divine Palm and Tathagata Reverse Palm struck, the sword lights suddenly surged, severing each illusory tributary. The River of Time remained intact, but Meng Qi’s destiny experienced a rupture.
Boom!
As each illusory tributary was severed, stars in the night sky fell, descending into the world of Fengshen, allowing Kong Zhao and Master Yu to witness the most breathtaking meteor shower of their lives.
“In the sixth year of King Xianlie’s reign, at noon, daylight turned to night, and stars fell like rain—an omen of great calamity!”
Finally, only one bright “star” remained in the night sky, shining as brightly as the thunder in the heavens.
This was Meng Qi himself, the Meng Qi without any reincarnations. The Milky Way was gone, leaving only a solitary star shining brightly.
The projection of the River of Time “shattered” before Meng Qi. The moon-like beauty with a “flower-picking smile,” the sky-devouring demon proclaiming “the heavens collapse together,” the lotus-seated Buddha embodying “universal salvation,” and the Heavenly Venerate of Chaos declaring “all phenomena are impermanent”—each figure marked by crimson and obsidian characters—gazed across the rift at the Human Emperor’s Sword and Meng Qi.
Time flowed, yet they were separated by a chasm!
Even the strongest strike, without connection or target, was merely an illusion!
Meng Qi looked ahead, seeing all his possible futures severed by his own hand, isolating the many “himselfs” attacking from reincarnations. Finally, a faint smile appeared on his face. His eyes continued to overflow with emotion, as he looked across the rift at the “Demon Buddha” A-nan and his voice echoed:
“How can you see the path ahead if you keep looking back?”
After severing the connection with the baiter, as his “other self,” spatially speaking, Meng Qi was nearly unique. Cutting off the past and severing reincarnations, leaving no retreat, temporally speaking, Meng Qi was also nearly unique.
Crack!
Meng Qi grasped the peerless blade of the Overlord in his right hand and held the Human Emperor Sword in his left. His primordial spirit, dharma form, and physical body completely merged into one. The fire of chaos blazed from within outward, while the fire of crystalline purity burned from outside inward. He felt an unprecedented sense of liberation and ease.
Great freedom brings great bliss!
He stood alone in the void, so unique, seemingly without another “himself” in existence. His form was solitary yet perfectly complete, radiating countless rays of light, both inside and out clear and pure. The void trembled, the rules condensed, and the Dharma Body took form.
The Demon Buddha A-nan’s divine projection gradually merged with Meng Qi’s true body, his expression grim and unpleasant. The fish had leaped from the past and future net.
“If I cannot obtain it, I will destroy it!” A sinister smile suddenly appeared on his face.
In the boundless starry sky of the Fengshen world, Meng Qi’s Dharma body was taking form. The surrounding void was deep and serene, occasionally flickering with lightning and human aspirations. Everything seemed so normal, so peaceful.
But the Demon Buddha A-nan’s smile grew wider, as if foreseeing Meng Qi’s demise!
At this moment, Meng Qi suddenly opened his eyes. His left eye was black, his right eye white. A colorless ancient lamp appeared before him, merging with the Human Emperor Sword.
The Human Emperor’s Sword was like a lamp illuminating the universe, casting light upon all realms—a radiant golden lantern whose brilliance enveloped every direction, with shades of black and white swirling, leaving no corner in darkness.
Under the light of the “Cause of All Effects” lamp, all causal connections were revealed.
Yet at this moment, on Meng Qi, who should have severed all past connections and causal links, there were still countless brilliant, illusory star threads!
If not for the “Cause of All Effects” lamp, greatly enhanced through the Human Emperor Sword, these threads might not have been visible!
Some of these hidden causal threads were as red as fire, rippling like water; some were deeply defiled, others brimming with killing intent, and others glowing with a deep blue vitality—varied and numerous, all rushing toward Meng Qi, burning rapidly.
As these hidden causal threads emerged, the Demon Buddha Ananda atop Mount Ling was stunned. The crimson and black inverted swastikas in his eyes spun wildly, as if consumed by madness.
How did he know?
Meng Qi’s left hand grasped the Human Emperor Sword and the “Dao-Yi Glazed Lamp,” illuminating the illusory karmic realm and unveiling the concealed connections. Yet his expression remained composed as he raised the Overlord’s peerless blade.
This massive, elongated blade, entirely forged from violet lightning, unveiled the passage of time and the vicissitudes of life with every flicker between existence and oblivion. It grew ethereal, spectral even, as it severed the threads of causality in its counterstroke.
Yes, I know.
But I only just learned. If not for Xiao Sang secretly leaving a message with an inconspicuous maid, saying “not one,” I would not have suddenly understood, connected everything, and become vigilant. Today, even if I had survived, I would not have been able to protect Zhiwei and the others.
The Demon Buddha A-nan is the master of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, but the master of the Six Paths is not solely A-nan!
The master of the Six Paths is not a single great being but a group of great beings! They cooperate while scheming against each other, yet maintain restraint to avoid becoming the target of all!
That’s why Daqing was so certain that the Dao Lord Luyao was the master of the Six Paths, insisting on it despite any contradictions!
That’s why the missions assigned by the Six Paths often conflict with each other—on one hand, they dispatch me to uncover secrets related to Ananda, the Thunder God, and the Demon Buddha, exposing the truth behind the scenes; on the other hand, they send me to Ling Mountain to “die”!
That’s why the Six Paths mostly appear to follow rules, because they must consider their other collaborators!
That’s why the “Duren Qin” appeared beneath the statue of the Water Ancestor, even though it was listed for exchange!
That’s why when a reincarnator connects with the Six Paths, they form corresponding karmic ties with all related great beings. Severing the connection with the Reincarnation Seal alone cannot escape mysterious assassination!
The master of the Six Paths is an organization, not only including the Demon Buddha A-nan but also others, such as…
Meng Qi’s long blade severed the causal thread that was as red as fire and flowed like water, cutting it before the strange force could arrive.
Such as Lu Ya!
In the world of Fengshen, within the Black Nest, a crimson gourd trembled slightly, chuckled softly, and plunged back into the chaotic seal.
Such as the second-generation successor of the Demon Emperor’s Claw, the Demon King!
The Overlord’s peerless blade slashed through the illusory starry sky, severing the deeply defiled causal thread.
The ancient bronze coffin submerged in the Nine Netherworlds suddenly opened, extending a pale, bloodless hand, but the causal connection had already been severed.
Such as the Sword Master of the Nether Sea, Qi Sha Daoist, who “died” at the hands of the Demon Buddha!
The long blade severed another heavily murderous causal thread. Illusion met illusion, thunder subdued evil.
The causal connection was severed. The weary man sleeping in chaos opened his eyes. He was the original form of the Black Mountain Demon, the Qi Sha Daoist!
Others included the Water Ancestor and more!
One by one, the causal connections were severed. Atop Mount Ling, the Demon Buddha Ananda, not yet fully liberated from his physical form, appeared utterly frenzied, poised to unleash the Reincarnation Seal.
At this moment, all causal connections were severed. Lightning and thunder illuminated the boundless starry sky.
In the sea of thunder and lightning, a figure stepped forth. He wore Daoist robes, his body pale gold, his robe woven from chaos. His body’s acupoints became transparent, revealing within them layer upon layer of universes, each different, intersecting within his five internal organs and six viscera.
His right foot stepped on the illusory earth, condensing into a small yellow flag floating beside him. His left foot intercepted the void, presenting invisible darkness behind him. Around his right hand, the Overlord’s peerless blade was encircled by the ancient Seal of the Heaven-Flipping, while beside his left hand, the Human Emperor Sword was accompanied by the rotating Yin-Yang Mirror. At his chest and abdomen, the four elements formed a chaotic realm beneath his feet, condensing into an ancient jade box floating before him—this was Meng Qi.
Above Meng Qi’s head, the Niwan Palace opened, releasing a celebratory cloud—chaotic and indistinct—that enveloped a peculiar object. Neither a banner nor an axe, yet reminiscent of both, it shimmered with faint watery radiance, encasing his entire body. Within his eyes gleamed the Dao-Yi Glazed Lamp, alternating between black and white light.
Viewed as a whole, Meng Qi resembled a divine being, yet also seemed illusory, a mere speck harboring countless possibilities and terrors—a speck without time or space, facing off against the celebration cloud and ancient banner.
This was Meng Qi’s Dharmakaya, the Immortal Primordial Body formed by the fusion of the Immortal Dao Body and the Primordial True Body!
Everything condensed, leaving only Meng Qi’s Dao Body, the celebration cloud, and the ancient banner. His eyes, glowing with black and white light, locked onto the Demon Buddha A-nan as he roared, “Take this move!”
The Overlord’s peerless blade slashed, embodying the domineering force of yang and thunder. The Human Emperor’s Sword swung, embodying gentleness and resilience, like the Dao of humanity flowing like water. Blade and sword together formed a Taiji, a yin-yang fish circling in perfect harmony.
This Tai Chi suddenly manifested at the summit of Ling Mountain along the connection, then collapsed inward as yin and yang merged, transforming all into chaos and reverting back to Wuji!
As Wuji emerged, silently devouring the darkness and deathly aura of Ling Mountain, the Demon Buddha Ananda’s Tathagata Divine Palm and Tathagata Reverse Palm lost their efficacy, all dissolving back into Wuji.
The Demon Buddha A-nan’s expression turned grave. Suddenly, he sat cross-legged, revealing a withering Bodhi tree behind him, his hands forming the Nirvana Seal.
The final move of the Tathagata Divine Palm: “Nirvana Purity”!
The Nirvana Purity, unleashed with the power of the Reincarnation Seal!
The “Wuji,” devoid of light or anything else, suddenly became serene, everything around it withering, entering Nirvana, no longer able to approach the Demon Buddha A-nan.
At this moment, Meng Qi suddenly shouted again, his voice like spring thunder:
“Time to act!”
The voice echoed. Within the Demon Buddha A-nan’s body, which was also Meng Qi’s true body, sudden murderous intent erupted, piercing through the body, connecting with the fire blade and ice sword.
The fire blade expanded, the ice sword contracted, about to self-destruct!
This sudden loss of control threw the Demon Buddha A-nan, who was only projecting a fragment of his consciousness, into chaos.
Meng Qi stared at him, his heart filled with the release of despair, oppression, hatred, and sorrow.
Among the masters of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, there was scheming within limits, but there were also those seeking revenge.
Like Qi Sha Daoist, controlled by you for so long!
After realizing that the Six Paths were a group of great beings, Meng Qi, who had originally only sought to dissolve karma and fulfill his wishes, retained the murderous intent, hiding it within himself. Otherwise, at this moment, he would have had to summon the Demon Sage Spear for revenge!
“Go back to sleep!” Meng Qi roared to the heavens, his voice brimming with both exhilaration and the weight of time’s passage.
No!
Boom! As the Demon Buddha Ananda struggled, the fire blade and ice sword suddenly detonated, illuminating the Spirit Mountain without leaving a single shadow of darkness. Flames engulfed numerous golden Buddha statues, while ice sealed everything in its frozen grip. In that instant, both Meng Qi’s true form and the Demon Buddha’s projection vanished without a trace!
Suddenly, a pale, bloodless hand emerged from the void, reaching for the Reincarnation Seal.
And a crimson small gourd also jumped out, attempting to seize it.
Meng Qi felt the gazes of numerous great beings—some ill-intentioned, others pleased—but ultimately, none intervened, for this matter was too strange, strange enough for the Demon Buddha to fall!
The Reincarnation Seal rotated, rushing into the Five-Finger Mountain before the Demon King and Lu Ya could intervene.
…
The explosion’s power quickly weakened as the golden bodies of countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas dissipated it.
Outside the Ten Thousand Buddhas Formation, Jiang Zhiwei suddenly felt her body loosen and fell to the ground with a thud. The Green Lion ceased all movement, standing as still as a statue, while Manjushri, the Great Peng, and the White Dragon remained equally motionless.
…
The previously hidden great sun reappeared, the planets resumed their normal orbits, and Meng Qi fell from the sky, surrounded by a grand sound:
“The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name…”
“The movement of the Dao is in its reversal; the use of the Dao is in its weakness…”
The five thousand words of the Tao Te Ching were spoken one by one, illuminating the world. Black and white specks drifted down, Xuan Huang descended, purple qi condensed, and the words transformed into books, landing in Master Yu’s hands.
Kong Zhao listened, entranced. Was this his teacher’s understanding of the Dao of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity?
Truly the voice of the Great Dao, yet it aligned with his own thoughts.
Celestial music played, great rivers surged, and Meng Qi landed before them, looking at Kong Zhao and slightly nodding: “The Dao cannot be spoken; my Dao may not be yours, and your Dao may have its merits. Listen and learn, but do not blindly follow.”
Kong Zhao was overjoyed. His teacher was truly a virtuous sage, a true master who understood the true meaning of the Dao. He quickly said, “Please, Teacher, guide me.”
Compared to just now, his teacher seemed even more profound and natural!
“Go ahead and enjoy it yourself. Today, we part ways.” Meng Qi turned around, took a step, and walked into the distance. Gradually, Xuan Huang and the black-and-white hues coalesced, forming a green ox, allowing Meng Qi to mount it.
Kong Zhao hesitated, hurriedly calling out: “Teacher, Teacher, I still want to travel and learn from you!”
Purple qi gathered, enveloping Meng Qi’s body, vast and mighty, dragging him into the distance. The Dao condensed, intimidating those with ill intentions.
Riding the green ox, he returned to Kong Zhao, enveloped in purple aura, ascending step by step. His low voice echoed back: “Those who walk different paths cannot conspire together!”
The voice echoed, the purple qi stretching thirty thousand miles as Meng Qi rode the ox away, vanishing into the heavens.
[End of Volume Five]
Volume Six: A Thousand Trees Bloom in the East Wind at Night
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage