Two towering Bodhi trees uphold the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli. Azure sacred flames burn slowly, refining the lingering essence and imprints left behind after the Medicine King Buddha transcended. These imprints gradually merge into the river of history, while the essence, becoming almost tangible, condenses under the flickering flames into a cyan-blue lapis lazuli bead. Compared to previous relics, this bead lacks layers of Buddha images and the cycle of withering and blooming Bodhi leaves. Instead, it appears increasingly clear and pure, as if holding illusory, pristine ripples.
Candra Bodhisattva opens His palm, and the cyan-blue lapis lazuli bead circles once before landing in His hand. It reflects the bright moonlight, shimmering with blue waves, appearing especially dreamlike.
“Combined with the appropriate formation, this item can ensure your safe return,” Candra Bodhisattva smiles gently, sending the lapis bead flying toward Meng Qi.
After the Medicine King Buddha achieved Nirvana and transcended the rivers of time and destiny, He seemed to fully comprehend the Buddha’s teachings, unraveling many secrets and learning the true origins of Meng Qi and his companions.
Meng Qi, still shaken from his earlier shock, momentarily forgets his confusion. Joy wells up in his heart as he respectfully accepts the cyan-blue lapis bead. With it, he can safely return through the formation arranged by his senior brother!
At this moment, Candra Bodhisattva shifts tone: “This will only ensure your safe return. However, if history changes too drastically, you will still fall into illusionary dissolution. Therefore, you must settle all unfinished matters before returning. Also, as I mentioned earlier, Qingdi sent only you here, which was sufficient. The arrival of other Dharma bodies here must be the work of another great figure. If you fail to fulfill their purpose, do you think you can return?”
“Venerable Bodhisattva speaks truly,” Meng Qi exhales softly, his mind racing as he reviews the entire experience. No longer viewing it as mere collateral from the clash of mighty beings or a random accident, he now realizes it was deliberately arranged. Future events likely also fall within someone else’s grand design.
With this shift in perspective, certain matters suddenly become clear, no longer shrouded in mystery!
He had always been puzzled why Great Wisdom Monchak had plotted against him, even using the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman and invoking Maitreya Buddha’s peerless treasure, the Post-Heaven Bag.
He had rejected Maitreya’s goodwill conveyed through the monk Jie Du in the future. However, Maitreya was not yet a Transcendent Being at that time and could not have known this. Moreover, upon arriving in the ancient era, Meng Qi had barely encountered any monks, let alone having any conflict or connection with Maitreya. Why would Maitreya suddenly target him?
Now that he thinks about it, he was sent by Qingdi, “entrusted” with awakening Maitreya’s past Buddhist self, a crucial step in Maitreya’s ascension to Transcendence. If Maitreya had captured him through Great Wisdom Monchak, taken him to the Pure Land, and made him listen to “sermons,” Meng Qi’s time would expire, and he would return on his own, rendering Qingdi’s scheme futile. Missing this opportunity, even if someone else was sent later, there might not be another chance to awaken the Medicine King Buddha, since although history remains unchanged, the opportunity to transcend the river of time is rare and likely involves the “current node,” which continuously progresses forward.
Therefore, Maitreya’s seemingly unprovoked attack was actually aimed at Qingdi, obstructing a crucial step in his path to Transcendence!
However, Maitreya is not a Transcendent Being but at most a Creation-level being. He could not have known about Qingdi’s future actions unless guided by a Transcendent Being behind the scenes. Considering Maitreya’s historical accounts, Meng Qi suspects it was Amitabha Buddha, an ancient and powerful Transcendent Being who attained Enlightenment countless eons ago, possessing a Perfect Reward Body Pure Land where even if the universe were destroyed, He would remain unscathed.
It was He who was blocking Qingdi’s attainment of Transcendence!
With a Transcendent Being orchestrating behind the scenes, Meng Qi still escaped the dual suppressions of the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman and the Post-Heaven Bag. He successfully discovered the message left by Master Chunyang, “Who am I, and who is me,” leading him to seek Qingdi-related clues and eventually realize he should come to the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli and seek out Candra Bodhisattva.
This too likely involved another Transcendent Being’s influence.
For only a Transcendent Being can oppose another Transcendent Being!
Meng Qi’s thoughts gradually clarify, and various events begin to reveal their deeper meanings.
The key reason he escaped the dual ambush of the Six-Syllable Mantra Talisman and the Post-Heaven Bag was not primarily due to his own alertness or the mystery of his cultivation techniques, but because he “happened” to breakthrough to Earth Immortal status. Otherwise, as a Human Immortal, he might not even have escaped the first seal!
His attainment of Earth Immortal status was thanks to the assistance of the “Demon Sage” Han Guang within the ruins of the Celestial Court, where five years passed in a single night.
Han Guang claimed he wanted Meng Qi to shine brighter to create contrast and shadows, masking his path to becoming the Jade Emperor, thus avoiding becoming the target of all. This seemed genuine, not feigned. However, speaking truthfully and revealing the entire truth are entirely different matters. Was the real reason for helping him attain Earth Immortal status to assist Qingdi in taking a crucial step toward Transcendence?
Meng Qi inwardly inhales, thinking how truly formidable the Demon Sage is. If he had fully trusted Han Guang, he would have been deceived without even realizing it. Yet, if he had trusted him not at all, he would have died in regret!
Han Guang himself is only a Celestial Immortal. Even with great ambition and powerful means, he is far from being able to interfere in the schemes of Transcendent Beings and can only be a pawn. Then, whose pawn is he? Who is helping Qingdi take this crucial step toward Transcendence?
Could it be the Time Blade? This legendary Transcendent-level weapon, said to be the most unpredictable, still carries the will of the Jade Emperor who perished countless eons ago? Could it mean the Jade Emperor, who had died long ago, had already laid plans to assist Qingdi?
If so, how terrifying the Jade Emperor must be! Meng Qi furrows his brow, finding this unlikely.
Han Guang is also a Reincarnator, not having severed his connection with the God List. Could he have received guidance from Lu Ya? Considering Lu Ya had sent him to retrieve the core fragment of the Heavenly Mirror from the Jade Pond and seek out Qingdi, there is some possibility. However, Lu Ya is likely not yet a Transcendent Being. Even if he is, he remains imprisoned. How could he counterbalance the ancient Transcendent Being Amitabha?
This line of thought leads to too many mysteries, leaving Meng Qi unable to resolve them. He shifts perspectives again. Originally, he had intended to obtain the hidden treasures from the True Martial Sect, then visit Master Chunyang’s tomb and the secret vault of the Sword-Washing Pavilion. He would not have gone to Jade Emperor Mountain, thus never entering the ruins of the Celestial Court, meeting the “Demon Sage” Han Guang, experiencing the five-year night, or ascending to Earth Immortal.
The reason he ended up going to Jade Emperor Mountain was entirely due to the guidance of the “Numerology Sage” Wang Daolin.
This, this old trickster!
The Wang family’s heritage traces back to ancient times, filled with secrets, so it is natural they might have connections with a Transcendent Being. Of course, Wang Daolin might have been unknowingly guided himself…
At this point, Meng Qi finds himself unable to proceed further, as too many possible Transcendent Beings emerge.
“Transcendent Beings always emphasize causality when they act. Even if you are unaware that you are helping them, they will not fail to provide rewards. Perhaps from this angle, one might discern something,” Candra Bodhisattva quietly observes Meng Qi’s contemplation before interjecting.
He seems equally curious about the identity of the Transcendent Being aiding Qingdi.
“Rewards?” Meng Qi ponders. He has encountered many troubles since arriving in the ancient era, but also gained significant rewards: the complete “Sword of Demonic Slaying Sutra” and “Sword of Ultimate Slaying Sutra,” the five-year night leading to Earth Immortal status, and the Great Ability of “Manifesting the Three Pure Ones from One Qi!”
Suddenly, Meng Qi is struck by a lightning-like realization, illuminating all dark corners of his mind.
The “Sword of Demonic Slaying Sutra” and “Sword of Ultimate Slaying Sutra” were obtained in exchange for his own items, so they do not count as additional rewards. Achieving Earth Immortal status was necessary; though it was a reward, it was more of a side effect rather than a direct causal link.
However, “Manifesting the Three Pure Ones from One Qi” is a supreme ability of the Virtue Celestial Venerable. Meng Qi possesses the “Tao Te Ching,” personally inscribed by the Virtue Celestial Venerable. He once assumed the form of Lao Dan, disseminated teachings during the Investiture of the Gods era, and relied on this very ability to escape the clutches of the Demon Buddha. Qingdi, embodying the Taoist form of the Taiyi Heavenly Venerable, took on the identity of Master Chunyang, who was also a disciple of the Virtue Celestial Venerable. Lu Da Xiansheng holds a fragment of the Diamond Bracelet. The Tai Shang Dao Body he comprehended in the Sword-Washing Pavilion resonates profoundly with the philosophy of “Tai Shang.” Meng Qi is deeply entwined with Pure Yang Zi, Dongyang Villa, and other matters connected to the Virtue Celestial Venerable and Qingdi…
Though Meng Qi lacks clear evidence or a perfectly logical deduction, he is nearly certain that the Transcendent Being aiding Qingdi in taking the crucial step toward Transcendence is none other than the Virtue Celestial Venerable, one of the oldest Transcendent Beings!
Indeed, only a Transcendent Being can oppose another Transcendent Being!
This is an ancient contest between ancient powers!
To ascend to Transcendence, one must have the support of one or even several Transcendent Beings; otherwise, it is nearly impossible!
“The others were sent to the ancient era by the Virtue Celestial Venerable, partly to use the likes of Gourdo with ill intentions to open Master Chunyang’s tomb, allowing me to discover that Chunyang was actually the incarnation of Qingdi, with his confusing words ‘Who am I, and who is me,’ leading me to realize I must come to the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli. Partly to confuse and obscure the true purpose, affecting Amitabha and other Transcendent Beings’ judgments, making them suspect the involvement of other Transcendent Beings, thus creating hesitation and preventing complications. The corresponding reward was that upon returning to the ancient era, I could find my past self, leaving a small imprint with boundless potential for future use. Truly an immense scheme!” Meng Qi inwardly exclaims in admiration.
As for whether Gao Lan was sent back by the Human Emperor Sword opportunistically, whether Lu Ya or Han Guang had connections with the Virtue Celestial Venerable, or whether the Golden Emperor sought to seize the opportunity to lay plans and thus attempted to cooperate with him and recruit the Night Emperor, these are now trivial.
“It seems the lay devotee has understood,” Candra Bodhisattva smiles.
Meng Qi points to his own Jiezi Ring: “It should be that one.”
“Ah, that one,” Candra Bodhisattva exhales in relief, His smile widening as He humorously adds, “Perhaps when the lay devotee returns to the future, we shall meet again.”
Does this imply that Qingdi will overturn history, uphold rectifications, and permit Him to survive the turmoil of the Demon Buddha? Meng Qi is astonished once again.
Of course, with Qingdi’s wisdom, He would certainly choose the method with the least impact on history, such as shattering a bit of the Pure Land to help Candra Bodhisattva create a clone or another form to take His place in death, then retreating to the Pure Land within Chaos, only reappearing during the great calamity.
As for whether Qingdi has already achieved Transcendence, Meng Qi suspects not. His state is very strange; after forging His own path, He is difficult to measure by conventional standards or original cultivation level classifications.
He likely possesses the power of a Transcendent Being but still needs to awaken, communicate, and integrate all His past incarnations, gradually reclaiming all aspects of His “self,” step by step, until He ultimately attains Transcendence. For now, He has taken only a crucial first step.
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