Time is, more often than not, merely a conceptual definition used to distinguish before from after, and to mark the process of actions. Below the level of the Dharmakaya, slowness in time is closer to slowness in action and in sensory perception. Only those who have successfully cultivated time-related techniques or have reached the stage of creation can truly sense the existence and erosion of that illusory river of time.
At this very moment, Su Meng was like a stone fixed within the river of time, unique and singular. Through the ripples caused by his own erosion, he allowed the abstract and illusory essence of time to slightly manifest before the eyes of the world.
This… made even the focused Lu Daxian and the emotionally detached Su Wuming glance with rare flickers of realization in their eyes, as if they had some suspicions.
What He Qi perceived was slightly different. To him, Su Meng seemed like a source, the origin of all things. He didn’t need to directly affect other things; merely altering himself slightly could have far-reaching effects. For instance, the earlier inability to detect him near the secret chamber and the clarity when he knocked on the door could not be explained simply by hiding his presence.
What kind of unique cultivation method is this? Or is he like Su Wuming, possessing legendary traits immediately upon confirming his Dharmakaya? But different from Lu Daxian and Su Wuming’s legendary traits?
The smiling Yuan He Zhenren first inwardly marveled at how the little one who once needed the old master’s help had now become a true immortal. Then he furrowed his brows, as this sensation and manifestation seemed familiar from some ancient text!
Suddenly, a word popped into his mind:
“The Cause of All Effects!”
The source of all connections, all entanglements, all developments, all changes, and all things!
Is he the successor of Yuanshi Tianzun across generations? The inheritor of the Jade Void lineage from Kunlun?
Regarding the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, Yuan He had only read about it in scriptures personally recorded by the Ten Thousand Images Immortal Venerable. He knew it was the Dao lineage of Yuanshi Tianzun, the foremost among the Three Pure Ones in mythological tales. However, after the fall of the ancient heavenly court, it mysteriously vanished. Similar disappearances included the Lineage of Lingbao and various inheritances of demon sovereigns.
Their disappearance was extremely strange, absent from nearly all ancient records, as if this period of history and their existence had been deliberately erased. Only the scattered words of great beings from ancient legends and the rare occasional discoveries of inheritances could prove their actual existence, showing they were not mere fabrications, and the Three Pure Ones were not fictional figures!
Yuan He’s heart surged with emotion. Strictly speaking, his own master, the Ten Thousand Images Immortal Venerable, was considered a successor of the Lingbao Tianzun lineage, and should have known many secrets, yet no key information was recorded.
Never did he expect to witness the emergence of Yuanshi Tianzun’s successor, and to see the legendary “Cause of All Effects”!
He did not voice his shock and doubts, as he was unsure whether Su Meng would be willing to reveal his inheritance.
Gao Teng, holding a token, looked at Meng Qi, whose aura seemed as deep and boundless as the night sky, and suddenly recalled what he had seen in the divine capital years ago. At that time, Su Meng was full of vigor and high fighting spirit, able to carve a bloody path even when surrounded, making Gao Teng secretly admire and feel the helplessness and frustration of the younger generation surpassing the old. Now, Su Meng had matured, his aura more restrained, no longer the passionate youth, but even more intimidating, making Gao Teng feel only admiration without any desire for comparison.
Once the Dharmakaya is attained, the distinction between immortals and mortals becomes clear!
Talk of the younger generation surpassing the old is meaningless; the capable shall lead!
The atmosphere within the secret chamber subtly shifted as Meng Qi entered.
At this moment, Su Wuming, his sword resting across his knees, nodded calmly and composedly: “The you of the past is not you, nor is the you of the future; truly rare.”
He already knew that Meng Qi had severed both past and future, leaving only the present life.
Lu Daxian followed with a smile and a sigh, saying, “You truly chose this path and have reached such heights. Admirable. No wonder you embody both legendary and Nirvana-like qualities. However, our path is solitary and fraught with peril—far more arduous and treacherous than the ordinary path of ascension.”
On a normal path, merely having an indestructible projection, an undying self, omnipresence, and foresight into the future would ensure one could hardly be killed by anyone below the legendary level, no matter how many enemies surrounded them. Personal safety would be greatly assured, making the path much smoother. But unlike the normal path, both Lu Daxian and Meng Qi lacked these unique traits, facing many more dangers.
What are the traits of the other shore? Apart from Lu Daxian and Su Wuming, He Qi, Yuan He, and Gao Teng were all stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.
What is the Other Shore? One who crosses the bitter sea, forming an incomplete and formless half-step Dao fruit, is called the Other Shore. Except for the Dao Lords and Buddha Patriarchs who transcend and do not intervene in worldly affairs, beings of the Other Shore are the most supreme figures!
The destruction and rebirth of an aeon, the so-called great calamities, are all battles among beings from the Other Shore. They exist across past, present, and future, capable of reversing cause and effect, calling a stag a steed. Merely contemplating them sends shivers down one’s spine—such is the Other Shore.
(Note: “彼岸” is translated as “the Other Shore” to maintain its philosophical and metaphysical connotations in Buddhist/Chinese thought. The translation preserves the original’s poetic rhythm while adjusting phrasing for natural English flow, such as “call a deer a horse” becoming the more idiomatic “calling a stag a steed.” The semicolon after “future” is replaced with a comma for smoother reading, and the final dash emphasizes the climactic definition.)
And Su Meng, having just confirmed his Dharmakaya and entered the realm of human immortality, already possesses the traits of the Other Shore—the traits of supreme beings?
This is unprecedented in history, except for those born with innate peculiarities and strength!
“One could say he has hacked through brambles, paving a new path for future generations,” Meng Qi smiled, lifting his green robe and casually sitting on a meditation cushion.
Having chosen this path, there is no turning back; one must continue walking it, even if it means crawling.
He said no more about it, nor was there any need.
He Qi was startled by the mention of the traits of the Other Shore, only now regaining his composure as he asked in confusion, “On your path, is there no heavenly tribulation when confirming the Dharmakaya?”
The tribulation of the Dharmakaya is terrifying and highly noticeable. Even if one did not sense it at the time, one would surely hear of it afterward.
Especially since Su Meng obtained the legendary and Nirvana traits upon confirming his Dharmakaya, far surpassing an ordinary Dharmakaya, the tribulation should have been even more intense.
“My situation was special; I encountered a human calamity instead,” Meng Qi replied truthfully. As for whether others cultivating this path would face heavenly tribulations, that remains unknown.
At this moment, Yuan He looked Meng Qi up and down and suddenly smiled, saying: “What a fine blade.”
Although the heavy long sword was sheathed and showed no sharpness, anyone who looked at it would feel a chill.
“Overlord’s Ultimate Blade,” Meng Qi replied succinctly.
The Overlord’s Ultimate Blade? Did he retrieve it from the Su Nu Sect? He Qi and Gao Teng were both greatly shocked.
Among the remaining supreme divine weapons in the world, the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade is one of the rarest!
Feeling the vibration, Meng Qi smiled slightly and said: “It came to me on its own.”
The Overlord’s Ultimate Blade is not merely a supreme divine weapon—among such weapons, it stands at the pinnacle. Excluding those great beings of the Six Paths who choose to remain hidden and thus are not listed on the exchange chart, its ranking remains highly accurate.
The Ten Supreme Divine Weapons featured on the first page of the chart undoubtedly surpass all others, wielding power capable of reaching the “other shore”—equivalent to half a Dao Fruit. Their evaluations are equally extraordinary:
– The Primordial Yang Ruler: “Supreme Defense”
– The Human Emperor Sword: “Supreme Kingship”
– The Blade of Time: “Supreme Unpredictability”
– The Nethersea Sword: “Supreme Slaughter”
– The Cycle Seal: “Supreme Mystery”
– The Demon Sovereign Spear: “Supreme Annihilation”
– The Heaven’s Punishment Axe: “Supreme Offense”
– The Demon Emperor’s Claw: “Supreme Corruption”
– The Bodhi Wondrous Tree: “Omnipresent Purity”
– The Overlord’s Ultimate Blade: “Supreme Might”!
Upon reflection, the glazed branch that aided in sealing the Demon Buddha Ananda beneath the Five-Finger Mountain was indeed the Bodhi Wondrous Tree. In the mythological era, the Buddha Patriarch fashioned the Bodhi Wondrous Tree from the half Dao fruit inscribed upon his enlightenment. It disappeared after his passing, only to resurface during the chaos of the Demon Buddha.
No wonder great beings like Yang Jian all believed the one who sealed the Demon Buddha A-nan was the Buddha Patriarch.
Hearing this, Yuan He suppressed his astonishment and clapped his hands in delight, exclaiming: “Young Master Su, you have returned after enduring immense hardships—not only achieving the status of a human immortal but also obtaining the Overlord’s Ultimate Blade, embodying both legendary and Nirvana qualities. This is truly divine favor bestowed upon us.”
“I came precisely for this matter,” Meng Qi nodded.
The conversation turned serious, and Lu Daxian continued: “Back then, Gourdo only had his true spirit remaining, and even with a rare opportunity, more than a decade was too short. At most, he could only restore his former strength. If the Heaven Punishment Axe doesn’t achieve a greater breakthrough, I alone with my sword can hold him off.”
These past ten years had not been wasted for Lu Daxian, especially after he severed his connection with his other self and opened a new path. Although every step was perilous, his progress was rapid.
It sounds as if Lu Daxian is nearing the realm of a celestial immortal… Meng Qi mused thoughtfully.
Su Wuming’s gaze was deep and indifferent as he said: “If the evil cults launch a massive attack, the matter is not difficult. The concern lies in the danger of hidden arrows. During this time, everyone must be cautious.”
“Yes,” He Qi nodded. “But prolonged defense will inevitably lead to lapses. We cannot always remain passive; we must consider taking the initiative.”
Yuan He frowned: “Evil cults rely on secrecy to survive. Even if we take the initiative, we must first locate them.”
Lu Daxian pondered for a moment and said: “We hold the advantage of openness and the might of the entire world. We must not act recklessly. Steady progress will suffice. First, we must guard against assassinations and the demon race exploiting chaos. It would be best if each of us could create an item enabling instant communication. That way, we can turn the tables when the time comes.”
Messages between Dharmakaya beings travel quickly. For example, Lu Daxian could hide messages within sword light, sending them swiftly to their destination. However, this method could not ensure timely communication in critical moments, hence his suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Meng Qi smiled slightly, looking around the circle: “There’s no need for such trouble. If you seniors trust me, each lend me a personal item, and I can establish a temporary causal link centered on me, allowing constant communication through me.”
This was similar to remotely capturing Duan Rui and contacting Gao Lan through the Mirror of This Life!
Yuan He understood the reasoning, pondered briefly, and smiled: “That would be excellent, ensuring absolute safety!”
Lu Daxian and Su Wuming readily agreed without hesitation. He Qi thought it over and also chose to agree. Only Gao Teng expressed approval after consulting with Gao Lan.
Jade pendants, sword talismans, and other items were handed to Meng Qi. His eyes suddenly transformed—one turned pitch black while the other became pure white. Deep within them, a glazed lamp emerged, emitting a precise interplay of black and white light!
…
In Jiangdong, Wang Siyuan sat in his ancestral home when suddenly he felt a stirring in his heart. He summoned the Luo Shu and his eyes burned with madness:
“Good, he really has escaped from A-nan!”
The Luo Shu spun rapidly, scattering black and white points of light that coalesced into the Primordial Bagua. Layer by layer, it enveloped Wang Siyuan’s body.
A series of illusory cracking sounds echoed as Wang Siyuan spat out several mouthfuls of blood. Yet, his expression, though pale, showed relief, as if he had broken free from some restraint.
Previously, the Demon Buddha had protected the Wang family through a great calamity, but secretly left a method to bind the family to his will.
Now, with the Demon Buddha’s fragmentary spirit destroyed, temporarily unable to break free from the seal, Wang Siyuan seized the opportunity to break free from the shackles, allowing him to soar like a fish in the sea or a bird in the sky!
“I can now fully focus on attaining the Dharmakaya…” Wang Siyuan sighed joyfully. “However, the great calamity is drawing closer, and many great beings might use their related sects and clans to make their moves.”
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