The River of Time grew narrower and narrower.
This place was already above the Ancient Era—the Primordial Antiquity.
The ancient aura of the Era's Beginning transformed into a fierce wind, surging from the Source of the River, scouring bone and grinding souls.
Apart from the three Daoist Sect Venerates, who had attained the Dao earliest and possessed the deepest foundations, the other eternals had already slowed down.
They had no choice but to summon their own "imprints" from the lower reaches of the River, transform them into "fuel," and use them to propel themselves farther onward.
The Five Buddhas were "young" eternals who had only attained the Dao at the end of the Primordial Antiquity.
At this moment, they had already walked beyond the most ancient stretch of the past that they occupied.
Every step forward was now arduous.
Watching the backs of the other six figures recede farther and farther away, the thin Ancient Buddha, whose Golden Body had shown slight signs of melting after activating the Ancient Lamp, slowly brought his palms together before his chest.
"I shall go ahead first. I entrust Buddhism to you all."
As his voice fell, the River trembled faintly.
From the Near Antiquity downstream, to Middle Antiquity, and then to the Ancient Era.
Countless billions of Buddhist Chants sang in unison. Endless phantoms soared into the air and poured into the Ancient Buddha's body in one great rush.
As the phantoms poured in, the Ancient Buddha's withered body began to burn, and his golden Dharma Body gradually melted.
Yet he remained seated in the lotus position, a compassionate smile on his face.
In the end, the Ancient Buddha completely melted into a mass of golden flowing liquid, which then split into four streams and bestowed its power upon the other four Buddhas.