Cihang's Reverse Ride, Jiaoli Fire Jujube

At this point in time, the Buddhist Sect had not yet been established. Yet Grand Unity's characteristic of existing simultaneously in the past, present, and future placed the Buddhist Sect somewhere between existence and nonexistence.

In other words, in the eyes of Grand Unity Golden Immortals, the Buddhist Sect had already been established.

But in the eyes of Beings below Grand Unity, the Buddhist Sect would likely only truly come into being after the Investiture of the Gods, when the barbarians were transformed into Buddhas!

Had it been established?

It had, just as it had not!

Grand Unity was a watershed. Those who had attained Grand Unity and those who had not were fundamentally different beings, creatures of two entirely separate worlds.

Since Randeng had already attained Grand Unity, and once attained, it was attained forever, he naturally qualified to enter the Garden of Solitude. But his Grand Unity Dao Fruit had yet to reach completion, and he had not severed the Three Corpses, so he could not become the Buddha of the Past.

At present, the Mystic Gate's Three Sages still held sway. If he wished to perfect his Dao Fruit in this era, he had to take the initiative and join the Mystic Gate's system.

Having understood all this, Xuan Yin could not help shaking his head. "Randeng was originally a guest of the West, yet he entered the Exposition Sect to attain his Dao Fruit. A Sage's Heaven's Will cannot be changed; only the True Dharma of the past is wondrous! It is all Heaven's Will!"

For Cihang and the others, joining the West in the future was Heaven's Will. Likewise, Randeng joining the Exposition Sect and becoming its Vice Sect Master was Heaven's Will.

The karmic ties between the Buddhist Sect and the Mystic Gate were intertwined. Though the two stood opposed, Sages were indestructible through ten thousand calamities, leaving open the possibility of their eventual fusion.

Entering the Dao through Buddhism, or entering Buddhism through the Dao, was essentially an exchange.

It was precisely because Daoist Randeng was an ancestor-level figure and the Buddhist Sect's Buddha of the Past that Primordial Heavenly Venerate allowed him to become the Exposition Sect's Vice Sect Master.

"That's right!"

Xuan Shuang, the Water Kirin, also confirmed Xuan Yin's speculation. "Randeng is an Innate Divine Being who long ago earned the title of Buddha of the Past in the Garden of Solitude. But because Sage Yuanshi is the Cause of All Fruits and the Most Ancient Source, he performed Cihang's Reverse Ride, reversed cause and effect, and entered Sage Yuanshi's sect, all for the sake of seeking the Dao Fruit of the past!"

What Xuan Yin was witnessing now was the moment Randeng entered the Dao through Buddhism. After the Investiture of the Gods, he would use Cihang's Reverse Ride again to reverse cause and effect, return to the Buddhist Sect, and become its Ancient Buddha Randeng.

Cihang was the exact opposite.

After the Investiture of the Gods, he would enter Buddhism through the Dao. When the Buddhist Sect later faced its great calamity of enfeoffment, he would once again perform Cihang's Reverse Ride and return to the tutelage of Primordial Heavenly Venerate of the Exposition Sect.

"What about Martial Brother Duobao?"

Xuan Yin suddenly thought of Duobao Daoist. He too bore the karmic ties of both Buddhism and the Dao, and in the future, he would become an ancestor-level figure capable of establishing a sect and claiming supremacy.

Xuan Shuang, the Water Kirin, shook her head. "Duobao's situation is different. One who comes thus comes from nowhere and goes nowhere; therefore, he is called Rulai!"

What did that mean?

Xuan Yin wanted to ask further, but Xuan Shuang, the Water Kirin, had no intention of explaining. It seemed she did not wish for Xuan Yin to become entangled in these karmic ties too soon.

Once he attained Grand Unity, these karmic ties would no longer be secrets to him!

"Superior Immortal, please stay!"

Xuan Yin rode a streak of Rainbow Light and continued touring Kunlun's sacred realm, but before long, a boy cloaked in golden radiance blocked his path.

He presented a fire jujube before Xuan Yin and said respectfully, "My master instructed me to give this to you, Superior Immortal, as settlement for our previous karmic ties!"

Settle karmic ties?

Xuan Yin was utterly baffled. Why were they coming to him one after another to settle karmic ties?

He circulated the Shangqing Immortal Method and began to deduce. At once, he understood the identity of the person before him.

Golden Cloud Boy!

True Person Taiyi's attendant!

Whether Cihang or Taiyi, both had enlightened an alternate self because of Xuan Yin. Naturally, they now needed to find a way to settle the karmic ties.

Though karmic ties were best settled as early as possible, for the longer one waited, the greater the price one had to pay. This was inseparably tied to a cultivator's realm.

Yet seeing how decisive Taiyi and Cihang were, as though they were avoiding him like the plague, Xuan Yin could not help but grow suspicious.

He turned to Xuan Shuang, the Water Kirin. "Senior Xuan Shuang, after I attain Grand Unity in the future, will I become someone everyone despises?"

"Uh..."

Xuan Shuang did not know how to answer. In the future she had glimpsed, Xuan Yin was entangled in countless karmic ties. Calling him someone everyone despised would not be wrong.

Some of these karmic ties were good, and could send someone soaring to the heavens. Others were bad, and could easily plunge a Grand Unity being into the Calamity of Self-Loss.

Ordinary beings would do best not to provoke Xuan Yin unless their fate was sturdy enough.

"Fine!"

"I understand!"

Though Xuan Shuang said nothing, her silence was the best answer.

As a Sage's Direct Disciple who had inherited the Primordial Origin, Xuan Yin was certain that one day in the future, he would attain Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Otherwise, how would he be qualified to become a Sage's Direct Disciple?

Outsiders might not understand the value of this status, but Xuan Yin did. A Sage's Direct Disciple was guaranteed to at least become a Grand Unity being in the future.

When standing in the right wind, even a pig could fly.

A Sage was Heaven's Will. Becoming a Sage's disciple meant taking the first step toward attaining Grand Unity.

After being stopped in succession by Daoist Cihang and Golden Cloud Boy, both claiming they wished to settle karmic ties, Xuan Yin no longer had any interest in continuing his tour of Mount Kunlun.

He returned directly to his Cave Abode.

Of course, he also wished to refine the fire jujube Golden Cloud Boy had given him.

Though this fire jujube was not as famous as Peaches of Immortality or Ginseng Fruit, it was still the fruit of a high-grade Innate Spiritual Root and naturally possessed its own unique wonders.

For instance, Nezha, True Person Taiyi's destined disciple, only cultivated the divine ability of Three Heads Six Arms after consuming and refining fire jujubes.

"Jade Nectar Golden Syrup and Jiaoli Fire Jujube are medicines that let one soar, no less than golden elixirs."

Xuan Yin swallowed the fire jujube whole and slowly experienced its mysteries. "Jiaoli blossoms in spring and ripens in autumn, green without and white within, symbolizing the interplay of metal and wood. Fire jujubes are red in color and sweet in taste, representing creatures born of yang earth! Creatures born of yang earth are endlessly vital; no wonder they can give rise to the divine ability of Three Heads Six Arms!"

This fire jujube was also an exceedingly rare spiritual root. Standing alongside the Jiaoli, it ranked second only to the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots in the Primordial World.

Though the divine ability of Three Heads Six Arms was somewhat superfluous to Xuan Yin, it was better than nothing. A single spiritual fruit could equal ten thousand years of arduous cultivation for other cultivators.

In half a month, Xuan Yin had refined the fire jujube and learned the divine ability of Three Heads Six Arms. However, he did not have enough Magic Treasures for him to wield.

With Sect Master Tongtian's decree, the Water-Fire Gourd did not need him to wield it for the time being. At present, the only thing he could use was that As-You-Will Golden-Rod Staff.

"I should refine one myself!"

His strength did not allow him to seek opportunities in the Primordial World. Though the Water-Fire Kirin could protect him, he could hardly command two Grand Unity Golden Immortals at will.

Thus, he could only seek his opportunities on Mount Kunlun, beneath the eyes of the Sages.

Kunlun was the ancestor of all mountains!

Everything existed upon this mountain, and it was the dwelling place of ten thousand gods. The opportunities within might be negligible to Grand Unity Golden Immortals, but for one only in the True Immortal Realm, they were exactly what he needed.

Above Kunlun Hill, at twice its height, lay Cool Breeze Mountain. Those who climbed it would not die.

At twice that height lay Xuanpu. Those who climbed it became spirits and could command wind and rain.

At twice that height was where the heavens were bound. Those who climbed it became gods. It was the dwelling of the Great Emperor.

Besides East Kunlun, where the Three Pure Ones' Dojo stood, there was also West Kunlun, where Queen Mother of the West resided. It was where many Rogue Cultivators of the Primordial World gathered.

As the Head of Female Immortals, Queen Mother of the West's Dojo was extraordinary as well. Her palace stood in the Xina Capital west of Turtle Mountain and Spring Mountain, within Kunlun's gardens and Langfeng's park. It had a city spanning a thousand li, twelve jade towers, Qionghua halls, Radiant Jade chambers, nine-tiered primordial rooms, and Zicui cinnabar chambers, with Yaochi to its left and Jade Waters encircling its right.

Below the mountain lay nine layers of Weak Water and towering floods ten thousand zhang high. Without wind-riding chariots and feathered wheels, one could not reach it.

All of these could be considered opportunities.

Though that place was somewhat dangerous, after careful consideration, Xuan Yin still decided to head to Xuanpu, the core of the Ancestral Kunlun Vein.