The Star Lines contracted, black and white converged, and the world curled into a sphere. Maitreya's gaze wavered. A Glazed Lamp suddenly appeared in his eyes. Its colors defied ordinary comprehension, steeped in the oldest, most ancient feeling. It was the source of every entanglement in the world—birth, aging, sickness, and death; love and hatred; meeting and parting; Cannot Obtain—and the beginning of all things.
"Cause of All Fruits..." The name rose unbidden in Maitreya's heart. He watched the flawless ancient lamp, which illuminated the Great Thousand Worlds, rise slowly and settle behind Yuanshi Tianzun Meng Qi's head, atop the Clear Light jade tree. The luminous, pristine halo gained a touch more depth and mystery, inspiring involuntary worship.
He remained lost in it for a long while before coming back to himself. He pressed his palms together and said:
"Congratulations, Heavenly Venerable, on completing your three seals."
The luminous, pristine halo showed not a ripple, yet Maitreya seemed to feel Meng Qi's gaze upon him. A calm, lofty voice sounded in his ear: "Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist."
Maitreya let out a breath of relief and was about to take his leave when Yuanshi Tianzun Meng Qi continued, "I've heard that you once made a great vow, saying, 'I will not ferry the living, save the end times, or seek the future.'"
At those words, Maitreya's heart filled with uncertainty. He couldn't understand why the exalted figure before him had suddenly brought it up. As Amitabha Buddha had instructed, this trip was to deliver the karmic relic that Burning Lamp had severed, helping Yuanshi Tianzun Meng Qi complete Cause of All Fruits and settle the enmity that had obstructed his path. Once that was done, Maitreya could take his leave. As for helping himself ascend to the Other