A Conversation Across Endless Ages, Huangtian Heavenly Position

(There will be another chapter later, it's getting late, don't wait, I've been watching the match for too long, cough cough)

"An unknown intruder barged directly into Hangu City, crossing the border between the province and the World Plateau."

In the Purple Bamboo Forest, Su Qiansuan squinted at the woman who had arrived with the sea of Buddha; her aura didn't seem particularly strong.

It was more like He had received a divine Imperial Edict, yet He did not act rashly.

Because that woman, with a Bodhi tree of immense height behind her, is currently heading towards the Dragon Boat World, seemingly from the Other Shore World, coming because of that [World Honored One].

"That's interesting."

Su Qiansuan took a deep look at the Dragon Boat World submerged in the sea of Buddha Light's light.

That area was now blurred, covered in golden light; only the towering divine tree could be seen.

He stepped down from the Purple Bamboo Forest and arrived in the Golden City.

"Reveal my decree."

At this very moment, inside the Governor's Mansion, rows of golden generals clad in gleaming armor were kneeling on one knee, awaiting the Imperial Decree.

Su Qiansuan spoke in a low voice:

"Mobilize all gold-producing troops and station them at Hangu City. Issue a proclamation to the remaining forty-eight provinces of the Federation."

"From this day forward, the Golden Province officially declares its independence from Federation jurisdiction."

The thirty-odd golden generals, kneeling on one knee, responded in a muffled voice; behind each of them were several, even ten, Cave Heaven rotating.

They were all incredibly powerful figures at the innate level!

An ancient horn sounded suddenly from the Golden City, echoing throughout dozens of cities in the entire province.

Troops were being urgently assembled in city after city, and some city Golden Councilor were placed under house arrest—except for Zhou Muneo in the Waiting Area.

The communication has been sent.

The entire province has entered a state of preparedness.

Su Qiansuan slowly ascended into the air, hovering above the Golden City and all the other cities, and closed his eyes.

Then comes luck.

When the news of independence was released and reached the provinces.

The Golden Province trembled, as if a great force and fortune were bestowed upon Him!

"Now I will use the power of an entire province as medicine to break through the current limitations!"

'Boom!'

The heavenly music resounded, and Su Qiansuan's heart glowed, extending into a blessed land refined from some ancient world.

The golden fortune intertwined into a phantom elixir, piercing straight into the blessed land!

Then.

Great power, accomplished.

The province was in turmoil.

Right now, in the Dragon Boat World.

The woman, stepping on a sea of brilliant Buddha Light, raised her head, feeling the violent tremors of heaven and earth, her face expressionless.

She clasped her hands together, sighed again, "World-Honored Tathagata," and then fixed her gaze on the prostrate, illusory old man.

She didn't know who this person was; she was simply there to deliver Imperial Decree.

Lin Changle indifferently repeated:

"The World-Honored Imperial Decree that we fetch the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff and the Brocade Cassock."

Shi Zhengyuan's throat bobbed; had he just heard Guanyin Bodhisattva?

He didn't know what Guanyin was, but he knew the meaning of the word "Bodhisattva".

A deity has descended in person, bearing the Imperial Decree of the [World Honored One]!

As for the old man prostrate on the ground, or rather, [Elder Jinchi]?

It is trembling at this moment.

He was also wondering if this [Guanyin] was the real Guanyin.

They look so alike.

The most important thing is

Elder Jinchi trembled as he raised his head, gazing at the majestic Bodhisattva and the ancient Bodhi tree behind Him, feeling dizzy.

From the Bodhi Tree,

Elder Jinchi could vaguely see an unparalleled figure, seemingly sitting at an infinite height, its gaze flowing from the Bodhi branch, quietly watching him.

World Honored One.

He is the true and real World-Honored Tathagata.

He had never seen the Buddha, but after catching a glimpse of that figure perched high above, hidden by the Bodhi Tree,

Elder Jinchi was absolutely certain: it was Buddha Ancestor, it was definitely Buddha Ancestor!

Buddha Ancestor is looking at himself.

He tremblingly removed his Brocade Cassock, handing it and his Nine-Ringed Zen Staff forward. After the 'Guanyin Bodhisattva' received them...

Elder Jinchi couldn't help but ask:

Am I still a pilgrim on the journey to the West?

The woman glanced at him blankly, holding the Brocade Cassock in one hand and the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff in the other, remaining motionless.

Behind her, the ancient Bodhi tree swayed gently.

At the same time.

Zhang Fusheng sat upright in the Eight Sceneries Palace, surrounded by All Seats, but his eyes followed his own spiritual path, quietly gazing at the old man.

After taking off the Brocade Cassock,

Everything that was previously blurry can now be seen again.

Zhang Fusheng saw the old man's appearance and even traced the cause and effect of his past.

It is a sea of fire, it is the past pilgrims on their journey to the West, it is a temple.

"Elder Jinchi"

Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, his expression growing increasingly solemn—how could such an insignificant person be able to revive and return in this era?

To put it bluntly, even if the true body of Elder Jinchi from the old world were to come back to life, rather than just this wisp of true spirit—

To me, I am nothing more than an ant.

The opponent does possess cultivation, but it's so low as to be almost negligible; they are merely a Martial Arts Master.

But this person possessed an inexplicable power, a power that did not belong to him.

"Let me see."

The chaotic mist churned and flowed silently, and fine starlight appeared in Zhang Fusheng's eyes as he precisely pinpointed the cause and effect of Elder Jinchi's resurrection.

He traced this cause and effect back to its source and saw that the other party's true spirit was contained within the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff.

It's like a glimmer of true spirit hidden in the Human Seed Bag!

However, the difference is that Huang Mei hid himself, while Elder Jin Chi was hidden away; the two are not comparable.

Zhang Fusheng continued to trace back...

Time marches on, ever onward.

He felt some pressure—that is, he was currently seated in the Eight Sceneries Palace, his position infinitely high and immeasurable.

Otherwise, tracing the cause and effect across such a long period of time would likely be so stressful that it could crush one to death!

Even with infinitely high positions sharing the burden, Zhang Fusheng still felt that everything was becoming heavier and heavier.

As He was about to reach His limit of endurance.

Zhang Fusheng saw it.

It was a hand, a hand as smooth as jade, that gently placed Elder Jinchi into the Nine-Ringed Zen Staff.

The owner of that hand was initially blurry, but gradually became clearer, clearer...

Until it was fully revealed to Zhang Fusheng.

A middle-aged person?

A middle-aged man, dressed in magnificent imperial robes and wearing a twelve-tasseled crown, sat regally in the boundless palace.

Zhang Fusheng saw Him.

He then raised his head and looked at Zhang Fusheng.

Who is this?

Is it a certain Heavenly Court Emperor?

Or the Four Heavenly Emperors?

Or perhaps... the Great Heavenly Venerate of Jade Purity?

Zhang Fusheng was unaware that, as he stared at Him, he was horrified to discover that they were looking at each other at eye level.

No, to be more precise, it was that middle-aged emperor who was looking down at him, while he was looking up at him.

Right now,

The other party's status is even higher than mine, who is sitting upright on the futon and blessed by the Eight Sceneries Palace!

"Interesting."

A gentle voice rang out from the ancient world before time, piercing through time and rolling along the long river of years, exploding in Zhang Fusheng's mind!

Its power is immeasurable!

Zhang Fusheng was momentarily stunned, wanting to close his eyes and no longer look at this terrifying being that could transcend the passage of time.

But when He closed His eyes, He was horrified to realize that the boundless palace and the extremely majestic middle-aged man dressed in imperial robes were still incredibly clear!

Zhang Fusheng's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly looked around.

However, they discovered that this place was no longer the Eight Sceneries Palace.

I am sitting cross-legged on the surface of a vast and turbulent river, at its very end.

Looking back now, the river rushes towards a deep, boundless void, and within that void, one can vaguely glimpse a... Nine Netherworld?

The nothingness that the river is rushing towards is the future.

That.

Zhang Fusheng straightened his head and sat upright at the end of the river, gazing at the figure in the Wuliang Palace upstream.

He observed the great river and discovered that every drop of its water contained countless vast worlds!

"Time, the long river of years."

Zhang Fusheng murmured, clearly seeing tiny heads occasionally peeking out of the river.

You can also see the river water changing occasionally, as if it's being interfered with or altered. And within some of these interferences and changes...

He saw his own reflection.

It is oneself who, by knocking on the Gate of the Past, changes the past, and all of this is reflected in the river.

The altered history sinks to the bottom of the river, while a new reality rises to the surface.

"What's this perspective?" He murmured.

Upstream of the river, the emperor, seated calmly, said:

"The perspective of a detached person"

"What is a transcendent being?" Zhang Fusheng asked, looking at the middle-aged man from afar.

The middle-aged man smiled gently:

"The Supreme Beings, the Heaven's Will, the Ancient One, the Witness to All. These are all titles for the Transcendent One."

"Of course, the most accurate term should be 'Supreme Fruit Position'."

Zhang Fusheng suddenly realized.

The Fuli Chapter has seven chapters, corresponding to seven Fruit Position, with the Six Realms of Humanity being the first Fruit Position.

Venerables and Great Powers are the second Fruit Position; Great Divine Ability User and True Saints are the third Fruit Position; Heavenly Venerables and Buddhas are the fourth Fruit Position; and the Daluo level is the fifth Fruit Position.

Above the Daluo realm lies the Supreme Fruit Position.

As for the seventh Fruit Position?

That is called [the Way].

"Who are you?" Zhang Fusheng asked in a low voice, looking down and seeing the Eight Sceneries Palace beneath him.

The perspective of the transcendent, or rather, the Supreme Beings, the Heaven's Will, is higher than that of the illusory Eight Sceneries Palace that transcends the limits of thought.

He saw that All Seats in the illusory Eight Sceneries Palace seemed to be frozen in time, as if the flow of time had been paused.

The creatures upstream of the river, far away, spoke peacefully:

"I also have many names."

"Some call me Upper Heaven, some call me Heavenly Father, and some call me Haotian, but in this period of time that you have witnessed, people call me the Heavenly Emperor."

"It could also be the Great Heavenly Venerate of Jade Purity."

Zhang Fusheng felt a chill run down his spine; it really was the legendary figure.

He remained calm, knowing that fear was useless. Since the other party had summoned him and even allowed him to enter the perspective of a being of Heaven's Will, so that they could look each other in the eye, it already explained a lot.

For example.

In the other party's eyes, I am qualified to be on equal footing.

Zhang Fusheng's thoughts raced, and he spoke:

"Why have you summoned me?"

The creatures upstream smiled:

"You are the one seeking me, Non-Self the other way around—and you need not address me as 'you,' let alone summon me."

"I see the shadows of Taiqing and the one from the Jade Void Palace in you, and I also see the figures of Nuwa and Buddha Ancestor."

After a short while,

The creature upstream continued:

"They have chosen you, so you may address me as a fellow believer."

After a short while,

The Heavenly Emperor, who did not appear particularly imposing and was even somewhat gentle, muttered to himself:

"But why did they choose you?"

Then,

A light shone in His eyes, as if He were surveying what had happened at the end of the long river, and tears of blood flowed from His eyes.

Zhang Fusheng's heart skipped a beat.

Why would tears of blood fall?

It's clear they've suffered a backlash, but where did this backlash come from?

Thinking of the immortals and Buddhas who had vanished, Zhang Fusheng wondered if it was because of some major event.

Does this mean that these ancient beings are unable to enter [the present]?

But before that, the Azure Emperor came and bowed to him.

Zhang Fusheng was increasingly confused.

For a long time.

He saw the creatures upstream gently wiping away their blood and tears, and exclaimed in amazement:

"That thing actually ended up in your hands, so that's how it is, that's how it is."

Zhang Fusheng asked in a deep voice:

"Are you referring to Contract Book, fellow Daoist?"

The creatures upstream simply smiled:

"You call it Contract Book? It seems your understanding of it is quite superficial, but that's understandable."

After a short while,

The Heavenly Emperor, seated in the past, asked gently:

"Judging from your experience, you Exchange Heaven and Dao. How about we make a deal?"

Zhang Fusheng raised an eyebrow, his heart pounding with shock, but his face remained calm as he asked in a deep voice:

"What transaction?"

"You are becoming Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shizun, which is a good thing for you now, but in the long run, it is easy to lose yourself, and you will no longer be yourself."

"Perhaps Empress Nüwa reminded you?"

Hearing the Heavenly Emperor's words, Zhang Fusheng remained silent for a moment, then nodded:

"Nuwa told me to be myself first."

The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly.

"Easier said than done? I'll help you be yourself, and you do me a favor in return. How about an equal exchange?"

"What kind of help?"

"It's very simple."

The Heavenly Emperor smiled, his gaze incredibly profound:

"After you attain the highest levels of purity, jade purity, and worldly enlightenment, sever all these forms and bodies, and then descend one level, one rank lower."

Zhang Fusheng didn't quite understand, and pondered for a moment:

"Then how can you help me 'be myself'?"

The creature upstream raised its eyelids, its voice drawn out:

"I anchor you to your true self and spirit, I anchor you to time and your true self. No matter where you go in the future, with this anchor, you will not lose your way."

"Would you be willing?"

Zhang Fusheng's mind raced, and he still couldn't understand what the creatures upstream were saying. He only vaguely knew that he had been caught in a huge vortex.

He paused for a moment, then asked:

Where are the Three Pure Ones now?

The creature upstream smiled but did not answer, only saying:

"Don't worry, they can't see you right now, they can't perceive [the present moment]. In fact, if you hadn't actively traced my existence, I wouldn't have been able to see [the present] either."

Zhang Fusheng felt a slight sense of relief and asked his second question:

"What caused all of this? Why are the past events repeating themselves in another way? What happened after the Investiture of the Gods and the Journey to the West?"

The Heavenly Emperor remained smiling and did not answer, but instead recounted other matters:

"So, Fellow Daoist Zhang, are you willing to make a deal with me?"

Zhang Fusheng frankly stated:

"I have no idea."

The Heavenly Emperor didn't seem to care, and simply waved his hand:

"Then we can discuss that later. However, since we have met across the ages, it is fate, and I should give you a small gift as a token of our friendship."

His voice drifted from upstream, neither majestic nor deep, but lingering in Zhang Fusheng's ears.

With that sound, it seemed as if something else was also carried along by the river of time.

Before Zhang Fusheng could react, he saw something crash into his body. Startled, he tried to investigate himself.

But then they heard the creatures upstream speak again:

"Keep that little guy. When you've thought it through and are ready to make a deal with me, then use the karma associated with that little guy to trace back to the source."

"At that time, I will sit down with you again, having witnessed the passage of time."

The imperial voice was like a tide, continuous and endless. Zhang Fusheng realized that he was falling, falling.

The river of time has begun to blur.

As it plummeted, the creatures upstream sighed softly, their voices echoing in its ears, lingering for a long time.

"That little fellow named Jinchi, you can make use of him appropriately, fellow Daoist. Perhaps, in the future, he can become a pawn for you to get rid of Buddha Ancestor."

"I will wait here quietly for our next meeting, Fellow Daoist Zhang."

Zhang Fusheng has completely fallen back into the Eight Sceneries Palace.

In the final instant, in that last fleeting glimpse, He saw the creatures upstream seemingly coughing violently, seemingly cracking, as if they had suffered a great wound.

Then, the river of time disappeared from sight, and the surroundings were once again shrouded in chaotic mist, with All Seats in front of him.

Time, which had been stagnant, began to flow slowly again.

The Dao Palace was deathly silent, All Seats were still holding their prayers.

After a long while.

Upon hearing a soft sigh, All Seats, including Kong Shentong who was arriving for the first time, instinctively raised their heads and looked towards the Great Heavenly Venerable.

But shrouded in the chaotic mist, that originally immeasurably tall and majestic figure seemed to have grown even taller.

It seemed to exude an indescribable air of authority.

"Homage to the Boundless Heavenly Venerate!"

The All Seats then offered their praise once more.

The Great Celestial Venerable remained silent, lost in thought, gazing inward at the Ancestral Aperture between his eyebrows, looking at the gifts bestowed upon him by the beings upstream.

It was a fragmented celestial position, emitting a faint light.

The name of the Heavenly Throne is -- [Huangtian].

"This guy"

Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, "He's no good either."

The Heavenly Emperor, which is the Heavenly Emperor of the Earth, is surely the Great Heavenly Venerate of Jade Purity.

They keep saying they'll help themselves stay true to themselves.

And this is what they send you as a gift?

Only

But what exactly is this Contract Book, that so many terrifying Supreme Beings have set their sights on me?

Zhang Fusheng didn't understand.

He couldn't understand why such a mysterious thing had fallen upon him, specifically into the Ancestral Aperture his eyebrows.

"That's fine too. At least with this Huangtian Heavenly Position —or rather, the Heavenly Sovereign's position—I can fill ten sacred Cave Heaven and cultivate Saint Golden Body."

This thought flashed through Zhang Fusheng's mind as he silently sensed the vastness and boundless majesty of the Huangtian Heavenly Position, cracked between his brows.

But as you continue to perceive, you realize that something seems amiss.

In the celestial position, something was clearly lying there.

He communicated with the heavens through his thoughts, attempting to understand and trace back, but he could not discern what the object was.

If we want to use it, we'll probably have to wait until after we Ascension to Divinity —ultimately, we must Ascension to Divinity.

My thoughts swirled and settled in my heart.

Then, the Great Celestial Venerable raised his eyelids and looked down at the All Seats of the Dao Palace.

All Seats then performed the ceremony again and bowed once more.