Nezha's Birth, Return to the Other Shore

The upper universe.

Capital.

In the eternally dark and desolate land, a ray of light pierced through, and a wisp of true spirit, burdened by three thousand shackles, slowly opened its eyes.

The next instant, the pagoda suppressing him swayed slowly, one end of the shackles connected to the pagoda, the other to his true spirit.

Dragging along with the pagoda, the true spirit also departed from the eternally dark and secluded place.

Bright light is shining before us.

"This pagoda that the Speaker found is truly effective!"

The white-haired old man gazed at the wisp of true spirit called the Great God of the Three Altars, which was suppressed by the Exquisite Pagoda, and sighed:

"This true spirit is incredibly powerful. In the old world, it was suspected to be a Celestial Venerable or Buddha-level figure, yet it was utterly powerless against the pagoda."

Zhenling's lips twitched, her eyelids lowered, and she remained silent.

Kong Shentong squinted at the true spirit, which resembled a porcelain doll, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoist, would you like to step out from under the tower and break free of your shackles?"

The porcelain doll swallowed the profanity that was about to come out, and instead put on an innocent and naive look, saying:

"Really?"

A big smile spread across his face.

Kong Shentong and the white-haired old man exchanged a glance.

After a moment of contemplation, Kong Shentong asked again in a deep voice:

"It's true, of course, but there are a few questions before that."

After pausing for a moment, he continued:

"What is your relationship with the Buddhist Sect, fellow Daoist?"

The spirit remained innocent and naive, tilting its head in confusion.

"I have two older brothers who are both in the Buddhist Sect."

Kong Shentong and the white-haired old man frowned immediately; Zhenling keenly sensed this.

Immediately, he looked angry and muttered:

"These bald monks of the Buddhist Sect forcibly converted my two elder brothers back then, making them take refuge in Buddhism."

The white-haired old man's eyes lit up, and he laughed:

"I knew it. The way the Buddha forcibly converted and led people to conversion shows that Buddhist Sect's reputation probably wasn't very good in the old world."

The spirit's expression shifted slightly. Who?

World Honored One?

He became solemn:

"What World Honored One?"

Kong Shentong answered:

"The World-Honored Tathagata, the Tathagata, who calls himself Buddha Ancestor, was born not long ago. On the day of Buddha's Birthday's birthday, he took seven steps in all four directions and said, 'Above and below heaven, I alone am the honored one.'"

"Moreover, not long ago, under the Bodhi Tree, he fully sat in the Buddha Heavenly Position, and was given the title [Buddha Ancestor Fusheng]."

The spirit remained expressionless, but its heart was in turmoil.

After a long pause, he still maintained his innocent demeanor and hesitated before saying:

So, you summoned me here because...

The white-haired old man spoke solemnly:

"We would like to ask for your assistance in suppressing and killing this World-Honored Tathagata."

The spirit remained silent for three seconds, then turned to walk back to the Eternal Dark Abyss, shouting:

"Goodbye, whoever wants to go can go, but don't drag me down with you if you're looking to die!"

The white-haired old man was stunned, and Kong Shentong's heart sank. Just how powerful World-Honored Tathagata, in the old world? And what Rank/Status did he hold?

He quickly stepped forward and, following the method taught by the speaker, activated the exquisite pagoda to completely suppress the porcelain doll-like spirit.

Then he spoke:

"World-Honored Tathagata, Tathagata, first returned, he was very weak. His cultivation was only at the initial stage of Venerable, and he had just attained the Fruit Position."

Zhenling paused, "What the heck?"

When the Buddha Ancestor returned, were they merely Arhats or Venerables?

Bullshit!

His eyes flickered, as if deep in thought. Could it be... not that big bald donkey?

After a moment of contemplation, the true spirit sat down cross-legged again and said in a deep voice:

"Tell me in detail."

He had thought it through very clearly: regardless of whether it was the real Buddha Ancestor or not, escaping his predicament was the most important thing.

Even after escaping, with this damned pagoda still around, he would still find it difficult to fully utilize his abilities, but at least he would have a chance.

Kong Shentong exchanged another glance with the white-haired old man and then recounted the whole story in detail.

From the birth of the World-Honored Tathagata, to the Other Shore World, to events seemingly marking the Beginning of the Journey to the West, and the imperial conferment of titles upon Guanyin, etc.

Zhenling was terrified, but she didn't show it at all on her face.

After a moment of silence, he said:

"If you release me from my bonds, I can indeed assist you, but do you intend to directly confront the World-Honored Tathagata?"

"I need to recover for a while."

After a moment's pause, Zhenling pulled on the shackles and said frankly:

"I had only just awakened, and then I was suppressed by this pagoda for some time, which greatly weakened my will, making me even weaker than when I first awakened."

Kong Shentong and the white-haired old man discussed for a moment and finally nodded.

The former carefully activated the Method Formula to manipulate the exquisite pagoda, and the shackles were unlocked one by one, allowing the exquisite pagoda to fly into his palm.

Kong Shentong held the exquisite pagoda, gazing at the true spirit who had been freed from its bonds but still maintained a pure and honest appearance, and breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned back and said:

"It's alright, the true spirit of the old world indeed did not cause any trouble."

In the void, figures emerged one after another, councilors ranging from venerable figures to Great Divine Ability User, all standing solemnly, forming a grand formation around them.

Clearly, there was something wrong with the porcelain doll-like spirit just now, so they were going to bind and suppress it again.

The true spirit remained expressionless.

After whispering with the white-haired old man for a while, and finally deciding that he would be the one to lift the exquisite pagoda,

Kong Shentong turned and bowed, and the councilors dispersed one by one, including the white-haired old man.

Before leaving, the white-haired old man said:

"Remember, as the Speaker said before he went into seclusion, once this true spirit is released, the pagoda must not be separated from your hands."

"I understand."

Kong Shentong nodded, watching the white-haired old man's figure disappear before raising the pagoda and looking at the porcelain doll.

The porcelain doll also sized him up, her gaze occasionally glancing at the exquisite pagoda.

That damn tower!

For a long time.

After contemplating the internal and external layout of this place, Kong Shentong sat upright in front of the porcelain doll and said in a deep voice:

"Great God of the Three Altars, you come from the old world. I know you don't speak much about things from the old world—it seems there's some kind of taboo?"

Nezha glanced at the middle-aged man and said with pure kindness:

"Yes, talking too much, spreading things from the past to the present, will lead to bad things."

Kong Shentong nodded, but did not inquire further about the reason. Instead, he changed the subject:

"Have you ever heard of [Boundless Heavenly Venerate]?"

Nezha was stunned:

"Who?"

Kong Shentong quietly recalled, then spoke in a calm voice:

"A Boundless Heavenly Venerate sits enthroned in a Dao Palace beyond the reach of thought; some call Him the [Dao Ancestor], while others call Him the [Taiqing]."

Nezha's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was filled with turmoil.

He asked calmly:

"I've heard about it, what's wrong?"

Kong Shentong breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and then licked his lips:

Just how powerful is this person? Is there any way to deal with them?

Deal with?

Who are you going to deal with?

Nezha fell silent again.

After a long while, he lowered his eyes, concealing his flickering gaze, and said innocently:

"Yes, this person is indeed impressive, but not that impressive."

He started doing bad things.

Kong Shentong's eyes brightened, as if he had remembered something, and he changed the subject:

"Oh, right, and that World-Honored Tathagata, I have a secret tidbit. This person is not just the World-Honored Tathagata."

"Oh? What do you mean?" the innocent and naive Great God of the Three Altars asked curiously.

Kong Shentong pondered for a moment:

"I was reluctant to say, but since you, the great master, are tasked with dealing with this person, I must ensure you are fully informed."

"Before becoming the Buddha Ancestor, the World-Honored Tathagata had another identity, called [Laozi]."

Nezha's eyelids began to twitch, and he heard the middle-aged man Treasure Holder continue:

"This person once rode an ox in the Hangu Pass region of the World Plateau and passed down a book called the Dao De Jing, and it seems that he also has some connection with the Boundless Heavenly Venerate."

"That's about it. Great God, do you have any methods to deal with this World-Honored Tathagata?"

Nezha fell silent.

Buddha Ancestor is one thing.

Are we dealing with this Buddha Ancestor?

Your mom.

He chuckled to himself, wondering if he should just dissipate his true spirit immediately.

The thought had barely formed when he heard the Kong Shentong:

"By the way, this World-Honored Tathagata, is also accompanied by a powerful figure, a woman who is half-human and half-snake, what is her name... Nuwa?"

"Yes, let's call her Wa. Perhaps we'll need the help of a great god to suppress and kill her as well."

Nezha suddenly raised his head, and three question marks appeared on his forehead.

Ah???

His round eyes were filled with great doubt, and after a long silence, he spoke sincerely:

"Once, all the immortals and Buddhas in the heavens said that I was incredibly audacious."

Kong Shentong was confused:

"What?"

Nezha remained silent, but instead tiptoed, patted Kong Shentong on the shoulder, and said earnestly:

"I've realized that I'm actually quite timid."

He didn't say the rest of his sentence: "Who dares to be bolder than you?"

Even if the monkey and Yang Jian came, it wouldn't work!

In Myriad Worlds, in a certain Great Universe.

The 'subspace' slowly, gradually merged into his divine realm.

It did not directly become part of the divine realm, but rather transformed into the 'dark side' of the divine realm.

Unable to be observed or directly touched, if the Three Realms in the Divine Realm are majestic, then the Subspace is now the 'anti-Three Realms'.

Only in the shadows.

Meanwhile, in the 'subspace,' or rather, inside the Chaos Bell.

Zhang Fusheng let out a sigh of relief and said regretfully:

"Does this mean I can't even transform into a complete Great Spirit in a short period of time?"

The mutilated head nods:

"That's right, it will reveal some clues. Although Zhu Wushang cannot see into this era, those related to you can sense the changes in your aura."

After a short while,

He continued:

"Time and the long river of years are crystal clear in the eyes of those fellow Daoists; every slight change or transformation in time is perfectly captured."

"They can see the time you acquire through transactions, and they can even see who that time came from."

"Similarly, if you accomplish something that would normally take a long time to achieve for no apparent reason, and your cultivation level and aura surge dramatically, it will be noticed."

Hearing the head's words, Zhang Fusheng felt even more regretful:

"In the end, we should proceed gradually."

"Not necessarily."

The head smiled and said:

"There are four other extraordinary corpses in this world, which you should know about—among them, the corpse of Bodhi Fellow Daoist, if you make good use of it, can be transformed into Great Spirit in an instant."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes lit up:

"I understand what you mean, start with the Weaver, right?"

"Not bad." The head nodded. "This little guy certainly has a bold idea."

He casually said:

"He plans to take over the other three little ones as well, and then, from the bottom up, take over me, the 'Father God' in their eyes."

Although the head was hidden in the 'subspace', it was clear that it was fully aware of everything in this universe.

Zhang Fusheng's eyelids twitched as he listened. Even he couldn't help but marvel at the Weaver's audacity—or rather, the fearlessness of the ignorant.

No wonder this guy was pretending to be weak; what he's planning is indeed quite big.

He stroked his chin, an idea forming in his mind:

"Perhaps I don't need to stop him. Instead, I can help him by letting him take over the bodies of all living beings in this universe and replace their will."

"Then, when he arrives in the subspace and attempts to seize you, Eastern Emperor Fellow Daoist, will I directly reap the rewards?"

The head is slightly blurred:

"It's one approach, but it might take hundreds of years."

"No problem."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes shone brightly:

"I only need this universe to be incorporated into my divine realm—a few hundred years is nothing to me; it can be accomplished in an instant."

He bowed to the head, watching as his Eastern Emperor Fellow Daoist continued to slumber in the chaos, before withdrawing himself.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Fusheng left a passage leading to the 'subspace' on the spot.

The thought silently detached itself from this Great Universe —there was absolutely no need to stay any longer.

What needs to be done now is to return to the Other Shore World, to refine the Great Universe into one's own Buddha-land and blessed land, and to cultivate one's spiritual essence over thousands of years through trade.

Then.

The Great Spirit can be accomplished in an instant.

As his thoughts raced, Zhang Fusheng suddenly received some information from Old Niu —the other party had just become a congressman and had already infiltrated the Federation government.

After quickly glancing through the messages, a strange look appeared on Zhang Fusheng's face.

"They really released Nezha?"

"There's even a delicate pagoda?!"

He seemed lost in thought, then gazed deeply at the Great Universe before his will shifted, causing all things to change, and he temporarily departed.

When the vision clears again,

He has returned to the Other Shore World, back to the Other Shore Mountain.

February 6th.

There are only three days left until February 9th.

Three days is enough.

The World-Honored Tathagata opened his eyes, recalling the words of Empress Nüwa and Donghuang, his gaze deep and profound.

He was admonishing himself to first be himself, to be the best version of himself.

"Can the body of the World-Honored Tathagata, the Tathagata, and the Taiqing Position be severed?"

"Can my true self transcend this external realm?"

There must be a way.

Zhang Fusheng stood up, pushed open the wooden door of the thatched hut, Other Shore World, where flowers bloomed and faded.