Returning to Hometown, Seeing Old Friends Again (12)

(More coming soon)

Year after year, I am immersed in the ways of the world.

[As for this year, it has been nearly 260,000 years.]

Nearly 260,000 years have passed in the blink of an eye, and it's all history now.

Zhang Fusheng was extremely calm, sitting quietly on the prayer mat, letting out only a sigh.

The Wheel of All Daos behind him were already emitting a great Rosy Clouds, displaying the Great Divine Abilities of [Star Shifting and Battle Changing] and [Body Flying and Traces Entrusted].

It has been silently engraved on it.

It is this year, this month, this very moment.

Two Great Divine Ability, two Great Divine Ability at the Minor Accomplishment level!

Zhang Fusheng slowly rose from the futon, yawned, and when he opened his eyes again, a vast amount of Daoist principles and profound truths were shimmering before him.

He carried the Wheel of All Daos on his back, and his steps became unusually heavy. When he stepped on the floor tiles of the Eight Sceneries Palace, it actually made a rumbling sound!

One step, one step, and another step.

Zhang Fusheng walked extremely slowly and steadily. When he stood at the gate of the Dao Palace, he took a leisurely breath and a sigh appeared on his face.

"Slay me, and I will entrust my soul to the Dao."

He used the Northern Emperor's Secret Method to visualize an unparalleled heavenly blade.

The Heavenly Blade precisely sliced along the threads of cause and effect, yet the threads remained unbroken, like a lotus root still connected even when severed—this was the only flaw in the Path of Severance.

If someone possesses unparalleled expertise in cause and effect, upon careful observation, they might be able to discover the true self by following the path of the severed body.

But for Zhang Fusheng, this flaw was nothing.

He himself is the true 'master' of the Path of Karma.

"Go!"

With Zhang Fusheng's shout, [the World-Honored Tathagata] detached from his true self—not in the way of [the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones], but...

The World-Honored Tathagata a separate self, Zhang Fusheng.

Instead, after [slaying me], He entrusted it to [the Sword Dao], transforming it into a Dao body.

A body that is completely controlled by the ego and shares all power with the ego, yet is somehow unrelated to the ego.

If a powerful being were to trace the origins of this physical body, all they would see would be the Way of the Sword Dao.

Unless, it is a supreme being of cause and effect, almost at the level of [Primordial Heavenly Venerate], personally lowering his eyes to gaze upon it.

But Zhang Fusheng never intended to deceive those Supreme Beings; what he needed to conceal was only the mortal Mortal World at that moment.

Right now,

In the thatched hut on the Other Shore Mountain, the [World-Honored One Dao Body] slowly opened his eyes, sat cross-legged with ease, summoned Lin Changle, and instructed him about the matter of going to Chang'an ten days later to be bestowed with Nine-Ringed Zen Staff and Brocade Cassock.

As for Zhang Fusheng?

He has now quietly transformed into him, stepping out of the Eight Sceneries Palace and returning to reality from the realm of the gods.

But it descended upon Other Shore World.

"Body Flying and Traces Entrusted".

His Great Divine Ability were activated; he stood in the wilderness, on the World Plateau, yet he was merely a fleeting figure.

A figure possessing the same immense power as the true self—as for the true self?

But it has already disappeared from reality.

Difficult to trace, difficult to observe, difficult to understand.

"Should we go to the capital first, or to the ruins of Yingtian City, to that place called Windmill Village, to search for Liu Bang and Xiang Yu?"

The young man, now quite different in appearance, stood in the wilderness, dressed in coarse hemp clothing, wearing straw sandals and a bamboo hat, talking to himself.

His gaze was incredibly deep as he raised his head and stared at the sky.

Divine Ability, Star Shifting and Battle Changing.

Star Shifting and Battle Changing is both a deadly move murderous intent by Heaven and a wondrous method of Heavenly Numbers.

With this Great Divine Ability, one can kill, obscure and alter the workings of Heaven, and even change the fate of a particular being.

This is Great Divine Ability.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Stems Divine Abilities are all terrifyingly powerful.

Zhang Fusheng stood alone in the thick fog of the plateau, yet the fog could not obscure his gaze; the stars shifted and changed with his will.

He also perfectly fabricated a unique set of divine secrets and a unique past for his true self and his true form.

In this way,

Even if a powerful being skilled in divination were to personally deduce the nature of this body, they would never be able to predict the fate of [World-Honored Tathagata] and [Boundless Heavenly Venerable of Fortune and Life].

As for my name...

Zhang Fusheng lowered his eyes, pondered briefly, and then made a decision.

He muttered to himself:

"From this day forward, I shall be called Dao Venerate."

"Taking the Way as one's surname, and honor as one's given name."

The thick fog swayed in the wind all around, and there seemed to be thunder in the sky, but the thunder quickly Silence Below.

The young man, dressed in coarse linen clothes, stretched and walked alone in the fog, on the plateau, step by step.

"The westward journey will officially begin in ten days; we need not concern ourselves with the Northern Emperor for the time being."

"With [Maitreya Buddha Ancestor] not yet in his rightful place, Mount Ling cannot truly be established, so there is no need for it to have too much contact with the Myriad Gods Cult."

Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, his eyes clear.

After mastering the Divine Ability of Star Shifting and Battle Changing, he glimpsed a new Destiny Event through his celestial observation.

This is the establishment of Mount Ling.

With the Three Buddhas returning to their rightful places, Mount Ling will also return to its rightful place, as will the many [celestial positions] within Mount Ling.

Only when that time comes will it be the right time to formally incorporate the Myriad Gods Cult into Mount Ling!

We must find Lin Dongxi as soon as possible.

Zhang Fusheng murmured to himself, gazing towards the capital, his gaze unfathomable. The capital was blurred, hidden within a magical array that even he couldn't fully comprehend.

He could vaguely sense that Chen Yuque was there too—but he couldn't directly send his spiritual will into her body.

Although the Second Senior Sister is now his own divine creation.

But that magic circle isolated everything.

"So, how can we enter the capital without causing a stir or attracting attention?"

Zhang Fusheng scratched his head in distress—the capital city isn't a place you can just go to casually.

People from lower-level cities find it difficult to travel to higher-level cities, and creatures from outside the capital find it even more difficult to travel to the capital.

Perhaps

He suddenly looked at Qinghe City not far away, and an idea came to his mind.

"The Qinghe Cui Clan is a good stepping stone. It just so happens that Cui Wendao is still in the Golden Province. It's time for him to take over the Cui family and take charge of the Book of Life and Death."

Zhang Fusheng turned around, took a step, and then landed.

But they were already in Hangu City.

We returned to the Golden Province.

He didn't forget to teleport Ruan Yutu from the void to keep her by his side, and also rewrote the heavenly secrets for her, forging her past.

"Godfather."

The young girl bowed, her eyes sparkling.

Standing amidst the bustling crowds of Hangu City, Zhang Fusheng's thoughts silently enveloped the entire Golden Province.

He hummed softly, with a look of confusion and emotion on his face.

"Three or four months passed in the blink of an eye, and when they returned, it felt as if countless years had passed."

"Let's go. Your master is meeting with the Qinghe Cui Clan. We can go and see him. Remember, you are not Ruan Yutu now."

"Old Su isn't your master either."

The girl, whose appearance had also been altered but who still looked like Banished Immortal, nodded quietly, asking neither why nor where she was going, but simply obeying.

"Finally, we're out of Yingtian Province!"

The Calm Wrath Buddha Son exhaled a breath of stale air, patted the Withered Woman's hand hanging behind him, and a bright smile appeared on his face.

He looked at the bald boy beside him and said gently:

"Now, you are stronger than me."

Zhu Xiaoming rubbed his bald head and mumbled:

"Really?"

"Nature."

The Buddhist disciple nodded with a smile:

"You have completed the purification process. Although your cultivation level is still at the Innate Limit, your physical body is comparable to that of a top-tier Arhat."

After a moment's pause, the Buddhist disciple sighed:

"Your talent is truly wondrous; I even wonder if you might actually be the reincarnation of a great Buddhist master."

Zhu Xiaoming blinked, chuckled, scratched his bald head, and then asked:

"Buddha's disciple, where are we going now? To find those two so-called Chosen Ones?"

No, no, no.

The Buddhist disciple waved his hand:

"The two chosen ones have been found by the elders of the sect— Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, and the sect is preparing an army for them."

"Let's see who can conquer Guanzhong City and Guanzhong Province faster and complete the Destiny Event of [King of Guanzhong]."

After a short while,

The Buddhist disciple's gaze deepened, and he continued:

"As for now, we're going to the capital."

"Capital??"

Zhu Xiaoming's eyes widened:

"Where are you going and what are you going to do?"

The Buddhist disciple lowered his eyes, and a blue lamp appeared in his hand without him noticing.

He held the lamp, making sure the candlelight enveloped both him and Zhu Xiaoming, before squinting and speaking:

"One is a task assigned by the church, and the other is my own important matter."

Zhu Xiaoming asked curiously:

"A mission? Something important?"

The Buddhist disciple nodded slightly, his gaze profoundly deep:

"Not long ago, our sect completed a Destiny Event, awakening a terrifying true spirit within our Buddhist community."

"The information I received says that the terrifying spirit has deduced the whereabouts of an extremely special Supreme Treasure."

"Right in the capital."

After a moment's pause, a solemn expression appeared on the Buddhist disciple's face:

"It is said that this Supreme Treasure possesses the power to encompass [reality] and even interfere with [time], and is called the Mountain River Society and Country Diagram '."

Zhu Xiaoming listened in a daze:

"The Mountain River Society and Country Diagram? That sounds like something from an ancient dynasty."

The Buddhist disciple shook his head:

"That true spirit said that this scroll has existed in the world for a long time. When He traced the cause and effect, He saw that it was originally possessed by some kind of Arhat who subdued dragons."

"But it seems that the Arhat who subdued the dragon suffered an accident; his body was usurped, and the Mountain River Society and Country Diagram was lost along with it."

Zhu Xiaoming swallowed hard.

"You want us to go find it? Are we even worthy?"

The Buddhist monk shrugged.

"I'm just going to join in the fun; I don't intend to actually get involved in this mission."

Zhu Xiaoming seemed to be deep in thought:

"So, our real purpose is still that 'big thing' of yours? What are you planning to do?"

The Buddhist disciple lowered his eyes, gazing at the blue lamp in his palm, and spoke in a low voice:

"I don't want to be a Buddhist disciple anymore. A Buddhist disciple is nothing more than a higher vessel for the gods."

Zhu Xiaoming was taken aback:

"Then what are you going to do?"

A look of madness appeared in the Buddhist disciple's eyes, and his breathing became slightly rapid.

"I will seize power from below, and if I succeed, the gods will become my vessel."

"I will directly become [Mahakala]!"

He gently stroked the green lamp in his palm, then touched the [High Heaven Token] at his waist, and murmured to himself:

"It sounds absurd, right? But it's not impossible, it's not impossible at all."

In a certain mountain range.

Chen Nuanyu watched silently as her heart was peeled open, watching the Elder Venerable enter her heart.

The believers then slowly stitched her chest back together.

"Forty-nine days later, the elders will emerge from your heart; at that time, all will be accomplished."

The Western Sect's concept of harmony Celestial Person and nature:

"A great figure from the old world has been revived in our church. He has divined the secrets of heaven and deduced a special Supreme Treasure that is currently in the capital. This is precisely an opportunity."

Chen Nuanyu reached out and placed her hand on her chest, feeling her heart pounding, and asked in a low voice:

"What opportunity?"

The Western Sect Celestial Person smiled and spoke:

"Elders and Great Elder rarely have access to the capital, but with you, it's different."

"Seven elders and three Great Elders will arrive shortly; they will all enter your heart."

Chen Nuanyu's pupils contracted:

"Then what?"

The Western Sect Celestial Person calmly said:

"Your heart is special; it can completely ignore the detection of the capital's grand formation, so naturally, you will be sent to the capital."

Chen Nuanyu's lips trembled, she remained silent, and a bitter expression flashed across her face.

A dozen or so deities are hiding in my heart.

Her heart trembled. Looking at the indifferent gaze of the Western Sect Celestial Person, she vaguely understood something.

I fear that, forty-nine days from now, all the Venerable Ones and Great Powers will emerge from their own hearts.

His own fate.

Chen Nuanyu lowered her head, thinking of the Great Celestial Venerable.

She suddenly asked, seemingly casually:

"I've heard that an Other Shore World has appeared on the plateau. How is it now?"

Western Sect Celestial Person casually replied:

"The World-Honored One resides in the Other Shore World, where all religions have been forcibly brought into harmony, and the Federation has retreated in fear. What, do you wish to go there?"

"That will have to wait until you lead the elders and the Great Elder to infiltrate the capital, complete the nurturing process, and obtain that Supreme Treasure called the [Mountain River Society and Country Diagram]."

Chen Nuanyu lowered her eyes and nodded silently.

The Golden Province.

Purple Bamboo Forest.

Su Qiansuan leisurely took a sip of tea, sized up the group from the Cui family, and spoke indifferently:

"Cooperation is certainly possible, but isn't your Cui family asking for too much?"

He sat up straight, toying with the teacup in his hand, and continued:

"I must personally intervene to suppress the new governor of Qinghe Province and several divine Lineage for your Cui clan."

"We'll provide the Cui family with massive resources, and in return, we'll expect the Cui family to 'watch out for each other' after they gain control of Qinghe Province and become independent?"

The old patriarch of the Cui clan bowed respectfully, neither servile nor arrogant.

"Senior Su, my ancestor has already entered the realm of great power. Once he successfully takes over Qinghe Province and makes it independent, with the help of the Qinghe Great Realm, my ancestor can even rival Great Divine Ability User."

"At that time, with the assistance of the Cui family, the pressure from the Federation on the Golden Realm will be much less."

Within the Mother Star, a city is a world in itself, and a province, encompassing dozens or even hundreds of worlds, can be called a 'great world'.

To rule the Great Realm independently and receive its blessings brings immense benefits.

Su Qiansuan smiled noncommittally and glanced indifferently at another person dressed in black robes.

He spoke slowly:

"And you, what do you want? To be honest, I don't even know who you are."

The man in black robes bowed and spoke calmly:

"I've come on behalf of my master, for only one thing: I want Senior Su to relinquish control of the Golden Province."

Su Qiansuan's smile vanished, replaced by a cold stare at the man in black robes:

"Your master really dares to ask such a question! Why not have him come to see me in person?"

The man in black simply smiled slightly:

"Senior Su, please don't be angry. My master is currently in the capital. Before you reject our proposal, please allow me to say a few more words."

Capital?

Su Qiansuan and the Cui clan members beside him both froze slightly.

The former squinted and said:

"Speak."

The man in black robes spoke eloquently:

"My master has unexpectedly obtained an extraordinary Supreme Treasure. With this treasure, he can easily kill any being under ten thousand years old."

"Senior Su, would you like to give it a try?"

Su Qiansuan narrowed his eyes:

"To kill someone under ten thousand years old so easily? This is the first time I've heard of such Supreme Treasure. I'd like to see it."

He hadn't finished speaking.

The man in black robes smiled, clapped his hands, and said calmly:

"Lord Su, think back carefully. Has anything changed in your past?"

Su Qiansuan was slightly taken aback, then suddenly touched his left hand.

On his left hand, an old scar had appeared sometime during the night.

A sudden chill ran through Him, and He realized with astonishment that His own memories—memories from thousands of years ago, when He was still young and weak—were replaying in His mind.

A new section has been added quietly.

In that period of memory,

A man in black robes, holding a sharp blade, carved a scar on his left hand.

Then, the scars actually appeared.

"Time." Su Qiansuan's voice became hoarse, and the man in black robes simply nodded lightly.

"Nothing is unchangeable within ten thousand years."

"So, what has Senior Su thought about my master's suggestion?"

The Purple Bamboo Forest suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Su Qiansuan's face was extremely ugly. He had no interest in even drinking the Calming Tea in his hand, and just stared intently at the black-robed man in front of him.

Suddenly, the wind picked up.

A breeze blew by, causing the entire Purple Bamboo Forest to sway gently. Su Qiansuan, the Cui family, and the mysterious man in black robes all instinctively turned their heads to look.

In the bamboo forest,

Before anyone knew it, a young man dressed in coarse hemp clothing, wearing straw sandals and a bamboo hat was standing there.

The young man was accompanied by a girl who looked like Banished Immortal being.

"This place is quite lively."

The young man smiled and spoke.