Seeing Bao Xiang Ru Lai Again

Pure Yang is the foundation of Perfected Person and the mother of the immortal path.

Yang Ning was overjoyed, not because of the increase in strength, but because after passing through the three tribulations, before becoming an immortal, cultivators would no longer face those uncontrollable tribulations.

For Yang Ning, the road ahead is smooth sailing.

Therefore, he now has the real possibility of personally killing his enemies, instead of hiding in the shadows and plotting through underhanded means as he does now.

But after the initial excitement, Yang Ning realized that there was nothing wrong with it. There are always people more capable than you, and being too flamboyant might attract unwanted attention.

Look at the Taiheng Sect, such a powerful sect, it still declined under its own control.

Could the leader of the Taiheng Sect have come up with this idea?

There's a saying in Primordial World Chinese fantasy novels that goes something like this, "Below the sage, all are but ants."

There are only a handful of people in this world who don't need to be cowardly. Unless you've reached the point where you're the only one who matters in the world, being cautious is definitely not a bad thing.

"Your cultivation speed truly astonishes this humble monk!" A gentle voice sounded beside Yang Ning.

Yang Ning was much calmer this time, and simply smiled slightly, "There are differences between people. How can you measure me by the cultivation speed of an ordinary person?"

"This humble monk has never looked at you with the same eyes one would use to look at an ordinary person!" The Bao Xiang Ru Lai emerged slowly from the void, chanting another Buddhist mantra. "It seems this humble monk has not chosen the wrong person. You are the most suitable candidate to be the next World Honored One of Buddhism!"

"You've been here all along?" Yang Ning asked. "Are you hiding some kind of Daoist magic from me?"

He also learned the Great Merit Technique, the Great Reception Technique, and the Great Salvation Technique, and even dismantled Divine Ability to innovate and create many new Daoist techniques.

However, none of these Daoist techniques possess the Divine Ability to conceal oneself in the void even under the sealing of the Absolute Earth Heavenly Connection.

Therefore, it is quite clear that the lineage left by this Buddha in Taiheng is incomplete!

"This humble monk knows you dislike the suppression of knowledge, but you can't blame me for that!" The Bao Xiang Ru Lai Precious Appearance clasped his hands together and spoke gently, "Ordinary people cultivate supernatural Divine Ability by perceiving and memorizing each word with their divine soul. A single peerless Peerless Divine Abilities requires decades of effort. Assembling talismans and condensing the golden elixir are all extremely taxing on the Mental Power. Therefore, one should only possess enough Divine Ability; passing on too many may not be a good thing!"

"That's because they're stupid and don't know how to be flexible!" Yang Ning said calmly. "There's no way to avoid rote memorization when it comes to cultivating Divine Ability, but the step of refining talismans and golden pills can be completely deduced outside the body and then condensed inside."

"The biggest difference between humans and animals is that humans can use tools, but cultivators don't understand this principle. They bury themselves in seclusion and don't seek anything from the outside world. If they don't have difficulties, who will?"

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai his hands together and said, "People are foolish. They regard the scriptures of our sect as Golden Laws and Jade Rules. How could they dare to do anything that is not written in them? This is precisely why I value you, benefactor!"

Yang Ning understood that this meant that thought had been solidified by a larger ideology, just as Confucianism had imprisoned Huaxia two thousand years. If it weren't for the spread of foreign ideas in the late Qing Dynasty, this imprisonment might have continued for another three to five hundred years.

Before the opening of minds, the entire civilization was in a state of ignorance. It took nearly 1.7 million years for humankind to go from ignorance to the feudal era.

With the advent of writing, the pace of civilization's development accelerated dramatically, evolving from the High Antiquity, primitive era to the era of wind and swords in less than four thousand years.

With the opening up of minds, in just a few hundred years, humanity has already begun to set foot on the moon from Earth.

This evolution is referred to as the technological explosion in "The Three-Body Problem".

For the previous 300,000 years, Taiheng was in an era similar to the feudal era.

This place is more terrifying than Earth, because even the most conservative person on Earth will eventually die.

But Taiheng is not necessarily the case.

The immortals, high above and controlling all resources, were inflexible and prolonged this feudal era indefinitely, to the point that no progress could be seen at all.

Even if the Tianyi Sect has pushed the world forward a little, once the beneficiaries of the Tianyi Sect have grown up, they have also become complacent and no longer pursue progress.

As a result, Taiheng stagnated for another four thousand years until Yang Ning arrived, at which point the progress of civilization restarted.

"Since you've observed me for so long, you should have figured it out. I'm a materialist. I'm not interested in Daoist or Buddhist thought. I'm only interested in the fundamental principles of this world, the mysteries of Spiritual Qi, the wonders of Divine Ability, and the advancements in technology. I'm not suited for Buddhism. If I were to join a Buddhist sect, then the present of Great Xia would be the future of Buddhism!"

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai understood Yang Ning's meaning. He acknowledged the good things in human nature, such as truth, goodness, and beauty, but he was not interested in the vague concepts of retribution and cause and effect, nor did he like any kind of rules and regulations.

If he were to take charge of Buddhism, he might transform it into another Great Xia.

What was the Great Xia Dynasty like?

The emperor and his ministers are merely figureheads for outsiders; in reality, it is AI that governs the country.

Ironically, because AI is fair and impartial, and never bends the law for personal gain, the Great Xia Dynasty enjoys political stability, social harmony, and the happiness and well-being of its people.

Although it is still a bit poor, it already has the appearance of a Buddhist kingdom on earth.

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai was conflicted.

He traveled to all corners of the world and saw countless geniuses and outstanding talents, as numerous as the stars in the sky.

But in terms of talent, spirit, vision, thought, and even methods and strategies, no one could compare to Yang Ning.

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai believed that if Buddhism had such a World Honored One, he would surely be able to lead Buddhism to continue for hundreds of thousands of years.

But this person happens to be a materialist, someone who can see through appearances to the essence of things, making it impossible for him to become a Buddhist World Honored One.

If he becomes the World Honored One, Buddhism will cease to exist.

After a long silence, Bao Xiang Ru Lai asked, "If you were to unify Taiheng, how would you deal with Buddhism?"

"Close the Buddhist temples, confiscate the fertile land, put the inheritances into the public treasury, put them into schools, and record the thoughts for future generations to study!" Yang Ning said calmly, "Technical Divine Ability and supernatural abilities can be passed down, but the profound thoughts can be stripped of their didactic veil and become pure."

His opponents were never just Taiheng, but the feudal forces of the entire Tai Heng Star system.

Therefore, the two major Buddhist factions on Tai Heng Star will inevitably clash sooner or later.

It's impossible to keep it; if the revolution isn't thorough, it will be very difficult for future generations to solve the problem.

"Alas," Bao Xiang Ru Lai sighed, and asked, "Does the benefactor know what the immortals are cultivating?"

"Immortal Qi?" Yang Ning asked.

He wasn't a true immortal, so of course he wouldn't know. But it's likely he simply replaced the Spiritual Qi he inhaled with Immortal Qi?

Bao Xiang Ru Lai shook his head. "Immortals cultivate the Tao!"

"The Dao?" Yang Ning was taken aback.

"The Way is man, the Way is earth, the Way is heaven. Man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Way, Dao Emulates Own Inherent Spontaneity!" said the Bao Xiang Ru Lai.

"Can you explain it in plain language?" Yang Ning asked.

He believed that if the Bao Xiang Ru Lai watching him for over twenty years, using vernacular language shouldn't be a problem.

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai, being well-mannered, did not roll his eyes, but he did indeed readily agree, "The Dao is the natural Principle governing the operation of all things in the universe, and among all things in the universe, Heaven, Earth, and Man are the three powers. Therefore, the Dao is further divided into the Dao of Man, the Dao of Earth, and the Heavenly Dao!"

"Humans are not merely beings with two hands and two feet, but all living things in the universe. Dragons are humans, trees are humans, monkeys are humans, deer are humans, and birds are humans! The way that all living things in the universe interact and live in harmony with humans is the way of humanity!"

"The earth is not the ground beneath our feet, but the nature we see, hear, and feel. The sky is the earth, the earth is the earth, the sun and moon are the earth, and the stars are also the earth! The way of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, lakes, and celestial bodies is the way of the earth!"

"Heaven is not the sky above our heads, but a realm of nothingness, encompassing and containing everything. The Heavenly Dao is hidden in mountains, rivers, the sun, and the moon. Naturally, the Principle the Way of Heavenly Dao are the most difficult to comprehend, and also the strongest!"

Yang Ning blinked. So this is how the Dao is divided in this world?

Humanity should therefore include social sciences and literature, ethics, law, political science, economics, religion, biology, and other humanities and social sciences.

The term "earth" should include subjects such as astronomy, geography, physics, chemistry, and biology.

As for the Heavenly Dao, it is said to be omnipresent, yet also invisible and intangible. Is it some kind of mathematics?

But you're telling me all this

Yang Ning knew the reason.

Since religious studies are based on humanistic Principle, it means that there are immortals, bodhisattvas, or arhats who follow this path!

If Yang Ning were to tamper with the Buddhist traditions in the lower realms, he might offend the Bodhisattvas who cultivate Buddhism in the heavens.

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai was actually giving him a reminder!

"Aren't immortals forbidden from interfering with the mortal realm?" Yang Ning asked. "Even if I were to change Buddhism or even destroy its lineage, what could the immortals and Buddhas in the heavens do to me?"

Bao Xiang Ru Lai's eyes bulged. As expected of a fierce man who dared to plot the destruction of the Taiheng Sect at the Qi Refining First Level, he was not afraid of immortals at all!

"Who told you that immortals cannot interfere in the mortal realm?" asked the Bao Xiang Ru Lai.

"Uh, a senior colleague said so!" Yang Ning said.

Hengming that those who ascended to heaven have never been seen coming down again, and news of them has been cut off.

The Bao Xiang Ru Lai head. "Those who ascend are not allowed to descend to the mortal realm. This is an agreement among immortals, not Principle of Heavenly Dao. And you know that such agreements can only restrain mortals. If a Golden Immortal, a Primordial Immortal, or a Heavenly Venerable wishes to descend to the mortal realm, who will stop them?"

That makes perfect sense.

In other words, was Immortal Venerable Taiheng not doing very well in Heaven?

Come to think of it, 300,000 years is a long time for mortals, but it's just a blink of an eye for immortals. It might take 300,000 years for a person to go into seclusion, so that amount of time wouldn't be enough to improve their cultivation much.

So, if I destroy Buddhism, is it possible that I will attract Bodhisattvas to descend to the mortal realm?

Is it that serious? I didn't destroy the entire Buddhist sect, just two branches of the Taiheng lineage.

"Your will is firm, and this humble monk knows I cannot persuade you!" Bao Xiang Ru Lai patted Yang Ning on the shoulder. "I only hope that you will think things through more carefully. Perhaps the Buddha is magnanimous and will not hold it against you, but perhaps the Buddha is petty and will insist on descending to the mortal realm to kill you!"

"As you say, a wise man avoids dangerous situations. Unless absolutely necessary, let the Taiheng Buddhist sect off the hook!"

With that, the Bao Xiang Ru Lai turned to leave.

"You're not going to kill me?" Yang Ning asked in astonishment.

"Why should I kill you?" Bao Xiang Ru Lai.

"Nip the danger in the bud!" Yang Ning said. "Instead of hoping I'll have a change of heart, wouldn't it be better to just kill me?"

"You have cultivated the Great Karma Technique, and this humble monk does not know whether the one before me is the real you!" Bao Xiang Ru Lai laughed. "Moreover, although our lineages are different, we are both outstanding individuals. Perhaps one day we will meet in the heavenly realm and need each other's help!"

"There are already few who can reach the peak; compared to sects, we are the same kind!"

Yang Ning remained silent.

"I'm leaving!" Bao Xiang Ru Lai his hand, treating it as if he had only met Yang Ning once, and made no further mention of inviting Yang Ning to become the World Honored One.

Yang Ning really thought he had given up, until half an hour later he discovered that the thirty-six Spirit Realm avatars of Diluo Temple had also been taken away by Bao Xiang Ru Lai.

Among them are not only famous monks such as Shenxiu, Huineng, Sanzang, Hongyi, but also powerful figures from the novel such as Tathagata, Puxian, Guanyin, Fahai.

It seems that Bao Xiang Ru Lai has realized that if he cannot take the true self with him, taking the avatar is the same. Does this mean that if the avatar becomes the World Honored One and encounters difficulties, the true self will not intervene?

In exchange, the Bao Xiang Ru Lai left behind a true scripture: the Void Scripture.

The Divine Ability he used to conceal himself in the void and keep watch, and the ability to use Space Divine Abilities and move stars under the Absolute Earth Heavenly Connection, was also due to this Divine Ability.

The Extinction Divine Lightning of the Tianyi Sect can indeed isolate spatial Divine Abilities and Sorcery, but outsiders are always better at chanting scriptures. The <Void Scripture> is not a Taiheng lineage, so the Extinction Divine Lightning is unable to target it!