The Nine Heavens beneath the corpse was utterly annihilated! Yi Xing Monk’s true form turned to dust in a single blow, greatly terrifying his eighty-four thousand Yang Shen avatars. Their expressions shifted from astonishment to abject fear. Tens of thousands more heavenly soldiers descended, a vast, undying army, to surround and slay them.
The Grand Hall of Heroes was engulfed in war. The Ten Directions Bodhisattvas dissolved into illusory dreams and vanished. Within the Grand Hall of Heroes, Tang Xianzu awoke as if from a dream. He watched Master Yi Xing, whom he had encountered, transform into eighty thousand Buddhist disciples, besieged by three hundred sixty thousand heavenly soldiers!
He even witnessed the Dharmakaya of Namo Wuming’an Bodhisattva dissipate before his very eyes, vanishing into countless golden lights!
“Tang Xianzu!”
The eighty-four thousand Yang Shen avatars simultaneously turned their gaze towards Tang Xianzu!
Prince Lu’s ascension was meant to sacrifice Tang Xianzu’s soul. With the blessing of immense righteousness, it would have been twice as effective. But now it had failed. Not only could the third passage of scripture not be recited, but even the fifth passage had been completed. Yet Tang Xianzu had not escaped the Dharma Realm. He remained here, continuing to recite the next Buddhist scripture.
Thus, an unexpected event occurred.
His wishes were offered. The Buddhist name of Namo Wuming’an Bodhisattva, when recited by someone possessing immense righteousness, would bring about inconceivable changes.
The eighty-four thousand Yang Shen avatars cried out in unison, “External heavenly demons disrupt our Buddhist realm, causing Arhats to enter Nirvana and Bodhisattvas to fall! Are you willing to transform into a Great Bodhisattva and save the Buddhist realm from collapse!”
Souls in dreams are not affected by Yin demons or ghosts, nor can they be directly harmed by any means!
And Buddhist Dharma, when recited by those with sincere hearts, allows great Buddhist cultivators to manifest as "images" within this person’s body. At this moment, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are with this person, and this person becomes the vessel for the manifestations of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
And this person becomes the "Sambhogakaya" of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!
The Dharmakaya is the cause. The body attained through cultivation to achieve Buddhahood is the Sambhogakaya.
They may manifest as the body of an Emperor, a Brahma King, a Wheel-Turning King, a householder, a king, a prime minister, an official, a Bhikshu, Bhikshuni, Upasaka, Upasika, or even a Shravaka, Arhat, Pratyekabuddha, or Bodhisattva!
All you need to do is agree!
The eighty-four thousand Yang Shen avatars gazed with burning intensity. They were being besieged by heavenly soldiers, entering Nirvana one by one, dying and perishing. Meanwhile, Ji Xiang stood to the side, motionless.
The power of the Nine Heavens Gale Giant Seal was immense. Ji Xiang had only preliminarily mastered this ultimate move from the "Scripture of the Myriad Heavens’ Illusory Caves." Those who had preliminarily mastered it would instantly exhaust a large amount of vital energy after its use, and their bodies would enter a period of rigidity.
After all, the Nine Heavens Gale is an object of Fu Li. To master the Gale Giant Seal, one needs at least three strands of gale as a guide, activated using the method of the Three Capitals Seal. Ji Xiang, however, activated nine strands at once, the complete version of the Gale Giant Seal, naturally making its power far greater than described in the "Scripture of the Myriad Heavens’ Illusory Caves!"
Fortunately, the Purple Gold Pills possessed powerful restorative properties. Moreover, Ji Xiang’s true本体 was merely a Lord of Incense, and the rigidity of his physical body did not affect his本体. It was like his previous battle with the Fire Lord; even if his physical neck was twisted, his本体 could still control his body and fight.
Therefore, after using the Nine Heavens Gale Giant Seal, apart from the actual loss of vital energy, there were essentially no other effects.
At this moment, a continuous stream of Dharma Realm vital energy was being absorbed and consumed by Ji Xiang. Even the Blank Divine Tablet vibrated, helping Ji Xiang absorb the vital energy. The entire sky was filled with swirling great clouds, vital energy vast as the ocean, pouring into Ji Xiang’s body.
This scene filled Yi Xing Monk’s eighty-four thousand Yang Shen avatars with dread!
This vital energy of heaven and earth contained extremely pure Yang energy. Buddhism itself followed the path of extreme Yang and extreme strength. However, the immense Yang energy contained within the Dharma Realm, if infused into a cultivator, might cause them to be consumed by Yang fire in an instant, turning into smoke and ashes.
Yet, for Ji Xiang, there was no problem!
Standing in the ocean of vital energy, feeling an unprecedented rate of recovery, Ji Xiang even had a faint premonition.
It was as if the bottleneck of the Earth Immortal was about to be broken!
“Such pure and vast Yang energy, and such immense and vigorous incense within the Buddhist Dharma Realm.”
“Coupled with the incense I consumed in Ying Tian, my physical body is not far from breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm!”
Ji Xiang mused in his heart. He was only one step away from the Nascent Soul realm!
The key difference between the Nascent Soul realm and the Golden Core realm was the emergence of the Yang Shen!
The emergence of one Yang Shen signifies the Nascent Soul realm. With the Nascent Soul perfected, one can manifest four Yang Shen.
However, before entering the Nascent Soul realm, taking Sun Essence Heavenly Marrow to strengthen one’s bones and marrow was crucial.
The substance that appeared in his body after consuming the嘉靖 Emperor’s pill powder was called the Heaven and Earth Root. Within the inner mountains, it was the Left Path Heavenly Marrow, with an effect different from normal Heavenly Marrow. Normal Heavenly Marrow could alter one’s bones and marrow upon consumption, while the Heaven and Earth Root’s function was to further enhance the effects of these Heavenly Marrows!
As for how much it could improve, Ji Xiang was still unsure, as he had not consumed any other Heavenly Marrow thus far.
But now, Prince Lu had sufficient Sun Essence. He didn’t know what was in the small box Qin Nuxiu had given him. If it was Heavenly Marrow, then the preparations would be complete.
“Almost there.”
Gathering a large amount of vital energy was not solely for breaking through realms.
Yi Xing Monk’s eighty-four thousand Yang Shen avatars thought Ji Xiang had depleted a large amount of his magic power, hence he stood still, accepting the infusion of vital energy. They were urgently calling out Tang Xianzu’s name, hoping he would accept their “kindness”!
Tang Xianzu, however, was clearly bewildered by the scene before him.
Transform into a Great Bodhisattva?
Master Yi Xing looked so pathetic at this moment, while the approaching figure was radiant and accompanied by heavenly generals. How could he possibly be an external demon…
“You don’t need to listen to him.”
Ji Xiang spoke calmly. The Inner Scenery Divine Tablet vibrated gently, instantly discerning everything. Simultaneously, the vital energy in the Dharma Realm gradually dispersed, moving towards eight directions in an orderly manner, not simply dissipating:
“Your soul is in a dream, not in the same world as us. What is manifesting in the Dharma Realm now is merely the illusory shadow of your soul. After all, the Dharma Realm is real, while dreams are false. Reality and illusion can intersect, but they cannot connect. Until one reaches the Heavenly Heart, no one has the ability to turn illusion into reality.”
“At this moment, if you transform into a Great Bodhisattva, this Buddhist demon can turn you into his Sambhogakaya. At that time, you will no longer be able to return to the human world, but can only sit in this Dharma Realm, becoming his new source of true form. Before long, you will once again become a new ‘Yi Xing Monk’.”
Amidst the siege of three hundred sixty thousand heavenly soldiers, all remaining Yang Shen avatars were shocked!
“Do not listen to his demonic words! He is a demon, a descendant of Bo Xun, who has come to destroy the Buddhist Dharma! Believe us!”
“He is currently unable to move. This is the perfect opportunity for us to collectively perform rituals and subdue this external demonic entity! Tang Xianzu, you possess immense righteousness and are favored by heaven and earth. If I were a demon and he were righteous, why could I bring you to this Buddhist Dharma Realm, while he cannot reach you!”
“Indeed, you must trust your own judgment! We are Buddhas, and this demon has come to destroy the Buddhist Dharma! If you transform into a Great Bodhisattva, you can then enter the Pure Land of Lingshan. The human world is a place you can return to anytime, and it will not affect you in any way!”
The avatars were extremely anxious!
Tang Xianzu looked around in confusion.
Upon hearing the panicked words of the numerous Yang Shen avatars, Ji Xiang chuckled:
“I told him he doesn’t need to listen, not that he shouldn’t listen.”
“You avatars seem to have misunderstood something. The heavenly soldiers cannot kill you all, so I merely had them hold you back. As for myself, I was never unable to move.”
“I was merely completing some arrangements.”
“By the way, I heard you are skilled in Buddhist grand formations. I wonder if you can break the Maoshan Grand Formation I am currently setting up?”
With that said, in the Buddhist Dharma Realm, the vital energy of the eight directions transformed into eight bolts of lightning, striking down!
“The Thunder Tribulation Grand Formation, arise.”
Thick lightning pierced through endless Buddhist light, destroying the Grand Hall of Heroes. Lotus platforms turned to dust, and Buddhist soldiers became earth. Tang Xianzu saw many of Yi Xing Monk’s Yang Shen avatars struck by the tribulation lightning and instantly vanish into black smoke, emitting strange howls before disappearing!
Countless bubbles floated out from the black smoke!
Ji Xiang’s mouth began to chant a Buddhist mantra, the most well-known incantation!
“All conditioned phenomena.”
“Are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows.”
“Like dew, like lightning.”
“Thus should they be contemplated.”
All worldly phenomena that arise dependent on causes and conditions are like dreams, like shadows in bubbles, like swift lightning, unfathomable and ever-changing.
Ji Xiang spoke softly, yet his voice resonated like thunder, even amidst the sea of tribulation lightning, emitting an incomparably clear melody! The illusory bubbles gradually shattered, revealing all those who had been deceived by Yi Xing Monk, and the dreams in the hearts of mortals that he had devoured.
Great and small dreams, including the events that transpired in Ying Tian Prefecture, all appeared, blooming before Tang Xianzu’s eyes, manifesting scenes that left him astonished and speechless, completely submerged by the illusory bubbles.
He could only hear Ji Xiang’s voice:
“It is said that the Tathagata was skilled in metaphors. He saw and thought while sitting under the Bodhi tree in the wilderness.”
“Have you ever seen puddles after it rains?”
“Drip, a bubble appears, and in an instant, the bubble bursts. Drip, drip, countless bubbles are born and perish.”
“Have you ever seen lightning? Flash, it streaks across the sky, illuminating the earth, yet in an instant, it returns to darkness.”
“Have you ever seen dew on a leaf? It gathers on the leaf before the sun rises, and when the sun appears, it vanishes without a trace.”
“Conditioned phenomena are like dreams and illusions; unconditioned phenomena cannot be spoken of.”
As Ji Xiang spoke Buddhist principles, a Vajra Dharmakaya appeared behind him. The demonic face of Huiji Vajra in his left hand transformed into the Tathagata’s Dharma appearance, shedding the Vajra form, communicating with the Buddha’s divine consciousness. It merely appeared for a moment before vanishing without a trace.
The Huiji Vajra Divine Seal, after the Tathagata’s passing, vowed to save all sentient beings!
Around Ji Xiang, strands of Buddhist golden light rose. The Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus flew out from within his body and landed at Ji Xiang’s feet, transforming into a seven-tiered lotus platform.
The Yang Shen avatars who had not yet perished in the thunder tribulation were greatly astonished!
“Are you an immortal, or a Buddha!”
With this declaration, Tang Xianzu naturally understood who the true demon was.
“I am neither immortal, nor Buddha, nor the demon king Bo Xun.”
“Above Yuqing, my name is known; beneath Yuanshi, I cultivate hidden scriptures.”
Ji Xiang sang a song. The Buddhist light shifted and shone. The tribulation lightning struck, and numerous Yang Shen avatars perished consecutively. Over eighty thousand souls vanished. Finally, only one Yang Shen avatar remained, enveloped by Buddhist light, transforming into a giant bird with black-green feathers, lying on the ground, subdued by the Tathagata’s light.
“The Buddhist demon of North Kuru Continent, the giant bird Youwei Chanqie, heard the teachings before the Buddha’s lotus platform, thus achieving the Buddhist demon body. It collects the corpses of the deceased and places them outside the North Kuru Continent, to fulfill a clean world.”
Ji Xiang reached out. The bird transformed, becoming pigeon-sized, and flew to his arm, perching there, lowering its head and ceasing to move.
Tang Xianzu watched in a daze. Ji Xiang dispersed the Buddhist light, retracted the lotus platform, and with a wave of his hand, the Buddhist Dharma Realm returned to the heavens. Tang Xianzu’s soul, in an instant, re-entered the dream and returned to his own body.
…
Crack!
A thunderclap shook the heavens. Before the desk of the Magistrate of Suichang County, Tang Xianzu suddenly awoke. Manuscripts were scattered all over the table. He bent down to pick them up, and in his mind, the scenes he had just witnessed, the illusory bubbles, instantly returned.
Including the matters concerning Ji Xiang and Yi Xing Monk, was it the Lord of the Dao subduing a demon, or a great demon rebelling against Buddhism?
He walked out of the magistrate’s residence. The sky was beginning to dawn, yet he wandered aimlessly, like a lost soul. The scenes in his mind could not be erased. Suddenly, he turned and saw a scholar tree. Ants were active beneath it. The sky was not yet bright, but they were already diligently emerging from their holes, orderly and organized, not unlike human society.
He then recalled the illusory bubbles he had seen before, including everything that had happened in Ying Tian Prefecture. Tang Xianzu did not know if all of this was real or false. Suichang was a long distance from Ying Tian, and he could not verify it at the moment. He could only temporarily consider this a miraculous dream.
As the Tathagata said, all phenomena are like dreams, and the words of the Vajra are like dew and lightning.
Looking at the sky again, there was no Buddhist demon or Lord of the Dao.
He sighed with emotion:
“Alas, when people look at ants, they are tiny and busy, not knowing what they are doing, nor where they are going. They are merely living and eating. Seeing them fight fiercely, would one not laugh and say: ‘What are they doing?’ There are people in the heavens, who look down and laugh, just like this.”
With these words spoken.
Righteousness gathered from heaven and earth, descending and bestowing favor.
Tang Xianzu thought he should record these events and then adapt them.
His new book had just been completed, and inspiration immediately struck. He would start another one.
…
Before the Ming Xiaoling Divine Path, Emperor Wu of Wu’s six swords were all damaged. Prince Lu mobilized the Xiaoling Guard to protect him. Other cultivators desperately tried to stop Emperor Wu. Although the two Refinement Realm masters were severely injured, their combined efforts managed to wound Emperor Wu repeatedly in the shortest possible time, and they used incense divine spells to prevent Emperor Wu’s rebirth.
However, it was too late.
Immortal light descended from the sky. Qin Nuxiu’s blade wind swept down from the mountains. Wherever it passed, forests and vegetation turned to dust!
Before the divine path, the power of the Dharma Realm disappeared, and Ji Xiang reappeared in the human world.
A fierce tiger in front, a flood dragon behind.
It was only one step away from Xiaoling.
Prince Lu vomited blood and sighed powerlessly.
“His achievements are not built; it is the will of heaven.”