Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Although Zhen Yuanzi acted in such a way, he must have had something to rely on, but most believed he would merely ensure his own safety and flee as he had done in the past during the upheaval in the Southern Sea Dragon Palace and in the South Observation Nether Palace.

Who would have thought that Wuqu Star would actually lose, and a hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers, striking out in force, returned only him, alone and in disarray.

This…

What capabilities did Zhen Yuanzi have that allowed him to defeat a Calamity Immortal?

Could it be that he had broken through to the Tribulation Realm?

Impossible!

How long had he been in the Mahayana stage?

At most, a thousand years, not even a full millennium.

In such a short millennium, he held the Pill Origin Gathering, practiced Divine Power, vanquished the South Observation’s monstrous demons, and killed old Mahayana beings like Yin Heavenly Lord. He also escaped from the hands of Dragon King of the Southern Sea and Mount Tai Yama, both Calamity Immortals. These acts were shocking and beyond what a common person could achieve.

To go further and break through to the Tribulation Realm?

That simply could not be explained. No matter how genius his talents, no matter how stunning his brilliance, this was something that could not be achieved.

The Heavenly Court has established the Way and passed it down to this day for over a million years, during which countless talents have emerged, those with the potential to defy the heavens, but at most they reached Mahayana in a thousand years, and only after ten thousand years of arduous practice barely managed to enter the Tribulation Realm.

A thousand years to enter the Tribulation Realm?

Surely just an idle dream!

Yet not being in the Tribulation Realm, how could he defeat Wuqu Star Lord and completely rout a hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers?

This sort of capability even exceeded the scope of one calamity, reaching that of two or even three calamities.

How did he achieve it?

“That person must possess a great secret!”

Facing the gazes of the Jade Emperor and the immortals, Wuqu Star also had a grave expression, filled with fear, “Not yet entered the Tribulation Realm, but has obtained miraculous Divine Powers and mastered The Five Elements Law, transforming Yin and Yang forces, embodied the Qiankun Way, and grasped the principles of the void. With a single move, he captured all of my subordinates. I exhausted all my abilities to barely escape from his sleeve, and then with a flip of his hand, he threw me ten thousand miles away. Such methods…are truly unimaginable!”

“This…!”

“How is it possible?”

At these words, everyone was in uproar, even more astonished.

“With the ability of Wuqu Star Lord, even if that person entered the Tribulation Realm, such an outcome would still be impossible!”

“Could it be through the power of an array?”

“Or perhaps with the aid of a powerful ally?”

“Who is supporting him from behind?”

“There must be a conspiracy in this!”

“Entering the Tribulation Realm in a thousand years is utterly impossible. This person is perhaps already a Calamity Immortal. Disguising and hiding his Cultivation, acting under the name of Zhen Yuanzi, holding the Pill Origin Gathering to win over hearts, forming alliances, gathering forces…”

“Ambitious as a wolf, aiming for something vast!”

“Is he a demon, or…?”

The murmurs and speculation grew, filled with uncertainty and unease.

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor too frowned, remaining silent for quite some time.

Uncommon, this situation was very uncommon! The emergence of a traveler of the Way, of unknown origin and background, who in just a millennium rooted in the South Observance Continent, became a dominant force, stirred up the Dragon Palace, caused trouble in the Underworld, and now was even confronting the Heavenly Court directly, fiercely defeating a Calamity Immortal and overpowering Wuqu.

This…every aspect, from inside out, from top to bottom, was permeated with an extraordinary sense of eeriness.

Was it a conspiracy?

Whose conspiracy?

Was it a stratagem?

Whose stratagem?

The Dragon Palace, the Underworld?

The Monster Nation, the Demon Abyss?

Or…

The Jade Emperor’s brows were tightly furrowed, momentarily without a clue, feeling as if he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

What to do in such a situation?

Continue dispatching troops?

Wouldn’t that just play into the hands of whoever was scheming behind the scenes?

But to not dispatch troops, wouldn’t that not only confirm various accusations such as “shielding his subjects, handling matters unjustly, and having a guilty conscience,” but also give others the impression that he, the venerable Heavenly Court Emperor, feared a mere Mahayana Cultivator?

At that time, where would his Imperial dignity and the prestige of the Heavenly Court stand?

Who exactly was this strategist, putting him on the grill?

The Jade Emperor remained silent with a furrowed brow.

It was at this moment…

“Your Majesty!”

An attendant stepped into the hall, “The Western Great Mercy Bodhisattva, leading the Eighteen Arhats, requests an audience outside the hall.”

“Hmm!?”

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor’s gaze abruptly sharpened, and the immortals were also startled.

The Great Mercy Bodhisattva?

Eighteen Arhats?

What brings them here?

Could it be…

The immortals were filled with surprise and suspicion, pondering secretly in their hearts.

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment before he instructed, “Quickly, extend an invitation!”

“Yes!”

…

Shortly thereafter, a procession entered the hall, led by a figure whose venerable appearance shone brilliantly, who stepped upon lotuses, bearing the likeness of both male and female, a face full of compassion—it was none other than the Western Great Mercy.

Following the Great Mercy Bodhisattva, the Eighteen Honored Ones appeared in succession, their bodies those of Arhats, Subduing Dragon and Tiger all among them.

The Great Mercy Bodhisattva approached and faced the Jade Emperor, offering a greeting, “This humble monk greets the Heavenly Venerable!”

“Bodhisattva, please spare the formalities, attendants, quickly bring forth a seat!”

The Jade Emperor, too, stood to return the greeting and commanded the servants to bring a jade seat.

In Western Buddhism, there is the saying of ‘Two Venerables and Four Saints’, with the Two Venerables being the Great Sun Mahavairocana and Ratnasambhava, and the Four Saints being the Bodhisattvas of Great Wisdom, Great Virtue, Great Mercy, and Great Practice.

The Two Venerables, after enduring Nine Tribulations, have already confirmed their Buddha statuses, and Great Wisdom and Great Virtue have achieved the Eight Calamities’ fruits of labor. Great Mercy and Great Practice are slightly behind, with Seven Calamities’ Cultivation.

However, that was a thousand years ago. As for the present Great Mercy Bodhisattva, he has just passed the Eightfold Buddha Tribulation and has become a nearly True Immortal figure.

He, the Jade Emperor, though the Heavenly Court’s Emperor Venerable, held that position only through the inheritance of authority, actually not possessing the nearly Earth Immortal Cultivation of the previous ruler, the “Taihuang Emperor”, who endured Nine Tribulations. He only had the precious identity of Heavenly Venerable.

Therefore, when Great Mercy called on him, it was necessary to first offer a greeting, to express respect for the dignity of the Heavenly Court Emperor Venerable.

And facing the Great Mercy Bodhisattva, a nearly Nine Tribulation senior in practice, it was also proper for him to return the gesture with respect.

After the exchanges of courtesy were completed, they each took their seats, and then the matter at hand was addressed forthrightly.

The Jade Emperor inquired, “The Bodhisattva visits us; I wonder for what purpose?”

Upon hearing this, the Great Mercy replied directly, smiling, “This humble monk has come regarding Zhen Yuan from the State of South Observance.”

“Oh?”

The gaze of the Jade Emperor sharpened, then quickly returned to normal, “This person is related to the Bodhisattva as well?”

Great Mercy shook his head and with a sigh, said, “A thousand years ago, this humble monk was diligently practicing when I was overcome by a Heavenly Tribulation. Unwittingly, I let my mount, the Golden-Furred Lion, escape causing havoc in South Observance, eventually slain by Zhen Yuan, creating this karmic debt.”

“I see,” said the Jade Emperor, suddenly understanding. He then asked, “So the Bodhisattva has come on this occasion to…?”

“This humble monk was in the wrong and has no reason to make things difficult for him. But I’ve heard he’s caused chaos in the Dragon Palace and the Underworld, and even opposes the Heavenly Court, with a great battle on the horizon!”

Great Mercy sighed deeply, “Zhen Yuan is a true practitioner following the Righteous Path. Over the years in the State of South Observance, he has slain demons and eradicated evil, accumulating great merit. As the ruler of the Heavenly Court and a revered being on the Immortal Path, if both sides were to engage in war, it would only bring harm and no benefit.”

At these words, the Jade Emperor chuckled, his gaze enigmatic, “So it seems, the Bodhisattva wishes to plead on his behalf?”

“Not at all, not at all!”

Shaking his head, Great Mercy replied, “This humble monk wishes to mediate, to turn war into peace. May I ask if the Heavenly Venerable agrees to this?”

“Oh?”

The Jade Emperor showed interest, “How so?”

Great Mercy smiled, “The root of this matter is but a misunderstanding. Should the Heavenly Venerable be magnanimous and invite him to ascend and explain himself, the conflict can be resolved.”

Hearing this, the Jade Emperor also smiled, “Such were my thoughts precisely before, but the man is arrogantly self-assured and disdains the might of heaven—I was thus compelled to take up arms.”

“Indeed, that is his nature, and I have long heard of it,” Great Mercy nodded and said with a faint smile, “This time, let the Eighteen Honored Ones go and see if they can invite him to ascend and discuss the matter.”

“This…”

The Jade Emperor looked startled, his eyes reflecting surprise.

The immortals below murmured to each other.

“Does Buddhism truly intend to interfere in this affair?”

“Is it for the sake of South Observance Continent?”

“If that’s the case, the person behind Zhen Yuan must not belong to Buddhism.”

“Hmph, Buddhism has long harbored intentions, planning for the Southward Spread of Buddhism to capture the fortunes of South Observance, facilitating the rise of Buddhism, aiding the Four Great Bodhisattvas in enduring the Nine Tribulations and achieving Buddha Fruit!”

“Zhen Yuan, relying on the Pill Origin Gathering to curry favor, has united alliances under the banner of the Righteous Path, sweeping clean South Observance of demons, thereby accomplishing what Buddhism wished but failed to do.”

“Left unchecked, South Observance will surely fall to him, and the endeavors of Buddhism to spread southward will go to waste. Naturally, Buddhism is unwilling and thus comes to intervene.”

“With the Eighteen Arhats all deployed, it seems they are resolute in securing their goal!”

The immortals conversed in whispers, comprehending the intricacies of the situation.

Within the Earth Immortal Realm, there is the concept of destiny. Those with great destiny receive the blessings of heaven and earth, a path of cultivation unimpeded, and fewer calamities.

Where does destiny originate?

From the alignment of heaven, earth, and humanity!

The spirit of heaven, the power of the earth, the pulse of the people!

The more prosperous these three, the more exalted the destiny.

Heavenly Court occupies East Victorious Divine Continent, laying claim to the combined forces of heaven, earth, and humanity, exceeding those of West Bovine and Beiju Continents, thus sustaining five Emperor Venerables.

Buddhism holds sway over West Bovine He Continent, but its heavenly spirits, power of the earth, and human resources pale in comparison to East Victorious Divine Continent, which is why Buddhism now has only the Great Sun Mahavairocana and Ratnasambhava who have become True through Nine Tribulations and obtained Buddha Fruit.

As for the four Great Bodhisattvas, whether it be Great Wisdom, Great Virtue, Great Mercy, who have already endured Eight Calamities, or Great Practice who lingers at Seven Calamities, they all have little confidence in surpassing the Ninth Buddha Tribulation and hesitate to risk their lives to attempt it.

Hence, in recent years, Buddhism has been brooding over the matter of the “Southward Spread of Buddhism”, hoping to propagate Buddhism in South Observance, and to capture the realm’s destiny, which could aid those like Great Wisdom and Great Virtue, who have been stuck at the Eighth Calamity for many years, and also the future Great Mercy and Great Practice in overcoming the Ninth Buddha Tribulation.

This is Buddhism’s grand scheme!

But now such a grand scheme has been thwarted by a single person!

Zhen Yuan from Wuzhuang!

With him around, the Southward Spread of Buddhism has turned into a thing of the past.

Great Mercy’s visit is to salvage what can be salvaged, a resolute redemption.

The Eighteen Arhats are the proof of this!

Spying the Great Mercy and then the Eighteen Arhats, the Jade Emperor’s eyes flitted, settling into a smile, “Since it is so, we shall comply with the Bodhisattva’s wish.”

“Good!”

The Great Mercy Bodhisattva nodded and turned to the Eighteen Arhats, “I must trouble you venerable ones for this journey!”

“As commanded!”

Subduing Dragon and Tiger took the lead, and the Eighteen Arhats, heeding the call, immediately moved out of the hall.

Meanwhile, at the far west of Heavenly Palace, within the Imperial Lord’s Auxiliary Court.

A person bathed in an aura of non-existence, stepped directly into the White Tiger Star Palace.