Chapter 799: Chapter 523: The Supreme Buddha Country Assembly
Blood Forbidden Zone.
A blood moon quietly ascended, its radiance like congealed blood, cascading upon the barren land.
The surface of the blood moon was riddled with writhing veins and ceaselessly blinking eyes; each eye gleamed with madness and destruction, reflecting the inverted images of the Three Thousand Worlds.
Beneath the blood moon.
A man reclined within a crimson blood coffin.
He soaked in blood, his gaze playful.
"Ancestor of Great Dream?"
...
Ghost Mother Forbidden Zone.
A kindly old mother opened her eyes.
"Ancestor of Great Dream? At first I thought the Faceless Monk was Lu Chenzhou... Now it seems more like the incarnation of the Heart Emperor, or perhaps Lu Chenzhou is the Heart Emperor reincarnate? Once, I slew the Heart Emperor with my own hands, devouring his Great Dream Dao, thereby advancing my own [Illusion Realm Dao] to another layer, and transforming it into [Nightmare Dao]. But Heart Cultivation is inherently difficult to extinguish; the great ones of the heart had already reached the realm of [I Think, Therefore I Am]. I fear the Heart Emperor is not fully dead. Blue Mountain and Red Leaf, those two protector Ancient Emperors, may also linger somewhere within the Three Thousand Realms."
...
Several days later.
Hanhai Realm, Great Snow Mountain.
Here lay an ancient relic.
The architecture resembled that of a snowy mountain monastery.
Within the ruin, the ancestor Sajia was cultivating.
Before him, there was a shriveled corpse.
The corpse was draped in white robes, seated with hand seals formed.
"Heavens beyond the heavens! I hope I may step into the realm of True Buddha ere long, to take my seat in the Buddha Country, and ascend to Ultimate Bliss eternally."
...
Somewhere in space.
A nine-storied pagoda stood atop a blue giant mountain.
All around, countless illusory figures of ancient Buddhas sat cross-legged. Among them, a shriveled form in white robes, with a solemn countenance, opened his eyes, his gaze tinged with surprise.
"The ’Great Dream Scripture’ gained by Sajia is exceedingly profound, far beyond the creation of a Six Realms cultivator. To call himself Ancestor of Great Dream, surely he plumbs the Depths of the Great Dream Dao and also wields the Ancient Emperor Lan Shan’s [Great Wilderness Prisoner Demon Charm]. Such a coincidence!"
The emaciated monk pondered.
There was but one truth...
The venerable Heart Emperor has awakened!
This shriveled monk was precisely the Snow Mountain Bright Buddha.
In a sense, he counted as the pioneer Daoist Ancestor of Hanhai Realm, and also one of the many True Buddhas once seated beneath the Ancient Emperor Lan Shan.
The Bright Buddha transmitted his voice into the pagoda.
Within the pagoda, an ethereal voice arose.
"Once, the Heart Emperor, using the Great Dream Dao, evolved a Supreme Buddha Country, setting anchor points, sheltering my Heart Sect’s three hundred Heavenly Realm disciples from reincarnation, allowing them to eternally cultivate in the Buddha Country. Later, the Heart Emperor lapsed into eternal slumber and vanished. Now, the Heart Emperor perhaps returns, self-titled Ancestor of Great Dream, Faceless Monk. Hear my command, disciples: mobilize all subordinate forces and every connection, spare no effort to protect the Heart Emperor’s return. Even if Ancestor of Great Dream is not the Heart Emperor, yet he has vanquished evil for thirty years and comprehends my own supreme art [Great Wilderness Prisoner Demon Charm]; surely he is a genius, a hope for the Human Clan in resisting the Forbidden Zones. Aid him if possible."
In an instant.
The True Buddhas gazed toward the Three Thousand Worlds.
Though they could not depart from the Buddha Country, they could still, by secret incense techniques, establish contact with the powers they supported, and employ dream transmission and other means to command the people of the Lower Realm.
Atop a lotus platform.
While exploring the Heart Realm, fortuitously obtaining great fortune, taken as a direct disciple by Ancient Emperor Lan Shan, able to interface with the Buddha Country and cultivate for decades—Di Jialou’s eyes quivered.
"Heart Emperor returns?"
This was a world-shaking event!
"I must strive diligently in cultivation to enter the Six Realms sooner. If I might catch the Heart Emperor’s Dharma Eye and receive instruction from a Four Emperor Level expert, I shall surely solidify my place as the supreme genius of all realms!"
Di Jialou resumed his tedious cultivation.
...
Lu Chenzhou knew nothing of this.
The title he unwittingly earned was mistaken by remnants of the mysterious Heavenly Heart Sect as the reincarnation of the Heart Emperor.
...
In a secret chamber.
Lu Chenzhou finished his punching practice, let his sweat rise as vapor and fog.
In the void, phantoms of Grey Dragon and Spirit Turtle faded away.
On the Martial Arts Tree, prompts emerged.
[Six Volumes of Grey Dragon: Small Success (1%)]
[Mystic Turtle Sea Suppressing Fist: Small Success (1%)]
Veins of Qi-Blood surged into countless cells.
In the void, High Grade Primordial Stones diffused high-quality Creation Primordial Qi like burning incense, drawn into his pores.
"One hundred forty thousand Qi-Blood."
Divine light beamed from his eyes; as his Spiritual Cultivation stepped into the Middle Realm, together with his experience preaching in Hanhai Realm, Lu Chenzhou now bore the manner of an ancestral master.
Were this ancient Da Xia, he too would be honored as ’Ancestor Lu’, akin to Lv Ancestor or Zhang Ancestor.
"After teaching the method to banish demons, I faintly received the favor of Hanhai World’s will. If I were in that world, my fighting strength might not be limited to the Middle Stage."
Lu Chenzhou mused aloud.
Upon the World Tree, a tender leaf, amidst decay, sprouted a wisp of vitality; the bubble slowly regained its luster.
[Hanhai Realm (Low Class World)]
Vaguely, a thread of will passed through the World Tree, bridging endless time and space, establishing contact with Lu Chenzhou.
[Many thanks.]
"You are Hanhai World’s will?"
[Low-level will finds it hard to manifest, my apologies.]
"No matter."
[For the grace of salvation, I can offer only a wisp of ’World Origin’ born at this world’s dawn as thanks; your cultivation of World Dao may benefit from it.]
Within the bubble, a thread of gray-white vapor diffused ancient formative energies, drawing Lu Chenzhou’s side glance.
"World Origin—this must be crucial to a world, yet all I have done is for the grand order of the Three Thousand Worlds. I seek no reward. You’d best take it back."
[How then should I thank you? In ages past, another saved me and took a wisp of origin from me.]
"Simply show subtle favor to the cultivators of Lantuo Temple. If a peerless genius or Child of the World should arise to strengthen the Daoist Heritage I left, that shall suffice as repayment."
[In the land of Great Snow Mountain there is a relic left by an ancient cultivator, wherein Ancestor Sajia attained enlightenment. At Sea Corner lies another secret treasure left by an ancient cultivator. Hanhai Sect dwells in seclusion there. These are my tidings for you.]
"My thanks; I am apprised."
[Farewell; the World Will blesses you.]
"The power of World Origin can actually manifest across time and space, appearing in the World Tree bubble of my Inner Scenery Land?"
Lu Chenzhou engaged in deep thought.
He was already well aware of those two inheritances.
The transmission beneath Great Snow Mountain belonged to a Heavenly Realm subordinate of Ancient Emperor Lan Shan—of no use to him. Nor did he wish to seize Sajia Ancestor’s fortune, for he had already marched upon the Dao to Heaven, the Great Dream Dao.
Sea Corner was precisely where Hanhai Sect lay. Tuo Tian Head Monk had already joined them, taking the name ’Dragon Elephant Swordman’; there lay the Sword Immortal’s Secret Treasure, an Eighth Rank spiritual sword weapon.
Indeed, Long Yue was also in secluded cultivation there.
But since he had no interest in the Sword Dao, and since the Secret Treasure had already awakened in Hanhai Sect—and this sect had more than one Heavenly Realm expert—he had even less reason to seize it.
Moreover, in the Origin Space of the Lighting Order, there was a Qingxun Magic Sword valued at ten thousand Candle Fire, also an Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapon and one of the Seven Heavenly Swords.
According to the Sword Spirit, when the seven swords are united, they can unleash the might of a quasi-Supreme Treasure, slaying gods below the level of Great Power.
Though Lu Chenzhou cared little for the Sword Dao, he did have a collector’s penchant—and with no clear goal for his next tribulation world, he inquired of the Sword Spirit and learned of a Middle Realm called ’Qingyun Realm,’ whereupon he came before the World Tree.
This bubble, too, was rife with black miasma.
"Pollution level: Doomsday."
’Pollution level’ was a term of Lu Chenzhou’s own devising. They were: Invasion Level, Stalemate Level, Doomsday Level, and End Level. End Level was nigh unsalvageable and certain to be infested by Demon Venerable level beings—in his present strength, these were not to be considered. Doomsday Level, as with Hanhai Realm, left him much room to act. The first two required no salvation, and were therefore not worth his effort.
"Arrive!"
Innumerable particles of spiritual power, using the World Tree as medium, flowed into the bubble with a fragment of his consciousness.
...
Qingyun Realm.
At dawn.
A border town veiled in thin mist.
A faceless monk arrived treading the dawn’s glow.
He savored the worldly air, a smile tracing his lips.
"No need to be a monk here."
The Hidden Essence Technique activated.
A gentle breeze passed, and the faceless monk transformed into a swordsman whose visage was sharp, weathered by the ages, bearing the manner of a grandmaster.
"Since this is a Middle Realm, likely without any Heavenly Realm cultivators, with my Six Realms Middle Stage cultivation, I need only be cautious; seeking the Sword Immortal’s Secret Treasure should be easy."
...
Several days later.
Ruins Sea.
The chase continued its drama.
Flames raged across the sky.
Aurora Palace quaked without cease.
Within twin-dragon heads, silent muttering echoed.
"After three months of my assault, the Aurora Palace must have nearly exhausted its energy; the protector grand array teeters on collapse. Once it shatters, it will be your death day."
...
Aurora Palace.
[Approaching Ancient Plain World, a High Class World, once birthed the Great Wilderness Eight Realms expert ’Ancient Origin Monarch’.]
The artifact spirit’s voice sounded.
Lu Chenzhou opened the Aurora Palace’s external projection.
"Well done; it’s still pursuing."
To keep Black Mountain Demon Saint persistent, Lu Chenzhou ordered the artifact spirit to occasionally display instability in Aurora Palace.
Giving Black Mountain Demon Saint hope.
"From the memory fragments of Lightning Demon Venerable, the Forbidden Zone presently has but a few Demon Saints revived; as for those assigned by Star Palace to invade the Three Thousand Worlds, there are just nine. Yet Black Mountain Demon Saint is a standout among them."
Lu Chenzhou pondered silently.
Of course, there were certainly more Demon Saints in the Forbidden Zone, but the price to send them out at this stage was too great.
Soon after.
The Aurora Palace suddenly trembled, its flight path listing unsteadily as it shot from Ruins Sea toward the Ancient Plain World ahead.
Behind, Ancient Saint Black Mountain rejoiced in secret.
"They’re at their limit? No matter what tricks you play, Lu Chenzhou, my Black Mountain shall kill you!"
...
Ancient Plain World.
The boundary barrier shattered.
The Aurora Palace split the heavens, cleaving through the Gang Wind Layer like a comet, trailing awe, and smashed straight into the earth.
Rumble—!
The entire world shook, smoke billowing to the sky.
The Aurora Palace stood unharmed.
Within the Grotto Heaven, the uninformed felt heavy-hearted. Already, they had heard the furious roar of a Demon Saint aloft in the heights of heaven.
A black lotus drifted down.
Heaven and earth lost their hues; time froze.
The Law of Destruction, like the fire of white phosphorus bombs, poured in all directions, forming a boundless black flame domain.
Black Mountain Demon Saint wasted not a second—upon arrival, all power was unleashed, exhibiting his proudest trump card.
Domain: Black Lotus Hell.
From the God’s-eye view, one could see a giant black lotus with a thousand-kilometer diameter, mountains, chasms, plains, and forests all transformed to black fire—blossoming upon the world.
This was ultimate destruction!
The Aurora Palace was trapped at the domain’s heart.
Within the Grotto Heaven.
Lu Chenzhou’s gaze was shaken to its core.
This was his first time witnessing Eighth Realm combat, already beyond any energy level he could conceive, orders of magnitude higher.
Even the Yaochi Immortal bore a grave expression.
Though their Absolute Peak echelon had planned long for this, when a Demon Saint was truly drawn in, there was still an undercurrent of nervousness.
She patted Lu Chenzhou on the shoulder, saying: "Well done. Stay within the palace; what comes next, leave to us."