Li Xuan and He Shuqian settled down in a pavilion built by the Buddhist sect on Mount Mile.
With a month of rest time, Li Xuan and He Shuqian were in no hurry to rush on their journey. Moreover, with a token that allowed them to directly reach Spirit Mountain, Li Xuan and He Shuqian were naturally not in a hurry.
However, Jiang Shang and He Shuming could only travel to Spirit Mountain on their own. Fortunately, both of them were not weak in strength, and it would only take them three to five days.
Furthermore, the spiritual energy on Mount Mile was extremely abundant, and it could be considered a blessed land for cultivation. Therefore, after a simple discussion among Li Xuan, Jiang Shang, and the others, they each retreated to their rooms to cultivate during the month.
...
At the peak of Spirit Mountain.
"My Buddha, who is this destined person? In the past few days of your return, your state of mind seems to be less tranquil than before," Guanyin Bodhisattva asked Shakyamuni Buddha, with deep confusion in his eyes.
Following the Ancient Buddha Ran Guang, Shakyamuni Buddha had not experienced such emotional fluctuations for many years. Moreover, in a sense, Shakyamuni Buddha was also Guanyin Bodhisattva's mentor.
Guanyin Bodhisattva often listened to Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings, so their bond was not ordinary.
Shakyamuni Buddha smiled upon hearing this, shook his head, and said, "You have also sensed the change in my state of mind. It seems my Buddhist heart is indeed somewhat abnormal. As for this destined person, it is not that it cannot be spoken of. However, if I speak of it to you, I fear you will also be implicated in the future."
Guanyin Bodhisattva immediately cupped his hands and asked, "My Buddha, does this matter concern our Buddhist sect?"
Shakyamuni Buddha looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva meaningfully and said, "Good."
"Since that is the case, as a member of the Buddhist sect, I fear I cannot stand idly by," Guanyin Bodhisattva said, cupping his hands again.
Shakyamuni Buddha smiled, then looked into the void and slowly said, "You should all come and listen as well. Since it concerns our Buddhist sect, you all ought to know."
"Greetings, Buddha." As soon as Shakyamuni Buddha finished speaking, Golden Wheel Buddha, Medicine Buddha, and eleven others appeared beside Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Shakyamuni Buddha nodded slightly, then seemed to fall into memory and said, "The Ancient Buddha Ran Guang once left a prophecy, do you all remember it?"
"Chaos in chaos, originating from balance. Overturning the three realms, truly destined. Ceasing the war, in a single thought."
As soon as Shakyamuni Buddha finished speaking, Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression became solemn. Golden Wheel Buddha and the other eleven also remembered and looked at Shakyamuni Buddha.
"Indeed. However, the Ancient Buddha Ran Guang also left a final sentence: 'Follow the heavenly path, and the destined one shall be honored'," Shakyamuni Buddha nodded and sighed softly.
"Buddha, could the origin that perished in the Buddhist arena be the thought that the Ancient Buddha Ran Guang paid attention to?" Golden Wheel Buddha seemed to have thought of something and asked Shakyamuni Buddha.
The other eleven, upon hearing this, looked at Shakyamuni Buddha with shocked expressions, clearly wanting to know if what Golden Wheel Buddha said was true.
"Indeed. The Ancient Buddha Ran Guang could have reincarnated and cultivated, and would have undoubtedly become a pillar of our Buddhist sect in the future. Yet, the Ancient Buddha Ran Guang gave up on himself and chose to save this world. The Ancient Buddha Ran Guang's actions are worthy of being the foremost person in our Buddhist sect," Shakyamuni Buddha said with a solemn expression.
"Buddha, since this destined person will inevitably cause great disaster in the future, and now he has appeared in our Buddhist sect. Moreover, the strength of this destined person is clearly insufficient to cause great destruction, why do we not directly eliminate him and prevent future calamities?" Kongming Zun Bodhisattva pondered for a moment before speaking.
Guanyin Bodhisattva and the others were stunned for a moment, then looked at Shakyamuni Buddha.
Although they did not know which participant was the destined person, Shakyamuni Buddha, with his strength, would naturally know.
Moreover, judging from the expressions of Guanyin Bodhisattva and the others, they seemed to agree with Kongming Zun Bodhisattva's suggestion to some extent.
"Everything has a cause, and for every cause, there is an effect. The appearance of the destined person is the will of heaven. Our Buddhist sect, naturally, cannot be his enemy. Furthermore, even if the destined person perishes, who can say that another destined person will not appear."
"Moreover, this person carries great karma, which our Buddhist sect cannot bear. Let everything take its natural course," Shakyamuni Buddha shook his head.
Guanyin Bodhisattva and the others fell silent. It was clear that Shakyamuni Buddha had considered this plan, but from a broader perspective, it was indeed not a wise choice.
"Alright, the future pattern, and how this world will be, is not something we can control. Moreover, the Ancient Buddha Ran Guang has also made many arrangements, and I believe our Buddhist sect will be able to preserve itself in this chaotic world."
"How our Buddhist sect acted in the past, we will continue to do so in the future. What is to come, will eventually come. We just need to wait with a calm heart. You all may withdraw." After a moment, Shakyamuni Buddha spoke again.
As Guanyin Bodhisattva and the others left, Shakyamuni Buddha sighed softly and whispered, "Heaven sends chaos, and human strength is insufficient. Great right and wrong, how can a small Buddhist sect influence it..."
Time passed in a blink of an eye.
As Li Xuan and the others entered secluded cultivation, over twenty days had quietly passed. As the competition for the top ten Buddhist disciples approached, Jiang Shang and He Shuming awoke five days before the countdown.
The two did not have a token for direct teleportation to Spirit Mountain, so after leaving a message for Li Xuan and the other two, they traveled to Spirit Mountain together.
Li Xuan, who was cultivating in his room, naturally did not sense Jiang Shang's departure. At this moment, Li Xuan's aura had already reached the peak of the Realm of Creation, and it seemed as if he was only a step away from entering the Realm of Integration.
Four days passed, and as his aura was about to break through, the golden light on Li Xuan's body instantly retracted into his body and dissipated.
Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes and murmured, "Breaking through now would bring me no benefit. Moreover, the grand competition is about to begin, and my tribulation is not an easy matter. Well, I will make plans after this competition is over."
With that, Li Xuan stood up and walked out. At the same time, He Shuqian also emerged from her room.
"Fellow Daoist Li, after a month, your spirit and energy have become even more refined," He Shuqian said, cupping her hands.
Li Xuan smiled and replied, "Fellow Daoist He, shall we go together?"
"I would be delighted to," He Shuqian replied, nodding her head.
Li Xuan moved his thoughts, and the token given by the Buddhist sect instantly appeared. As Li Xuan's divine sense probed it, a pulling force instantly swept towards him.
A dazzling golden light rapidly enveloped him, and in an instant, Li Xuan was pulled into the void and disappeared.