Chapter 371
Chapter 371
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Prayer Wheel Summons
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Southern Border, beneath layers of clouds.
Within the military camp, the Prince Who Pacifies the South, Wu Tai'an, closed his eyes, recalling the final scene he had witnessed.
“The Myriad Poisons Sect seems to have some extraordinary treasure emerging?”
This thought sparked in him the urge to scrutinize it closely with his innate jade-green eyes. Yet after a moment's consideration, he abandoned the tempting idea—not because he couldn't pierce the Myriad Poisons Sect's mountain-guarding grand array, but because doing so without alerting those inside would prove difficult.
“Never mind.”
Wu Tai'an quickly gathered his thoughts. Were this within Dao Court territory, his domineering nature would have him satisfy his curiosity first, consequences be damned.
But this was the Southern Border.
The Myriad Poisons Sect posed no threat, yet Lu Yang was a true person of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, disciple to Perfected Being Demon-Quelling besides. No need to stir needless trouble over such a trifle.
He had come to the Southern Border for weightier matters, after all.
The next instant, Wu Tai'an turned and strode back into his command tent, dismissing his attendants. He then drew from his bosom an ancient, squarely fashioned prayer wheel.
“Ka-da-da.”
Channeling mana, Wu Tai'an slowly turned the prayer wheel. At a glance, it appeared an ordinary trinket, yet it demanded tremendous power from him.
With each slow rotation, a thread of Buddhist radiance bloomed from the inscribed sutras within. At first mere sparks, they swiftly swelled into blazing flames. Amid the glow, the silhouette of a monk gradually materialized—palms pressed together, gazing at him with a smile.
“Amitabha. Benefactor Wu has finally deigned to meet with me.”
The monk smiled faintly, exuding an uncanny aura: solemn and majestic in bearing, dignified and grand, yet his manner held an oddly shrinking timidity.
These clashing traits merged flawlessly upon him.
“Guang Ming.”
Wu Tai'an's expression remained even.
“You began as the lowliest novice in the Pure Land—not even a true person—yet overnight, your temperament transformed utterly.”
“That day, Perfected Being Cha Zhen Tai Xu unveiled the grand world of the cosmos.”
“All bodhisattvas withdrew into seclusion. Only a single dharma image plummeted from Free Heaven to the mortal realm, landing squarely upon you, naming you Buddha's son.”
Wu Tai'an recounted Guang Ming's ascension to Buddha's son with direct precision, evidently having probed the tale countless times in secret. Absurd no matter how often revisited—did one truly believe heavenly pies fell unbidden? Such fortune landing precisely on one's head by chance? As if the arhats were all deceased?
Thus, but one question lingered in his heart now:
“Dare I ask if the Venerable One stands before me in person?”
Wu Tai'an bowed low. All true lords had vanished into seclusion—who could be exempt? None but a Nascent Soul dao lord! The Pure Land's World Venerable bore precedent, no less!
Yet to Wu Tai'an's query, Guang Ming merely smiled.
He recalled that day's ordeal: the dharma image descending as he fled in panic, only to collide headlong with it at the last.
The sensation that followed defied precise description even now. He had endured arhats' possessions before—this was Pure Land Chan cultivation's prerogative, superiors commanding inferiors. Those were starkly vivid; as the body's original owner, he felt them keenly, instinctively repelling.
But not that time.
That time, upon merging, no rejection arose. He simply uttered:
“Yi! To think I am the World Venerable's incarnation!”
And that was that.
No shift in awareness, no alteration in memory, no change in temperament. Thus, to Wu Tai'an's question, he could only smile.
For he knew not himself.
*Am I Guang Ming? Or the World Venerable?*
Such distinctions mattered little. What counted was that Victorious Will Generating Brilliance Dharani Heaven Worldly Manifestation now dwelt within him, bestowing an innate mission.
“Amitabha. Benefactor Wu, you cling to form.”
Guang Ming smiled, inclining his head toward Wu Tai'an.
“You claimed my prayer wheel by karmic bond between us. I have now descended, and four disciples shall accompany me westward in quest of gold.”
“These four hail from diverse origins.”
“Victorious Will Generating Brilliance Dharani Heaven Worldly Manifestation has sealed their karmic ties: one each from Jiangdong, Jiangbei, Jiangnan, and the outer seas. All may attain supreme Bodhi fruition.”
“Benefactor, you are one.”
Guang Ming's words set Wu Tai'an's frame quivering faintly. Even with his cultivation, he could not steady his dharma body—such was the storm of his emotions.
*World Venerable... Truly the World Venerable in person! Victorious Will Generating Brilliance Dharani Heaven Worldly Manifestation—identical to the ancient Great Compassion Great Mercy Dharani Heaven Worldly Manifestation! This is the World Venerable forging karmic cause, summoning me as disciple. Accept this bond, and a supreme golden throne awaits in due time!*
“Disciple greets Master!”
Though the Guang Ming before him scarce reached a fraction of his years, Wu Tai'an knelt without hesitation, kowtowing three resounding times.
In the Dao Court, such was commonplace.
Infinite confidence welled within him too. The World Venerable promised personally! Vowed my golden throne! Victory in this quest for gold was assured!
“Well done.”
Guang Ming nodded smilingly at the prompt obeisance, then cocked his head as if listening. Only then did he speak anew:
“Indeed, karmic bond calls.”
“No time like the present. Today, beyond Benefactor Wu, another benefactor shares a master-disciple tie with this monk. Best to meet him at once.”
Wu Tai'an's brow furrowed at once.
*Another? Who?*
Dao Court cultivation ingrained palace strife deep in Wu Tai'an's marrow. Hostility flared instinctively ere Guang Ming finished.
*Could it be...*
Wu Tai'an pondered. The World Venerable taking disciples would scarcely seek independents; from the four great powers, assuredly. In the Southern Border, who besides himself?
*...That Sword Pavilion true person?*
Guang Ming's gaze toward the Myriad Poisons Sect cemented the suspicion. Yet Wu Tai'an could not fathom: why that Sword Pavilion true person?
Not even late-stage Foundation Establishment!
What merited the World Venerable's favor?
“Hiss!”
For no discernible reason—just after slaying Long Yue, at the height of triumph—Lu Yang felt a chill pierce to the bone.
*What's this?*
Lu Yang lifted his gaze, unease and urgency stirring within.
*Delays breed peril. Best settle matters swiftly, secure the true body.*
With that, Lu Yang pinched Edict for Mountains and Moving Mountains Orthodox Art.
Empowered by the technique, the Myriad Poisons Sect's gate rent asunder with a boom, baring the mountain's heart. A natural cavern swam into view.
At its center lay a pool of liquid.
Luminous moonlight bathed it. Though Lu Yang had drained the prior hoard of Imperial Fluid, replenishment was merely time's gift.
The next instant, Lu Yang's awareness snapped back to his true body. He strode into the pool.
An unprecedented harmony with heaven and earth flooded him—like an infant returned to the womb. Melodious whispers sang at his ear, expounding the cosmic dao.
“Excellent... Excellent!”
Joy lit Lu Yang's face.
“So long as I remain in this Moon-Worshipping Sacred Pool, nurturing the immortal spirit poses no hurdle. Thirty years at most, and completion!”
Foundation Establishment perfection: paramount below true lords.
Then, who could slay him!?
Such thoughts brought sudden drowsiness.
Since seated trance supplanted sleep, Lu Yang had slumbered no more. Nine lives of practice—this marked his first true weariness.
*Why not rest awhile?*
No haste in any case. The clone stood vigil without; he could sleep soundly. Upon waking, heaven and earth would provide...
“...Hm?”
Boom!!!
Like thunder's crash, Lu Yang's spirit wrenched from torpor. His drooping lids pried open a crack against the dark.
*Wrong! Something's amiss!*
*But... since when?*
*Why did I not perceive?*
Myriad thoughts surged and shattered in Lu Yang's mind, coalescing into one stark imperative:
*Calamity Wave!*
Save me!