Chapter 98: Root Sutra of Mahayana Right Enlightenment
Chapter 98: The Root Sutra of Mahayana Right Enlightenment
The fact that Jiangxi's Buddhist cultivators, who practice the "Path of Profound Joy in Extinction," could maintain their foothold rather than being forced into exile overseas is sufficient proof of the strength of their Dao Lineage.
However, unlike the Sword Pavilion or the Saint Sect with their myriad divine abilities, Jiangxi's Buddhist cultivators do not distinguish between cultivation arts and divine abilities. They focus solely on one scripture, extracting both their techniques and supernatural powers from it.
This scripture is titled 《The Root Sutra of Mahayana Right Enlightenment》.
It is said that this sutra was transmitted by the World-Honored One of the "Path of Profound Joy in Extinction." Its purpose is to guide people toward goodness, extinguishing themselves to attain Nirvana and thereby seek the "True Self."
However, this "True Self" is not the cultivator's own self.
Rather, it is the "Self" of that World-Honored One.
When one reaches the pinnacle of the Path of Profound Joy in Extinction, they extinguish themselves and realize the principle that "I am the World-Honored One, and the World-Honored One is me," becoming indistinguishable from the World-Honored One.
The sutra calls this "becoming a Buddha" or "right enlightenment."
Because the World-Honored One is a Buddha, becoming the World-Honored One is equivalent to becoming a Buddha.
All sentient beings are likewise capable of becoming Buddhas—since "I" am Buddha, all beings can become "me." Understanding this principle is considered achieving supreme enlightenment.
Within 《The Root Sutra of Mahayana Right Enlightenment》, there are forty-eight great mantras, said to have been established by the World-Honored One upon attaining enlightenment. Each great mantra holds infinite profundity, capable of giving rise to countless divine abilities. A complete great mantra possesses effects comparable to the grand divine abilities of the Sword Pavilion or the Saint Sect.
The more great mantras one masters, the closer they are to "becoming a Buddha."
Now, facing Lü Yang's [Yama Palace], Fulong Arhat touches the ground, forms a mudra, and unleashes one of these great mantras—"No Three Evil Paths in the Land."
"If I were to become a Buddha, and my land still contained hell-dwellers, hungry ghosts, or beasts, then I would not have attained supreme right enlightenment."
The dharma voice resounds, illuminating the surroundings with pure light.
Though this is a mantra of compassion, its power is anything but compassionate. How does one eliminate hell, hungry ghosts, and beasts? By killing them—once dead, they cease to exist.
Moreover, this divine ability is clearly highly effective against Yin Sha energy.
As the radiant light descends, Lü Yang immediately sees [Yama Palace] crumbling inch by inch, while Su Nu, stationed within, suddenly lets out a piercing scream.
This is the true strength of mid-stage Foundation Establishment!
Lü Yang's heart grows solemn. Though [Yama Palace] was unstoppable against the fragmented soul of the Mending Heaven Peak Master, that was due to a specific advantage.
A genuine mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—with perfected spirit and flesh, like Fulong Arhat at his peak—could overwhelm [Yama Palace] with a single divine ability. If not for the endless Yin Sha reinforcement from Skeleton Mountain's spiritual veins, the palace would likely have already been breached!
"Amitabha."
Seeing this, Fulong Arhat remains expressionless. He tosses his nine-ringed staff into the air, and instantly, a thunderous metallic clang reverberates.
'Not good!'
Lü Yang's pupils contract sharply. [Yama Palace], suppressed by Fulong Arhat's great mantra, is on the verge of collapse and can no longer protect him!
Lü Yang failed to anticipate this change, but Fulong Arhat, with his superior Cultivation Depth, seized the opportunity. He launched his attack the moment [Yama Palace] faltered, leaving Lü Yang no chance to recover.
In the blink of an eye, the nine-ringed staff is already before Lü Yang!
At the critical moment, Lü Yang swiftly pulls his guardian deity Su Nu from [Yama Palace] and shields himself with her.
Boom!
Su Nu doesn't even have time to scream before her body cracks apart. Only the durability of her pseudo-Foundation Establishment Dharma Body allows her to endure the blow.
"This can't continue!"
Lü Yang tosses Su Nu back into his dantian, his mind racing. He knows that persisting like this will only lead to inevitable defeat.
As he strategizes, Fulong Arhat denies him any respite.
The nine-ringed staff, having missed its mark, circles back and strikes again. The clanging of its nine rings is enough to scatter souls.
Fortunately, Lü Yang has cultivated the 《Heavenly Silkworm Secret of Severing Thoughts to See the Self》, transforming his spiritual sense into divine sense—equivalent to a Foundation Establishment True Person. Though the staff's impact sends splitting pain through his head, he grits his teeth and endures, reinforcing himself with Su Nu's Foundation Establishment-grade power before forming a hand seal.
The next moment, the staff descends.
"Corpse dissolution is the transformation of form, the refinement of the original truth, the escape of the physical body!"
Lü Yang makes no attempt to resist, allowing the staff to shatter his body into dust. His flesh explodes into a crimson mist that scatters across the sky.
Yet, in the next instant, the mist recoils!
His pulverized body flees hundreds of miles, reassembling at the edge of Skeleton Mountain and reforming his physical form!
All injuries—whether to his soul or body—vanish after the "corpse dissolution." Even Fulong Arhat's divine sense lock is broken. Such an exquisite escape technique earns a nod of admiration from the Arhat:
"Patron, you are truly extraordinary!"
This is the divine ability of a [Corpse Dissolution Immortal]—not a combat technique, but an art of evading calamity. Empowered by Foundation Establishment-grade strength, its profundity is boundless.
"Just hold out a little longer..."
Lü Yang exhales deeply, having already lifted the veil obscuring his fate. Those connected to him by karma will surely deduce his peril.
At the very least, True Person Chongguang will know.
And Lü Yang still holds the [Heavenly Corpse Sha] that True Person Yinshan desires. With that in mind, both Chongguang and Yinshan will undoubtedly come to his aid.
All he needs to do is endure until their arrival!
Just as this thought crosses his mind, Fulong Arhat suddenly sighs. "A pity. I had hoped to preserve this body of yours."
Before Lü Yang can react, the Arhat clasps his hands together.
"Amitabha!"
A brilliant spiritual light erupts from his crown, illuminating the heavens. Behind him, [Fulong Temple] tolls its bell thunderously.
Within that radiance, a colossal dragon wreathed in blazing white flames coils like a mountain. Its head lowers, merging illusorily with Fulong Arhat's own before both exhale in unison—releasing a torrent of fire!
Whoosh—!
The white-hot flames strike Lü Yang like a sharp arrow, incinerating his body in an instant and reducing him to ashes.
Yet soon, those ashes gather once more in the distance, reforming Lü Yang's body.
This time, however, even after using corpse dissolution, embers cling stubbornly to him like maggots in bone, threatening to reignite.
"This is... [Blazing Fire Dragon]?"
Months have passed since his battle with the Mending Heaven Peak Master, and Lü Yang, now versed in the Witch Ghost Path's legacy, is no longer ignorant of Foundation Establishment.
He recognizes this as the manifestation of Fulong Arhat's Dao path.
"[Blazing Fire Dragon] belongs to the Heavenly Gang position of [Yanfu]—pure Yang wood, towering and mighty. Wood burns while seated in Chen, giving rise to fire through wood's exhaustion... Hence, it is called Blazing Fire Riding the Dragon."
In other words, though Fulong Arhat's flames appear overwhelmingly fiery, their true essence lies in earth generating wood and wood fueling fire. Any attempt to counter fire-based techniques would be futile against this [Blazing Fire Dragon].
"To break it, metal is needed, or..."
As Lü Yang races through possibilities, Fulong Arhat strides through the air toward him, wearing a smile of assured victory.
"Patron, will you now take refuge?"