Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1440 - 669: Tathagata (2)

Chen Shi bowed and said, "I can deceive everyone in the world, except for the Great World Venerable."

The Great World Venerable glanced at him and then moved towards the next fissure of the Outer Dao.

"You come from the World of Wu Fang? The World of Wu Fang must have encountered some upheaval."

As they walked, the Great World Venerable said, "My uncle even helped you, likely because you encountered danger in the World of Wu Fang, and you saved their master and disciple, so he assisted without expecting anything in return."

Chen Shi truthfully replied, "I have a certain destiny with Senior Yun Cheng, and his disciple Zhong Wuwang is an old acquaintance of mine. We met at the White Emperor Heavenly Palace and went together to the World of Wu Fang. It just happened that the tribulations of the World of Wu Fang rekindled, nearly burying us."

The Great World Venerable nodded and said, "So you came for revenge, not at the command of King Li."

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "I indeed came on the orders of King Li to explore the truth behind the destruction of the World of Wu Fang and other worlds. After uncovering the truth, I intend to bring the true culprit to justice, so I can report back."

The Great World Venerable was slightly taken aback and laughed, "Brother Li is using you as a pawn; you must have offended him in some way."

He lightly shook his head, clearly having encountered similar situations many times before.

To offend King Li had become a common cause of death among the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

"But you are still hiding something."

The Great World Venerable said, "There is something else in you that hinders my exploration of karma."

Chen Shi's heart tightened, worried that he would discover the Heavenly Mechanism Strategy located far in the West Bull New Continent.

"But don't worry, I won't be moved to greed."

The Great World Venerable walked ahead, smoothing over each fissure, saying, "The death of the Great Freedom Ming King was also a consequence of tribulation. He transferred tribulations, causing countless deaths across four worlds, thinking he had escaped the Opening Tribulation, only to meet you, ultimately dying under his own divine skills. I also thought Buddhist Law could enlighten him and resolve his karma, but didn't expect such sudden change. This is fate. What is destined cannot be changed."

Chen Shi followed him, quietly listening.

The Great World Venerable said leisurely, "The reason I was determined to protect him and make him the Ming King of my Ling Mountain was, in reality, due to selfish reasons, to ensure the lineage of Ling Mountain remains unbroken. The world believes the Western Heaven is without tribulation, but this is not so."

Chen Shi was somewhat stirred, having heard similar assertions before.

It is said that the Western Heaven has two great Buddhas, Jieyin and Zhunti, both of whom have long entered the Saint Realm, with their cultivation unfathomable. Their Dao Realm combined is called the Western Heavenly Bliss World. In the Western Heaven, anyone whose Dao Realm aligns with the Western Heaven can avoid the Opening Tribulation.

The Western Heaven has been thriving in recent years due in this regard.

Becoming a Buddhist disciple and harmonizing in the Bliss World means that although one's own Great Dao is attached to the Western Heaven, it spares them from the Opening Tribulation and the risk of perishing, which is far better than living in constant fear outside.

"The Western Heaven is without tribulation because the two great Buddhas remain there."

The Great World Venerable said, "The foundation of the Western Heaven still falls short compared to the Three Pure Ones. After the Three Pure Ones left, their Dao Realm continued to protect their disciples, keeping the Three Pure Ones Realm free from disaster and tribulation, allowing it to avoid the Opening Tribulation. But the Western Heaven requires the protection of the two great Buddhas, and all the Buddhas must also reinforce the Bliss World with their own Dao Realms to protect their disciples."

Chen Shi blinked and suddenly asked, "Have the two great Buddhas left?"

The Great World Venerable looked at him surprised, "How did you know the two Buddhas left the Western Heaven?"

Chen Shi almost said it was King Li who told him, but after thinking about it, realized King Li wouldn't want to take the blame, so he said, "I guessed."

"Your guess is correct."

The Great World Venerable said, "Indeed, after the last Primordial Meeting Tribulation, the two great Buddhas left the Western Heaven. In this generation of our Buddhist sect, although I am Buddha, my power is not as great as those two. I was born during the transformation of Taiqing into Laozi, and it was then I cultivated Buddhism and attained enlightenment. The Buddha before me was called the Ancient Buddha, and the Buddha after me is called the Future Buddha. The Ancient Buddha, with Lamp Buddha as the leader, and the Future Buddha, with Maitreya as the principal, are both formidable, often obstructing me."

Chen Shi pondered, "Doesn't that mean that the Western Heaven has Buddhas of the past, future, and present?"

The Great World Venerable nodded, "In addition to this, there are other Great Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, each with their own Daoist Field, possessing boundless mana and not necessarily following my orders. Initially, we acted independently, facing each tribulation, but it was manageable. However, as the Primordial Meeting Tribulation approached, the power of the Opening Tribulation grew stronger. At the last Primordial Meeting Tribulation, our three factions appeared untouched, but nearly failed to withstand it."

This led him to the idea of subduing the Great Freedom Ming King, using him to transfer Ling Mountain's tribulation, preventing its destruction in the Primordial Meeting Tribulation.

Yet man proposes, and heaven disposes, as the Great Freedom Ming King died by Chen Shi's hands.

Chen Shi inquired, "The two great Buddhas left, for what reason? Will they return?"

The Great World Venerable replied, "They obtained a Geographical Map of the Dark Sea and left shortly after. Whether they will return before the Primordial Meeting Tribulation is unknown. Now that the Primordial Meeting Tribulation is near, we three factions must spend all our efforts on this great tribulation."

Chen Shi's heart began to race, recalling the Geographical Map of the Dark Sea left by his teacher, "The Geographical Map of the Dark Sea they obtained, does it perhaps contain a Green Palace?"

The Great World Venerable looked over, "You also know of the Dark Sea Green Palace?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Chen Shi steadied himself and said, "I hail from the Golden Turtle Island and have inherited the teachings of my teacher, so I know a little about it."

The Great World Venerable said, "Your teacher also left the Earth Immortal Realm, disappearing without a trace. I imagine he also went searching for that Green Palace."

As he spoke, he erased all the fissures of the Outer Dao, and the aura of the Outer Dao no longer existed.

"The Dark Sea Green Palace is mysterious and unpredictable; the Three Pure Ones, your teacher, and the two great Buddhas all went there successively."

The Great World Venerable sighed, "If I were free of burdens, I too would forsake everything and venture forth to explore the mysteries of the Dark Sea. Unfortunately, the weight of Ling Mountain is on my shoulders, preventing me from fully letting go of worldly concerns, failing my learned insights and realizations."

He shifted his tone, with a serious expression, "Mr. Chen, you used my hand to execute the Great Ming King of Timeless Tribulation. Though the Great Ming King of Timeless Tribulation's sins were enormous and his death is of no consequence, Ling Mountain lost countless monks due to your involvement. Since you cannot return to the Heavenly Court, you might as well remain in Ling Mountain to cultivate properly."

Chen Shi felt a sudden jolt, realizing he intended to make him a monk, perhaps even to have him cultivate the Sutra of Eternal Freedom, helping Ling Mountain transfer its tribulation!

This was not a good thing!

"My godmother, the Earth Emperor Houtu..."

Chen Shi started, carefully watching the Great World Venerable's face.

The Great World Venerable wore a smile.

"The East King also supports me," continued Chen Shi.

The Great World Venerable remained unchanged in expression.

Chen Shi's eyes darted around, "I have received the inheritance of my teacher and am considered a treasure on Golden Turtle Island."

The Great World Venerable was still unmoved.

Chen Shi thought hard, reluctant to become a monk at Ling Mountain, thus he said, "I can write down the Sutra of Eternal Freedom."

The Great World Venerable said, "Then, once it's written, Ling Mountain will not keep the Crown Prince."

Chen Shi let out a sigh of relief, earnestly saying, "I will begin writing immediately!"

The Great World Venerable gave a slight nod, and Chen Shi hurriedly departed.

Back in his quarters, Venerable Ananda had already prepared paper, ink, pen, and inkstone, and then left.

Chen Shi took up the pen, pondered for a moment, his expression fluctuating.

Was he truly going to write the entire Sutra of Eternal Freedom down?

After much hesitation, he eventually wrote down the cultivation technique, called Venerable Ananda, and handed it to him.

Venerable Ananda brought the cultivation technique to the Tathagata Great World Venerable, who held Chen Shi's handwritten technique, with a face of changing expressions.

"What is troubling the World Honored One?"

Just as Venerable Ananda asked, the Sutra of Eternal Freedom in the Tathagata's hand suddenly turned to ashes. Venerable Ananda was shocked, thinking Chen Shi had done something. The Tathagata sighed, his voice low, "For the sake of us immortals' lives, should we implicate countless beings? How can we talk of equality among all beings? This cultivation technique, best left alone."

He abandoned the mysterious skill, feeling a weight lifted, "If one must endure countless tribulations to gain great freedom, then this upcoming Primordial Meeting Tribulation, I shall face alongside my fellows of Ling Mountain. If we cannot cross it, then we simply return to reincarnation."