Wei Yuan and Zhang Sheng stood attentively to one side. Seated at the head of the room were Yanshi and Bai Kaishui, with True Monarch Xuanyue sitting beside them. A certain female sword cultivator from the Sword Palace had not come, leaving True Monarch Xuanyue looking somewhat bereft.
Wei Yuan spoke first. "Why are the immortals taking such an attitude? Are they truly unable to intervene?"
Yanshi gave a cold sneer. "What other attitude could they possibly take? Both of you are contesting great daos. What Zhang Sheng contends for is the Sword Dao. It has existed since ancient times, yet in the end, it merely affects an individual’s spiritual status.
"You, on the other hand, are embroiled in a contest between Buddhist intent and the Dao, akin to the ancient dispute between Hinayana and Mahayana. Victory or defeat directly dictates the rise and fall of an entire teaching. If you triumph, how many spiritual statuses will shatter? Today’s strike was aimed straight at you.
"Do you honestly think those immortals—who know only how to look out for their own skins—would meddle at a time like this? They will gladly add flowers to the brocade once the outcome is decided, but they will never pull chestnuts from the fire right now."
Bai Kaishui said, "Even among sword cultivators there are those who fear death, to say nothing of the immortals bound to great clans. They carry the safety of their entire lineages upon their shoulders, so they must preserve themselves. If this old man were burdened with a family, I wouldn’t risk everything over a duel of pride either."
Wei Yuan nodded. "This disciple understands. Please put your mind at ease, Patriarch. It matters not if no immortal comes to our aid; I will certainly strive to strengthen myself. I can scavenge scraps to eat on my own."
Yanshi was stunned. Bai Kaishui was stunned. Even True Monarch Xuanyue, thick-skinned as he was, covered his face and turned aside. Zhang Sheng gave Wei Yuan’s sleeve a gentle tug.
Wei Yuan’s expression remained entirely normal, his eyes bright and resolute, without the slightest hint of embarrassment. He even contemplated releasing a wisp of sword qi from the fourth grotto-heaven, but despite several attempts to stir it, nothing happened. Clearly, Xihe had found the display too unseemly and suppressed it directly.
Seeing Wei Yuan’s earnest demeanor, Bai Kaishui suddenly caught on: the lad was dropping hints at him!
A faint smile appeared on his face as he said, "The Palace of Grand Beginning is wealthier than whole nations; what could it possibly lack? Even so, this old man cannot bear to see a junior having such a hard time. How about this? I had originally prepared two gifts, but since my Sword Palace had only one disciple selected this time, I shall withdraw one. What do you think?"
These words defused the pressure while dealing a sharp, mocking blow to Yanshi. Yet Bai Kaishui was not truly familiar with those before him, and he severely underestimated the shamelessness of the cultivators from the Palace of Grand Beginning.
The moment the words left his mouth, every eye turned to him with eager anticipation, wearing expressions that made it clear even a single gift would do just fine. Even Yanshi looked utterly shameless and devoid of guilt. Bai Kaishui’s heart sank, knowing things had taken a turn for the worse.
Before he could speak again, Wei Yuan asked, "May I choose the gift?"
Bai Kaishui had never held much goodwill toward Wei Yuan to begin with, and his impression had now soured further. Yet considering that Xihe’s wisp of divine intent had finally managed to find a suitable mount, the old gentleman forced himself to endure it.
Though, as for a mount… perhaps because he had read too many romance novels, he found the word 'ride' exceedingly grating, so he silently amended it in his mind to 'Xihe’s grotto-heaven.' But on second thought, that felt even more unsettling.
At this moment, Zhang Sheng scolded Wei Yuan, "How can you be so disrespectful to Senior? If there is something you desire, speak up plainly and openly. If Senior has it, would he truly withhold it from you?"
Bai Kaishui once again felt a breath catch in his chest. Yet Zhang Sheng was not Wei Yuan, and Bai Kaishui simply could not bring himself to harden his heart against him. In Zhang Sheng, he caught a faint shadow of Xihe in her youth—except Xihe had been sharp and fierce back then, whereas Zhang Sheng possessed a touch more quiet dignity.
Seeing Bai Kaishui remain silent, Wei Yuan recognized that the moment had arrived. He spoke up at once. "This junior boldly asks for a wisp of supreme sword intent."
The corner of Bai Kaishui’s mouth twitched. He gave a slow nod, then flicked his finger, sending a speck of crystalline light flying toward Wei Yuan.
The Sword Palace’s supreme sword intent was peerless under heaven. Only sword immortals could condense it, and each wisp required hundreds of years of effort. Its wondrous uses were boundless; if applied to a sword cultivator possessing a Heaven Tier idol, it could elevate them straight to a Celestial Idol! That alone made it an invaluable treasure.
Seeing Wei Yuan obtain the sword intent, a rare smile finally surfaced on Zhang Sheng’s face. He bowed to Bai Kaishui and said, "Thank you, Patriarch Bai."
Bai Kaishui’s face seemed to take on a mind of its own, blooming into a broad smile. This child was finally willing to address him as Patriarch! Even if this 'Patriarch' likely meant something very different from what he hoped, he could not bring himself to care.
Just then, the faint image of Xihe appeared behind Wei Yuan. She nodded toward Bai Kaishui, said nothing, and vanished.
Bai Kaishui’s expression shifted in an instant, and he nearly broke into tears. Yet he was an immortal after all; he reined in his emotions, letting none of the others notice anything amiss.
Once the group dispersed, Wei Yuan walked over to a courtyard in the immortal city designated specifically for receiving distinguished guests and knocked lightly on the gate. The gate swung open to reveal Kongque.
Wei Yuan held quite a favorable impression of Kongque and said, "Long time no see!"
"It has indeed been a very long time. Benefactor is as valiant and spirited as ever; it truly commands admiration. Well, that was just polite talk. What I really wish to say is, you are truly far too shameless. Is bullying Dharma Idols really that fun?"
Wei Yuan said earnestly, "It’s extraordinarily fun! Do you want to join me next time?"
Seeing that Wei Yuan felt no shame whatsoever and instead wore it with pride, Kongque admitted defeat. "No!"
Wei Yuan laughed heartily. "By the way, since you’re already here, why didn't you sign up for the Celestial Idol selection? If you had, I still had the avatar of the Spear Saint of the Great Desolation ready to give you a beating."
Kongque smiled. "My apologies. This humble monk has achieved merit through spiritual deliverance, and my cultivation has reached completion. I have already crossed that threshold."
Wei Yuan was taken aback. "Should I address you as Arhat Kongque from now on?"
"Titles are mere illusions, honors bestowed by ignorant devotees. Besides, lacking a spiritual status, how could I dare call myself an Arhat? Wait until this humble monk ascends to the Pure Land in the future; it will not be too late to offer your congratulations then. Ah, right—the merit of deliverance lasts for a very long time. The harder you work, the faster I can advance."
The more Wei Yuan listened, the stranger it sounded, until the realization finally struck him. "The one you delivered was me?!"
"Who else could it be? A single Benefactor is worth a million demons. A thousand years of bitter cultivation in the underworld could not compare to delivering you alone."
Wei Yuan felt a breath caught in his throat, indignation burning within him. This bald thief had reaped such an immense fortune, yet he hadn't even offered a kickback?
Kongque stepped to the side. "Go on in. Baosheng Bodhisattva has been waiting for quite a while."
Wei Yuan entered the main hall and found a portrait of the Great Sun Tathagata hung on the wall, fronted by an altar table that served as a makeshift shrine. Baosheng Bodhisattva sat cross-legged on a monk’s couch, her eyes lowered.
Baosheng Bodhisattva possessed a full, serene countenance and a golden-hued body, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel in her hand. By now, Wei Yuan was quite well versed in Buddhist teachings, knowing that Baosheng Bodhisattva corresponded to the Southern Ratnasambhava Buddha, governing blessings, virtuous merits, wishes, and wealth. Yet at this moment, she appeared entirely ordinary, showing no trace of being a great Bodhisattva on the verge of attaining spiritual status.
Upon Wei Yuan’s arrival, Baosheng Bodhisattva turned a bead of the wish-fulfilling jewel in her hand. The surroundings transformed instantly into a Meritorious Pure Land filled with coral and treasure trees.
Baosheng Bodhisattva spoke. "Benefactor possesses innate comprehension, complete Buddha-nature, and has made great vows unprecedented in this world. In every respect, you are truly a natural seed of the Buddha. On behalf of the Great Sun Tathagata, I have come to ask: are you willing to journey into the depths of the Pure Land and behold Spirit Mountain? If Benefactor is willing, the Pure Land will take on the karmic cause of today’s events, ensuring Zhang Sheng’s safety."
Wei Yuan said solemnly, "Can the Baohua Pure Land truly bear this karma?"
Baosheng Bodhisattva replied, "Others cannot, but the Pure Land can. Because the Pure Land shares a separate karmic connection with those individuals, it can use that as an anchor to take on this karma as well. Moreover, it is far more than simply bearing the karma. With our Pure Land’s assistance, coupled with the blessings of the Sword Palace and the Palace of Grand Beginning, Zhang Sheng will be the sole and undeniable candidate when the Sword Dao manifests in the world."
"Spirit Mountain—is that the Spirit Mountain where spiritual statuses manifest?"
Baosheng Bodhisattva said, "Spirit Mountain is not originally a mountain; when spiritual statuses manifest, that is Spirit Mountain. Once Benefactor arrives at Spirit Mountain, you will naturally behold your corresponding status."
Wei Yuan asked further, "Among the spiritual statuses on Spirit Mountain, is there any higher than the Great Sun Tathagata?"
Baosheng Bodhisattva smiled faintly. "There is none at present, but there will be in the future. If Benefactor is unsatisfied, you may walk forward; ahead, a spiritual status will be waiting."
Wei Yuan nodded. "Then what is the relationship between the Great Joy King Buddha and Spirit Mountain? Does the King Buddha’s status lie upon Spirit Mountain?"
Baosheng Bodhisattva hesitated for a moment before answering, "It does not reside on Spirit Mountain. The King Buddha’s doctrinal tenets differ slightly from those of Spirit Mountain, known within the Pure Land as the Esoteric Sect. The spiritual statuses of the Esoteric Sect differ from those of Spirit Mountain; they are scattered individually, unlike Spirit Mountain, which gathers the power of the multitudes to cross the sea of suffering together."
Wei Yuan said, "I have no more questions. As for whether to go to Spirit Mountain, I still need time to consider. I cannot give you a promise right now."
Baosheng Bodhisattva nodded, seemingly unsurprised. "The great tribulation approaches. Benefactor should make preparations early."
"A great tribulation? What sort of tribulation is it, and why have no other immortals warned of it?"
Baosheng Bodhisattva said, "Immortals and Buddhas tread different paths. We reincarnate generation after generation; once we return to the Pure Land and behold Spirit Mountain, we naturally comprehend the karmic causes of our past lives. Thus, in our eyes, within a hundred thousand years is considered near. Within ten thousand years is considered imminent."
"Thank you for resolving my doubts, Bodhisattva." Wei Yuan offered a salute, then asked, "The Feast of the Immortals will begin shortly. Will you be attending, Bodhisattva?"
Baosheng Bodhisattva smiled. "I have already stepped beyond worldly affairs, so I shall refrain. Having witnessed Buddhist intent today and heard the grand vow to dissolve all suffering, I am already content."
Knowing it was impossible to persuade her to stay, Wei Yuan bowed and took his leave.
This Foremost Dharma Idol Under Heaven Grand Assembly had been held on an immense scale, capped by a clash of daos against extraterrestrial Buddhist intent. Having witnessed that earth-shattering strike embodying the very essence of the Great Dao, all felt the journey had been well worthwhile.
With the assembly concluded, it was naturally time to hold a celebratory banquet.
All at once, every major tavern in Qingming was packed to overflowing. As host, Wei Yuan held a grand banquet to entertain all the high-level cultivators conferred as Celestial Idols, while separately hosting the Feast of the Immortals for the visiting immortals.
The Palace of Grand Beginning was naturally the greatest victor, but Four Sages Academy held its head high as well: not only had it claimed first place among the Celestial Idols, but it also had two disciples selected, outshining both the Sword Palace and the Great Baohua Pure Land. Baosheng Bodhisattva did not attend, which came as no surprise, while the other immortals conversed and laughed merrily, the atmosphere lively and warm.
Everyone understood implicitly that those present would likely be standing on the same front from now on. Although the immortals of the Xu and Xiao families had not appeared, the status of Xu Henshui and Xiaoyu within their clans was bound to rise, which invisibly drew them closer to the Palace of Grand Beginning. Only the attitude of the Xu family's immortal ancestor, Xu Youyi, remained peculiar; for reasons unknown, she kept her distance from the Palace of Grand Beginning.
At the table of the Celestial Idols, Bao Yun, Xiaoyu, and Li Zhi had not only been candidates in the same imperial examination, but they all hailed from Fengyuan Commandery and had clashed fiercely during that shared trial. Feng Chutang, Xu Henshui, and Ji Liuli had subsequently served as their teachers, creating an extraordinary bond among them.
As the group reminisced about the past, it felt like an entire lifetime ago. Cui Yu was also at the table, and when he casually mentioned Wei Yuan, everyone fell abruptly silent.
Xu Henshui’s eyes rolled thoughtfully, and he said, "Looking back, it was rather amusing. Little Bao had such a commanding lead back then, only to be completely overturned by that little barbarian. After heavily wounding Little Bao, he even made a special point of coming back over to stab her again with his spear."
The atmosphere around the table suddenly turned somewhat delicate.
Chapter 1030