Free Web NovelChapter 443: Chapter 75: Plotting for the Dao Fruit, Re-entering Ancient Times
Lu Xuan listened quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face. He had understood the gist of it.
Houtu attained Enlightenment through Reincarnation, Bodhi through a Grand Aspiration, and Amitabha Buddha through the Western Pure Land.
All of these could be severed. If they were, these beings would be just like the Celestial Emperor who lost the Celestial Court, falling from a perfect Dao Fruit to half a Dao Fruit!
In fact, it seemed his three masters could also be dragged down this way, transforming from Enlightened Ones into Ancient Ones who possessed only half a Dao Fruit.
It’s just that no living being could accomplish it.
For example, for his second master to fall and become an Ancient One, one would need to erase concepts like the very Creation of Heaven and Earth, Cause and Effect, and the Source itself.
But if one actually did that, all of creation would cease to exist!
Two beings at the Dao Fruit level and one Existence who, in a sense, surpassed the Dao Fruit began their discussion, with Lu Xuan participating in their joint deliberations.
The three living beings and the one corpse conspired together, and every word they uttered sent shivers down the spine of the Buddha on the scorched black peak, who was filled with terror.
’A great upheaval is coming!’ Lamp thought in horror.
After a long while, their discussion concluded. A grand gambit had been decided. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"When you return to the time of the Qin Dynasty, you must be exceptionally careful."
The middle-aged Daoist warned Lu Xuan:
"This gambit to drag down an Enlightened One has a very small chance of success. If you see that it’s impossible, then do not persist."
"I understand." Lu Xuan committed the many discussed plans to memory, his expression composed. "The Great Qin’s assault on the heavens was destined to fail. Its purpose was to deter the Immortals and Buddhas and to build a foundation for the future. You could say we neither gained nor lost from it. But if we can manage to drag down an Enlightened One, that would be a massive victory!"
With that, Lu Xuan looked toward the Emperor Corpse on the cliff and gave a deep bow.
"I will need to ask for Your Majesty’s cooperation."
The Emperor Corpse’s gaze was incredibly profound. A smile touched its lips as it said:
"When I lost the Celestial Court back then, those three certainly played their part from the shadows... I will, of course, assist you with all my might. If necessary, I will return from death itself and descend upon that era once more!"
Lu Xuan said nothing, only offering another deep bow, his eyes burning with resolve.
......
「Six months later.」
By a lake on the outskirts of East Sea City. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
A young man was fishing with a rod, while a young woman at his side held a net, eagerly waiting to scoop up his catch.
The sun overhead was just right. Although it was early spring, it wasn’t too cold.
Not far away, a few young children splashed in the water. It was probably the weekend, as plenty of visitors had come to the outskirts to relax.
The cheerful noise from the visitors mingled with the sound of the wind and waves on the lake, punctuated by the young man’s hearty laughter whenever he caught a big fish. This was the very picture of a simple, happy life.
The young woman leaned against the young man, her eyes curving into crescents and filled with a gentle, spring-like warmth. She spoke softly:
"Xiaolu, are you leaving soon?"
Lu Xuan paused, the smile on his face fading slightly.
"The end of the year is here. I do have to leave soon."
Over the past six months, they had traveled to many places. They went to the Great Snow Mountain to discuss Zen with an old monk resting in the snow, and to the Wudang Sect to speak of the Dao with an old Daoist.
They had also visited the famed Half Moon Bay on the West Continent and walked through bustling cities, small towns, and quiet villages, taking in everything from towering skyscrapers to the simple charm of the countryside.
Lu Xuan stared at the water’s surface where his fishing line had sunk, and added:
"I will come back as soon as I can, but I don’t know how long I’ll be gone this time. The Immortals and Buddhas are about to return one after another. While I’m away, you should go live in the Kongtong Immortal Realm. It’s close to Lady Li’s place."
Over the past six months, as the Great Heaven and Earth was elevated, some True Immortals and minor Immortal Gods at the Grand Grade Level had been quietly returning. They hadn’t caused any trouble, however, not with the Sanqing Temple looming over everything.
Furthermore, the Kongtong Immortal Realm was home to over thirty Immortals and three Celestial Realm-level beings...
But it was estimated that before long, Celestial Venerables and Buddhas of the Immortal level would be returning in large numbers.
The True Phoenix, the Giant Bull, and others couldn’t leave the Kongtong Immortal Realm, so chaos was ultimately bound to erupt in the world.
Xiaoyan rested her head on Lu Xuan’s shoulder, gently stroking her slightly swelling belly, and said with a smile:
"I know... What do you think we should name our child? It’s been confirmed, it’s a girl."
"I haven’t thought of one yet," Lu Xuan said honestly. "How about... we decide after she’s born?"
Xiaoyan rolled her eyes dramatically and huffed.
"We still have a long way to go. My mother said this child will take three years to be born... But fine, we’ll do it your way!"
Just then, the water’s surface rippled. Lu Xuan’s face lit up, and with a pull of his rod, a black carp nearly a meter long leaped from the water.
He swung the fishing rod, and the big, fat black carp landed perfectly in the fish basket.
"Looks like we’re having a feast tonight," Lu Xuan said with a smile.
Xiaoyan gasped in amazement.
"This fish... it’s almost as fat as Ben Bo’Erba..."
A few nearby visitors gathered around, clucking their tongues in amazement. It was rare to see such a large, plump fish. One old man said enviously:
"That’s a fat one! You’ve got real skill, young man. I’ve been fishing here for three days straight, used over twenty pounds of chum, and I haven’t even gotten a nibble from a minnow!"
"Just lucky, just lucky!" Lu Xuan was even more delighted, his face breaking into a wide grin.
With a small crowd of visitors watching,
Lu Xuan caught several more fat fish, not packing up his rod until dusk began to fall.
He released some of the smaller fish and gave the other plump ones to the fellow anglers who had spent the afternoon watching him.
Lu Xuan and Xiaoyan returned home carrying the big black carp and called over acquaintances from the city like Ji Bochang and Butcher Zheng to enjoy a fish feast together.
At the dinner table, Ji Bochang had a bit too much Immortal Brew. Drunk and woozy, he began to complain loudly.
"It was fine when I was the Director of the Inspectorate, but now that I’m the mayor, I realize how troublesome it is... Every day it’s either this meeting or that meeting, one event after another..."
He paused, then took another big gulp of Immortal Brew, his old face bright red.
"Lu Zi, Old Zheng, you have no idea how busy government work can get... There’s a huge pile of all sorts of things!
Take recent events, for example. A bunch of so-called ’immortals’ and ’gods’ have come to see me. They want me to promote them, build temples for them, gather them worshippers..."
Lu Xuan’s expression flickered slightly. He asked with a smile:
"Are they the ancient Immortal Gods who have just returned? They haven’t done anything out of line, have they?"
"Not at all!" Ji Bochang let out a drunken burp. "They’re all behaving themselves. I’d say it’s all thanks to you. With the Sanqing Temple there to enforce rewards and punishments, who knows what kind of chaos we’d have otherwise..."
Lu Xuan chuckled.
"The Sanqing Temple isn’t a long-term solution. It’s just a temporary measure. Things will have to change eventually."
"I think it’s actually pretty good..." Ji Bochang let out another drunken burp and passed out.
Butcher Zheng chuckled.
"That Old Ji, he just kept chugging that Immortal Brew without considering his own tolerance. Now I’ll have to carry him home again!"
Lu Xuan and Xiaoyan laughed at the same time.
After the meal was finished and Butcher Zheng had left, helping Ji Bochang along, Lu Xuan did not use any Divine Techniques or Magical Power.
Just like an ordinary person, he quietly cleared the table and washed the dishes.
Finally, he and Xiaoyan snuggled by the window, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky.
After a long while, he said, "It’s time for me to go."
Xiaoyan nodded silently, stroking her belly. A radiant smile bloomed on her face.
"Okay. And remember to say hello to my past self for me. You’d better not bully her!"
"How would I dare?" Lu Xuan chuckled, giving Xiaoyan a light kiss on the forehead. "Wait for me."
"I’ll wait for you."
The moment he finished speaking, Lu Xuan’s form dissolved into the void. Ben Bo’Erba appeared from nowhere, leading two Demon Saints, and bowed.
"Young Mistress, we have come to escort you to Kongtong."
Xiaoyan stood stunned for a long moment before coming to her senses. She nodded to Ben Bo’Erba, then turned her gaze back to the moon.
’Come back safe.’
......
「Sanqing Temple.」
Lu Xuan sat down cross-legged and frowned.
’I feel like I’ve forgotten something... Oh well. It doesn’t matter.’
He shook his head. Immersed in a peaceful life for the past six months, it seemed he had forgotten something...
Without thinking much more about it, Lu Xuan quietly closed his eyes.
His vision suddenly darkened as he entered a dream.
The Bronze Divine Mountain began to glow, recapturing Yan Huang and the others, dissolving them into nothingness and casting them into the river of time.
Somewhere, Chong Shanhu stared at the dozens of slowly fading radiances in the sky, lost in thought.
’Master... why hasn’t he granted me my title yet?’
He suddenly felt a little melancholy.
「Meanwhile, in the Ancient Times. The State of Qin.」
Nearly a year had passed in the Current World, while nine thousand years had passed in the Qin Dynasty since Lu Xuan’s last departure.
In the 9,132nd year of the Great Qin Calendar, during the height of summer, a great drought plagued the land.
The Profound Yellow Emperor descended once more.
