Free Web NovelChapter 530: Chapter 21: Transforming the Barbarians into Buddha, I Become Shakyamuni, the Daluo Fruit Position
Lu Xuan’s heart stirred, but the compassionate smile on his face remained as he said,
"I hold no resentment."
The two Enlightened Ones of the Buddhist Sect looked at each other, and both sighed.
Amitabha Buddha said slowly,
"Conspiring with the Demon Ancestor was a matter of last resort. You, however, have grown a bit too close to Profound Clarity and Profound Yellow. It was inevitable that you would be targeted."
After a pause, he spoke with great solemnity.
"In my capacity as the Lord of Buddhism, I wish to make a trade with you. Are you willing?"
Lu Xuan, in his guise as the Buddha, adopted a focused expression as the All Buddha Realms revolved around him.
"Please speak plainly, Venerable One."
Amitabha Buddha nodded.
"During the Late Han Dynasty, when all sides contend for the Six Paths of Reincarnation, you must not interfere with the Buddha Mother. And in exchange..."
He continued with great gravity,
"In exchange, I can ensure that the Buddha Mother will not seize your position as the Present Buddha at the end of the Journey to the West. Furthermore, during that period, I will help you secure your Dao Fruit. How about it?"
Before Lu Xuan could answer, the Ancient Bodhi Buddha at his side also spoke solemnly,
"Shakyamuni, your foundations are profound. It is not impossible for you to attain a True Dao Fruit with your Great Magical Power. With our help, it would be a certainty."
The golden Great Buddha was silent for a moment before speaking slowly,
"All I must do is refrain from hindering the Buddha Mother during the Late Han Dynasty?"
"If you do not hinder the Buddha Mother, the Buddha Mother will not take your position as Present Buddha," Amitabha Buddha said lightly.
"And if, at the end of the Journey to the West, you are willing to hand over the [Human Dao Subject] and not use it to become a Dao Fruit, then in exchange, we will also help you achieve Enlightenment through strength."
Lu Xuan’s heart stirred slightly. ’Human Dao Subject?’
’If I remember correctly, this is what Shakyamuni... what the Buddha obtained from the great calamity of the journey westward. According to the Buddha’s previous account,’
’the other Dao Fruits all believe he relied on the [Human Dao Subject] to obtain his half an Illusory Dao Fruit, but in reality...’
’the Buddha walked the path of achieving Enlightenment through strength from the very beginning. He never used the [Human Dao Subject] at all. What he obtained and proved on his own was a True Dao Fruit!’
’It’s precisely because it was a True Dao Fruit attained through Great Magical Power that the resulting entanglements of Cause and Effect have prevented him from ever securing his Dao Fruit Position...’
A thousand thoughts raced through Lu Xuan’s mind, and a solemn expression appeared on his face.
"If what you both say is true, then after the dust settles, I will give up the [Human Dao Subject], and you will help me achieve Enlightenment through strength, attaining a True Dao Fruit with Great Magical Power?"
"Naturally." Amitabha Buddha and Ancient Bodhi Buddha nodded in unison.
"Then... I see no reason to refuse."
As he spoke, Lu Xuan put his palms together and chanted a Buddha’s name. A Brahma Sound reverberated, shaking the entire universe!
"Merciful, merciful!"
Seeing this, smiles appeared on the faces of Amitabha Buddha and Ancient Bodhi Buddha. They clearly hadn’t expected ’Shakyamuni’ to agree so quickly, which was a pleasant surprise.
The three Buddhas resumed the original historical process, conversing for a few more moments. Amitabha Buddha left behind a Merit Lotus Pool, and Ancient Bodhi Buddha left a Pure Lotus Platform before they both departed.
After they left, the newly established Spirit Mountain became empty and desolate once more.
The gaze of the brilliant golden Great Buddha slowly sharpened as he whispered in his heart,
’This is getting interesting...’
’The Six Paths of Reincarnation is half an Illusory Dao Fruit, and the Human Dao Subject is another half. In the past, these two never wanted to take the [Human Dao Subject]. Is it because...’
’Amitabha Buddha is about to fall from his state?’
’Heh...’
Lu Xuan had a good idea of the situation, having guessed most of the truth.
It was likely that the Demon Ancestor and the others wanted to scheme for the position of an [Enlightened One] for Maitreya Buddha Mother, and also to help Amitabha Buddha re-secure his revered status as an [Enlightened One].
’Such urgency... it seems Amitabha Buddha’s condition is far from good. It’s even possible that the Six Paths of Reincarnation will be given to him first, and the Human Dao Subject will then be passed to the Buddha Mother...’
Lu Xuan smiled silently and chanted a Buddha’s name in his mind.
’The Six Paths of Reincarnation... I really can’t let you have it.’
’Shakyamuni won’t interfere, but the Buddha can.’
Reining in his thoughts, he gazed out from the Great Leiyin Temple and continued to rewind through the Years, taking over the imprints Sakyamuni Buddha had left in Ancient History.
Arriving at the Three Emperors Era, Lu Xuan roamed the mountains and rivers, attained Enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree, and transformed into a Buddha in a single step.
At the moment of his Enlightenment, he glanced toward the Human World. The Three Emperors governed the age, and the lands were peaceful and stable.
This was the first time Lu Xuan had looked directly at the Three Emperors. The first of the Human Emperors among them seemed to sense it, his gaze meeting Lu Xuan’s from afar.
That Human Emperor, Fu Xi, smiled and nodded. Lu Xuan, seated under the Bodhi Tree, also nodded in return.
The Years continued to rewind.
He arrived at a time shortly after Wa Huang created humanity. This was when he himself had just been born. He leaped from his mother’s arms and took seven steps in each of the four cardinal directions—East, South, West, and North.
Under the astonished gazes of countless people, he pointed one hand to the heavens and touched the other to the earth. His face held a compassionate smile, yet was also solemn and majestic as he declared:
"In the heavens and on earth, Only I Am Venerable!"
The moment his words fell, the Celestial Pillar broke, the earth’s foundation gave way, the heavens tilted to the northwest, the land sank in the southeast, and the sky itself came crashing down!
Gazing upon the scene of the falling sky and listening to the cries of all living things, Lu Xuan sighed softly.
The Years rewound still further.
He arrived in the time before Shakyamuni’s birth, walking the world in the form of a brilliant golden Great Buddha.
He walked through the era when Taiyi ruled the heavens, and through the age before the Human Race was born.
Finally, he reached the [Most Ancient Year].
The so-called Most Ancient Year was the first age after the end of The Beginning of Ancient Times. It was also, under normal circumstances, the earliest point one could trace back to.
If one wished to rewind further, to enter The Beginning of Ancient Times, one would need the approval of the [Primordial Great Celestial Venerable].
Standing in the Most Ancient Year, the golden Great Buddha stood tall among the mountains. Looking up, he could see the ten suns in the sky being extinguished one by one.
One Golden Crow after another let out tragic cries as they were devoured by Taiyi.
He saw a familiar figure. He saw Xiaohuo’Er, who, in the throes of despair, was also swallowed by Taiyi.
There was also the Candle Dragon, who first let out a sorrowful roar, then quickly suppressed its grief and, feigning indifference, bowed its head to Taiyi.
Taiyi smiled and nodded. Seemingly sensing Lu Xuan’s gaze, he glanced over, nodded, and said,
"Fellow Daoist, is something the matter?"
Lu Xuan concealed the coldness in his eyes. He gazed at the splattered blood of Emperor Jun, then broke into a brilliant smile.
"Nothing, nothing at all."
He put his palms together, chanted a Buddha’s name, and sighed with compassion. His thoughts turned, and he returned to the Spring and Autumn Period.
When he opened his eyes again, the Daluo Fruit Position had been quietly conferred upon him.
Unbeknownst to any living being.
This was a grand sleight of hand.
’Sakyamuni Buddha... What does he have to do with me, Lu Xuan?’
"Merciful, merciful!"
His gaze encompassed the entire River of Time. Under the watch of Old Nong, the Blind Daoist, and the Buddha, Lu Xuan walked through the Spring and Autumn Years to Spirit Mountain. Step by step, the Daoist transformed into the Great Buddha.
Lu Xuan leisurely took his seat upon the main throne of Spirit Mountain. A brilliant Buddhist light shone, and the sound of Brahma filled the air.
He glanced at the Lamp Buddha and Maitreya Buddha Mother beside him. The former had his head bowed low, while the latter, apparently already aware of the deal he had made with the two Buddha Lords, gave Lu Xuan a gentle smile.
"Greetings, World Honored One."
All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas also bowed their heads at this moment.
"Merciful, merciful!"
Lu Xuan gave A Flower-Picking Smile and spoke thus.
(End of the short volume. The next volume will be a long one.)
