Free Web NovelChapter 531: Chapter 1: Daluo
「Late Han Dynasty.」
"A cultivator who first proves the Daluo Realm embodies the characteristic of ’once proven, eternally proven; once attained,eternally attained.’ They consolidate the past, transforming their former selves into historical imprints. Their consciousness can shift between any of these past imprints, meaning they have no moment of weakness.
"Once this realm is achieved, all their past selves become Daluo. Even at the moment of their birth, even while still gestating in the womb, they are already a Daluo."
Atop the Pure Lotus Platform, a radiant, golden Great Buddha compassionately preached the Dharma:
"After proving the Daluo Realm, if one wishes to advance further, one must forge Daoist Soldiers. Use an artifact to bear your own Dao, and merge yourself with your Daoist Soldiers and Dao Artifacts.
"If you successfully forge Daoist Soldiers, you can become a multiverse unto yourself. With a single gesture, wielding the might of a Daoist Soldier Great Artifact, you can shatter the Celestial Realms and sunder all realms."
As the golden Great Buddha preached, the entire Great Leiyin Temple filled with an arcane, sacred light. Golden springs, radiant lotuses, Immortal Flowers, and other phenomena manifested.
The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas listened, utterly captivated and immersed, unable to pull themselves away.
"To advance even further is to take the final step in the Daluo Realm: to completely analyze the mysteries of time and comprehend all the wonders of the Celestial Realms.
"Upon reaching this state, you can exist in every single instant of the river of time simultaneously. You are no longer confined to past imprints, becoming Everywhere in the history of the ages. Your personal history solidifies into a straight line.
"One who reaches this state is at the apex of Daluo and can be called Supreme."
The Great Bodhisattva Guanyin performed a ritual bow and asked with sincere earnestness:
"World Honored One, the Daluo has three realms: the first is Eternal Proof, the second is the Artifact Holder, and the third is the Supreme. You mentioned that in the Supreme step, a Daluo’s personal history becomes a straight line. What does this mean?"
She held the Bodhisattva Fruit Position. Though called a Bodhisattva, she was, in fact, comparable to an Ancient Buddha and was herself a "near-Daluo." Having already begun to glimpse the mysteries of the Daluo Realm, she was extremely curious.
Seated on the Pure Lotus Platform, Lu Xuan smiled compassionately, his words like blooming lotuses:
"To a Daluo, and even to a Dao Fruit Cultivator, the history of the ages is but a plaything in their palm, something they can alter and change at will. But..."
His expression became solemn and dignified as he expounded upon the wondrous principles of the world and the myriad Daos of heaven and earth:
"But if one reaches the third step of Daluo and becomes Supreme, their personal history becomes a straight line—or, you could say, a timeline."
Puzzled, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva bowed again and asked with her head lowered:
"May I ask the World Honored One, what is the use of this line?"
"It serves to anchor the ages," Lu Xuan said.
"The personal history of a Supreme Daluo is difficult to change unless they themselves agree to it. Even if a key figure from their past is erased, causing a major turning point, the timeline will converge and correct itself, and everything will return to its original course."
Hearing this, a look of sudden realization appeared on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s face:
"So, you’re saying that for an ordinary Eternal Daluo or a Vajra, it is their *self* that never changes, but for a Supreme Daluo, it is their *personal history* that never changes?"
Lu Xuan smiled and nodded.
"To be precise, along the ’line’ that a Supreme Daluo has experienced, minor events can be changed, but the grand trajectory cannot. The only exception is if a Dao Fruit Cultivator takes action and forces the Supreme Daluo to ’voluntarily’ make a change."
"I see."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva bowed again and sighed softly.
"Thank you, World Honored One, for dispelling my confusion."
"You are very close to the Daluo Realm. Your footprints already span Ancient History. You should try to communicate with your many past imprints."
Lu Xuan gazed at this senior sister of his, his solemn voice resonating like the morning bell and evening drum, powerful enough to awaken the deaf:
"The gap is as thin as a veil, yet also as strong as gilded iron. Cross it, and the path of the Great Dao will open before you... but you must not become too attached, lest you lose your original heart."
Great Bodhisattva Guanyin lowered her head respectfully.
After answering a few more questions from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, preaching several ancient Buddhist Scriptures, and expounding on some Skills and principles, Lu Xuan’s expression flickered. He gazed outside the Great Leiyin Temple and said calmly:
"Today’s Dharma lecture ends here. You may all go. Go."
"We receive the World Honored One’s Decree!" The Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats all bowed and slowly took their leave.
After they departed, the boundless Great Leiyin Temple seemed even more vast and empty. Only the Three Historical Buddhas remained seated: Lamp, solemn; Shakyamuni, serene; and Maitreya, smiling.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside the hall. A colossal Ancient Buddha walked in, each step making the Leiyin Temple hum and tremble.
Its face seemed both compassionate and ferocious. It had six arms, grasping a Treasure Pestle, a Zen Staff, Prayer Beads, a Wooden Fish, and other items.
The difference was, the Treasure Pestle was made of human bone, the Zen Staff was forged from a spine, the Prayer Beads were a string of dazed-looking skulls, and the Wooden Fish was covered in human skin.
This was a Vajra whose Cultivation, realm, and Magical Power surpassed even Lu Xuan’s.
Despite the abyssal, overwhelming pressure, Lu Xuan’s expression did not change.
’Right now, I am the Shakyamuni Buddha, who possesses half a Dao Fruit. A Vajra is merely a junior in my presence.’
He immediately asked with indifference:
"What business brings you here, uninvited?"
The Brahma Sound resonated through the entire Great Leiyin Temple. The temple trembled, unleashing a supreme might that pressed the giant Evil Buddha to the ground in a posture of prostration!
The Buddha had left behind powerful measures within the Leiyin Temple. While seated inside, Lu Xuan could borrow these measures to avoid exposing himself.
The Vajra, pressed to the ground, coughed up blood and said in a muffled voice:
"Reporting to the World Honored One of Spirit Mountain, I am the Innocent Ancient Buddha, in service to the Great Sun Buddha..."
Just then, Maitreya Buddha Mother, seated to the side, smiled.
"That’s enough, Shakyamuni. I was the one who summoned him."
Lu Xuan’s expression remained unchanged. He simply dispersed the pressure, his mind filled with thoughts.
’Great Sun Buddha?’
The Buddhist Sect was divided into two branches: the Exoteric and the Esoteric. Sakyamuni Buddha was the master of the Exoteric branch, while the Great Sun Buddha was the master of the Esoteric branch.
Though not a Dao Fruit Cultivator, he was still a top-tier Daluo who had been at the Supreme level for many years.
