Chapter 738: Scripture Seeker

Qian Yuan Mountain, Jin Guang Cave, Taiyi Cave Mansion.

At this moment, layers of immortal light enveloped everything, from the mountain-protecting array to the cave-protecting array, and even the hidden sky-obscuring array in the secret chamber—all fully activated.

Taiyi Zhenren kept poking his head out, glancing at the unusual phenomena in the sky.

He looked as if, if he weren't careful, Daozu might suddenly appear right behind them.

"This doesn't make sense."

Yu Ding Zhenren muttered softly, his head bowed as he looked at the unconscious Nezha, his finger pressed against Nezha's forehead.

Yu Ding Zhenren had seen the fragmented images emerging in Nezha's mind—scenes from when Nezha was young in Chentang Pass, interacting with the senior servant 'Wang Chang'an'.

Wang Chang'an was naturally one of Li Changshou's aliases from back then.

Why could Nezha remember these things?

Daozu had modified the memories of all living beings using the essence of heaven and earth, and only cultivators who reached a certain level of cultivation and could wrap themselves in their own Great Dao could resist it on their own.

Or, like how Yu Ding Zhenren had helped Taiyi, or Duobao had helped Huo Ling, by working together to block it.

Considering that Nezha and Yang Jian were serving as gods in the Heavenly Court, Yu Ding Zhenren hadn't protected these two disciples at the time, allowing Daozu to alter their memories of Li Changshou.

Nezha had forgotten about Uncle Chang'an, with the gap filled by Li Jing;

Yang Jian had also forgotten Taibai Jinxing's true origins, though his memories still contained many shadows of Taibai Jinxing, his understanding had shifted to— that was just the Jade Emperor's messenger, with the Jade Emperor arranging everything.

But after several centuries, the memories sealed by Daozu had been broken by Nezha...

Yu Ding Zhenren examined it carefully and said again:

"This really doesn't make sense."

"No, this makes perfect sense."

Taiyi Zhenren stood nearby with his hands behind his back, speaking leisurely.

"Why?"

"Just saying it off the cuff," Taiyi Zhenren chuckled awkwardly, "Nothing serious, just arguing for the sake of it."

Yu Ding Zhenren: ...

"I'm wondering if this could be some kind of scheme."

Yu Ding Zhenren sighed, walked back to his meditation cushion, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes in thought.

Taiyi Zhenren moved closer to his precious disciple, imitating the action, and placed his finger on Nezha's forehead for a careful check.

After thinking it over, this Zhenren said:

"Actually, it does make sense.

In this life, the person Nezha was closest to was his Uncle Chang'an, and you could say Uncle Chang'an influenced him the most.

From this, it seems that blue ripple wasn't erasing the memory of living beings but sealing that impression.

Perhaps, we can find a way to restore his complete memories of 'Uncle Chang'an'."

Yu Ding Zhenren said:

"I'm just afraid this is another scheme, with Daozu wanting to pit the Chan School against the Heavenly Court, break the Teacher's eternal undefeated fate, and then strike at the Teacher.

Now, in the world, Zhunti is dead, the Third Uncle-Master is imprisoned somewhere unknown, the Grand Elder is sealed in Zixiao Palace, the Holy Mother is already restrained by the Heavenly Dao, and Jieyin Sheng has lost power recently, retreating from the Primordial stage.

Only our Teacher remains safe and sound."

Yang Jian said:

"Master, I think there won't be such a scheme."

Taiyi Zhenren sighed with a smile:

"How so? Do you think that existence above the heavens would be ashamed of something like this?

Cough... So what if Nezha recovers his memories of Uncle Chang'an?

The world is already like this, with the great sage schools retreating and the Heavenly Court rising; actually, your Uncle Chang'an just disagreed with the Grand Teacher on this, and this situation is their consensus.

Since it's already like this, why create more changes?"

Yu Ding Zhenren glanced at Taiyi, and Taiyi winked back at Yu Ding.

Play it safe, put on a show for the Heavenly Dao—just in case Daozu is watching, it might improve their chances of survival.

The way of survival in the Primordial world.

"Then how should we handle this?"

Yu Ding Zhenren asked:

"Should we let Nezha remember, or to be safe, seal this part of his memory again?"

"Seal it," Taiyi Zhenren said with a hint of reluctance in his eyes, quickly making up his mind, "We have to seal it."

Yu Ding Zhenren stood up, walked to Nezha's side, and gently tapped Nezha's forehead a few times, softly dispersing the illusory images appearing in Nezha's spiritual platform.

Taiyi Zhenren hesitated as if to speak, his gaze somewhat complex.

Yang Jian, standing nearby, looked a bit disappointed.

"Master, Senior Uncle, I feel this memory is incredibly important to us.

This has nothing to do with right or wrong, nothing to do with the world's order, and nothing to do with the struggles of the great schools—at the very least, we should know what happened and what disputes there were.

Right and wrong, good and evil, there should be some explanation."

"What's the use of knowing? What's the use of an explanation?"

Taiyi Zhenren shook his head and said seriously:

"It won't change anything; it'll just add more trouble."

Yang Jian's gaze was clear and his expression calm as he said:

"But if we don't even know the true face of this world, how can we have the face to speak of acting on heaven's behalf, or to serve as immortals and gods in the Heavenly Court?"

Yu Ding Zhenren gazed at his beloved disciple and said warmly:

"Very well, as your master, I'll tell you some things."

Taiyi Zhenren laughed:

"I'll go add a few more layers of arrays."

"Poverty Daoist will handle it."

Yu Ding Zhenren said calmly, and ripples of colorful light waved from his forehead, enveloping the entire cave mansion in a halo of radiance.

The sleeping Nezha smacked his lips, destined not to hear these words.

Yu Ding Zhenren said:

"Yang Jian, you're much more steady than Nezha. I think you won't lose control if I tell you these things.

What do you want to know?

Your background is deeply connected to Nezha's 'Uncle Chang'an'; your parents were both his nominal disciples.

The reason your profound arts are so powerful is because 'Uncle Chang'an' gave you many benefits.

In your current memories, a large part hasn't been altered— the one who gave you the mysterious blood, led you into the Heavenly Court, and was ordered by Ling Mountain to protect you was Taibai Jinxing, but it wasn't by the Jade Emperor's decree.

When he was in charge of the Heavenly Court's divine authority, the Jade Emperor mostly listened to him.

In those years when 'Uncle Chang'an' controlled the Heavenly Court's power, he had you, Nezha, and even the three schools of Daoism struggling for breath under his arrangements.

What I admire most is your Uncle Chang'an.

He made the variables in you dissipate and gave you opportunities beyond your original limits."

Yu Ding Zhenren organized his thoughts and continued:

"Actually, the one who committed saint-slaying wasn't Zhao Gongming and his wife; the saint-slayer was Zhao Gongming and your Uncle Chang'an.

That saint-slaying fundamentally changed the fate of the Primordial world, to the point that later, Daozu had to drop his previous hypocritical facade and directly unleash heavenly punishment to destroy the Jie School, forcefully pushing forward the Investiture of the Gods.

It was quite ironic.

Back in ancient times, Daozu kept saying that Zixiao Palace wouldn't appear in the world, but in the end, he couldn't help revealing his ferocious face.

This shows that 'Uncle Chang'an' was close to accomplishing what he set out to do, disrupting Daozu's rhythm so much that Daozu didn't care about appearances anymore."

Taiyi Zhenren muttered a bit nervously:

"Junior Brother, calling Daozu by name so directly... is that okay?"

Yu Ding Zhenren said:

"What I cultivate is the heart, a place the Heavenly Dao cannot touch. The Heavenly Dao can deduce the three thousand Great Daos, but it cannot deduce the hearts of the myriad beings.

Even if ordinary people have wild imaginations, they can create worlds full of strange and bizarre things.

No matter how much calculative power the Heavenly Dao has, it can't deduce what's in the hearts of beings; it can only force thoughts upon them or erase them, and that's it."

Taiyi Zhenren and Yang Jian both nodded.

In that moment, the generational gap between them seemed to disappear.

They sat in Jin Guang Cave of Qian Yuan Mountain, listening to Yu Ding Zhenren tell the story of that 'Uncle Chang'an'.

"Um—"

Ling Mountain, the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

The lord of Buddhism sat quietly on his throne, his towering golden body emitting a gentle glow, appearing extraordinarily dignified and solemn amid the sounds of wooden fish and chanting.

At the very center of this golden body, in a space like a mustard seed universe, there was a small hut.

Duobao Daoist was currently sitting among a pile of treasures, calculating how many spiritual treasures he had used to forge this great golden body, and thinking about how to lead Buddhism to prosperity in the future.

Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it.

Although he had been the teacher for some time now, and had arranged Ling Mountain in an orderly manner, with the reputation of the Buddha Ancestor growing louder in the world,

He still felt somewhat unadapted.

Duobao didn't know whether it was the power of his Grand Elder or the Heavenly Dao that was constantly influencing his Dao heart, making him sometimes nearly emotionless, existing only as a pure Dao nature.

It should be the Heavenly Dao's power.

To put it bluntly, he, Duobao, was just a 'spiritual treasure person'. If someone else sat in this position, the effect might be a bit worse, but it wouldn't be irreplaceable.

Duobao smiled bitterly, summoned a 'Water Condensing Immortal Orchid Mirror', and looked at himself in the mirror.

With a dignified treasure appearance, curly hair, a plump figure, and enlarged earlobes.

"Ah," Duobao sighed.

He was no longer as dashing as in the past.

He didn't know how his master was faring now, or if the surviving junior brothers and sisters in the three thousand worlds had suffered disasters.

The reason he cooperated and agreed to seize power in the Western School was because Laojun had promised to look after Huo Ling and the others...

Over the years, Duobao had been thinking that if he had even half of Changgeng Junior Brother's strategies and half his understanding of the Great Dao, he might have become another saint-slayer instead of the 'family stealer' of the Western School.

How boring.

Now, he was stuck here, unable to move his Dharma body or his true form, just like a facade for Buddhism, also serving as its current pillar.

With the saints no longer appearing, and the Human School's Xuandu Grand Senior Brother and Changgeng Junior Brother having left the world, he, Duobao, was indeed one of the strongest experts, his power surpassing those veteran great powers.

Having him guard Buddhism was a good arrangement.

In the end, it was probably because Daozu didn't take this rebel like him seriously at all.

'Ah, Changgeng.'

Duobao sighed lightly, about to take a nap, when he saw two figures approaching from outside the grand hall.

They were Wenshu and Cihang, his 'junior brother and sister'.

Now, they were the great bodhisattvas in charge of teaching affairs, and famous figures rising in the Primordial world.

Duobao perked up and activated his Dharma body. The towering golden body shone with light, its eyes slowly half-opening.

Wenshu and Cihang entered the hall, slightly disrupting the rhythm of the monks knocking the wooden fish nearby.

Wenshu bowed his head in salute:

"Greetings, Buddha Ancestor."

Duobao said slowly:

"What is it?"

"Buddha Ancestor," Wenshu said, "Now, in the Five Parts Continent, there are many temples, and in Xi Niu He Continent, they are everywhere. The number of beings who have taken refuge in our Buddhism is countless.

The precepts of Buddhism are inherited from the Western School, though they have been supplemented, they are still quite insufficient.

We have drafted a new set of Buddhist precepts and ask you to review them."

With that, Wenshu slowly pushed a scroll toward Duobao, which landed in the palm of his Dharma body.

Duobao Daoist glanced at it a few times and felt that although there were many precepts, they weren't bad; if they could restrain the Buddhist disciples, there would be less chaos in the world in the future.

He said:

"Promote it according to the great one's method."

Wenshu smiled:

"As per the Buddha Ancestor's decree."

Cihang then said:

"Buddha Ancestor, although there are many of our Buddhist temples in Nan Zan Bu Continent, these temples cannot enter the prosperous areas of the south, and the spread of Buddhist teachings among mortals often contains biases and inaccuracies.

Why not select one or two eminent monks to preach the Mahayana Buddhist teachings in the south? This way, we can protect the teaching's fortune and universally save sentient beings."

"This is a good idea," Duobao said warmly, "Then let the Guanyin Bodhisattva take charge of it."

Cihang immediately hesitated as if to speak but held back.

Who raises the issue has to solve it?

What a hands-off approach.

Duobao also felt a bit embarrassed. From his Dharma body's palm, a few streams of light condensed into emerald branches, falling into the jade purification bottle held in Cihang's palm.

Post-heaven spiritual roots, willow branches.

After giving some benefits, arranging tasks felt a bit more justified.

Cihang didn't say much more, saluted to accept the order, but then remembered the message Jieyin Sheng had previously transmitted, and said:

"Buddha Ancestor, why not give this humble monk one or two assistants?"

Duobao asked:

"What kind of assistants does the great one want?"

"Lately, rumors have been spreading in Ling Mountain that the Golden Lotus Treasure Pool is constantly emitting bursts of treasure light..."

Before Cihang could finish, a golden light flew from the Buddha statue's brow, and the Dharma body instantly shrank to about one zhang in size, sitting on a golden lotus platform and appearing in front of Cihang.

A wave of majesty spread out, then was quickly concealed by Duobao.

"Treasure light? Lead the way."

Cough, it wasn't because of any instinctive reaction.

Cihang and Wenshu glanced at each other, gestured on either side, and led the way to the Lotus Treasure Pool behind Ling Mountain.

That place was closer to where Jieyin Sheng resided, so it was usually deserted, and over time, it had become somewhat overgrown.

It was rare for Duobao to leave the grand hall, and he was in high spirits now.

Ling Mountain had changed dramatically over the years; palaces had sprung up everywhere, the entire mountain had been completely transformed, and even the mountain body had expanded.

Juliusun Buddha, who was in charge of this, wanted to turn the whole Ling Mountain into a great temple, a holy place for the Buddha Ancestor's cultivation and in the hearts of countless Buddhist disciples.

Soon, Duobao, Wenshu, and Cihang arrived at the side of the treasure pool. Duobao looked from afar and sniffed with his nose... just one sniff...

He had been tricked; there were no treasures.

"Is it here?"

"Yes, right here."

Cihang flicked her finger lightly, and a point of treasure light circulated, turning the treasure pool transparent.

At the bottom of the pool, a golden cicada was sealed layer upon layer, lying in the corner and slightly trembling its wings.

Duobao naturally recognized the origins of this golden cicada—it was the Hongmong fierce beast that had been taken as a saint's disciple, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, Jin Chan Zi.

Back then, it had nearly been blown to death by Changgeng Junior Brother but was saved by the Western School's saints.

—Although Duobao hadn't shown himself, he had watched the scene through a small window created by the Zhu Xian Four Swords beside his master.

Cihang said:

"This golden cicada can be of great use."

Wenshu, however, said:

"The golden cicada has a violent and cruel nature, and there are many capable people in our Buddhism—who needs it?"

Cihang, who rarely argued with others, said firmly this time:

"We can just reshape its divine soul."

Duobao saw through something and said slowly:

"The golden cicada is as good as dead now, surviving only by its innate divine abilities. Why not reshape its divine soul with Buddhist methods and teach it carefully?

Since it's here, it's fated with our Buddhism, so it can be used by us and also prove the principle that the sea of suffering is boundless, but turn back and you shall reach the shore."

Wenshu pondered for a moment:

"What the Buddha Ancestor says is very true."

Cihang inadvertently glanced toward Jieyin Sheng's residence, sighed lightly in her heart, and continued discussing how to handle the golden cicada and how to make it play a role later.

Sometimes, she acted out of compassion, always doing things that made things difficult for herself.

Soon, the three of them decided on the future path for the golden cicada.

Most of it was Cihang speaking, with Duobao and Wenshu listening.

Cihang's plan was as follows:

First, let the golden cicada recover from its injuries and restore its origin, reshaping its human form—this process would take about several hundred years.

After several hundred years, have the golden cicada appear on Ling Mountain, have the Buddha Ancestor take it as a disciple and give it origins, then find an excuse to send it into the cycle of reincarnation, to be reborn in the prosperous areas of Nan Zan Bu Continent.

Let it travel from east to west, actively bringing back the Mahayana Buddhist teachings to Nan Zan Bu Continent, and spread the Dharma in the place where human qi gathers.

Once this was settled, Duobao looked at Cihang a few times and asked with a smile:

"Great one, are these words from the Buddha of Ten Thousand Worlds or from the Heavenly Dao?"

Cihang was stunned for a moment and replied with a smile:

"Isn't it the same?"

Duobao laughed:

"Indeed, it's about the same. Then let's proceed like this, and have the great one oversee it entirely."

"Yes."

Cihang agreed, her expression unreadable, though she couldn't help but sigh lightly in her heart.

The future path of this Jin Chan Zi was thus arranged.

It had no say in the matter at all.

At the same time, in the northwest of Nan Zan Bu Continent, at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

Li Changshou had a sudden intuition and carefully calculated with his fingers, unable to help raising an eyebrow.

Jin Chan Zi would be born in three hundred years? The 'Scripture Seeker' had already been arranged?

That would be right around the time when the monkey finishes his studies and starts wildly interacting with the Heavenly Court?

Indeed, Jin Chan Zi seemed to have reincarnated more than once, walking through nine or ten cycles.

Jin Chan Zi...

Li Changshou maintained his meditation on the surface but began pondering secretly in his mind.

He wondered if the rumors he had spread about Jin Chan Zi long ago still had any effect.

(The end of this chapter)