Chapter 1796: Future Buddha

Chen Fans Official YY Channel: 2579

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Ye Fan fulfilled his promise by reforging and repairing the Void Mirror. Over the years, he had slain Supremes and pacified forbidden zones, crushing numerous ancient imperial artifacts. Although most of these artifacts turned into scrap metal, their divine essence completely lost, he still managed to salvage some immortal materials. He spent several years studying the Void Scripture, researching the mirror's remaining array patterns, and observing its surviving divine spirit. Eventually, he used immortal materials to completely repair it, allowing the Void Mirror to re-emerge before returning it to the Ji family.

This event sent shockwaves across the universe. Who could have imagined that another heroic figure from the ancient Dark Turmoil had left behind a remnant body, and might even be revived?

Subsequently, Ye Fan issued a command to all cultivators in the universe, ordering them to search for the shattered Hengyu Divine Cauldron, hoping to rescue another heroic figure. This was the first time he had issued such a divine decree as the Heavenly Emperor. He had personally witnessed the shattering of the Hengyu Cauldron and the departure of the white-clad Jiang Taixu, a scene as tragic as the half-shattered mirror being buried in the void. Witnessing that event, Ye Fan had harbored suspicions that the two Great Emperors, fighting through the bodies of their descendants, might ultimately find a way to preserve their progeny.

Now, seeing Ji Zi's remnant body, Ye Fan's long-held suspicions were confirmed. Overcome with emotion, he orchestrated this grand initiative, issuing a command to the entire universe. Naturally, this was not a compulsory order. Ye Fan promised that anyone who discovered a truly valuable clue would receive a complete and intact Dao Scripture. Furthermore, if someone could genuinely deliver the shattered Hengyu Cauldron, Ye Fan made a solemn vow: as long as he lived, he would protect that family and ensure its prosperity. A promise from the Heavenly Emperor, especially one made with such solemnity, naturally stirred the hearts of many.

Upon hearing the news, the entire Jiang family mobilized. The hope of the Divine King's revival deeply stirred them, compelling them to search across the universe. Led by Jiang Yifei, Jiang Caixuan, and Jiang Tingting, they swept across the universe, eager to turn heaven and earth upside down to immediately find the Divine King's whereabouts.

Not long after, someone arrived at the Heavenly Court, bringing astonishing news about the location of the Hengyu Divine Cauldron. The Great Force Ox Demon Race was undoubtedly a powerful race in the universe; although they had never produced an ancient emperor, no one dared to slight them. After the earth-shattering battle of yesteryear, a rain of blood enveloped half of the shattered divine cauldron and brought it crashing down upon their ancient star. Even though the imperial artifact was destroyed, its descent was not something an ordinary star could withstand.

However, the ancient star where the clan resided was very mysterious; it contained a celestial cave into which no one who descended had ever returned alive. The Hengyu Cauldron had fallen into this very cave. Subsequently, all the powerful experts of the clan jointly acted to cover and seal the celestial cave. Many years passed. When Ye Fan became the Heavenly Emperor and issued such a powerful decree, they finally hesitated. After deliberation, their patriarch personally ascended to the Heavenly Court and conveyed the news.

When the Heavenly Emperor travels, who can stand in his way? Ye Fan, accompanied by the old ox demon, instantly descended upon this ancient star. Then, with a single step, he arrived before the celestial cave. He raised his hand and unsealed it, revealing a dark, unfathomable abyss below.

"So that's how it is," Ye Fan sighed. "No wonder it could conceal its aura."

The vast universe truly was full of secrets. This was an abandoned forbidden zone of life, containing ancient imperial-level array patterns, and more than one. He delved deeper and found the blood-stained remnant cauldron. He discovered that this place was likely a forbidden zone of life from the Chaotic Ancient Era, but sadly, the few Supremes within had long since died of old age, their bodies dissolving into the Dao. Aside from Great Emperors, anyone who descended here would undoubtedly perish, unable to escape the five layers of imperial-level array patterns.

Ye Fan anxiously opened the Hengyu Cauldron and, as expected, found half a remnant body inside. With snow-white hair and a youthful face, it was none other than Divine King Jiang, who had once lived a second life.

"Divine King..." Ye Fan called out with a trembling voice. The Divine King had shown him immense kindness; without him, Ye Fan would not be who he was today. The Divine King's "Sigh for the World" melody and his act of using divine blood to cleanse Ye Fan's Dao pattern had protected his growth. Furthermore, at the Jade Lake Grand Assembly, his zither music had awed myriad races, showcasing truly peerless elegance. Yet now, only a cold, blood-stained remnant body remained, a sight that made hearts tremble.

The white-clad Divine King's life had been fraught with hardship. He returned alive after being trapped for many years, only for his beloved to die before his eyes. He then departed into the great wilderness, living out his second life in solitude, without joy, only sorrow. He fought the ancient races, pacified the Dark Turmoil, and thus his journey concluded.

Ye Fan carried his blood-soaked remnant body back to the Heavenly Court. On this day, another magnificent and grand temple rose beside the Heavenly Court, as Ye Fan once again bestowed the title of "Grand Void Divine."

"Divine King, return..." he called out, his voice filled with emotion.

Having cultivated the Dao for so long, Ye Fan's will was stronger than iron, yet recently he had been deeply moved time and again. Gai Jiuyou, Ji Zi, and the white-clad Divine King had once been sources of great sorrow for him, but now he finally saw a glimmer of hope for their redemption. Three magnificent temples stood side by side, radiating light day and night. The first wisp of spiritual power offered to them was personally by Ye Fan, and nourished by the Heavenly Emperor's light, beams of ethereal light soared through the firmament.

Ye Fan repaired the Hengyu Cauldron and personally handed it to Jiang Yifei. Afterwards, he also handed the Dao Scripture to the Great Force Ox Demon Race, promising to protect their prosperity, on the condition that the clan committed no major errors.

Several hundred years passed. Besides the three consecrated altars, there was also a small temple and a shack nearby. The small temple belonged to Huahua. Over the years, Ye Fan's cultivation of peerless divine abilities like Buddhist faith had greatly inspired Huahua, leading him to directly enshrine himself on the altar for deeper comprehension. Buddhism had not declined; its faith was still very strong. As a top figure in Buddhism, he had long shaken the world with his might and could receive a vast amount of faith power.

Besides Huahua, light occasionally flickered in the shack, where an altar held the Black Dog, surprisingly solemn and majestic in appearance. The Black Dog had indeed aged considerably; its silky fur had turned completely grayish-white. Most importantly, it was no longer as robust as an ox; its body had now shrunk to roughly the size of a normal mongrel. It had also begun to study this longevity method, unfortunately with little success. If faith power could be plundered, it would have long since rushed to snatch it from Huahua.

"Ouch!"

Suddenly, on this day, Huahua cried out loudly. Blood seeped from his glabella, and he fell backward off the altar, his entire body emitting Buddhist light. This startled the Black Dog and shook the members of the Heavenly Court. Huahua was now a Quasi-Emperor, immensely powerful; how could such a sudden change occur? Ye Fan, the Monkey, and others were alarmed and rushed over immediately. This was right in front of the Southern Heavenly Gate; who would dare to ambush Huahua here?

Huahua seemed to be dissolving into the Dao, his entire body radiating incredibly sacred light that illuminated all directions, yet his glabella continued to bleed. Ye Fan helped him up and understood instantly with a brief inspection. Then he stood up and declared, "You dare to touch even my disciple?!"

Standing before the Southern Heavenly Gate, he swept his right hand, tearing open the void. Then, with a forceful grab, the entire Amitabha Ancient Star shook and rumbled.

"The Heavenly Emperor!"

"The Heavenly Emperor is enraged..."

All living beings on the Amitabha Ancient Star trembled, feeling the Great Emperor's pressure, and knelt down in reverence. However, this situation did not last long. The Heavenly Emperor's hand snatched away a stone Buddha, vanished from the spot, and the great void rift closed. This was astounding. Such was the Heavenly Emperor's power: standing before the Southern Heavenly Gate, countless galaxies away, yet his hand could reach this place with a single strike.

On the stone Buddha, a Golden-Winged Great Peng spread its wings and struck the sky, struggling fiercely, but it could not escape Ye Fan's palm. It was not a physical entity, but formed by the power of faith. Yet, it was extremely powerful, able to proudly withstand the unyielding impacts of all heavens.

"What is your relationship with Amitabha Buddha?" Ye Fan asked.

"I am a guardian of the Buddha, once born into the world as Sakyamuni's uncle," it chanted with astonishing Buddhist hymns. Even ordinary Quasi-Emperors were no match for it.

Everyone was greatly surprised, especially Pang Bo, whose eyebrows shot up. As an Earthling, he naturally thought of the legendary Golden-Winged Great Peng King.

"Why did you use a secret method to harm my disciple?" Ye Fan's calm authority made the Golden-Winged Great Peng tremble. It stopped struggling, landed in his palm, and replied, "I am searching for the Future Buddha."

Ye Fan glanced at Huahua and immediately understood. He had already suspected back on Mount Sumeru that Huahua might be the "Future Buddha" spoken of by the Buddhists.

"I... found him," the Golden-Winged Great Peng King said, looking at Ye Fan with reverence. "Heavenly Emperor, please allow my Buddha to return to his position."

Ye Fan remained silent. After a moment, he woke Huahua and let him choose for himself. While Mount Sumeru held Buddha's sariras, they were not the ultimate divine objects for his resurrection. The true Nirvana Dao Fruit was located on the Amitabha Ancient Star. Extinct for hundreds of thousands of years, awaiting rebirth! It had extracted the true consciousness of the past Buddha from the hearts of all living beings, accumulating it little by little and condensing it within a stone Buddha.

In the past, the Nirvana Dao Fruit had split into three: the main consciousness entered Sakyamuni's sea of consciousness; a portion of auxiliary consciousness transformed into the old monk from the Western Desert, later crossing to the other shore with Ye Fan and entering Huahua's subconscious; and another portion always remained within the stone Buddha on the Amitabha Ancient Star.

"I am always myself, not someone else!" Huahua cried out after waking. He chose a path like Sakyamuni's, opting not to be Amitabha Buddha, but to simply be himself.

"Very well, the path is beneath your own feet; it is your own choice." The Golden-Winged Great Peng then began to burn, transforming into flames of faith that melted the stone Buddha. From the molten stone, specks of light like rain flew up and entered Huahua's body.

Yet at this instant, Huahua's heart trembled again. The Buddha was immensely compassionate and had never forced him; unable to harden his heart, Huahua chose to merge.

"Amitabha Buddha, only today do I truly know I am myself." As the light rain completely settled, Huahua appeared solemn and majestic, chanting Buddhist names.

Everyone was startled. Had Amitabha Buddha truly revived? The methods of Buddhism were indeed terrifying!

"Master!" Huahua bowed deeply to Ye Fan.

"Are you still Huahua?" the Black Dog asked.

"Amitabha Buddha long ago attained nirvana in the past. Of course, I am Huahua; I merely have some additional scriptures and insights in my sea of consciousness," Huahua replied truthfully. He couldn't bear to refuse and wanted to accept that remnant spiritual consciousness, but the outcome was still himself, achieving a state of complete understanding.

"Good karma yields good returns, eh? Buddhist karma applied to himself," the Black Dog grumbled, then unceremoniously smacked Huahua's bald head with a paw, causing a clang and sparks to fly.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng did not disappear; it transformed into a vajra pestle, a weapon forged from the power of faith, and landed in Huahua's hand.

"From now on, you and Qingyang shall guard these three temples," Ye Fan said. There were no more suitable people than them, as Huahua should gain immensely on the path of faith, and Celestial Master Zhang Qingyang was also proficient in this path.

Huahua immediately looked crestfallen.

Time flowed on. In this particular year, Ye Fan was six thousand five hundred years old. Over the years, his vitality had surprisingly grown even more potent, constantly on an upward trajectory. This was truly astonishing!

"Boom!"

The sound of tribulation echoed from the Heavenly Court, grand and mighty. Pang Bo revealed a look of joy and said, "Wenchang has finally taken that step." Everyone showed a strange expression. Zhang Wenchang was definitely an anomaly in the Heavenly Court; with close friends like Ye Fan and Pang Bo, the contrast in their progress was striking. His cultivation progress was exceptionally slow. Over thousands of years, he was continuously surpassed by successive generations of juniors, yet he consistently made steady progress, eventually catching up.

Every time, he would only break through when his lifespan was almost exhausted, entering a higher realm to extend his life, always making people's hearts race. This time was no different; he looked as if he were on the verge of death from old age. At over sixty-five hundred years old, he finally broke through from the Saint King realm to a higher level. Not to mention in the Heavenly Court, even looking back at ancient times, few dared to attempt such a feat. Others would attempt breakthroughs while their vitality was still strong, but he would only do so when he was so old his teeth were almost falling out, causing extreme worry that he might die prematurely.

However, Ye Fan held a high opinion of him, stating that Zhang Wenchang did not have a short-lived fate and would not live shorter than peerless masters.

"Wenchang has broken through again. As usual, he'll be returning to his homeland for a visit," Pang Bo said. "Ye Zi, aren't you going back yet?"

"I'm going back," Ye Fan said.

"Good, this time we'll go back together!" Pang Bo exclaimed, excited.