Chapter 802: Victory Buddha's Teachings

Chapter 804: The Decree of the Victorious Fighting Buddha

"A person's life, in the long river of time, is but an instant. But death is forever, longer than eternity itself.""One should not lightly speak of death, for life is far too brief compared to death, and thus worthy of cherishing."These were words Zhang Lin had once spoken, Yang Yi thought, lost in a daze, her eyes blurring again. Finally, she hugged the handful of yellow earth and slowly walked away. Where would her next destination be? Perhaps the old stone village of the Celestial Master Yuan, perhaps the current abode of Zhang Lin's descendants, or perhaps the Jade Lake.

Ye Fan watched her depart, letting out a soft sigh. He could offer no assistance; many things must be faced alone to truly overcome them.

The Northern Region was in turmoil. The unfathomable Divine Spirit Valley had been annihilated, erased from the myriad races. This overturned people's perceptions and exceeded everyone's expectations. As a great primordial royal family, it had endured countless tribulations, existing since ancient times, always standing firm. What kind of enemy had they not encountered? The Primordial Era was incredibly brutal, with ancient tribes flourishing everywhere, experiencing battles that filled the sky with blood, with conflicts between races lasting thousands or even tens of thousands of years. They were the essence of that era; otherwise, how could they have been passed down, growing stronger with each battle, sealed as a royal family? They were accustomed to grand spectacles and and had faced endless formidable foes. After surviving the primordial catastrophe, they had believed they could rule the world, slowly recuperating for several millennia, only to be wiped out shortly after re-emerging. Furthermore, this was done by the human race, whom they had underestimated. It was known that in the Primordial Era, this race was not highly regarded, facing existential threats multiple times yet still struggling to survive until today. Just awakening from their long slumber, they had expected to usher in their glorious era, but such an outcome sent shivers down the spines of many ancient tribes.

Undercurrents surged, and the entire Northern Region was restless. Only the human race was excited, their blood boiling, as the disciple of Emperor Wu Shi had made a move, captivating everyone's attention. The impact of this battle was immense; all primordial races were terrified. If even a powerful entity like the Divine Spirit Valley could be destroyed, who wouldn't be struck with fear?

Upon hearing these reports, Ye Fan was relieved that Zhang Lin's death had not been in vain. This single battle had quelled the Northern Region, instilling fear in all factions. He wasted no time, rushing to the place where his true body was buried. Originally, considering the extreme danger of entering the Purple Mountain, he had left his physical body and a wisp of his primordial spirit behind before his departure, preserving a hope for resurrection. The mountain was quiet, barren of vegetation, without a sound. Ye Fan dug through the earth, descending thousands of meters, and his expression instantly changed. "Someone has been here!" He immediately grew anxious. This was his dao body, fundamental to his path to enlightenment; even the slightest mishap was intolerable. Who could have visited this place? Upon reaching the deepest part of the underground chamber, he discovered a perfectly formed burglar's hole. Ye Fan's nose nearly twisted out of shape with rage, and he cursed, "That damn Duan De!" The morally bankrupt fatty was not present, but if he were, Ye Fan wouldn't hesitate to hang him up and beat him, transforming into a mad fiend. Inside the underground stone chamber, only a single line of text remained: "I am a great archaeologist." All the Heaven Source array patterns Ye Fan had set up had been dismantled. "Duan Fatty..." Ye Fan gritted his teeth. Where was that scoundrel now, and how could he be found?

He left the location, using the Heaven-Shifting Great Law to rejuvenate his physical shell, and then headed towards a human city. He desperately wanted to know what had happened during the more than a month he was missing. He didn't know the extent until he inquired, and what he learned shocked him. That fatty, Duan De, truly dared to be outrageous. He called the Emperor's Son an "egg" and Yuangu a "watermelon," challenging everyone everywhere and proclaiming a decisive battle. Yet, each time he would narrowly miss his opponents, and no fight ever broke out. For the past month, that damned fatty had been provoking and shouting everywhere, even calling the Divine Spirit Valley "hammers." With an attitude of being an enemy to the whole world and supreme, his survival and continued vigor were, in a way, a testament to his skill. For over a month, the Human Sacred Body's reputation had been unparalleled; if not for the destruction of the Divine Spirit Valley, he would undoubtedly have been the sole topic of discussion. Ye Fan was speechless. Although the individuals Duan De had provoked were also those Ye Fan wished to eliminate, that scoundrel was simply too much and deserved a beating.

He pursued him, hoping to track him down and quickly reclaim his true body. However, it seemed that the scoundrel knew he had made too many enemies recently and was in danger, so he had gone into hiding, making him difficult to find.

Over the next half a month, the Northern Region was in great chaos. All the different races were contemplating and secretly investigating, trying to ascertain the truth. Places like Blood Phoenix Mountain, Divine Silkworm Ridge, and Fire Qilin Cave, where ancient emperors had emerged, were thoroughly investigated. It was hard to say whether they possessed ancient imperial weapons or other hidden powers, but even these places were startled and launched investigations. Whether the ancient Great Emperors were still alive became a lingering worry for all the ancient races. Logically, they shouldn't still be in the world, but this battle had been too terrifying. "Why did this happen?" the Primordial Ancestral Kings murmured, pondering everything in silence for a long time. In the Primordial Era, the wild lands were filled with towering ancient trees and roaming exotic beasts, and battles frequently broke out between tribes. However, there were rarely such swift and devastating annihilations, like the complete destruction of the Divine Spirit Valley overnight.

Over the following month, the Northern Region remained complex and chaotic. No one dared to make any major moves, fearing they might cross some red line. Finally, several great ancient imperial families deliberated and issued a proclamation, stating that achieving immortality was the ultimate goal for cultivators, and there was no need for mutual destruction on this path. As soon as this news broke, the world was in an uproar. The tone of the various primordial races had noticeably softened; they no longer seemed so haughty and expressed a willingness to coexist peacefully with other races. Someone from the ancient imperial families even stated, "Whether it was the emperors of the primordial era or the human great emperors of later generations, all have said that all things arise from and depend on each other, that all races proliferate and have a reason for their existence, and that Heaven treats all equally." This statement again caused a stir across the land. Had they truly changed their rigid stance? Were they genuinely going to treat humanity peacefully? Upon learning this, some human sect leaders vaguely guessed the ancient tribes' apprehensions and intentions, and quickly responded, declaring that a rare great era, unseen for eons, was dawning, and it should be allowed to become a prosperous age, not a terrible age of chaos.

Over the subsequent period, the turmoil in the Northern Region significantly eased. Both the human race and the various primordial races secretly let out a sigh of relief. During this time, all sides tested the waters, sending out signals through specific events, many of which involved crucial issues. Ultimately, a kind of tacit understanding seemed to have been reached. None of the ancient races spoke of launching campaigns or seizing regions rich in spiritual medicine, dragon qi, or earth essence. The great human sects also made timely statements, declaring that the Five Regions were vast and boundless, with many famous mountains and great rivers available to inhabit, ensuring that the myriad races would not lack a pure land. Zhang Lin's battle had awed the Northern Region, and the world seemed to have suddenly become peaceful. For a short time, major chaos was unlikely to occur. However, all great sects knew that this was merely a temporary calm, and no one could say what the future held.

"Patriarch, your battle has struck fear into all the ancient races; your achievements will forever be remembered by humanity." Ye Fan sighed deeply, pouring a bowl of wine onto the ground as an offering. At the same time, he was filled with yearning admiration. Emperor Wu Shi's prestige was indeed unparalleled; this time, borrowing his name, it had played an incredibly significant role. "This might not last long," Ye Fan murmured to himself. Sustaining this deterrence would only become increasingly difficult. Although there were still a few steps he could take, it was not yet the right time. At the very least, there could be a period of relative peace for now. He had to grow rapidly to establish a foothold when the true dark turmoil erupted. The myriad primordial races had intricate ties with the seven great forbidden zones of life, places that even ancient Great Emperors could not completely eradicate. If one thought deeply about it, it was truly terrifying.

Had a relatively peaceful period arrived? Everyone rejoiced, but no one knew how long it would last. "Duan De, you scoundrel, where on earth did you go?" Ye Fan cursed.

"Amitabha..." On that very day, from the distant Western Desert, a venerable Buddhist chant emanated from Mount Sumeru, shaking all the ancient temples. On this day, a Buddhist disciple from the Western Desert journeyed eastward, crossing Central Province, entering the Eastern Barrens, and finally arriving in the Northern Region, bearing a decree. "Peace for all under heaven." These four characters, written with strong, elegant strokes, instantly caused the Grand Dao scriptures to resonate, divine sounds to descend from the sky, and rays of Dao light to pierce the heavens upon their unveiling. It was as if a chorus of ancient Buddhas were chanting, their voices echoing across the land, instantly quieting everyone. The Victorious Fighting Buddha was not dead!

This news spread instantly, shaking the Five Regions. Even the ancient races were astonished, and all the Ancient Kings trembled. Both the human race and the primordial races were unsure what to feel about him, as he was rumored to be a primordial king who had converted to human Buddhism, cultivating on Mount Sumeru and becoming a Buddha. Previously, it was rumored that he had passed away while in death seclusion, but unexpectedly, he had not died and was still alive in the world. Even the immensely powerful ancient races had to be wary of him, let alone the human race. Who was the Victorious Fighting Buddha? It was said that he was a Holy Ape, the younger brother of the ancient Fighting Saint Emperor from the Great Ancient Era, who had grown up under his guidance. His cultivation was terrifyingly high! In his youth, he feared nothing, roaming the land with a cultivation that rivaled that of the Saint Emperor in his prime. He was the most courageous of the primordial era, having slain countless powerful beings. If it truly was him, any powerful Ancient King who dared to challenge him would have to reconsider. Moreover, after the primordial races emerged, they had searched the ancient lands of the Fighting Saint Ape lineage but had not sensed the Saint Emperor's weapon. Many speculated that it had been taken by his younger brother. The younger brother of the Primordial Fighting Saint Emperor, coupled with an ancient imperial weapon—who could possibly contend against that? Eradicating a race would pose no significant problem. His emergence at this time, issuing such a decree, would naturally cause a huge stir. Was the Victorious Fighting Buddha seeking to mediate the current conflicts and bring peace to all sides? This was not something just anyone could step forward to do, yet no one dared to utter a word of criticism against him.

Ye Fan was utterly shocked. Laozi, Shakyamuni, the Victorious Fighting Buddha—one familiar name after another, and finally, one remained in this world, not having passed on. Not long after, the Northern Region buzzed with excitement, almost reaching a fever pitch, because the major ancient races had actually proposed holding a Myriad Races Convention. This was undoubtedly a shocking piece of news, most likely related to the Victorious Fighting Buddha! At that time, representatives from all major races would participate, and such a grand event would surely be sensational. Many human sect leaders responded, believing that such a convention should be held to discuss pressing issues in detail.