bookpower Chapter 1473 - 519: The Other Shore, True Spirit Attainment (2)
Chapter 1473 - 519: The Other Shore, True Spirit Attainment (2)
Then how did Master Mu and Master He behold the Other Shore?In a dim, fathomless world that seemed bereft of light, he caught sight of a rugged, winding path on the verge of obliteration, as though traces of predecessors’ footprints still lingered upon it.
Only, the historical imprint of this path was far too ancient, not of the same era as Master Mu and Master He.
Was this the road once trodden by that Netherworld Lord?
Jing Qiu gazed on in silence for a long time before withdrawing his eyes, as though questioning himself, and as though knocking upon the Dao:
"Is this the Other Shore?"
The next moment, his form stirred slightly; he suddenly leapt, of his own accord shedding this lofty, misty realm, reentering that vast True Spirit Heavenly Rank, allowing himself to fall without end toward that primordial Realm in the deepest depths.
Within the Sea of Realms, the countless "Jing Qiu" walking the worlds under the governance of the Heavenly Court all raised their heads at this moment, some singing loudly, some murmuring low:
"Behold the true form, all Laws are empty; in an instant of Sudden Enlightenment, certify the Tathagata."
At the center of the Buddha Country, Jing Qiu returned to his original body; his gaze pierced endless Void, and once more he beheld that "Only Path" which spanned the Sea of Realms and nourished All Spirits.
It was illusory yet Misty, omnipresent yet embracing all things, its form like the mother of all things, a river that gestates all living beings.
—The River of Time of fate and destiny.
The Dao Origin of this Realm, the fount of All Spirits and all things.
He beheld this Mother River once more, yet no longer needed to borrow the power of the Investiture of the Gods; with the pure and Perfect touch of his own Spirit alone, he clearly grasped the flow of those vast waters.
Within it were contained Dao Rhyme and Dharma, unspeakable, indescribable, yet true and not illusory, free of delusion and form, as though it governed all Laws under Heaven and Earth, a certain convergence of the original hearts of all beings made manifest.
Jing Qiu sat in full lotus, penetrating that all forms are non-form, his heart attesting to the Tathagata, the Dao subdued; in this moment his Spirit Realm utterly and in one stroke surpassed Sitting Forget, surpassing the level of the Eight Realms.
Yet he knew full well in his heart that he was still lacking some critical thing before the true Perfect Other Shore.
Perhaps it was some form of understanding, perhaps a sedimented accumulation; precisely because of this, he could not clearly describe the full visage of the "Other Shore" he beheld.
This was also why he took the initiative to leap back into the True Spirit Heavenly Rank.
Thus, Jing Qiu entered a deep-seated seclusion.
During this period, all inquiries from the Heavenly Court regarding incense were cast out of mind by Jing Qiu.
Until this day.
Sitting upright at the center of the Buddha Country, Jing Qiu, who was still comprehending the mystery of the Other Shore, slowly emerged from his deepest meditative state and sensed the upheaval of the Bitter Sea.
He lifted his eyes; his gaze pierced endless Void, yet he did not look toward the Netherworld, but in the direction of the Heavenly Court.
The Bitter Sea would not riot without cause, and the current upheaval of the Bitter Sea had not yet reached the time of emerging into the world; there was no need to speak of the hand behind the curtain—it could only be Emperor Yi and his ilk.
The internal chaos of the Heavenly Court had begun.
Jing Qiu did not hasten to move and rush to the Heavenly Court.
To aid Dou Mu—why be so eager?
Besides, Dou Mu could not possibly rely on him alone; perhaps this might force Dou Mu to reveal yet more of his hidden cards...
He gazed into the distance with utmost sight and saw the Heavenly Court at this moment locked in blades and slaughter.
...
The Heavenly Court.
The golden arched bridge.
The auspicious clouds and propitious mists that had shrouded the distance for untold ages were at this moment torn apart by a violent power, revealing beneath them one towering Divine Mountain after another, resplendent palaces, and the various great Gods of the Heavenly Court arranged among them.
At their head, clad in black armor, awe-inspiring in Divine Power, was none other than the most powerful person in today’s Heavenly Court apart from Dou Mu—the Taiwei Star Lord!
He personally led his old subordinates, sweeping forward like a broken bamboo spear; he had already forced his way through the many layers of array defenses at the periphery of the bridge, his spearhead pointing straight toward that place regarded as the Heavenly Emperor’s exclusive Forbidden Land.
This was a carefully prepared rebellion, and also a surprise assault; Taiwei was very certain that Dou Mu had now entered deep seclusion, and the blessing power of the Investiture of the Gods was pouring down in torrents into the Heaven and Earth where Dou Mu resided.
In the end, he still chose to join forces with Emperor Yi.
The greatest variable in this war of rebellion was not the various Gods of the Heavenly Court, nor even Dou Mu, who had already gone into seclusion, but the World Venerable who had ascended to the seat of Buddha Master and enjoyed the incense of the Sea of Realms!
Under the Supplication of countless streams of incense, this person was without doubt the Supreme of the Sea of Realms, second only to Dou Mu at present!
And since Emperor Yi had not seized the power of the Investiture of the Gods, he would never set foot in the Heavenly Court; this time he was responsible for restraining that World Venerable who might make a move.
"All of you, this battle is the same as back then—you need not take part; you only need, as in those days, to help neither side."
Taiwei led a host of old subordinates deep into the Heavenly Court; his voice shook the universe as he led the powerhouses under his command straight ahead, his cold gaze sweeping over the Heavenly Court Gods along the way who sought to obstruct them.
His speed was too great, worthy indeed of the name of a surprise attack; in the shortest time he arrived beneath the golden arched bridge and saw, standing with back to them upon the golden arched bridge, Doumu Yuanjun!
"You’re not in seclusion?" Taiwei’s expression changed abruptly. "Impossible! The power the Investiture of the Gods is now casting down is absolutely not something you can suppress in your normal state!"
The Taiwei Star Lord’s furious shout echoed beneath the golden arched bridge, laden with disbelief and suspicion.
The various great Gods behind him also stiffened for a moment; their offensive instantly slackened as they looked in shocked uncertainty at that figure on the bridge.
On the golden arched bridge, Doumu Yuanjun slowly turned around; his gaze was icy and indifferent, like a Heavenly Emperor looking down upon traitorous ministers and rebels. His voice was level, without the slightest ripple:
"Taiwei, do you know your罪?"
The Taiwei Star Lord suddenly gave a cold laugh:
"You’re forcibly suppressing the power of the Investiture of the Gods; that’s the only reason you haven’t immediately gone into seclusion. But in your current state, how much power can you still spare?"
"Guilty? I have merely done what you once did. What guilt is there?"
"Of course you may choose to betray me, but you did not dare to choose to join hands with Emperor Yi." Dou Mu spoke again, his voice still calm, without any ripple. "I am different from Emperor Yi. I permit you to challenge me, but you should not have joined forces with Emperor Yi. That is my bottom line, and I told you so long ago."