Becoming a god starts from planting a Bodhi tree.

Chapter 518 Heavenly Court Counterattack, Grand Test of the Ancestors

When Qu Liushui's team returned to their respective alliances and reported the news, each of the Chaotuo Sects successively dispatched several teams to verify the claims.

The final result of the investigation was that this illusory Buddhist kingdom, which could block the strongest sword light, was actually created by that World Honored One!
In a place unknown to any of them, the World-Honored One, with the cooperation of the Heavenly Court, established Buddhism in the realms under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction, calling himself the Buddha, and leading all beings to take refuge in him.

In an instant, all sorts of rumors and gossip about that Buddha spread.

"This person has indeed betrayed our side! He has pledged allegiance to the Heavenly Court!"

"Wrong! When did this one join our ranks? It should be said that those who are not of our kind are bound to have different intentions! None of these ancient beings from centuries ago are benevolent!"

“Our ancestors have misjudged this person. He is not worthy of our respect, let alone being regarded as a fellow traveler!”

"How hateful! The conquest of the Heavenly Court is just around the corner, and the final obstacle is none other than this World Honored One?!"

Just as various schools of thought were discussing their options and what to do next, the Heavenly Court launched the first attack!
Led by the female Heavenly Emperor, the seventy-two high-ranking deities launched a surprise attack on the northern defense line of the Boundary Sea, breaking through the blockade set up by various factions and conquering seven realms in one fell swoop.

After that, they were like dragons entering the sea, treating the northern part of the Boundary Sea as if it were uninhabited, wantonly invading many realms, and achieving great victories one after another.

After the northern defense line collapsed, although various sects quickly returned to reinforce, they still could not stop the Heavenly Court's northern expedition and had to change course to continue the plan to break through the boundary.

……

The Azure Profound Realm is similar to the Netherworld, and it has little involvement with the various forces in the Boundary Sea, remaining focused on internal struggles within the realm.

Not only is there no one who transcends the sect, but the power within the realm is not considered strong in the sea of ​​realms either; the ancient ones are already at the peak.

On this day, the Qingxuan Realm, located in the northern part of the Boundary Sea, was forcibly opened to the outside world.

For a while.

Within the realm, the stars shone brightly, filled with an ethereal aura, faintly outlining the silhouette of a terrifying figure. Its mere existence nearly crushed the main universe's starry sky.

Countless creatures looked up in terror, only to see countless gods, as large as stars, falling like rain.

No matter how the beings of the Azure Profound Realm attacked, shattering the golden bodies of the gods and breaking them into countless fragments, these gods could instantly recover and reassemble into their divine forms!
The outcome of this lopsided invasion was sealed from the very beginning.

The Heavenly Court's power is overwhelming to any other realm.

Ultimately, the main universe was reduced to chaos by the last few ancient beings in the Azure Profound Realm who put up a desperate resistance.

As the story concludes, starlight illuminates the scene, outlining a long, endless staircase leading to heaven, which then descends from the sky.

A divine being descended the steps, his eyes gleaming with gold. With a mere wave of his hand, he caused the chaotic world to reopen, restoring the balance of earth, fire, wind, and water, allowing all living beings to thrive and multiply.

In just a few short months, the Azure Profound Realm had been reduced to the Heavenly Court's backyard.

First, many gods took up residence in various realms, and then quickly spread Buddhist teachings, forcing all beings to believe. After Buddhism flourished in this place, most of the gods who had taken up residence returned to the Heavenly Court, leaving only a small number of gods to rule the realm together with the local strongmen of the Qingxuan Realm who had submitted to it.

During this period, some celestial deities also changed their origins and entered Buddhism, becoming Bodhisattvas and Arhats in the doctrine.

This is the process by which the Heavenly Court subdues a realm.

Although the Heavenly Court is incredibly powerful, suppressing the Azure Profound Realm with absolute force, it is naturally a pipe dream to completely conquer the hearts and minds of a realm in a short period of time, until the allied forces of various factions arrive...

On this day, the deity guarding the gate of the Azure Profound Realm was beheaded and sent to the mortal world.

The myriad beings of the Azure Profound Realm, who had undergone earth-shattering changes in the past few months, were all invigorated and looked towards the outside world with great joy, all saying that reinforcements had arrived.

A team composed of members from various sects stormed into the Azure Profound Realm, killing gods, Buddhas, and all living beings... slaughtering all living beings!

Just as the myriad beings of the Azure Profound Realm cheered for the arrival of reinforcements, they were bewildered to discover that those powerful beings from beyond the heavens were wielding their butcher knives against all living beings within the realm.

On the contrary, the Heavenly Gods, who were gradually losing ground, began to organize the myriad spirits of Qingxuan to resist the powerful beings outside the realm, and called on all living beings to believe in the Buddha and summon the Buddha's protection.

This absurd scene caused many beings in the Qingxuan Realm to collapse on the spot and become completely numb. In the end, responding to the call of the Heavenly Court, they turned to Buddhism and prayed for the protection of the Buddha.

The emergence of the illusory Buddhist kingdom has led more and more beings in the Azure Profound Realm to embrace Buddhism.

They found their final refuge in the Buddhist scriptures taught in Heaven, and learned that all these calamities stemmed from the sins committed in their previous lives.

Only by atoning for one's sins in this life can one be qualified to enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn, and only then can one enter the Pure Land of Buddhism, where there is no suffering and one can enjoy ultimate bliss...

……

……

As Buddhism spread from the Heavenly Court, the plans of various schools of thought to break through boundaries encountered more and more obstacles.

The illusory Buddhist kingdom that had originally withstood Qu Liushui's all-out attack gradually became more and more real as the Heavenly Court conquered one realm after another. It was almost indestructible and faintly surpassed the level of a true saint!

Under the extermination plans of various sects, the territories originally occupied by the Heavenly Court had no choice but to submit to Buddhism.

Compared to the Heavenly Court that had conquered them, and the various sects that left them no way out, Buddhism seemed to have become their last resort.

Driven by this series of events, Buddhism flourished, and the Heavenly Court rose in status accordingly.

As originally agreed, 70% of the incense offerings were allocated, and even 20% were temporarily borrowed, all of which were invested in the awakening of the Investiture of the Gods, thereby enhancing the power of the gods once again.

The Heavenly Court's strength has been further enhanced.

The various schools of thought could no longer contain the rise of the Heavenly Court.

……

In a vast and boundless realm of emptiness.

The heads of various families and factions in the border region gathered here.

"Although the Heavenly Court breached our blockade, we also reclaimed the Void Realm!"

"I'm afraid the Void Realm was deliberately thrown to us by the Heavenly Emperor. Compared to the Void Realm, what the Heavenly Court needs now is more realms and more incense offering pastures!"

"Of all the myriad paths and realms, who would have thought that the ancient, sacred path of incense and deities would be so troublesome?!"

"The main reason is the effect of that Investiture of the Gods! It's truly mysterious and hard to describe. With this list, the Heavenly Court is almost invincible. I've witnessed how the Heavenly Court dominated the World Sea a hundred centuries ago!"

"Given the current situation, it seems we are destined to lose?"

"It's not just a possibility, but a high probability that all the factions will be able to make up their minds and mobilize the resources left by their ancestors to bombard the Heavenly Court together!"

"I fear that even if we do this, we won't be able to do anything to the Heavenly Court, and instead, we will have lost our last trump card..."

"How will you know if you don't try?!"

"Too risky! It would be better to seal myself away again and wait for the patriarch to return!"

"Ridiculous! What do you mean by 'cowardly hiding'? You think you can actually shrink back? Judging from the current situation, if the Heavenly Court continues its invasion, that Heavenly Emperor is probably not far from transcending the heavens. Even if you seal yourself off then, what difference will it make? She will still be able to find you!"

"This won't work, that won't work, you guys better come up with a good idea quickly!"

"If we can hold on for at least another hundred years, there will be a turning point." From the crowd, the Sage Wutian of the Primordial Palace said in a deep voice, "The sages of my Primordial Palace who went to the depths of the Boundary Sea back then are already on their way back. I think the sages of the other families who left should be on the same path, right?"

The saints, who had been arguing amongst themselves, couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Each of them has long been detached from their own traditions and is not currently at their peak.

Before the dojo was sealed away, many powerful members of the sect chose to go to the depths of the Boundary Sea, rather than be sealed away along with the dojo.

After the seals were lifted from each family's gates, these powerful individuals received a call, and as long as they were not dead, they were all on their way back.

However, the journey to the distant Boundary Sea is long and arduous, and it will take time to return.

If these powerful figures return, they will be able to regain control and crush the Heavenly Court with their sheer numbers!

"Fellow Daoist Wutian, I wonder if your Yuanchu Palace has made contact with that World Honored One—"

Qu Liushui of the Heavenly Prison Palace looked at Wu Tian and asked the first question.

"If that person is willing to cooperate with us from within and without, breaking through the Heavenly Court's defenses will be a piece of cake. Even if we settle for the second best and simply wipe out all the Heavenly Court's subordinate realms, we can still weaken the Heavenly Court to its weakest state."

Wu Tian's expression darkened, and he said coldly:

"The Heavenly Court has now occupied as many as eighty realms, large and small. Does your [Heavenly Prison Palace] intend to exterminate all living beings in eighty realms?"

Upon hearing this, the entire meeting fell silent for a moment.

"It was a last resort to suppress the Heavenly Court," Qu Liushui sneered. "Originally there were only thirty-odd realms, but thanks to the emergence of Buddhism, the Heavenly Court has been moving north all the way, which has increased the number to eighty."

Wu Tian suppressed his anger and said, "Acting in this way will only force those realms into the embrace of the Heavenly Court. It is because of the plan to destroy realms that those realms occupied by the Heavenly Court have no choice but to submit to the Heavenly Court!" "So you're saying it's our fault?" Qu Liushui said coldly.

Wu Tian rebuked, "When the ancestors return, how are we supposed to explain ourselves for slaughtering the beings of eighty realms in order to suppress the Heavenly Court?!"

"This is a necessary sacrifice." Qu Liushui emphasized, "From the moment they were enslaved by the Heavenly Court, they had no other choice. If they didn't die, they would only become a source of power for the Heavenly Court and become its subordinate accomplices!"

The controversy between the two gradually became the focus of attention.

Even if the saints are indifferent to life, they cannot ignore the endless living beings in the eighty realms...

But if the Heavenly Court is not suppressed today, the situation will only get worse until it completely threatens their survival.

This is also the dilemma that the various alliances are facing today.

Among those present, many looked towards the Void Realm Daoist.

Among those who led various factions in this attack on the Heavenly Court, the one who performed the most outstandingly was the Heavenly Prison Palace.

If it weren't for the presence of the [Void Realm], another ancestral land of the Great Dao, and the [Palace of Ten Thousand Gods], a rising star that has long resided in later generations, the [Heavenly Prison Palace] would undoubtedly be the leader this time.

As for the next decision, the Pantheon chose to stand with the Primordial Palace and oppose continuing the plan to destroy the world, while the Heavenly Prison Palace insisted on carrying it out. Only the Void Realm remained silent.

When all eyes fell on him, Kong Ming, representing the [Void Realm], sighed and asked everyone a question:
"Gentlemen, do we really have a need to suppress the Heavenly Court?"

The saints either frowned or looked puzzled.

Kong Ming didn't give Qu Liushui a chance to speak, and continued:

"All we need to do is delay the rise of the Heavenly Court. When the ancestors return, all problems will be solved."

A moment of silence fell over the room, and then one sage after another nodded in agreement with Kongming's statement.

Compared to annihilating all living beings in eighty or more realms, or sealing oneself off, Kongming's proposal is a more moderate compromise.

In a sense, they didn't need to completely destroy the Heavenly Court; even if they succeeded, they would have to pay a terrible price.

All we need to do is delay the situation in Heaven until the ancestors return!

The meeting was temporarily suspended.

Kong Ming walked to a spot alone, and his junior brother Wen Su quietly came to his side.

"Senior brother, why did you suddenly overturn the agreement with the Heavenly Prison Palace and instead support the Pantheon?" Wen Su Daoist asked, puzzled.

Kongming did not answer, but asked, "Wensu, what do you think we are in the eyes of the patriarchs?"

Master Wensu was taken aback. What was this question?
What kind of?
They were all disciples of the patriarch, so this question is truly baffling.

Kongming calmly said, "For those who have transcended, there is no longer a need for so-called disciples to spread the Dao and accumulate Dao power for them. In fact, for certain reasons, disciples may even be a burden to them."

His pupils contracted sharply, and he said in a deep voice, "Senior brother, be careful what you say! We are also the anchors of our ancestor's existence, how can you be considered a burden?"

Kongming only said three words.

"Normalization".

He left his junior brother speechless.

Not all those who have transcended enlightenment have established their own schools or sects; this largely depends on whether each patriarch had already established a school or sect before entering the path of transcendence.

For example, they are without boundaries, and although they are disciples of the Great Dao Ancestor Wan Qianqiu, they have never established a lineage or sect, and only use the Void Realm as their base.

For those who are forced to conform and become detached, do they really need a sect, disciples, or even relatives?

Wen Su took a deep breath and asked, "Senior brother, what does this have to do with the siege of the Heavenly Court?"

Kongming sighed softly, "I recently perused the scriptures left by our patriarch and found some instructions."

"Instructions?" Wen Su's pupils constricted sharply. "Is it an order left by the Patriarch? The Patriarch foresaw the return of the Heavenly Court?! Why didn't he see it before?"

“With the patriarch’s abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to leave behind messages that can only be seen at specific times.” Kongming said with a deep look in his eyes, “The patriarch did indeed foresee this great calamity, but the words he left behind were not to guide us on how to break the deadlock, but rather to tell us… to simply observe from the sidelines.”

"Stand by and watch?!" Wen Su exclaimed in shock. "What does this mean? Are we just going to sit idly by and watch the Heavenly Court grow stronger and then threaten the existence of the [Void Realm]?"

Kongming smiled bitterly and said, "It's simple, because this is not our tribulation."

"Senior brother, what exactly were the words left behind by the patriarch?!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Ming, with a complex expression, murmured:
"Whose calamity is it? Is there even a need to ask?"

"Junior Brother Wensu, if unification is unstoppable, what kind of situation will the Boundary Sea become?"

Upon hearing his senior brother steer the conversation toward unification, Wen Su could no longer suppress her restless Dao heart. But then, Kong Ming's next words chilled Wen Su to the bone, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"If unification is unstoppable, then who will ultimately unify heaven and earth?"

"Is it only through fighting until the Boundary Sea collapses, allowing the ancestors to fight to the death and reach a final, tragic end?"

"Is there one among the ancestors who can convince all parties and, after the unification of heaven and earth, is still willing to give the ancestors and all living beings a chance to start over?"

Kong Ming slowly raised his head, looked at his junior brother, and said:
"According to the patriarch, there was indeed such a person, but unfortunately, this person is already dead."

Wen Su blurted out, "Lord of the Underworld?!"

Kongming slowly nodded: "The Lord of the Underworld is dead. Even if he were to return, due to the karma of the past, the Ancestors would not choose him again. Therefore, the Ancestors need a new candidate—"

Wen Su's face was almost contorted as she exclaimed, "That... World Honored One?!"

"This is a major test, for us and for that World Honored One," Kong Ming said regretfully. "But as things stand, it seems that none of us have any means to stop the rise of the Heavenly Court, so we can only look to this World Honored One, whom the Great Dao Ancestor [Tai Xu] highly praises."

Wen Su asked incredulously, "If that World Honored One stops the rise of the Heavenly Court, will he be accepted by the Ancestors as the future 'Unifier'?"

“It’s not that simple.” Kong Ming shook his head. “This can only be considered the first major test. All we got was an entry ticket, which only represents a portion of the patriarch’s will.”

"The patriarch did not leave behind many words."

A look of confusion and bewilderment gradually appeared in Kong Ming's eyes.

"So I'm not quite sure what this great test is really testing. Is it really just about preventing the rise of the Heavenly Court?"

"Or perhaps... that Heavenly Emperor, or even the Heavenly Court, is also in this great test?"

……

Deep within the Heavenly Court.

A golden arched bridge, each stone of which seems to contain countless different Taoist characters, each representing a civilization or power that once submitted to the Heavenly Court.

"What's the matter?"

On the long bridge, in front of the golden railings, Doumu Yuanjun spoke calmly, her voice becoming increasingly detached from worldly concerns, ethereal and lofty.

She did not look down upon the numerous realms, endless worlds, and countless living beings within the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction...

Instead, he looked up and gazed into the distance, into the unknown.

As Luo Xuan bowed his head in homage, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the female Heavenly Emperor.

As the territory ruled by the Heavenly Court continues to expand, this person's strength also rises accordingly, and the celestial phenomena surrounding him become increasingly magnificent.

Like a towering tree, as the tree grows more lush and taller, the phoenix perched atop its crown gets closer and closer to the center of the heavens, the source of the Great Dao.

In Luo Xuan's eyes, even without the Heavenly Court's blessing, this person's position and strength were probably infinitely close to transcendence, but he was limited by the suppression of heaven and earth and had not taken the final step.

If this is the case, then I wonder what the current situation is of that fortunate World-Honored One who entered the Buddhist realm...

After witnessing the Heavenly Court's system of incense offerings and deities firsthand, Luo Xuan was already incredibly envious of the World Honored One's current exclusive enjoyment of one-tenth of the incense offerings, and dared not even imagine the future exclusive enjoyment of three-tenths of the incense offerings!

As his thoughts raced, Luo Xuan lowered his head and spoke:

"Your Majesty, the Star Lord has conveyed a message: in recent years, only 80% of the incense offerings have come from Buddhism. He requests Your Majesty to personally contact that Buddhist master..."

"Furthermore, with the final offensive imminent, the Star Lord is confident that he can crush the resistance of all the families in the Boundary Sea in one fell swoop. However, in addition to the 90% of incense offerings that are normally paid, one more 10% is required. In this way, it will only take a hundred years for the Star Lord to return the Heavenly Court to the top of the Boundary Sea!"

(End of this chapter)