576 Buddhas Notes (1/2)
Chapter 576: Buddha's Notes
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
The Buddhist temple was cold in the autumn rain. Ning Que stood outside the temple and looked at the sky high up above and said, ”At the Front Gate of the Devil's Doctrine, Master Lotus once said that the Devil's Doctrine cultivates in themselves and that they are the world. That is why they were not accepted by Heaven's Way.”
”But you said earlier, that once cultivators break through the Five States, they would have a chance to create their own rules. This would mean that they would have their own world, and this is no different from the Devil's Doctrine's ways. This would also be unacceptable by Heaven's Way.”
Master Qishan stood up and walked to his side. He looked up at the sky and said calmly, ”The Classics from Haotian Taoism said that cultivation was a gift from Haotian. However, if we look toward the end, no matter the Haotian Taoism's desire to live a prolonged life, or the Buddhism Sect's desire to reach the other side of the shore, or the mad craving of the Devil's Doctrine for immortality, they are all attempts to break free of the restraints that Haotian has placed on Mankind.”
Ning Que thought of how Youngest Uncle had died from Heaven's punishments. Then, the thought of many notable characters in the cultivation history who disappeared, silently succumbing to Heaven's Way. He grew cold, and said bitterly, ”Haotian doesn't care about the Underworld Invasion, but keeps a keen watch on the mortal realm. It is very annoying.”
Master Qishan smiled and said, ”Such speech and thoughts are considered blasphemous. If you were not a disciple of the Academy, and if you had not spoken inside a Buddhist temple, the West-Hill Divine Palace would not spare you.”
Ning Que suddenly recalled something. He turned around and asked the Master, ”I heard that Buddha had read the 'Ming' Handscroll from the Tomes of the Arcane?”
Master Qishan nodded and said, ”Many thoughts of Buddha might have been created by himself, but they originate from his reading of that tome. I heard that Buddha once wrote a scroll to explain it. Unfortunately, it is now lost.”
Ning Que had heard this from the Headmaster. He could not understand the ”Ming” Handscroll, so he wanted to know what Buddha had seen from it, so he felt a little regret when he heard that.
”But Buddha must have mentioned the Underworld Invasion.”
”In Buddhism, the Underworld Invasion is called the Dharma Ending Period. On some old scriptures, it is also called Nirvana. The Xuankong Temple and the Lanke Temple exist because of this.”
”Are you talking about rituals commemorating the Underworld during the Yue Laan Hungry Ghost Festival? Or the legendary Light of Buddha?”
”In fact, the most important mission of the Lanke Temple is to find the Son of Yama.”
Ning Que said, ”Master, you know that I am very sensitive to the term 'Son of Yama' now. Furthermore... The Buddhism Sect is focused on tolerance and leaving the mortal realm. Even if they found him, would they use the Light of Buddha against him?”
The master laughed and said, ”Even if they tolerated, they'd want to know what they're tolerating, no? The Buddha had not experienced the previous Dharma Ending Period. I guess he must have been curious about what Yama would do when he entered Nirvana.”
”There is something that I don't understand.”
Ning Que said, ”Even if the rumors become reality, with the coming of darkness and the Underworld Invasion really happening, why would Yama send his son to our world? It is ludicrous to think of the Son of Yama as his vanguard. If it was meant as preparation for him to inherit the throne, that'd be even funnier.”
”Rumors say that Yama was born before the beginning of time and would die at the end of time. He is the opposite of Haotian's light and is almighty. He doesn't move and doesn't die, and is called Invariant Yama. There are also rumors that Yama stays outside of space and holds the infinite world in his hands that is wide and endless. So he is known as the Lord Guang Ming. However, what he wants to do most, is to turn the mortal world into the Underworld.”
Master Qishan said.
Ning Que suddenly said, ”Teacher doesn't believe in the Underworld Invasion.”
Master Qishan said with an odd expression, ”Did the Headmaster tell you that?”
Ning Que nodded and said, ”Because teacher has not found where the Underworld is located.”
Master Qishan said with a slight smile, ”Then just treat it as me telling you a story.”
Ning Que answered, ”Thank you, Master.”
The master smiled and continued, ”To counter the Underworld Invasion, Haotian recreated 69,999 false worlds in the Infinite Space after a previous attack. Then, he mixed the real world into it. No matter how powerful Yama is, he cannot differentiate which world is the real one in Haotian's light.”
”So at the cost of sleeping for a thousand years, Yama divided 70,000 auras and sent them into the 70,000 worlds. They are the legendary 70,000 children of Yama. The 70,000 children who grew up in their own world will eventually wake up one day, and once they wake up, the Underworld will be able to sense the rules of the child's world, confirming whether it is a real or a false world.”
At this point, Master Qishan remained silent for a long time. He whispered a few names of Buddha, forced himself to suppress his fatigue, and went on to say, ”If the Son of Yama wakes up, Yama will know the exact position of our world in the light of Haotian. Then he will come to earth according to his son's coordinates.”
Ning Que looked at the cooling pot of tea and suddenly said, ”Since the dark night has come, there is no point in finding the Son of Yama now.”
”The dark night has yet to come. What we can sense now are all warning signs of the danger that will come to pass. Even if the Underworld is aware of our location, without the body of Son of Yama as a conduit, it would be impossible for it to come.”
”So... we have to kill the Son of Yama to save the world?”
”There are other ways aside from killing him.”
”What are they?”
”For example, having him cultivate in the Buddhist heart of peace, and then cleansing him with light?”
”Master... why do I feel like you're talking about me.”
”Ning Que, you really are an interesting child.”
”How am I interesting?”
”You are interesting because you can control your mental state perfectly.”
”I do not understand.”
”You can do whatever you desire. And if you do not wish to do it, you can stop yourself from doing it. This is a good thing.”
”Master, I have said that I am not good at meditation.”
”Then what are you good at?”
”Fighting?”
”...”
Before the quiet and cold Buddhist temple, Ning Que's and Master Qishan's voices droned on.
There wasn't anyone around the temple, so there was no need to worry about anyone overhearing them.