Chapter 536 The Cultivation of K?itigarbha Bodhisattva (1/2)
With a similarly extensive look, Tianyi sized up to Shen Lian.
After a while, he spoke, ”I know that the subject of your question is inevitably difficult. I would answer if only I knew.”
Shen Lian's voice sank, ”Thank you.”
Tianyi shook his head, ”My pleasure.”
”Yin Shang replacing Xia was something that had already happened in the past. Why must it happen all over again? What exactly is the matter with the Netherworld? You must surely know why, so please tell me.” Finally, Shen Lian asked the question he wanted to ask, the contents of which if heard by other people would perhaps confound them.
Tianyi did not react to the question, as if he already expected it. He sighed, ”It seems that you are indeed different from us. It is true that Yin Shang replaced Xia long ago, but that does not mean that it will not happen for the second time.”
The question Shen Lian posed was not without reasons. Wen Zhong, Xia, Yin Shang, Wu Ding, and even Tianyi were all people and places of historical folklore or mythical records. But the happenings around Shen Lian were vastly different from that of myth and legend, peppered with clues and signs that gradually sowed seeds of doubt in him. Did he passed through space and time or did he reach a parallel universe similar to when Yin Shang replaced Xia? Or maybe he was truly a part of the history?
Tianyi's answer clearly enabled Shen Lian to understand that neither did he passed through space and time nor reach a parallel universe.
Shen Lian said, ”This surely contains a shocking secret. I hope you will share it with me.”
Tianyi seemed as though he was in pain, his supernatural power was distorted and it spoiled the calm and genial qualities he had all along. In the end, he sighed, ”I know but I cannot tell.”Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.
His pain gradually subsided, and finally, he said, ”Even if you knew the truth today, there is no use in it. If you could obtain Taiyi, you would naturally know and this would prove that you are really the Man of Destiny.”
Shen Lian replied, ”This is not the first time I was called 'Man of Destiny'. Do not tell me that having reached this step, you still believe Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva made the prediction with nothing to base it upon.”
Tianyi regained his calmness, ”That is not a prediction, that is something that will happen. Perhaps you did not know that in the Netherworld, the cultivation of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva had already surpassed that of Mahāsattva Bodhisattva. Three lives were cultivated: the past, the present, and the future. Therefore during his time in the Netherworld, he was no different from that of Daoist Master Buddha. Since the future was seen by Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, that future is a real one.”
Shen Lian astutely grasped the crux of it and questioned, ”Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva cultivated in this world?”
Tianyi gave a drawn-out reply, ”Correct. It seems that your inheritance did not involve the specific depictions of Taiyi and also those above it. In fact, once Taiyi is cultivated, one can pave way for the world and be the creator of beings. However, that kind of world is dependent on the Boundless Universe and therefore could properly be called a lesser chiliocosm. Its raw substance is actually a higher level of development for the things that we cultivate, for example, the place of enlightenment and Heavenly Nations, among others. But once we have the lesser chiliocosm that we ourselves paved way for, we could accommodate our own understanding of the laws of nature. In our own lesser chiliocosm, we are equivalent to the most supreme of deities. We could even be assimilated with the spirits of some of the living creatures, letting them exist with the lesser chiliocosm and gain a different type of immortality.”
Shen Lian faintly replied, ”Therefore, there were deities who disseminated faith to them, and upon entering the Heavenly Nations, could become immortal. Naturally, this is not a form of deceit but this dependence upon the immortality that was gained is not stable. One could easily be deprived of it at any given time.”
Tianyi answered, ”Indeed. Regardless of the fact that we are the most supreme of beings in our lesser chiliocosm, there are some things that we cannot do, namely turning back time.”
”This is something that only Daoist Master Buddha can do. Taiyi State is trivial and miles behind that of Daoist Master Buddha.” Shen Lian plainly said.
”The powerfulness of Daoist Master Buddha lies in the fact that he is able to assemble the past, present, and future states as one, regardless of the world. Moreover, they are able to finally be detached from all this. To reach that step is something we can never imagine. However, from the powers that they display, we may still be able to imitate them. One such example is where the past and future bodies become one with the current. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva has achieved that, though it is limited to this world only.” Tianyi sighed.
Shen Lian pondered, ”I understand now. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva borrowed this world to imitate the state of Daoist Master Buddha. Even though he did not imitate in its entirety, it is certain that much was gained in the process. If he is as you portrayed to be, perhaps he is the one with the most hope of becoming the next Daoist Master Buddha.”
Tianyi replied, ”Correct. Maybe he has already detached but that is not certain. You understand now, do you not?”