To the side.
Gu Qingfeng watched the confrontation between Da Xing the Mad Monk and Pure Robe Bodhisattva as if enjoying a spectacle. While he wasn't intimately familiar with the affairs of the Western Heaven's Buddhist Dao, he had heard Da Xing grumble about them many times. Originally, given Da Xing's temperament, Gu Qingfeng thought he would definitely slap the Pure Land Sect members upon meeting them.
Especially since that so-called Pure Robe Bodhisattva had mentioned the Chan Sect's ruins—something Da Xing cared about most. To Gu Qingfeng's surprise, Da Xing hadn't taken action, only engaging in idle chatter. He appeared quite confident, as if he wasn't the least bit afraid of the Pure Land Sect or the Western Heaven Buddha Emperor Miaorulai behind Pure Robe Bodhisattva.
In truth,
when Da Xing spoke those words, it was enough to show that his heart was already panicking like a dog's, though he didn't show it outwardly.
The reality was exactly as Gu Qingfeng suspected. Da Xing's heart was filled with anxiety. If they hadn't run into Pure Robe Bodhisattva and the others from the Pure Land Sect this time, it would have been fine—out of sight, out of mind, and less worry. Who would have thought they'd just happened to encounter the Pure Land Sect right here? This only deepened the worries of Da Xing, who was already constantly on edge.
Their Chan Sect had far too few members; they simply couldn't contend with the Pure Land Sect led by Miaorulai.
Moreover, once their Chan Sect's ruins emerged, those vying for it likely wouldn't be limited to the Pure Land Sect. Who knew how many beings across heaven and earth were also coveting their Chan Sect's secret treasure?
"May I ask, honored sir, who you might be?"
While conversing with Da Xing, Pure Robe Bodhisattva had been secretly observing Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "This lord is a god, and also a sage."
"Oh?
Quite the boastful tone."
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, still smiling. "Can't help it. This lord's tone has always been big. What, you have a problem with that?"
"Heh!"
Pure Robe Bodhisattva shook his head, staring intently at Gu Qingfeng. "If this venerable one's guess is correct, you are the renowned You Di, are you not?"
"That's right."
"So it is you."
Pure Robe Bodhisattva had entered secluded cultivation and slumbered since the late Ancient Era and had never met Gu Qingfeng before, not even once. However, after awakening, the name he heard most frequently was Gu Qingfeng's. Hence, upon this meeting, he recognized Gu Qingfeng's identity at a glance.
"The name You Di thunders in my ears. An honor long awaited," Pure Robe Bodhisattva said with a thin, insincere smile.
"Then keep on waiting," Gu Qingfeng replied, too lazy to waste words on him. He turned to Da Xing. "Let's go."
With that, he left without looking back.
"Pure Robe, this old monk will await you all at our Chan Sect ruins. Farewell for now."
Da Xing tossed out a final remark and followed Gu Qingfeng.
Pure Robe Bodhisattva did not give chase. He stood suspended in the air, gazing at Gu Qingfeng's retreating back, his eyes carrying a chill.
"Elder, that person...
Is he truly You Di?"
The other senior monks of the Pure Land Sect behind him asked with faces full of shock and doubt. None had seen Gu Qingfeng before, and though they had heard many tales of his deeds, they never expected to encounter him here.
"It should be him."
"So that means You Di has truly come to the Primordial Black Hole!"
"'When the Desolate Ancient appears, Original Sin shall change.' It seems this prophecy is about to come true!"
After confirming Gu Qingfeng was You Di, the Pure Land Sect's Arhats and senior monks grew very excited.
'When the Desolate Ancient appears, Original Sin shall change'—this prophecy was an open secret across heaven and earth. Everyone believed Gu Qingfeng was the destined True Lord of Original Sin. If he did not die, he would become that True Lord. Therefore, he must die; no one would allow him to leave the Primordial Black Hole alive.
Moreover, the prophecy stated that if the Desolate Ancient appeared, Original Sin would definitely change. Now that the Desolate Ancient had appeared, there was no doubt Original Sin would also change. And if Original Sin changed, it meant Gu Qingfeng was fated to die.
"Elder, since You Di has appeared in the Desolate Ancient, what about our plan..."
"The plan remains unchanged. Our primary target is still the Chan Sect's secret treasure."
"Won't that be penny wise and pound foolish? What if others seize the initiative first? Even if we obtain the Chan Sect treasure, wouldn't we just be preparing the bridal chamber for others?"
"The initiative...
is not so easily seized," Pure Robe Bodhisattva said expressionlessly. "Especially the initiative regarding Original Sin. If the time is not right, no one will act lightly. Right now, everyone is waiting. We must also wait...
for the opportune moment to arrive."
...
Within this Desolate Ancient ruin that resembled a setting sun, Gu Qingfeng strolled casually while chatting with Da Xing.
"I say, Da Xing, when did you change your nature?"
Da Xing, puzzled, asked, "Change what nature?"
"That pretty-boy Bodhisattva was clearly provoking you earlier. Why didn't you slap him? That's not like your style, you old bald donkey. They were practically shitting and pissing on your head, and you could still tolerate it?"
Gu Qingfeng's words were undoubtedly rubbing salt in Da Xing's wound. Irritated, Da Xing retorted, "What else? You tell me what to do!"
"They've already made it clear they intend to snatch your Chan Sect's supreme treasure. Of course, kill them first! If you kill them now, you'll have less trouble later, won't you?"
"You brat really talk without feeling the pain. More than half of those dozen or so from the Pure Land Sect are Golden-Bodied Arhats. Do you think Golden-Bodied Arhats are that easy to kill? And that grandson Pure Robe, who pretends to be young—his cultivation and strength are unfathomable. Even this old monk isn't confident if a real fight breaks out."
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Gu Qingfeng didn't know the extent of that Pure Robe Bodhisattva's cultivation, nor did he bother to probe. Hearing Da Xing's words, he said, "Is that pretty-boy really that powerful?"
"If you don't believe me, why don't you try killing one for this old monk?"
"Hearing you say that, this lord really does feel like giving it a try."
In his lifetime, Gu Qingfeng had killed many people—old immortals from the heavens, ancient demons from the earth, numerous fate-bearers and tribulation-bearers. The only ones he hadn't killed were Bodhisattvas.
For one, he hadn't met many Bodhisattvas. For another, he held a bit of reverence for Buddha in his heart.
In his impression, though the Western Heaven boasted boundless Buddhas, most were merely cultivators of Buddhism, far from being true Great Buddhas in the meaningful sense.
To achieve a true Great Buddha, one must first attain the Arhat fruit and become an Arhat.
Those who achieve Arhatship possess indestructible golden bodies. While not truly deathless or imperishable, they are nearly so. Ordinary divine abilities can hardly shake a golden body. One could say the existence of an Arhat is immensely powerful.
In the Western Heaven's Buddhist gate, perhaps Buddhas fill the skies, but Golden-Bodied Arhats are definitely not numerous.
And only after attaining the Arhat fruit can one attain Bodhi. Only by attaining Bodhi can one achieve Bodhisattvahood.
Those who achieve Bodhisattvahood can be said to possess boundless Buddha Dharma. Every gesture and movement embodies the profound transformations of vast Buddha Dharma. Even a single thought can plunge you into an abyss.
Back in the Ancient Era, Gu Qingfeng had once crossed hands with a Bodhisattva from the Western Heaven's Buddhist gate. To this day, he remembered clearly: that Bodhisattva merely plucked a single petal, and then...
there was no 'then.' Gu Qingfeng was trapped within that petal world for a long, hard time. What remained most vividly in his memory was the mantra that Bodhisattva chanted, tormenting Gu Qingfeng to the point of wishing for death, suffering unbearably.
Moreover, Buddha Dharma was the bane of all that was evil.
In his past life, Gu Qingfeng was laden with evil deeds. He had experienced the taste of being suppressed by Buddha Dharma and understood all too well how terrifying the innate sacredness within Buddha Dharma could be.
In the current era, Gu Qingfeng himself couldn't clearly say how capable he was, nor did he know what would happen if he faced a Buddhist Bodhisattva now.
Thinking of this, Gu Qingfeng truly felt a stirring urge. Rubbing his chin, he said, "How about it? Should this lord go give it a try?"
"Try what? This old monk was just talking! You brat actually taking it seriously?"