When everyone deduced that the changes within Li Palace would affect the Original Sin Cataclysm, it was destined that this place would become a stage of tumultuous upheaval and a convergence of mighty forces.
Whether they schemed for the True Lord of Original Sin, or guarded the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth; whether they hailed from the Nine Heavens Holy Lands, or the Nine Nether Forbidden Grounds; whether they belonged to the Ruins of Return or the Desolate Ruins; whether they were bearers of various Heavenly Mandates, Sons of Original Sin, those bound by the destined calamity, or variables of Original Sin—all were destined to gather here.
They might arrive late, but they would never be absent.
First came countless Original Sin Dharma Bodies, followed by the Desolate-Ancient Patriarchs who had cultivated Original Sin Selves, Original Sin Essences, and even Original Sin True Bodies.
After them, the Great Dao overlords—the Black Mountain Old Monster, Liao'e Old Monster, and the Green Lamp Ghost Emperor—made their appearance. Then came the existence that exceeded everyone's expectations: Taiji Boundless.
And now.
The Buddha Emperor of the West, Miao Tathagata, had finally arrived.
A person's reputation casts a shadow like a tree.
The name Miao Tathagata, Buddha Emperor of the West, was known throughout the myriad realms of the heavens—there was no one who did not know it.
Even among those old monsters suppressed within the Ruins of Return for countless ages, Miao Tathagata was one of the names they had heard most often.
Since the Desolation Era, masters had emerged in every generation, each era producing at least one heaven-defying prodigy who shook heaven and earth.
For instance, the Great Sun Radiant Emperor, the Black Mountain Old Monster, Cang Yan the Lord of Langya, the Demon Emperor Xue He, the Nether Emperor Gu Qingfeng, the Changfeng Great Emperor, the Fulsheng Imperial Lord... all could be considered epoch-defining prodigies, overlords who rampaged across heaven and earth.
But if one asked, since the Desolation Era, who was the prodigy among prodigies, the overlord among overlords, the star among stars?
It was neither the Great Sun Radiant Emperor, nor the Demon Emperor Xue He; neither Gu Qingfeng, nor the Fulsheng Imperial Lord.
It was the Buddha Emperor of the West, Miao Tathagata.
Yes.
Miao Tathagata.
In terms of fearsome reputation, Miao Tathagata might not compare to the Great Sun Radiant Emperor.
In terms of bloodthirst, he might not match the Demon Emperor Xue He.
In terms of madness, he could not rival Gu Qingfeng.
In terms of prestige, he fell short of the Fulsheng Imperial Lord.
But if one spoke of heavenly gifts, heavenly selection, and heavenly favor—whether it was the Great Sun Radiant Emperor or Demon Emperor Xue He, Gu Qingfeng or the Fulsheng Imperial Lord—none could compare to Miao Tathagata. Not only could they not compare, one could even say there was no basis for comparison.
The Great Sun Radiant Emperor and Demon Emperor Xue He, though famous, only gained their widespread renown after attaining the Great Dao Heavenly Mandate.
By comparison, the Fulsheng Imperial Lord was even lesser.
At least in their youth, the Great Sun Radiant Emperor and Demon Emperor Xue He were personally groomed core disciples of major blessed realms, genuine Celestial Immortals with innate advantages.
As for the Fulsheng Imperial Lord, he was born in the mortal world, a flesh-and-blood mortal who became an immortal entirely through his own efforts. His later attainment of the Great Dao Heavenly Mandate was earned step by step through his cultivation.
Gu Qingfeng need not even be mentioned. Not only could he not compare to the Great Sun Radiant Emperor or Demon Emperor Xue He, he could not even match the Fulsheng Imperial Lord. Though the Fulsheng Imperial Lord was a mortal, he possessed once-in-ten-thousand aptitude and comprehension.
In his youth, Gu Qingfeng did not even qualify to join a mortal sect. With his poor aptitude, he could only serve as a menial laborer. That he achieved his later accomplishments was entirely because the words 'heaven and earth could not tolerate him' forced him, step by step, into becoming what he was.
Now consider Miao Tathagata.
It was said that from the moment he emerged from his mother's womb, miraculous phenomena occurred. Winds and clouds shifted, the myriad colors of nature bloomed for him, the radiance of the great sun enveloped him, violet energy flowed from the east, dragons and phoenixes heralded auspiciousness, sacred beings descended, and the world of Samsara transformed.
Such omens were comparable to the birth of a sage—perhaps even the birth of a sage lacked such miraculous signs.
Even more bizarre was that upon landing on the ground after birth, Miao Tathagata could walk. With each step he took, lotuses bloomed beneath his feet. After seven steps, seven lotuses had bloomed, each lotus resembling the Samsara World itself. This was truly 'lotuses blooming with every step'.
Was that all?
Of course not.
It was said that after taking seven steps, Miao Tathagata pointed one finger to the heavens, one finger to the earth, and spoke eight words to himself: "Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am supreme."
Some said Miao Tathagata was the reincarnation of a Tathagata.
These words were no small claim.
One must understand that the two words 'Tathagata' represent the supreme honorific title within the Buddha Dao.
For example, the famed Five Great Wisdom Kings are such.
The Immovable Wisdom King is the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha; the Trailokya-Vijaya Wisdom King is the Akshobhya Tathagata Buddha; the Kundali Wisdom King is the Ratnasambhava Tathagata Buddha; the Yamantaka Wisdom King is the Amitayus Tathagata Buddha; the Vajrayaksha Wisdom King is the Amoghasiddhi Tathagata Buddha.
Beyond this, 'Tathagata' carries another meaning. Within the Buddha Dao, it refers to one who continuously accumulates virtuous causes and finally achieves Buddhahood, hence named 'Tathagata'—the True Body Tathagata. Moreover, the two words 'Tathagata' also represent the past and the future.
It is said.
Miao Tathagata achieved Buddhahood upon landing on the ground, becoming the legendary eighty-one Amitabha Buddhas.
Miao Tathagata cultivated relics, cultivating the legendary thirty-six Nirvana Diamond Relics.
Miao Tathagata cultivated Arhats, cultivating the legendary eighteen Dharma-Protecting Arhats.
Miao Tathagata cultivated Bodhi, cultivating the legendary nine Samsara Bodhi seeds.
Miao Tathagata cultivated Wisdom Kings, cultivating the legendary Five Great Wisdom Kings.
Miao Tathagata cultivated the Great Sun, cultivating the legendary single Buddha's Great Sun capable of transcending all things.
Legend has it.
The eighty-one Amitabha Buddhas represent the boundless, limitless Buddha Dharma of the Buddha Dao.
The thirty-six Nirvana Diamond Relics represent an indestructible, deathless will.
The eighteen Dharma-Protecting Arhats represent the fearless, dauntless spirit of the Buddha Dao.
The nine Samsara Bodhi seeds represent the infinite, endless faith of the Buddha Dao.
The Five Great Wisdom Kings represent the supreme guardianship of the Buddha Dao.
The single Buddha's Great Sun represents the Buddha Dao's power to transcend all things!
How did Miao Tathagata manage to command the eight chaotic Buddhist sects of the Western Heaven while still in his youth?
He relied on the eighty-one Amitabha Buddhas. He relied on the thirty-six Nirvana Relics. He relied on the eighteen Dharma-Protecting Arhats. He relied on the nine Samsara Bodhi seeds. He relied on the single Buddha's Great Sun.
What is a heaven-defying prodigy?
This is a heaven-defying prodigy.
What are heavenly gifts? What is heavenly selection?
These are heavenly gifts. This is heavenly selection.
Ascending to the heavens in a single step from birth.
What peerless aptitude? What peerless comprehension? Before heavenly gifts and heavenly selection, they are utterly insignificant.
Since the Desolation Era, Miao Tathagata is the only existence who can be called a heaven-defying prodigy, one who is both heavenly-selected and heavenly-gifted. There is no other!
The world knows that the Great Sun Radiant Emperor is an overlord of the Immortal Dao, the Black Mountain Old Monster an overlord of the Monster Dao, and the Demon Emperor Xue He an overlord of the Devil Dao.
But no one has ever said that the Great Sun Radiant Emperor can represent the Immortal Dao, or that the Black Mountain Old Monster can represent the Monster Dao.
No.
Never.
They simply cannot represent the Immortal Dao, nor can they represent the Monster Dao.
The reason is simple: neither the Great Sun Radiant Emperor nor the Black Mountain Old Monster holds dominion over the origin of their respective Great Daos. They cannot be called Lords of the Great Dao, and naturally cannot represent the Daos they belong to.
Similarly.
Miao Tathagata also does not hold dominion over the origin of the Buddha Dao. Yet everyone believes he has the qualification to represent the Buddha Dao.
Because Miao Tathagata possesses the eighty-one Amitabha Buddhas, the thirty-six Nirvana Relics, the eighteen Dharma-Protecting Arhats, the nine Samsara Bodhi seeds, and the single Buddha's Great Sun. With these existences, the origin of the Buddha Dao is destined to be dominated by him. Aside from him, no one else could possibly, nor would have the qualification, to dominate the origin of the Buddha Dao.
This point.
Even Da Xing the Mad Monk had no choice but to acknowledge it.