Chapter 3800: Myriad Forms Red Dust
Brahma Heaven was able to speak everything frankly, including his past decadence and desires. For a Buddha Lord standing at the highest hall of Buddhism, this was equivalent to cutting open his golden body and revealing his darkest, most despicable aspects.
The higher one stands, the more radiant they appear, yet the harder it is to face the past.
No one's past is perfect.
This made Zhang Ruochen less confident in his attempt to forcefully take the Saha World.
After all, Brahma Heaven's mistake lay in wrongly trusting Qishier Pin Lian, not the manipulator behind the scenes.
Moreover, since the Kunlun Realm re-emerged, the Western Buddha Realm had provided much assistance to the Kunlun Realm, and even Zhang Ruochen himself owed many favors.
This might be repaying debts!
Chi Yao saw Zhang Ruochen's dilemma, so she put away the Blood-Dripping Sword, looked at Cihang Xianzi, and said, "Does the immortal plan to stay in the Western Buddha Realm, or go with the Imperial Dust to the Sword Realm to establish a new Buddhist pure land and spread the teachings to more cultivators?"
Undoubtedly, Chi Yao pushed the difficult question to Cihang Xianzi.
If Cihang Xianzi wanted to go to the Sword Realm, Zhang Ruochen would have a reason to take the Saha World.
Although Cihang Xianzi was a Buddhist cultivator, she also had a seven-orifice exquisite heart. Without hesitation, she said, "Brahma Heaven was deceived by Qishier Pin Lian because he trusted her Buddhist teachings and character. He concealed the truth for Qishier Pin Lian to repay a debt of gratitude."
"Everything has cause and effect. Now that the cause and effect are resolved, all karmic connections should settle like dust."
"Now is a time of upheaval, with internal troubles and external evils constantly arising. Cihang is willing to stay in the Western Buddha Realm, in the Heavenly Court Universe, to contribute what little she can."
"If the Imperial Dust welcomes it in the future, I will surely visit the Sword Realm."
Chi Yao wanted to try again, saying, "Brahma Heaven repaid a debt of gratitude but destroyed his own reputation. The immortal's debt of gratitude..."
Zhang Ruochen stopped Chi Yao from continuing, stood up, and said, "The Western Buddha Realm holds the immortal's karmic connections in this life, so it's naturally hard to let go. Very well, we shall take our leave!"
Zhang Ruochen's desire to take the Saha World and bring Cihang Xianzi away was twofold: first, he feared the Saha World might fall into others' hands; second, he worried Brahma Heaven might harm Cihang Xianzi.
Now that such concerns were temporarily alleviated, he naturally respected Cihang Xianzi's choice.
Cihang Xianzi clearly did not want Zhang Ruochen and Brahma Heaven to clash and destroy the Western Buddha Realm.
That was why she made this choice.
"Zhang Ruochen, don't forget to help this god with physical cultivation!"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God's voice reached Zhang Ruochen's ears.
"Miaoli can stay in the Western Buddha Realm."
Zhang Ruochen was about to mention this to Cihang Xianzi.
But then, Brahma Heaven, seated on the lotus platform, said, "All karmic connections settled like dust? No, not yet. Before you arrived, Qishier Pin Lian asked me to do one last thing for her: take the Ultimate Bliss World and the Mani Pearl."
Zhang Ruochen stared sharply at Brahma Heaven and said, "Did Brahma Heaven agree?"
"I agreed!"
Brahma Heaven said.
Cihang Xianzi sighed softly, lowered her head, and moved her lips slightly, as if reciting something.
Chi Yao's respect for Brahma Heaven vanished completely. She said, "Does Brahma Heaven know that if you do this, you will be an enemy of the entire Kunlun Realm? This emperor can assure you that there will be no place for you in the Heavenly Court Universe!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "What Qishier Pin Lian wants is not just the Ultimate Bliss World and the Mani Pearl, but also the Saha World."
"I know."
Brahma Heaven said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "But you still want to help her?"
"Plant what cause, reap what fruit."
Brahma Heaven added, "What I promised her was to take the Ultimate Bliss World and the Mani Pearl, not to hand them over to her. Once done, the cause and effect will naturally be cleared. If she comes to the Western Buddha Realm to seize them, I will fight to the death."
Zhang Ruochen understood!
Brahma Heaven intended to take the Ultimate Bliss World and the Mani Pearl, lure Qishier Pin Lian to the Western Buddha Realm, and then use self-destruction to take her with him.
Only then would the sins and grievances be completely settled.
If he hadn't planned this, he wouldn't have brought it up.
Either he would have let Zhang Ruochen and the others leave directly.
Or he would have set up a heaven-encompassing net in Maha Mountain, launching a surprise attack to kill Zhang Ruochen without giving him a chance to escape.
By saying this, Brahma Heaven hoped Zhang Ruochen would allow him to do so.
Zhang Ruochen smiled freely and shook his head, saying, "Brahma Heaven wants to take the Mani Pearl and the Ultimate Bliss World from me? That won't be easy. Even if this is the Western Buddha Realm!"
Brahma Heaven remained serene and said, "The Imperial Dust dared to come to the Western Buddha Realm, so he must have made thorough preparations. I can see that the Buddhas of the Sixth Patriarch's lineage are all standing outside the ancient stupas, gazing at Maha Golden Platform."
"But I believe that even without using the Western Buddha Realm's foundational grand formation, just this Maha Mountain and the Jinggai Treasure Hall can keep you here. The Imperial Dust hasn't broken through to Indestructible Infinite yet, has he?"
Brahma Heaven's body emitted an overwhelming Buddhist might, spreading far and wide, many times stronger than Pina Yejia back then.
This was a true Indestructible Infinite!
He had already cultivated in the Indestructible realm for many years.
Zhang Ruochen's body also shone with Buddhist light, and the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal appeared beneath his feet, contending with Brahma Heaven, but he didn't act hastily. He said, "Does Brahma Heaven know that the Sixth Patriarch had long known about the relationship between Qishier Pin Lian and you?"
Brahma Heaven's momentum instantly weakened considerably, and confusion appeared in his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen said, "After the Sixth Patriarch's nirvana, he handed the Bright Mirror Platform to Xumi Saint Monk, not to you. That is the best proof."
"One word awakens the one in the game!"
Brahma Heaven's eyes grew even more bewildered, and he said, "Why? Since the Sixth Patriarch was so wary of Qishier Pin Lian, clearly knowing her nature, why didn't he act against her?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect! All this cause originates from the Zhang Clan. The Sixth Patriarch could only leave this cause and effect for Xumi Saint Monk to resolve, not handle it himself. Right and wrong, gratitude and enmity, the Sixth Patriarch couldn't sort them out. Moreover, Kong Fanni was still Yinyue Tian's daughter."
Brahma Heaven's eyes regained clarity and wisdom, and he said, "Are you saying I should learn from the Sixth Patriarch and leave this cause and effect for you to resolve?"
"That is how it should be."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Qishier Pin Lian's kindness to you is like a rebirth. How can you ever repay it? I am certain that when Qishier Pin Lian descends upon the Western Buddha Realm to take the Saha World, the Ultimate Bliss World, and the Mani Pearl, your Buddhist heart and spiritual will will surely falter. You won't have the resolve to self-cross or kill her. Because your gratitude toward her still exists to this day."
"Amitabha!"
Cihang Xianzi said, "Brahma Heaven, the Imperial Dust is right. The Zhang Clan's grievances should be handled by the Zhang Clan themselves!"
Brahma Heaven's Buddhist might gradually dissipated, and even his ninety-nine-zhang golden body vanished, his form returning to normal size. He sighed, "No wonder the Sixth Patriarch and the Seventh Patriarch both chose you. Your insight and wisdom surpass this humble monk's!"
"From today onward, the Buddha Lord of the Western Buddha Realm will be succeeded by Yuan Yi."
This Buddhist sound spread throughout the entire Western Buddha Realm.
Brahma Heaven stood up, stepped down from the lotus platform, and his brocade kasaya became dim and lusterless, like an old monk in the mortal world. With heavy steps, he walked out of the Jinggai Treasure Hall.
Chi Yao asked, "Where is Brahma Heaven going?"
"Long trapped in a cage, now returning to nature."
Brahma Heaven recited this line as he reached outside the hall, then added, "I did not kill others, yet billions of beings died because of me, and the Seventh Patriarch also fell because of me. Can this burden of sin be glossed over with a mere 'wrongly trusted Qishier Pin Lian'? I want to go see the world, to see if I can make up for something."
"After so many years, I can finally face my own heart."
"Having seen myself, it's time to see all beings!"
The Buddhas outside the Jinggai Treasure Hall retreated to both sides, bowing to Brahma Heaven.
Brahma Heaven walked out of Maha Golden Platform, stood on the white jade steps, and gazed at the boundless sea of clouds.
"Hua!"
He pressed his palms together, a relaxed and relieved smile appearing on his face. Then, his body transformed into billions of golden lights, scattering into the starry sky.
Zhang Ruochen, Chi Yao, and Cihang Xianzi appeared a step later above the white jade steps.
"May Brahma Heaven wash away the shackles in his heart, accumulate enough merit, and return soon."
Zhang Ruochen recited this line.
He knew that Brahma Heaven had performed an extremely dangerous ancestral method of Buddhism: Myriad Forms Red Dust.
Body transforms into myriad forms, red dust for a hundred lifetimes.
Now, Brahma Heaven had transformed into billions of incarnations, reincarnating across the universe, to experience a hundred lifetimes of red dust, sever past karma, accumulate merit, mend his heart, and seek his true self.
If he failed to fulfill the grand vow made during the ritual, he would never return, dissolving into dust in the red dust.
Since ancient times, only three ancestors had managed to return after performing this method.
Chi Yao's resentment toward Brahma Heaven vanished completely. She said, "I suddenly remembered something. Tai Shang's doppelganger once came to the Western Buddha Realm to seek a pill. Thinking back now, Tai Shang probably used that as an excuse to come to the Western Buddha Realm and confront Brahma Heaven. Clearly, Tai Shang had long forgiven him!"
Zhang Ruochen nodded slightly and said, "I plan not to return to the Kunlun Realm. From here, I will go to the Hell Realm."
"Through the Starry Sky Battlefield?"
Chi Yao asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If I go through the Starry Sky Battlefield, I'll inevitably have to visit Yama Heaven Outer Heaven. It's not the time yet. I plan to go through the Wuding Divine Sea!"
"I will first train in the Saha World. Last time, I experienced three hundred lifetimes there, and I still benefit immensely from it. I hope this time I can experience even more lifetimes, perhaps breaking through my spiritual power to the eighty-ninth rank."
"Send a message to Chuan Zong, telling him to come to the Western Buddha Realm to meet me."
Chi Yao frowned slightly and said, "Him alone?"
"He carries treasures bestowed by the Grand Master's father that can conceal his heavenly secrets and aura. For him, this is also a training experience."
Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao said, "I hope the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization won't secretly protect him, or it will backfire."
"With Chen Jing's intelligence, she won't make such a mistake."
Zhang Ruochen then asked, "What about you? What are your plans next?"
Chi Yao clearly couldn't go to the Hell Realm with Zhang Ruochen. She said, "After I cultivated the Twentieth Heaven Realm, we performed the final path exchange. Zangjin Baihu can now freely use divine powers and techniques in this era, with no restrictions on her power."
"I plan to return to the Ancient Divine Nest with her. If we can invite that ancestral god from the Ancient Divine Nest, our chances against the Darkness Temple and Jiusi Yitianhuang will be much greater!"
As she spoke, a dazzling golden light appeared beside Chi Yao.
In the light stood a delicate-looking young girl, appearing thirteen or fourteen years old, with a pair of white, fluffy tiger ears, big round eyes, long curved eyelashes, and a face full of proud arrogance.
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