Chapter 214: Is Shakyamuni Still in This World?
"Beast, absolute beast! This kid actually... won't even spare a nun!" Li Heishui howled.
"He's just a little nun, only fifteen or sixteen years old. Too beastly!" Tu Fei's eyes went wide.
"One must not be too Ye Fan. So young, yet he dares to lay hands on a nun. Makes us feel ashamed." Liu Kou stared without blinking.
"This kid truly has no scruples about meat or vegetables. That's the princess of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty." Jiang Huairen clicked his tongue.
Wu Zhongtian, however, looked somewhat worried. He stepped forward, afraid that Ye Fan might stir up great trouble. Such an immortal ancient imperial dynasty was even more terrifying than a Holy Land.
"That's the princess of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty. Born accompanying a Buddhist flower, she entered the Buddhist faith. Though she has left secular life, she remains the Xia Emperor's most beloved daughter. This fellow had better not act recklessly."
The five of them walked forward, closely watching the scene ahead.
How could Ye Fan not be shocked? He had long heard that there was a Buddhist sect in the Western Desert, and even monks in the Central Province. He had always wanted to investigate.
The Buddha—from the other shore of the starry sky, a figure from two thousand five hundred years ago. One could say they came from the same place.
He urgently wanted to know if this Buddha was the same one from the Great Thunderclap Monastery, if he originated from Earth.
If so, then he had gained a hope!
He desperately wanted to understand all of this. If it was a sage who could traverse the starry sky, then he had hope of returning to his homeland.
Though in this world he could fly through the heavens and burrow into the earth, possessing immense power, he would rather be a mortal, quietly enjoying that warmth at home, rather than living this kind of life.
Shakyamuni, a figure from over two thousand years ago, founded Buddhism, which flourished immensely and had a tremendous impact on later generations.
In the past, Ye Fan only thought of him as an ancient man of great wisdom, never regarding him as a deity.
He believed that so-called Buddha was merely a state of mind, not a manifestation of divine power. He didn't believe anyone could display supernatural abilities.
But when the nine dragons pulled the coffin, setting sail from Mount Tai and bringing him to a mysterious and unfathomable world, all his perceptions were overturned.
He had to regard that ancient man of great wisdom as a deity, as a cultivator with boundless magical power. This was a transformation in his ideological understanding.
He could not forget the ruins of the Great Thunderclap Monastery on the ancient Yinghuo Star, and he desperately wanted to know where the Buddha had gone.
This world had Buddhism, and it was very likely that the Buddha had come here.
Two thousand five hundred years—not a very long time for this world, with living figures still existing. But for the other shore of the starry sky, it seemed incredibly long, traceable back to the pre-Qin period.
It was in that era that the Buddha attained the Dao, though Ye Fan didn't know his true level of cultivation.
Did he come to this world through the star gates left by ancient people, or did he traverse the starry sky on his own? Ye Fan had no way of knowing.
Ye Fan felt a dreamlike sensation. A figure from two thousand five hundred years ago on the other shore of the starry sky should have long since returned to dust. Yet he might be able to converse with that person in the future.
"Who goes there? Stop!"
Ahead, the prince and princess of the Great Xia Dynasty were surrounded by armored soldiers, each clad in iron garments shimmering with divine radiance, their combat power surging.
These people guarded them tightly, scanning in all directions. Seeing Ye Fan charging over, they naturally blocked his path.
"I want to see that little nun." Ye Fan was somewhat excited, so his words came out a bit improper.
"How dare you! Do you intend to offend the princess?" The iron-clad soldiers crossed their blades, cutting off his path.
"No, I mean I want to see that young master, your esteemed princess." Ye Fan steadied himself and looked ahead.
The prince of the Central Province's Great Xia Imperial Dynasty had hair as black as a waterfall, eyes like stars, and an exceptionally outstanding aura. Like the son of the Heavenly Emperor descending to the mortal world, he was extremely heroic. Clad in divine iron armor, every move he made carried the flow of imperial qi, coalescing into dragon forms, radiating brilliant light.
He looked over, his dark eyes deep as an ocean, and asked calmly, "What business do you have?"
Ye Fan spoke, "I, this poor Daoist, see Your Highness with an imposing bearing, surrounded by dragon qi, fully displaying the dignity of an emperor. I couldn't help but step forward to behold the true dragon's countenance."
The Great Xia prince revealed a faint smile. "You certainly know how to speak. Come closer and let you see clearly."
"This kid really knows how to flatter. He's clearly after his sister!" Li Heishui muttered softly.
"With the intense competition among the princes of the Great Xia in the Central Province, he naturally enjoys hearing such words." Liu Kou whispered.
"This kid really is... aiming for the nun sister, yet talking about dragon qi and imperial dignity. What a scoundrel." Tu Fei curled his lip.
The iron-clad soldiers let Ye Fan pass. Now at close range, he said to the Great Xia prince, "I observe Your Highness: your heavenly court is like the sun, your earthly court like the moon, purple qi surging to the heavens, your eyes containing dragon majesty. One day you will surely ascend to the great treasure and become a generation's imperial lord."
"You little Daoist, what have you actually come for?" The Great Xia prince was naturally not swayed by his words.
At this moment, Ye Fan was sizing up the Great Xia princess. She was truly just a little nun, about fifteen or sixteen years old. Her white robe was like snow, her black hair completely gone, a white cap on her head.
Though young, she already had a slender figure, standing gracefully with a natural elegance, carrying a hint of childishness that made her utterly charming.
This little nun was genuinely pure and beautiful, with a touch of innocence. She was looking at him curiously, her big, dark eyes lively and full of spiritual energy.
Though she had no flowing hair, it didn't diminish her captivating charm. Her bright eyes were clear and moving, pure and lovely, naturally beautiful like a poem or painting.
"Young master, you have spiritual essence within, a naturally divine appearance, immortal bones and wisdom roots, a body like a Buddhist flower, a heart like a crystal bell. Truly a reincarnated Bodhisattva..." Ye Fan said seriously.
The little nun's big, dark eyes rolled as she looked at him, saying nothing, appearing very cute and delicate.
"Damn it! The more I look at this kid, the more he seems like a flatterer. He can really spin a tale." Even the lion-like steady Wu Zhongtian couldn't help saying this.
"This kid even dared to pull down the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi's undergarments. He's definitely no good bird." Li Heishui sighed. "Actually, I want to go over and say something too. That little nun must not fall for this beast's tricks."
On the other side, the Great Xia prince's face immediately darkened. He felt this little Daoist was targeting his sister. Any older brother would find it hard to be pleased.
Ye Fan naturally noticed his expression. He chanted a Daoist title, turned to face him, and said, "Your Highness, your momentum is already formed, your dragon might is heaven-endowed. What you lack now is merely the cultivation of imperial qi."
The Great Xia prince said indifferently, "Do you have any suggestions?" He wanted to drive this Daoist away, not wanting him near his sister.
Having encountered someone from Buddhism, Ye Fan absolutely wouldn't leave. His heart couldn't calm down. He urgently wanted to know if Shakyamuni was in this world. He spoke, "I wish to present Your Highness with a heavenly scroll. One day, you will surely rule over Great Xia."
"You, a Daoist, what do you know about the world's great trends? What do you know about imperial qi and the great Dao?" The guard beside him, sensing the prince's displeasure, wanted to drive Ye Fan away.
"How could I not know? In the universe, there are four greats, and the emperor is one of them. Can you understand this?" Ye Fan countered.
"You..." The guard commander was slightly angered.
"What are these four greats?" the Great Xia prince asked.
"The Dao is great, heaven is great, earth is great, and the emperor is also great." Ye Fan spoke calmly, but his eyes were fixed on the little nun.
The Great Xia prince had just begun to taste some meaning, but seeing him like this, he grew annoyed again. He said sternly, "Do these four greats have any connection?"
"The emperor is human. Humans follow earth, earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature. I have a scroll of imperial Dao heavenly scripture, modeling earth's all-embracing capacity, modeling heaven's all-encompassing cover. It can nurture imperial qi and serve as reference."
"Beast, absolute beast! To achieve his goal, he really makes flowers bloom from his mouth, stopping at nothing." Li Heishui grumbled from not far away.
"He can really spin a tale!" Tu Fei also curled his lip.
"Carefully savoring it, there is some reason to it." Wu Zhongtian pondered.
"I think you're here for the princess!" the guard commander said coldly beside him.
"That's not right. I came for His Highness. However..." He paused slightly, then said, "I do have a few questions for the young master."
"What do you want to ask?" the Great Xia prince asked flatly.
"I want to ask the young master: is Tathagata still in this world?" Ye Fan stared at the little nun, his expression extremely serious.
The exquisitely beautiful little nun looked slightly flustered, hiding behind her brother, tilting her head and blinking her big eyes at him.
The moment the words "Tathagata" left his mouth, the Great Xia prince's face changed dramatically. He said sternly, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
The word "Tathagata" seemed to possess strange demonic power. Not only did it make the Great Xia prince change color, but even the Holy Son Yao Guang, not far away, suddenly changed expression and walked over.
He was radiant as a blazing sun, golden light flowing on his body's surface, like an immortal king descending to the mortal world. Even standing in a vast sea of people, he could be seen as extraordinary.
Ye Fan clearly sensed their change in expression. He was surprised—did the word "Tathagata" possess some kind of magical power?
Yao Xi also walked over. She didn't know what "Tathagata" meant, but she sensed something unusual. She was like the rising morning glow, like the moon scattering radiance, walking with graceful steps.
At the same time, Ye Fan sensed another gaze, coming from a pavilion in the Yao Chi Source Stone Workshop. The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi stood by the window, shrouded in mist, gazing into the distance.
"Seeing true form, all dharmas are empty. In an instant, enlightenment realizes all dharmas are one. Once the scenery can no longer be hidden, face to face in naked exposure." Ye Fan recited a Buddhist gatha, looking at the pure little nun. "Dare I ask, is Shakyamuni still here?"
The little nun, white-robed like snow, ethereal as an immortal, opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.
The Great Xia prince of the Central Province now stood like a mountain, releasing dragon-shaped qi pillars. His divine armor bloomed with radiance, like a great emperor descending to the world, divine and martial. He stared coldly at Ye Fan and said, "We only know of Buddhism. We have never heard this name. Do not ask us!"
Was Shakyamuni a taboo? Ye Fan had this illusion.
"Suddenly awakened, the wondrous source of mind. The shell of ignorance cracks, all the same. In dreams, clearly there are six realms. After awakening, emptiness has no saints or mortals." Ye Fan tested the little nun with Buddhist gathas, finally asking solemnly, "Where is the Buddha?"
"The Western Desert has Mount Sumeru. If you wish to know, you can go seek it there," the Great Xia prince said coldly.
Hearing the words "Mount Sumeru," Ye Fan's heart shook. Was it truly Shakyamuni's dojo?
"I want to hear you speak in detail about Tathagata and Shakyamuni." Holy Son Yao Guang spoke to Ye Fan, his smile brilliant, like a spring breeze, like morning glow.
Ye Fan's heart trembled. He felt there was something wrong with Buddhism in this world. Otherwise, why would the Great Xia prince and Holy Son Yao Guang react like this?