Chapter Fifty-Six: Echoes of the Primordial Wilderness

After a moment of astonishment, Zhun Ti felt the tremor of the primordial purple qi within his body. Gritting his teeth, he made a grand vow to the Heavenly Way: “If I attain supreme enlightenment and become truly awakened, the Pure Land I reside in shall possess immeasurable, inconceivable merit and splendor. There shall be no hells, hungry ghosts, animals, nor crawling or flying creatures. All sentient beings, including those from the realm of Yama and the three evil paths, who are reborn in my Pure Land and receive my teachings, shall all achieve supreme enlightenment and never again fall into evil destinies. If I fulfill this vow, I shall become a Buddha; if not, I shall not seek supreme awakening. Should I become a Buddha, beings of the ten directions, with sincere faith and joy, desiring rebirth in my land, even if only for ten thoughts, should any not be reborn, I shall not attain awakening…”

Zhun Ti declared twenty-eight vows in succession before receiving a response from the Heavenly Way. He watched as an enormous pillar of merit descended upon him, trembling with excitement and momentarily forgetting how to fulfill his own promises.

…

The four had become Saints one after another, and in the instant of sanctification, each intuitively understood their mission to establish their own Daoist sanctuaries within Chaos.

At once, the four released the unique pressure belonging to Saints, broadcasting their voices to all creatures of the primordial world.

“I am the Void and Natural Taiqing Daoist Virtue Heavenly Lord, now sanctified. In a hundred years, I shall establish a sanctuary within Chaos. Those with affinity may witness it.”

“I am the Void and Natural Yuqing Prime Origin Heavenly Lord, likewise sanctified. In a hundred years, I shall establish a sanctuary within Chaos. Those with affinity may witness it.”

“I am the Void and Natural Shangqing Lingbao Heavenly Lord, likewise sanctified. In a hundred years, I shall establish a sanctuary within Chaos. Those with affinity may witness it.”

“I am Zhun Ti of the Western Buddhist Teaching, now sanctified. In a hundred years, I shall establish a sanctuary within Chaos. Those with affinity may witness it!”

Four immense pressures, four majestic voices, spread throughout the primordial world in an instant, greatly stirring countless powerful beings.

Within the All-Beings Teaching, Kunpeng’s heart burned with excitement. The nearby Jieyin, who had previously been indifferent, was shaken upon hearing that Zhun Ti had also become a Saint.

It was as if one learned that the idle youth loitering at one’s doorstep had suddenly become the richest man alive.

Originally, the position of Saint seemed unattainable to Jieyin, so he had not given it much thought. Yet, the one whose abilities were inferior in every way—Zhun Ti—had become a Saint!

Why?

At that moment, Jieyin’s previously calm heart rippled. Though outwardly he showed nothing, the event planted a seed in his heart, one likely to sprout at any time.

…

In the Celestial Court, Li Tian had already established his sanctuary and returned with his followers from Chaos.

Sensing the commotion from below, he realized that the Three Pure Ones and Zhun Ti had all become Saints. Sweeping his divine sense downward, Li Tian saw the Four—Three Pure Ones and Zhun Ti—scattered among the human tribes, preparing to open their sanctuaries within Chaos.

Li Tian’s divine sense could not evade the notice of the newly sanctified Three Pure Ones and Zhun Ti. Recognizing it as Li Tian’s, they showed no displeasure, instead offering gratitude through their divine sense.

After all, their attainment of sainthood was largely due to Li Tian’s guidance.

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Li Tian congratulated them and withdrew his divine sense.

He, too, was somewhat surprised—it seemed that time had flown by, and now the era of Saints had arrived.

…

At the same time, countless powerful beings in the primordial world learned of the Four becoming Saints, shaken and troubled. Four Saints opening their sanctuaries and preaching simultaneously—whose teachings should they attend?

…

A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. In Chaos, the Three Pure Ones each found a suitable place and, watched by countless powerful beings, established their sanctuaries.

In contrast, Zhun Ti’s situation was somewhat bleak. Everyone knew he was only a nominal disciple of Hong Jun, and from the side school, certainly not comparable to the Three Pure Ones.

Still, regardless of the lack of an audience, Zhun Ti gritted his teeth and opened his sanctuary.

After much effort, Zhun Ti named his small world the Pure Bliss Realm, inviting the few who came to listen to his teachings.

Few as they were, they were still people, and Zhun Ti resolved to win them over to his sect.

He was exceedingly attentive.

As they took their seats, Zhun Ti began to preach. With so few present, they gathered together, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a philosophical discussion.

Zhun Ti displayed no airs; whenever a question arose, he would answer.

This deeply moved those who came to listen. After all, Zhun Ti was a Saint, and yet he treated them with such respect.

Thus, after the hundred-year period of preaching, Zhun Ti smoothly drew these few into his sect, and so the Western Buddhist Teaching gained its first batch of members.

…

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of years had passed.

Since Li Tian and Nuwa became Saints, the Celestial Court expanded rapidly. Many who had attended lectures in the Purple Palace, whether yielding to the Court’s power or seeking future prospects, joined its ranks.

The influence of the Celestial Court gradually spread westward, toward Mount Buzhou.

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This touched the nerve of the Wu tribe, but, constrained by the Court’s power, even their proudest members dared not voice their anger.

The twelve ancestral Wu invested more energy into improving their cultivation.

Fortunately, the epoch mentioned by Hong Jun was still far off, so the Wu were not overly concerned.

Ironically, not long ago, the Wu regarded Hong Jun’s epochal prophecy as the greatest humiliation; now, it had become their greatest shield.

Li Tian was in no hurry. However the Wu tribe struggled, before himself and Nuwa—the two Saints—they were but large ants.

The Celestial Court would eventually unify the primordial world!

…

Over these years, many events occurred in the primordial world. For example, ten thousand years ago, Ming He of the Blood Sea, inspired by Nuwa’s sanctification through creation, decided to create his own race. Even if he could not become a Saint, a bit of merit would be worthwhile.

He used the essence of the Blood Sea and guided it with boundless baleful energy, modeling his creations after the innate Daoist form.

He watched as life after life emerged from his hands and, feeling a sense of achievement, named the new race the Ashura.

Thus, the primordial world gained the Ashura race. Although Ming He used the innate Daoist form as a template, the excessive baleful energy resulted in Ashura who appeared exceedingly strange: the males were fierce and burly, the females alluring and wanton.

They had a significant defect: they could not reproduce. Unless Ming He continued to create, their numbers would never increase, only decrease.

Still, creating a race moved the Heavenly Way, and a measure of merit descended. Though only a hundredth of Nuwa’s merit for creating humans, it was enough to satisfy Ming He.

He, too, followed the example of the Three Pure Ones and established the Ashura Sect. The merit this time was even less, but Ming He was content.

After all, he had only recited a couple of lines, making little effort.

News of this spread, causing a great stir in the primordial world. Countless people imitated him, but most wasted their efforts; a few gained minimal merit, all far less than Ming He.

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