Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 553: Chapter 335: Crossing the Tribulation

“`

Time whisked by in the blink of an eye, and a hundred years had passed.

One hundred years later, in the Earth Immortal Realm, on the South Observance Continent.

“South Observance Continent, indulgent in desire, delighting in misfortune, full of slaughter and strife!”

“It must be converted to Buddhism, to universally deliver the common people, to achieve boundless merit!”

“Amitabha!”

Suddenly, with the intonation of a Buddhist chant, two figures approached with measured steps.

The two were garbed in monks’ robes, their heads crowned with auras of light—clearly, they were two great monks from Buddhism.

One of them resembled the Cloth Sack Maitreya, wide-bodied and plump, forever with a smile on his face.

The other had the stern countenance of the Vajra Wrathful Aspect, muscular and towering, his serious demeanor in stark contrast.

Both were barefoot, advancing with each step seemingly shrinking the earth beneath them. Thousands of mountains and rivers were traversed in the blink of an eye.

The plump monk carried a cloth sack on his back, its contents unknown, but the outline suggested the coiling postures of dragons and snakes. Yet, he seemed unconcerned, shouldering the bag as he walked on, while talking to the muscular monk beside him.

“It has been a hundred years.”

“That Mount Longevity remains unresponsive, unwilling to come visit us.”

“It seems this person is determined to make things difficult for Buddhism.”

The muscular monk, with a stern face and an air of earnestness, looked towards the horizon where majestic mountains had come into view and spoke in a heavy tone, “It is said this person has extraordinary methods and vast divine powers. After eliminating the Golden-Furred Lion a hundred years ago, he has exorcised demons and eradicated evil in the surrounding areas, slaying many formidable demons, and his fame now shakes South Observance.”

The Cloth Sack Monk nodded, “That fiend, the Golden-Furred Lion, though only of Integration Cultivation, held the Purple-Gold Bell of the Bodhisattva, which no ordinary person could deal with. This man managed to eliminate it; he either must have mastered remarkable divine powers or possesses a treasured artifact. Without the emergence of Mahayana, he remains unassailable, which is why you and I have been alerted.”

“The fiend descended to the Lower Realm, causing havoc among humans. His elimination is justified and unobjectionable.”

The muscular monk’s expression was indifferent, “Yet, the Purple-Gold Bell is the possession of a Bodhisattva, stolen by that fiend to wreak havoc; we are thus duty-bound to reclaim it.”

“I’m afraid he will not part with it willingly.”

The Cloth Sack Monk shook his head, “It is said this person’s temperament is fiery, he acts decisively. These years, he has been suppressing demons all over South Observance, clashing with all sides, yet he has never retreated, engaging in fierce battles several times…”

“Regardless, it is the will of the Bodhisattva; the Purple-Gold Bell must be reclaimed!”

The muscular monk spoke unwaveringly, “If he returns it, the matter shall rest.”

“And if not?”

“Then we fight!”

“It can only be so.”

As they spoke, they crossed mountains and rivers, finally arriving at their destination.

In front of them lay mountains majestic as Kylin, with the posture of ‘Dragon Coiled and Tiger Crouching,’ a vast and imposing sight.

Indeed…

“Mount Longevity!”

“Where should this auspicious sign hail from, but from the arrival of an Arhat Venerable.”

Just as the two halted, they heard a soft chuckle, followed by a descending cloud.

Upon the cloud stood an old man, wearing a square headscarf and a crane-feather garment, his hair and beard white as snow, truly a picture of an aloof and otherworldly Immortal.

Indeed…

“True Person Ziyang!”

The two monks exchanged a glance, a trace of surprise in their eyes.

The other party recognized them, and they too knew of him.

Mount Jinhua, Enlightenment Cave, Lord Ziyang!

Not only was he a Mahayana True Immortal but also a renowned Alchemy Cauldron Grandmaster in the State of South Observance, with an illustrious reputation.

What could such a being be doing here?

“Amitabha!”

The two monks refocused and greeted him with the chant, “It turns out to be True Person Ziyang. We did not expect to encounter you here.”

“Ha!”

True Person Ziyang chuckled, examining the two monks and playfully said, “What could bring two esteemed Venerables to this place, I wonder?”

“Amitabha!”

The Cloth Sack Monk shook his head, “We mean no concealment from True Person. My junior brother and I are here on the Bodhisattva’s orders, to retrieve the Purple-Gold Bell.”

“I see.”

As if he had anticipated their purpose, True Person Ziyang showed no surprise, merely chuckling, “Zhen Yuan is a reasonable man; if the two Venerables explain the situation with logic and appeal to his emotions, surely he will return the Bodhisattva’s treasure.”

“Hmm!?”

The monks furrowed their brows, sensing an underlying message in his words. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

True Person Ziyang, however, did not dwell on it and continued smiling, “However, the time is not yet ripe, Zhen Yuan has not opened his mountain gate, and we cannot enter rashly. Why not wait here with me for a while, esteemed Venerables?”

“This…”

Hearing this, the two monks frowned all the more, uncertain of how to respond.

They were no ordinary monks, but Arhats from the Western Buddhist realm, attendants of the Great Sun Buddha himself—Kasaya-bearer Arhat and Honored Sufenda.

“`

The rotund monk with a cloth sack, Kasaya-bearer Arhat himself, was one of the Eighteen Arhats, long a renowned Mahayana figure in Buddhism and attendant to Buddha.

Another was his Disciple Brother, Honored Sufenda, known as the Pagoda-carrying Arhat, who was also a close disciple of that Buddha. Though later in his journey, his Taoist Cultivation was even more profound, with Divine Powers surpassing that of his senior Disciple Brother, the Cloth Sack Arhat.

These two, on this occasion, were following orders and carrying out the will of the Great Mercy Bodhisattva, coming here to retrieve the Bodhisattva’s Magical Treasure, the Purple-Gold Bell. For Mount Longevity, their arrival could only mean “ill-intentioned visitors!”

Thus, this True Person Ziyang, actually wanted them to wait outside the mountain until Mount Longevity opened its gates to welcome guests?

Wasn’t that a joke?

The two frowned deeply, filled with astonishment and uncertainty, but seeing the expression of True Person Ziyang, they felt it was inappropriate to force their way.

While Mount Jinhua’s Enlightenment Cave lacked a True Immortal and True Person Ziyang was also just a Mahayana figure, neither in background nor in power did he rival these two Buddhist Arhat Venerables. Still, they dared not underestimate him, as apart from his extensive Cultivation, he was also a master of Alchemy Skills, a famous Alchemy Cauldron Grandmaster in the State of South Observance.

Beyond that, he had wide connections—among the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, his affability was vast, making him a well-known good-natured person.

In this world, it was difficult to be a good person, even more so to be an old good-natured person. Anyone from the chaotic State of South Observance who could hold that title was by no means a simple character or an ordinary person.

Therefore, they had to treat him with strategic caution.

“This True Person Ziyang, addressing him so familiarly as a fellow Daoist, speaks highly of him in conversation as though they share a close friendship,” they thought.

“It’s said that this man’s Cultivation is exceptional, with vast Divine Powers. He excels in a hundred arts, delving deep into many fields, and his accomplishments are quite extraordinary. He’s adept in nurturing Spirit Plants, skilled in Beast Taming, proficient in Alchemy, good with talismans and tools, and even has knowledge in Array Formation. While not explicitly a Grandmaster, he could be described as a scholar admired by both the celestial and the infernal realms!”

“With all this, although he made quite a few enemies over the years, his friendships were even more numerous. Especially with the likes of True Person Ziyang, a great enthusiast of alchemy, who does not hesitate to associate as equals with figures of Mahayana status, engaging in discussions of the Dao. It seems now that they share an inviolable bond.”

“Speaking so, this man has made a name for himself, a move against him would affect the whole situation. If we were to act forcefully, I’m afraid it would not end well.”

“Could it be he already knows we’re coming to call on him, so he’s summoned friends to strengthen his position?”

The two frowned deeply, their hearts filled with surprise and uncertainty.

True Person Ziyang maintained a faint smile, offering no further words.

Finally, the Cloth Sack Arhat spoke up, “My Disciple Brother and I are here by the Bodhisattva’s decree, solely to retrieve the Purple-Gold Bell. Zhen Yuan is upright and maintains his integrity, understands situations, and reasons well; surely he will not make things difficult for us. May I trouble you, True Person…”

“Who could be such a dignitary here? From afar, I saw an auspicious radiance—indeed, it is two Venerables from Buddhism!”

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted. A streak of sword light streaked across the sky and, in the blink of an eye, came to rest beside the three, transforming into a young man clad in green robe, with a pair of swords slung on his back.

“True Monarch Pure Jun!”

Upon seeing this likewise ethereal man radiating a subtle sharpness of the sword, the Cloth Sack Arhat halted his speech, while the Pagoda-carrying Arhat also furrowed his brows.

“The visit of two Venerables graces us immensely, may I inquire the purpose of your presence?”

Though True Monarch Pure Jun appeared quite familiar, he stepped forward with a light laugh and asked, “Could it be that you are also here at the invitation of Zhen Yuan?”

“This…”

The Cloth Sack Arhat and Pagoda-carrying Arhat exchanged a look of hesitation, while True Person Ziyang beside them smiled without saying a word.

Just then…

“Who might be present here? It turns out to be Buddhist Arhats!”

Another long whistle was heard, and a sharp aura swept through the air, revealing a figure—a black-clad young man with a cold demeanor and an aggressive air about him.

“Hmm!?”

“Demon!”

Pagoda-carrying Arhat’s eyes hardened, and he stepped forward, fixating his gaze on this person.

“Hmph!”

The black-clad youth snorted coldly, unfazed, forcefully projecting his aura, revealing a chilling sword intent that matched the other’s—clearly also a practitioner of Mahayana Cultivation.

Seeing this, even the Cloth Sack Arhat couldn’t help but furrow his brow deeply.

True Person Ziyang himself was a renowned figure and an Alchemy Cauldron Grandmaster, without speaking.

The True Monarch Pure Jun, too, was a known figure in the State of South Observance, and as a Sword Cultivator, his combat prowess was extraordinary.

As for the black-clad youth, though the two Venerables were unaware of his origins, they could sense an unrestrained strand of demonic energy from him.

It seems he is a Mahayana figure of the Demon Race!

In the State of South Observance, where Dragons and Snakes are jumbled together and all manner of teachings and sects abound in chaos, the presence of a Demon Race Mahayana was not something out of the ordinary.

But what was strange was what a Demon Race Mahayana would be doing at Mount Longevity? Was Zhen Yuan, aside from True Person Ziyang and True Monarch Pure Jun, cultivators of the Immortal Path, also in league with a Demon Race Mahayana?

How did he manage this? Wasn’t it said that he was traveling through the State of South Observance, slaying demons and expelling evils? Logically, such fiends should be natural enemies, so why now…?

Feeling the undisguised hostility of the black-clad man, the Cloth Sack Arhat furrowed his brows deeply, while the Pagoda-carrying Arhat stood in stern silence.

Just at this moment…

“Quite the lively scene!”

Another light laugh was heard as auspicious clouds approached, upon which there were birds chirping merrily—a group of women, all exceptionally beautiful.

“Hundred Flowers Valley!”

“Flora Immortal!”

The clouds settled, and a woman led others forward, bowing slightly to True Person Ziyang and the others, “Peony pays respects to all the fellow Daoists here.”

“So it’s the Peony Fairy!”

True Person Ziyang smiled.