Book 07 Chapter 070: Tathgata Zhengfa Ming

Borderless Heavenly Capital:

A vast fog blanketed a large valley, with many soldiers standing guard in the surroundings. A ma.s.sive ritual array covered the interior, preventing anyone from seeing in.

Gu Hais group stepped into the ritual array.

Your Reverence!

The many guards and officials in the ritual array respectfully saluted Gu Hai.

Gu Hai had no time to bother with them, as there was a bright light in the ritual array, a brilliant Buddhist light. In the surroundings, golden lotuses bloomed out of nowhere as Sanskrit chanting resounded and the Buddhist light shone.

Some guards slowly pressed their palms together, feeling a compa.s.sionate conception.

When Gu Hai stepped in, he saw a bald, white-clad monk walk out from a nearby cave. It was the little beggar, Zhengfa Ming.

However, Zhengfa Ming no longer looked like a beggar. He appeared like a transcendent being. Surging Buddhist light flared around his body, and the fragrance of sandalwood wafted into the surroundings.

[TL Note: Sandalwood is frequently used for making incense.]

As Zhengfa Ming walked, golden lotuses appeared out of nowhere.

This isthis is? Bodhisattva Lian Sheng stammered in wide-eyed shock.

Zhengfa Ming looked around, apparently confused. Eventually, he noticed Gu Hai.

Then Zhengfa Ming pressed his palms together and bowed.

This bow gave Gu Hai an indescribable feeling, as if this bow had cleansed all the sins in his body.

The Buddhist light Zhengfa Ming is giving off is extraordinary. It seems like just one glance can cleanse the mind, the Unborn Man said in shock.

Thisthis is not Buddhist light. This is infinite light? Thats impossible! How can there be infinite light? That is just a legend! Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said in shock.

Infinite light? What does that mean? Gu Hai asked in puzzlement.

Legend says that the original buddha is the Amitbha Buddha, also known as the Infinite Light Buddha. He is the originator of Buddhism, enlightening the ma.s.ses and pa.s.sing down the Buddhist Dao. He is the ancestor of all buddhas. However, that is just a legend. My Nalanda Temple even has a legend that this buddha did not exist in this world! Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said with an unsightly expression.

If he did not exist in this world, how could he have pa.s.sed down the Buddhist Dao? Gu Hai asked.

Its true. My Nalanda Temple and the Metal Temple of the past were the oldest temples, and we have records of it. The records say he appeared out of nowhere and was just an image, not a real person. He pa.s.sed down the Buddhist Dao, then disappeared. He had never appeared again through the generations. To this day, all the people who cultivate Buddhism chant his name as a greeting, hoping that he will appear again one day, Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said in shock.

A figure that appeared out of nowhere, spreading the Buddhist Dao. Everyone who cultivates Buddhism chants his name? Gu Hai said, feeling surprised.

Amitbha. His Buddhist name is the Amitbha Buddha! Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said, still shocked.

The Amitbha Buddha? Everyone in the surroundings looked at Bodhisattva Lian Sheng in shock.

Now, Bodhisattva Lian Sheng felt uncertain and shaken. The Amitbha Buddha that all Buddhists in the world yearned for had suddenly appeared? In Borderless Heavenly Capital?

Bodhisattva Lian Sheng found this surreal and wondered if all this was a dream.

Mister Gu, many thanks for pa.s.sing on the Buddhist Dao to me, Zhengfa Ming suddenly said.

You are no longer mute? You can speak now? Gu Hai said in shock.

Yes. After gaining Mister Gus Buddhist Dao and entering closed-door cultivation, I opened my mouth aperture and can speak now, Zhengfa Ming said seriously.

Youare you the Amitbha Buddha? Bodhisattva Lian Sheng anxiously wanted to know.

Previously, he thought his Nalanda Temple was very ancient. However, the Nalanda Temple was nothing if the person before him was the Amitbha Buddha.

I dont know. I only feel that countless Buddhist greetings awakened me from the boundless void. Zhengfa Ming shook his head.

Countless Buddhist greetings? Is it Amitbha? Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked anxiously.

There are two. Zhengfa Ming shook his head.

Oh?

One is Amitbha, the other is Amityus, Zhengfa Ming recalled.

[TL Note: Amitbha and Amityus are reversed in this novel due to a poor translation choice at the beginning. Both Amitbha and Amityus are used on Earth, but Amitbha is a lot more common, so I had been using that throughout the novel. It turns out that this novel differentiated the usage of the two, and that caught me off-guard. However, there are way too many chapters for me to go back and change, so Im just flipping the two greetings. They have similar meanings, one being the Infinite Light Buddha and the other, the Infinite Life Buddha. You can read more about this buddha and the differences between the two in his Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit%C4%81bha.]

Amityus? What is that? Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked in confusion.

Amityus?! Gu Hai gaped.

Thats not right. Isnt Amityus the Buddhist greeting on Earth?

It should be said that I reincarnated more than once already. However, I never attained enlightenment. I only gained enlightenment after Mister Gus Great Compa.s.sion Mantra, Zhengfa Ming said with a frown.

You reincarnated more than once? Could you be the Dao Devouring Physique that appeared a few times in history? The Unborn Mans expression changed.

I should be. In all my reincarnations, my body had an intense desire for the natural laws and could devour some of them. Unfortunately, my lifespan never exceeded one hundred years. After one hundred years, I died, and the laws returned to the world, Zhengfa Ming explained.

What is going on? Why can you devour the laws? Gu Hai asked.

Im not sure. Perhaps those laws were not mine, and I needed my own laws, the laws that I created. Your Great Compa.s.sion Mantra was incomparably compatible with me, Zhengfa Ming explained.

Your laws? Gu Hai felt slightly startled.

If you are the Amitbha Buddha, all Buddhist laws in the world logically belong to you. You can take them in as your own. Why is Imperial Emperor Gus Great Compa.s.sion Mantra the only one that worked? Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked in confusion.

Zhengfa Ming shook his head, indicating he did not know.

Gu Hais expression changed slightly, as he guessed something.

Everyone, withdraw from this place! Gu Hai commanded.

Yes! The surrounding Han Nation soldiers left.

Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, can I trouble you to leave for a while? Gu Hai looked at Bodhisattva Lian Sheng.

Imperial Emperor Gu, what are you going to do? Bodhisattva Lian Sheng asked in confusion.

I wish to speak with Zhengfa Ming alone, Gu Hai said.

But Bodhisattva Lian Sheng felt slightly reluctant.

Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, please! Gu Qin invited at the side.

Bodhisattva Lian Shengs expression changed continuously. Eventually, he nodded before hesitantly leaving the ritual array.

Now, only Gu Hai and Zhengfa Ming remained in the ritual array.

Mister Gu, you want to chat with me in private? Hah! I dont know much about myself, either. This enlightening only restored my memories from my previous reincarnations, nothing else. However, if you still have more Buddhist Dao, they might be useful to me. Zhengfa Ming smiled.

No. Im inviting someone over. Thats why I sent them away. Gu Hai shook his head.

Oh? Zhengfa Ming felt confused.

Then Gu Hai waved his hand. The Life Trapper Saber immediately flew from the Soaring Palace Hall to the valley.

Gu Hai extended his hand and operated the Life Trapper Saber.

Whoos.h.!.+

A black hole suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was the pa.s.sageway between the two immortal firmaments.

Calling for the Siddhrtha Buddha! Gu Hai called out to the black hole.

The Siddhrtha Buddha? Zhengfa Ming felt slightly confused.

However, no one walked out of the black hole.

Gu Hai frowned slightly. Then he understood. The deities and experts of Earths immortal realm could come over. However, Laozi, Siddhrtha, and the other leaders were unwilling to leave the Sas Immortal Firmament. They could only barely defend Earths immortal realm because of their presence. Once they left and Sa noticed, Sa would launch an all-out attack. Earths immortal realm would be in danger, so Siddhrtha refused to come.

Nevertheless, Gu Hai spoke again. Siddhrtha, this humble one is Gu Hai. I know you are unwilling to leave the Sas Immortal Firmament, just like Laozi. However, this matter is of utmost importance. I met a strange reincarnated person here, who perhaps goes by the Buddhist name Amityus Buddha.

Buzz!

Right after Gu Hai spoke, a Buddhist light flashed in the black hole. As the Buddhist light poured out, it seemed somewhat similar to the light from Zhengfa Mings body.

Huh? A trace of confusion appeared on Zhengfa Mings face.

Gu Hai, if you are lying to me, the Buddhist faction I lead will ignore you forever! A stern voice rang out.

A barefoot, burly monk strolled out of the black hole.

The monk appeared to have some misgivings.

Greetings, Lord Siddhrtha Buddha! Gu Hai bowed slightly.

This was Earths Siddhrtha. Gu Hai had interacted with him for some time on Earth.

After exiting the black hole, Siddhrtha ignored Gu Hai and looked at Zhengfa Ming.

Zhengfa Ming looked back at Siddhrtha with a slight frown. Why do I find you somewhat familiar?

Siddhrtha felt startled. Then exultation appeared on his face as he reached out to grab Zhengfa Ming.

Zhengfa Ming wanted to dodge, but Siddhrtha was too fast. Siddhrtha immediately caught Zhengfa Mings wrist and sent a Buddhist light into his body.

Zhengfa Ming trembled, finding this Buddhist light extremely comfortable. He gazed at Siddhrtha in confusion.

Is he the Amityus Buddha? Gu Hai asked, feeling curious.

Siddhrtha immediately let go, pressed his palms together, and bowed respectfully to Zhengfa Ming. This reincarnation, Siddhrtha, salutes Master, Tathgata Zhengfa Ming, the Amityus Buddha!

[TL Note: Tathgata is a Pali word meaning enlightened one, finder of truth, or one who has attained perfection. Buddhas often used it to refer to themselves. You can read more about it in this Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tath%C4%81gata.]

Master? Gu Hai parroted in shock.

Im your Master? Zhengfa Ming said in shock.

My previous life was the Bodhisattva of Great Compa.s.sion. When I was in Paradise, I became Master Tathgata Zhengfa Mings student and gained Honored Masters teachings and enlightenment. After that, I received guidance from the Dpakara Buddha and became a buddha. After Master vanished, the buddhas were destroyed and vanished into silence. Sa ruled the world, and Buddhism nearly got eradicated. This disciple reestablished Buddhism and created Sah, connecting it to Laozis immortal realm. I became the leader of the new Buddhism, Siddhrtha explained while bowing deeply.

[TL Note: Here are the Wikipedia entries on the Dpakara Buddha and Sah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipankara and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sah%C4%81.]

Oh? Zhengfa Ming appeared slightly confused.

Master does not remember your past life? Siddhrtha asked.

Zhengfa Ming shook his head. I only learned of some of my past lives after gaining Mister Gus Great Compa.s.sion Mantra.

Bodhisattva Guanyin auth.o.r.ed the Great Compa.s.sion Mantra. Bodhisattva Guanyin is one of Masters incarnations. Naturally, the Great Compa.s.sion Mantra is Masters Dao and laws; thats why it could enlighten you. Master, although Sa destroyed Paradise, Masters records and books still exist. Master, come back with me, and I will help Master restore the memories of your previous lives, Siddhrtha said excitedly.

Do you have many Buddhist Dao and laws that I can use? Zhengfa Ming asked, feeling confused.

Yes. How about this disciple pa.s.s on the Shorter Sukhvatvyha Stra to Master first? Siddhrtha replied with a trace of happiness.

[TL Note: Here is the Wikipedia entry on the Shorter Sukhvatvyha Stra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorter_Sukh%C4%81vat%C4%ABvy%C5%ABha_S%C5%ABtra.]

While Zhengfa Ming was still confused, Siddhrtha tapped on his forehead.

Buzz!

Zhengfa Ming immediately closed his eyes, appearing to be comprehending some wondrous laws.

As Zhengfa Ming comprehended these laws, more lotus flowers suddenly appeared in the surroundings. These lotuses were of various colorsgolden, purple, white, black, and many others.

This disciple awaits Masters reestablishment of Paradise! Siddhrtha looked at Zhengfa Ming, who was deep in comprehension, with antic.i.p.ation.