That massive hand that descended from the heavens in Yan Zhaoge’s final memories vaguely felt to him to be the work of some major bigwig of Buddhism as well.
He had even once suspected that it was Buddhism who had first attacked, Daoism counterattacking afterwards with both sides suffering catastrophic losses, Daoism falling greatly and Buddhism wiped out for good.
Yet, after having seen this world now, Yan Zhaoge knew that such was definitely not the case.
“It is the art of the Future Buddha…” Yan Zhaoge thought to himself as he gazed at the distant city.
The flourishing Buddha light was a manifestation of the power of faith and offerings of the believers.
The Future Buddha had spread Buddhism throughout the entire world, not focusing on proving the authenticity and carefreeness of one’s original nature as it instead felt like ‘those who believe in me shall attain nirvana; those who believe in me shall enter the blessed lands; those who believe in me shall achieve eternal life’.
To Yan Zhaoge, first not speaking of the extent of those capabilities, this set-up seemed…just a little bit low level?
Still, it was rumoured that devout believers of Buddhism would be bolstered by the power of the Future Buddha, not needing to spend much effort on cultivating to attain incomparable power.
There were even some who were able to attain a Buddhist seat and enjoy the blessed lands of infinite happiness, all their troubles being wiped away as a result.
The Future Buddha did indeed do what he said as if he was really going to save all mankind.
It was not for no reason that there had been far more believers of Buddhism than Daoism amongst normal people before the time of the Great Calamity.
Yan Zhaoge always felt that there was something wrong with this, however. Still, he could not come to any actual conclusions due to his limited understanding of the Buddhist arts.
It was just that since he already had these doubts, Yan Zhaoge was much more cautious when faced with Buddhism once more.
This was especially so with a world where Buddhism flourished having suddenly appeared before him when he had never yet seen any signs of Buddhism at all in post-Great Calamity times. This place that somewhat resembled a blessed land caused Yan Zhaoge to really wonder about it.
After pondering for a moment, Yan Zhaoge did not ask Pan-Pan to enter the city, instead expanding his search radius and scouting the surrounding area.
This was because there was a guess that had suddenly arisen within his mind.
This time, Yan Zhaoge did not pick a place based on its number of people as he selected a place completely at random.
Buddha light was similarly present in this smaller city. While it was much weaker than that in the previous city, it was not because the people here were not devout but simply because there were fewer of them.
Yan Zhaoge got Pan-Pan to shrink and return to the Myriad Dragon Palace which promptly shrunk as well, disappearing in an instant.
After keeping the Myriad Dragon Palace, Yan Zhaoge walked into the city alone.
After observing for a bit, Yan Zhaoge discovered that most of the people here were mere mortals who did not cultivate in martial arts.
However, Buddha light was seemingly concealed within every single one of their bodies.
To ordinary people, everyone looked the same, just perfectly normal.
However, with Yan Zhaoge’s vision, he could see that the interior of their bodies were like Vajra as radiance vaguely emanated from within.
Some were strong and some were weak.
Still, as they did not cultivate in martial arts, the Buddha light was just concealed within their bodies, not containing any power as they merely gave one better physiques with fewer aches and pains at most.
However, if they cultivated in martial arts, Yan Zhaoge estimated that this Buddha light could very quickly be converted into the foundation of Buddhist martial arts.
With this foundation, it would be very easy for them to cultivate in the martial arts of Buddhism.
Prior to the Great Calamity, it had commonly been said that Buddhist cultivators did not need to painstakingly cultivate as no bottlenecks existed for them. They just needed a firm, resilient heart and a heart that was devout towards the Buddha.
“Old man, sorry to disturb you,” Yan Zhaoge smilingly found an ordinary family and went up to greet an old man who just happened to be leaving his house.
Following an earlier attempt, Yan Zhaoge had been rather surprised to find that the spoken language common in this world was virtually exactly the same as that of pre-Great Calamity times.
There were some minute differences here due to the long time that had elapsed since then.
The cultural legacies here seemed never to have been broken due to the Great Calamity.
Still, there seemed to be signs of some things having been manipulated and changed.
For example…
“Old man, I am a passer-by. Just having arrived at this land, I am not familiar with this place. I wonder where the temple in this city is? I would like to pay my respects to the Buddha first.”
Hearing Yan Zhaoge say this, the old man instantly smiled amicably, “You are truly a devout person, young man. Our place here is small. Just walk towards the south of the city and you will soon see it along where the main road is.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, exchanging a few pleasantries with the old man before inquiring with feigned nonchalance, “Right, old man. Why is it that I saw someone worshipping the Three Purities outside the city?”
“Three Purities?” The old man asked blankly, “What are the Three Purities? You must have seen wrongly, young man. We only worship the Buddha here, not that whatever Three Purities thing? Could they be some sort of strange, sinister force?”
Yan Zhaoge thought, “It is indeed so…”
Just like there were no traces of Buddhism in the World beyond Worlds and the Eight Extremities World, there seemed to be no traces of Daoism at all in this world!
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 831: The two sides of the wall
HSSB831: The two sides of the wall
After having visited many places big and small and openly enquired as well as secretly questioned, Yan Zhaoge discovered one thing.
There were no traces of Daoist legacies at all here in this world known as the Obscured Way World.
The ordinary folk here had not even heard of the founders of the Three Purities before.
Some who were more knowledgeable and well-read with many texts in their homes had seen a few instances in which the ancient texts mentioned Daoism. Yet, this was not even considered as history as it was as good as myth.
No traces of Daoism had been seen here at all in the past few millennia.
As for the Great Calamity, there was actually a record of this here. However, it was said that the Future Buddha had supported the myriad worlds with his unrivalled power, protecting the many lifeforms in peacefully tiding through what would otherwise have been a catastrophic tribulation.
This became a major merit that the believers attributed to and worshipped the Future Buddha for.
Sensing the spiritual qi flow within the Obscured Way World, Yan Zhaoge discovered that it was extremely similar to the great thousand worlds of pre-Great Calamity times, only much weaker.
This place had been minimally affected by the Great Calamity, with the culture and legacies here preserved comparatively well.
Still, they had clearly been tampered with.
While a few legends regarding Daoism still remained, all records of it had already been wiped out.
Yan Zhaoge could not help but suspect something as he thought about the situation here.
Could the same sort of thing have happened over on the other side with the World beyond Worlds, the Eight Extremities World and the Vast Ocean World?
It was just that it had been reversed, with all traces of Buddhism having been removed.
That aside, there was
also something else that Yan Zhaoge felt concerned about.
The Obscured Way World was not that big. Its size was similar to that of the Eight Extremities World.
Even so, it could allow experts above the third level of the Martial Saint realm to traverse its interior.
Yan Zhaoge pondered, “Because the Pill Hall and the Profound Sky Purple Gold Furnace stirred chaos amidst space and I interfered with it as well, I might have inadvertently broken through a ‘wall’ which would usually be impossible to break through beneath normal circumstances?”
On one side of the ‘wall’ was Daoism, with the loftiest World beyond Worlds as well as numerous lower worlds like the Eight Extremities World, Floating Life World, Flame Devil World etcetera.
The power of dimensions was unique in these heavens and earth as they were unable to bear the existence of Seeing Divinity Martial Saints.
After martial practitioners had attained the fourth level of the Martial Saint realm, they would automatically ascend to the World beyond Worlds.
The heavens had been switched and the earth changed following the Great Calamity, many things having had to start over once again.
It was worth mentioning that the numerous lower worlds could have been formed immediately after the Great Calamity.
As for the World beyond Worlds, it may instead have been born a bit later.
On the other side of the ‘wall’ existed Buddhism. Currently, having only seen this Obscured Way World, Yan Zhaoge was still unable to know the specifics of this.
While this place had also been affected by the Great Calamity, it had been minimally affected for some reason.
It could really be because of the Future Buddha, or it could also be because of something else.
Additionally, this world was able to tolerate the presence of Seeing Divinity Martial Saints.
Yan Zhaoge rubbed his temples lightly, “There are few things that I can know. If I ran into some peak experts and their Buddhist martial arts here, I should be able to learn more things. Maybe I should visit a few more worlds. Otherwise, just this Obscured Way World alone would be insufficient to arrive at a conclusion with.”
As for the ‘wall’, it was only his guess as there also existed the possibility of him being wrong.
His hands at his waist, Yan Zhaoge silently gazed at the Obscured Way World before him, numerous thoughts rising unceasingly within his mind.
The Pill Hall and the Profound Sky Purple Gold Furnace was extremely special existences, If not for them, with the current cultivation bases of Yan Zhaoge and the others, they should not have been able to break through that ‘wall’.
Still, while Yan Zhaoge was currently unable to achieve it, that did not mean that no one could.
At the very least, from what he understood, it should be no problems for the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors.
The Western Exalt who cultivated in the Spatial Heavenly Scripture would likely be able to do so as well. The same was uncertain for Cao Jie, Zhuang Shen and the other Exalts.
There would definitely be people from Buddhism who were able to do so as well.
Since the ‘wall’s’ function had still been continually maintained even though there were people who could break through it, this meant that the groups on both sides of this ‘wall’ had a tacit agreement.
With this tacit understanding, most people of both camps with lower cultivation bases would not even know of the existence of the ‘wall’.
“Wait, if there really does exist such a ‘wall’, does that mean that…are the Roving Jade Heavens on the same side as the World beyond Worlds?”
Yan Zhaoge suddenly wondered about this.
From what he knew of, whenever one ascended from the Eight Extremities World, Vast Ocean World, Floating Gate World or the other lower worlds, they would arrive at the World beyond Worlds.
It could be said that all these lower worlds were subordinate to the World beyond Worlds.
The Roving Jade Heavens were clearly not like that.
Yan Zhaoge narrowed his eyes, “Are the Roving Jade Heavens on the same side of the ‘wall’ as the World beyond Worlds, or could it be…the ‘wall’ does not just segregate two sides from each other?”
He promptly entered the Myriad Dragon Palace and started interrogating Sun Zhongda once more.
Frowning, Sun Zhongda said, “Young Master Yan, I have already said all that I can say. There is really nothing that I have left to tell you. I would rather suffer the fate of torture…”
Yan Zhaoge did not hear him out as he directly interjected, “I have no intention of asking about the Roving Jade Heavens. What I want to ask you if-have you heard of or met anyone from Buddhism? I am referring to disciples of Buddhism who survived the Great Calamity.”
Sun Zhongda looked rather astonishedly at Yan Zhaoge, seemingly realising something after a bit as he chortled, “Right, you of the World beyond Worlds treat all this as a taboo, never mentioning it.”
Yan Zhaoge stared coldly and indifferently at Sun Zhongda, causing his back to feel a little chilly.
He laughed dryly, “While I have never met them before, I have heard of them. Following the Great Calamity, the Future Buddha continued to exist as he even raised numerous abodes of Buddhism.”
“Still, what he does…” Sun Zhongda curled his lips, “From the words of the Profound Sovereign, a false Buddha!”
Yan Zhaoge glanced at him. He really had courage indeed, knowing that the Future Buddha still existed yet still daring to say such things.
In this world, ‘Raise your head anywhere-divinities exist three feet above’ was no mere saying.
While he appeared far more slippery than most other martial practitioners cultivating in the dao of the sword, the arrogance of descendants of the Prime Clear lineage could be seen on Sun Zhongda.
Yan Zhaoge said mildly, “Your Profound Sovereign was not the first major figure to have evaluated the scriptures of the Future Buddha this way. The Purple Tenuity Emperor of the Four Imperials in pre-Great Calamity times was the first to do so.”
Sun Zhongda was taken aback, “You know?”
Yan Zhaoge did not answer his question, “Go on, tell me everything you know.”
Sun Zhongda appeared rather awkward, “What I know is actually also limited, because I have never personally encountered them before.”
“Master also said that martial practitioners of my level should not encounter those followers of the false Buddha where we are active.”
“Still, if I do really meet them, I should either immediately retreat or make a move and slay them straight away. If I really do slay them, I would have to return to the Roving Jade Heavens as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the other side’s bigwigs would know that I was the culprit within a very short period of time and rush over almost instantaneously.”
Sun Zhongda’s expression became firm and also resolute, “While I am not clear on the specifics, the Great Calamity in which Daoism went from flourishing to deteriorating seems related to Buddhism!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 832: The roar from beneath Five Elements Mountain!
HSSB832: The roar from beneath Five Elements Mountain!
Yan Zhaoge did not comment on Sun Zhongda’s words.
From what he currently grasped of the situation, Buddhism had definitely played a part in the events of back then.
However, he still lacked sufficient information to judge what kind of role they had played.
Still, Sun Zhongda’s attitude did inform Yan Zhaoge about something.
The Prime Clear lineage and the World beyond Worlds clearly diverged when it came to Buddhism.
The descendants of the Prime Clear lineage seemed to have a tougher, more antagonistic stance.
Yan Zhaoge could not be certain whether this was actually the primary reason for the conflict between the Roving Jade Heavens and the World beyond Worlds.
While Sun Zhongda might really be feeling outraged now, he could actually a
lso be testing him to draw out his attitude on this matter.
He gradually had the feeling now that this Yan Zhaoge might truly be different from most people of the World beyond Worlds.
Very different indeed.
Yan Zhaoge naturally understood his intentions with a single glance. Still, he ignored it as he left Sun Zhongda his captive once more and exited the Myriad Dragon Palace.
As he continued traversing the Obscured Way World, Yan Zhaoge grew increasingly familiar with the circulation of spiritual qi within as he gained an increasingly greater grasp of things.
He had already started attempting to find a path back to the World beyond Worlds.
Still, as he grew increasingly familiar with the spiritual qi cycles of the Obscured Way World, Yan Zhaoge vaguely felt that something seemed to be out of the ordinary.
“Why does there appear to be an empty region in the heavens and earth of a part of this world?”
Feeling rather puzzled, Yan Zhaoge looked for the place through this world’s spiritual qi network.
The size of the Obscured Way World was similar to that of the Eight Extremities World, naturally being nothing much to the current Yan Zhaoge.
He quickly found the place that he was looking for.
When he arrived, Yan Zhaoge was even more bemused as he laid eyes on the scene before him.
It was like a painting scroll with a portion dug out from the middle. The area that had been dug maintained its height but had shifted back somewhat amidst space.
Gazing over from the distance, the scenes on the painting scroll remained unchanged.
After getting closer to it, however, one would feel a distorted effect.
Changing the angle at which one viewed it, an obvious problem would surface. It felt as if there were two distinct worlds layered over each other that were distinctly broken off at their boundaries.
Yan Zhaoge or the region of the Obscured Way World where he was currently at was located right outside the ‘painting scroll’.
The heavens and earth before him were clearly layered over the Obscured Way World, yet were clearly a separate entity.
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