Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1744 - 936: The World as the Board, All Beings as Pieces (2)
Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...
However, by virtue of the ancient customs of the Spirit Realm, the Great Venerables from the Righteous and Demonic Paths seldom interact closely, that is, unless the matter concerns Ascension itself.
"Please do not be offended, Fellow Daoist Hunyuan. I have arrived unannounced today solely for a discussion. I have a junior who has taken a liking to the Pure Light Realm. I have occasionally heard it mentioned that the upcoming Star Lord quota is within your grasp, so I have come today with the sole intention of negotiating for this Star Lord quota. How do you feel about this, Fellow Daoist Hunyuan?"
The Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord spoke with utmost candor, his demeanor both open and amiable, clearly not desiring to provoke conflict with Zhao Sheng.
After all, no Tribulation Crossing Venerable would dare to casually "offend" the Three Saints Zhao Family, a lineage boasting three Great Venerables residing in the world, even for a being as powerful as the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord with his innumerable avatars.
Zhao Sheng was acutely aware of the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord's formidable power and the inherent dangers associated with him, and naturally, he had no reason to offend the other party without cause.
"Fellow Daoist Zizaitian, I implore you to understand. I have already bestowed the Star Lord quota upon a younger member of my own family, and the matter is settled. Therefore, I kindly request that you depart!" Zhao Sheng said, his expression softening slightly, shaking his head as he spoke in a deep tone.
Little did anyone anticipate that upon hearing this, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord would show no inclination to leave. Instead, a smile graced his lips as he remarked, "Fellow Daoist Hunyuan, would you not care to hear my 'offer'? I possess the Great Brightness Root Mantra. Are you interested?"
The mere mention of the Great Brightness Root Mantra immediately stirred a profound temptation within Zhao Sheng.
The Great Brightness Root Mantra is renowned as the paramount mantra of the Great Brightness Temple, a holy site of Buddhism, and legend has it that it was personally crafted by the Buddha himself.
This mantra diverges from other profound spells; not only is it widely disseminated across all heavens and myriad realms, but it also exclusively comprises the six-character incantation: "Om, Ma, Ni, Pad, Me, Hum."
Consequently, in the Lower Realm, Buddhists frequently refer to this mantra as the "Six-Word Brightness Mantra."
However, the Buddhists of the Lower Realm have merely skimmed the surface of this mantra, failing to grasp its true essence.
Each character within the "six-character slogan" of the Great Brightness Root Mantra possesses a distinct rhythm and Zen principle.
The Buddhists of the Lower Realm are unaware of the true form of these characters, nor the correct intonation for their recitation, nor the visualization and cultivation methods associated with the six characters. As a result, they are eternally incapable of unleashing the mantra's genuine power.
According to Zhao Sheng's understanding, the Great Brightness Root Mantra is characterized by its ease of learning but immense difficulty in mastery. Its mystical capabilities include the dissolution of karma, the awakening of wisdom, the pacification of the heart, the protection of the spirit, and the vanquishing of inner demons.
Even within the revered Great Brightness Temple, only those monks of exceptional virtue who have attained the Arhat Realm are capable of entering the Bright Buddha Realm to cultivate the authentic methods of the Great Brightness Root Mantra.
He had always acknowledged the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord's exceptional skills, but he had never realized the extent of his mastery.
Zhao Sheng's thoughts raced, a torrent of hypotheses flooding his mind as he deduced numerous potential outcomes.
In an instant, a realization dawned upon him: This Old Demon is by no means a benevolent entity, and this maneuver must be driven by sinister intentions.
"I am not destined to possess the Great Brightness Root Mantra. Demon Lord, I must ask you to depart," Dongzhenzi declared, politely declining as he perceived the true intentions of his counterpart.
Upon hearing this, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord clasped his hands together once more. "Infinite Saint Ancestor! It appears, Fellow Daoist, that you are exceedingly wary of me. How about this? Let us engage in a 'gambling duel.' Should you emerge victorious, I shall willingly bestow upon you the visualization cultivation method of the Great Brightness Root Mantra. However, if you lose..."
Observing Zhao Sheng's repeated refusals, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord straightforwardly presented his alternative plan, directly leveraging the Great Brightness Root Mantra as the stake.
Hearing this proposal, Zhao Sheng was greatly moved and promptly inquired, "A contest of words or a duel of arms?"
A faint smile played on the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord's lips. "Naturally, a contest of words!"
Although Zhao Sheng had recently ascended to the level of Great Venerable, he was backed by two Absolute Peak Great Venerables who had successfully navigated the Wind and Fire Tribulation. Despite possessing countless trump cards, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord was reluctant to confront Zhao Xianglong and Tianyunzi.
Setting Zhao Xianglong aside for the moment, Tianyunzi, who possessed an unparalleled understanding of divination and fortune-telling within the Spirit Realm, was undoubtedly the individual the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord least wished to antagonize.
To cross Tianyunzi would be a minor setback, easily rectified by a few slain avatars. However, if Tianyunzi were to ally with his Master, the illustrious Qi Ruxian, known as the "Divine Strategy", the consequences would be dire! The Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord bore witness to a significant loss at Qi Ruxian’s hands twenty-eight thousand years ago, a near annihilation that left him acutely aware of the terrifying prowess of this reclusive, millennia-old cultivator. "A battle of wits it shall be," Zhao Sheng declared, his mind made up after a moment’s deliberation. "But tell me, in what manner shall this competition unfold?" The Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord responded to Zhao Sheng’s query, "We shall employ the Pure Light Realm as our grand chessboard, with all living beings as our pawns. From this vast field, we each select a unique ‘piece.’ The objective is to determine whose chosen ‘piece’ will ascend to the Spirit Realm first within a millennium, and whose ‘piece’ will ultimately be recognized as the epoch’s protagonist." This elaborate ‘world chess game,’ as proposed by the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord, was a pastime quite popular among the Great Venerables. Even prior to reaching the exalted rank of Great Venerable, Zhao Sheng had encountered tales of such contests. Great Venerables who have undergone Tribulation Crossing possess extraordinarily long lifespans. Barring self-destruction, they are virtually untouchable, residing at the zenith of the Spirit Realm. Perhaps due to their prolonged existence and a desire to alleviate the tedium, certain ancient beings, on a whim, conceived the notion of 'using the world as a chessboard and its inhabitants as pawns.' Though the originator of this unique playstyle remains unknown, it swiftly gained traction among the ranks of the Great Venerables. Over untold ages, this method has permeated all heavens and myriad worlds, evolving into a favored method for Tribulation Crossing Great Venerables to engage in wagers and exchange profound cultivation insights. ... Shortly thereafter. Zhao Sheng and the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord materialized in unison just beyond the ethereal boundaries of the Pure Light Realm. The Pure Light Realm, a mere speck within the grand All Heaven Star Realm, boasts a relatively modest diameter of just over six hundred thousand miles. Roughly seventy percent of its surface is covered by vast oceans, with landmasses comprising the remaining thirty percent. Four principal continents grace the Pure Light Realm: Li Guang, Yuan Guang, Xuan Guang, and Jing Guang. The Jing Guang continent, significantly larger than the other three combined, lends its name to the entire realm. With an air of confident victory, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord magnominously declared, "Fellow Daoist Hunyuan, you may commence first." Zhao Sheng offered a subtle nod, his conduct devoid of any pretense. Casting his gaze upon the world below, a resplendent Five-Colored Divine Light emanated from between his brows. Instantly, his Divine Thought surged forth with immense power, sweeping across a vast expanse of the Pure Light Continent, an area spanning billions of miles. Soon, countless beings were drawn into his ‘perception,’ and a myriad of Qi Fortune Light Pillars, varying in hue and intensity, ascended from the land and seas, all clearly visible to him. Yet… Zhao Sheng bypassed those pillars radiating the most abundant Qi Fortune. Instead, he subtly withdrew his right hand into the depths of his sleeve. With an ethereal shimmer, a translucent bead materialized within his grasp. This bead, of moderate size and emitting a constant glow, swirled with an infinite spectrum of colors within its core. It was none other than the Ten Thousand Years of Good Fortune Pearl, a gift bestowed by the second ancestor, Zhao Hongyun, which had remained unused during his Tribulation Crossing and now proved remarkably opportune. Engaging his Mystic Skill, Zhao Sheng channeled Will Heart Light onto the Fortune Pearl’s surface. Hundreds, then thousands, of Tao True Texts instantly materialized, quickly dissolving into the Pearl. In that singular moment, the Divine Strategy of ‘Coincidence’ was not only imprinted upon the Fortune Pearl but also several potent Great Divine Powers and a complete rendering of the ‘Five Elements Great Cave Scripture.’ The Fortune Pearl, having undergone this profound transformation, shifted from its translucent state to that of a gray-white Stone Bead, adorned with nine wisps of white cloud on its exterior. However, these nine cloudy formations appeared subdued and lifeless, as if lacking a vital essence. Upon the Stone Bead’s completion, pure droplets of Liquid Spiritual Energy began to spontaneously condense upon its surface. With a mere thought, Zhao Sheng propelled the gray-white Stone Bead through the void, its destination unknown. Following this, Zhao Sheng let out a hearty laugh, addressing the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord, "My selection is complete. The stage is now yours, Demon Lord." The Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord clasped his hands together, remarking, "Infinite Saint Ancestor, truth be told, I hold a slight advantage, for my choice has already been made." "Oh?" A flicker of surprise crossed Zhao Sheng’s eyes, yet he responded with magnanimity, "It matters not!" Having a prior inkling of the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord’s penchant for subtle stratagems, Zhao Sheng was not overly astonished.Sparing no words, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord withdrew a fragment of Broken Jade from his robes. As Zhao Sheng watched, he tossed this jade into the Pure Light Realm. Strangely, the moment the jade entered the Pure Light Realm, it disappeared completely. Zhao Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly surveyed the Pure Light Continent beneath them, unable for the moment to ascertain who now possessed the jade.