Secret Buyer-Chapter 355 - 269: Laozi Heads West from Hangu City, Three Calls Depart, Three Thousand Miles of Suffering
The bamboo grove swayed, with clear aura flowing, resembling the Great Marvelous Immortal Realm.
Beside it, the Golden Armor had a bit of a toothache; this Old Su went all out, and it would seem somewhat petty if he were to offer something ordinary.
Thinking of the Celestial Position, he simply gritted his teeth:
"I noticed that Junior Brother Zhang had once ridden the Divine Chariot and wielded the Immortal Bow, but had no other weaponry—among the myriad weapons of the world, the sword is paramount."
As he spoke,
Golden Armor looked pained as he plunged both hands into the void, and when he pulled them out,
He held a Qingfeng (Green Edge) sword.
"This sword is extraordinary."
He took a deep breath:
"Though it is a replica of a Supreme Treasure, that Supreme Treasure is both fierce and intense, pierced through a star beast surpassing level 5, pinning it to the depths of the starry sky—it’s the source of the Jingpeng lineage!"
Zhang Fusheng examined the long sword, its blade ancient, exuding a faint purple aura and Immortal Light of Transformation,
And on the hilt, there were two archaic seal characters.
It was called—Immortal Slaying.
Zhang Fusheng and Miss Ming Yue simultaneously widened their eyes, while the Golden Armored Creature continued rambling:
"Junior Brother Zhang, don’t underestimate this Immortal Sword, even though it’s a replica, it’s one of a kind in the world!"
He sighed lightly:
"This was crafted personally by the Speaker after deeply venturing into the Star Sea, observing the scene where the ancestor of the Jingpeng was pinned in the void by the genuine sword."
"Later, through various means, it was eventually bestowed to me. Unfortunately, I am not skilled in the way of the sword... Today, I give this Feathered Immortal Slaying Sword to Junior Brother Zhang!"
Zhang Fusheng gave another salute:
"Thank you, Old Brother Golden Armor!"
He received the long sword, his eyes almost dazed—Immortal Slaying Sword!
Though it’s just a replica of the Immortal Slaying Sword, even a bit over-decorated, with the blade enveloped in Immortal Light of Transformation, named the Feathered Immortal Slaying Sword,
But it’s clear that the materials and workmanship are exceptionally fine, the creator immensely powerful, and this sword is not inferior to some ’Supreme Treasures’!
Even with his palm just three inches away from the blade, having devoured half of Jiangzhou and enhanced by Flesh and Blood Divine Body and Innate Vajra physique,
His skin already cracked, dripping with Precious Blood!
Zhang Fusheng licked his lips:
"Though I am not skilled in swordsmanship, I think with this Divine Sword, I must learn the way of the sword in the future."
He finally bid farewell to Su Qiansuan, the Golden Armored Creature, and Miss Mingyue,
And after repeated requests from Su Qiansuan, finally agreed to take along his cheap ’adopted daughter’—Ruan Yutu.
Before leaving.
The Golden Armored Creature reminded:
"I’ve received word that the World Plateau has become somewhat frenzied, everyone is seeking the whereabouts of Chongyang Heaven and Earth, and now even some Divine Spirits are wandering the World Plateau."
"Junior Brother Zhang, let me be frank, your appearance is archived by the Capital, your rapid progress drew attention, considered a core member of the High Heaven Association..."
Zhang Fusheng understood, nodding:
"I’ll be cautious, temporarily altering my appearance, and reveal my true self once Chongyang Heaven and Earth is reached and High Heaven City is truly built."
Meanwhile,
Zhang Fusheng controlled his body, no longer maintaining the Form, allowing the Celestial Human Four Declines to invade his body,
Within just a few breaths, he appeared old and decrepit, his white hair wilting, sweating under his arms, clothes filthy, and faintly emitted an odor,
Just like a shabby old fellow—with the sense of age from over ten thousand years of cultivation, no one could recognize him as Zhang Fusheng!
Ruan Yutu picked up an Immortal Rope:
"This too is a replica of a Supreme Treasure called [Binding Immortal Rope], perfect for leading the ox."
She led the unwilling Red Bull, the latter dissatisfied, mooing,
Zhang Fusheng, resembling an elderly man from the countryside, chuckled, muttering:
"Off we go, off we go!"
He then rode atop the Red Bull, Ruan Yutu led it with the rope, and the Red Bull let out a ’moo!’
The bull and two people, treading the clear aura of the bamboo grove, gently descended along the Golden Avenue.
Westward they went, westward they went.
On the Golden Avenue, Zhang Fusheng sighed deeply, patted the cow’s head, and sang out loud:
"Off we go!"
Palming the head of the Red Bull, producing a drum-like sound—’thud!’
In that sound, ten miles of bamboo grove swayed behind, the faint aroma of the clear aura faded into the Celestial Vault, scattering towards the Dragon Boat.
Some old acquaintances, like Zhong Yue and Lu Yao, were enveloped in the returning clear aura, their bodies beginning to shine, the Twelve Refinements completed in an instant, and in the same moment, their five viscera simultaneously opened.
In just a moment, they approached the realm of the Grandmaster.
Ruan Yutu, leading the Red Bull, had reached the midpoint of the Golden Avenue.
The elder on the ox raised his hand a second time and sang—"Go!"
His palm struck the head of the Red Bull for the second time, echoing like a drum, and within this sound,
Above Zhang Fusheng’s head, the spiritual sea forged from 8,900 years of mental accumulation billowed forth,
The Golden Armor was moved, and Su Qiansuan’s expression changed.
The spiritual attainment of 8,900 years fell into the void after the destruction of Jiangzhou Heaven and Earth,
There, it evolved into a floating city.
That is Jiangzhou, the hometown of Zhang Fusheng, from the prosperity of the First District to the graffiti in the Ninth Dark Alley,
Including every brick and tile of Lishu Middle School, the underground clinic, the milk tea shop near Jiang University,
Even the climbing vines on the wall of the milk tea shop—all without a single error.
Just as it was, year after year.
And then.
Refining Illusion into Truth.
There emerged an empty Jiangzhou City, standing in the void after a bubble had burst.
Ruan Yutu led the Red Bull, reaching the end of the Golden Avenue.
"Go!" The third chant, the third palm strike, gently tapping on the bull’s head.
The Red Bull was displeased, its hair like steel needles, emitting a ’moo’, yet the drumbeat surged forth,
This time, in this sound of "Go", in this single drumbeat.
Zhang Fusheng opened his mouth, his tongue blossomed like a lotus, spitting out a mouthful of his primordial blood, dazzling like the morning glow, a mouthful of [Human Ancestor Blood], which vaporized into a hazy mist,
The mist gradually expanded, then scattered across the various realms and cities of the Golden Province,
Along with it dissipated the power over disease.
In this December winter day.
All flowers bloomed, competing for beauty, dead wood met spring, turning mountains green.
Across the entire province, those afflicted by disease, illnesses, and plagues were quietly drawn away from their bodies,
The extracted diseases gathered, becoming dense and tangible, forming three thousand miles of plague air, pursuing the Red Bull, following the elder, drifting over.
The Red Bull intended to head west, but three thousand miles of plague air came from the east.
With the three chants finished, the drum sound fell silent.
One chant gifted the Way to old acquaintances, another rejuvenated former places, and yet another blessed dozens of realms and countless living beings.
Ruan Yutu led the Red Bull, which carried the elder, with the bamboo forest behind him and three thousand miles of eastern plague air overhead.
They completely left the Golden Avenue, stepping onto the wasteland thousands of miles outside Hangu City.
Thus.
The bamboo forest dissipated, the plague air vanished, Immortal Light concealed itself, Divine Splendor retreated. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
A young, an old, and an ox turned ordinary, silently heading towards the Hangu City, a gateway to the external world’s plateau.
He journeyed west, westward.
"Compassion, compassion!"
Zhang Fusheng sighed lightly, his face showing great sorrow and suffering, as if all the tribulations of the world embodied him.
The ox moved west, westward.
Above in the sky, in the bamboo forest, Miss Mingyue watched this scene absentmindedly.
She murmured:
"It seems right... yet why does it seem not quite right?"
With a cinnabar mark at her brow, like a Female Immortal stepping out from a painting, her face revealed a strange expression.
In the past, Laozi exited Hangu Pass riding a green ox, with purple air three thousand miles eastward.
Today, Laozi again left Hangu City, yet rode a Red Bull, and eastward it became three thousand miles of plague air.
"Three thousand miles of purple air signifies the heavens’ celebration... three thousand miles of plague air takes away the suffering of beings."
Miss Mingyue murmured:
"It’s hard to say which is better or worse."
She clasped her hands together solemnly, bowing towards the now-diminished figure, saying:
"Compassion, compassion!"
The Golden Armor asked:
"Why do you perform the Buddhist rite?"
Miss Mingyue replied:
"He rides the ox, heading west, intending to become the Transformed Buddha, to deliver all beings, enlightening the ignorant creatures, just like in the past."
"Thus, people will honor him as the [Tathagata]."
The Golden Armor and Su Qiansuan exchanged looks, contemplating the word Tathagata.
