The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 849 - 393: Crossing the Ravine (Part 2)

"The World Honored One of the Netherworld is naturally Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva." The Negative Dragon seemingly aware of something, directly answered the question of the Dark Black Divine Dog.

Xu Qing glanced at the Dark Black Divine Dog.

Dark Black Divine Dog: "Daoist, I didn't deceive you. My current body is that of the Howling Sky Dog."

Xu Qing: "..."

Nevertheless, he also wanted to visit Fengdu Ghost City. Xu Qing continued, "My friend, we only wish to enter Fengdu for a visit, so I hope for your convenience."

The Negative Dragon said faintly, "If you came alone, I could let you pass, but since you are associated with it, I cannot let you into Fengdu City."

"Why must you act this way, my friend?"

"These are the orders of Guanyin Bodhisattva; I am merely following orders."

The Dark Black Divine Dog said to Xu Qing, "You are the destined person I encountered; without me, you wouldn't have come to Yingchou Creek. In fact, this was predicted by Guanyin long ago."

Xu Qing's heart moved, "Does this mean I've been caught in a struggle between Guanyin Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?"

These two are among the four great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism, their divine skills surpassing all Buddhas, even Shakyamuni respects them.

Why would these two great figures of Buddhism need to fight?

As he pondered, the Negative Dragon transformed into human form in front of him, turning into a stern and valiant young general in a white robe, holding a long knife.

Xu Qing felt there was a flaw; it would look better with a spear.

But the long knife gave Xu Qing an extraordinary feeling of oppression.

The Negative Dragon said, "Your Excellency has cultivated to Pure Yang, is an upper celestial of the Taoist sect; why bother getting involved in this muddy water?"

Xu Qing thought to himself, these immortal mounts running around did indeed have no simple background.

He hadn't even fought with the Negative Dragon, and the other party had already played the card of worldly sophistication.

Come to think of it, the immortal mounts in Journey to the West, none were killed by the Monkey King.

It's a usual practice, relying on background to make it in the world.

In modern times, even if immortal mounts get into trouble, they remain fine.

In the understanding of the Negative Dragon, anyone who can cultivate like Xu Qing to a Pure Yang Primordial Spirit certainly wouldn't have a small background.

The Taoist path talks about quiet and non-action, disliking conflict, but truly protects its own.

The Negative Dragon was tasked by Guanyin Bodhisattva to prevent the Black Dog from entering Fengdu City, but Guanyin Bodhisattva couldn't even part with a few lifesaving dragon scales, so how could the Negative Dragon risk everything?

Xu Qing cupped his hands and said, "I am a disciple of Chongyang True Master from the Quanzhen Sect, and I ask the Dragon Lord for convenience."

He straightforwardly introduced himself to see the reaction of the other party.

The Negative Dragon was slightly surprised by the words, thinking to himself, "The Quanzhen Sect is quite renowned nowadays, and is considered part of Lüzu's Taoist tradition. Lu Zu had grudges with our Dragon Clan, and furthermore..."

He recalled that it's rumored that Lüzu had several conflicts with Guanyin Bodhisattva in the previous era, and although the Bodhisattva and those ancient beings like Lüzu have fallen into slumber now, their projections still occasionally appear in the heavens.

It seems Xu Qing's arrival surely involves Lüzu as a driving force behind him.

It's already quite challenging for a Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha to compete, and now a Lüzu joins...

Yet, the struggles of the Buddhist sects are indeed complicated.

Behind the Bodhisattva stands Amitabha Buddha, the true ancestor of ten thousand Buddhas, who attained the Dao even before Shakyamuni.

But Shakyamuni appointed Ksitigarbha to take his place, making it a contest of great paths between Guanyin Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha.

To put it plainly, the position of the Lord of Spirit Mountain represents an opportunity to transcend the Sea of Suffering.

Anyone at their level would not easily give it up.

Frankly speaking, minor figures like the Negative Dragon shouldn't, by rights, awaken memories of the previous era. It's purely through the enlightenment of Guanyin Bodhisattva that it can recall these things.

This also results in an unbreaking karma with the Bodhisattva.

If it neglects its duties, it surely suffers the retribution from the Bodhisattva.

It should be mentioned that it is already a great fortune for beings like them to awaken memories of the previous era, and if they are lucky, there's even hope of reaching the other shore, surviving the catastrophe at the end of the era, and gaining an advantage in the next era, potentially matching a Bodhisattva in the future.

However, for a cultivator there exists no true immortality.

When the Taichu era came to an end, even the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors fell.

It was something the Negative Dragon couldn't imagine before, yet it truly happened.

In fact, the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors represented the ultimate end of cultivation, and in the Negative Dragon's knowledge, they wouldn't have fallen if they had not tried to continue pioneering the path ahead.

Of course, in its perception, the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors did indeed fall; even Guanyin Bodhisattva said so.

But whether their kind of existence truly perished, not even Shakyamuni could provide an answer.

Moreover, with the fall of the Three Pure Ones, inevitably before the end of the current era, new Three Pure Ones must emerge, otherwise the Great Dao cannot be perfected.

This also gives many ancient beings who survived the previous era, or even the era before that, an opportunity.

A vacancy has arisen.

Plus, once new Three Pure Ones are born, even if the old ones haven't completely fallen, they definitely can no longer manifest in the world.

On the other hand, the vacancy in the Three Pure positions of the Taoist sect has made the powers of the Taoist sect full of vitality nowadays.

After all, the path of ascent has opened!

In the current heavens and universe, Lüzu is recognized as one of the candidates for the Taoist Ancestor.

However, to become one of the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors, the greatest challenge is to separate from the Three Pure Taoist tradition.

Practicing the path of the Three Pure Ones cannot make one become a Three Pure One.

This is also the reason why no new Three Pure Ones have emerged so far.

Studying the Three Pure Ones cannot make one a Three Pure One.

Guanyin Bodhisattva also stated that one cannot prove Tathagata through sound and color.

The Negative Dragon's thoughts rolled back and forth, and it recognized the pros and cons. Not to mention that Xu Qing himself is somewhat unfathomable, just the background alone is enough to trouble it.

If it were to find fault with Xu Qing, it would undeniably offend the Quanzhen Sect as well as the Lüzu backing them.

Being a small fry is truly too tough.

The Negative Dragon pondered, "I am ordered by the Bodhisattva not to let you pass Yingchou Creek. If my friend insists on crossing, don't blame this little dragon for being ruthless. However..."

Xu Qing: "However, what?"

Upon hearing these words, he knew there was a mystery to it, and immediately caught onto the subject.

The Negative Dragon glanced at the Dark Black Divine Dog smugly, "Yin Mountain and Spirit Mountain are one; the Bodhisattva only mentioned not to let you cross Yin Mountain, but my friend can take Spirit Mountain and then enter Fengdu Ghost City."

Xu Qing did not expect such a maneuver.

He looked at the Dark Black Divine Dog.

The Dark Black Divine Dog sneered, "Spirit Mountain is full of phantom landscapes at every step, the paths are even harder to navigate than Yin Mountain."

The Negative Dragon laughed, "Black Dog, just because you can't doesn't mean this Daoist friend can't. A celestial from the Taoist sect cuts through illusions, insight into one's own nature; traversing Spirit Mountain is much easier for them than for you."

Upon hearing this, the Dark Black Divine Dog said to Xu Qing, "Spirit Mountain is currently full of strange occurrences. If my friend enters Spirit Mountain, the troubles encountered will surely exceed those at present."

The Negative Dragon sneered, "Even if you pass Yingchou Creek, there are still the Golden-Haired Roar, the Purple Gold Bell, and the Black Bear Layman behind. Do you think Guanyin Bodhisattva hasn't anticipated this Quanzhen Sect Daoist friend's arrival?"

The Dark Black Divine Dog's expression changed, "Have they indeed arrived?"

"Upon saying this, with your divine skills, you can naturally sense it."

The Dark Black Divine Dog closed his eyes, after a moment, trembling all over, then dejectedly said, "Daoist, it seems we only have the path of Spirit Mountain. If you don't go, let's go back to Impermanence City and reconsider."

It knew well the prowess of those two individuals mentioned by the Negative Dragon, let alone the Purple Gold Bell.

Unless Ksitigarbha manifests, crossing Yingchou Creek is simply impossible.

However, the arrangement of these contingencies by Guanyin Bodhisattva clearly intends to push it and Xu Qing towards Spirit Mountain; upon deep thought, this is not a good thing either.

Xu Qing inquired, "Divine Monarch, are the obstacles truly impassable?"

The Dark Black Divine Dog shook its head, "Absolutely impossible."

Xu Qing laughed, "Xu has always enjoyed doing the impossible."

As he spoke, a five-colored divine light circulated around him, unexpectedly absorbing the Bitter Sea Water of Yingchou Creek entirely.

In the blink of an eye, the water level of Yingchou Creek rapidly fell.

The Negative Dragon was shocked at the sight.

Xu Qing slowly chanted, "Heaven and Earth have their limits, the Five Colored Path is boundless. Dragon Lord, Xu will take the lead."

With a loud, clear voice in the song, Xu Qing's broad sleeves fluttered as he crossed the Yin Mountain Water Creek.