The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 857 - 397: True Monarch Xiansheng

His divine body couldn't stop sweating as he replied to True Monarch Xiansheng, "This little god will go at once."

…

…

Yin Mountain.

Xu Qing stood with his hands behind his back, "Divine Monarch, could it be your master has arrived?"

The thin black Divine Dog blushed, "Daoist, don't mock me."

Now, Xu Qing certainly understood that although the thin black Divine Dog was the shell of the Howling Celestial Dog, its inner Divine Soul was the Diting Divine Beast under the Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva.

Xu Qing continued, "Divine Monarch, do you know if True Monarch Xiansheng is here for you or for me?"

Being endowed with the Innate Taiyi Dao, he felt a premonition and knew it was temporarily inadvisable to enter Fengdu Ghost City. Indeed!

If he had gone in directly before, he would have likely clashed with True Monarch Xiansheng right now, leading to unpredictable consequences.

"True Monarch Xiansheng was the Judicial Celestial of the Heavenly Court in the last epoch. Now, despite the collapse of the Heavenly Court, he remains one of the top warriors in the Three Realms and Six Paths. In my view, until you become truly indestructible, it is best not to become his enemy."

In the thin black Divine Dog's eyes, although Xu Qing broke through the array set by Guanyin's Past Buddha Body True Dharma Ming Tathagata and the Five Ming Kings, it wasn't Guanyin who personally came.

Moreover, at that time, Xu Qing could only secure victory by shattering the Taiyi Dao Seed; otherwise, there was no hope of turning the tables.

Vaguely, the thin black Divine Dog believed there were other reasons Xu Qing could break the array.

For example, the bones of the Golden Winged Eagle Lord, the relics of the Ancient Buddha of Lamp—the Spirit Coffin Lamp, and...

However, without the Innate Taiyi Dao Seed, Xu Qing's current skills seemed to have integrated into a singular entity.

Given time, he will surely catch up to those great powers.

But certainly not now.

"If you think my body is the reason for True Monarch Xiansheng's arrival, then I can do without it," the thin black Divine Dog looked up at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing laughed freely, "Even if he's here for you, I'll still protect you, Divine Monarch."

The thin black Divine Dog was surprised, "We only met by chance, Daoist. Why do you treat me with such favor?"

Xu Qing replied, "Because Xu cannot tolerate bullying against those around him."

The rights and wrongs of the world are fundamentally difficult to articulate.

The only thing Xu Qing could do was to become someone who would not be bullied.

If True Monarch Xiansheng came for the thin black Divine Dog, Xu Qing would definitely not hand it over.

It's not a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of pride.

Xu Qing knew all too well that if he wasn't strong-willed, the trouble would only get bigger.

Sometimes, standing firm matters more than being right or wrong.

Ironically.

Though he hopes for justice in the world, oftentimes he ends up doing things that aren't quite just.

Additionally, he had a vague feeling that True Monarch Xiansheng was here not for the thin black Divine Dog, but for him.

Think about it, if it were for the thin black Divine Dog, it has been in Impermanence City for countless years. The arrival would have happened long ago.

The thin black Divine Dog felt a bit uneasy hearing Xu Qing's words.

It was used to seeing divine beings and saints cutting off emotions for the Great Dao. Gods like Xu Qing, who have a sense of humanity, were indeed rare. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Yet this might not be a good thing.

For being devoid of human emotions is found to be the most optimal solution accumulated over countless ages.

It is the lack of humanity that makes it easier to become an immortal.

Those divine beings with emotions and scents, often fall early.

To become a Buddha or an immortal is, by nature, against human instinct.

Here, humanity refers to the "nature" of all things in heaven and earth.

One's identity isn't determined by appearance but by thought.

It once heard the Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva say that the rise and fall of the universe is essentially a struggle between "humans" and the "Dao".

Vaguely, it remembered the Bodhisattva saying that among the Three Realms and Six Paths, only Yuanshi Tianzun looked at all with true compassion and equality.

Upon first hearing, the thin black Divine Dog couldn't comprehend, for Yuqing was most particular about lineage. Compassionate to disciples with natural Dao bone, he showed disdain openly towards others born of wet egg, etc.

Yet, the Bodhisattva patiently explained.

Yuqing views all inequality equally.

The Ksitigarbha did not hide his opposition to Tathagata's idea of "equality for all beings".

He said, any great teaching based on the premise of 'equality for all beings' ultimately is not for the equality of all beings.

The world creates all things, wolves eat sheep, sheep eat grass.

All inequality was destined the moment heaven and earth were born.

Considering heaven and earth are unequal, forcing equality upon beings is a mere delusion.

He believed the Tathagata misguided beings with illusions, claiming causality and retribution, Spirit Mountain Paradise, no different from the actions of the Heavenly Demon.

It asked the Bodhisattva, in that case, what actions could truly benefit beings?

The Bodhisattva replied, "If the fault lies within heaven and earth, then change heaven and earth."

In Ksitigarbha's view, the end of one epoch after another, ultimately aims at creating a "perfect world".

Otherwise, it would squander the sacrifice of innumerable souls at the cosmic end.

But the thin black Divine Dog knew, changing heaven and earth was anything but simple slogans and fraudulent faith.

If slogans could rule the Heavenly Court and Underworld, why bother with "changing heaven and earth"?

Furthermore, beings never demanded equality. Everyone works hard to rise above others.

Though it remained silent at the time, the thin black Divine Dog felt the Bodhisattva was wrong, fundamentally wrong.

Indeed, reality proved so.

Thus, the Bodhisattva vanished!

At this moment, the thin black Divine Dog felt deeply moved regarding Xu Qing, thus sharing its current thoughts. It didn't want Xu Qing to follow the old path of Ksitigarbha.

After hearing these things, Xu Qing was slightly stunned, then replied, "So, Ksitigarbha's disappearance relates to what he wanted to do?"

Changing heaven and earth!

Being a reformer of a Dynasty, Xu Qing understood how daunting this task was.

To break down a world and recreate a perfect one as envisioned by Ksitigarbha is akin to opposing all who attained enlightenment in the past and present.

Not to mention, if the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors came to do such a thing, they would also turn to nothingness.

Filled with sympathy, Xu Qing looked at the thin black Divine Dog, "Friend, to have preserved your Divine Soul under such circumstances is remarkable."

The thin black Divine Dog: "..."

It then felt a sense of melancholy.

The Bodhisattva was the best it had ever known, yet at the end of cultivation, his mind went astray.

But if given the chance, it would continue to follow Ksitigarbha.

For an enlightened being willing to make the world better, even if they err, committing wrong deeds, is still worthy of respect and admiration.

The Bodhisattva could have blissfully basked in incense offerings.

But did not choose to do so.

That is true great compassion.

From the latter half of the last epoch, the Heavenly Court and Underworld changed fundamentally.

The energies of divine beings and saints focused on taming beings.

The rules of the Heavenly Court increased, religious canons expanded, rituals became more complex. The salvation ideologies mingled increasingly with grandiose dreams, yet, essentially unchanged.

Those smart beings, cattle or horse, were given a chance to become part of divine saints. But this opportunity remains extremely slim, that even bright ones might err their entire life.

Hope exists, yet only as hope.

As for Xu Qing, the thin black Divine Dog didn't want him to become another Ksitigarbha, yet there was a subtle anticipation.

There's a feeling, this Daoist was different from those desperately trying to become divine saints.

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"I, Xu Qing, greet the City God."

City God opening a yamen, like a prefect in the human realm, is elegantly referred to as the City Governor.

Compared to the nervous encounter with True Monarch Xiansheng, the Fengdu City God felt warmed by Xu Qing's presence, enjoying the experience thoroughly.

However…

The Fengdu City God hesitantly expressed his intentions.

He was afraid of angering this celestial being.

Unexpectedly, Xu Qing just smiled gently upon hearing this, "It's been hard on you, City Governor. Tell the True Monarch that I will not go."

The Fengdu City God wasn't surprised at all by this.

If it were him, he would refuse as well.

But Xu Qing's demeanor was exceptionally kind, and the Fengdu City God, being wise to human affairs, advised, "If the True Monarch becomes too forceful, you can seek out Meng Po outside Fengdu City."

After saying this, he held back more words, bowed, and bid farewell to Xu Qing.