Chapter 404: The Mahayana Stage
The news of Longbrow Buddha’s qi deviation reached the other Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators, who all rushed to investigate.
Upon learning the reason for Longbrow Buddha’s condition, the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators remained silent. Longbrow Buddha’s predicament today could well be their own tomorrow. They stood just one step away from immortality, yet that step might take an unknown length of time to cross – who could feel at ease with this? This was an unprecedented experience that even their predecessors had never faced, yet they were experiencing it now.
“Fellow Daoist Longbrow, it’s me. Can you hear me?” Immortal Elder Changcun channeled a wisp of immortal energy into Longbrow Buddha, slightly stabilizing his erratic qi. But that was all he could do.
Longbrow Buddha opened his eyes slightly, ignoring the other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators and focusing instead on the sole immortal present – Immortal Elder Changcun. “So it’s the Immortal Elder.”
“Immortal Elder, tell me truthfully – when will the Celestial Ladder be rebuilt? When can I achieve immortality?” The others also waited for Immortal Elder Changcun’s answer.
But Immortal Elder Changcun couldn’t possibly reveal the truth to them – that would only make matters worse. Yet under their collective gaze, he could no longer evade the question.
Looking at the unstable Longbrow Buddha, Immortal Elder Changcun stood up and scanned the assembled Tribulation Transcendence cultivators. An idea came to him, and he spoke slowly:
“Fellow Daoist Longbrow, and all fellow cultivators here – as great cultivators at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, achieving immortality isn’t the only pursuit available to you.”
“To my knowledge, beyond the Tribulation Transcendence Stage lies the Mahayana Stage.”
His words shocked everyone present.
“Mahayana Stage?” Longbrow Buddha had never heard of this realm, yet it sounded vaguely familiar. The other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators exchanged doubtful glances.
While it might be understandable that they didn’t know about the Outer Realm Demons in the immortal world, suddenly introducing a new cultivation stage and claiming the Tribulation Transcendence Stage wasn’t the peak – that there was still a Mahayana Stage above it – was hard to believe.
“Didn’t you once discuss the Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist doctrines with me, Fellow Daoist Longbrow? In truth, the concept of a Mahayana Stage exists in cultivation as well,” Immortal Elder Changcun spoke with undeniable confidence. “What is Mahayana? Mahayana means great accomplishment – reaching the absolute pinnacle of mortal cultivation with no room left for further progress.”
“The Tribulation Transcendence Stage isn’t the limit for mortals. The true limit is the Mahayana Stage.”
“Upon reaching the Mahayana Stage, one can match immortals with mortal flesh.”
“It’s understandable you wouldn’t know. While the immortal world has produced many talented individuals, those who achieve the Mahayana Stage are exceedingly rare – hardly one appears in tens of thousands of years.”
“Have you heard of the Netherfire Immortal Lord of the immortal world? Thirty thousand years ago, he broke through the Tribulation Transcendence Stage to reach Mahayana, then ascended directly to become a Celestial Immortal, skipping the Earthly Immortal stage entirely. Later, he repeatedly broke through limits, setting records for fastest cultivation speed to become a major power in the immortal world.”
“And that’s just the most recent example. My master told me that seventy or eighty thousand years ago, the Nine Provinces also produced a Mahayana cultivator who ascended to immortality and became undefeated in hundreds of battles. That cultivator was revered as the War Immortal – you must have heard of him.”
“The War Immortal had some acquaintance with my master.”
Hearing the names Netherfire Immortal Lord and War Immortal, everyone gasped. These two were famous throughout the immortal world for being invincible among their peers.
The Netherfire Immortal Lord wasn’t from the Nine Provinces, so they weren’t familiar with him. As for the War Immortal, while they knew he originated from the Nine Provinces with astonishing, peerless cultivation talent…
Seventy or eighty thousand years was simply too long ago. Many accounts had diverged significantly from the facts. Some of their elders had lived that long, being contemporaries of the War Immortal, but even they knew little about him.
The War Immortal was cold and disliked conversation. Moreover, his cultivation progressed so rapidly that by the time people realized it, he had already ascended. He left no legacy in the Nine Provinces, and after ascending, became even more reclusive – even cultivators from the Nine Provinces who ascended rarely got to meet him.
Only Immortal Elder Changcun’s master – the one daring enough to call himself Dao Ancestor – had the opportunity to speak with the War Immortal.
“Because the Mahayana Stage is so difficult to achieve, and one can attain immortality after the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, the Mahayana Stage became a little-known realm that no one deliberately pursued.”
The Mahayana Stage was actually a concept Immortal Elder Changcun came up with on the spot after seeing Longbrow Buddha and recalling the Mahayana Buddhist doctrines. But having gone this far, he had no choice but to continue improvising.
“The Mahayana Stage is difficult to cultivate, hence its extraordinary combat power is inevitable. I heard that when the Netherfire Immortal Lord was at the Mahayana Stage, he could withstand thirty moves from a Celestial Immortal without dying!”
The crowd marveled. While Tribulation Transcendence cultivators were already like mythical legends in the Nine Provinces, revered by all, hearing about the Netherfire Immortal Lord matching a Celestial Immortal as a mortal made them feel like they were listening to mythology.
“May I ask, Immortal Elder, how does one cultivate the Mahayana Stage?” Li Wu asked, voicing their most pressing concern.
Immortal Elder Changcun shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s another reason why so few achieve the Mahayana Stage. Even my master didn’t understand its principles.”
“Given your master’s relationship with the War Immortal, wouldn’t he know some secrets?”
“Fellow Daoist Li Wu jokes. The method to cultivate the Mahayana Stage concerns the War Immortal’s foundation – how could that be divulged?” Immortal Elder Changcun continued, “While I have no definitive information, I have some speculations you may consider.”
“The Mahayana Buddhist doctrine emphasizes liberating both oneself and others, doing everything possible to help all sentient beings. Both the Netherfire Immortal Lord and War Immortal were righteous cultivators who never wantonly slaughtered beings.”
“Perhaps the Mahayana Stage shares some connection with Mahayana Buddhism.”
Yuan Shang said, “Indeed, their similar names can’t be coincidence.” Most remained skeptical of Immortal Elder Changcun’s explanation – when it came to a whole new cultivation stage, suspicion was inevitable.
Immortal Elder Changcun could do no more. Having run out of convincing explanations, he could only leave it to them to believe or not as they chose.
“Immortal Elder, you never lie. Tell me truthfully – does the Mahayana Stage truly exist?” Longbrow Buddha asked.
“It truly does,” Immortal Elder Changcun answered without hesitation. He knew any hesitation now would only breed more doubt. This wasn’t the time for moral dilemmas.
Moreover, he sensed Longbrow Buddha might not truly believe him either – Longbrow Buddha simply sought a new goal beyond immortality to release his obsession with ascension.
As a proponent of Mahayana Buddhism, hearing Immortal Elder Changcun’s words now made Longbrow Buddha laugh heartily. “Good! I believe you!”
All gloom vanished from Longbrow Buddha’s brow as his aura surged like a rainbow. He soared into the sky, actively summoning his Ascension Tribulation.
During the Heart Demon Tribulation, immortals again appeared to repair the Celestial Ladder, offering to temper his body with immortal lightning and welcome him to immortality.
Longbrow Buddha resolutely refused.
The Heart Demon Tribulation dissipated as Longbrow Buddha successfully passed his Ascension Tribulation, his aura now profound and complete.
“Fellow Daoist Longbrow, you…?” Li Wu was stunned. Instead of suppressing himself, Longbrow Buddha had actively undergone the Ascension Tribulation. With the immortal realm inaccessible, the tribulation would return with even greater force. Even if he survived this one, what about the next? And the one after?
He couldn’t comprehend Longbrow Buddha’s actions. Most shared Li Wu’s confusion.
“I shall cultivate to the Mahayana Stage and propagate my Mahayana Buddhist teachings before attaining immortality.”
“Moreover, shouldn’t we cultivators forge ahead courageously, facing tribulations head-on rather than cowering before heavenly trials?”
Chanting “Amitabha,” Longbrow Buddha radiated Buddhist light from his entire being.