Chapter 405: Hidden Agendas
Although Longbrow Buddha set an example by actively striving to reach the Mahayana Stage, most people remained skeptical. If the Mahayana Stage truly existed, how could they—being at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage—not sense even a trace of it? Nevertheless, with both Immortal Elder Changcun and Longbrow Buddha sharing this stance, the cultivators currently had no alternatives and decided to attempt comprehension.
…
“Elder Changcun, you’re something else. Not only did you fabricate the Outer Realm Demons, but you even made up the Mahayana Stage.” Jiang Li didn’t know what expression to make upon witnessing this scene. “No wonder people were so doubtful about the Mahayana Stage before me.”
Jiang Li recalled when he went to the Sword Tomb to rescue the Sword Sovereign. When he introduced himself as a Mahayana cultivator, the Sword Sovereign showed no signs of belief. As someone from four thousand years ago, the Sword Sovereign’s attitude represented that of many high-level cultivators.
In truth, before Jiang Li achieved the Mahayana Stage, numerous cultivators doubted its existence. Unlike the Outer Realm Demons—which ravaged the Nine Provinces every century or two, leaving undeniable evidence—the Mahayana Stage’s only proof came from Immortal Elder Changcun’s claims.
Over eight thousand years, the Nine Provinces had witnessed countless brilliant Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, including formidable figures like Commander Liu who survived two Ascension Tribulations and Venerable Sumeru Buddha who endured three. None had detected any trace of the Mahayana Stage.
The concept seemed utterly illusory, lacking even basic cultivation guidelines. This skepticism persisted until Jiang Li’s sudden emergence as a Mahayana cultivator finally convinced people of its reality.
Yet Jiang Li himself never doubted the Mahayana Stage’s existence. Before his transmigration, he’d read cultivation novels with clearly defined realms, including the Mahayana Stage. After crossing over, he naturally accepted its reality and cultivated relentlessly until achieving it.
As his experience grew and his power increased after reaching Mahayana, Jiang Li began suspecting he might have surpassed it. Who could have imagined that not only was there no realm beyond Mahayana, but even the Mahayana Stage itself was fabricated by Immortal Elder Changcun?
“But if Elder Changcun invented the Mahayana Stage, why did my system also identify me as Mahayana?” Jiang Li remembered when he first obtained the system—it stubbornly insisted it was five hundred years ago. When asked about his cultivation level, it unequivocally declared him Mahayana.
“The system shouldn’t make mistakes in level assessment.” Jiang Li mused. “Did this realm already exist, and Elder Changcun accidentally fabricated the truth? Or did my appearance turn his lie into reality, creating the Mahayana Stage?” His expression turned peculiar as he leaned toward the latter possibility. “But if reaching Mahayana is so simple, why couldn’t anyone else achieve it?”
…
Although few genuinely believed Immortal Elder Changcun, the mere possibility provided hope. Tribulation Transcendence cultivators no longer viewed immortality as their sole objective.
“Elder Changcun, do the Outer Realm Demons and Mahayana Stage truly exist?” The young monk Xumi, perplexed, secretly approached Immortal Elder Changcun behind Longbrow Buddha’s back. “I’ve consulted numerous ancient texts—travel records, immortal manuscripts—but found no mention whatsoever of either.”
“I never lie.”
Receiving no satisfactory answer, Xumi left dejected, increasingly convinced the immortal was deceiving them.
…
Thirty years passed. Large-scale blood sacrifices became rare in the Nine Provinces. While not entirely peaceful, the situation improved dramatically compared to when the Celestial Ladder still existed. No more Tribulation Transcendence cultivators succumbed to demonic deviation from obsession with immortality.
Then, on this day, Outer Realm Demons descended upon the Nine Provinces once more, their terrifying aura blanketing the land.
Immortal Elder Changcun’s expression darkened—not only because their return undermined his credibility, but because two demons had arrived this time, equivalent to two Earthly Immortals.
“Damn it! The Immortal Realm is determined to annihilate the Nine Provinces.” The immortal cursed under his breath before engaging his former friend in battle. “I’ll handle this one—you all restrain the other!” He quickly assigned roles.
“My immortal energy is limited—must conserve it.” Though capable of defeating both demons at some cost given his talent, Immortal Elder Changcun had to consider the future. As the Nine Provinces’ sole immortal and leader, he couldn’t exhaust himself against the endless demonic onslaught. Dying mattered little—after his master and senior siblings perished, he had no desire to live on. Only his duty to the Nine Provinces kept him going.
Who would protect the realm after his death?
Anticipating this day, Immortal Elder Changcun had spent the past 130 years studying martial arts to conserve immortal energy. Defying expectations, he engaged the demon in brutal physical combat.
Meanwhile, the gathered Tribulation Transcendence cultivators surrounded the second demon, immense psychological pressure weighing upon them. The mindless creature roared insanely.
“Kill it!”
Longbrow Buddha abandoned Buddhist prohibitions against killing, striking first by manifesting his Wrathful Vajra Form to battle the demon. Yet in their initial clash, the demon’s savage physique cracked the vajra manifestation—the culmination of Longbrow Buddha’s millennium of cultivation. Undeterred, he continued fighting with unprecedented ferocity, shocking observers accustomed to his typically serene demeanor.
Inspired, the other cultivators joined the fray—but Longbrow Buddha soon identified a critical problem. With nineteen Tribulation Transcendence experts cooperating, defeating the demon should’ve been simple. But cooperation proved elusive.
Fearful of drawing the demon’s ire by fighting wholeheartedly, everyone held back, prioritizing self-preservation. Moreover, concerns about rivals exploiting any sustained injuries further inhibited their efforts.
“Have you all lost your minds?!” Longbrow Buddha roared in frustration as their assured victory slipped away. His anger proved counterproductive, eliciting muttered complaints.
“If we lose, so be it. Maybe the demons will leave after killing enough mortals. Why risk our lives?”
Longbrow Buddha nearly slaughtered his own allies in rage.
As combat reached its climax, a sickening squelch echoed—the demon’s claw piercing through Yuan Shang’s chest before casually discarding him like trash. Even such grievous wounds barely hindered a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator; Yuan Shang began healing immediately.
But as he prepared to rejoin battle, Yuan Shang spotted Li Wu standing idle nearby. He realized Li Wu hadn’t participated at all since the fighting began.
“Li Wu! What are you doing?”
“I’m providing perimeter support… preventing the demon’s escape,” Li Wu answered guiltily. Having narrowly survived a demon attack a century earlier, the trauma left him too terrified to face them directly.