Chapter 87: The Heavenly Dao is the Demonic Dao
Ascension to Immortality involves three steps: cultivating to the peak of the Tribulation Stage, overcoming the Immortal Ascension Tribulation, and transforming one’s spiritual energy into celestial energy.
The Immortal Ascension Tribulation cannot be passed in silence, nor can it be undergone in a simple mystic realm. If a mystic realm lacks a sufficiently high rank, the tribulation will not descend.
Celestial energy is undoubtedly refined from spiritual energy, but exactly how this refinement occurs is unknown. This is the foundation of the Celestial Realm’s existence—something that even Immortal Changcun would not be privy to.
“Old Buddha, tell me, how did you achieve immortality?”
The divine radiance around Old Buddha of Mount Sumeru was subdued, his body full of vitality. A cultivator in the Tribulation Stage has a lifespan of ten thousand years. By all logic, he should be nearing the end of his years, yet he appeared vigorous, as if he still had centuries left to live.
Jiang Li had read countless ancient records describing immortals and had even met true immortals like Immortal Changcun and the Mortal World Celestial. He could see that the Old Buddha of Mount Sumeru had already become a true immortal—one who had ascended in the Nine Provinces rather than the Celestial Realm.
Even before seeing this with his own eyes, Jiang Li was already 80% certain that the mastermind behind everything was the Old Buddha.
The first time he encountered a follower of the Divine Repository Sect, a Soul Formation cultivator, the mastermind realized things were going awry and immediately killed Great General Che Wu in the Tianyuan Dynasty.
For the mastermind to observe everything happening right beside Jiang Li without being noticed meant he was highly proficient in the Dao of Space.
Ji Kongkong had mentioned that the mastermind had suddenly appeared behind General Che Wu and killed him in a single strike. To accomplish such a feat against a Body Integration Stage cultivator, the mastermind had to be either at the peak of the Body Integration Stage or in the Tribulation Stage.
Later, the mastermind had lured Jiang Li and Ji Kongkong to the Divine Repository Sect’s mystic realm and orchestrated its destruction. The calculations were too precise—only someone deeply familiar with Jiang Li could make such accurate judgments.
The Old Buddha of Mount Sumeru was the second oldest person in the Nine Provinces. Jiang Li had consulted him many times on cultivation, asked about past Human Sovereigns, sought his help in searching for the Celestial Realm, and even showed him the system-generated portals to other worlds.
Moreover, the Divine Repository Sect’s method of spreading its teachings was far too refined—clearly the work of someone well-versed in religious conversion tactics.
Jiang Li had met Sun Yuan and heard from Yu Yin about his battle with General Shenwei. Neither of them had displayed any spatial techniques, meaning they lacked expertise in the Dao of Space. Then how had the Absolute Spirit Formation managed to exist in perfect parallel with the Nine Provinces World?
All of these clues pointed to two possibilities: either an unfamiliar Tribulation Stage powerhouse proficient in the Dao of Space or an Outer World Demon infiltrating the Nine Provinces. That was why Jiang Li had initially been only 80% certain.
But now that he saw the Old Buddha had become an immortal, that 80% certainty became 100%.
During the second ritual of the Divine Repository Sect, Jiang Li had witnessed multiple priests working together to kill a Soul Formation cultivator and evenly distributing the karmic merit.
Back then, he had wondered—could someone gain merit by assisting in a killing? Or from another perspective, could the sect leader of the Divine Repository Sect gain merit every time one of his followers killed someone?
It had been mere speculation. But after encountering Sun Yuan and now seeing the Old Buddha, he finally understood.
A sect leader could indeed claim a portion of their followers’ karmic merit—perhaps even the majority of it.
The power of karmic merit could work miracles. It could even bypass logic itself to transform spiritual energy into celestial energy.
“Jiang Benefactor, you jest. Acting in accordance with the Heavenly Will, performing good deeds, and accumulating virtue naturally leads to ascension,” the Old Buddha smiled. He openly admitted his ascension, leaving his disciples in shock. Even his most favored disciple, Buddha Wuzhi, looked stunned.
Jiang Li stepped toward the Old Buddha, his aura surging like a spear piercing through the heavens—sharp and unstoppable.
“I know the Old Buddha has fought against Outer World Demons many times and has earned great merit. But tell me, did performing these good deeds bring down karmic merit upon you?”
The Buddhist disciples instinctively moved aside, still confused about the situation.
When had the Old Buddha ascended? And why was the Human Sovereign so furious?
“Killing in great numbers brings merit in great numbers. Benefactor, why ask what you already know?” The Old Buddha pressed his palms together.
“Benefactor, you are well-versed in Buddhist teachings. Look for yourself—do I bear even a trace of karmic burden?”
His expression was a strange mix of a smile and a tearful lament.
Those who understood Buddhism knew that the most crucial aspect of cultivation was performing good deeds and accumulating virtue. Wrongfully killing innocents would result in immense karmic retribution—one would be burned by the Red Lotus of Karmic Fire, suffering unbearable agony. To atone, one would need to commit a lifetime of good deeds.
The previous Buddha Wuzhi had, through sheer accident, slaughtered countless people and was consumed by karmic burden. Even dedicating his entire life to atonement would never be enough. In the end, he abandoned Buddhism and fell into the Demonic Path.
“Benefactor, the heavens have changed. The Heavenly Dao is now the Demonic Dao.”
Jiang Li fell silent. He wanted to refute the Old Buddha but had no words to do so.
“Why do you seek immortality?”
The Old Buddha gave a faint smile—was it mockery toward Jiang Li, or himself?
“Jiang Benefactor, if I had not ascended, I would have had only three years left to live. I did not want to die.”
“Doesn’t Buddhism teach reincarnation, karma, and retribution? If you do good in this life, won’t you be reborn into the Heavenly Realm? Old Buddha, have you not transcended life and death?”
The Old Buddha grew agitated. He no longer sat in meditation but instead shot to his feet. His towering, muscular frame stood over two meters tall.
“Rebirth, rebirth, rebirth! Of course, I have not transcended life and death!”
“In the next life, I will forget everything! What use is being reborn into the Heavenly Realm? What good is enjoying its blessings? In this life, I would already be dead! Dead!”
“Why should I do good in this life for the sake of the next? What about the me in this life? Is my only purpose in this life to serve the next?”
“Jiang Li, answer me!”
The disciples were dumbstruck. They had never seen the Old Buddha lose control like this—no, this was outright madness.
Buddha Wuzhi pressed his palms together, his lips trembling as he muttered something. His senior brother leaned in to listen and was stunned to discover that he was reciting the Rebirth Mantra?!
“If you live only for this life, then you must now face the consequences of taking nine million lives.”
Jiang Li finally understood why the Old Buddha had insisted on aiding Sun Yuan in activating the Absolute Spirit Formation. By all logic, he could have relocated, abandoned the Divine Repository Sect, and started anew.
He had no time left.
Jiang Li continued moving forward, stopping just in front of the towering Old Buddha and looking up at the elder he had once respected.
“Old Buddha, no one wants to die. But those nine million people in the Tianyuan Dynasty didn’t want to die either.”
“So, it is as I expected.” The Old Buddha sighed. “Jiang Li, do you know why I never told you about the method I obtained from the Outer World Demon to acquire karmic merit?”
“Because you and I were never of the same mind.”
“A true Buddha sacrifices himself to bring salvation to all. I could never do that. Only you Human Sovereigns are capable of such a thing.”
The land of Leshan Nation began to shrink, golden swastika symbols glowing brilliantly.
The entire nation vanished into the Old Buddha’s palm—along with all its people.
This was something even Master Dreamer could not achieve.
Leshan Nation had never truly existed. Its citizens were mere illusions. But the illusions were so real—tangible, usable, and indistinguishable from reality.
A mirage so perfect that even a Body Integration cultivator could not see through it!
A Buddhist supreme technique combining the Dao of Illusions and the Dao of Space—The Buddha’s World in the Palm!