Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant-Chapter 1617 - 114 Buddha Kingdom Changes

Chapter 1617 -114 Buddha Kingdom Changes

“The plundering of Spiritual Energy here seems far stronger than that in Daosheng Continent and Tupi Continent.”

The silent night sky, in the northwest direction, still revealed a faint glaze of golden light covering half the heavens.

It was a mystical and indescribable palette of colors, lending the nightscape of Xi Tuo Continent an unusual charm.

Yet as Wang Ba and Zhao Jie hovered midair, their expressions remained slightly solemn.

Throughout their flight, they could unmistakably sense an invisible force attempting to penetrate their Dao Domain, pulling forth the immense Mana stored within their Primordial Spirits.

Although this unseen force posed no immediate threat to them, the troubling matter was that the pulling intensifies markedly as they approached closer to Xi Tuo Continent.

“But such phenomena never occurred in Xi Tuo Continent before…”

Zhao Jie frowned in confusion, feeling the pulling force outside his Dao Domain.

Wang Ba fell silent for a moment, recalling the anomalies in Daosheng Continent and Tupi Continent, and seemingly harboring some speculation:

“It likely has something to do with the Great Flood… I remember the source of the Great Flood was near Xi Tuo Continent, wasn’t it?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jie nodded:

“Indeed, it is just north of Xi Tuo Continent… Let’s first visit the Great Wheel Buddhist Nation to retrieve the Ten Thousand Buddhas Relic Pagoda, then head north. With our speed, we should arrive in half a day or so. We can take a look then.”

Wang Ba did not object, intrigued by the source of this Great Flood that had indirectly caused upheaval across the Little Cang World. However, he was well aware that even though the floodwaters had receded, the Truth Membrane Eye near its origin was likely already sealed.

“But where does this force pulling at Spiritual Energy and Mana originate from?”

Holding onto this question, the two swiftly arrived above Xi Tuo Continent.

“At least it doesn’t look like Daosheng Continent.”

Zhao Jie’s gaze swept over the vast mountains, plains, and deserts that stretched endlessly before him, and he exhaled in relief.

His foremost concern had been the submergence of Xi Tuo Continent, and secondarily, the fate resembling Daosheng Continent where considerable landmass was still submerged underwater.

But from present observations, neither of these fears seemed to have materialized.

Relieved, he remembered his hostly duties and warmly invited Wang Ba:

“Tan Yue, let’s descend to take a closer look.”

“This old monk’s Buddha Kingdom is not far away.”

Wang Ba, intrigued, replied:

“Master also has a Buddha Kingdom?”

“Haha, Tan Yue, you might not know—our Xi Tuo Continent’s many Buddha Kingdoms actually evolved from the Great Wheel Buddhist Nation. Through karmic ties and differing beliefs, many sects emerged. Among them, some principles proved viable, while others didn’t. For those sects that succeed in achieving the ‘Nascent Soul’ fruit status, the Buddha Lord of the Great Wheel Buddhist Nation confers upon them a city and allows them to practice their ideals, thereby forming Buddha Kingdoms.”

Zhao Jie patiently explained:

“However, Buddha Kingdoms are not permanent. If they fail to win debates on sutras or if their successors fail to achieve the ‘Nascent Soul’ fruit status, the Buddha Lord will reclaim and redistribute the kingdom to someone who has attained Dao enlightenment.”

“Rumor has it that at its peak, Xi Tuo Continent housed ten thousand Buddha Kingdoms simultaneously, with Monk Kings at the Immortal Ascension stage as countless as rain and clouds. But now…”

Recalling the bygone glory, the elder monk sighed deeply.

Wang Ba, meanwhile, instinctively recalled an old saying:

Whose ancestors haven’t experienced better days?

Apparently, Xi Tuo Continent was no exception.

Thinking this, his curiosity grew even stronger.

The two continued conversing as they walked, their pace quick. Soon, after traversing a snowy mountain, Zhao Jie halted slightly, his face lighting up in surprise as he pointed downward:

“This is Martial Uncle Cijue’s Fanyan Buddha Kingdom—who would have thought it still stands!”

Following Zhao Jie’s gaze, Wang Ba observed a soil-colored city standing amidst the snowy mountains below.

This city had clearly weathered many years, its walls eroded by seawater revealing patches of the underlying yellow earth.

The Buddha statues erected along the city walls had deteriorated significantly with the disappearance of Spiritual Energy, their features obscure under the erosive forces of seawater and time. Many fallen Buddha sculptures and broken heads were scattered throughout the city, their intricate details long erased by the winds and sands.

What surprised Wang Ba, however, was that despite the absence of monks, ordinary mortals still inhabited the city.

Though their numbers were not great, they mostly wore plain clothing and carried calm and placid expressions, leisurely strolling and chatting within the city.

Even commerce was conducted unhurriedly, with cheerful banter exchanged freely.

Compared to the bustling and hurried population of Daosheng Continent, the inhabitants of this city possessed a tranquil serenity.

“A small nation with few people, living in peace and harmony. Without external threats, such a life for its citizens perhaps isn’t bad at all.”

Wang Ba said sincerely.

He reflected on Daosheng Continent’s future, which he had witnessed firsthand in a past lifetime. Advancements in various crafts only further entangled mortals in chaotic affairs, intensifying their toil and making true liberation harder to attain.

He refrained from commenting extensively on its causes—merely attributing it to human nature.

But now, contemplating life as a mortal, he realized he would rather reside in a place like this, leading a modest and desire-free existence marked by a sense of freedom.

Still, in truth, there are no perpetual paradises untouched by the world. If such a sanctuary truly existed, someone must have worked tirelessly to shield it.

Thus, this notion, in the end, remained nothing more than a fleeting idea.

Zhao Jie sighed wistfully:

“A hundred miles from here lies a monastery housing a reclining Buddha statue depicting his Nirvana, stretching thousands of feet. In the old days when Martial Uncle Cijue was still here, he held grand open gatherings at this site. The national treasury’s wealth was given away without reservation. Laymen and monks debated scriptures here freely, unfettered by social hierarchies or ranks, expressing their views openly and vibrantly—it was our most joyous time.”