332: Chapter 337: Revisiting Tathagata 332: Chapter 337: Revisiting Tathagata The Divine City is a place of grand gatherings, where the sovereigns of the Eastern Wastelands, the royal families of the Central States, and the magnates of the Northern Plains often make surprising appearances.
Everything here is exceptionally luxurious and prosperous.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion, proclaimed as one of the eight Immortal Taverns in the Divine City, floats in mid-air.
This is an ethereal palace constructed entirely of jade, every brick and tile sculpted, exquisite and magnificent, like a dream or a vision.
Ye Fan and Li Heishui gently declined other invitations.
They then ascended to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion with the Great Xia Prince and Yao Yuekong, naturally acpanied by the little nun as well.
Shrouded in white mist, this palace rested on the clouds.
It featured intricately carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent, as if one had arrived at the Ancient Heavenly Court.
They ascended into the air, stepping on the White Jade Steps.
Looking back, the world below was obscured by clouds, making it seem as if they had truly reached the immortal world.
“May I ask the heavens, is there truly an Immortal?” the Great Xia Prince sighed, casually reciting a line.
Ye Fan was startled; his past experiences contrasted sharply with the present, leaving him momentarily dazed.
In this world, cultivators could fly through the sky and traverse the earth, reigning over the horizons with clouds beneath their feet, traveling thousands of miles in an instant.
In his homeland, he would be considered an Immortal.
The White Jade Avenue stretched forward like a celestial bridge.
They strolled upon it, step by step, as many Lightning Birds and rare beasts danced in the clouds and mist.
Amidst the towering palaces, sixteen young maidens descended from the air, landing in the clouds and mist.
They respectfully saluted the group and led them forward.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion was very exquisite, its antique architecture seemingly having weathered eons, bearing the marks of time—majestic yet retaining a profound heritage.
Li Heishui laughed and said, “Everything here belongs to the Northern Plains Golden Family.
Aren’t you afraid of causing trouble, Brother Yuekong?” “All who e are guests.
They wouldn’t be unreasonable and ruin their own reputation.” Yao Yuekong was remarkably powerful, rarely finding an equal among his peers.
Not long ago, he had fought the heir of the Golden Family until both were heavily injured, forming a grudge.
“This way, honored guests.” The sixteen young maidens were cultivators of no small skill.
However, here they were only to guide and serve, pouring wine and arranging meals for the guests.
“The South Heavenly Gate?!” Ye Fan’s expression shifted.
The grand gate ahead was engraved with these three ancient words.
As they reached it, the air was filled with clouds and mist.
“This was built in imitation of the legendary Ancient Heavenly Court,” the Great Xia Prince explained, evidently a regular visitor.
“How e I’ve never heard of the Ancient Heavenly Court?” Ye Fan asked.
“The Green Emperor mentioned it over ten thousand years ago,” Yao Yuekong explained.
“He intended to build a celestial court and even outlined such a layout, but in the end, he fell.” The Green Emperor was a Great Emperor of the demon clan from over ten thousand years ago and the ancestor of Yan Ruyu.
It is difficult to ascertain exactly how many years he lived or to state it clearly.
Could it be that an Ancient Heavenly Court truly fell?
Ye Fan had his doubts.
“Impossible.
The Green Emperor merely mentioned it,” the Great Xia Prince said, shaking his head.
Passing through the South Heavenly Gate, the space ahead expanded vastly, divided into four regions displaying the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
“Here…” Ye Fan was surprised.
It was far more expansive than it appeared from the ground, with numerous palaces and four grand gardens, each portraying the distinct scenes of the seasons.
Yao Yuekong said, “There are four barriers here.
While they can’t pare to the small worlds opened by ancient sages, they almost form a self-contained space.
The Northern Plains Golden Family has profound attainments in the Space Path.” A nearby maiden spoke softly, “Please choose a garden, honored guests.” Ultimately, Ye Fan chose the winter scene.
Since arriving in this world, he had never seen a season where snow drifted down.
The cold air brushed against them.
This palace was draped in silver, with thick snowflakes dancing about.
They stood beneath the palace, the world before them a vast expanse of white.
Ye Fan was momentarily lost in thought, remembering the past—a similar snowy season, and those people and events… Now, separated by an entire starry sky, it’s difficult to meet them again.
A delicate fragrance drifted by.
Sturdy plum trees, defying the snow and wind, blossomed in the severe cold, their crystalline petals scattering elegantly.
They sat down, drinking wine while watching the snow and flowers, enjoying a unique ambiance.
After several cups of fine wine, even the little nun in white had flushed cheeks, her bright eyes sparkling.
“Your Highness Princess, you are a member of a religious order.
How can you drink wine?” Ye Fan teased.
The little nun in white, her hair uncut but covered by a snowy white hat, wrinkled her delicate nose and muttered softly, “I am cultivating in the secular world.” Yao Yuekong said, “I’ve long heard that Buddhism possesses various divine mystical arts and Miao Skills, all of which are Strange Techniques in the world, but I’ve never seen them.” Ye Fan wanted to steer the conversation towards Buddhism, to indirectly inquire about Siddhartha Gautama, but neither the Great Xia Prince nor the little nun elaborated.
“What is the Buddha called now?
The Past Buddha, or Tathagata Buddha?” Ye Fan discreetly had Li Heishui ask this question.
“The Buddha is the World-Honored One; there are no other names,” the little nun in white said.
“What kind of Buddha is Siddhartha Gautama?” Ye Fan asked casually.
The little nun in white’s flushed face suddenly froze.
Her bright, sparkling eyes fixed on her small wine cup, and she said no more.
The Great Xia Prince looked solemn.
He sighed and said, “Alas, we’d better not mention that name.
In the Western Desert, it’s a taboo.
I also wanted to know what exactly happened.
After scouring ancient books, I could only e to one conclusion—henceforth, Buddhism has no Tathagata.” “Why say it that way?” Ye Fan pressed, confused.
“It seems… the Buddha has attained parinirvana,” the Great Xia Prince said, then slowly shook his head.
“Brother Xia, that’s not right of you,” Li Heishui remarked, raising his cup and downing it himself.
“You lead us this far and then hem and haw, deliberately keeping us in suspense.” The Great Xia Prince’s name was Xia Yiming, and the little nun in white was Xia Yilin.
Once they became acquainted, the group started addressing each other more casually.
“Some say he is the World-Honored One, others say he is not.
The traitor might be related to him, and some say he is the Buddha’s demonic shell.” The Great Xia Prince, Xia Yiming, stopped speaking, unwilling to say more.
Yao Yuekong said, “Your Highness, since you’ve said this much, can’t you be more specific?” “This is just a little secret I’ve heard, nothing more.
We absolutely mustn’t speak of it, or it could lead to deadly trouble,” the Great Xia Prince, Xia Yiming, said.
“What secret?
Who would kill us?” Ye Fan asked.
“Let’s stop talking about these things; there’s really no benefit at all,” the Great Xia Prince, Xia Yiming, said, resolutely shaking his head.
“Brother Xia, with your status, you still have apprehensions?” Yao Yuekong was puzzled.
“Regarding matters of Buddhism, we really shouldn’t say much.” Xia Yiming looked around, gazing at the vast snowfall, and said, “Sumeru Mountain is no ordinary place.” Seeing him like this, the others found it difficult to probe further.
Indeed, the Great Xia Prince seemed to know little more.
Ye Fan asked another question, “How long has Buddhism existed?” “It has existed since ancient times,” the little nun, Xia Yilin, said, her pure eyes filled with confusion, as if wondering how he could not know this.
Existed since ancient times?!
Ye Fan was shocked.
Buddhism existed long before Siddhartha Gautama, two thousand years ago!
He was left dazed.
“Not many in the Eastern Wastelands know about Buddhism.
It’s natural not to know of its long existence,” Yao Yuekong said with a smile to the little nun.
Ye Fan reflected.
On the other side of the starry sky, though Buddhism was said to be founded by Siddhartha Gautama, there were Buddhist disciples long before him; he merely popularized it.
Some ancient scriptures record that when Siddhartha Gautama was traveling, he saw Buddhist disciples harming their bodies in their practice, deeming it not the correct dharma, which subsequently led to the Tathagata’s Method.
I think I’ve grasped something…
He felt he had grasped something and refrained from further inquiry, pondering deeply for a while before snapping back to reality.
Outside the palace, an endless expanse of white stretched out, with heavy snow falling and the fragrance of plum blossoms drifting from the bitter cold.
The group enjoyed their drinks and conversation.
This banquet was worth five hundred pounds of Source, already quite expensive, but pared to the legendary Immortal Banquet, it was truly insignificant.
“The Immortal Banquets here often cost tens of thousands of pounds of Source.
They are prepared especially for Peacock Kings and sovereigns and require advance reservation; otherwise, even gathering the ingredients would be difficult.” Even Yao Yuekong, the Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, clicked his tongue in amazement when speaking of the Immortal Banquet.
“Isn’t that an exaggeration?” Ye Fan asked.
“Not at all.
Take one of the dishes, ‘Divine Phoenix Wings,’ for example.
It’s genuinely cooked from a bird king possessing partial Divine Phoenix bloodline, concentrating all its essence.
If ordinary cultivators eat it, they can break through an entire realm.” Ye Fan suddenly asked, “Are there Celestial Roc Wings?” “There used to be a Celestial Roc feast, but the Old Roc King protested vehemently, leading to the eventual cancellation of the Golden-winged Celestial Roc dish because of him.” Ye Fan opened his mouth, truly speechless for a moment.
Li Heishui said, “The Immortal Banquet is held only a few times a year, solely when a Peacock King hosts sovereigns; we shouldn’t dwell on it too much.
Still, I truly yearn for a cup of Enlightenment Tea from the Immortal Banquet.
It’s rumored to inspire epiphanies even in sovereigns.” Yao Yuekong shook his head.
“Enlightenment Tea rarely appears at the Immortal Banquet, perhaps once in several years.
That kind of thing is a priceless divine object!
The entire Eastern Wastelands has only one Enlightenment Tea Tree.
Harvesting thirty-odd leaves annually is already fortunate, and countless eyes covet it.” “There is only one Enlightenment Tea Tree in the world?
Where is it?” Ye Fan was astonished.
“It’s in the Undying Mountain,” Yao Yuekong replied.
“HISS.” Everyone drew a sharp breath of cold air.
The Undying Mountain, one of the Eastern Wastelands seven areas forbidden to life, is located in the north of the Central Territory.
It is an Ancient Desolation Forbidden Land.
Yao Yuekong added, “The sole Enlightenment Tea Tree grows in the Undying Mountain.
Through various methods, only about thirty-odd leaves can be retrieved each year.” “That place isn’t far from Holy Cliff, correct?” Ye Fan queried.
“Indeed, not very far.
It’s rumored that someone with peerless Great Magical Power carved a cliff from the Undying Mountain, which became known as Holy Cliff.” Yao Yuekong, befitting his status as Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, was very knowledgeable about many things.
Ye Fan nodded.
He knew he must visit that place, and it wouldn’t be too long from now, because the Holy Cliff held nine secret arts.
Holy Cliff is linked to the Undying Mountain.
The Great Success Ancient Saint fell there, staining the cliff blood-red.
Furthermore, a Great Emperor engraved Array Patterns there.
There must be many secrets there, Ye Fan felt.
Suddenly, DING DONG music sounded from an adjacent palace, where a maiden in white was performing a solo on the qin, attracting a flock of Lightning Birds.
These palaces were all open, allowing esteemed guests to view the snow and admire plum blossoms, and sometimes glimpse one another.
It’s An Miaoyi…
Ye Fan’s expression altered.
“Fairy An, why are you performing a solo here?” the Great Xia Prince asked.
“Miao Yi also booked a feast here.
I intended to offer a toast to Brother Gu Feng, but I was declined,” An Miaoyi said, her crescent brows arching slightly, a faint smile on her immaculate jade face.
Gu Feng was Ye Fan’s current alias; he couldn’t use his real name while traversing the Divine City.
“Fairy An, why say such a thing?
Why don’t we join together and drink as one?” Ye Fan smiled.
Yao Yuekong and the Great Xia Prince also extended invitations.
An Miaoyi laughed lightly, nodded, and glided over.
She arrived gracefully, glancing at Ye Fan with her large eyes.
She smiled faintly and said, “Brother Gu Feng, you’re the first person to refuse me.
Miao Yi holds grudges, you know.”
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