"Good!"
Ying Zheng burst into laughter, clearly pleased.
"Feng'er."
"With the conquest of the western territories, my Great Qin has once again expanded by tens of thousands of miles."
"This victory in seizing fate's energy may allow my Great Qin to take yet another step forward," Ying Zheng said excitedly, looking at Zhao Feng with a smile.
"Royal Grandfather, Father."
"The thirty-six nations of the western regions are deeply intertwined and complex."
"Though we have subdued them by military might, these thirty-six nations were originally under the rule of the Buddhist sect. Everyone preaches Buddhist teachings, and everyone follows the path of Buddha. How should we handle this matter?"
"Should we eradicate the Buddhist temples of the western regions and sever the inheritance of Buddhism there?"
"Or what should be done?" Zhao Qi asked tentatively.
"Why would we need to destroy them?" Zhao Feng chuckled.
"Then how should the temples be handled?"
"But Father, didn't you once say that the people of Great Qin do not believe in celestial beings or Buddhas, but only revere Heaven and Earth, and honor the imperial authority?" Zhao Qi was momentarily stunned.
"Qi'er."
"The great upheaval in the upper realms has caused the decline of celestial beings and Buddhas. There must be a reason behind this. However, among the gods and immortals, there are also benevolent deities, and among the Buddhas, there are still those untainted by corruption."
"The belief in Buddhism is deeply rooted in the thirty-six nations of the West. Forcibly eradicating it would be futile and would only bring chaos."
"The Buddhist temples may remain, but instead of worshipping golden statues, they shall revere a single written character 'Buddha'." Zhao Feng spoke slowly, his tone carrying deep contemplation.
"Please instruct me further, Father." Zhao Qi wore a solemn expression.
"Buddha has no fixed form!"
"As long as there is Buddha in one's heart, there is no need for a golden statue Buddha exists regardless."
"The teachings of Buddhism advocate virtue and kindness, where good is rewarded and evil is punished. This aligns closely with the laws of my Great Qin."
"And this Buddhist doctrine shall be the future path of Buddhism in my Great Qin."
"In the immortal realm, celestial beings and Buddhas have already fallen to the mortal world. Only the future Buddhist path shaped by my Great Qin shall endure."
"Beyond merely reshaping the Buddhist path, the decayed Heavenly Court of the immortal realm shall also be rebuilt by my Great Qin."
"The Buddha shall have a future. The Future Buddha shall reside in Great Qin."
Zhao Feng spoke with a serious expression, his tone firm and unwavering.
In his past life
Zhao Feng had seen temples everywhere. Some used the name of Buddhism to amass great wealth, practicing Buddhism in name only, without true faith in their hearts.
Yet, there were also Buddhist monks who truly adhered to ascetic practices, possessing neither material wealth nor luxuries, yet holding the Buddha in their hearts. They traveled the world in hardship, taking upon themselves the suffering of all beings, so that others might endure less pain.
Clearly
Zhao Feng held great respect for such true monks.
By comparison
Zhao Feng understood what true Buddhism was and what a true Buddha should be.
The celestial and Buddhist orders of this world had already decayed. Great Qin would forge a new future.
A Future Buddha.
A future of divine beings.
"Amitabha."
"To think that the benefactor's understanding of Buddhist principles runs so deep it is truly astonishing."
At that moment
A sudden voice echoed within the great hall of Zhangtai Palace.
"Who goes there?"
Ying Zheng's expression changed abruptly as the power of the nation's fate erupted, unleashing overwhelming pressure.
Yet under this immense suppression
Though the force wavered, the voice remained uninterrupted.
"Father, withdraw the power of the nation's fate," Zhao Feng raised his hand and said immediately.
Seeing Zhao Feng remain so composed, Ying Zheng retracted his power.
In the next moment
Without the suppression of the national fate
Ripples spread through the void.
A golden light of Buddha manifested within Zhangtai Palace, gradually forming into an illusory figure of a Buddha.
This voice belonged to a Buddhist deity, whose radiance exuded no bloodshed nor hostility, but a serenity that brought peace to the heart.
"Who are you?"
Ying Zheng fixed his gaze on the Buddha's figure, his tone heavy.
General Wang Jian also looked on with a mix of shock and scrutiny.
Only Zhao Feng remained calm.
"The future has met me, for I am the future."
"The benefactor called my name, thus fate has drawn us together."
"I am Maitreya, the Future Buddha. Greetings to the benefactor."
Maitreya Buddha smiled gently, his gaze filled with compassion as he looked upon Zhao Feng.
"You are different from the celestial Buddhas I have seen before."
Zhao Feng studied him for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Oh? How so?" Maitreya Buddha smiled slightly.
"Your Buddha light is pure, without any trace of bloodshed or resentment," Zhao Feng remarked.
"Does that mean the benefactor acknowledges me, or does he disdain the celestial Buddhas?" Maitreya Buddha chuckled.
"The Future Buddha is truly extraordinary. Despite the divide between the immortal and mortal realms, you can cross worlds without any Buddhist sacrifices or offerings," Zhao Feng said in admiration.
"People understand the present and the past, yet few understand the future."
"The benefactor called my name, and thus I am connected to you," Maitreya Buddha said with a serene smile.
"Maitreya Buddha, you are a great deity of the celestial realm. I wish to know why has the celestial realm become filled with slaughter. Why have the celestial Buddhas fallen into carnage?"
"What exactly is the so-called Spiritual Root Elixir?"
"And where have the Saints gone?"
Seeing Maitreya Buddha, a being of great power, Zhao Feng was filled with endless questions. Though he did not know whether Maitreya would answer, he was, apart from the Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha, the most powerful celestial figure Zhao Feng had ever encountered.
Moreover
He did not seem to bear any malice toward him.
"The benefactor is kind-hearted, as you did not order the destruction of mortal Buddhist temples but chose instead to preserve Buddhist teachings and heritage."
"For this, I extend my gratitude to the benefactor."
Maitreya Buddha withdrew his smile and solemnly performed a Buddhist salutation to Zhao Feng.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng was somewhat surprised. "Future Buddha, you are a Buddha, yet you bow to a mere mortal like me. That is truly unexpected."
"All beings suffer, and the Buddha's teachings aim to deliver them from the sea of suffering."
"However, the great changes in heaven and earth have caused both immortals and Buddhas to change as well."
"Seeing this, I too feel helpless."
"Today, you called my name and proclaimed that 'Buddha has no form, and as long as Buddha exists in one's heart, there is Buddha,' thus explaining the fundamental essence of Buddhism."
"This bow is for the sake of true Buddhism, and even more so, for the fact that you understand the true heart of the Buddha," Maitreya Buddha said with a smile.
"This is a true Buddha, not an evil one."
Seeing Maitreya's actions, Zhao Feng began to form a hypothesis in his mind.
The immortals and Buddhas of the upper realm had succumbed to slaughter, but surely, not all of them had fallen. Some must have remained steadfast in their original beliefs.
However, under the sweeping tide of this great transformation, they had no choice but to hide.
"Then, can the Buddha answer my questions now?" Zhao Feng's tone softened.
"Do you know of the Great Tribulation?" Maitreya Buddha asked in return.
"The past Investiture of the Gods was a Great Tribulation," Zhao Feng replied.
"I am aware of it."
"But that was countless years ago, wasn't it?"
"Could it be related to the great changes in heaven and earth?"
Zhao Feng asked with a frown.
"As expected, you are not an ordinary person,"
Maitreya Buddha gave Zhao Feng a deep look and then continued, "After the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the sages were forbidden from entering the Earthly Immortal Realm by the Dao Ancestor. As a result, the Earthly Immortal Realm experienced a period of peace and development for many years. However, after one hundred thousand years, the saints beyond the Chaos Heaven disappeared, the Heavenly Dao became chaotic, the great changes unfolded, and the calamity energy emerged."
"This is the fundamental cause of the upheaval in the Earthly Immortal Realm and the transformation of the immortals and Buddhas."
"As for the so-called Spiritual Root Pills, they are formed from calamity energy. Calamity energy invades the soul, allowing one's cultivation to grow stronger and extending their lifespan through killing and devouring others."
"To use calamity energy in alchemy this is truly a grand scheme," Maitreya Buddha chuckled, his meaning quite clear.
It was evident that the Buddhist lands and the Heavenly Court were both involved in this.
"But immortals live for tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years. Why would they need to extend their lifespan?" Zhao Feng asked, puzzled.
"Before the great transformation of heaven and earth, that was indeed the case."
"But after the transformation, the Heavenly Dao became chaotic, and the laws of the world were no longer clear. Even in the Immortal Realm, the lifespans of immortals were no longer as vast as before."
"In the Immortal Realm, there is a distinction between mortal lifespan and immortal lifespan."
"A common immortal's lifespan is only about a thousand years, and even if one attains the Golden Immortal stage, they barely reach ten thousand years."
"Time."
"Lifespan."
"In the current Immortal Realm, these have become extremely precious."
Maitreya Buddha explained slowly.
"There is a difference between mortal lifespan and immortal lifespan?" Zhao Feng was quite shocked.
"If that's the case, then the emergence of calamity energy pills makes perfect sense."
"They ensure that constant slaughter occurs in the Immortal Realm, allowing immortals to kill each other to extend their lifespan and strengthen their cultivation. And after consuming these pills, their hands are stained with endless blood. This gives the Buddhist lands and the Heavenly Court the perfect justification to eradicate them, seizing their spiritual essence and stealing their lifespans in return."
At this moment,
Ying Zheng's expression changed to one of sudden realization.
"As expected of the Qin Emperor you see things clearly," Maitreya Buddha said with a smile.
"Why have they set their sights on Divine Continent?"
"What is it about Divine Continent that entices them so much?" Ying Zheng asked.
Maitreya Buddha chuckled before speaking four words:
"The chance for transcendence!"
Ying Zheng looked confused.
But Zhao Feng immediately understood. "The Dao of Humanity?"
The Dao of Humanity!
The Dao of all living beings.
With the great transformation of heaven and earth, the Heavenly Dao seemed to have lost its former authority over the laws governing the world.
The Earthly Dao was hidden, limited only to the cycle of reincarnation.
The last remaining Dao was the Dao of Humanity.
It was the path of all beings, as well as the path of redemption for all beings.
"Benefactor."
"My time in the mortal world is running out. Soon, I will dissipate."
"Before I leave, I must give you a message."
"The Heavenly Court is about to send troops into the mortal world to destroy your Qin Empire and sever Divine Continent's fortune."
"You must prepare for this carefully."
"As for the Buddhist temples in the mortal world, I shall ensure that the golden statues of all Buddhas dissipate!"
"You were right Buddha has no form, so why worship golden statues? As long as Buddha exists in one's heart, Buddha is present everywhere. If one's heart and body are with Buddha, then one is Buddha!"
Maitreya Buddha smiled.
The Buddha's light on his body suddenly spread out.
In the next moment.
Throughout the thirty-six Western nations, within countless temples and great halls, the golden statues of numerous Buddhas disintegrated into pure Buddhist light and vanished.
In their place, a single word appeared on the main altar:
"Buddha."
As Maitreya's golden body completely dissipated from the mortal world, the people in Zhangtai Palace exchanged glances, speechless for a long time.
After a while, Ying Zheng finally regained his composure.
"Feng'er," he said, his tone filled with awe. "Is this what a true Great Divine Being is like? Merely calling his name allowed him to manifest across realms."
Ying Zheng was deeply moved by what had transpired Maitreya Buddha had descended from another world, an event that truly astounded him.
"He has existed since ancient times and is naturally capable of such divine feats," Zhao Feng replied with a faint smile. "His appearance today has also given me a deeper understanding of the Immortal Realm. At least now, I am no longer as confused as before."
"An ancient Great Divine Being… Just how powerful is he?" Ying Zheng asked curiously.
"If the saints of old were the pinnacle, then he would be just beneath them in strength. Besides, he was once a disciple of a saint," Zhao Feng explained.
"Seeing it with my own eyes today… A being of such immense power descended in a mere incarnation, yet he was still able to break through my Great Qin's national destiny barrier. It seems we must never underestimate any immortal or deity," Ying Zheng said, deeply impressed.
"This Buddha possesses extraordinary abilities not everyone can accomplish what he did," Zhao Feng remarked. "Moreover, his arrival has shown me that not all immortals and Buddhas have fallen to the corruption of tribulation energy. There are still many who have held onto their original nature.
"In the future, these individuals will be allies that Great Qin must strive to win over."
"Indeed," Ying Zheng nodded in agreement.
"However," Zhao Feng's expression grew serious, "he just mentioned that the Heavenly Court is preparing to dispatch troops to the mortal world. It seems they have found a way to break through the spatial barrier."
"This must be handled with great caution," he continued.
Although Zhao Feng did not yet understand how the Heavenly Court could bypass the world's boundaries and send celestial soldiers down, he did not doubt that Maitreya Buddha's warning was true.
"The Heavenly Court descending… Immortals and deities entering our world…" Ying Zheng's expression became tense.
"Great Qin's current strength may not be enough," he admitted. "We don't know how many immortals they will send."
"Do not worry," Zhao Feng reassured him. "The laws of the mortal world are still intact. If they exceed the world's limits, they will be rejected by the world's natural laws.
"Moreover, in this mortal world, we have the home-field advantage. If they come, we kill them."
A cold smile formed on Zhao Feng's lips.
As long as the Divine Continent remained separate from the Immortal Realm, the Heavenly Court would be unable to send anyone stronger than a Golden Immortal.
And as long as their forces did not surpass that level Zhao Feng could slay them all.
This was the absolute power of his full-attribute system.
Not to mention…
He had just obtained the postnatal treasure, the pseudo-Zhuxian Sword Formation.
"Father," Zhao Feng said, "starting today, I will enter seclusion. I will emerge once a month.
"Each month, the soldiers scheduled for training will be relocated outside Xianyang City in advance. When I come out, they will rotate in."
"Right now, the priority is to strengthen the overall power of Great Qin as quickly as possible."
"Increase the number of recruits there is no limit."
Ying Zheng nodded. "I will make the necessary arrangements."
"Commander-in-Chief," he addressed Wang Jian.
"Besides the elite warriors of the main battle legions, even the logistics forces should select soldiers with at least mid-tier martial talent for training."
"Furthermore," he continued, "expand our recruitment efforts. Gather fifty thousand elite warriors to form an Imperial Guard unit."
"I want the Imperial Guard expanded to one hundred thousand soldiers."
"Likewise, increase the capital's defense forces to one hundred thousand."
"In the future, Great Qin's five main battle legions will handle the offensive, while the Imperial Guard and the capital's army will protect Xianyang."
"Understood!" Wang Jian immediately acknowledged the order.
"In the heavens, one day is equal to a year in the mortal world," Zhao Feng mused.
"The Heavenly Court's movements should not be that fast. Father, I will return to my residence to cultivate."
"The affairs of Great Qin are in your hands now."
"During my seclusion, our army's advance must not slow down."
"Also, urge the Array Hall to accelerate the deployment of teleportation formations to hasten our control over the mortal world."
"I understand," Ying Zheng nodded.
With that, Zhao Feng turned and left Zhangtai Palace.
Upon returning home, he spent some time in intimacy with his many wives and concubines before retreating into his hall for closed-door cultivation.
"Calculate the accumulated kill attributes," Zhao Feng ordered as he settled into seclusion.
"Host's army has slain 564,838 enemies, yielding 28,400 attribute points," the system prompted.
"As expected," Zhao Feng murmured.
"With my full-attribute system undergoing three evolutions, ordinary mortal enemies now provide almost negligible attribute points.
"At most, each enemy only grants about 0.1 points."
"Still, over twenty thousand points is not bad."
"Claim them all," he commanded.
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 375+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader