Volume 4: The Revelation Revealed Chapter 486: A Heart Filled with Nothingness

Qilin looked skeptical and waved his hand to summon Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng. Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng stepped forward and bowed his head. Qilin placed his hand on him; after a moment, his expression changed as he said, “Huh? What is this?”
Zi Wei replied, “I’m ashamed. That’s a trace of my Dao consciousness from back then.”
Qilin shook his head, looking astonished, and said, “A hundred years ago, there was a technique he couldn’t comprehend. I even thoroughly examined his meridians at that time but didn’t find this. When did you plant it?” Qilin knew Zi Wei had no reason to harm Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng. This trace of consciousness was strange—it clearly served to suppress Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng’s cultivation, preventing him from reaching sainthood on his own.
Zi Wei said, “To be honest, when I took Yuan Sheng as my disciple, I saw that he had a solid foundation and high comprehension ability. But since he was originally a demon, I wasn’t sure what his future would hold, so I hid this trace of Dao consciousness. As long as he didn’t reach the peak of Hun Yuan Jin Xian, this trace would be ineffective. But once he tried to ascend to the realm of a sage, it would suppress him.”
Qilin suddenly understood and said, “So it was you doing this.”
Zhen Wu hurriedly added, “Zi Wei has no ill intentions.”
Qilin smiled and said, “Under those circumstances, it’s only natural for you to be cautious. But now my son is desperate—why haven’t you removed it yet?”
Zi Wei quickly nodded. “Of course.” He gestured with his palm toward Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng. Though invisible, everyone felt an invisible force surge out of Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng’s nostrils and vanish into Zi Wei’s palm.
Zhen Wu laughed and said, “That’s how a father should act. Although Zi Wei’s method is ingenious, if you observe carefully, you won’t fail to notice it.”
Qilin said, “I saw it a hundred years ago. Who would have thought this consciousness would remain hidden? Taoist methods are truly strange.”
Zhen Wu replied, “Each has its strengths. There’s no real difference between strong and weak.”
Once this trace of consciousness was removed from Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng’s body, he immediately felt an immense surge of power in his dantian. Qilin was delighted and said, “Could this be the moment?”
Zhen Wu lifted Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng and rushed toward the pill room. Everyone followed closely behind. The most excited was Da Peng, who had long desired to reach sainthood. Witnessing someone else achieve it might be of great help to him as well.
Zhen Wu naturally knew that reaching sainthood required much fortune, and since his pill room contained plenty of such resources, he could surely support Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng.

Months later, a joyful cry echoed in the Taihe Hall of Wudang Mountain, followed by a figure soaring out—none other than the newly ascended Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng. His cultivation had long reached the level required for sanctification, but he had failed each time he tried. Only after Zi Wei lifted the restrictions and he spent several more months accumulating cultivation, consuming countless immortality pills from Zhen Wu, did he finally succeed.

Zhen Wu also breathed a sigh of relief. Even he hadn’t expected the path to sanctification for Jiu Ling Yuan Sheng to be so difficult. Seeing him swallow pile after pile of pills with little progress, he feared the pill room would be empty in just a few more months.

The Qilin lineage truly had extraordinary aptitude. Zhen Wu couldn’t help but gaze at the Qilin with envy. The Qilin asked, “Why are you looking at me?” Though he asked, he was secretly pleased.

Zhen Wu originally wanted to praise the Qilin, but after some thought, he said, “The bloodline of the King of the Five Categories is indeed remarkable, but compared to a single person, neither Yuan Sheng nor the Great Peng is much better.”

The Qilin replied, “Are you referring to that monkey? Hmph! He is a Divine Ape of Fate—how can he be compared to him?”

Zhen Wu shook his head and said, “It’s not Wu Kong.”

The Great Peng thought for a moment and said, “I get it. You’re talking about that old ox!”

Zhen Wu smiled and nodded. “Exactly. That ox has only cultivated for ten thousand years, but compared to Yuan Sheng and the Great Peng, he is far from inferior. Isn’t that proof of his exceptional aptitude?”

Zi Wei said, “How can that be? Do you know that ox has grown up eating Laojun’s immortality pills since childhood? His body is made of steel and iron—all thanks to those precious pills. Without them, how could he be so powerful?”

Hearing this, the Great Peng clicked his tongue and sighed, “The Three Pure Ones truly are extraordinary. That old ox is indeed fortunate.”

Zhen Wu looked at the Great Peng and said, “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’ve managed to cultivate all this by your own efforts—there’s no luck involved. If you’re willing, stay in my Taihe Hall, and I’ll teach you everything I know.”

The Great Peng was overjoyed and prepared to bow in gratitude, but Zhen Wu stopped him, saying coldly, “There’s no need to bow to me. Among the Phoenix lineage, only you remain sober. I won’t show leniency. You know what to do.”

Upon hearing this, the Great Peng stood upright solemnly and said, “Understood!”

The Qilin said, “Brother Zhen Wu, I know you have vast knowledge. Why not take my young son in as well?”

Zhen Wu shook his head. “He inherits the most of your Qilin bloodline. It’s better to raise him first. I can teach him later, once he reaches the level of Hun Yuan Jin Xian.”

The Qilin replied, “Good. Qitian Ridge is rather dull right now. I’ll stay here and ask for your guidance whenever I have time. Brother Zhen Wu, you won’t mind, right?”

Zhenwu laughed heartily and said, “How could I dislike it? But you came here with empty hands, brought me a disciple who gives me headaches, and also stole many of my elixirs. That’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?”
The Qilin thought for a moment and replied apologetically, “I have nothing valuable. How could there be anything you’d desire?”
Seeing that the Qilin truly believed it, Zhenwu smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter. I was just joking. If you have no treasures, then you owe me a favor.”
The Qilin scratched his head and muttered, “I hate owing favors to others the most.” Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he said, “I remember! When I was searching the Heavenly Court, I saw a group of extraordinary people. I’m sure you’ll like them.”
“Extraordinary people?” Zhenwu asked. “What extraordinary people are there in the Heavenly Court?”
The Qilin smiled and said, “Anyway, I really like them. Let me ask you—do the wine masters in the Heavenly Court count as extraordinary people?”
Zhenwu was shocked, then smiled and said, “What? You captured the wine masters from the Heavenly Court?”
The Qilin nodded cheerfully and said, “Not just the wine masters—whole wine houses were moved to Qitian Ridge by me. If it weren’t for those three kids, I’d still be drunk right now.”
Zhenwu’s hands trembled with excitement as he hurriedly said, “Quick! Bring me a few jars to satisfy my craving. All the stock from back then has long been drunk. I thought heavenly wines would be hard to find again in this world, but it seems there’s always a way.”
The Qilin said, “Don’t worry. Since I moved to Wudang Mountain, I brought at least half of those wine masters with me. Otherwise, how could I endure?”
Zhenwu clasped his palms together and said, “That’s truly delightful!”
※　※　※
On Mount Ling in the Western Heaven, there was no longer any sign of desolation. Many devout Buddhist disciples built temples and monasteries around the mountain. From afar, they appeared dense and bustling, with incense smoke everywhere. In terms of size, Mount Ling was now more than ten times larger than it had been before.
As the venerable disciples under Guanyin and Maitreya spread the Dharma everywhere, pilgrims from the four great continents flocked to Mount Ling in an endless stream. Now, with no evil demons rampaging, monks traveled through mountains and rivers, and nine out of ten of them reached their destination.
After obtaining the scriptures, they brought them back to their homelands, spreading Buddhism throughout the world and benefiting all beings. What Buddha had wished for so long was easily accomplished by Maitreya—truly a remarkable feat.
One day, a rare visitor arrived at the top of Mount Ling.
At that time, Maitreya was sitting in the hall when he suddenly heard a voice from the sky asking, “With so many believers, are there anything you fear?”
Maitreya was slightly surprised. It was the Medicine Buddha, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time!
Without hesitation, he replied, “What is there to fear?”

The Medicine Buddha said, “In those days, the Tathagata was able to fully expound the path of suffering and all the Dharma related to suffering. By transcending the worldly realm, he achieved stability and thus fearlessness. What abilities do you possess?”
Maitreya said, “Medicine Buddha, please come down and speak.”
A luminous gem-like light flashed in the air, and a Buddha whose entire body glowed brightly descended from heaven. The monks and believers on the ground had never seen such a phenomenon before, so they all fell to the ground in worship.
The Medicine Buddha stood alone in front of Maitreya’s throne, neither humble nor arrogant, and asked again, “What abilities do you possess?”
Maitreya smiled slightly and said, “All wisdom, fearlessness. Wisdom arises from the mind. I return to sentient beings an unshaken mind, hence fearlessness. In Buddhism, we cultivate the mind, not abilities.”
The Medicine Buddha said, “An unshaken mind, a mind that does not move. If the mind does not move, it is hard to make any progress.”
Maitreya replied, “In life, one is like being in thorns; if one remains still, one is not hurt. My stillness does not mean the body is motionless, but rather the nature is unshaken. Movement is dust; tranquility is emptiness. Can you uphold this?”
The Medicine Buddha thought for a while and said, “Since you speak of emptiness, could it be that you are echoing the wisdom of Nagarjuna from long ago?”
Maitreya said, “Nagarjuna’s understanding of emptiness is unmatched in the world.”
The Medicine Buddha asked, “If it is emptiness, then why are temples filled?”
Maitreya replied, “Though temples are filled, all people are empty.”
“The cliffs of Mount Sumeru are thousands of feet high—aren’t they empty?” the Medicine Buddha pressed persistently.
Maitreya said, “If Mount Sumeru can hold even a mustard seed, isn’t it empty?”
The Medicine Buddha asked, “Is emptiness existence or non-existence?”
Maitreya replied, “Neither existence nor non-existence; only through the nature of emptiness can the true reality be revealed!”
Suddenly, the Medicine Buddha showed a puzzled expression and asked, “At this moment, is my mind empty or full?”
Maitreya observed the Medicine Buddha carefully and found that he had changed greatly compared to when the Tathagata was present. Back then, the Medicine Buddha seemed calm and composed, yet harbored an air of fervor. Now, though he appeared assertive, his gaze revealed much hesitation, clearly at a moment of belief decision. Had the Tathagata’s restraint on the Medicine Buddha failed?
Maitreya acted swiftly and said, “An empty mind can accommodate all things; a full mind cannot hold even a mustard seed. Whether it is empty or full, you decide naturally.”
Hearing this, the Medicine Buddha slowly closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, bowed deeply to Maitreya, dismissed his supernatural powers, and retracted his luminous light. Like an ordinary monk, he walked among the crowd and sat down quietly.
※　※　※
As Buddhism flourished, Taoism did not collapse entirely. Laozi and Lingbao moved to Wuzhuang Temple, and over time, Mount Wanshou became a sacred mountain of Taoism, naturally admired by all.
The Three Pure Ones had been in seclusion for a hundred years. Seeing the decline in Taoist worship, Taoist believers thought Taoism would weaken from then on. Yet, to their joy, the Three Pure Ones reappeared and came down from heaven to the earth.

Another point is that the immortals from the Ten Continents and Three Islands who once broke away from the Heavenly Court mostly belonged to the Taoist sect. When the Heavenly Court was defeated, these immortals scattered in all directions, seeking safe places to hide. Now that the world has been settled, renowned Taoist figures such as the Barefoot Immortal, the Gods of Fortune and Prosperity, and the Four Great Celestial Masters have naturally returned to the ranks of the Three Pure Ones. They first paid their respects at Wuzhuang Temple on Mount Wanshou, and then each established their own temples on famous mountains, thriving there successfully. There are few mountains in the world as magnificent as those in the Ten Continents and Three Islands, yet no one dares to live there, all because of the restless Lu Wu who guards the Nine-Level Zeng City.