Volume 4: The Revelation Unveiled, Chapters 546: The Demon Tathagata

Within the vast furnace of heaven and earth, at the foot of the Unfinished Mountain of Golden Heaven and Silver Earth, two people sat in silence while two others stood.
The two seated were Yuan Shi and Feng Tong. Under the guidance of the Tathagata, they had spent years repairing the array beyond the heavens, gaining deeper insights into the art of arrays, and were now quietly reflecting on their efforts.
The two standing were the Yin-Yang Divine Ape and, of course, the Great Sun Tathagata.
The Great Sun Tathagata retained his usual appearance, but his once empty face now bore the features of the Tathagata, and when he spoke, it was indeed the Tathagata’s voice: “I have fulfilled the trust placed in me. The task of mending the heavens is complete, and the array beyond the heavens is flawless. Without external interference, this heaven and earth will remain eternal.”
Yin-Yang had monitored everything from start to finish. Though he did not understand arrays, he felt that the force of creation no longer flowed in from beyond the heavens, suggesting that the Tathagata had no ulterior motives. Thus, his hostility toward the Tathagata diminished slightly. Yin-Yang asked, “Are you planning to leave this heaven?”
The Tathagata nodded and said, “There is no reason for me to linger in this heaven and earth. It’s only Pangu who is too rigid. That person beyond the heavens…”
Yin-Yang asked, “If that person hinders you, will you still have a chance?”
The Tathagata laughed bitterly and said, “What else can I do if I fail? Just start over.”
Yin-Yang added, “You said you wanted to exit through the bottom of the furnace. If the bottom is solid, will you be able to break through the Pillar That Supports the Heavens?”
The Tathagata replied, “Where in the world is there a furnace with a solid bottom?”
Yin-Yang hesitated for a moment before saying, “Alright, then let’s go!”
The Tathagata was somewhat surprised and asked, “Leaving right now?”
Yin-Yang replied, “What are you afraid of?”
The Tathagata smiled and said, “What is there for me to fear? Then let’s go!” Though Yin-Yang harbored much resentment toward the Tathagata, he still had to send him out of heaven as entrusted by Wukong. Once the words of the Divine Ape were spoken, they could not be changed.
Yin-Yang and the Tathagata left the Golden Heaven and Silver Earth and found a place to enter the earth. With their high levels of cultivation, their movement underground was not much slower than in the air. After about an hour, the Tathagata slowed down, and Yin-Yang, following behind him, also sped up.
Not far ahead, a middle-aged man with a tired face sat on a huge rock, closing his eyes to rest.
Pangu! Without even looking, relying solely on his understanding of the principles of creation, Yin-Yang knew this man must be Pangu.
Pangu slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the Tathagata and Yin-Yang arrive, he was not surprised at all. He said, “You’re leaving?”
The Tathagata replied, “I am leaving. From the first day I entered this furnace, I have wanted to leave. You know that.”

Pangu said, “Good, I won’t stop you this time.”
Tathagata gazed at Pangu for a long time before asking, “Do you want to… go back?”
Pangu slowly shook his head and said, “No!”
Tathagata sighed, “You’re truly stubborn to the extreme!”
Pangu shook his head again and said, “During the previous seven eras, I guarded you for others. From now on, I will guard this world for myself.”
Tathagata said with a faint smile, “You really think this is a world?”
Pangu replied solemnly, “If I say it is, then it is!” Though Pangu was weak, his words carried great momentum, leaving Tathagata stunned. Tathagata realized that Pangu was once a servant of the Tathagata beyond the heavens, but now it seemed Pangu no longer wanted to be controlled by that person and intended to establish his own path.
Pangu stretched out his finger and pointed downward, saying, “Exit through here.”
Tathagata calmed his excited emotions and, without hesitation, stepped in. Yin Yang watched as Tathagata’s figure disappeared, his eyes filled with intense hatred. Gritting his teeth, he too prepared to leap in.
Pangu asked, “Do you also want to go out?”
Yin Yang replied, “I bear an irreconcilable hatred toward Tathagata. How could I spare him?”
Pangu slowly said, “If you go out, you may not be yourself anymore. Think carefully.”
Yin Yang was puzzled. What did that mean? He then asked, “Not myself? Then who?”
Pangu closed his eyes and said nothing more. After hesitating for a moment, Yin Yang could no longer contain his hatred and also entered through the same path as Tathagata.
This place resembled a corridor, with the heavens emerging from the bottom of a furnace. There was only this one path. Pangu kept this path before him, guarding it day and night without ever leaving.
Anxious, Yin Yang caught up with Tathagata in just a short while. He saw Tathagata stop at the end of the path. Yin Yang looked ahead and saw nothing but redness.
Standing beside Tathagata, Yin Yang didn’t seem to mind his presence. Tathagata stared at the redness, his eyes glowing with fervor. Yin Yang couldn’t help but ask, “Is the sky outside really red?”
Tathagata didn’t answer. Instead, he pointed ahead and said, “There’s a formation here. Would you be willing to help me?”
Hearing this, Yin Yang hesitated slightly. Tathagata smiled and said, “I know your intentions. After exiting, won’t you kill me?”
Yin Yang replied, “You harmed the Divine Ape of Creation and trapped me for ten lifetimes. Why shouldn’t I kill you?”
Tathagata sighed, “It’s only natural for you to hate me, but if you exit, you’ll likely regret it.”
Yin Yang said, “That’s not your concern.”
Tathagata said, “Well, at this moment, we need to work together to get out.”
Yin Yang asked, “How do you want me to help you?”

“This formation isn’t very powerful, but my cultivation level is lower than yours at the moment. Once I find the core of the formation, you need only deliver a strong strike,” said Tathagata.
Yin Yang asked, “How am I supposed to recognize the core of the formation?”
Tathagata smiled and said, “You’ll see the most distinctive part of the formation in a moment—that’s it.”
With that, Tathagata tapped his finger three times in the air. The empty space before them rippled like water, and when the ripples settled, a recessed spot appeared in the upper right.
Yin Yang gathered his energy and unleashed a powerful spell, only to feel his magical power pouring into an endless abyss, unable to be retrieved. Alarmed, he shouted, “You deceived me!”
Tathagata shook his head and said, “The formation will open soon. Why would I deceive you when I just want to escape?”
Yin Yang felt his magical power surging out as the formation gradually took shape. Upon closer inspection, he saw a human figure on the formation—upon closer look, it was Pangu.
Tathagata said, “This formation was set up by Pangu. Only those from the Creation lineage can decipher it. Heh, if you hadn’t followed, I would have had to find another way.”
As his magical power continued to flow out, Yin Yang was amazed by Tathagata’s cunning. He knew he couldn’t let go of his hatred and would surely follow. The more he thought this, the stronger his desire to kill Tathagata became.
Seeming to guess Yin Yang’s thoughts, Tathagata said, “Inside the Furnace of Creation, you may be able to kill me, but you’ll never truly succeed. After escaping, you’ll likely no longer be my match.”
At that moment, Pangu’s features on the formation became clearer, even his Axe of Creation became visible. Pangu swung the axe downward, creating a huge crack in the formation.
Tathagata’s eyes widened. He grabbed Yin Yang and shouted, “Good! If you want to go out, I’ll take you out!” In the blink of an eye, Tathagata rushed through the crack toward the red landscape outside the Furnace.
After the seven members’ desperate struggles, Tathagata finally escaped!
Yin Yang was pulled away by Tathagata without resistance. In an instant, they felt the power of Creation surging violently—clearly, it wasn’t just the power within the furnace.
“Is that it? We’re out?” Yin Yang asked. Looking down, he saw that the red area he had seen inside the furnace was actually a brick floor, made entirely from the materials used for the Pillars That Hold Up the Sky.
Looking up, he saw a giant three-legged furnace cauldron above him, over a hundred zhang tall. Was this the Furnace of Creation that had trapped Tathagata for millions of years? Tathagata seemed to already know what lay outside. Without a glance, he rushed toward the exit at lightning speed.
Yin Yang hurried after him, shouting, “Don’t go!”

When he rushed outside, he found that Tathagata was nowhere to be seen. Yin and Yang also realized that those from beyond the heavens were not necessarily good, and they couldn’t stay around this furnace for long. He immediately left the mountain peak, gazing at the vast world, not knowing where to go.

※　※　※

As for Tathagata, after emerging from the huge furnace, he was overjoyed. His years of obsession had finally come true, bringing him a sense of dizziness. He didn’t need to look to know how the room was arranged—it was this very hall, this huge furnace that had trapped him for millions of years. Once free from it, he would be free!

Tathagata swiftly flew out of the hall. Before he could even take in the scene outside, darkness enveloped him. A voice he greatly disliked rang in his ears, tinged with anger: “Hmph, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”

Tathagata nearly fainted. It was this person who had trapped him in the furnace. He had been waiting here all along, and from his tone, it seemed he had intentionally let Tathagata out this time.

He felt as if this person was carrying him through the air at high speed before suddenly setting him down. With a flick of his sleeves, Tathagata landed on the ground.

This was a side hall on Mount Small Sumeru. Tathagata looked around but had no thought of escaping. He knew that his current cultivation level in this world was that of a Mysterious Immortal, while the person across from him was a true sage.

The master of Mount Small Sumeru—Tathagata—sat across from him inside the furnace, smiling as he said, “You called yourself Tathagata while in the furnace, but that name is actually incorrect.”

“What should I call myself then?” Tathagata asked calmly.

“You are merely one of my demonic thoughts. Hmm… perhaps you should be called… Demon Tathagata.”

“Demon Tathagata? Hmph! Since you call yourself Tathagata, then I shall call myself Mahavairocana Tathagata. I am who I am, and it has nothing to do with you!”

Tathagata shook his head. “You are me, and I am you. How can they be separated? Don’t you know why you were able to survive the Calamity of the Cosmic Cycle unharmed, with your spiritual essence remaining intact?”

Mahavairocana Tathagata pondered. “It’s because of you.”

Tathagata said, “As long as I exist, you will not perish.”

Mahavairocana Tathagata was skeptical. He refused to admit that he was merely one of this person’s demonic thoughts. So he asked, “Fine, then let me ask you—why did you imprison me?”

Tathagata replied, “Enter my body, and you’ll understand everything.”

Mahavairocana Tathagata shook his head, slowly but firmly. Even if what this person said was true, he would never lose his sanity and become someone else’s puppet.

Tathagata sighed and seemed to speak to himself, “When I pursued the Great Perfection in the way of the Dao, I discovered a great secret along the path: in this world, there is nothing immortal; only the thoughts of the Dao can be passed down and endure forever!”