Chapter 1004 - 728: Fangri Ascends to Position

The years pass silently, the seasons revolve.

After the end of the Great Discussion of the Ten Thousand Laws at Mount Tai’e, time flowed quietly and silently, passing in the blink of an eye, turning thirty years into changes as vast as sea change.

Deep in the Great Snow Mountain, an ancient temple stands with solemn majesty, and the sounds of Sanskrit float gently through the air.

Within the monastery, the meditation courtyard is serene and still, where the Formless Bodhisattva sits quietly upon a meditation mat, wearing a plain monk robe untainted by the dust of the world.

In his hand, he holds a gold-inked Sanskrit invitation letter, the surface aglow with spirit light, inscribed with the exclusive Dao Seal of Spirit Mountain.

He lowers his eyes to read closely, softly reciting the secret text within:

"On the eighth day of the ninth month, when Fangri is in position, the stars return to the ruins, greatly advantageous for seeking gold..."

"Fellow Daoist Chonglou, in front of the Spirit Mountain’s Innate Altar, knock on the heavens to prove the gold."

Upon finishing the letter, the Formless Bodhisattva pulls a complex smile at the corner of his lips:

"This Spirit Mountain Gold Altar is not an auspicious place!!"

He had personally experienced several gold-seeking ceremonies at Spirit Mountain, especially the countless Bodhisattvas of the Void Sun lineage who rushed in like moths to a flame, only to end with the destruction of body and path.

"Countless prodigies have endeavored one after another, yet not a single one truly succeeded; it was all in vain."

Beside him, Miao Shan Bodhisattva sat silently on a lotus platform, his presence serene and detached.

At the back of his head, three innate divine techniques interweave in layers, the gold, glory, and Sanskrit three-colored Buddhist light flowing ceaselessly, with a rich and stable Dao Rhyme.

Reincarnated, he had changed to cultivate the Void Sun Dao Vein, with Chen Sheng guiding him in the Golden Position, receiving special teachings.

After centuries of arduous cultivation, he finally proved the Bodhisattva Fruit Position not long ago, ranking among the high tiers of Spirit Mountain.

Hearing the sentiments of Formless Bodhisattva, Miao Shan slowly opened his eyes and said softly and indifferently:

"The Golden Position bears the mandate of the heavens, proving the Way determines the rise and fall."

"Whether it succeeds or not, our words are of no use. On the eighth day of the ninth month, when Spirit Mountain holds the altar ceremony, everything will become clear to us."

Formless Bodhisattva nodded slightly:

"Indeed."

...

In the Void Sun Golden Position, within the Immortal Mansion.

Suddenly, Chen Sheng opened his eyes.

Within his gaze, the hundreds-of-years-dormant galaxy began to rotate, cause and effect clearly emerging, piercing through the dimensional weave.

"It’s finally beginning!!"

He lightly raised his palm, as a gentle light gathered, the Guiding Treasure Banner slowly emerging, its treasure light permeating everywhere, reflecting illusion into reality.

A vast tide of karmic light unfolded in mid-air, spanning the barriers of space, unveiling two distinctly different scenes of heaven and earth clearly.

In the first frame of the light screen, there was the towering Spirit Mountain.

The myriad Buddhist domains of Spirit Mountain all placed under strict prohibition, ten thousand Buddhas worshiping in solemnity.

Zhonglou Bodhisattva stood upon his Innate Star Altar, barefoot stepping on the fire, wearing a red-robe adorned with star patterns, surrounded by the light of Sun Residence Stars lingering without dissipating, calming his breath in preparation for the gold-seeking ceremony nine days hence, his expression steady, with a resolute Dao Heart.

In the second frame though, it was a hidden, secluded Water Mansion, wedged between heaven and earth, rarely trodden by man.

Inside, the mist was chillingly cold, with underground streams of fierce wind surging, water pattern Dao chains sealing the four directions, an aura eerie and treacherous.

A Daoist in a purple robe sat meditating at the bottom of the abyss, four perfected divine techniques revolving behind the head, the grandeur of Water Virtue Dao Rhyme vast and mighty, and he was indeed the Celestial River True Master who was defeated by Zhonglou in the debate assembly on Mount Tai’e thirty years ago.

At that moment, the Celestial River True Master quietly conjured an ancient Jade Seal within his palm, inscribed with the ancient script of "Reflecting Water," with star glows crisscrossing and flowing, an incredibly pure source of gold attribute floating unstably within, subtly trembling.

Gazing at the Treasure Seal in his palm, years of suppressed excitement surged in the True Master’s eyes: "True Monarch of Gold!!"

...

Time flew by, neither fast nor slow, and an instant later it was the eighth day of the ninth month.

The myriad Buddhas of Spirit Mountain chimed in unison, the sound of Sanskrit resounded through the heavens.

The entire Spirit Mountain was unsealed, auspicious clouds stretching across a thousand trails, rays of light cascading in ten thousand directions, clouds moving from every corner, and cultivators, great powers of the Buddhist Sect, and venerables from each vein all attending the gathering, converging at the Spirit Mountain Gold Altar.

The tolling bell echoed mightily across the mountains and rivers for billions of miles.

"Great Snow Temple, Miao Shan Bodhisattva has arrived—!"

"Great Snow Temple, Formless Bodhisattva has arrived—!"

"Great Snow Temple, Black Ebony Grand Dharma Protector has arrived—!"

As a long transmission resounded, the group from Great Snow Temple arrived upon the clouds, their Buddhist carriage steady, imposing in majesty.

Once they landed, all Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Venerables of the Void Sun vein of Spirit Mountain voluntarily gathered around them in respect.

For the lineage of Great Snow Temple was backed by the Void Sun Sovereign, the Beiji Sacrifice Void Wuchen King Buddha, whom no one dared to disrespect.

Miao Shan, Formless, and their group maintained a calm demeanor, graciously accepting the reverence, neither arrogant nor impetuous, naturally standing at the forefront of the observance seats, their figures upright and their presence grand.

Soon.

Zhonglou Bodhisattva, wearing red monk robes, approached slowly, his appearance gentle, his Buddhist light restrained, approaching them of his own accord to greet them.

Thirty years ago at the debate on Mount Tai’e, they observed together and debated on the law, and they shared a sense of kinship.

"It’s been many years, Daoists!"

"I wish you success in seeking gold, fellow Daoist!!"

Zhonglou slightly bowed, his tone sincere: "Thank you, Daoists."

After exchanging brief pleasantries, Zhonglou turned and walked, step by step ascending the central, highest Gold Altar.

Standing in the heart of the altar, facing all Buddhist domains, he clasped his hands in prayer, his voice clear and resonant, echoing throughout Spirit Mountain:

"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for coming from afar to witness this ceremony for me."

"Today, on the Spirit Mountain Gold Altar, I initiate the gold-seeking ceremony, knock on the Golden Court, and prove my Dao Fruit!"

With those words, Zhonglou stopped speaking further, his eyes closing slightly, Dao Heart fully settled, officially activating the gold-seeking ritual.

Buzz——!!

In an instant, the four divine techniques that had long reached their peak perfection around him were simultaneously unsealed into this world!

The first divine technique—[Red Glory Heaven].

A blaze of extremely intense red glory erupted from within him, forming countless fire threads into a dome, burning away all shadows in eight directions.

Between heaven and earth, a mighty hot wind raged, dispelling every bit of dimness, the entire aerial realm of Spirit Mountain flooded by waves of rolling crimson fire clouds.

The second divine technique—[Star Constellation Abyss].

Countless rays of glory from the constellation of Sun Residence Stars descended, golden star patterns cascading like waterfalls, landing to form an array, sealing the void in all directions.

The entire land of Spirit Mountain trembled, murky gases rushing upward from beneath the ground, but they were forcibly pressed back into their origins by the starlight, restoring the order of heaven and earth in perfect balance.

The third divine technique—[Bright King Domain].

The void roared as thousands of three-headed six-armed images of Bright Kings manifested in mid-air, each Bright King Guardian imposing, the sound of Buddha resounding through the nine heavens and ten lands.

Phantoms of the Buddhas floating around the altar, delineating an endless golden barrier, within which there was no disturbance, no chaos, a divine sacredness to the utmost.

The fourth divine technique—[Subduing Sun].

This was the ultimate divine technique he comprehended through the perilous rebirth from relics thirty years past, the cornerstone of seeking gold and proving the Way.

In an instant, a newborn morning sun that seemed to open the heavens and create the earth rose slowly behind Zhonglou.

The sunlight golden across time immemorial, capable of burning illusion, stilling great waters, determining the trajectory of stars, gestating a golden seed...

Everyone present at the grand ceremony, all cultivators and great powers held their breath and focused their gaze right at the center of the altar, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.

"The four divine techniques in perfect chorus, the celestial phenomena penetrating the Jiuxiao, such momentum far surpassing past gold-seeking Bodhisattvas!"

"Purely in terms of Dao Foundation’s vision, the potential for divine techniques, he is hopeful in seeking gold!!"

In the front of the observation seats, Formless Bodhisattva’s eyes glittered, gazing at the magnificent spectacle at the altar, unable to suppress raising a brow in praise, softly musing:

"Such magnificent and perfect proving of the Dao’s phenomena is incomparable to Bodhisattvas who recklessly rushed like moths to flames before."

Beside him, Miao Shan Bodhisattva slightly nodded, his gaze calm and unruffled, his tone indifferent yet speaking to the core essence:

"Despite the grandeur, it is still just a mundane illusion of the Way."

He lifted his eyes toward the supreme direction of the Golden Position in the heavens, his gaze deep:

"The real challenge lies only in the transcendent heights of the Golden Position."

Hearing this, Formless smiled and nodded in silence.

Only those cultivators touching upon the top-level structure knew clearly: seeking gold was never merely arduous cultivation and proving the Way; it was a top-level chess game.