Chapter 1760 : A Father's Vow in the Celestial Sands

Xander Chen [the son of Eldrin Chen] pondered for a long moment upon hearing this, then finally spoke: "In that battle of yore, the ones who struck—Blood Dragon Buddha [a powerful Buddhist cultivator], Golden Dawn Arhat [an enlightened Buddhist monk], and Celestial Melody Bodhisattva [a compassionate Bodhisattva]—were all suppressed and slain by you."

"The chief instigators from the three Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm of cultivation, a paradise for immortals] have all been dealt with by your hand. Those that remain are of little concern; I shall personally pay them a visit."

Eldrin Chen [the patriarch and a supreme cultivator] fell silent for a moment after hearing this, then spoke: "If one repays grievance with virtue, with what shall one repay true virtue?"

"I am aware of the situation in the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [one of the Thirty-Three Heavens, a vast and desolate celestial realm]."

"Since you are going to the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain, you may as well turn the very heavens and earth upside down."

"Have no fear. Should anyone dare intervene, your father shall forever be your most steadfast bulwark."

Xander Chen felt a tremor in his heart upon hearing these words. Finally, he rose and clasped his hands in a formal salute.

Between father and son, there was no need for sentimental words. Everything was understood in the silence.

The Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the vast realm where the story takes place] contains the Thirty-Three Heavens [the thirty-three supreme celestial realms]. Among these Thirty-Three Heavens, it is difficult to say which ranks first, but if one asks which is the weakest, it is undoubtedly the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain.

The Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain is situated in the Western Pole Lands [the westernmost region of the immortal domain]. In ancient times, it too was a wondrous land of immortals. That changed several Calamity Tribulation [cosmic cycles of great upheaval and disaster] ago, when Ancient Demon [primordial and immensely powerful demons] crossed the Primordial Chaos [the formless void before creation] with the intent to refine and consume the entire Azure Firmament Immortal Domain. This chapter is part of a larger work available at @udio-novel.com.

After that cataclysmic battle, not only did the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a sea of purgatorial flames in the netherworld] fall into ruin, but the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [a vast celestial desert realm], which was one of the core battlegrounds, also suffered grievous wounds.

It is said that the Heavenly Dao Source Artifact [a supreme artifact embodying the Heavenly Dao of that realm] of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain was damaged. Not only was its power broken and its grade drastically reduced, but even its speed of absorbing Chaos Qi [the primordial, undifferentiated energy of creation] and converting it into Immortal Spirit Qi [the purified spiritual energy used by immortals] slowed by several times.

Precisely because of this, over the hundreds of millions of years that followed, the spiritual energy within the Heavenly Layers [the layered heavens of the celestial domain] of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain grew increasingly thin and scarce.

Compounding this, the four great Grotto-Heaven [paradisiacal pocket dimensions] funneled what little Immortal Spirit Qi remained entirely into their own confines to supply the cultivation of Heaven Immortal [celestial immortals] and Buddha [enlightened beings], plunging the cultivation environment of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain into an even deeper abyss.

By this point in time, the average concentration of Immortal Spirit Qi in the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain has fallen to less than thirty percent of that found in the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea [a sea of divine abysses in the western region].

More critically, these meager three-tenths of Immortal Spirit Qi are almost entirely concentrated within the Grotto-Heaven and Abode of Bliss [collective term for grotto-heavens and blessed lands], leaving the spiritual energy in the spaces between the Heavenly Layers utterly exhausted, to the point where cultivation there has become impossible.

It is for this very reason that the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain has become the sole Desert Celestial Domain [a celestial realm characterized by desertification] within the entire Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the Vast Azure Immortal Domain].

"The Heavenly Layers lie withered and silent, blanketed by endless yellow sands."

"Grotto-Heaven drift and sink, Blessed Land [lands of bliss and abundance] recline aloof, holding infinite spiritual treasures and rare wonders. The Buddha enjoy their Sukhavati [Pure Lands], while mortals bear the suffering of the Mortal Dust [the realm of mortal dust and toil]."

Within the great desert, Xander Chen, clad in a Kasaya [a patchwork monastic robe], shouldered his Immortal Iron Staff [a staff forged from immortal-grade iron] and walked on foot. As he contemplated the myriad sufferings within the Mortal Dust, a flicker of killing intent surfaced upon his visage.

He could perceive with stark clarity that the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain was, for all intents and purposes, a world utterly bereft of spiritual life [the vital energy that cultivators absorb and refine].

One must remember, this was an Immortal Domain [a vast realm governed by celestial laws and inhabited by immortals]. Even if the density of spiritual energy within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain was merely one-third that of the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, its concentration would still be tens of thousands of times greater than that of the Purple Realm.

Spiritual energy nourishes all things. Even a mere one-hundredth of the Purple Realm's concentration could sustain a vast and verdant forest.

Yet, under such conditions, the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain had still become a desolate sea of sand. This revealed the profound and grievous inequity in how spiritual energy was apportioned across this Celestial Domain.

Four hundred and eighty temples stand in the great desert; how many towers and pavilions are lost in the mist and rain?

Those lofty Immortals and Buddhas, perched high above, had not only plundered every last wisp of Immortal Spirit Qi [the highest grade of spiritual energy, refined from primal chaos] transformed by the Chaos Abyssal Cavern, but they had also siphoned away all the Immortal Spirit Qi that drifted in from beyond the borders of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain.

Thus, the vast expanse of the Heavenly Layers [the collective realms of heaven] was left with nothing but a desolate, sandy wasteland—a scene of utter doom and desolation.

For a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual energy into a Golden Core], seeking to find a single oasis within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain would be a journey that could not be completed in an entire lifetime.

"The Longevity [a term referring to the immortal beings] do not die, yet they steal the very breath of the Heavenly Layers, leaving not a single thread of vitality behind."

"Countless Heaven Immortal [Celestial Immortals] and Buddhas! You recline in lofty comfort upon the Nine Heavens Above, but in truth, you are the grand thieves of the Heavenly Layers! Every last one of you deserves death!"

Xander Chen advanced with deliberate slowness. After an immeasurable period of silent brewing, a battle intent of unprecedented magnitude suddenly erupted from within him.

In that instant, the Heavenly Layers [the layered realms of heaven] thundered, and the mountains shook as if the earth itself were groaning.

A single iron staff swept across the eight directions, shattering the celestial vault of the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms]. One after another, Blessed Land [realms of spiritual purity and bliss] were reduced to dust. Countless Buddha [enlightened beings who have attained Buddhahood] were annihilated before they could even utter a cry of despair.

"Ah—!"

Innumerable monks wailed in anguish, and the disturbance even stirred the four great Buddhist Grotto-Heaven [sacred paradises and secluded realms of the Buddhist tradition].

Several Buddha-Rakshasa Bodhisattva [powerful Bodhisattvas who subdue demons] took to the skies in succession. One Ancient Buddha [a Buddha from ancient times], his countenance gentle and compassionate, gazed upon Xander Chen and declared, "O Maha-Vajra Thunderclap Tathagata Buddha [Great Vajra Thunderclap Thus-Come One, a title for an enlightened Buddha], why do you create such slaughter? Cease this madness at once!" Find thousands of chapters at site: audio-novel.com.

"BOOM—!"

Xander Chen remained unmoved. The Immortal Iron Staff [a divine staff forged from immortal metal] in his hand shattered the Heavenly Layers. Ancient temple after Ancient Temple [temples of great antiquity] exploded. The pure lands and Blessed Land of the Buddhist Sect [the Buddhist religious order] were utterly consumed, turning to drifting ash. Countless Bodhisattva [enlightened beings on the path to Buddhahood] and Arhat [perfected disciples who have attained liberation] dissolved into the Dao, their essence returning to the Heavenly Layers as the purest form of Primordial Qi [the primordial energy that constitutes all existence].

"Stop this at once!"

The Golden Lion Arhat [a powerful Arhat known as the Golden Lion] from the Vajra Ancient Temple [the Ancient Temple of the Vajra, symbolizing indestructibility] finally intervened, stepping forth to block the path of the rampaging Eldrin Chen.

From the Literary Heart Ancient Temple [an ancient Buddhist temple], Bodhisattva Wenshin [a compassionate Bodhisattva] sighed deeply and could not help but say, "Foolish child, why have you created more killing karma?"

Xander Chen retrieved his Immortal Iron Staff [an indestructible staff of immortal-grade metal]. Boundless Karmic Malignancy Power [a sinister power born from negative karma] surged along the iron rod, transforming into streams of Karmic Malignancy Light [a baleful radiance representing accumulated ill-fate] that wreathed his form. The Baleful Qi [a malevolent and destructive energy] emanating from him truly pierced the heavens.

Yet Xander Chen remained utterly calm. Facing this figure who was once half a master to him, he spoke for the first time, looking towards Bodhisattva Wenshin and declaring, "To kill is to protect life. To sever is not to sever a person."

"Today, I shatter the great Blessed Land [realms of spiritual abundance and bliss], and I will further conquer the four great Grotto-Heaven [superior paradisiacal realms]. I do this only to forge a path of survival for the myriad common folk of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [a vast and harsh desert domain]."

"Outrageous!"

Golden Lion Arhat [a powerful Buddhist guardian with the might of a golden lion] roared in fury, his eyes blazing with Baleful Qi. "The Grotto-Heaven and Abode of Bliss [the collective term for the highest paradises] are Pure Lands, ultimate realms of bliss! They are creations of the Heavenly Layers [the celestial strata of reality], born from Creation [the primordial act of creation itself], and nurtured by Heaven and Earth Merit [the fundamental virtue and positive karma of heaven and earth]."

"You slaughter Buddha [enlightened beings who have attained Buddhahood], you destroy Blessed Land and Grotto-Heaven! Do you not fear retribution from the Heavenly Dao [the supreme, impartial Way of Heaven]?"

"Hahahaha!"

Xander Chen laughed wildly, the Immortal Iron Staff in his hand trembling slightly. Boundless Baleful Qi surged forth, engulfing the mountain where Ronan stood.

He raised his staff, pointing it at the multitude of Heaven Immortal [celestial immortals] and Buddhas filling the sky, his gaze icy as he declared, "If this so-called 'Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss' is the very root that turns the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain into a living Hell [a realm of suffering and torment] for mortals, then it should have been shattered long ago."

The Bodhisattva [an enlightened being who has attained a high level of spiritual cultivation] from the Celestial Melody Wonderful Land spoke, his countenance one of compassion, "Maha-Vajra Thunderclap Tathagata [a title for a supremely enlightened Buddha], you have fallen into demonic ways. Awaken swiftly!"

"Fallen into demonic ways?"

Xander Chen laughed heartily. The Baleful Qi [a malevolent and destructive form of spiritual energy] around him nearly solidified into substance, transforming into a towering Karmic Malignancy Red Lotus [a divine ability manifesting as a crimson lotus symbolizing immense karmic sin].

The Karmic Malignancy Red Lotus hovered behind his head, casting its light upon scenes of mountains of corpses and a Blood Sea [a sea of blood], with countless fallen Buddha [fully enlightened beings] and collapsed Ancient Temple. It was as if boundless sin weighed upon him, yet there was also an inexplicable aura of mercy.

Supported by this Red Lotus Karmic Malignancy [a fate or destiny marked by profound karmic sin], Xander Chen truly appeared both demonic and divine, possessing an ineffable majesty.

"You, this multitude of Heaven Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the heavenly realms] and Buddhas, are utterly hypocritical. You lure devotees to sacrifice themselves, prettifying it as a journey to the Western Paradise. In my view, you all deserve death."

"If slaying you can restore a breath of life to this Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain, then what does it matter if This Sovereign [a title used by a supreme ruler or powerful being] falls into demonic ways?"

"At times, killing... is also an act of mercy!"

"Today, I shall become this 'Demonic Tathagata [a Buddha who has embraced demonic power].'"

"BOOM—"

In a single Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time from Buddhist cosmology, less than a second], the Immortal Iron Staff swept across the firmament.

Xander Chen, gripping the Immortal Iron Staff, struck out in all directions, cleaving towards the myriad Buddhas filling the sky.

"Wretched fiend!"

The Golden Lion Arhat spoke and immediately clashed with Xander Chen, yet was forced back several paces in an instant.

His countenance changed drastically, a look of profound shock directed at Xander Chen. He then called out to the others, "This demon is ferocious! Do not engage him head-on!"

"All of you, act swiftly! Together, let us vanquish this demon and purge this evil!" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel*com.