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

Worthy Pursuit Chen [Eldrin Chen's son, a formidable cultivator] fell silent for a long moment upon hearing this, then finally spoke. "In that battle of yesteryear, the ones who struck—Blood Dragon Buddha, Golden Dawn Arhat, and Celestial Melody Bodhisattva—were all suppressed and slain by you."

"The chief instigators from the three great 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."

After a moment's contemplation, Eldrin Chen [the patriarch of the Chen Clan, a legendary figure] spoke. "If one repays malice with virtue, with what then shall one repay virtue?"

"I am aware of the situation in the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [one of the Thirty-Three Heavens, known for its harsh, sandy expanse]," he continued.

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

"Rest assured, even if others intervene, your father will always be your most steadfast support."

Worthy Pursuit Chen felt a tremor in his heart upon hearing these words. In the end, he rose and clasped his hands in a formal salute.

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

"…"

The Vast Azure Immortal Domain [the overarching immortal realm] contains the Thirty-Threefold Heaven [the collective name for the thirty-three supreme heavenly realms]. Among these Thirty-Three Heavens, it is difficult to say definitively which ranks first, but if one were to ask which is the weakest, the answer would undoubtedly be the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio–novel.com.

The Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain [a vast, desolate heavenly realm of endless dunes] lies within the Western Pole Lands. In ancient times, it too was a blessed land of immortals. That was until several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles] ago, when Ancient Demon [primordial fiends from the dawn of time] crossed the Chaos [the primordial, formless void] with the intent to refine and consume the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

In the aftermath of that cataclysmic war, not only did the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a legendary, now-corrupted sea of torment] fall into corruption, but the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain, being one of the core battlefields, was also grievously wounded.

It is said the domain's Heavenly Path Source Artifact [the foundational artifact governing a heavenly domain's laws and energy] was damaged. Not only was its power broken and its grade drastically reduced, but even its ability to draw in Primordial Chaos Energy [the raw, unformed energy of creation] and convert it into Immortal Spirit Essence [the purified spiritual energy that permeates immortal realms] slowed by severalfold.

It was precisely because of this that over the ensuing hundreds of millions of years, the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain grew increasingly thin and feeble.

Compounding this, the four great Grotto-Heaven [self-contained pocket paradises] funneled what little Immortal Spirit Essence remained entirely into their own confines to supply the cultivation of Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to a celestial state] and Buddhas. This plunged the cultivation environment of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain from crisis into utter catastrophe.

By the present age, the average concentration of Immortal Spirit Essence in the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain has fallen to less than thirty percent of that found in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

More critically, these meager three-tenths of Immortal Spirit Essence are almost entirely concentrated within the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land [the most sacred spaces within a Grotto-Heaven]. The world outside has been left so parched of spiritual energy that cultivation there has become all but impossible.

Thus, the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain earned its fate as the sole desert Heavenly Domain [a major administrative and spiritual region] within the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

"Heaven and earth lie withered, yellow sands blanket the land."

"Grotto-Heaven rise and fall in seclusion, Blessed Land [lands of exceptional spiritual fortune] recline in lofty slumber, brimming with endless spiritual treasures for the enjoyment of Buddhas in their blissful pure lands, while mortal men bear the bitter suffering of the Mortal Dust [the mundane, suffering-filled world of ordinary existence]."

Within the vast desert, Worthy Pursuit Chen walked alone, clad in monastic robes and shouldering the Immortal Iron Staff. He journeyed on foot, contemplating the myriad phenomena within the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals and their affairs], his countenance etched with a trace of Slaughter Intent [a chilling, focused intent to kill].

He could perceive with stark clarity that the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain was, for all intents and purposes, a world severed from spiritual nourishment.

One must remember, this was an Immortal Domain [a higher realm of existence for immortals]. Even if the density of spiritual energy here was merely one-third that of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, it still surpassed the Purple Seal Realm by tens of thousands of times.

Spiritual energy nourishes all things. Even a mere one-hundredth of the concentration found in the Purple Seal Realm would be sufficient to foster a vast, verdant forest.

Yet, under such conditions, the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain remained a desolate sea of sand. This revealed the profound and unjust distribution of spiritual energy within this Heavenly Domain.

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

The lofty immortals and buddhas dwelling above not only plundered every last drop of Immortal Spirit Essence [the highest-grade spiritual energy of the immortal realms] converted from the Chaos Abyssal Chasm, but they also siphoned away all the Immortal Spirit Essence that drifted in from beyond the borders of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain.

Thus, the vast expanse of heaven and earth 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 an oasis within the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain would be a lifelong journey with little hope of success.

"The Longevity [a term referring to the immortal beings who have achieved longevity] do not die, yet they steal the very breath of heaven and earth, leaving not a single thread of vitality behind."

"You so-called Celestial Immortal Buddhas, you recline in lofty repose within the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realms], yet you are but grand thieves of Heaven and Earth, all deserving of death!"

Worthy Pursuit Chen advanced with measured steps. After an immeasurable period of silent brewing, a battle intent of unprecedented ferocity suddenly erupted from him.

In that instant, Heaven and Earth thundered, mountains and rivers shook.

A single iron staff swept through the Six Harmonies [a cosmic formation representing the union of all directions], shattering the Nine Heavens [the nine celestial layers]. Soaring Sky was struck down, and one after another, Blessed Land [realms of profound spiritual abundance] were reduced to drifting ash. Countless Buddhas were annihilated before they could even utter a cry of despair.

"Ah—!"

Innumerable monks wailed in anguish, and even the four great Buddhist Sect Grotto-Heaven [the supreme sanctuaries of the Buddhist sects] were stirred from their seclusion. Support the author by reading on audio–novel.com.

Several Buddhas and Bodhisattvas took to the skies in succession. An ancient Buddha with a benevolent and compassionate countenance gazed upon Worthy Pursuit Chen and declared, "Great Thunderous Voice Tathagata Buddha [the Enlightened One of the Majestic Thunderous Voice], why do you create such slaughter? Cease this madness at once!"

"BOOM—!"

Worthy Pursuit Chen remained unmoved. The Immortal Iron Staff in his hand shattered the fabric of reality itself. One after another, Ancient Temple [temples of immense antiquity] exploded into nothingness. The Buddhist Sect Pure Land [the paradisiacal realms of the Buddhist sects] and their Blessed Land [realms of profound spiritual abundance] were utterly incinerated, becoming drifting ash. Countless Bodhisattvas and Arhats dissolved into the primal Dao, their essence returning to Heaven and Earth as the purest primordial energy.

"Stop this at once!"

The Golden Lion Arhat from the Vajra Ancient Temple intervened, blocking the frenzied Eldrin Chen.

The Bodhisattva Literary Heart from the Literary Heart Ancient Temple sighed deeply, unable to restrain himself from saying, "Foolish child, why have you created more killing karma?"

Worthy Pursuit Chen retrieved his Immortal Iron Staff. Boundless Karmic Sin Power [a malevolent power born from the accumulation of sinful karma] surged along the iron staff, transforming into streams of Karmic Sin Light [a malevolent radiance born from the accumulation of sinful karma] that converged upon him. Truly, his Fiendish Energy [a dark, malevolent form of spiritual power] pierced the heavens.

Yet Worthy Pursuit Chen remained utterly calm. Facing this figure who was once half a teacher to him, he spoke for the first time, looking at the Bodhisattva Literary Heart. "To kill is to protect life. To sever is not to sever a person."

"Today, I shatter the great Blessed Land [a land blessed by heaven and earth, rich in spiritual energy] and will conquer the four great Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm of cultivation, a paradise-like pocket dimension]. I do this only to forge a path of survival for the myriad common folk of the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain."

"Outrageous!"

The Golden Lion Arhat roared in fury, his eyes blazing with Fiendish Energy. "The Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land are paradises, creations of heaven and earth's Creation [the primordial act of creation], nurtured by the Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] of the cosmos!"

"You, who Slaughter [slay] Buddhas and destroy Blessed Land and Grotto-Heaven, do you not fear the judgment of the Heavenly Path [the supreme, impartial law of the cosmos]?"

"Hahahaha!"

Worthy Pursuit Chen laughed wildly. The Immortal Iron Staff in his hand trembled slightly, and boundless Fiendish Energy once more swept across the mountains and rivers.

He pointed his staff towards the myriad Celestial Immortal Buddhas, his gaze icy as he declared, "If this Western Paradise is the very root that has turned the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain into a hell on the Mortal Realm, then it should have been shattered long ago."

The Bodhisattva from the Celestial Melody Blessed Land spoke, her countenance one of compassion. "Great Great Thunderous Voice Tathagata, you have fallen into demonic ways. Awaken at once!"

"Fallen into demonic ways?"

Worthy Pursuit Chen laughed wildly. The Fiendish Energy around him nearly solidified into substance, transforming into towering crimson lotuses of karmic malevolence.

Those lotuses of karmic malevolence wreathed the space behind his head, reflecting scenes of mountains of corpses, a Sea of Blood, countless fallen Buddhas, and crumbling Ancient Temple. It was as if boundless sin weighed upon him, yet there was also an inexplicable aura of mercy.

Supported by this manifestation of the Crimson Lotus Karmic Fiend, Worthy Pursuit Chen truly appeared both demon and Buddha, possessing an ineffable, imposing presence.

"You, this host of Celestial Immortal Buddhas, are the height of hypocrisy," he proclaimed. "You lure devotees to sacrifice themselves, prettily calling it a journey to the Western Paradise. In my eyes, you all deserve death."

"If slaying you can restore a shred of life to the Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain, then what does it matter if this venerable one falls into demonic ways?"

"Sometimes, killing... is also an act of mercy!"

"Today, I shall become this 'Demonic Tathagata'."

"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 heavens.

Gripping the Immortal Iron Staff, Worthy Pursuit Chen cleaved through the eight directions, his strike aimed at the legion of Buddhas filling the sky.

"Wretched fiend."

The Golden Lion Arhat spoke, immediately clashing with Worthy Pursuit Chen, only to be forced back several steps in an instant.

His expression shifted dramatically, a look of shock and awe directed at Worthy Pursuit Chen. He then called out to the other Mortal Path practitioners, "This demon is ferocious! Do not confront him head-on!"

"All of you, act swiftly! Let us join forces to vanquish this demon!" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel[dot]com.