The Western Desert stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of yellow sand that swirled under the relentless wind, resembling a golden ocean with dunes rising and falling like colossal waves. The sun, a distant orb in the sky, was veiled by the dust, casting a dim, desolate light over a landscape steeped in ancient, mournful grandeur. Sparse mountain ranges snaked across the land like slumbering dragons. A peculiar 'Stance' permeated this realm, drastically limiting the reach of spiritual perception.
Chen Changsheng gazed towards the Eastern Lands, where scattered temples shimmered faintly through the haze of sand. There, the Buddhist Profoundness/Mysteries glowed with a gentle light, and the faint murmur of scriptures drifted on the wind. Yet, in the Western part of the desert, several Supreme-tier Buddhist sects, such as Ling Mountain Temple, boasted Buddhist Profoundness/Mysteries that rose like a golden ocean, vying with the very sun for brilliance.
Chen Changsheng turned his gaze back to the Eastern Lands and said calmly, "Time to meet Wuwu."
***
Meanwhile, high upon Tianling Mountain...
A middle-aged man in a grey monk's robe, with a clean, refined face and an otherworldly aura, radiated a brilliant Buddhist intent that shone like golden light. This was Minghui Master. Since the World Upgrade began, Minghui Master had emerged as a leading candidate for the Supreme Fruit Position. Through numerous Buddhist Debates with other esteemed masters, he had utterly dominated, solidifying his position as the foremost figure in Ling Mountain Temple. The Buddhist Profoundness/Mysteries surged around him.
Minghui Master looked towards the Eastern Lands and spoke slowly.
"Will the Supreme Path appear? Most likely, it will not. However, with the current state of Heaven and Earth, the Supreme Path is no longer necessary."
He shook his head, a faint sense of having forgotten something crucial nagging at him.
Indeed. The Heavenly Dao had erased the Tai Chu Realm's collective memory of the Bronze Ancient Palace. After the Heavenly Dao consumed a Star Core for the second time, the World Upgrade allowed the people of the Five Domains to connect with the Outer World. The Bronze Ancient Palace was far too important. Should its existence be revealed, Ancient Ancestor-level Forces from the First Star Ring would descend upon them! Thus, the Heavenly Dao had directly severed the memories of countless beings, leaving only the legend of the Supreme Path. This, ironically, aligned perfectly with the memories of the Outer World Supreme Old Ancestors.
Every gesture Minghui Master made was imbued with profound Buddhist Profoundness/Mysteries. His recent Buddhist Debates had yielded immense gains.
He stated calmly, "I once considered Wuwu a rival, but now, he no longer qualifies. Still, his Eight-lifetime Dao Fruit remains useful to me."
The Buddhist cultivators behind him watched Minghui Master with utmost reverence. During this period, Ling Mountain Temple had established contact with the Outer World, reaching out to the Supreme Old Ancestors who had ascended before them. These Old Ancestors resided in the Bodhi Temple of the Outer World! The Bodhi Temple's Buddhist Profoundness/Mysteries were closer to the primal forces, cultivating with the power of the starry sky, far surpassing the Tai Chu Realm's cultivation system. Just a few words of guidance from them had been a profound revelation for the monks of Ling Mountain Temple, making them feel the shackles on their path to Attaining Supreme had vanished. Minghui Master, in particular, had gained an extraordinary amount! With a bit more time for enlightenment, he would be able to break through to the Supreme Realm!
Minghui Master turned to a nearby Buddhist cultivator. "Wuwu can begin his journey now. The Path of Karma, in the unseen depths, has already been set. He is destined to become my Dao Fruit."
The Buddhist cultivator beside him nodded respectfully. "Indeed. Wuwu, with his eight reincarnated lives of cultivation, is perfectly suited to offer his Buddhist Dao Fruit as a sacrifice to our Tianling Mountain. We have already urged Wuwu to depart, but he claims he is waiting for someone."
Minghui Master frowned slightly. "Waiting for someone? Could this person possibly defy Destiny/Fate? If the World Upgrade hadn't begun, perhaps this person could indeed defy Destiny/Fate. But now, with Bodhi Temple above us, Wuwu is destined to fail. Still, if he wishes to wait, grant him a few more days. Between him and me, a Buddhist Debate is fated to occur!"
***
Far away in the Western Desert, a vast distance from Tianling Mountain...
Wuwu's appearance had grown even more refined, his face imbued with a serene Wisdom Aura. Around his neck hung an ancient string of seven luminous jade beads, each radiating immense, terrifying power. During this time, his comprehension of Buddhist scriptures had deepened once more. The World Upgrade had shattered the shackles above them!
Wuwu gazed into the void, murmuring to himself, "Below the Supreme Realm, one is merely a frog in a well, gazing at the starry sky." He looked towards the Southern Wilds. "I sense that person's obsession has reawakened. Though incredibly weak, it has not perished! Between him and me, and between her and me, a fated battle awaits!"
Wuwu's hands wove spirit seals, and golden Buddhist Script/Runes spun around him, radiating brilliance. He continuously chanted scriptures, muttering, "Chen Changsheng should have arrived." He could sense Chen Changsheng's aura. It was a subtle, unseen power, a connection that allowed him to detect Chen Changsheng's presence no matter how well he concealed himself. After meeting Chen Changsheng, he would depart for Ling Mountain Temple.
Behind Wuwu, a portly monk spoke, "Master Wuwu, Ling Mountain Temple has now established contact with the Outer World. They have been urging your departure, but this journey... it promises more peril than fortune!"
Wuwu's eyes remained calm, utterly unperturbed. "This is Destiny/Fate. The Path of Karma cycles endlessly. I made an agreement with Ling Mountain Temple long ago; I am destined to go."
The portly monk added, "And along the way, many great demons are lying in wait, making every step fraught with peril!"
Just then, another monk hurried over from a distance, bowing respectfully. "Master Wuwu, it is time for the discourse."
Hearing this, Wuwu slowly rose, a faint smile gracing his lips. Pure, unblemished Dao patterns flowed around him as he calmly exited the room and walked towards a high platform. Below the platform, numerous monks had already gathered, kneeling in profound reverence before settling into cross-legged meditation. They gazed at Master Wuwu, knowing he would soon depart, and cherished these final moments. For they knew: this journey west was a matter of succeed or die trying! How could one overcome such hardships?
Moments later, Wuwu ascended the platform and began to chant scriptures. "Amitabha!" Wuwu spoke with a gentle cadence, and golden Buddhist Script/Runes surged around him, bathing the path in golden light. These swirling scriptures continuously revolved, and behind Wuwu, the radiant phantom of an ancient Buddha manifested, gazing down upon the assembled monks.
It was at this moment that Chen Changsheng silently arrived, careful not to disturb Wuwu. He quietly observed Wuwu's discourse. Though sharing the same space, an indescribable aura hung between them. Chen Changsheng understood Ling Mountain Temple's power, and he understood Wuwu's. With Wuwu's current combat strength, reaching Ling Mountain Temple would be utterly impossible! After all, Wuwu was currently only a One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme! His Buddhist attainment was profound, but in this life, he had not cultivated any Killing Arts/Combat Techniques, making him ill-suited for battle.
Chen Changsheng murmured, "Wuwu probably won't even complete half the journey, let alone meet Minghui Master." He felt a profound sense of pessimism regarding Wuwu's fate.
Meanwhile, far away, Lu Xuan, who had a casual omnipresence, observed Chen Changsheng's arrival. He internally sighed. "This Chen Changsheng, always so sneaky, yet so serious about these cosmic games. And Wuwu... Dao Yi's reincarnation. What a mess. Not my disciple, why should I care?" He mused, a hint of amusement in his thoughts. "Still, Dao Yi, what an embarrassing ancestor for the Grand Dao Sect. All this 'fated battle' nonsense. Just another stepping stone, I suppose."
Two hours later, Wuwu concluded his discourse. He looked towards the depths of the void where Chen Changsheng was hidden and said calmly, "You've arrived."