Chapter 326: Rebirth! Identity? All Beings Are Equal!

Chapter 326: Rebirth! Identity? All Beings Are Equal!

"What's going on with these two?"

Xian Xian and Jue Xian looked at the two figures in front of them, their expressions filled with shock, and they remained silent.

Back then, they had witnessed the apparent deaths of Cang and Yan, believing it impossible for either to have survived.

Yet now, the appearance of the Great Azure Spear and the encounter with Su Changqing brought a familiar presence that couldn't be ignored.

Reincarnation? Resurrection? Or something else?

Xian Xian and Jue Xian circled the two figures, their eyes filled with confusion and hesitation.

"Do you think Yan's reincarnation could become Cang's son?"

Xian Xian hesitated before asking.

"Impossible!"

Jue Xian shook his head firmly. "They were once as close as brothers, but later became bitter enemies."

"Given Yan's character, even if he chose to reincarnate, he would never become Cang's offspring."

Xian Xian nodded, this was also his concern.

If these two were indeed the reincarnations of Cang and Yan, their personalities were drastically different.

But if they weren't, how could the Great Azure Spear of Su Nan and the Annihilation Sword forged by Su Changqing be explained?

Jue Xian and Xian Xian fell into a long silence, even the birth of Amitabha Buddha no longer held their attention.

Meanwhile.

In the Western Regions, amidst the overwhelming Buddha Radiance and endless Buddha's Will, a phantom figure gradually materialized in the heavens and earth.

It was a being that exuded the essence of 'Buddha.'

Peaceful, serene, compassionate, with deep eyes that seemed to encompass all things.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Upon seeing the phantom figure, Kasyapa, Tian Fo, and countless other Buddha cultivators and beings of the Western Regions prostrated themselves in devout reverence, their hands clasped in prayer.

The vast Buddha chant resonated through the heavens and earth, transforming the entire Western Regions into a Buddha Dominion.

Beyond the overwhelming Buddha's Will, even the Heavenly Dao's Edicts were expelled from this realm.

"This..."

The powerful members of the Su and Wu families were all filled with fear.

Facing this legendary existence, even a mere phantom radiated an indescribable and terrifying oppression.

At this moment, even Su Nan and Wu Jiuling, who stood at the forefront, had serious expressions.

"If it comes to a fight, take them and leave first", Su Nan transmitted telepathically.

"You're giving me too much credit."

Wu Jiuling smiled bitterly and surveyed the surroundings. "This vast Western Regions has become a Buddha Dominion."

"It's a world independent of the Cangyan Continent, with an impenetrable barrier."

"With my strength, I fear I cannot break through this world."

No one knew how powerful Amitabha Buddha was, but this realm alone was enough to trap a Peak Near-Emperor.

"No problem."

Su Nan glanced at the Great Azure Spear in his hand and said calmly, "I can tear through it!"

Wu Jiuling was taken aback by these words and looked at Su Nan.

Though both were Peak Near-Emperors, Su Nan seemed to have reached another realm.

...

"Cangyan Continent, I have returned."

In the sky, the serene and peaceful figure gazed at the distant world.

His deep eyes seemed to traverse mountains and seas, spanning time and space, taking in the entire world at a glance.

He saw the insignificance of the continent, the desolation of Yuzhi, and the countless Divine Demons sealed by the Heavenly Dao.

"Master Yan, you always said I was on the wrong path."

"But what was the result?"

"It was your actions that destroyed this world."

Amitabha Buddha's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow.

Instead, he felt a complex mix of emotions toward this familiar yet strange world.

His plan had succeeded.

After countless ages of planning and the dissolution of boundless time, he had achieved his goal—a world without Cang and Yan.

In this era, he could finally realize his ambitions, build a Buddha Dominion, and transcend the ancient realms.

But... all the familiar beings had vanished.

The sense of emptiness, the feeling of having no one to confide in, made him fall silent.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted, focusing on the direction of Su Changqing.

Or rather, on the two equally phantom spirits behind Su Changqing.

"Long time no see."

Amitabha Buddha's face rarely showed a smile as he looked at Jue Xian and Xian Xian.

"Indeed, it has been a long time."

"Who would have thought, after countless ages, you actually came back to life."

Xian Xian looked at Amitabha Buddha and sighed. "Why go to such lengths? With your talent and potential, even if you started over, you would have long since reached the peak."

"Why wait so long, enduring endless time?"

Amitabha Buddha shook his head. "Starting over isn't difficult, but my resolve is unshakable. The facts have proven that my path was the right one."

"Bullshit!"

Jue Xian retorted angrily. "Yan originally wanted to pass his Great Dao to you, but who knew you would dissolve and disperse your path."

"If you hadn't been so stubborn, even if you only listened for a while, you wouldn't have come to this."

"The Great Dao?" Amitabha Buddha chuckled, then said calmly, "My path is the Great Dao!"

His voice was not loud, more like a statement of fact than an argument.

"Hmph."

Xian Xian sneered, "Look at that spear and tell me again that yours is the Great Dao!"

As he spoke, Xian Xian pointed to the Great Azure Spear in Su Nan's hand.

Amitabha Buddha's expression remained unchanged, and he glanced at it casually.

But that glance shook him to his core, and he whispered, "Cang."

If there was anyone who had the greatest influence on Amitabha Buddha, it was Yan.

Yan was his friend and his teacher.

And Cang, who shared a name with Yan, had an equally profound impact on him.

Because Cang had almost killed him!

When the Buddha Dominion's ambitions were exposed, the Great Azure Spear almost instantly pierced his chest.

The boundless malevolent aura and the extreme Warrior's Will were still vivid in his memory.

Cang's ruthlessness was evident; the moment he sensed Amitabha Buddha's ambitions, he attempted to kill him.

It was only Yan's timely intervention that saved his life, but it also led to his suppression for an entire era due to the Buddha Dominion's affairs.

He had dissolved his path and scattered his essence because he knew that with Cang around, his plans could never succeed.

But he never imagined that after countless ages of dissolving his path, on the very first day of his rebirth, he would see the Great Azure Spear again!

No one could understand the shock and awe that made Amitabha Buddha freeze in place.

"You have waited for endless ages, yet you cannot escape the grasp of Cang and Yan."

Xian Xian shook his head. "The Cangyan Continent is Cang's world. He will not allow you to establish the Buddha Dominion."

"The appearance of the Great Cang was unknown to us. Is it karmic retribution or a warning? You must weigh it yourself."

Amitabha Buddha gazed at the Great Azure Spear for a long time before his eyes turned to Su Nan.

He looked for a long while, and after hearing Xian Xian's words, he suddenly smiled. "A warning? Karmic retribution?"

"Xian Xian, you underestimate me."

"Though I have dissolved my path and scattered my essence, my 'Buddha' has always existed in the Western Regions."

"Accumulating for countless ages, the intentions of countless believers, do you think I am still the same as before?"

As he spoke, he looked at Su Nan and the Great Azure Spear in his hand, and said calmly:

"In this life, no one can stop me. Even if Cang is alive, I am not afraid."

Xian Xian and Jue Xian's faces changed instantly upon hearing this.

It seemed they had underestimated Amitabha Buddha's accumulation over the years.

"If Cang cannot persuade you, what about him?"

Jue Xian pointed at Su Changqing and shouted, "Look closely, who is he?"

Jue Xian could not see through Su Changqing's identity, but he was certain that Amitabha Buddha could.

He did not know who Su Changqing was, but he was definitely connected to Yan!

"He..."

Amitabha Buddha looked at Su Changqing.

At first, his brows furrowed, but then his expression gradually changed.

Endless Buddha Radiance emerged from his eyes, and the shadow of the River of Time surged like a tidal wave.

No one could sense Xian Xian and Jue Xian, nor could they hear Amitabha Buddha's conversation with them.

Everyone only felt an oppressive weight in the air, making it hard to breathe.

After a long moment, Amitabha Buddha's golden eyes returned to calm.

"Who is he?"

Xian Xian couldn't help but ask, "Is it Yan?"

At this moment, Su Changqing, surprised, looked at Xian Xian.

Xian Xian's conversation was inaudible to others, even to Su Changqing.

But he could see the change in Xian Xian's expression.

"What could make Xian Xian so nervous?"

Su Changqing pondered, glancing at Amitabha Buddha.

Coincidentally, Amitabha Buddha's gaze was also on him.

"His identity..."

Amitabha Buddha's eyes were filled with curiosity and compassion as he said, "I can see, but I cannot speak."

Jue Xian frowned, "Why?"

"The karmic retribution on him is too great."

Amitabha Buddha shook his head. "Even the Ancients could not bear such karmic retribution."

"I can only tell you that he is Yan, but he is not Yan. His existence is..."

Boom!

Before Amitabha Buddha could finish his sentence, the entire Buddha Dominion suddenly trembled.

Infinite threads of rules, densely packed and stretching as far as the eye could see, surged in from the outside.

"Karmic retribution..."

Jue Xian and Xian Xian's scalps tingled when they saw this.

These threads were not rules or laws, but intricate webs of karmic retribution!

Every encounter, every interaction, and every contact with anything in the world, created various levels of karmic retribution.

As a being's life path grew longer, the karmic retribution they accumulated also increased.

But most of these karmic ties were insignificant and would fade over time.

Only the karmic retribution formed with powerful beings would persist, never to be erased by time.

But the karmic threads emerging from the outside now?

Without exception, they all carried overwhelming karmic retribution!

The living beings were not only terrifying in power but also overwhelming in number.

If these karmic threads were to entangle them, as Amitabha Buddha said, even the "Ancient" would be unable to bear it.

"Without offense, scatter!"

As Amitabha Buddha recited the scriptures, the karmic threads gradually dissipated, and the Buddha Dominion calmed down.

Afterward, his gaze lingered on Su Changqing for a moment before turning to Xian Xian and Jue Xian.

"Out of respect for the two of you, I will not make things difficult for them today. Go."

"Until the final battle."

The current Amitabha Buddha had just awakened a thread of consciousness.

In the time to come, he needed to prepare for the final battle.

"This is not our decision."

Xian Xian shook his head. "We have yet to recognize a master and will not interfere in his affairs."

Amitabha Buddha nodded, his gaze shifting to Su Changqing as he said:

"Today, we will end it here. Retreat."

Upon hearing this, the people of the Su and Wu families could not hide their joy.

They had already prepared for a desperate fight, but they never expected their opponents to simply let them go.

The Buddhist followers, however, had no objections to Amitabha Buddha's words.

Even Kasyapa, who had shown hatred just moments ago, now wore a calm expression, as if everything was right as long as the "Buddha" spoke.

"Thank goodness, no real fight."

Wu Jiuling and Su Nan both heaved a sigh of relief.

No one knew the immense pressure they had felt in the presence of Amitabha Buddha.

Even though he was just a thread of divine consciousness, he was still terrifying.

If a real fight had broken out, they would have had no choice but to fight to the death, as the gap between them was too great.

However.

Just as the Su and Wu families were about to retreat, Su Changqing stepped forward and looked at Amitabha Buddha.

"Senior, I have also practiced the Buddhist path, but the Buddha I follow is not Amitabha Buddha!"

Upon hearing these words, the people of the Su and Wu families were taken aback.

The Buddhist followers, including Kasyapa, instantly shouted in anger.

"Blasphemy!"

In the hearts of the Buddhist followers, Amitabha Buddha was the supreme being.

To dare say that one's Buddha was not Amitabha Buddha was not just a grave offense but a heresy that warranted being cast into the deepest hell to suffer endless torment.

"There is only one Buddha in this world."

Amitabha Buddha's expression remained calm. "And that is Amitabha Buddha."

"Why?"

Su Changqing stepped forward and asked, "The Buddha teaches that all beings are equal, so why can't I be a Buddha?"

"I am a human now, and the one who sees through the world's suffering is a Buddha, while the rest are beings."

Amitabha Buddha recited the true meaning of his path and said, "You have not yet dispelled your suffering and are not yet a Buddha."

With that, Amitabha Buddha turned to leave, not intending to speak further with Su Changqing.

Su Changqing's status was indeed remarkable, but his current realm was still too low, far from the level where he could discuss the Dharma with him.

However, just as Amitabha Buddha turned to leave, Su Changqing's voice rang out again.

"All beings are named as such because they live together. I see the Buddha as I see all beings, and if all beings are Buddhas, why can't I be one?"

"Law and self are both void. If I say I am a Buddha, then I am a Buddha!"

Su Changqing's words filled the Buddhist followers with rage.

But some enlightened monks looked at Su Changqing with a sense of wonder.

At this moment, Amitabha Buddha, who had been about to leave, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned back, his gaze on Su Changqing becoming more serious.

"Law and self are both void."

"Everything is born because of me and dies because of me. Because 'I' exist, all beings exist, and thus all beings are equal."

Amitabha Buddha murmured to himself, a light seeming to flash in his eyes.

In his lifetime of practicing Buddhism, he had never heard another interpretation of "all beings are equal."

Amitabha Buddha's "all beings are equal" meant that all beings must believe in the "Buddha" and endure suffering to achieve Nirvana and transcendence.

This equality meant that all beings experienced the same suffering as the Buddha, and by overcoming it, they could become Buddhas.

However, this "equality" was defined by the "Buddha" for the "beings."

It appeared equal but actually placed the "Buddha" in a transcendent position above all beings.

This doctrine had been the same since the appearance of the "Buddha" and remained so to this day.

Neither the followers nor the Buddha himself had ever questioned it.

But today, another "doctrine" emerged.

Su Changqing's simple four words, "Law and self are both void", had brought Amitabha Buddha's "Buddha" to true equality!

The law exists because I see it, touch it, and practice it.

But if 'I' do not exist, then this world is nothing but an illusion.

In this equality, the main character is no longer the "Buddha" but 'I.'

If I see the Buddha as a Buddha, then it is a Buddha.

If I see all beings as Buddhas, then all beings can be Buddhas.

This is an equality that, from the perspective of the 'I' of all beings, is irrefutable and truly equal!

You say you are a Buddha, but if I do not exist, then where does the 'Buddha' come from?

Su Changqing looked at the contemplative Amitabha Buddha and said:

"The Buddha has no form; the form arises from the mind."

"Senior's 'Buddha' is too narrow-minded."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end