Chapter 77: Our Sincere Greetings

Chapter 77: Our Sincere Greetings



"Hello, Cheetah Express is at your service. Don't forget to give us a five-star review, dear!"

Ji Jingqiu didn't follow Brother Eight to join the commotion.

He stood at the road junction, finally summoning the "Offering" of the Supreme Buddha Sect.

The password and receipt were completed in one go.

Just as he was about to return to enjoy the offering, a sudden burst of fire lit up the distant sky.

He followed the light and took a look.

He roughly confirmed the location below.

It seemed to be the coordinates of the Starlight Corporation's people that Brother Eight had asked him to find...

Was Brother Eight playing so recklessly?

Ji Jingqiu was slightly taken aback. He had thought that Brother Eight would personally handle the situation with his Shackles Realm cultivation, dealing with two Soul Wandering Warriors.

Shaking his head, Ji Jingqiu returned to the house.

After closing the door...

Ji Jingqiu opened the delivery package, which contained a special metal box, perfectly round and seamless.

He consulted Li Buyi and only then learned that this was a specialized container for sealing holy artifacts, preventing the leakage of their spiritual essence.

Even relevant security inspection equipment couldn't detect what was inside.

The method of opening it was rather unique; using force would only trigger a widespread mental pollution.

Following Li Buyi's instructions, Ji Jingqiu opened the container, revealing a jade Buddha lying quietly inside.

Jingqiu carefully took it out and gently caressed it. As usual, his heartfire sent a warning, but the Bodhi Tree's emotions suddenly surged, constantly conveying a signal of "longing" to him.

Without hesitation, to prevent the holy artifact's essence from dissipating, he firmly held the jade Buddha and entered the Inner World.

Amidst the Bodhi Tree's branches and leaves swaying as if cheering him on, Ji Jingqiu buried the crimson Buddha's essence at the tree's roots.

While waiting for the Bodhi Tree to sprout and grow, Ji Jingqiu summoned Fat Tiger and gave it a brief break.

Fat Tiger also curiously stared at the rapidly growing Bodhi Tree.

This time, the Bodhi Tree's growth didn't start from the branches and leaves but began with the roots, which sprouted vigorously.

In the blink of an eye, the roots resembled a dragon, deeply embedded in the ground, while the bark cracked, resembling sturdy dragon scales, and the branches stretched out like coiled dragons.

Finally, the leaves fluttered, increasing from twenty-two to thirty-six...

The Pure Land expanded to thirty-six feet and then gradually came to a halt.

Ji Jingqiu could sense that the power contained within the jade Buddha had not been fully absorbed.

However, the Bodhi Tree stopped absorbing, as if it had encountered an invisible bottleneck. It raised its branches and leaves, pointing towards the sky.

Ji Jingqiu followed the direction the Bodhi Tree was indicating.

The blood rain in the sky seemed even more intense than before.

Beyond the Pure Land was a world transformed by his own suffering.

But now, he clearly sensed something above, intruding.

It was a sea.

Boundless and infinite.

Formless and intangible.

Yet, it existed in reality, encompassing all sentient beings.

The Sea of Suffering.

In an instant, Ji Jingqiu comprehended the cause and effect.

The Bodhi Tree's growth had already reached the first stage. Apart from mental power, it also required the nourishment of the Sea of Suffering.

Its ultimate destination was to take root in the Sea of Suffering, supporting all sentient beings and preventing them from sinking into it.

Unless Ji Jingqiu was content with the Bodhi Tree's eternal stagnation, drawing the Sea of Suffering into the Inner World to nurture the Bodhi Tree was the only option.

But... was the weight of the Sea of Suffering something he alone could bear?

Not long ago, Brother Eight had shared a secret with him. It was rumored that Mu Shuai, already a Supreme Grand Master and possibly even further along the path, had mysteriously disappeared during his prime. The rumor suggested that he had attempted to shoulder the weight of the Sea of Suffering alone, ultimately failing in his endeavor...

Ji Jingqiu gazed at the boundless shadow of the Sea of Suffering above.

This rumor was difficult to discern as truth or fiction, but it did shed light on some issues.

Even now, with the Sea of Suffering suspended in the sky without descending, he felt immense pressure.

Ji Jingqiu pondered. In fact, judging by Mu Laoshi's reaction, he could sense that not everyone could cultivate the Flame Prison Meditation Chart to the level he had.

Perhaps, throughout the generations of the Mu Clan, only a few had achieved this.

The key to this lay with the Bodhi Tree.

He recalled the monumental Bodhi Tree, reaching up to the heavens, that he had seen when he first entered the Mind Ocean.

If one day, his Bodhi Tree could grow like that... wouldn't he be close to becoming a deity, even without achieving godhood?

Ji Jingqiu quickly made his decision.

The Bodhi Tree was one of the foundations of his martial arts, and he couldn't abandon it or stop here.

He asked the Bodhi Tree what he needed to do.

The Bodhi Tree's response was exceptionally concise: "Continue living as before."

Continue living...

Was it that simple?

Yet, it seemed not so simple.

But it aligned with his aspirations.

Ji Jingqiu's mind was made up, and he no longer hesitated.

The Bodhi Tree's branches and leaves swayed, showering a hazy glow, and conveyed another message to Ji Jingqiu:

"Those who wish to ferry sentient beings must first be ferried by them."

Ji Jingqiu was initially perplexed.

Just at that moment, a wondrous resonance from the distant starry sky resonated with crystal clarity once more.

This sensation seemed to traverse the vast depths of space, spanning countless light-years, crossing the endless night and heavy mist, finally arriving at this moment, catching a glimpse of the slender heavenly light before descending.

Ji Jingqiu opened his eyes.

At this moment, he emerged from his inner world, his gaze passing through the window, beyond the dark celestial dome, to behold the dazzling star clusters that could not be obscured, standing out against the horizon.

And from within the star clusters, there rose a radiant divine radiance rarely seen by ordinary people!

It was as if countless stars were vying to shine, lighting up, overlapping, and intertwining in the far reaches of space, forming distinct outlines and revealing solemn silhouettes.

They were deities, one after another.

They spanned the abyss, manifesting in the mortal world at this moment, casting their gaze upon this place.

Ethereal, sacred, exalted, and pure...

Grand and magnificent, indescribably wondrous.

A faint humming, traversing countless light-years, reached Ji Jingqiu's ears.

The voice was extremely soft.

Yet, it carried a surging intensity that quickened one's heartbeat, filled with overwhelming pressure and fervor.

They spoke—

【We have been awaiting for a long time】

...

...

Core Zone.

The Temple of the Four Divine Monarchs.

A man dressed in white Divine Officer attire smiled gently, surrounded by a group of chattering children, all dressed identically.

"The official title for the deities is 'Humanity's Integrated Thought Entity'."

"They have no physical form and exist within the ethereal network. They can only manifest through the faith and aspirations of their believers."

"In fact, the majority of deities lack conscious rationality. They are easily swayed by the faith and aspirations of sentient beings, their consciousness falling into a state of ignorance and chaos..."

The children gathered around him, seemingly understanding yet not fully grasping his explanation.

Suddenly, one of them pointed ahead and asked curiously, "Teacher, why don't they have faces?"

Following the child's finger, he saw four monumental divine statues, representing the highest authority in the federal deity system. However, the faces of the statues were blank, as if the sculptor had left them unfinished.

But this did not create a sense of eeriness; instead, it evoked a feeling of solemnity and sanctity when considering their overall form.

The Divine Officer explained, "Because deities are formless, they can be any one of us, or they can be any of our ancestors who once cherished the federation and humanity."

"Teacher! I heard that the Four Divine Monarchs of the Federation were the four marshals from back then. Is that true?" Another child raised their hand.

Upon hearing this.

The Divine Officer looked up, his gaze piercing through the layers of light smoke within the temple, and saw the four faceless divine statues.

He lowered his head and spoke solemnly:

"Yes, the core origin of the Four Divine Monarchs of the Federation is the primordial divine fire of the four marshals. The faceless statues also represent their intentions.

They all had the opportunity and qualification to rule for ten thousand generations, but they chose to abandon that privilege and instead paved the way for future generations..."

The original text can be found in Chapter 6, Book/Bar.

"Teacher, are the Divine Monarchs the four marshals from back then?" asked one of the children, raising their hand.

Most of them didn't understand the Divine Officer's words; they were more curious about the legends that resembled fairy tales.

The Divine Officer fell silent for a moment, then shook his head with a hint of sadness, and said softly:

"They are no longer who they once were."

During the lengthy ceremony, the aspirations of sentient beings merged with their origins. Even the most powerful primordial divine fire would be tainted and assimilated by the faith and aspirations of the masses.

Up until this day.

They are one with sentient beings.

And at this very moment.

The four formless divine statues shone with brilliant light!

The white-clad Divine Officer looked out beyond the temple.

Behind him, a radiant divine radiance gathered, like countless twinkling lights, clustering together at this moment, resembling a great sun.

As the only chosen one of the Four Deities in this era, he clearly perceived the anticipation of the deities, burning with intensity and depth.

However, despite his inquiries, the deities remained silent, maintaining their solemn silence.

Could it be... his successor?

...

Federal Administrative Capital.

As the administrative hub of the Federation, it was not located in the Core Zone but in the North 1 District of the Twenty-Four Time Zones.

On a quiet terrace, an elderly man squinted, savoring the tranquility of afternoon tea.

From this spot, the nearby Presidential Executive Mansion was within clear view. With a slight tilt of the head, one could see the headquarters of the Federal Central Security Administration.

The former was bustling with people, while the latter was deserted, a stark contrast indeed.

The elderly man suddenly chuckled softly. He witnessed a car abruptly braking and turning around as it approached the street where the Central Security Administration was located.

This was the Central Security Administration, an agency known for its strictness; if you so much as glanced at them twice, they would sternly apprehend you, suspecting you of having issues.

Sitting on the terrace not far away, the old man stared intently at the headquarters of the Security Administration. According to the standards of the Security Administration, he would at least be charged with espionage for spying on federal secrets.

The old man clearly didn't care.

Because the department under his feet was independent of any system, and when necessary, even the President would have to step aside. Moreover, it possessed the highest security clearance in the Federation.

Even the security clearance of the Central Security Agency would have to take a back seat to them.

For this reason, during the early days of the Federation, the first Director of the Security Bureau once slammed his fist on the table and roared, "What kind of Security Bureau is this? We might as well give this name to them!" But in the end, the matter was left unresolved.

Whenever the old man thought of this old news, he couldn't help but feel a bit of regret.

He believed that if he had been there, there would definitely be no Central Security Agency by now.

A slightly hurried pace sounded from behind.

The old man sighed and lamented the afternoon tea that had just begun and was already ending.

A middle-aged man quickly walked up to him and leaned over to whisper, "Highest alert—

"The Four Divine Lords and eleven Divine Generals have manifested simultaneously! The reason is not yet clear! They have rejected our attempts to contact them, and this is only the second time in the history of the Federation!"

A trace of solemnity flashed through the old man's deep and calm eyes.

The Four Divine Lords and eleven Divine Generals represented the entire divine system that the Federation had spent ten thousand years building.

In some corner of the universe, something significant must have happened for them to manifest after sensing it and be unable to stay still.

"Is there any movement in the Abyss?" the old man asked, "What about the gods under the eleven who cannot be contacted?"

The middle-aged official smiled bitterly, a look of incomprehension in his eyes, and whispered,

"The originally dark Abyss has been illuminated by the divine realms of the gods."

"Additionally, all the deities under these fifteen have manifested in the mortal world together with them, silently gazing into the depths of space. Based on the direction they are looking, we have analyzed that the place they are looking at should be the Eastern District!"

The old man frowned, "What happened in the Eastern District recently?"

"Recently, a Master appeared in Dong San District," the middle-aged official replied promptly, "Also worth mentioning is a peculiar incident that occurred on Dong Sanhuang Planet. It's the news brought by Zhang Chongba and Cold Saber, which you have seen before."

After a long silence, the old man said, "Since it's the second time, when was the first?"

"According to the records, it was when the Mu Clan collaborated with the Federal Defense Department Research Institute, allowing a strand of Marshal Mu's divine essence to bloom once again in the world!"

The old man nodded, "Then go and contact the Ji Family to inquire if this matter might be related to Marshal Huo or Marshal Ji."

"I'll go immediately."

"If the Ji Family cannot provide a clear answer, and the Four Divine Lords also do not mention a word about this matter afterward, then this incident will be completely sealed," the old man said solemnly, "Externally, we will say that the Four Divine Lords have made a breakthrough, and the gods are congratulating them."

"Understood." The middle-aged official asked for further instructions, "Will we use the same explanation for inquiries from the Presidential Palace and other departments of the same level?"

The old man replied seriously, "Our Administration Bureau does not need to be accountable to any department, and naturally, we don't need to answer them."

The middle-aged official took the instruction and left.

The old man glanced at the tea cup filled with steam, no longer in the mood for tea.

Only something major could have prompted the collective action of the Four Divine Lords, most likely the manifestation of the other three Marshals in the mortal world.

If his guess was correct, this matter would likely become an unsolved case, and the gods would remain silent as always, not uttering a word.

The old man sighed.

The Western Rebellion has reignited the flames of war, and there must be backing from major corporations and noble families.

The Mind Ocean, where the boundary between the spiritual and physical worlds merges—the Heavenly Road, has also been experiencing frequent problems recently, attracting the attention of various Masters.

And now, with the simultaneous manifestation of the gods...

A tumultuous time indeed.

...

...

Eleven dazzling figures, impossible to look at directly, seated one after another, supporting the illusory Sea of Suffering on the sky dome.

As a strand of the divided consciousness of the Divine Officer of the Guard, White Tiger, was measuring this inner world scene.

The eleven Divine Generals, guided by the Bodhi Tree, abided by their original covenant to come and protect the path of the second generation "World-Honored One."

But that was the extent of their involvement.

In the past, the Seven Marshals could rise from humble beginnings, and those they chose would naturally do the same.

Suddenly, a Divine Officer of the Guard stopped, as a tiger with a blade in its mouth, from an unknown place, ran up to him, dropped the blade from its mouth, took a step back, and looked at him with anticipation.

The Divine Officer of the Guard lowered his head, not understanding its intention.

This blade...

Seemed to be the legacy of Marshal Huo—the Eternal Blade Technique.

To this day, after countless improvements by later generations, its fundamental nature remained unchanged.

Hmm, the blade's edge was not yet perfect, lacking a bit...

Was it expecting him to perfect it?

Looking at the tiger-headed and tiger-brained little fellow, the Divine Officer of the Guard, rarely fell into deep thought.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end