Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2454: 220: Why Such Urgency to Fight Each Other? (2)

“The hardships we endure today are solely for the sake of tomorrow's liberation. You cling solely to the mirage of life and death right before you, but fail to see that the bliss of all sentient beings has long surpassed the realms of birth and demise. Concepts like no-self, no-person, no-living beings, no-lifespan… every manifestation is nothing but illusion!”

“Tianyin, haven't you grasped this yet?”

Buddha Tianyin paused in silence for a while, then gradually shook his head:

“All phenomena are transient, all dharmas lack a self, Nirvana brings stillness…”

“This represents the Lesser Mahayana Buddhism. I believe I've fully realized it, so neither birth nor death alarms me, and neither delight nor sorrow sways me. But I perceive even more distinctly. Tianshang, your obsession with the divide between Mahayana and Lesser Mahayana traps you in a sense of ‘self’. The ocean of suffering knows no bounds, yet all beings can cross it themselves. Do you really have to guide them personally?”

“Or could it be that you grasp all this, but merely use Mahayana to fuel your own desires?”

“If that's the case, then these years of practice have been wasted.”

The elderly monk across from him, upon hearing these words, displayed no trace of irritation, merely emitting a soft sigh, as though reluctant to continue the argument:

“A creature of summer cannot discuss frost. Though you and I share the same essence, you still fail to understand what lies beyond… In that case, if I act this way, what will you do? Can you truly endure the truth that ‘all phenomena are transient’?”

With those words spoken.

A brilliant Buddha radiance burst forth from the old monk's form.

Wherever the light swept, a monk in the mid-stage nearest to it melted away into a pool of liquid instantly!

This occurrence happened so abruptly that even Buddha Tianyin couldn't respond in time!

“Cease this!”

At that instant, the composure on Buddha Tianyin's face shattered completely!

The surging Buddha Light was on the verge of reaching Xin Yuan amid the group.

Right then, a silhouette dashed past Buddha Tianyin, positioning itself in front of the monks, with the Buddha Light wrapping around it like a barrier, taking in every bit of the radiance directed at it!

This prompted a wave of astonished exclamations.

“That's Kong Zen!”

“He can actually endure it?!”

By now, Yan Poluo and the others had just reached the scene, and in their mix of fury and astonishment, their looks toward Kong Zen held both wonder and admiration.

“Oh?”

Buddha Tianshang's eyes shifted to that silhouette, showing a flicker of astonishment:

“You follow the path of Mahayana Buddhism too?”

The silhouette wore a golden kasaya, possessed red lips and white teeth, resembling a youthful man—none other than Kong Zen.

Even after soaring forward alone to counter the offhand strike, nearly depleting his strength, with scarcely any Buddha light remaining around him, he still grinned and declared:

“Mind your own damn business!”

Hearing this, the old monk showed no anger, but rather a sign of appreciation:

“Not even at the mid-stage of Crossing Tribulation, yet able to command earth, fire, water, and wind through the ‘emptiness’ of the six elements—a rare prodigy, and most importantly, one with a compassionate spirit. In the Supreme True Buddha realm, he could become a Buddha’s heir.”

“Such a shame, he still hasn't realized that all is illusion.”

The old monk let out a sigh, staying completely still, yet another wave of Buddha Light emanated from his being.

In that moment, Kong Zen sensed an immense peril descending upon him.

Though it remained the same Buddha Light, its aura felt utterly transformed, and he couldn't even fathom the shifts within the four elements!

“This is bad! I acted too rashly!”

Kong Zen inwardly regretted his decision.

Yet, even with such thoughts, if the situation repeated, he would rush forward without hesitation.

Over the years in the Eastern Luli Buddha Realm, he had become one with this place, much like how his original self would give greatly for the Little Cang World—he felt the identical pull…

As the Buddha Light neared once more.

This time around, Yan Poluo and his companions unleashed their Buddha Dharma Aspects, assembling into a Grand Formation, and without delay, positioned themselves ahead of Kong Zen!

Yan Poluo, who had attained perfection in Tribulation Crossing, stood mere moments from Mahayana, now directing the array as mid-to-late stage Crossing Tribulation monks united, morphing into a majestic Grand Buddha that bodily withstood the Buddha Light…

“You claim to be Buddhists yet study foreign doctrines.”

The old monk shook his head, and with a mere thought.

Inside the enveloping Buddha Light, enigmatic golden runes rapidly shifted amid the alterations of earth, fire, water, and wind, swiftly shaping into a Buddha’s Palm, embedded with endless variations, as though containing a Bodhisattva Realm where countless entities swiftly evolved…

It slammed down with force!

The Grand Buddha formed by Yan Poluo and the rest ignited instantly under this colossal palm, then fragmented apart, with many figures tumbling out successively.

Even the combined might of Tribulation Crossing perfection couldn't hold up for a single exchange!

“How could the application of divine abilities by cultivators rival the true Mahayana Buddhist Law?”

The old monk's face stayed serene, showing no astonishment at the outcome.

The massive palm was poised to crush Kong Zen.

The very next instant, an aged form strode forward, placing itself before Kong Zen, cloaked in golden glow, with a ‘卍’ symbol manifesting at the forefront!

As the enormous palm descended powerfully, that form quivered faintly, his kasaya fluttered, white beard waving, but his stance didn't yield an inch!

“Elder Tianyin?!”

Witnessing the aged figure shielding him, Kong Zen's entire frame shook!

Buddha Tianyin positioned himself in front of Kong Zen, gazing at the old monk across, his eyes brimming with profound fury and sorrow:

“Tianshang, is this the outcome you seek?”

“Do your sentient beings exclude those from the Glazed Buddha Realm?”

“Must you draw lines between Mahayana and Lesser Mahayana?”

The old monk's sight, however, bypassed Buddha Tianyin, fixing on Kong Zen behind, softly scanning the pair, apparently taken aback, then unable to suppress a light laugh: