Chapter 163 - Ascend to Paradise
TL-Checked by Sassystrawberry; Edited by Animeart
Note on Title:
It was only when the trembling cat almost shook itself off the bannister, did Xiao Shao pick it up again.
The cat made a very unpleasant sound to reflect its poor mood : “Miaoww!”
Xiao Shao scratched the back of its head: “Predecessor, a Land Immortal Cultivator like yourself has no reason to be afraid.”
The cat ignored him.
Lin Shu: “The Great Wizard is a Land Immortal cultivator, but he did not ascend.”
Theoretically, Land Immortal cultivators should not exist in the secular world – because those who should have ascended would have already ascended, besides those like the cat who have yet to pay off their karmic debts.
Xiao Shao said: “As per Xiao Xuan’s words, he has suspicions that the Great Wizard is not human.”
Lin Shu let out an “En”.
Great Wizard, with an evil nature.
However for demonic creatures, beasts and monsters, there was a limit on their innate talent, they would be unable to possess such profound and unfathomable martial arts skills as the Great Wizard.
Consider the cat as an example, it’s power was beyond any shadow of doubt. Normally to set an array, it just required to breath out a puff of spiritual energy, and it would achieve the desired results. However, expecting it to set up a meticulous large array, would be unrealistic — After all, it was merely a cat, it did not possess such a high level of spiritual intelligence.
The salient point that bothered them both was the fact that the Great Wizard was able to execute the moves of “Solitude”.
Whilst on the lonely and silent staircase, he heard Xiao Shao’s soft voice: “Earlier, the illusion was broken, but currently...this also does not look like reality.”
For example, if the present was indeed reality, then the person at his side should be Miss Danzhu, not Xiao Shao garbed in menswear.
This tower seemed to be inseparable from the illusion.
In this case the Great Wizard himself, might be deeply connected with the illusion.
Lin Shu connected with Xiao Shao’s train of thought and said: “The Great Wizard uses a phantom body to appear in the world.... If what we see of him are just phantoms, then his true body is indeed possibly not human.”
The question now is, what sort of creature was the Great Wizard?
During previous meetings, the manner in which the Great Wizard departed was always with his figure dissipating into thin air.
Previously, Lin Shu had always felt that the Great Wizard’s phantom body was because he had practiced some form of out of body incarnation magical techniques. However, what if the Great Wizard that he had seen, was in itself an illusion?
Then with regards to the Great Wizard’s true body, what on earth could it be?
A giant ‘Shen’?
Lin Shu: “......”
Xiao Shao continued: “He uses the phantoms to travel across time and space, there is nowhere that he cannot get to.”
Lin Shu nodded.
Then Xiao Shao said, “Just now when I fought with him, I thought, why would the Great Wizard know how to use the Phoenix Blade Techniques. So I tested a theory casually, and discovered that the blade techniques that I had learnt in earlier years, he did not know how to use.”
Lin Shu said: “Indeed.”
Xiao Shao said, “Do you still remember the encounter with the Great Wizard three years ago, and he said, “I’ve found you.”
Lin Shu: “I remember.”
“After the battle at Jubei Pass, the usual bladework skills that I practiced&#k2026;.his execution was not lacking at all, however with regards to &#k2018;Homeward Boat’, &#k2018;Snowy Night’ and the like, other than displaying the moves to you whilst in the dreamscape, I have never used them. The same goes for the blade techniques from my earlier years.”
Lin Shu thought that he probably understood Xiao Shao’s meaning.
The Great Wizard was able to use the Phoenix blade techniques.
The prerequisite for being able to use a particular blade technique, was having previously seen this technique.
Assuming that the Great Wizard has seen Xiao Shao use those blade techniques, in this case, the most reasonable guess would be that he has previously observed Xiao Shao closely.
When did this observation start?
About three years ago, after the Battle of Jubei Pass, the Great Wizard found out about their existence.
If the above hypothesis could indeed be true, then the Great Wizard’s phantom body could travel unrestrictedly between Heaven and Earth.
Hence what kind of being could the Great Wizard be?
What actually could his underlying motives be?
However, Lin Shu was too busy to consider it carefully, because the stairs came to an end.
And with regards to what species of being was the Great Wizard, opening this door, probably would give them some answers.
The stone gate was black and very heavy, but it was not difficult to push open.
In fact, Xiao Shao pressed his right hand on the stone gate and immediately, it began to vibrate on its own, and with a loud ‘bang’, opened on both ends.
The sudden light pierced Lin Shu’s eyes for a moment, however he recovered very quickly, because the light emitted was a very gentle radiance, akin to gentle rays of sunset in late spring.
The world before his eyes regained its clarity.
This wasn’t a room or hall, neither was it the top of the tower with boundaries.
What appeared in front of them was a seemingly expansive boundless world.
The sky was a warm yellow color, and the plentiful white clouds slowly and comfortably extended outwards.
On the ground, where they were, was a prosperous town, and a solemn strange fragrance was in the air.
He and Xiao Shao looked at one other, then advanced ahead.
In this town, the roads were straight and the crowds were unceasing. Every house was as clean and tidy as when they were new. The glazed roof tiles were shining and vibrant, the paint on the walls were bright, without any mottling or blemishes.
The people walked about, spoke with one another, each person hung a smile on their lips, and their eyes held very auspicious and harmonious expressions.
As Lin Shu and Xiao Shao made their way through the street, whenever people encountered strangers, they would smile in greeting, and make way for them to pass.
Everything was unreal to the point of feeling like a dream, making Lin Shu suspect that he was still not conscious.
Xiao Shao said: “Dian people.”
Lin Shu nodded.
In Dian Country, the terrain was high and the sun shone very brightly. Therefore, the skin color of the Dian people was dark, and their physical appearance also had some unique features. In addition, this street’s people’s clothes and etiquette were in line with the customs of Dian Country.
The cat poked its head out of Xiao Shao’s bosom, and looked around in all directions. A young girl coming from the opposite direction, smiled and gently stroked its head.
They went deeper and deeper in the bustling market, upon looking back, they were surprised to realize that they had gotten themselves lost within this grand city.
The capital of the southern Xia Dynasty was indeed prosperous, however in the end, they would not be able to achieve the state where everyone’s clothes and adornments were like new, every house was filled with carved beams and painted rafters. In addition, the land three hundred li outside of Jin Guan City, was completely a scene of chaos, with barren smoke covering the grounds, the roads littered with white bones, incomparably bleak and desolate.
——The signs of prosperity before his eyes reminded Lin Shu of the modern world of his past life, of a prosperous bustling city with its unceasing crowds.
But with regards to the people of the modern world, their mien was worlds away from the auspicious and harmonious manner of the people here.
This kind of scene differed significantly from the modern world that he had experienced.
There was only one thing that hadn’t changed.
The cat was still trembling, its shaking had lessened somewhat, but it was still shivering.
The cat shivering, indicated that this place was still dangerous.
The danger must arise from the Great Wizard.
Then would this peaceful and prosperous world be another illusion created by the Great Wizard for their benefit?
Xiao Shao called for an elderly man to stop for a moment.
His tone was gentle and polite: “Elderly Sir, would you know where the city master is?”
The old man just smiled and said: “There is no city master.”
Xiao Shao asked, “Is there someone in charge?”
The old man smiled again: “There is no one in charge.”
Xiao Shao: “Only the city populace?”
The old man nodded, and walked away with him, humming a strange tune in ancient Dian dialect as he walked.
Lin Shu saw Xiao Shao stop and look back.
In this dreamland, time and space were slightly chaotic, the ground did not show shadows. Lin Shu watched as a breeze from an unknown direction puffed up his black clothes, that instant of flowing splendor, was like many years had past.
He wondered, Xiao Shao as one, who had been born to govern the nation, did he have aspirations for his own country?
And was this aspiration, similar to how this city was?
After a long time, he heard Xiao Shao say: “Let’s go.”
Lin Shu couldn’t remember how long they had been away, perhaps it was but a moment, perhaps it was a year or two.
They walked through the alleys and streets, hitched rides on decorative floats with girls singing and dancing, and were given Tang Hulu by the old women on the street, and finally took a large treasure ship to the borders of the city.
They arrived at a high ground, overlooking this magnificent yet strange city.
Xiao Shao suddenly asked, “Are there 300,000 people within this city?”
Dian Kingdom, 300,000 living corpses.
However, this could not be ascertained by visual inspection. Lin Shu looked towards them, being able to discern that there were many, many people.
The edge of the city stretched outwards, and there were endless golden wheat fields, undulating slowly with the breeze, glowing faintly.
The whole world seemed to have a filter over it, surreal, but undeniably beautiful.
The sound of footsteps sounded behind them, and the cat meowed.
The person approaching was undoubtedly the Great Wizard.
The Great Wizard still looked to be in poor health, even in this kind of light warm breeze, he still coughed several times.
Xiao Shao gently pressed his right hand on the handle of the knife, looking back at him, The look in his eyes was frosty, and he said, “Sariputra, what is the reason that this land is named Elysium? The people of this country do not experience the sufferings of the world, yet they experience happiness, hence it is named Elysium.”
The Great Wizard said: “All living beings who hear about it... would probably make a wish, a wish to live in that country.”
The dialogue between them came from the same Sutra discussing Elysium.
Xiao Shao: “The city is populated by the Dian City’s living beings?”
“If this is so, what are your Highness’ views on it?” The Great Wizard’s voice still had that strange mechanical hoarseness, his blood red eyes slowly turned, looking towards the city.
“All living beings in the world do not have to follow Buddhism, without having to make wishes, and yet are able to forever escape from the sea of bitterness, ascending to paradise.”
Xiao Shao: “If all earthly beings come here, what would happen to the current world?”
The Great Wizard gently rolled up his sleeves: “This world is filthy, it matters little if we abandon it.”
Xiao Shao looked up at the sky and said nothing for a long time.
The Great Wizard slowly said: “Your Highness and I have never had any feud or disputes.”
Saying this, he flicked his sleeves slowly, and a slight breeze blew across the boundless wilderness.
Upon the fields appeared the figure of a young man dressed in hemp clothing, chasing after a running greyhound.
As they ran farther and farther, a plum grove gradually appeared on the horizon. Behind the plum grove was a peaceful, prosperous looking village. There was traffic on the rice paddies, the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard, the smoke gradually curled up on the chimneys of houses, and there was the sound of people.
“Aunt!” The young man returned to the village and said, “Why have you been standing at the door all this time?”
The Aunt said: “That pair of children who left several years ago, why haven’t they come back to visit?”
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The author has something to say:
The Buddhist scriptures are taken from “Buddha says Amitabha Sutra“.
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