The Ancestor of All Demons

Years ago, when Master Zun Sheng ascended, he left behind three relics.

Zen Master Tian Meng kept one for himself, and handed two to Zen Master Bai Mei, who then passed them to Li Ning.

The relic sealing the Red Flower Princess had already been acquired by Zhu Youmu, and is presently with Xin Ru Nun; the other, which pertains to the destiny of Yin Yang Elder, was swallowed by Li Ning.

Zhu Youmu killed Li Ning, using the Great Sandalwood Buddha Light to seal his Primordial Spirit within the rock. Xun Lanyin foresaw Li Ning's peril and specially sent Li Yingqiong alongside Zhou Qingyun for the rescue.

Li Ning, through another relic, regenerated an avatar, declined his daughter's offer to take him to Emei Mountain, and continued to undergo ascetic cultivation in the Southern Border Mountains. As Bai Mei Zen Master instructed, he shall refrain from using even a slightest bit of mana, after thirty years of hardship, he will emerge to take Yin Yang Elder as his disciple and guide him into the Buddhist path. Once all is accomplished, he will ascend to Pure Land.

This time Li Ning learned his lesson, realizing too late, deeply regretting for he should not have used mana.

This time, he truly abstained from using any mana; the avatar produced by the relic was no different from ordinary people, requiring neither food nor drink, engaging in ascetic cultivation in the mountains.

Yet he was unaware that using mana was inevitable in this endeavor.

Zhu Youmu found Yin Yang Elder again, now Yin Yang Elder had taken refuge under the auspices of Xin Ru Buddha, granted with a Golden Body, becoming one of the ten Great Arhats.

Yin Yang Elder was the first to find Li Ning amidst the forest. His head was shaved bare, and with each step, lotuses bloomed beneath his feet, he treaded upon thorns to approach Li Ning.

Li Ning sat atop a boulder, in a cross-legged posture, eyes closed, entering into zen meditation, seemingly unseeing.

Yin Yang Elder circled Li Ning thrice, finally standing right in front of Li Ning. After pondering, he bowed to Li Ning before speaking, "Master Li Ning, do you still remember me?"

Li Ning did not open his eyes nor make any response.

Yin Yang Elder sighed, "I have now embraced the teachings of Xin Ru Nun... Xin Ru Buddhism, today, mandated by the sacred Buddhist edict, I have come to seek another relic of Master Zun Sheng from you."

Li Ning still did not react.

Yin Yang Elder grew increasingly glum, "Years ago, Master Zun Sheng said my future path lies within the Buddhist sect, with you as my future mentor. But things have come to this point, where you don't even have a corporeal form left, only your Primordial Spirit persists, and your fellow brother seeks me out... I desire to abide by Master Zun Sheng's will, but I am unable."

Li Ning remained indifferent, seemingly not hearing, Zhu Youmu's voice resounded from above, reprimanding Yin Yang Elder, "What nonsense are you dragging on about? Hurry up and bring me the relic!"

Yin Yang Elder responded to Zhu Youmu with some grievance, "He presently is a Primordial Spirit incarnation with such temperament, how should I demand…"

"Useless creature!" Zhu Youmu said, "His body was shaped via the relic, you should directly pack him into the Poison Dragon Bag I bestowed upon you by the Buddha and take him back to Jiuhua Mountain."

Yin Yang Elder was originally a Sect Hierarch himself, naturally capable of discerning Li Ning's condition and knowing what to do.

He simply did not wish to bear the responsibility; assuming Zhu Youmu and Li Ning as former brothers with good rapport, Zhu Youmu could kill Li Ning with his own hands but might not permit anyone else to bully him. A single mistaken word that provoked Zhu Youmu might end him with just a slap, so he purposely feigned ignorance, letting Zhu Youmu instruct him on how to proceed.

Moreover, Yin Yang Elder had studied Buddhism under Master Zun Sheng, understanding the difference between right and wrong, aware that something was amiss with Xin Ru Nun but was already caught on the pirate ship. Intimidated by Zhu Youmu's dominance, he dared not defy Zhu Youmu's will; whatever Zhu Youmu commanded, he complied. He just wished not to engage Li Ning directly, still hoping Li Ning might have some countermeasures.

However, Li Ning did not have any countermeasures; he remained seated and unmoving.

Yin Yang Elder, resigned, took out the Poison Dragon Bag, elevated it into the air, and collected Li Ning within.

In the succeeding moments, they did not immediately return to Jiuhua Mountain but set off to Wuyi Mountain to find Xie Shan.

Xie Shan was still seeking ways to rescue Xie Lin, while Xie Lin remained entrapped in her own illusion realm.

Years ago, the sisters of the Xie Family collectively activated the time-reversal function of the Conch Leaf Talisman, intending to turn the world back to when Shi Feiyang had just arrived here. Yet, with insufficient power to pull it off, the function was initiated but failed to genuinely reverse the world's time, trapping the sisters of the Xie Family in their own illusion realms instead.

The sisters of the Xie Family attributed all the suffering endured by their father Xie Shan, the grievances with their benefactor Cui Wu, every feud and grudge upon Shi Feiyang.

In truth, they had long regretted the decision not to stop Yue Qinyin, though they didn't regret striking Shi Feiyang. Their remorse lay in how their parents shielded them far too effectively during those initial eight or nine decades, letting them live carefree and unskilled as children within Immortal Mountain, resulting in the Demon Dragon escaping from Dinghu Peak!

They resented the malicious tactics employed by the Demon Dragon, causing their father's entrapment, their benefactor's tragic demise, and thwarting their own ascension and attainment of true fruition, leading to their dire circumstance.

The Conch Leaf Talisman's power was immense; the deeper their resentment, the more genuine their illusion realms became.

Xie Ying was killed by the Red Flower, and even after death, her primordial spirit remained trapped in her own illusion realm, unable to be freed. It was only Xin Ru who pulled her out, allowing her to reincarnate as A Ying.

Xie Lin is still alive, but it's almost as if she's dead.

Xie Shan tried everything but couldn't pull her out. Last time, when Master You Tan intervened, Xie Lin had a brief moment of clarity.

However, within her illusion realm, Xie Lin pursued the Evil Dragon, growing stronger in mana and commanding awe across the heavens and earth. It was entirely an "imaginative indulgence," and although she could never slay the Evil Dragon as she wished, she could always leave it with broken teeth, fleeing everywhere in panic, and it was utterly exhilarating!

But upon waking, she found the "Xie Wang Sect" legacy still intact, her father's temples gray, face wrinkled, and already exhausted and anemic, while her elder sister had been killed by the witch...

For Xie Lin, the real world outside was an unending "nightmare," and she preferred to believe that what was within her illusion realm was true.

She told Xie Shan, "As the Buddhists say, 'In dreams there are clearly six domains, but upon awakening, the universe is void.' Logically, both sides are illusionary Six Realms, both sides are dreams, one a nightmare, the other a beautiful dream. I would rather live in the beautiful dream, achieving Buddhahood in the dream, making the universe void, and then reunite with father..."

She consciously preferred drowning in her beautiful dream rather than coming out.

At this point, Xie Shan was helpless. Even if Shakyamuni or Amitabha Buddha personally came to pull her out, they couldn't!

While Xie Shan was disheartened, thinking that Master Ren should have exited seclusion and was planning to take Xie Lin on a trip to Little Cold Mountain, Zhu Youmu arrived with the Yin Yang Elder.

Xie Shan knew Xin Ru Nun had taken a different path, but he always disliked meddling and loathed stirring up trouble.

Speaking of right and wrong means being a troublemaker; no matter if one is cultivating Dao or Buddhism, there are only causes of trouble, not provokers of it.

In his understanding, Xin Ru Nun's Buddhist law was far superior to his, her words and deeds beyond his judgment, while Fen Tuo and Master You Tan could judge, he could not.

Who knew if Xin Ru Nun was deliberately behaving that way to enlighten those with destined connections in other paths?

His sole intention now was to heal Xie Lin.

Zhu Youmu understood his desire and specially told him, "To save Junior Sister Xie Lin, only my Buddha can achieve it in this world."

Last time at Jiuhua Mountain, Xie Shan hadn't severed ties with Xin Ru Nun, merely being given a stern "wake-up call," still considering Xin Ru Nun a sage.

He asked Zhu Youmu sorrowfully, "Can the Nun really help me cure Lin'er?"

"Of course!" Zhu Youmu said, "I came this time at the behest of my Buddha's decree to invite you. My Buddha seeks universal salvation, how could he watch her sink?"

At that moment, Xie Shan, having no choice, carried Xie Lin and followed Zhu Youmu and the Yin Yang Elder to Jiuhua Mountain.

Upon reaching Xin Ru's dojo, Xie Shan found Xin Ru sitting high on the Dharma Platform, surrounded by golden light, with Bodhisattvas and Arhats all cast in gold, already presenting a scene like the Buddha.

He thought secretly: With Xin Ru Nun's divine power, she could incarnate in various worlds as a saint and manifest as a Buddha in the No Buddha World; now as this world enters the Dharma Decline Era, it seems fitting for Xin Ru Nun to manifest as a Buddha.

He did not realize that within Xin Ru Nun's Buddha Light lay her firm resolve, and being there, shone upon by the Buddha Light, he was already influenced by Xin Ru's will.

Xie Shan asked Xin Ru, "Can the Nun help me save Lin'er from her illusion realm?"

Xin Ru Nun, seated on the Lotus Platform, towering a hundred feet high like a Golden Buddha, solemnly replied, "It is said that there's karmic cause in this matter for me as well. If, back then, I hadn't sent the sisters to Dragon Elephant Temple to retrieve the Conch Leaf Talisman, they wouldn't have ended up like this. Blessed be, blessed be! Now that Ying'er has been saved by me and has become a nun under my guidance, Lin'er should follow likewise. However, her roots are far less than Ying'er, causing her to suffer more hardships over the years."

Xie Shan explained the difficulty: "Lin'er herself prefers to remain in her illusion realm and refuses to leave. Previously, even Master You Tan couldn't..."

Xin Ru Nun smiled and said, "This matter is easy! The reason she doesn't want to come out is that she sees the impermanence and suffering of this world—birth, aging, illness, death, love and parting, unattained desires, the five yin flames, and numerous discontentments. However, my place compares to the Western Lotus Pool Assembly, and even Nirvana is no more than this; it far surpasses her illusion realm. If she sees it, naturally she'll prefer here and abandon that world of illusion!" After speaking, she waved her hand, and from the Seven Treasures Golden Banner behind her, shot out a Buddha Light, enveloping Xie Shan and his daughter.

Under the illumination of the Buddha Light, Xie Shan felt comfortable all over, his mind completely at peace, having lived through truly exhausting years.

Xie Lin directly opened her eyes, at first bewilderedly looking around, then struggled out of Xie Shan's embrace: "Thank you, am I in Nirvana now?"

Xin Ru Nun said from her seat, "This is not Nirvana, but it is more extraordinary than Nirvana."