Eternal Night

Chapter 877 points to...?
Two sandalwood beads were laid out on Wu Pifu's palm.

That's right, two!
The first sandalwood bead came from the Ancient Insect Realm and was obtained during the adventure that led to the Thunder Pool. However, even after all this time, the sandalwood bead has not yet played any role.

It is said... yes, it is said that this is a tool that records the secret information of Buddhism, but after Wu Pifu obtained it, this thing had no effect at all. It did not provide any information or coordinates. It looked like a very ordinary sandalwood bead, and it did not even work in the main brain's judgment.

So over time, Wu Pifu forgot about it in his personal space. Until then, he actually obtained a second sandalwood bead. Then, Wu Pifu subconsciously took out the first sandalwood bead, and the two sandalwood beads resonated with each other.

"Master, determine these two beads." Wu Pifu took out the Dream Compass and aimed it at the two sandalwood beads.

"Judging in progress...judging complete."

That's all the information the mastermind has. Nothing else. Okay, same as last time.

However, the two sandalwood beads reacted differently. As the two beads resonated and trembled with each other, a faint but real gravitational force appeared, and the two beads seemed to be subtly pulled towards a certain constantly moving direction.

"...That's really strange."

Beelzebub flew to the two beads and said, "This is the first time I've ever seen a physical representation of the Buddhist secret coordinates."

Wu Pifu put the two beads away and said, "Was the Buddhist secrets also very mysterious in your time?"

"of course."

Beelzebub bluntly stated, "Buddhism is a very ancient civilization. Long before the Heavenly Court appeared as a true civilization, the First Buddha had already fallen into a kind of slumber. In fact, even the White Lotus... that is, Guanyin, does not possess many memories of the First Buddha or the Buddhist realm. Do you know why?"

Wu Pifu asked, puzzled, "Why? Isn't she one of the seven Bodhisattvas destined for Buddhahood?"

Beelzebub said, "Yes, that's right. As one of the seven great bodhisattvas destined to become Buddhas in their next life, Avalokiteshvara is a member of the original Buddha clan. Uh... I have to mention some hidden concepts in Buddhism here. I only remembered them when I saw these two sandalwood beads."

"What Buddhism's original civilization looked like is now impossible to verify. I only obtained information after exploring the Sumeru Mountain Realm of the Zero-Point Level Dream World, and from the white lotus and some Buddhist Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats that I know. First of all, in my era, the first Buddha had already fallen asleep, and only a few members of the original Buddha clan remained. Guanyin is one of the original Buddha clan. The other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats are actually second, third, fourth, and so on Buddha clans born in the Sumeru Mountain Realm, or in the place of Buddha's birth, or in the place of birth of mortals."

Upon hearing this, Wu Pifu suddenly recalled a memory from long ago. It was when he killed the golden Arhat Jun Tu Botan that Jun Tu Botan mentioned His birthplace. However, at that time, Wu Pifu did not think much about it and did not even have a concept of it. He simply listened and let it go. But now, after hearing Beelzebub's words, the profound meaning behind them was much greater.

Beelzebub continued, “Buddhism seems to have lost its natural reproductive function a long time ago, and it’s not an isolated case. All Buddhist life forms have lost this function. This is probably due to the collective loss caused by long-term high pollution. However, the Sumeru realm where the First Buddha resides can ‘birth’ new life. This is actually a very heaven-defying function because it violates many laws of reality. It doesn’t need mortals and creates reality out of thin air. So far, only the First Buddha and the First Immortal have achieved this in the entire dream world. Apart from the original Buddha race like the White Lotus, the vast majority of existing Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats are actually new generations ‘born’ from the Sumeru realm by devices of various levels.”

Wu Pifu found it hard to believe and also hard to imagine the situation in the Sumeru Mountain Realm. However, before he could speak, Xu Shilan asked curiously, "Then Guanyin should also know what the Buddhist Realm was like in its original form, after all, it is the original Buddhist race."

Beelzebub shook his head and said, "This inevitably leads to the second concept in Buddhism... the concept of the Six Realms of Rebirth and the Five Signs of Decay of Devas. In Buddhism, due to the immense passage of time, the original Buddha race has almost completely disappeared. However, in the dream world of Mount Sumeru, there are still many inconceivable buildings and functional creations, including buildings related to the Six Realms of Rebirth and the Five Signs of Decay of Devas. Guanyin once told me that when she, or any Buddha, due to the immense passage of time or the accumulation of excessive pollution, naturally decays, transforms, or experiences similar natural occurrences, they will return to the Mount Sumeru realm through some inconceivable means. First, they will experience the Five Signs of Decay of Devas, then enter the Hall of the Six Realms of Rebirth in a pure form. Ultimately, they will return from the cycle of reincarnation, but..."

When everyone heard this, even Wu Pifu knew what Beelzebub wanted to say.

"...It's just that they are no longer the original 'them,' or rather, the essence is the same, but the personality, self, and the concept of 'I' are no longer the same. This is actually very similar to your countless personality iterations, Wu Pifu. However, unlike your personality iterations, each of their iterations is a complete cleansing, leaving no memory or past information. So even if they are pure white lotuses, they do not possess the original Buddhist concept."

Beelzebub returned to Wu Pifu's waist and continued, "The Buddhist secrets were all established by the original Buddha clan, specifically the original Buddha clan with the earliest personality. It is said that among them is the most mysterious Buddha Master, who was a great Buddhist power who had already begun exploring the source of pollution before the first Buddha attained enlightenment. The first Bodhisattva destined to become a Buddha in his next life, Manjushri Bodhisattva, is known as the Buddha Master. By the way, among the seven Bodhisattvas destined to become Buddhas in their next life, the concept of Manjushri Bodhisattva is... lost."

The group had reached the very edge of the pyramid, just a step away from the void, but they didn't set off again. The secrets Beelzebub had revealed were invaluable, crucial for humanity's information database for building the dream world system. Moreover, only a powerful figure like Beelzebub would know such secrets. Wu Pifu then produced two sandalwood beads and asked, "So, should we follow the direction these two sandalwood beads indicate, or continue with our previous plan and simply investigate?"

Huang Rong immediately said, "Brother Ant has a connection with Buddhism. You received a gift from Buddhism in my world, and now you have obtained these two Buddhist beads. You are clearly a destined person. Perhaps your trip to the Broken Domain is because of this destiny. Why don't you go?"

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Shilan said, "Yes, I think it's best to go. This is a Buddhist secret, the so-called extraordinary path of the Zanpakuto. I personally think it's just a path that might make up for your shortcomings, not an absolute one. It would be better if you could get it, but it's not a fatal weakness if you can't. On the contrary, this Buddhist secret has been widely circulated for so long, it must have its unique features. Since we have this opportunity, we must not miss it!"

Beelzebub buzzed, "It's definitely a Buddhist secret! What's wrong with you? You'll regret missing this for the rest of your life!"

Wu Pifu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he carefully sensed the two sandalwood beads and tested his premonition, sixth sense, and spiritual perception before nodding and saying, "Alright, let's follow this attraction. Maybe we'll obtain the extraordinary path to a Zanpakuto along the way? Since Buddhist secret treasures are said to be obtainable only by those with affinity, then the extraordinary path to a Zanpakuto is also destined for me, right?"

Everyone else rolled their eyes at Wu Pifu, while the usually taciturn Amadeus laughed and said, "Yes, yes, that's the spirit! What's ours will be ours, and we won't let a single thing escape us. Otherwise, why would we have come all this way?"

Wu Pifu nodded in confirmation, and then led everyone to the edge of the void. First, he spread out two sandalwood beads in his hand and carefully sensed their direction. Then, he reached into the void to sense the chaotic energy flow, the surrounding world fragments, and the world remnants. After determining the direction, he led everyone to take a step out and enter the void outside.

You fell asleep, feeling very at ease. Everything in the dream was so peaceful and calm, freeing you from the torment of reality's pain.

You don't even want to think deeply about whether this is a dream; you just quietly float in this calming, colorful, and infinitely illusory world.

The colors of dreams are endless, not simply black or nothingness; they contain everything. Everything is just an infinite concept that your imagination expands upon, like an overload of thoughts.

No, it's infinitely more incredible than overload. You can create a rabbit carrying the universe on its back, run away in front of you, and you happily follow behind, watching the rabbit carrying the universe jump into the rabbit hole.

You happily take out your fishing rod and try to catch the fish in the rabbit hole, but this fish has countless claws and teeth and endless eyes. When it is hung up, it bites you hard.

You laugh joyfully, letting your own flesh and blood fall into the fish's mouth. The fish becomes increasingly bewildered, and you gradually merge into the fish's mind. Finally, you know the answer to "You are not a fish," and you finally...

Wait a minute, is "子非鱼" (zifeiyu) a homophone for "鱼" (yu)?
and so……

Wu Pifu opened its eyes and murmured, "Am I dreaming?"

The tent zipper was opened, and Huang Rong peeked in with a gentle smile. Seeing Wu Pifu open his eyes, she was even happier: "Brother Pifu, dinner is ready, come out and eat."

Wu Pifu nodded somewhat absentmindedly, got up, and walked out of the tent with a slightly bewildered look. Looking at the green grass and half of the bright sunlight outside, he shielded his eyes, and his memories slowly surfaced.

By the way, he led the group through dozens of world fragments and world ruins, heading towards the Buddhist secrets. This was already the tenth day since he arrived in the Shattered Realm, and he had gained nothing but desolation and emptiness.

As for that dream just now...

Wu Pifu recalled blankly, everything in the dream had faded from his memory. He only remembered having a very strange dream, which seemed like a nightmare, yet it wasn't quite a nightmare.

Subconsciously, Wu Pifu took out two sandalwood beads. The two sandalwood beads trembled for a moment, and their attraction was somewhat chaotic, pointing to the surroundings and then to him. After a while, the two beads stabilized and pointed in one direction again.

That is where the secrets of Buddhism are located!
(End of this chapter)