Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

The Buddha could only nod.

"Please speak, senior."

Kong Xuandao:

Do you still remember the Jie Sect?

The Buddha remained silent.

Kong Xuan then said:

"Do you still remember who took that sword for you before the Immortal Execution Formation?"

The Buddha's face was slightly pale.

Kong Xuan continued:

"Do you remember who sent you to the Eight Views Palace, who led you to Buddhism and made you a Buddha?"

The Buddha closed his eyes.

Take a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, they were calm.

"Senior, I have already entered the Buddhist order. All my past lives are now history."

"The Jie Sect has been destroyed, and Duobao is dead."

"Now there is only the Tathagata, only Mount Ling."

Kong Xuan looked at him, her gaze growing cold:

"What a profound truth: all past lives are now history."

"What a relief! The Jie Sect is destroyed, and Duobao is dead."

"Do you know how many years the person standing before you has knelt in the Zixiao Palace for your sake?"

The Buddha trembled.

Tongtian was also stunned.

He looked at Kong Xuan, opened his mouth as if to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

Kong Xuan continued:

After the Investiture of the Gods, Tongtian was confined to Zixiao Palace.

"He could have escaped, he could have resisted, he could have fought to the death."

"But he didn't."

"Because his disciples are still on the Investiture of the Gods list."

"Because his eldest disciple is still on Mount Ling."

"Because he was afraid, afraid that if he made a move, those disciples would truly be doomed."

"So he knelt down."

"Kneel in the Purple Cloud Palace, kneel before Hongjun."

"One kneel, and endless years pass."

Kong Xuan looked at the Buddha:

"And what about you?"

"You sit on a lotus throne on Mount Ling, receive incense offerings, and enjoy the worship of ten thousand Buddhas."

"Have you ever considered that your master is still in prison?"

The Buddha's face turned deathly pale.

He gazed at Tongtian, at that aged and weary face.

His lips trembled.

But he couldn't utter a single word.

Tongtian shook his head:

"Fellow Daoist, stop talking."

"Duobao has his own path."

He doesn't owe me anything.

Kong Xuan looked at him:

"But he owes the Jie Sect a debt."

"I owe it to those fellow disciples who died for him."

"I owe Zhao Gongming, I owe the Three Immortals of Sanxiao, I owe the Ten Heavenly Kings."

"I owe a debt to every disciple of the Jie Sect who shielded him from swords and blades during the Investiture of the Gods."

The Buddha trembled all over.

He closed his eyes.

Countless images surged through my mind.

Before the Immortal Slaughtering Formation.

He went to block Laozi for Tongtian.

That Tai Chi diagram move made it hard for him to breathe.

He was captured and taken to the Eight Views Palace, where he was imprisoned under the alchemy furnace.

Later, he entered Buddhism and became a Buddha.

He told himself it was destiny.

That's cause and effect.

That was the fate that the Jie Sect deserved.

But at this moment.

Standing in front of the Great Thunder Temple.

Standing before this aged face.

He suddenly realized.

Those excuses are all lies.

He was just... scared.

Afraid of death, afraid of pain, afraid of eternal damnation.

So I chose to comply.

I chose to forget.

They chose... betrayal.

Tathagata opens his eyes.

Looking up at the towering peaks.

With a thud.

Kneel down.

The three thousand Buddhas all changed color.

Guanyin stepped forward:

"World Honored One!"

The Buddha raised his hand to stop her.

He knelt on the ground, gazing at the heavens.

Her eyes were red-rimmed.

"Master."

The two words were uttered in a hoarse but clear voice.

Tongtian shuddered.

It's been so many years since I've heard those two words.

He looked at the Buddha kneeling on the ground, at that face full of remorse.

A wave of sorrow welled up in my heart.

Get up.

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

The Tathagata remains unmoved.

"Master, your disciple..."

Tongtian interrupted him:

"stand up."

"You are the ancestor of all Buddhas, what kind of behavior is it to kneel on the ground?"

The Buddha slowly rose to his feet.

He stood with his head bowed, not daring to look directly at her.

Kong Xuan watched this scene with a calm gaze.

"Duobao".

He spoke.

Buddha raised his head:

"senior."

Kong Xuandao:

"I won't force you to return to the Jie Sect."

"You are on Mount Ling, with your own path and your own way."

"That was your choice, and I respect it."

"But there's one thing you must remember."

Buddha bowed his head:

"Please speak, senior."

Kong Xuan looked at him:

"From this day forward, the Jie Sect will be rebuilt."

"Your master is no longer a prisoner."

"If you are willing to return, the gates of the Jie Sect will always be open for you."

If you don't reply, I won't force you.

"But if you dare to obstruct the reconstruction of the religion..."

He paused, his eyes turning slightly cold:

"Therefore, Mount Ling has no reason to exist."

The Buddha trembled.

He looked at Kong Xuan, at those deep, unfathomable eyes.

A chill ran through my heart.

He knew this man wasn't joking.

This person is one to do what he says.

He took a deep breath and clasped his hands together:

"This disciple dares not."

"Disciple...I understand."

Kong Xuan nodded slightly.

Turning around, he supported Tongtian:

"Let's go."

Tongtian nodded.

He took one last look at Buddha.

I glanced at the majestic Great Thunder Temple.

He turned and walked into the depths of chaos.

Behind.

The Buddha stood before the temple gate, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.

His face was deathly pale, as if he had lost his parents.

Guanyin stepped forward:

"Venerable One, that man in black robes..."

The Buddha raised his hand to stop her:

"Do not discuss it."

"That person... is someone we can't afford to offend."

Guanyin shuddered.

The three thousand Buddhas all changed color.

The Buddha turned around and walked towards the Great Thunderclap Temple.

His steps were unsteady, as if he were walking on cotton.

He walked very slowly.

Every step felt like it took all his strength.

He stopped in front of the lotus platform.

He turned around and glanced in the direction of the temple gate.

There was no one there.

Only the Buddha's light flows, only the sandalwood incense wafts.

But he knew.

That figure in black robes, that aged face.

It will be etched in his heart forever.

Engraved on Mount Ling, in the heart of every Buddha.

The Buddha closed his eyes.

Take a deep breath.

He sat down slowly.

He sat cross-legged atop the nine-tiered golden lotus.

Hands clasped together.

He muttered a sentence to himself.

Extremely light.

So softly that even he himself couldn't hear it.

But if someone gets close enough to listen...

Then you can hear it.

He was reading...

"Master, I'm sorry."

In the midst of chaos.

Kong Xuan supported Tongtian as they walked slowly.

Tongtian remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly he spoke:

"Fellow Daoist, you went too far just now."

Kong Xuandao:

"Where did you go?"

Tongtian shook his head:

"Duobao has his own reasons."

"His life on Lingshan Mountain has not been easy either."

Kong Xuan said calmly:

"I know."

"So I didn't pressure him."

"Just let him remember who he is and where he comes from."

"Remember those who died for him."

"Remember the debt he owes."

Tongtian sighed softly:

"But he... won't be coming back."

Kong Xuan looked at him:

"If you can't come back, you can't come back."

"The Jie Sect doesn't need another one like him."

"But whether his conscience can be at peace is his own business."

Tongtian remained silent.

After a long silence, he slowly nodded:

"Fellow Daoist is right."

Kong Xuan helped him along as they continued on their way.

Ahead, chaos surged.

Jin'ao Island is visible in the distance.