Chapter 2474: Buddhas at Spirit Mountain
As time went by, fewer and fewer people were crossing the golden sea. All Buddhas Fest had entered its last month, and the All Buddhas Conference would be held on the Spirit Mountain of Western Heaven.
With no more Buddhist cultivators to cross over the golden sea, many cultivators held lotuses in their hands and placed them into the golden sea. Suddenly, those lotus blossoms seemed to be effused with a golden glow, drifting towards the center of the sea as if they were transforming into golden lotus flowers.
Countless others repeated this same action. Soon, those who had released the lotus flowers clasped their hands together in front of them, worshipping the golden sea with their eyes closed. The Sound of Buddha came out of their mouths. These tremendously pious folks seemed to be praying for blessings.
The Sound of Buddha reverberated throughout heaven and earth as if forming a resonance in this corner of the world. Ye Futian stood in front of the coast. With the Sound of Buddha in his ears, he was compelled to clasp his hands together as well. His expression was one of great solemnity. Nowadays, he considered himself one of the Buddhist cultivators.
In their own ways, these cultivators of Buddhism seemed to pray for the success of the All Buddhas Conference.
And something seemed to respond to this Sound of Buddha, which lingered between heaven and earth. At the end of the golden sea, where it bordered the sky, the infinitely dazzling Light of Buddha lit up, then sprinkled over the sea. The light covered this boundless coastal region with an even brighter golden glow.
Even a Sound of Buddha came from yonder, which created some kind of resonance with the Sound of Buddha on this side. Suddenly, many Buddhist cultivators who were unable to cross the sea sat cross-legged by the sea and cultivated there with their eyes closed.
The sight in front of them was so spectacular and palpable that Chen Yi, Fang Cun, and the others felt its solemnity and holiness as well. They couldn’t help but bow, with their hands clasped in front of them, to the other end of the sea. Conceivably, this Light of Buddha must be a sign signifying the start of the All Buddhas Conference.
Long afterward, the Sound of Buddha that lingered between heaven and earth gradually dissipated, but the Light of Buddha remained; it continued to illuminate the world. Gradually, some left, while others still sat by the edge of the sea to cultivate. The coastal region with so many people cultivating was, in fact, strangely quiet.
“When are you leaving?” Chen Yi walked next to Ye Futian and asked.
Ye Futian glanced into the distance and whispered, “It’s about time.”
As he was speaking, he looked at Hua Qingqing beside him and said, “Qingqing, are you ready?”
“Yes,” Hua Qingqing nodded. Her face was very tranquil, and her beautiful eyes were clear and pure.
“Let’s go then,” Ye Futian said with a smile. His heart was without disturbance. Hua Jieyu stood on the other side and whispered, “You two be careful.”
“I know.” Ye Futian smiled at Hua Jieyu, knowing that she was still a little nervous.
Only Hua Qingqing and he would embark on this journey. Hua Jieyu and the others did not cultivate Buddhism; therefore, they could not cross the sea.
Ye Futian and Hua Qingqing stepped into the golden water, and a Buddha boat appeared at their feet, drifting forward and carried them into the golden sea.
“Master,” Little Ling, Fang Cun, and the others stepped forward and looked towards the departing figure of Ye Futian; they were all a little unsure.
On this trip, their master was about to go to the Spirit Mountain of Western Heaven, where all the Buddhas would be gathering. Among these Buddhas, there was no telling how many strong cultivators there would be. If they wanted to kill Ye Futian, he would have no way of fighting back.
Ye Futian waved his hand with his back towards them. He then sat cross-legged on the Buddha boat, as a Light of Buddha illuminated upon him. It was as if he had been incarnated into a Buddha himself. Hua Qingqing stood behind him with a small smile on her face as she looked at the far end of the sea. Her garments, likewise, were bathed in the Light of Buddha. With her hands clasped together, her visage was one of solemn majesty; it was like that of a Bodhisattva.
All the countless people in front of the sea regarded that lonely Buddha boat in front of them with surprise. The sight before them was as perfect as a painting.
Were these two on their way to the Spirit Mountain of Western Heaven?
The two of them floated on the sea in the Buddha boat, moving forward. The Buddha Sea was like a golden mirror. When Ye Futian looked down at his reflection in the sea, he did not know whether he was traveling in the water or that he was walking in the sky.
Ye Futian smiled, then closed his eyes, cultivating quietly. He was allowing the Buddha boat to float forward without distraction or worry.
Hua Qingqing stood there quietly as if she was in charge of the advancement of the boat. Bathed in the Light of Buddha, she appeared sacred and beautiful. The Buddha boat moved forward slowly, and it seemed to be very far away from the other end of the sea. They had no idea when they would ever arrive.
Day by day, the time went by. In a blink of an eye, more than 20 days had passed. The Buddha boat was still floating in the golden sea, easily losing the passage of time.
Hua Qingqing and Ye Futian did not exchange one word; they were extremely quiet. The end of Western Heaven is still far away, but they did not feel the least bit of impatience. This was the Buddha Sea, and the Buddha Sea had cognizance of its own. When they were allowed to cross over, they would arrive.
If the Buddha Sea did not want them to cross, they would not get there no matter how much they forced it. This here was the Buddha’s world.
As they were still drifting, Ye Futian continued to cultivate quietly and comprehend the Buddhist methods. Hua Qingqing, likewise, stood there quietly, without disturbing Ye Futian’s cultivation. After some time had passed, the All Buddhas Conference had been progressing for more than 20 days at this point, with only the last three days remaining.
Hua Qingqing realized that they were still on the sea, and the distance to Spirit Mountain at the end of the sea had not changed at all. It was as if they would never reach their destination.
However, at this moment, there was a sudden surge of the Light of Buddha that rippled over the sea, and the golden surface of the sea was suddenly tossed with waves.
Then, several figures of Buddha floated up from the golden sea, standing in front of them. Their hands were clasped together in front of them, and the Sound of Buddha came out of their mouths.
“Amitabha!”
Likewise, Hua Qingqing put her hands together and bowed to salute the Buddhas who were present. Finally, Ye Futian stopped cultivating as he opened his eyes, clasping his hands in front of him, and saluted, “Youngster Ye Futian comes to visit the Spirit Mountain of the Western Heaven.”
“You two benefactors are both endowed with roots of wisdom,” another Buddha said. Then among them, the water mist surged from the golden sea, turning into a golden door, which illuminated another world inside, as if It was the grand view of the Spirit mountain.
“Thank you, Grandmaster.” Ye Futian bowed again to thank them. Then, the Buddha boat continued moving forward and drifting towards the door. Soon, the Buddha boat went through the door and drove inside. In the next moment, it disappeared.
When they disappeared, the door disappeared immediately as well. All the phantoms of the Buddhas turned into a watery mist and returned to the sea. Everything was as it was before—as if nothing had ever happened.
However, in another place, when Ye Futian and Hua Qingqing reappeared once again, there was no more Buddha boat under them; they were standing on pure soil now. Looking forward, they saw a sky full of Buddhas as the Light of Buddha shone upon them. From bottom to top, many Buddhas could be seen standing in this space.
When they beheld the sight before them, Ye Futian and Hua Qingqing were both very solemn. They put their hands together and greeted all the Buddhas in the sky, appearing extremely pious.
The Buddhas seemed to know that they were coming, and they seemed to be waiting for them. Countless eyes fell on the two of them. Under the brilliance of the Light of Buddha, both Ye Futian and Hua Qingqing felt an invisible sense of pressure. This was not deliberate, however. Whoever faced so many Buddhas in the sky at once would feel the pressure just like they did!