Eternal Tale

Chapter 259: The Ten Provinces Debate

Chen Xun’s lips were dry as he channeled Five Elements Energy into his palm and struck out!

*Whoosh!*

A massive hand filled with immense magical power formed in the air, crashing heavily toward the ancient grand formation. They watched with wide eyes, waiting for the result.

However, as soon as the giant hand touched the formation, it was as if it was swallowed up; there was no sound, not even the slightest tremor.

"Moo?" Black Ox’s eyes were filled with confusion. The formation’s function didn’t seem to rely on spiritual power, and its core was definitely not located here.

Chen Xun suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. Even the Five Elements energy couldn’t affect it. Such a force that separated heaven and earth likely wasn’t the work of modern cultivators.

Moreover, this formation completely isolated everything, unlike the formation at the Heaven's End Ravine, which merely repelled the Extinguishing Spirit Wind.

Black Ox’s eyes darted around as he thought, but to break the formation, they needed to find its core. He lacked the ability to forcibly break such an ancient grand formation.

"This probably isn’t the other side of the Celestial River." Chen Xun shook his head and sighed softly. "I never expected the end of the Forbidden Sea to be like this."

His gaze shifted downward. The sea beneath them continued to flow, indicating there might be a path beyond the formation. It seemed that the western sea came from beyond it as well.

But when he tried probing with his divine sense earlier, even the sea beneath was blocked—there were no flaws, and any plan to sneak through seemed impossible.

"Brother Xun, this formation seems to extend far," Xiao Chi suddenly spoke up while Chen Xun and Black Ox were still pondering the formation. He couldn’t decipher its function but observed its surface. "Could it be connected to the overseas regions?"

"What do you mean?" Chen Xun raised an eyebrow. "There’s no path left unless we can break the formation."

"Moo~" Black Ox also turned to Xiao Chi. The priority was indeed finding a way to break the formation.

"Brother Xun, we never heard of such a formation barrier when we were in Da Li."

Xiao Chi glanced to the side, where the formation extended. "Isn’t there a thousand-year Heavenly Gate? Could it be related to the Four Immortal Mountains overseas?"

Throughout their journey, Xiao Chi had been silently calculating the distance… the distance from the Heaven's End Plains.

They had sailed from the Western Sea and ventured deep into the Forbidden Sea. If one were to draw a line, it was likely they had indeed reached the overseas region.

The Four Immortal Mountains might indeed be parallel to their location, but no one had verified this, as this place had long become the Forbidden Sea.

"Hmm, that makes sense." Chen Xun nodded thoughtfully. "When the Heavenly Gate opens, we’ll cross the sea and see how the Celestial River hangs upside down."

"Moo~" Black Ox sighed, feeling a bit helpless. His understanding of formations was still lacking; he had no way to deal with such a massive grand formation.

Even now, he couldn’t set up a large teleportation array. The path of cultivation was long and arduous.

"It’s alright, Old Ox. Take your time learning and observing." Chen Xun smiled calmly, patting him. "There will always be moments of powerlessness; don’t dwell on it."

"Moo~" Black Ox rubbed against Chen Xun, understanding his words.

"Exactly, Brother Ox. Who knows how much manpower and time those cultivators spent setting up such a formation."

Xiao Chi sneered at the ancient grand formation, shouting in disdain, "If they pulled out any random person, they wouldn’t match my Brother Ox. Setting up a medium-sized teleportation array is nothing—would the humans even believe that?!"

"Moo moo!" Black Ox turned his head and laughed. As expected of his little brother, he knew how to speak well.

"Well said." Chen Xun nodded seriously, "Back when we were at the Five Elements Sect, I already recognized your great talent in formations."

"Moo moo!!" Black Ox’s eyes widened, feeling increasingly pleased.

Formation Emperor?

Xiao Chi was bewildered. Was that even a term in the cultivation world? He couldn’t understand what Brother Xun and Brother Ox were talking about. Terms like "Emperor" seemed more fitting for mundane titles.

At that moment, the branches of the Crane Spirit Five Elements Tree extended, rustling softly.

Black Ox looked up, wagging his tail, feeling an unfamiliar warmth. Big Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother—they finally had a family.

"Let’s continue studying this formation, then find an island and set up a teleportation array."

Chen Xun outlined his plan as he gazed into the distance. "Old Ox, Xiao Chi, the formation’s solution is up to you. I’ll guard while you work and catch some fish—maybe even extract the blood essence of some sea beasts."

"Moo~~~" Black Ox let out a long bellow, feeling motivated.

"No problem, Brother Xun!"

Xiao Chi shouted excitedly. This place was deserted, after all.

The saying "the most dangerous place is the safest" held true. Who would have thought they’d reach the end of the Forbidden Sea?

*Buzz!*

The giant ship set sail again. Along the way, they encountered many islands, all shrouded in a desolate aura with no living beings. However, they were suitable as temporary bases.

…

Meanwhile, a monumental event was about to unfold in Da Li.

In Dinghui Province, at Chan Yin Temple.

Looking back at the old homeland, the scenery was desolate.

It was deep winter now. From outside the temple, the yellowed sky stretched over desolate villages with no sign of life or humanity.

The temple doors were wide open.

An elderly abbot with eyes full of wisdom emerged, his expression calm as he clasped his hands together. For the first time in centuries, he stepped outside the temple.

Five disciples followed him, each with their own demeanor. The eldest held a lantern, remaining silent.

The second and fourth disciples exchanged glances, their expressions hard to decipher. They only knew their master had read a letter, but they did not know its contents.

The third and fifth disciples appeared anxious, their innocence showing. They had no idea what impact their master’s actions would have in the Buddhist Ten Provinces.

"The Heavenly Gate is about to open. This old monk can only do his small part."

The abbot looked up at the sky, his words filled with deeper meaning. "An old man like me doesn’t have much time left. I hope you all will allow this old monk to journey to the Ten Provinces Debate."

As these words fell, the atmosphere tensed, and the fourth disciple’s eyes flickered with killing intent before he suppressed it.

The second disciple snorted coldly. As his voice echoed, a large group of cultivators approached from the distance. From a bird’s-eye view, Buddhist monks and cultivators from various factions were all converging here.

Dust billowed on the ground, and even in the sky, the sound of air being torn apart echoed. Their destination was Chan Yin Temple!

The abbot lowered his head and began to walk the path. The faint scent of blood drifted through the air.

…

In a vast, majestic mountain range, powerful auras surged, hiding countless experts.

Behind the mountain lay a colossal spirit beast, seemingly in deep sleep. Its massive body stretched for hundreds of meters.

At that moment, a cultivator exuding a fierce, iron-blooded aura approached. He stood at the foot of the mountain, bowing:

"Patriarch, the young master has been born."

"Escort him safely. Let’s hope the Pure Buddha Sect follows the rules."

A thunderous voice reverberated through the forest, coming from an unknown direction, firm and commanding. "The Bai Li clan doesn’t have time for petty squabbles with lesser cultivators."

"Understood, Patriarch."

The cultivator’s expression remained stern, his blood energy immense and unwavering. "I’ll make the preparations."

As he departed, the mountain was filled with roars as figures emerged. All shared the same characteristic—an extraordinary blood energy unmatched by ordinary cultivators.

…

At the center of the Buddhist Ten Provinces in Da Li, a grand sect sat atop a sacred mountain. The shadow of a colossal Buddha statue shone, its golden light illuminating the world, towering above the clouds, gazing down upon all beings.

The sacred mountain was adorned with countless Buddha statues, their light continuously emanating. At the mountain’s peak, an ancient hall echoed with voices.

"He is coming."

"Venerable Qi Ji, are you going personally?"

"This is a battle of the Dao. I’ve waited for him for a long time. Before the Heavenly Gate opens, he will surely come."

"Understood."

…

With the abbot’s departure from Chan Yin Temple, the powers of Da Li began to converge. Countless major forces directed their attention toward this event. It seemed they had all been waiting for this day—the Ten Provinces Debate. Would Buddhism remain in Da Li?

The eyes of the Buddhist sect’s powerful monks were cold. This individual was seen as Buddhism’s greatest enemy, showing no reverence to Buddha or fear of authority. His origins were extraordinarily significant.

If his Dao heart wavered, the sect could be destroyed, the path to immortality severed. At the Ten Provinces Debate, they awaited him!

On a sandy path, six figures walked slowly, their eyes resolute. They were prepared for the dangers ahead.

…

Meanwhile, at the edge of the Forbidden Sea, on a desolate, barren island, Chen Xun was happily fishing, his success rate unfaltering.