Chapter 700: A Small Paradise

　　Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

　　Mist and clouds extended into the distance. A Great Water Buffalo stepped on and broke the waves of clouds with someone on its back. That, someone, was Shen Lian.

　　The water buffalo was none other than the Bull King whom Shen Lian battled before with Kui Li at his side. It was also a prehistoric species. If Shen Lian had not been so boundlessly strong, the Bull King may not surrender so easily.

　　This time, Bull King was out of luck. Were it not for the fact that it and Zhang Ruoxu’s reincarnation was in the same village, Shen Lian would not have purposely come here to trouble it. Pure coincidence caused this situation to unfold and since Shen Lian had found it, he could reduce it to submission without much inconvenience.

　　Its destiny was such, therefore there was nothing that it could have done.

　　The water buffalo mooed and said, “A few days ago, Old Master Shen used a large amount of mana to wipe out two heavenly nations whose embryonic form could be seen slightly unifying the Underworld. Not only that, you even managed to occupy Biyou Palace. Could it be that you are that ancient almighty person in your current life?”

　　The fact was that he intended to fish out how things stood with Shen Lian. After all, in observing Shen Lian’s swift uprising, it was simply all the power of the heaven and earth as of that moment. Without his surprising luck and the absence of those who could measure his background, Shen Lian could not have achieved the fruit of labor that he had today.

　　Shen Lian smiled, “I was one of the many beings in Jambudvīpa. Destiny and coincidence led me to today. Contrary to what one may expect, the origins of the young boy just now are far from mild. A water buffalo such as yourself being able to attract him to enter Dao is a production of good karma without a foundation.”

　　Water buffalo felt a stir in its heart. What it did for Li Erniu was simply to repay the favor for the care given to it. It did not expect Li Erniu to have an origin far from the ordinary. As a result of it having a good impression of the child, it asked Shen Lian, “What is his origin?”

　　With a smile, Shen Lian replied, “The design of the Gods cannot be revealed.” With one look Shen Lian could recognize the origins of the young boy. Back then, Shen Lian was hit with an idea to use the viewpoint of the Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery to look carefully at Li Erniu’s previous incarnation and current life. Only then did he discovered something odd. However, that person suffered a heavy creation back in the day. As of that moment, he would also have been reincarnated several times. Even though Li Erniu was the current life of that person, it might not be easy to restore the unrivaled disposition that person had back in the day.

　　Water buffalo was curious, but it did not dare to press on further and merely cursed to itself.

　　It was surprising for a man and a buffalo to have much to chat about as they cruised in the vast sky. Shen Lian was knowledgeable and experienced, and water buffalo itself knew a little about ancient secrets, not to mention it was also a demon with enormous capabilities. Their exchange contained many subtle and profound theories. An extraordinary Daoist who heard them debate would inevitably come out of the discussion as a more learned person.

　　For the two of them, it was simply for the sake of passing time rather than to deliberately learn something from the conversation.

　　The Netherworld at that time was huge, far surpassing its previous size. Still, it did not stop expanding its domain. It was not urgent for Shen Lian to return to Zhou Kingdom’s capital, rather, he was preparing to carefully move back and forth between the Netherworld and the World. He had high mana and he possessed the divine power of the Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery; even though he was amongst the clouds in the sky, he could still hear the sound of suffering from the world of mortals.

　　The karmic retribution suffered by all living beings were unbearably miserable; some of that disastrous news reached his ears and invoked a rustle of emotion in his heart. The Seven Buddhist Dukkhas of Human Life, among which there were three: association with that which he hated, separation from that which he loved, and inability to fulfill that which he desired. All these were which even Shen Lian himself could not extricate himself out of. The other four – birth, aging, sickness, and death, caused every living being to be miserable throughout their days, where even a smile ceased to exist.

　　If it were not for him being so lucky as to set foot on the path of cultivation, he would also be suffering from all these pain. Moreover, during his life on earth as a doctor, he would experience such suffering more deeply.

　　Regarding that, even if the future held in store countless torments and trials which Shen Lian had to endure, he was still a person far surpassing that of any mortal. Therefore, even if he fell into an impasse, he should not be complaining about it.

　　After a while, the sound of suffering from the living beings was severed from Shen Lian’s ears. Apparently, water buffalo did not distinguish between a good route and a bad one, leading them to a place where space and time flowed in confusion. There was a magnificent light up ahead. It was the entrance to a tunnel. Out of the entrance, there were divine lights of numerous colors going about in circles.

　　An ordinary cultivator who found themselves in this place would have been sucked in it immediately. Their bodies would then turn into dust, and not even their spirit would remain. Water buffalo merely stood in the void, majestic yet motionless. Gently and cautiously, he said, “Old Master, it appears that ahead of us, there is an abode of immortals that look as though it was opened by someone almighty. It is currently fusing with the Netherworld.”

　　Shen Lian nodded, “Along with the external enlargement of the Netherworld, it not only has to recall the fragments of the former Netherworld but occasionally it swallows up a few places of paradise. On the one hand, it is actually possible to create a heavenly picture out of this, enabling some of the younger generations to explore them. It could be considered a subset of improving oneself by cultivation.”

　　The paradise in the void created by these ancient celestials were essentially small worlds, though its laws were not necessarily complete. Even if there were some cultivators inside, it would be hard to pry into the Great Way, not to mention the condensing of their primordial spirit and attainment of immortality. In the same way as Huandan, it would not be easy.

　　“Old Master Shen,” said the water buffalo, “if it is alright, perhaps we should enter and take a look.”

　　“Alright,” came the reply.

　　They looked to their left and right and found that everything seemed alright. Since they encountered it, they might as well enter and see for themselves. That fusion of paradise and the Netherworld was different from that of the latter’s original fragments. As soon as there was contact with the Netherworld, it was immediately joined together. With regards to this paradise, a successful fusion would require an immense amount of time. The only reasonable unit of calculation for this period would be by way of millennials.

　　Therefore, Shen Lian was not afraid of the dangers, if any that lurked within. After all, no danger in the world could rival that of his experience in Bajing Palace and Yuxu Palace. Still, both those palaces knew of his status now. If as before, there was still no news of him being reborn, it would surely be quite odd indeed.

　　Regarding this matter, Shen Lian was somewhat unconvinced. However, there was still no way for him to face these two powerhouses. As of that moment, he had no other choice but to watch out for every move he made. However, he shall not be overly cautious and terrified for all of his days when the enemies had yet to kill him.

　　Since he was already in such an impasse, he might as well set aside his burden. During that time, his state of mind inclined towards the thought of the world as an illusion. He saw through the flavor of success or failure, and as a result, the originally swift increase of his primordial spirit once again increased in speed.

　　God’s punishment was naturally around the corner, yet he himself was unsure of whether his actions at that time were the courting of disaster.

　　Water buffalo did not know about the things that had happened to Shen Lian. All it wanted right now was to delay having to serve his penal servitude at Biyou Palace. Since Shen Lian agreed, it cheerfully lifted up its hooves and step into the paradise.

　　Once they entered, a turbid soulful aura pierced the nose of water buffalo, causing it to sneeze.

　　The paradise they encountered was not at all huge. Its circumference was less than a thousand miles. There were about ten million ordinary people inside. The soulful aura was turbid and cultivators, if any, were bound to be few and far in between.

　　Water buffalo said, “Old Master Shen, the soulful aura here is almost dried up. It would be an advantage shamelessly taken by the Netherworld.”

　　Shen Lian replied, “Let us go down and look around.”

　　He pointed at a barren hill, the top of which seemed to be covered in heaps of snow. In this paradise, it was considered a rather tall mountain and when placed in the earth of the former life, it could have the distinction of being called a great mountain.

　　However, Shen Lian did not choose to go on the mountain for the purpose of looking at the scenery. Instead, there were waves of mana and a clear vital Qi on the mountain. As it was located in this turbid paradise, it was particularly distinctive from the surrounding.

　　Water buffalo stepped down from the air and landed on top of the barren hill.

　　As it prepared for landing, its trajectory was like a meteor heading towards the ground but before it landed, it was as light as a goose feather. Not a bit of the heaped snow was crushed by its landing. Shen Lian could not help but look in wonder at the mastery it had over its strength, being able to effortlessly control its power at will. The cultivation which water buffalo had over its method of strength was both clumsy yet skillful. Furthermore, its technique had borne a meaning of simplicity, lack of embellishment and natural. It was considered impressive.

　　Water buffalo shifted its eyes towards the path ahead of it, seeing nothing there but heaps of snow.

　　However, he said, “Old Master Shen, the soulful aura of the mountain is just in front of us. I wonder why then, that there is absolutely nothing there. Reason and logic dictate that there should at least be spiritual medicine present.”

　　“Someone,” answered Shen Lian, “has deployed an extremely ingenious diversionary technique. Their method is extremely exquisite.”