Chapter 1025: Eternity Passes in the Blink of an Eye, Past Events in the Mortal World All Turn into Smoke

"How did I end up in the Western Paradise during the New Year?"

Lu Yang’s expression grew peculiar. Though he walked the path of cultivation, he was not superstitious, yet no matter how he looked at it, this was far from an auspicious sign.

At first, he had been startled by the words "Western Paradise," but the realization quickly dawned on him that this was Western Paradise City, governed by the Western Paradise Temple—a place holding a status equal to that of the Great Xia Imperial Capital.

"Did the Nian beast run that fast to bring me here in the blink of an eye?" Lu Yang felt as though he had not been riding the Nian clan chief for very long at all.

Since it was a rare occasion to visit Western Paradise City during the New Year, Lu Yang recalled his treatment back in Kaihuang City and figured there would be no harm in taking a stroll around the Western Paradise Temple.

"Greetings. I wish to enter the city."

Despite it being New Year's Eve, the gates of Western Paradise City remained wide open, guarded by monks.

Lu Yang handed his identification token to the guarding monk.

"Lu Yang?"

The monk froze upon seeing the name on the token, and when his eyes met Lu Yang's familiar face, a wave of shock washed over him.

Was this the legendary Lu Yang?

Lu Yang entered the city smoothly without any obstruction.

"It will just be a bit of a hassle when I leave the Buddhist kingdom; I will have to sneak out."

Lu Yang sighed. Smuggling himself out was his only choice; he had no record of leaving the country, so how could he possibly explain having only a record of reentry?

Even if he told the Great Xia officials that he had been forcibly carried out of the country by a Nian beast, he doubted anyone except Jiang Ping'an would believe him.

"Western Paradise City is quite lively."

Lu Yang strolled along at a leisurely pace, taking in the sights. The New Year atmosphere here was far superior to that of the Single-Minded Sect; at the very least, the fireworks and firecrackers here would not blow someone to pieces.

Children could be seen everywhere, squatting on the ground to light firecrackers with incense. It had been a long time since Lu Yang had joined in such fun, and feeling an itch in his hands, he squatted down to light crackers with them.

Alternatively, he would forage through the remnants of used firecrackers to find those rare few that had escaped ignition. Collecting them one by one in his palm, he would walk along, lighting them with his Samadhi True Fire and tossing them aside, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The heavy resonance of a temple bell rang out as thousands of fireworks soared into the sky, bursting simultaneously to scatter specks of golden light, while cheers and Buddhist chants echoed throughout the city.

The New Year had arrived.

Lu Yang looked toward the sound of the bell, recognizing it as the location of the Western Paradise Temple, from which the tolling originated.

Inside his mental space, things were equally boisterous—gongs and drums crashed, firecrackers roared, and the Immortal Fairy smiled brightly, wishing him a Happy New Year amidst the din.

"Also, Second Leader, your whereabouts have been compromised. You should prepare to run," the Immortal Fairy kindly added.

"Ah? What did you say, Fairy? I can't hear you!" Lu Yang shouted back, the noise in his mental space proved overwhelming.

He could only vaguely catch the Immortal Fairy’s fragmented words, "...Leader... run."

In reality, a sudden burst of Buddhist light enveloped a wide area before rapidly contracting until it focused solely on Lu Yang.

A monk draped in a cassock uttered a prayer of Amitabha. It was he who had released the light to trap Lu Yang. "Benefactor Lu Yang honors us with his presence. The Western Paradise Temple apologizes for the lack of a formal welcome. Why not accompany this poor monk to the temple as a guest?"

He had received word from the guarding monk that Lu Yang, the pride of the Single-Minded Sect, had arrived in Western Paradise City. As an elder of the Western Paradise Temple, it was only natural for him to welcome the guest in person.

Suddenly, another monk flew over, his expression far from welcoming. "Senior Brother Kongchan, you certainly arrived quickly."

"Junior Brother Kongxing flatters me," Elder Kongchan replied unhurriedly.

Elder Kongxing snorted coldly. "Hmph, do not think I remain ignorant of your true intention to use Lu Yang to discover the whereabouts of Ye Zijin."

Elder Kongchan remained unruffled. "Could it be that Junior Brother harbors the exact same thought?"

"Senior Brother Kongchan, Junior Brother Kongxing, you have both arrived."

Yet another elder from the Western Paradise Temple flew toward them. Though he spoke to Kongchan and Kongxing, his eyes kept darting toward Lu Yang.

More and more elders began flying over from the direction of the Western Paradise Temple, causing Lu Yang’s eyelids to twitch frantically.

"Well, if I say I have no idea where my Second Senior Brother is, would you believe me?"

"Hehe, if Benefactor Lu Yang comes to stay at our Western Paradise Temple as a guest, we shall believe you."

The moment Lu Yang heard those words, he bolted. These elders were clearly targeting him due to his relationship with his Second Senior Brother, determined to extract something from him.

Dealing with one elder was manageable, but who could withstand a whole crowd of them? If he did not run now, it would be too late!

"Pursue him!"

Seeing Lu Yang attempt to flee, the elders could not let him escape. They unleashed their various divine abilities; Buddhist light pierced the sky, Arhats chanted scriptures, Guanyin offered salvation, and the World-Honored One attained enlightenment. The frequent manifestations instantly illuminated Western Paradise City so brightly that even a Ghost King would have been purified on the spot.

Unaware of the underlying cause, the common folk emerged from their homes to bow and worship, creating a commotion far livelier than the previous bell-tolling and fireworks.

Lu Yang used the Earth-Shrinking technique to burrow underground, fleeing wildly in all directions and frequently changing course to evade the surrounding nets.

"Is this New Year's Eve turning out a bit too fulfilling?"

He had originally desired a peaceful New Year, but who could have foreseen encountering a Nian beast, entering the torrent of time, and arriving bewildered at the Western Paradise Temple to receive such "warm hospitality" from a crowd of elders?

Among his peers, Lu Yang’s speed was absolutely supreme; even the Kunpeng clan might not match his swiftness.

Yet this was the Western Paradise Temple, and the sky was filled with Great Masters of the Body Integration Stage. Even if he possessed the capabilities of three heads and six arms, escaping would be an impossible feat.

"This cannot continue; I must devise a plan."

A stroke of inspiration struck Lu Yang. Vaulting over a high wall, he manifested his Bodhi Wood avatar to draw their attention while his true form concealed itself within the miniature world of the Qingfeng Sword, dropping to the ground to disguise itself as an ordinary weapon.

The design of the Qingfeng Sword was by no means ornate, and no one would readily discern its true grade.

Just as Lu Yang anticipated, the divine senses of the Western Paradise Temple elders swept past several times, yet none paid any heed to a common longsword lying in the dirt.

"Huh? Why is there a sword here?" A young novice monk, having just finished using the latrine, happened to notice an ordinary longsword discarded in the grass.

"There is no name on the sword. Could some lay Buddhist have dropped it here?"

"But did any lay Buddhists even visit our handyman quarters today?"

The young novice was perplexed. He knew little of swords, though he understood that an owner would be anxious upon losing a possession.

"I should hand it over to the deacon."

Hearing this, Lu Yang understood his situation. In his haste to hide earlier, he had not paid attention to his surroundings and had vaulted the high wall only to hide within the sword; as it turned out, he was directly inside the Western Paradise Temple.

However, he could not allow this young monk to deliver him to the deacon.

"Hehe, you possess a kind heart, young monk."

"Who is there!" The young novice gasped in fright at the sound, instantly growing tense.

"Do not look around; it is this venerable one speaking."

The young novice’s pupils dilated instantly, and he nearly hurled the sword away in terror.

The sword was speaking!

"Who... who are you? Let me tell you, this is the Western Paradise Temple!"

"Hehe, what of the Western Paradise Temple? Can it truly do anything to this venerable one?"

"Who... who exactly are you?"

"This venerable one is the Tofu Heavenly Venerable. Have you ever heard of my title, young monk?"

The young novice wore a look of utter bewilderment.

Sensing the young novice’s expression, the consciousness within the sword felt a twinge of loneliness.

Ten thousand ages pass in a mere flash of the fingers, and the worldly affairs of the mortal realm dissolve into smoke.

To think that I once ruled over the heavens, laughed proudly above the highest clouds, befriended heaven and earth, and shared my radiance with the sun and moon.

I witnessed the passage of eternal eras, yet upon waking from my slumber, has the later world truly forgotten my name?