Secret Buyer

The Buddha’s voice was like the great roar of a lion,

proclaiming with a voice that echoed, "In the heavens and on earth, I alone am honored," followed by "All three realms are suffering; I shall bring peace."

The earth trembled at the power of the Buddha’s words, the celestial vault shone its light upon his robes, flowers blossomed in vibrant colors, a chorus of birds began to sing, the beasts joined in harmony, and the music of the heavens resounded!

Amidst all this, the Buddha simply sat cross-legged, smiling, and a golden spring nearby gushed forth with clear water to bathe him, filling the hearts of all beings with sudden joy.

This joy, untraceable to its source, simply arose, and within Chongyang Heaven and Earth and beyond the celestial dome,

the gods all broke into broad smiles as if involuntarily celebrating the Buddha’s descent!

"On the tenth day of the Bodhi Tree’s life, a Goddess emerged from its fruit, giving birth to the Buddha."

Under the glow of the Buddha’s light, the devout scribes wrote feverishly.

"Born without assistance, the Buddha traveled in every direction, taking seven steps, each step birthing a great lotus."

"Thus spoke the Buddha, hearing the cries of suffering from mortals reaching for Tathagata and World Venerate, he came from the Other Shore to the Sea of Suffering, to enact universal salvation."

"As the Buddha sat, one hand pointing to the sky, the other touching the ground, with the posture of a roaring lion, he declared— ’In the heavens and on earth, I alone am honored, all three realms are suffering, I shall bring peace!’"

The devout became even more earnest, as if enlightened by the radiance of the Buddha’s light, continuing to write feverishly:

"Thus, the earth was blessed and prosperous, celestial flowers perfumed the air, all beings rejoiced in this grand event for the Buddha’s birth!"

Yuan Feidao inscribed the last character, tears flowing from his eyes, choking on his words:

"I understand, I understand!"

Only he knew who the descended Buddha was—

It was Tathagata, World Venerate, and that scroll of morality renowned throughout the world, converging in realms swathed in the purple river of Qi—the Laozi!

The Celestial Venerate had said, only Laozi can sit in the Tathagata Celestial Position.

Today, the Tathagata Celestial Position trembles, and once it descends,

it signifies the arrival of Laozi.

"I understand, I understand!"

Yuan Feidao cried and laughed, bowing heavily and murmuring:

"All beings suffer, hence the Buddha personally arrived, not just to revive the lineage of Ling Mountain, but to universally save the masses...."

In his murmurings, the Buddha’s voice, like a great lion’s roar or the morning bell and evening drum, gradually faded.

All the wondrous scenes began to dim—not fade,

but gather together, forming a lotus platform seemingly both illusory and real. On the lotus platform floated the purple Qi like that day,

then slowly sank beneath the earth and emerged again from beneath the Buddha’s seat, lifting Him.

Zhang Fusheng sat calmly on the merit-laden illusory lotus platform, his mind clear.

He knew he hadn’t truly become the Buddha yet—perhaps, after forty-nine days under the Bodhi Tree, he would indeed be the Buddha.

It was then, truly ascending to god and genuinely sitting in the Tathagata Celestial Position.

The merit lotus platform under him would become real and tangible!!

"Is this a Supreme Treasure?"

"No, not just a Supreme Treasure."

Zhang Fusheng whispered in his mind, naturally realizing that the seat he was on was the very one the Buddha had sat on at Ling Mountain’s Great Leiyin Temple.

"Ah!"

People heard a sigh from the lotus platform, like that of an infant Buddha:

"Sea of Suffering, Sea of Suffering!"

The wondrous scenes concluded peacefully, as a half-human half-serpent woman slithered in softly, asking:

"Where to?"

"Arrived at the Sea of Suffering, I shall go nowhere else."

The Buddha Infant smiled as a breeze swept by, standing up from the lotus platform, taking a step forward, his body growing taller, gaining a year of age.

Another step, and again he grew taller, another year older.

Thus.

In the sight of all, the self-proclaimed Tathagata, World Venerate Buddha, took thirty-five steps and entered the Governance Building,

transforming from an infant to a handsome thirty-five-year-old young man.

He halted, turned, and spoke with a calm and gentle voice:

"I confer with the Celestial Venerate above the High Heaven; the world is full of suffering and mortals have no refuge, so a piece of land must be demarcated on earth as a Pure Land, as Ling Mountain, as a Blessed Land, as Kunlun."

Each word Zhang Fusheng spoke was clear and resonant, soothing every ear.

He continued:

"All sects and factions, all people of any kind, whether good or evil, may enter this place."

"Engage in discussions with me about matters of High Heaven City."

"Compassion!"

The handsome young man finished his last sentence and stepped into the Governance Building,

as someone looked and saw as the Buddha’s step landed,

the entire building swayed, transforming,

turning miraculously into a mountain!

This was Zhang Fusheng quietly using the merit pen, commanding the heavens and earth to conjure the mountain.

The mountain’s likeness was precisely that of Kunlun.

A Kunlun, shrunk countless times.

The people originally inside the building appeared out of thin air atop the mountain, bewildered as Hu Zhongli saw divine light shimmering on the peak,

and then a Buddhist Temple, a Taoist Palace, and an Academy emerged, standing on three sides of the peak, shrouded and flowing with mist, unclear and ethereal,

but within the encirclement of the Buddhist Temple, Taoist Palace, and Academy,

there revealed a seemingly unremarkable grass cottage at the center of the summit, accompanied by an acre of fruit trees, fields, and a fish pond.

"Climb the mountain!" The Buddha entered the grass cottage, his resounding voice rolling like a great tide, echoing from the summit to the foot of the mountain.

After a brief silence,

the celestial humans from every sect and faction, arose cautiously, then began ascending the mountain.

On the way up, someone saw a great light blooming from the grass cottage, forming an enormous canopy, sheltering the Divine Mountain.

Thus, the gaze of all gods was blocked by the canopy.

"This place shall not be gazed upon," the Buddha declared.

The celestial humans continued climbing, without shifting or leaping, taking one solid step at a time up the mountain.