The Legend of Futian

After Ye Futian and Bitter Zen had their exchange, the former comprehended and cultivated on Spirit Mountain for a while longer. He also met with other Buddha Lords to discuss Buddhist doctrine.

Buddhism sought emptiness. Everything was empty. They believed that frustration and suffering did not exist. Time and space also did not exist. Everything was born from thoughts. The goal of cultivating Buddhist doctrine was to sever these thoughts and reach enlightenment.

Buddhist doctrine trained the heart. The end goal of its cultivation was to be freed from life, death, and reincarnation, to no longer suffer in the Six Paths of Reincarnation and achieve detachment.

This was where Buddhist doctrine differed from the cultivations of other worlds. Other cultivators sought the Heavenly Path and cultivated to be one with the heavens. Their end goal was to one with the Heavenly Path.

However, since the Great Paths were all connected, then what was beyond the higher planes of cultivation?

Ye Futian left Spirit Mountain after cultivating there for several days. He continued to travel the world and went to many places. He returned to the Divine Prefecture and came to the Four Corner Continent in the Shangqing Domain.

The current Four Corner Continent was no longer what it used to be. It was prosperous, especially Four Corner City, which had multitudes of cultivators. All of this stemmed from Four Corner Village, which had a Master who was a Great Emperor.

Aside from Master, Ye Futian also emerged from Four Corner Village. In a way, Ye Futian was the village's spokesperson in the outside world.

Such a place naturally drew countless cultivators over. In the Shangqing Domain, the status of Four Corner Village had long surpassed that of the Domain Chief's Manor. It was designated as a holy land.

Right then, Ye Futian appeared outside of Four Corner Village. He had not been back for a long time.

Now that he had returned, Ye Futian vaguely felt that the village was different.

There were no changes to the village. He was the one who had changed. His cultivation plane was far superior to that back in the day. He naturally could sense more things now. He faintly felt that there was a mysterious power in the village.

It seemed to be the Power of Time.

What is going on? thought Ye Futian as he revealed an incredulous look. This was something he could not detect before. Now, he could sense it, but he still could not figure out its secrets.

Before he started his journey, when he said that he wanted to travel around, his father Donghuang the Great told him to visit Master in Four Corner Village when he had the time. Ye Futian himself had also wanted to pay Master a visit. Given that his father had brought it up, he did just that.

Ye Futian had always been aware that Master was not an ordinary person.

The latter did not concern himself with the affairs of the world and stayed in seclusion in the village. He did not participate in worldly struggles. No one in the outside world knew that Master was a Great Emperor before Ye Futian did. Master had also never revealed his abilities. Even the villagers did not know his identity.

Otherwise, the Muyun family would not have betrayed Four Corner Village, and Muyun Long would not have dreamed of seizing power from Master. In hindsight, their attempts were laughable. Master would not have paid heed to any of this.

However, Ye Futian was somewhat curious. Back when Master taught his father Donghuang the Great, what sort of person was the former?

Until now, he had yet to figure this out.

Ye Futian was overwhelmed with thoughts as his mind was filled with doubt. He stepped into the village once again.

Upon entering Four Corner Village, Ye Futian sensed that something was different. He could feel the faint presence of the Power of Space in the village even more clearly. This was something that he was unable to detect in the past.

The cultivators in the village had all left together with Ye Futian. Currently, the members left behind in the village were all ordinary folk. However, they still recognized Ye Futian. Many people smiled and greeted him.

Ye Futian returned their greetings. Of course, there were many other incredible people in the village.

This was especially so in the private school where Master was. Master still taught the children of the village. However, he did not teach them cultivation.

The children of the village revealed curious looks when they saw Ye Futian outside the private school.

Ye Futian smiled as he watched them. It was as though he was looking at Fang Cun, Little Ling, and the others when they were younger. Back then, they were also just children.

"Master," greeted Ye Futian from outside as he bowed slightly.

"Come on in," said Master. Ye Futian entered the private school and saw him sitting there.

When Ye Futian's gaze landed on Master, he found it hard to stay calm. Many things that he could not see clearly back in the day were visible now.

Master waved his hand, and the surrounding space turned exceptionally quiet. Master had an otherworldly temperament as he looked at Ye Futian with a smile. His expression was peaceful.

"What's the matter? Are you surprised?" Master asked calmly.

"Somewhat," Ye Futian answered while nodding his head. He would never have guessed that Master was not a living being. Master also existed in this world with another form.

No wonder Master was restricted in terms of his power and movements. Now Ye Futian finally understood the reason behind it.

"Is there any difference?" Master asked Ye Futian.

Ye Futian was stunned. He was at a loss for words.

Master was right. What difference did it make?

Since both living beings and non-living beings existed in this world, did it matter for them to be either one?

What was the difference between someone with flesh and someone who did not have any?

Their bodies were but insignificant shells for cultivators who reached high levels like Ye Futian.

Master said, "You are already the Heavenly Emperor. It would help if you were not so polite. Have a seat."

Ye Futian sat cross-legged in front of Master. He said, "I will always be a disciple and a junior in front of you."

"It's the thought that counts," Master replied while nodding.

"Master, are you a cultivator from ancient times as well?" Ye Futian asked curiously. "I have known you for many years and have always been calling you Master. I still have no idea what your name is."

"I am considered a cultivator from ancient times," Master responded. "My Daoist name is Mufeng."

Ye Futian made a mental note of Master's name. Then, he asked again, "Master, you have cultivated for eons. You are knowledgeable. What's your opinion about the end goal of cultivation?"

"The end goal of cultivation," Master mumbled, seemingly pondering about this question. Then, he said, "Perhaps the end goal is different for everyone. I also do not know what the true end goal of cultivation is."

"If someone becomes the Heavenly Path, could that person be considered to have reached the end goal of cultivation?" Ye Futian further inquired.

"If the person merely transforms into the Heavenly Path, I think it cannot be considered as having attained the end goal," Master answered.

"Thank you for the pointers," Ye Futian said.

"Your father Donghuang the Great cultivated Revelation Divine Power. The end goal of Revelation is the void. Can nothingness be considered an end?" asked Master. "Everything in the world is material. If someone manages to control everything with shape and form in the world, is that the end? The world still has countless spirits and wills formed from energy. If someone were to control all of the energy in the world, would that be the end?"

"No one knows what the end is and whether we can even reach it," lamented Master. "I have also been contemplating this. This world is endlessly vast, and yet there are existences from other universes. Are there people who can traverse the different universes at will? If such people do exist, I wonder whether they can be considered to have reached the end of space."

Master continued, "There is also time. Have you ever considered that if everything in the world can be controlled through cultivation, is it also the same for time? When people say that the past and future are unattainable, is it just because our cultivation planes are insufficient to achieve it? If we are powerful enough, could time be just a line, and we can travel along with it as we please?"

Ye Futian was somewhat astonished. He had never considered this before. If one could travel along the timeline at will, wouldn't that be the same as controlling the past and the future?

If so, what was the end?