On The Path Of Cultivation To Become God

Buddha was believed to be an immortal, a god undergoing trials in the mortal world. After enduring the tribulations of worldly existence, he could ascend once more to the realm of gods and immortals.

Stories abounded about his journeys. In Journey to the West, Buddha was revered as a figure of immense wisdom and compassion, guiding even the most stubborn and powerful beings toward enlightenment. Legends spoke of his encounters with demons and gods alike, showing kindness where others saw only chaos. His teachings were said to be a light that could dispel even the darkest shadows, and his presence was a reminder of the strength to be found in peace and patience.

One of the most famous stories of Buddha's influence involved Sun Wukong, the Monkey King—a being with a fierce spirit and unmatched power. Yet even Sun Wukong, bold and rebellious, met his match in Buddha. When he defied the heavens and fought his way through gods and immortals, Buddha himself intervened, trapping him beneath a mountain.

Chen Tian wondered how powerful beings from Earth's myths would compare to cultivators in the Immortal Realm. Surely they couldn't be weak if even the heavens had been forced to intervene. Sun Wukong was described as a near-unstoppable force of nature, one who could even defy the gods. What level of cultivation would it take to face such a being, let alone imprison him?

Chen Tian's mind drifted as he thought about the new ruin they were headed to.

Mount Emei was still some distance away, but after three hours on the highway, they finally saw the tips of its peaks in the distance.

Eventually, they arrived at a helicopter port nestled in a clearing surrounded by dense forest. The air was fresh and cool, carrying a hint of the mountain's mystique.

"Alright, everyone out," Jian Ming announced, stepping off the bus and gesturing for the group to follow.

Chen Tian stretched as he exited, glancing around. Near a sleek, black helicopter, a few staff members dressed in official gear awaited them.

One of the staff members, a man with a sharp gaze and calm demeanor, approached the group.

"Welcome," he greeted, nodding politely to Jian Ming. "Mount Mei's ruins are still too far for us to reach by land, so we'll be taking you by air. We'll arrive much faster this way."

Jian Ming nodded and boarded the helicopter.

The group climbed aboard, and soon enough, they were soaring above winding rivers and jagged cliffs that rose like ancient guardians of the mountain below. As they flew, Jian Ming's voice cut through the hum of the rotor.

"Legend has it that Mount Emei was once visited by a wandering sage, someone who saw the world through the eyes of both gods and men. Some say it was Buddha himself," he said, glancing around at everyone.

"You seem interested in Earth's legends, Tian?" came a voice. It was Aria.

"Huh? How do you know?" Chen Tian asked, surprised, though he hadn't shared this with anyone.

"Sister Aria's been going through your browser history, husband," Emilia whispered, her voice low so that not everyone could hear.

"What!" Chen Tian looked at Aria, bewildered.

Aria laughed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hehehe, I just wanted to see if you still had those... perverted folders!"

Chen Tian's face turned a shade of red; he'd rather no one noticed. "I-I don't have any 'perverted folders'! That's a misunderstanding!" He stammered, waving his hands defensively.

Aria's grin widened, clearly enjoying his reaction. "Oh, really? Well, it's not like we didn't find a few... interesting bookmarks," she teased, leaning back with a playful glint in her eye.

Emilia covered her mouth, trying to hide a laugh. "Oh, husband, don't worry," she said with a wink. "We all have our... curiosities."

Chen Tian looked at her, feeling completely exposed. "You two are shameless," he muttered, crossing his arms in mock indignation, though his embarrassment was unmistakable.

"Hehe~"

Aria leaned in close, her lips brushing against his ear.

"Well, husband, you don't need those materials anymore—now that you have us," she whispered, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"You…"

Aria always had a playful edge when she called him husband, but Chen Tian wasn't one to back down.

He placed a hand around Aria's waist, pulling her close with a sudden, bold gesture that made her eyes widen in surprise. She looked up at him, her teasing demeanor faltering slightly as his gaze locked onto hers, intense and unwavering.

"Oh? Who's the shameless one now?" Aria murmured, though her voice softened.

Chen Tian smirked. "If you're going to play games, Aria, you should know I'm not one to back down."

Emilia, watching the two with amusement, leaned in with a grin. "Careful, Aria, or husband here might just turn the tables on you."

Cough, cough.

"Can you two little kids not flirt right now?" Jian Ming interrupted.

Aria and Chen Tian looked up, catching Jian Ming's disapproving stare. He raised an eyebrow as if to say, are you serious?

Not only him, but everyone was looking at them, some with a smile on their faces. Only Ming Lei scoffed at Chen Tian and Aria's playful banter.

Aria's face turned red as she realized how everyone was looking at them. She quickly removed Chen Tian's hand from her waist.

Find your next read on empire

Even with her bold personality, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed at being caught.

If they were alone, Aria wouldn't have minded the playful banter, but in front of everyone, it was a different story.

Chen Tian, on the other hand, just chuckled at her cute reaction, which earned him a pout from Aria.

Emilia laughed, watching them.

With that, the group continued their journey to Mount Mei.

---

"Are everything ready?"

A man with a strong build and a rugged appearance, looking to be in his 40s, asked as he scanned the group of four in front of him with a piercing gaze.

"Rong Hai, everything is ready; we can already sense the gate opening," replied a man in his early 30s confidently. "We've been observing this place for a couple of months now, and all signs indicate that the gate to Mount Emei will open very soon."

The group shared a knowing look, filled with anticipation and excitement.

"Good," Rong Hai nodded in approval, his expression unreadable. "Let's make sure we're fully prepared for when it does. We cannot afford any mistakes this time, Guo Ming. When do the five families arrive?"

Guo Ming, the man who had responded earlier, answered confidently, "We're expecting them to arrive within the next few hours."

"Good. Make sure everything is in place for their arrival," Rong Hai instructed. The group quickly dispersed, each member taking on their assigned tasks.

If Chen Tian were here, he would have sensed that all four gathered were Grandmaster-level martial artists, equivalent to cultivators in the Meridian Opening Realm.

The only place that could gather this amount of masters in one place was none other than the Grandmaster Association.