Everlasting Immortal Firmament

“Search the place. Do not leave out any place. See if there are other rats around!” Gu Hai roared irately.

“Yes!” the two hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers answered.

Gu Hai’s “rage” incited rage in the two hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers. They immediately searched the first layer of hell with everything they had.

The first layer was vast but extremely open; most places could be clearly seen with one glance. This made searching extremely easy.

“Who is it? Halt!” a Divine Demon Army soldier shouted.

Everyone looked over and saw a hole in space. Just like when Emperor Kong’s group left, there was also a Reincarnation Lotus revolving slowly above the hole.

Five figures rushed into the hole and shattered the Reincarnation Lotus with a palm strike after they did so.

Boom!

The spatial hole vanished, and the Divine Demon Army soldiers caught nothing, making them depressed.

The Divine Demon Army soldiers continued searching. Gu Hai squinted into the distance. As Gu Ming had said, Ji Dihong had sent a second group.

“Halt!” A loud shout came from the distance.

Another six people left the first layer of hell using a Reincarnation Lotus.

“Oh? Ji Dihong actually sent a third group? How cautious and distrustful of him!” Gu Hai narrowed his eyes.

On the other side, Vairocana beat the five Jiang Gautama replicas into retreat.

Break!

Vairocana suddenly swung his palm down, making it look like a sharp knife descending from the sky.

Boom!

This instantly split in half a Jiang Gautama replica that could not dodge in time.

The other four Jiang Gautama replicas’ expressions changed as they realized things were bad.

“Let’s go!”

The four Jiang Gautamas immediately turned and rushed towards the entrance of the second layer of hell.

Whoosh!

The four arrived at the entrance. However, Vairocana’s figure flashed, appearing before the four and blocking the entrance to the second layer of hell.

Kong Xuan also showed a ferocious expression, determined to keep the four here.

The four appeared anxious about being unable to advance or retreat.

Suddenly, these four each took out a Reincarnation Lotus, wanting to flee.

Gu Hai’s face sank. “Kong Xuan, move aside. Let them enter the second layer of hell!”

“What?” Kong Xuan exclaimed in shock.

The four Jiang Gautama replicas also appeared shocked.

However, Kong Xuan and Vairocana obeyed Gu Hai’s command, moving aside. With the entrance unguarded, the four Jiang Gautama replicas no longer thought of leaving the eighteen layers of hell. They had to inform their true body immediately.

Whoosh!

The four rushed into the second layer of hell.

Although slightly curious, Vairocana returned to the entrance to the second layer of hell, blocking it.

“Mister Gu, did you let them go so that they could report this?” Vairocana asked with a frown.

“That’s right.” Gu Hai nodded.

“However, aren’t we looking for Crown Prince Gu Tang?” Kong Xuan asked.

“Don’t worry. We have our plans,” Gu Hai said.

“Yes!” Kong Xuan said nothing more.

The group waited patiently for ten days and ten nights. However, Jiang Gautama did not come out from the second layer of hell. Gu Hai did not rush. The two hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers combed the entire first layer of hell, thoroughly grasping the situation.

“Reporting to Your Reverence, there is nothing else unusual. There was only one replica of Your Reverence; we did not find a second!” a Divine Demon Army officer reported.

Gu Hai nodded. “The Divine Demon Army will station themselves in the various places of the first layer of hell and guard it against outsiders invading.”

“Yes!” The two hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers immediately scattered.

Only Gu Hai, Kong Xuan, and Vairocana remained at the entrance to the second layer.

“It looks like Your Reverence is extremely hard to replicate. That’s why there was only one in the entire vast first layer of hell.” Kong Xuan smiled.

Gu Hai nodded. “We already know the situation in the second layer of hell.”

“Oh?” Kong Xuan and Vairocana felt slightly startled.

Then Gu Hai shared Gu Ming’s briefing with the two.

“Jiang Gautama? Heavenly Gautama? Mortal Gautama? Also, the divine blood replication and a Heaven-defying treasure?” Kong Xuan said in shock.

They initially thought they came to capture a beaten-down Jiang Gautama. After Kong Xuan heard what Gu Hai said, he was shocked at how horrifying Jiang Gautama’s accumulations were.

“Jiang Gautama? Hah! How unexpected!” Vairocana marveled.

“Your Reverence, what should we do now? Should we still go in?” Kong Xuan asked with a grave expression.

“You two wait in the first layer. We will go and try,” Gu Hai said.

“What?” Kong Xuan said in shock.

Vairocana also appeared shocked. “You are going down alone?”

“It is too dangerous. You two shouldn’t take the risk. However, I have to go. My wife’s earthly soul is still in there. I cannot delay; I dare not delay. I have to go in and find her,” Gu Hai said seriously.

“The White Emperor? However, it is too dangerous down there. Your Reverence, can’t we give this matter further thought and planning?” Kong Xuan asked worriedly.

“Is it worth risking yourself for a woman?” Vairocana looked at Gu Hai in some confusion.

Vairocana was Siddhārtha’s dharmic incarnation. Although he had not experienced love, he had Siddhārtha’s memories. Siddhārtha used to be a prince and was even married with children. However, he left his family behind for the sake of all life, for the sake of devoting himself to spiritual development, for the sake of everyone.

To Vairocana, Gu Hai ruled the Han Imperial Dynasty. Furthermore, the Han Nation grew at a tremendous speed. Perhaps he could reach Long Zhanguo’s heights in the future, maybe even surpass them. What women could he not have?

You have such enormous potential and would be beneficial for all life. Yet, you are risking death for a woman? This… Vairocana could not understand.

Gu Hai smiled faintly. “Do you know why I started cultivating?”

“Huh?” Vairocana looked at Gu Hai with confusion.

“My greatest aim when I started cultivating was to meet my Xianer again someday, to let the person I love live a happy life without worries. That’s why I have been working hard. Now, I can save my Xianer. Am I going to give up my initial goal for those hollow benefits?” Gu Hai said.

“However, are you confident of leaving safely if you go down?” Vairocana said.

“Just ten percent,” Gu Hai sighed softly.

“Just ten percent?” Kong Xuan said anxiously.

However, Vairocana appeared shocked. Not a completely hopeless situation? Gu Hai has a ten percent chance of coming back? How can that be? What does he have to rely on?

“Mister Gu, even if you have a ten percent chance of returning, it is too dangerous. According to the Siddhārtha Buddha, you have the mandate of fate; your future accomplishments cannot be measured. There are a few people with the mandate of fate in this world, but most die prematurely. What if…,” Vairocana said worriedly.

“Mandate of fate? The Siddhārtha Buddha overestimates me. It does not matter what mandate I have or how great my future accomplishments are. I only know there are some people who are more important to me than the entire world. Xianer is one of them, so I have to try. I’ll have to trouble you to stand guard here. Besides me, no one is allowed out,” Gu Hai said seriously.

“Your Reverence!” Kong Xuan appeared anxious.

However, Vairocana frowned slightly, then said, “I’ll go down with you.”

“You? Vairocana, the second layer of hell is too dangerous. What if…,” Gu Hai said worriedly.

“Mister Gu, many thanks for taking me into consideration. However, Mister Gu does not have to worry. They cannot kill me,” Vairocana said seriously.

“Oh?” Gu Hai appeared bewildered.

“While I might be unable to deal with them, I’m confident of surviving,” Vairocana said seriously.

Gu Hai looked at Vairocana and nodded. “Then I thank you in advance.”

“Your Reverence, this official will come with you,” Kong Xuan immediately called out.

Gu Hai shook his head. “It is too dangerous down there. You are not strong enough. Just stand guard here and wait for us to return.”

Kong Xuan: “…”

This was the first time someone said he was not strong enough, vexing him. However, Gu Hai was the one who said this, so he did not dare refute it. Furthermore, it seemed that he could not deal with the danger below.

“Don’t worry. We will return,” Gu Hai said.

“Yes!” Kong Xuan said with clenched fists.

Gu Hai and Vairocana stepped into the second layer of hell.

As Kong Xuan stood at the entrance to the second layer of hell and watched Gu Hai and Vairocana enter it, he scowled furiously, depressed over his cultivation. “I must reach the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm as soon as possible. I must get there quickly!”

On the other side, Gu Hai and Vairocana arrived in the second layer of hell, appearing in the sky.

The second layer of hell was hot. Countless evil ghosts killed each other on the ground below, influenced by the murderous aura of hell. Many volcanoes spewed lava in the distance.

The scene looked similar to the last time Gu Hai came. The only difference was the many beams of light rushing over from a distance.

Buzz!

The beams stopped near Gu Hai and Vairocana. They were all Jiang Gautama replicas looking coldly at the two.

“Hah! Gu Hai? Vairocana? We have yet to go to the first layer of hell to find you. To think you dare to barge in?” a Jiang Gautama replica sneered.

Gu Hai looked around with a grave cast to his eyes. “Sixty-four Jiang Gautamas?”

“The divine blood replication is indeed incredible; it can create peak experts in large batches. Although the replicas are weaker than the true body, they are still in the ninth-layer Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. No wonder. No wonder Jiang Gautama did not replicate others. Replicating himself is sufficient. If there were no consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators in the world, such a force could sweep through the world,” Vairocana said with a smile.

“Sixty-four? Ninth-layer Upper Heavenly Palace Realm? No wonder the ancient shaman race could split the world with the animal spirits. The humans were not even worth a strike,” Gu Hai said gravely.

“Mister Gu, what should we do?” Vairocana looked at Gu Hai.

“Can you deal with them?” Gu Hai asked.

“I can.” Vairocana nodded.

“Then make a move. Finish it at lightning speed; don’t delay. Show your strength and shock Jiang Gautama,” Gu Hai said.

“My Major Leiyin Temple embodies lightning. Showing off my strength will be easy.” Vairocana smiled.

[TL Note: Leiyin translates to “Lightning Sound.” The sound here is usually used for musical sounds rather than noise.]

“Hah! You actually dare to speak such bold words when facing death? Vairocana, weren’t you already struggling against five of us? Let’s see how you escape this time!” a Jiang Gautama replica shouted angrily as he charged forward.

After the first Jiang Gautama attacked, the other Jiang Gautamas followed closely, all executing the Gautama Divine Palm.

Sixty-four Jiang Gautamas charged in furiously, appearing to be pressing down on them with a heavenly might and preventing them from escaping.

The first Gautama arrived before Vairocana, but Vairocana suddenly narrowed his eyes and swung his right hand.

Slap!

A thunderous slap rang out. The first Jiang Gautama replica charging over flew back like a fired cannonball, shooting towards a distant mountain.

The sudden change startled everyone, causing them to turn their heads to watch, and their expressions changed.

The face of the Jiang Gautama replica that flew away was quite deformed. Vairocana sent him flying with one slap?