Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Wu Tian had never expected Miaoshan to be suited for Guanyin’s legacy. But on second thought, some stories told of Guanyin being named Miaoshan when she was a mortal.

Both of them were named Miaoshan. Was this not the very definition of a fateful connection?

Wu Tian suddenly understood why Miaoshan was fated to have no connection with love or marriage in this life.

When Wu Tian returned to his senses, he saw Miaoshan standing stiffly to one side. He knew she was acting this way because of the last words of King Wudong. He smiled and said, "He and I had a year-long bond as master and disciple. I never thought he would remember me even in death. Not bad, not bad at all."

Wu Tian glanced at Miaoshan again. "Your presence here tells me you’ve always wanted to know the reason you are fated to be unwed, correct?"

"Yes." Miaoshan nodded, her expression visibly excited. She hoped Wu Tian had the ability to explain it to her. Why was she fated to be unmarried? Any man set to marry her would invariably meet with disaster the day before the wedding. No one could understand what was happening. Consequently, Miaoshan was considered an ill omen, despised by King Wudong and shunned by the common folk.

"This is your destiny," Wu Tian stated word by word. "You were born with a mission! Other men are not worthy of you, and that is why they die."

Hearing this, Miaoshan was still confused. She cupped her hands in a salute and said, "Please, Immortal Emperor, enlighten me."

Wu Tian said indifferently, "The reason you have no affinity for love or marriage is because you are destined to enter the Buddhist Sect."

"The Buddhist Sect?" She was stunned. Disbelieving, Miaoshan continued, "Why am I destined to enter the Buddhist Sect?"

After speaking, Miaoshan let out a long sigh, a whirlwind of emotions churning in her heart.

Wu Tian walked up, patted her shoulder, and said, "The principles of the Buddhist Sect were introduced to this world by me. After ten thousand years, it has surely become a major Sect. But the Buddhist Sect I speak of is not them. It refers to you entering your own Buddhist path. This is your personal calling."

Back then, in his quest to seize the Mandate of Heaven, Wu Tian had created the Hundred Schools of Thought. Of course, he wasn’t an expert in everything, but he knew a little about many things, including classic lines from Buddhist scriptures:

*"All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow. Like dew and like a lightning flash. Thus should you meditate upon them."*

*"And, O Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness..."*

Gradually, the Buddhist Religion emerged. Ten thousand years passed, and it developed a complete, systematic doctrine, unlike the fragmented teachings Wu Tian had originally passed down. Even so, in the Immortal Emperor Realm, Wu Tian’s title was the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Buddhas. He was also known as the Buddha of the Past, one of the three great Buddhas.

By the time Wu Tian learned of this, he was already the Immortal Emperor, but he paid it no mind. After ten thousand years, Wu Tian even wondered if the Buddhism of today was the same one he had once known.

"I... I still don’t understand." Miaoshan shook her head, a sudden, intense headache assailing her.

*"All gatherings of love are transient and fleeting,"* Wu Tian began to recite. *"Life is full of fear, our existence more fragile than morning dew. From love, sorrow is born; from love, fear is born. For one who is free from love, there is no sorrow and no fear."*

Looking at Miaoshan in this state, Wu Tian knew he had to guide her along the path. She could be the reincarnation of Guanyin, or she could be the successor Guanyin had preordained long ago.

Now, scriptures flowed from Wu Tian’s lips: *"I was a mendicant from the west, so why was I born into the Royal Family? For eighteen years I have known no freedom, with southern campaigns and northern wars—when will there be peace? Today, I cast it all aside and return to the west; I care not for your ten thousand generations or countless autumns."*

*"All that has a form is illusory. If you see that all forms are not truly forms, then you will see the Tathagata."*

As Wu Tian spoke, his words manifested as reality. In that moment, Miaoshan suddenly understood. Her gaze became limpid and enlightened, the confusion of her past gone.

Her cultivation surged, breaking through from the Foundation Establishment Realm directly to the Second Rank of the Heavenly King Realm, and this was far from the limit of her potential.

She gave Wu Tian a deep, profound bow. "Thank you, Immortal Emperor!"

"There’s no need," Wu Tian said indifferently. "Now that you understand your mission, you and I walk the same path."

"Yes. I will assist the Immortal Emperor in re-establishing the Heavenly Court," Miaoshan stated calmly.

Hearing this, Wu Tian nodded. The little fellow in his arms curiously sized up Miaoshan. This woman seems to have become a completely different person. It wasn’t just her strength. From the little one’s perspective, her temperament, her bearing—everything about her had changed. How strange, the little one thought.

"Your Supreme Treasure, I will give it to you once I find it. Remember, you work for me now."

With that, Wu Tian pushed the door open and walked out.

Master Li the Fortune Teller had been waiting at the door for some time. The moment he saw Wu Tian emerge with the little one in his arms, he hurried over. "Mr. Wu Tian, how did it go?"

Wu Tian remained silent.

The little fellow in his arms, however, chuckled. "Don’t worry. When my dad gets involved, everything gets solved."

"That’s... wonderful." Master Li was overjoyed, but his primary reaction was still disbelief. Although he had felt there was an eighty percent chance Wu Tian would figure out what was happening with Miaoshan, he hadn’t expected him to actually succeed. Master Li was at a loss for words.

"By the way, what was the truth behind Princess Miaoshan’s strange circumstances?" Master Li asked, his curiosity piqued.

Wu Tian smiled, patted Master Li’s shoulder, and said, "It’s called destiny. She has one, and so do you."

"What?" Master Li froze. "What destiny? And why do I have one, too?"

But Wu Tian had no intention of elaborating. He simply stated, "The secrets of Heaven cannot be revealed."

With that, Wu Tian departed, leaving Master Li standing alone, utterly confused.

What... what in the world is my destiny? he wondered.

After leaving the inn, Wu Tian carried the little one back toward King Xiuyuan’s Royal Palace. Along the way, he bought some pastries that Qin Yuhan enjoyed. But as he reached the gates of the Royal Palace, Wu Tian spotted several figures seeking an audience with Queen Si’er.

It was none other than Rui’er with her father and mother. Rui’er’s parents were only middle-aged, yet they now appeared much older, their hair streaked with gray. It was clear the heartbreak from their two sons killing each other had exhausted their spirits and hastened their aging. Only Rui’er was dressed even more exquisitely than before.

Wu Tian couldn’t help but frown slightly, a pang of pity in his heart. Little did they know this was all a scheme orchestrated by their own daughter.

"Sir, is that you?" Just then, Rui’er noticed Wu Tian. With an adorable and delicate expression, she ran over to him. Upon reaching him, she fell to her knees with a look of grievance and cried out, "Please... please be my teacher!"

Wu Tian was silent.

Her parents, now left with only their daughter Rui’er, came forward. As their sons were both gone, she was the only child they had left, and they naturally wanted to fulfill her every wish. They also knelt before Wu Tian. "Please, sir, take her as your disciple."

Wu Tian’s expression remained impassive.

At that moment, a crowd of onlookers had been drawn in by the scene, eager to see if Wu Tian would accept the girl.