The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 296 Shambhala (Seeking monthly votes)
Black Rose strolled leisurely across the carpet-like green grass.

When it sees wildflowers, it pauses to savor their fragrance, its black, gem-like eyes gleaming with joy.

Reaching the lake, it lowered its head to drink. The lake water was clear and crystal clear. It raised its neck and let out a long, melodious cry.

Although the endless buildings could be seen, they were actually very, very far away. Black Rose was not walking fast and had not arrived for a long time.

Zhao Ti didn't urge it, letting it take the lead and move forward, while he carefully observed everything around him, not missing a single blade of grass or tree, and pondering even the slightest sound.

Tong Guan picked a flower from the grass and asked in surprise, "Your Highness, what kind of flower is this? I've never seen it before."

Zhao Ti glanced at it; the flower in Tong Guan's hand was round and layered, radiating a magical luster, its color golden but not gaudy, and it even faintly exuded an auspicious aura.

He said, "It seems to be the legendary Golden Pineapple Flower."

"Golden Pineapple Flower?" Tong Guan looked surprised upon hearing this. Although he did not know about Shambhala, he was familiar with the Golden Pineapple Flower.

The Golden Flower, also known as the Udumbara Flower, is the flower that Buddha referred to when he smiled while holding up a flower.

Legend has it that the Great Brahma King offered a golden lotus flower to the World-Honored One and asked him to preach. The World-Honored One remained silent, but simply held up the flower and showed it to the assembly, calm and serene. Only Mahakasyapa smiled, and the World-Honored One then transmitted the Zen teachings to Kasyapa.

"So it's the flower used in the Shaolin finger gesture." Tong Guan's eyes widened. "Your Highness, isn't this a Buddhist flower?"

Zhao Ti nodded, "The Golden Pineapple Flower can indeed be called a Buddhist flower."

Tong Guan brought the flower to his nose and smelled it. He immediately looked intoxicated and couldn't resist opening his mouth to take a bite.

Zhao Ti said calmly, "If you dare to eat this flower, aren't you afraid that you'll be converted into a monk afterward?"

Tong Guan's expression changed upon hearing this, and he stammered, "Your Highness, does Buddhism possess such an ability to convert beings out of thin air?"

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes: "It was impossible before, but now I don't know."

Tong Guan hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Highness, I heard from those people from Kunlun that Buddhist conversion can make a person completely lose themselves and become someone who only believes in Buddha. Is that true?"

“There are several types of Buddhist salvation, and the depth of guidance given by the one who saves the person varies. In the end, the person being saved must awaken on their own.” Zhao Ti pondered and said, “The kind of salvation that the people of Kunlun talked about is forced salvation. It is an extremely difficult thing. There is no self-realization. It is all done by the one who saves the person. Once the person is saved, they will almost forget themselves and their past. There is only Buddha in their heart.”

Tong Guan said, "If one forgets oneself and forgets the past, wouldn't that be the same as being dead?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "In Buddhist terms, it can also be called rebirth."

"Rebirth?" Tong Guan muttered, "This humble servant doesn't seem to have it. He's forgotten who he is. Isn't he just a different person being reborn?"

Zhao Ti said, "This matter is mysterious. It is not easy to draw conclusions without having seen it. Let us make a decision in one sentence."

Tong Guan said, "This humble servant understands. In short, do not be converted by the monks. Whether it is forced or not, do not listen to anything the monks say. They are all ill-intentioned and malicious."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "This is a Buddhist kingdom. You should be careful with your words and actions. Be careful, or there might really be Buddhas and Bodhisattvas here who could pull out your tongue and throw you into Avici Hell."

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan looked alarmed and quickly covered his mouth, his eyes darting around frantically.

Zhao Ti said, "You also know about the great changes in the world. Originally, there might not have been any gods or Buddhas in the world, but after the changes in the world, they might have appeared. The Shambhala Buddhist Kingdom in front of us is very strange and should not exist in the human world. It is a clear example."

Tong Guan nodded frantically, not daring to remove his hand covering his mouth, for fear that the tongue inside his mouth might suddenly disappear.

As Black Rose walked along, munching on the grass, she listened to the two men's conversation. Her large, black, gem-like eyes sparkled, revealing a cool yet thoughtful light.

As darkness fell, we still hadn't reached the endless expanse of buildings ahead.

The stars filled the sky, and the night inside the Buddhist kingdom was no darker than outside. Instead, it shimmered with a soft, luminous light, as if veiled by a gentle, mysterious white gauze.

The black rose lay down on the ground, resting and unwilling to move forward. Zhao Ti sat beside it, silently practicing his skills.

Black Rose rested her head on her lap, quietly watching Zhao Ti, a hint of tenderness appearing in her eyes.

After a long while, Zhao Ti finished practicing his skills and opened his eyes to look at it. Black Rose's gaze returned to that blank, cold light.

Zhao Ti thought for a moment and said, "Since the world has changed so drastically, gods and Buddhas may really exist and gradually appear. And since you were able to find this place, you are probably not an ordinary horse."

Black Rose remained motionless and silent upon hearing this, as serene and peaceful as a black jade statue.

Zhao Ti said, "The changes in the world cannot be stopped, but it seems there are still some restrictions at this moment. It won't be accomplished overnight. I have no other worries except for the court, the people, and Wanqing."

Black Rose blinked, but still didn't react at all.

Zhao Ti continued, "I've heard Wanqing mention your background before. Now it seems it wasn't a natural occurrence. There must have been some kind of fate or scheme at play..."

Upon hearing this, Black Rose suddenly let out a cry and stretched out one of its front legs toward Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti said, "What's going on? Are you getting upset?"

Black Rose cried out again, then slowly lowered her front legs beside Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti looked at it and nodded, saying, "I am indeed a bit tired. Let's take a nap. Don't walk so slowly tomorrow; let's speed up."

As he spoke, he gently turned over and lay on Black Rose's lap, falling asleep moments later with perfectly even breathing.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight fell, Zhao Ti opened his eyes and saw Black Rose looking at him with a somewhat bewildered expression.

He looked at the black rose, suddenly raised his eyebrows, and said, "Why has it changed its appearance? Horns have even grown on its head. What's the reason for that?"

Black Rose looked up when she heard this, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't see the top of her head.

Zhao Ti stood up: "Don't look anymore, you can't see it yourself."

Black Rose stood up from the grass, and Zhao Ti leaped onto his horse. At that moment, Tong Guan ran up from behind, holding dried rations and meat: "Your Highness, Your Highness, please have your meal."

Zhao Ti said, "I'm not hungry, let's get going."

Tong Guan agreed and packed the things. Then, seeing the black rose, he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, the horse, the horse..."

Zhao Ti asked, "What's wrong?"

Tong Guan asked blankly, "Your Highness, why has the Black Rose grown two horns?"

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes: "Perhaps it originally had horns."

Tong Guan looked dazed, and after a long while, he stammered, "This humble servant... this humble servant ate a poisonous mushroom and hallucinated. I... I saw Black Rose grow horns on her head, transform into a young girl, and chase after this humble servant with a sword..."

Zhao Ti smiled, then shook his head, and the horse leisurely walked forward.

This time, however, the speed gradually increased, and finally, like a black lightning bolt, it entered the vast and boundless building in no time. Zhao Ti observed carefully; these buildings were of various shapes and heights, but all were resplendent in gold and jade, looking like a dream world.

The horse trotted along the street, but no one appeared, not a trace of human presence or sound.

Zhao Ti looked at the houses and halls he passed, all of which seemed to be uninhabited.

The Black Rose continued its swift journey, passing through a magnificent palace inlaid with jewels that seemed to be made of pure gold, and past a luxurious, ornate domed temple. Listening to the unheard chimes carried on the wind, it arrived once again before a meadow.

The grass was fresh and pleasing to the eye, dotted with colorful wildflowers. Just looking at the horizon, there was a vast Buddhist kingdom with no edge, seemingly extending to the sky.

The horse crossed the grassland in a short while and arrived not far from this Buddhist kingdom. There, wisps of smoke rose from the Buddhist kingdom, and the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and other exotic scents, which refreshed the senses.

Zhao Ti gazed at this Buddhist kingdom, raising his eyebrows. Is this the place of inheritance that the people of Kunlun spoke of?

Does it contain the lineage of gods, bodhisattvas, or even the Buddha?
Were Mu Wanqing and the other two among them, along with Murong Fu, or someone else? Were they palace women, or perhaps a demonic monk?
The scent of incense wafted through the air, and the melodious sounds of ritual instruments filled the air. Before them lay the magnificent and solemn Buddhist kingdom, when suddenly the Black Rose let out a long cry.

Zhao Ti gently patted its head and jumped off its back.

Black Rose gazed at the Buddhist kingdom, then suddenly stood up on the grass. Her body gradually changed, slowly transforming into a girl in black.

The girl had her hair styled in two buns, with exquisitely beautiful features, snow-white skin, and deep, uncolored eyes like black gemstones.

She had two horns on her head, like dragon horns, and her expression was aloof yet somewhat blank as she stared at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti sighed softly, a wistful expression on his face, and said, "Is this your original form?"

The girl shook her head, her voice somewhat hoarse and delicate: "I am the daughter of Sagara Dragon King, the seventh dragon king of the Salt Sea. All the gods and venerable ones call me the Dragon Girl."

Zhao Ti's gaze lingered on the girl for a long time before he finally said, "So it was you..."

When the Dragon Girl was young, she was incredibly intelligent. She offered a precious pearl to him, and at the Lotus Assembly, she heard the wonderful Dharma Lotus Sutra. She was able to uphold the secret teachings and in an instant, she developed the Bodhicitta, attained non-retrogression, and became a Buddha in a moment.

Teng Xiangyun went to the Immaculate World in the South, sat on a jeweled lotus platform, attained perfect enlightenment, possessed the thirty-two marks and eighty minor marks of a Buddha, and universally expounded the wonderful Dharma to all sentient beings in the ten directions.

The girl's gaze was cold and her expression blank as she stared at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti said, "Now that you've taken human form, are you going to leave first?"

The girl turned her head to look at the Buddhist kingdom over there, then looked at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti nodded: "I understand. Although I don't know why I ended up in this mortal world, I must go to the Buddhist kingdom after Shambhala descends to obtain my own inheritance and my own place."

The girl's blank expression revealed a hint of joy, as if Zhao Ti had guessed correctly, and she no longer needed to rack her brains to think of a way to explain.

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Then let's hurry up and go. Since Wanqing is in the Buddhist Kingdom, she may have inherited the lineage somewhere. I will find her."

The girl stood there motionless, her dark eyes fixed on him.

Zhao Ti thought for a moment, then stepped forward, reached out and touched her head, then gently stroked her jade-like ears, and said with a smile, "Go..."

The girl's eyes remained aloof, her expression still blank, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.

Then she turned around, and it seemed as if a whirlwind was blowing around her before she moved forward at an incredible speed, as if she were flying on land.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace, disappearing into the Buddhist kingdom ahead.

Zhao Ti stared for a long time, and Tong Guan cautiously said from behind, "Your Highness, I never expected that Black Rose was actually a dragon maiden..."

Zhao Ti said, "A black rose is a black rose, and a dragon girl is a black rose, but a black rose is not necessarily a dragon girl."

Tong Guan asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness, what's the difference?"

Zhao Ti remained silent for a few moments, then looked ahead and stepped forward, saying, "Let's go, let's enter this Buddhist kingdom and take a look."

Tong Guan hurriedly agreed and followed behind.

After walking for a while, they finally arrived at the foot of the Buddhist Kingdom. The terrain of the Buddhist Kingdom was quite high, and there was no path leading to the distant interior.

Tong Guan asked in bewilderment, "How come there's no way in? How did Black Rose get in?"

Zhao Ti remained silent, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Tong Guan said, "Your Highness, are we going to just barge in like this?"

Zhao Ti shook his head: "Let's look in that direction. There can't be no way out around here. If we force our way in, we might not be able to get in, and we might run into something else."

As he spoke, he walked to one side, his pace gradually quickening. After a while, he suddenly heard voices.

Looking closely, one can see a magnificent and wide staircase with more than a hundred steps in the distance. It turns out that this is the entrance to the Buddhist kingdom.

At this moment, there were people both on and below the steps. There were five or six people on the steps and more on the steps, totaling several dozen.

Among these people were those in tall hats and ancient robes, as well as those dressed in strange monk robes. Several of them were together, clearly Kunlun and demon monks, but for some reason, they did not fight or struggle. Instead, they were watching the steps, whispering, or discussing among themselves.

Clearly, Black Rose didn't want anyone to see her changed appearance, which is why she didn't come directly to the front of this Buddhist kingdom, but instead went to the side.

"Your Highness, these people..." Tong Guan whispered.

"We all found this place and entered beforehand," Zhao Ti nodded.

"Those steps seem a bit off." Tong Guan rubbed his eyes hard.

Zhao Ti's gaze fell on the steps, and he saw that there were a total of 108 steps. Each step was extremely long and large, emitting a lustrous glow, and seemed to be something otherworldly.

At this moment, the people on the steps appeared strange, with varying expressions. They seemed to be working very hard, or perhaps they were in a daze, as if they were in a dream.

Suddenly, a man's face turned ferocious, and he shouted "Kill! Kill! Kill!" repeatedly, slapping his hands forward. The wind howled, but once it reached the steps, it was as if the mud had entered the sea, without making a ripple.

Some people looked pained, as if recalling something, and then buried their heads in their hands, tears streaming down their faces.

"Ouch..." One of them, who had seemed somewhat happy, suddenly fell down the steps and landed on the ground in front of him, his head bleeding profusely.

"Your Highness, this is..." Tong Guan asked, his face full of confusion.

"Let's go take a look," Zhao Ti said calmly, walking forward with his hands behind his back.

(End of this chapter)