The Honored One

On a high mountain, a monk sat cross legged with 108 mala beads in his hands. The air around him trembled with the aura of benevolence and transcendence. It was obvious the monk was not a nobody.

Groggily opening his eyes, the monk looked at the world which is isolated, with confusion in his eyes that gradually became clear with realization.

In his eyes, the cycle of life and death could be seen. No matter what he looked at, he could see their beginning and ends. Everything can change, but one's life and death was predetermined.

Rising to his feet, the monk trembled and almost fell to his knees.

Touching the ground, he was not met with the jagged edges of rocks but the cold surface of tiles.

If one face the 'mountain', one would notice that the so-called mountain was actually a buddhist temple, full of the scents of incense and charm.

"Even though I gained the use of my legs, it seem I'm still unused to it." The monk sighed with a hint a childlike joy.

From as far back as he could remembered, he had never walked. He did not find this to be an hindrance, since their was nothing he could do about it, he accepted it. His life was hard because of his disability but because of it, he learned to see the truth in people, a gift if you may.

Inside his head, there were many spells that seem like those written about in legends and myths – spells that could resurrect the dead, protect one from all attacks, fly through the 33 heavens and diving to the Underworld.

His spells seem to cover all aspects. No matter what may happen, he had countermeasures against it.

He is the Buddha, the Honored One. It was only when he open his eyes that he realize this.

He had incarnate into the red dust to experience life as a mortal by suppressing his memories but once his incarnation died, he would wake up in his temple to strengthen his insights into life and death. (AN: Red Dust = Mortal World.)

The more he experience life and death, the deeper his comprehension became. He was not attempting to be proficient in tao of life or death nor did he want to be.

By learning about life and death and combining them, one can learn another tao, the tao of karma, which none can escape. This seems easy but it's not. One's comprehension must be equal, life cannot be more nor death can be too little, it must be a prefect balance.

As the combination of life and death, the tao of karma allowed him to spied on the fate of all things. He could see the inception and end of all. Even if they escape into the reincarnation cycle, they cannot hide from him.

Though the tao of karma seem powerful, it actually isn't. It only gave him a slight edge against others but that was already large.

He only learned it because of his path towards nirvana, though he had long achieve it, it doesn't hurt to refine his understandings and help his subordinates.

When he awakened, the monks should have rushed over like usual to hear him preach but that did not happen. Not even a voice could he heard, let alone footsteps.

Looking around, he found that whether it be the Saints, Immortal Emperors or King Yama, everyone seem to vanish. Even with the tao of karma, he could not sense them. Oddly, the mortal world didn't seem to have been affected.

A disaster seem to have taken place that caused the disappearance of everyone but left the mortal world and….the Jade Emperor untouched..well partially.

He did not factor in his existence, since he above everyone. It would be dumb to place them, on his level, when they are not.

Rising to his feet, Buddha teleported into the temple and walk into the library – seeing that the books didn't disappear, he sigh a breath of relief.

The books were precious, with knowledge about many aspect of cultivation and spells – many of which he did not learn, but now that he was all that is left of buddhism, they will be the foundation to the religions rise. (AN: Buddhism is not a religion but a way of life, but for this story it will be a religion.)

Putting the books into his pocket dimension, he stepping forward and appeared behind the Jade Emperor with surprise in his eyes, as life and death constantly moved with them. (AN: Pocket Dimension = Inventory.)

On the temple, he had notice something odd about the Jade Emperor but because of the distance and the fact he was not observing deeply, he didn't notice that..he, the Buddha was the only survivor of whatever happened to the immortals.

Though in form, the Jade Emperor is in front of him, he was not the one he was familiar with. Buddha could see a mortal named Wang Lin, when he use the tao of karma, inside the body of Jade Emperor.

It was like an ant trying to topple a tree. But when the tree lost it's support, even the impossible can become possible.

The Jade Emperor's destiny which was fixed had become unpredictable. He could no longer make heads or tails of what is in store for him.

The 'Jade Emperor' turned around with shock in his eyes.

The Buddha laughed in his mind as he saw Wang Lin attempt to fool him. He did not say anything and played alone, since it was interesting.

Honestly, he did not care that a mortal took over the Jade Emperor, as he and the Jade Emperor's relationship was at most acquaintances. However, if that was to apply to his Arhats, he would be upset.

The Arhats were on the same level as Immortal Emperors and little weaker than the Jade Emperor. They are fully loyal to him, so it would be difficult to see someone desecrate their bodies.