Cultivation: Being Immortal

Year 9,350 of the Blue Star Xia calendar, Huaxia

With the constant improvement of the interdimensional teleportation array, the communication between Lingfa Star, Lingkong Star, Canglan Star, Beiyuan Star, Zilan Star, Lingjing Star, and Blue Star has become more and more frequent.

Basically, every year, the trade caravans come back and forth, and each time the size of the caravans increases, from dozens of people at first to hundreds, and finally to nearly ten thousand.

The exchange between different civilizations on various planets is naturally a good thing, and its benefits are countless. For the Blue Star civilization, it is also very important. After years of communication, the understanding of the Immortal Language has improved a level.

However, everything has pros and cons, and the downsides should not be overlooked. The two biggest problems are species invasion and bacteria and viruses.

The problem of species invasion is serious, not only between planets but also within the same planet. Lin Jiang feels strongly about this.

After all, on the former Blue Star, Lin Jiang had heard the story of the billions of rabbits in Australia. When people in Huaxia hear about the billions of rabbits, they can only think of plate after plate of spicy rabbit heads, but Australia truly had no way to deal with them. No matter what methods you use to kill them, you can never get rid of them; they reproduce too quickly.

There are countless similar examples. There are simply too many, and it is indeed a very serious issue for the ecosystem, which could lead to ecological collapse if not handled properly.

The problem of bacteria and viruses is just as serious. Back when Lin Jiang was online, he saw posts from travelers saying that soul transfer was fine, and there was not much problem. But if it was a physical transfer, with all the bacteria and viruses from a modern person, it would be like bringing a walking plague to ancient times.

Today, Blue Star is the same. After thousands of years of scientific development, Blue Star has eliminated many diseases, even serious ones like cancer. However, this has also caused many bacteria and viruses to mutate over generations. These bacteria and viruses are harmless on Blue Star, but in other worlds, they are a major threat, especially to ordinary people.

A righteous biologist on Blue Star raised this issue online. Soon, scientists from related fields joined in, and since there are many international students from various planets on Blue Star, this issue eventually landed on Lin Jiang’s desk in the form of a document.

Lin Jiang took this matter seriously. He did not make things difficult for the scientists but warmly met with the top experts in the relevant fields, asking for their advice and letting them think of a solution.

Later, he informed the leaders of each planet and invited them to discuss this matter together.

The leaders of each planet initially took it seriously, but once they learned the details, they lost interest. The reason was that these issues posed no threat to cultivators. Whether it was the mutation of viruses and bacteria or biological invasions, they had little impact on cultivators, or the effects were delayed.

"Ancestor Lin, I know you have a kind heart, but I didn’t know you were this kind. To put it bluntly, our planet could lose a hundred or eighty thousand people, and once they adapt to this, everything will be fine…"

"Ancestor Lin, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help. Didn’t you say Blue Star has medicine? We can just buy it. Do you want to stop our connection because of these ordinary people?"

"Ancestor Lin, you say how to do it, and we will do it that way. But one thing is for sure: we absolutely cannot allow the cross-border teleportation array to close…"

Several elders replied in this way, leaving Lin Jiang completely speechless. He already knew their plans; they just looked down on ordinary people and thought it was not worth spending great effort and a lot of money on these matters.

"What should we do?"

Seeing that Lin Jiang seemed a bit unhappy, Cao Ying asked him.

"It’s simple. We can only protect the people within our own borders. We will manage what needs to be managed, there’s not much more to say. As for the other families, they can do their best. If they ask for help, we will assist them. To be honest, the mutations of viruses and bacteria are not such a big deal; cultivators have many powerful remedies."

Lin Jiang said helplessly that this is an essential path for the exchange of civilizations. Just like how Western colonizers brought smallpox to the Americas, which was indeed terrifying and nearly led to the extinction of the native people, from a later perspective, the Age of Exploration played a crucial role in the development of civilization across Blue Star.

Now it is the same; the exchange of civilizations between different planets is very important for all civilizations. The leaders of various planets have tasted the benefits and have already made this a major trend that cannot be changed.

"I hope you do not carry any psychological burden."

"Psychological burden? You underestimate me. My heart is harder than a rock now."

Lin Jiang shook his head. Having seen the loss of billions of lives during interstellar wars, this matter really does not seem significant at all to him. His heart has become frighteningly hard, like a knife used for ten years to cut fish in a market.

·······

Lingqing Star

Xuan Fa rebuilt Foyin Temple on Lingqing Star, and it was just as magnificent as it once was on Lingfa Star, even looking more grand because it was designed by modern professional designers from Lingqing Star.

Back then, many remaining Buddhist cultivators from various planets also came to Lingqing Star, spreading their teachings all over the place.

However, even after hundreds of years, their efforts to spread the teachings have not gone well; less than one-tenth of the people on Lingqing Star sincerely believe in them, and most are only compelled by their strength.

If the Buddhist community uses force to make people believe in Buddhism, then they have failed because they cannot gain true faith.

"Brothers, the situation on Lingqing Star has come to a point where change is necessary. I have received news that the worlds of Lingfa Star, Lingkong Star, and Canglan Star have established complete interdimensional teleportation arrays with Blue Star. They are frequently communicating, and Blue Star’s Space Battleships have already been sold to them in large numbers. In future disputes, we may suffer greatly."

"Senior Brother Xuan Fa, has it really come to this?"

"I have no reason to deceive you; outside Lingqing Star, there are at least hundreds of detectors monitoring us, and we are powerless against them."

Xuan Fa said that they had already discovered those detectors and had knocked down quite a few. However, the detectors were not worth much on Blue Star; it only took a few million Huaxia coins to make one. They could produce as many as they wanted, and in the end, Xuan Fa didn’t bother to destroy them; he was too tired to care.

"Senior Brother Xuan Fa said that the issue was something we needed to resolve a long time ago. For hundreds of years, our Buddha sect has not been able to enlighten the entire Lingqing Star; it’s simply a shame."

"Cough, cough, it hasn’t been hundreds of years, it’s only been a little over a hundred years."

"A little over a hundred years is still not acceptable; it’s too embarrassing."

A few high monks from the Buddha sect began to argue. Their teachings on Lingqing Star were facing a serious challenge.

They followed the traditional ways to spread their teachings, but all their theories were attacked. For instance, when they said to do good deeds and build kind relationships to gain good results in this life, the common folks asked them to prove reincarnation. They would also say, "If you don’t understand this life, how can you worry about the next one?"

Moreover, such comments spread quickly around the world through the internet. In several debates, they even lost; losing live on air was a huge embarrassment.

"Stop arguing! Everyone be quiet. Making so much noise is unacceptable."

"Senior Brother Xuan Fa, please come up with a solution."

"There are two ways: first, to kill all those who do not believe in Buddhism on Lingqing Star; second, to summon the true Buddha and forcefully convert the entire Lingqing Star."

Xuan Fa said coldly. He had thought of killing before, but reason won over impulse. They could not kill everyone; if they did, they would be no different from evil beings. How could they gain the trust of their followers after that?

"Senior Brother Xuan Fa, you are joking. We are not evil beings; how can we do such things? The true Buddha cannot be summoned easily. If we cannot handle this small matter, how can we face the true Buddha?"

"Senior Brother Xuan Fa, I have some thoughts, but I am unsure if I should share them."

"Please speak, Junior Brother."

"Lingqing Star has awakened the wisdom of its people. Those ordinary folks are quite knowledgeable now, no longer the foolish ones they once were. The technology and culture of Lingqing Star come from Blue Star, and much of it clashes with our Buddhist ways. Unless we destroy all technology and all books, taking Lingqing Star back to how it was hundreds of years ago, we cannot spread our teachings."

"I have also thought of this, but the technology of Lingqing Star is indeed unique. It would be a pity to destroy it."

Xuan Fa shook his head. He wanted both: for the people of Lingqing Star to believe in Buddhism and to keep the technological achievements of Lingqing Star. The level of technology there is very high, even if the military aspect is removed; it remains impressive. With the productivity brought by their current technology, Lingqing Star can support billions of people, which is something Xuan Fa really needs.

"Senior Brother Xuan Fa, then our Buddhist teachings must change. We need to be flexible and adapt to the secular world…"

The person spoke again, saying that the teachings of Buddhism are not unchanging. Over the years, great monks in Buddhism have added explanations to the scriptures, and even made cuts. Now, Buddhism needs to change, too.

This person’s words changed everyone’s expressions. Some were angry because they thought of Fa Kong, while others felt secretly pleased, as this was what they had been thinking, now spoken out loud.