Chapter 353: Chapter 203: Exhaustion Insight, Severing Fate
Chen Kuang had barely come to understand the current situation of the Pure Land.
First, the three Great Zen Masters whom he thought were the greatest support had long become "demonic."
Though he still didn’t know exactly how it happened, whether they were completely replaced or merely had their minds controlled, they were no longer trustworthy and could possibly be enemies.
And now that the three Great Zen Masters had been taken over by the "demonic," what about the others in the Pure Land?
Previously, when Chen Kuang was flying overhead, he glimpsed some monks who appeared normal, but they still needed to be observed... Yet, after observing, how to respond, Chen Kuang hadn’t come up with a solution.
After all, there were three genuine Saints residing in this Pure Land.
Even dealing with one Martial Saint would have Chen Kuang exhausted and scheming his heart out... let alone three.
Moreover, Chen Kuang was completely unaware of what methods these "demonic" ones had.
Secondly, the man in front of him who claimed to be Xiuzhu, based on his current performance, seemed to be on the opposite side of these "demonic" ones.
It seemed he wanted to deal with these three "demonic" through cooperation with Chen Kuang.
However, Chen Kuang hadn’t fully trusted this guy either.
Neither "Lingji" nor "Dong Ruo Guan Huo" could detect any flaw in Xiuzhu, but given his extensive knowledge and the mysterious origins of the relic, there must be other secrets behind him.
Chen Kuang didn’t dare to wager on which side Xiuzhu truly stood.
If he was also one of those "demonic" beings, was he setting a trap for Chen Kuang?
Chen Kuang stared at Xiuzhu and said:
"You want to work with me to wipe out this wave of Xunmi?"
Xiuzhu put his hands together with a slight smile:
"Exactly."
Chen Kuang said, "If I escape now, I still have a slim chance of survival; going against three Saints is certain death."
Xiuzhu said, "Do you really think you can get away?"
"Once I disclose your identity to those three demonic beings, they can close the only exit of the Pure Land in a Saint’s instant decision, and the vast Pure Land will become a cage."
Chen Kuang smiled and said, "There’s no place in the world where I can’t get out."
When he saw the method to enter the Pure Land, he realized this place was actually a celestial domain, most likely maintained by the three Great Zen Masters.
Under their complete control, capturing anyone would be effortless.
But Chen Kuang still came in.
The reason was nothing but his inherent ability.
[Unrestrained: You can move freely in any situation, go to places you’ve been before, and no one can bind you.]
The fact proved that as long as there was enough time, even if Chen Kuang just stood still, he could still gain the useful passive ability.
Although among those 182,500 passive abilities, at least 182,400 were as absurd as "never getting mushroom bits stuck in your teeth,"
At least a hundred were useful.
Xiuzhu looked at him for a moment, seemingly confirming he wasn’t bluffing, then sighed and said:
"Xunmi Mountain has collapsed."
Chen Kuang’s pupils shrank.
Xunmi Mountain?!
That was the greatest barrier preventing the Night Barbarians’ invasion; without Xunmi Mountain, the entire Northern Plains would be easy to defend and hard to attack. With the Night Barbarians’ strategy of nurturing war through war, the cultivators of Central Domain couldn’t resist for long!
And now, Xunmi Mountain had actually collapsed!
In other words, the Northern Plains was now wide open.
If the Night Barbarians aren’t fools, they will surely take this opportunity to invade massively...
But that’s not the scariest part.
If it were just about warring with the Night Barbarians, all the cultivators in Central Domain wouldn’t fear.
Ten thousand years ago during the Ancient Era, Human Emperor Shuo could suppress the Night Barbarians, exiling them beyond the Northern Plains.
Ten thousand years later, although the Dao had declined, the strength of the Human Race was still formidable.
Counting some reclusive old monsters, there were ten Saints identifiable, with these ten Saints stationed, even if the Night Barbarians came out in full force, so what?
They would still be driven back!
Chen Kuang took a deep breath, looking at the lush branches and leaves of the Bodhi Tree.
But...
What if among these ten Saints, three defect at a critical moment?
Or perhaps...
It’s not just three?
Then, the outcome of victory or defeat would be unpredictable.
Moreover, even among the three Great Zen Masters, their powers were all exceptional among Saints.
Chen Kuang had long experienced firsthand that not all Saints were equal.
If Xi Mengquan took action, the Martial Saint couldn’t last three rounds.
No need for trickery like Chen Kuang’s.
Currently, in all of Cangyuan, perhaps only Chen Kuang and the position-uncertain Xiuzhu knew of this issue.
Does Xi Mengquan know? Did he leave any countermeasures?
Chen Kuang lowered his gaze to the runes flickering uncertainly in his palm, seeming to find no answers.
Except for that one time Xi Mengquan disguised as Jiang Wuya to play him, he had never faced or met Xi Mengquan as the "Music Saint."
The only one he could trust was himself.
"It seems you have made a decision."
Xiuzhu smiled.
Chen Kuang exhaled deeply and silently gazed at the Bodhi Tree, suddenly recalling something and asked:
"By the way, did you hear a woman’s voice just now? Right here."
Xiuzhu scratched his head, speaking with some puzzlement:
"No... Jie Lan Temple has no nuns, nor do we host female guests."
Chen Kuang turned his head, looking into Xiuzhu’s clear eyes, realizing he had once again become that honest little monk.
What was the relationship between these two people?
Chen Kuang shook his head: "Nothing."
Xiuzhu said: "Did you ask this to find the woman General Huo mentioned? I actually think... maybe he just wants you to enter the Buddhist Sect."
Chen Kuang said: "He’s a Broken Monk, why would he still persuade me to join the Buddhist Sect?"
Xiuzhu earnestly said: "Although he broke the precepts, he can still turn to the Buddha."
Chen Kuang chuckled: "You mean, he just wants to preach to me?"
Xiuzhu nodded solemnly.
Chen Kuang said indifferently: "The Buddhist Sect speaks of laying down the butcher’s knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot."
"But I have countless lives on my hands, they are my unresolved ties. If I lay them down, can those I’ve killed also let go?"
He was idly joking with Xiuzhu, thinking this usually reserved and kind monk would stutter, speechless.
Unexpectedly, Xiuzhu thought for a moment very seriously and said:
"They can."
Chen Kuang twitched the corner of his mouth: "Monks do not lie."
Xiuzhu put his hands together, looking at Chen Kuang, and said solemnly:
"The Buddha has six divine powers: Celestial Eye Power, Celestial Ear Power, Telepathy, Divine Foot Power, Destiny Communication, and the Extinction of Leaks."
"The sixth, Extinction of Leaks, only a True Saint possesses; it can eradicate obsessions and afflictions, freeing one from the cycle of fate, stripping away all cause and effect."
Xiuzhu asserted firmly: "And once freed from the cycle of fate, it means that everything born from and extinguished by you, besides yourself, becomes unrelated to you."
"Those you’ve killed live on; those you’ve saved still die, with no burdens during life or after death."
"From then on, troubles are non-existent, obsessions are nullified."
Chen Kuang hadn’t taken it seriously at first, but hearing this, his eyes suddenly sharpened.
He slowly opened his mouth: "Then... what if it’s already entangled—"
"Fortune, or destiny, could it be stripped away?"
