Chapter 355: Chapter 205: Bodhi Tree
Awesome!
Chen Kuang couldn’t help but cheer internally.
It’s truly like a pillow being given when feeling sleepy. In the current circumstances, this refreshed passive ability is like timely rain, solving Chen Kuang’s biggest worry.
His greatest concern now is being threatened by Xiuzhu. If Xiuzhu decides to betray him and reveals Chen Kuang’s identity to those three demons, he would be instantly isolated in the Pure Land.
But with the "Cuckoo Occupies Magpie’s Nest" passive ability, as long as he doesn’t reveal it himself, no matter what Xiuzhu says, even if it’s laid bare, those three demons would never suspect Chen Kuang’s identity!
Chen Kuang’s eyes flashed.
This passive ability seems to alter the perception of others, establishing a new, unbreakable rule.
Naturally, for him, the more powerful the cheat, the better.
But through his experiences, he has learned that this world is lacking nothing except a complete manifestation of the "Celestial Dao," which directly results in the Canliao Realm only appearing in illusions, with no path beyond the Saint.
And the "Celestial Dao" naturally means the rules of this world.
However, many of his passive abilities actually modify this world’s "Celestial Dao."
Piece by piece, the "Celestial Dao" only effective on him.
And compared to those individual "Celestial Dao," it is more complex, consisting of countless intertwined "Celestial Dao."
Chen Kuang has wondered about the origin of his status bar before, but had no clues in the past; now, it seems to become a bit clearer.
"It’s still too early to think about these things now; I should focus on how to survive against those three demons first."
Chen Kuang shook his head, pulling his thoughts back.
Since entering this Pure Land, he has vaguely become a key pawn used by the demons and Xiuzhu.
What Xiuzhu exactly wants is still unknown, but it appears that he certainly aims to prevent the three demons from completing the Celestial Demon’s inside-out collaboration plan.
And the three demons who mistakenly consider Chen Kuang as one of theirs seem to plan to leverage Chen Kuang’s lion heart aptitude to accomplish the act of extinguishing a Buddha.
Chen Kuang, an unofficial and unqualified person, full of flaws and impurities, has unexpectedly become recognized as Buddha’s Son in the Pure Land.
Even his current body can hardly be considered human!
Could there be anything more capable of destroying the Pure Land and wiping out Buddhist inheritance?
Yet, Chen Kuang could never expose his identity; he desperately needs the Zen Master’s recognition from the Pure Land, as it is the most favorable outcome for him.
After all, wasn’t his initial intent to deceive the Pure Land and impersonate Buddha’s Son?
"Sigh." Chen Kuang sighed.
If he didn’t know the identities and intentions of these Celestial Demons, even if they aimed to eradicate Buddhist inheritance, he wouldn’t have any feelings about it.
If extinct, then extinct; he isn’t a genuine Buddhist Disciple.
Huo Hengxuan, who taught him the "Mud Golden Sculpting Technique," was even expelled from the Pure Land by Jie Lan Temple.
Since the outcome benefits him, why not just go with the flow?
It would save a lot of trouble.
But now, it’s impossible.
Once they succeed and completely dismantle the Pure Land, more than just the Pure Land would be destroyed. The war situation between the Human Race and the Night Demons would undergo irreversible upheaval.
This wouldn’t merely be about doctrinal conflicts but an uncompromising war between two races!
No matter Xiuzhu’s intentions or background, Chen Kuang must now be on the same side as him.
Suddenly, that ethereal female voice sounded again beside Chen Kuang’s ear.
"You have finally come..."
Chen Kuang was almost startled to stand up.
Soon, he calmed down, directing his gaze toward the towering, lush Bodhi Tree before him.
This time, what he could feel became even clearer.
The woman’s voice was coming from this Bodhi Tree!
"Could this old fellow Huo Hengxuan’s long-remembered ’lady’ be this tree?"
Chen Kuang twitched his lips, with odd thoughts emerging:
"Is this considered a fascination with auspicious figures?"
"Speaking of which, I didn’t expect this Bodhi Tree to have consciousness within the Pure Land, becoming a monstrous entity..."
Chen Kuang was slightly puzzled.
Netherless, the monks of the Pure Land possess a high acceptance of the Demon Race. Due to early Buddha’s legends with demon races, they are more tolerant than ordinary sects.
——In fact, organizations like the Divine Farmer Bureau that harbor hatred for the Demon Race are minority.
But allowing a refined Bodhi Tree to be openly worshipped and revered within the Pure Land seems excessive?
Chen Kuang furrowed his brow, feeling something amiss.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, projected his divine sense, and attempted to communicate with the Bodhi Tree spirit.
"Are you waiting for Huo Hengxuan?"
Chen Kuang dove directly into the matter, recounting the whole story: "Back then, his swordsmanship talent was not good, and you said that his sword techniques didn’t look appealing. Later, he sought military service, wielding a sword, and finally mastered fine swordsmanship, hoping I would show you that strike."
He paused, seeing no response from the other side, continuing, "If you wish to know his whereabouts—he is already dead."
"Fallen thousands of miles away in the Liang Kingdom, defending the realm and king, perishing side by side with the National Guardian Saint of Great Zhou, achieving mock sainthood at the time of death as a Grandmaster."
But the tree spirit still gave no reaction, as if utterly oblivious to his words, until much later it again repeated:
"You have finally come..."
Chen Kuang furrowed his brow deeper, hesitating.
This Bodhi Tree... seems to lack full spiritual intelligence?
Without complete spiritual intelligence, it can hardly be considered part of the Demon Race; at most, it’s only a higher-grade celestial treasure.
Like intelligent beasts, they are merely kept as pets rather than considered demons.
Yet surely something is wrong.
How could Huo Hengxuan possibly develop deep sentiment towards a tree spirit lacking full spiritual intelligence?
Moreover, his words entirely regarded the counterpart as an independent entity, even seemingly disparaging toward him—such indifference is impossible.
Could it be... a misunderstanding, a false search?
Chen Kuang tried several times, all ending fruitlessly, ultimately opting for a temporary retreat.
...
Under the night’s curtain, the Bodhi Tree’s leaves gently swayed in the wind.
All of a sudden, the tree trunk silently split, revealing a crimson interior resembling human flesh.
The flesh pulsated like breathing, exuding droplets of blood that trickled from the bark, dripping onto the grass below.
Within this bloody flesh, a clear human eye opened with a gurgling sound!
Blood continuously surged from the eye’s periphery, resembling tears.
The woman’s sobs scattered with the wind...
...
The next day, Xiuzhu knocked on the Zen Room’s door.
Chen Kuang donned monk garb, following him to Jie Lan Temple’s grand hall.
Today, the three Great Zen Masters plan to disclose Chen Kuang’s identity to all monks of Jie Lan Temple.
