Chapter 424: with translation of chapter title

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"En."

Lin Ke nodded indifferently, acknowledging Luo Te Si Nuo's statement.

Whether it's the special star system or the new world, it's merely a return to the rhythm of campaigning across the heavens.

The point that most concerns Lin Ke is actually where this star system with three stars, twelve planets, and multiple other celestial bodies is special, allowing the Immortal-Deity Civilization to be unable to conquer it for so many years, halting the Wizard Civilization's expansion, and letting the Demon Monster Civilization take it as a barrier.

Having this doubt in his mind, Lin Ke directly voiced it.

This is also one of the extremely important steps in the plan, understanding the detailed intelligence of the attack target.

After hearing Lin Ke's question, Luo Te Si Nuo did not answer, but instead looked toward the Meidiqi sage beside him.

"Grand Wizard, please look."

The Meidiqi sage understood Luo Te Si Nuo's meaning, immediately took out an encrypted document, and handed it to the starry sky airship's brain.

Three-dimensional star maps floated up, page after page of illustrated encrypted data with audio and video automatically played.

This encrypted data includes sharing from the Immortal-Deity Civilization and reconnaissance obtained from the High Council's office in the parallel universe; it may not be entirely error-free, but it is absolutely comprehensive and in-depth.

"Um..."

To Lin Ke, there is actually no difference between the two.

After quickly browsing through this encrypted data, Lin Ke looked at the Meidiqi sage and said, "Can I keep a copy for private study?"

"Of course."

The Meidiqi sage agreed without a second thought, then said, "This was originally the Elemental Sage's order for me to prepare for you."

So, the Elemental Sage had already determined, either before or after communicating with Lin Ke, how Lin Ke would proceed next.

"Please thank the Elemental Sage for me."

Lin Ke solemnly said to the Meidiqi sage.

"I will definitely convey the message."

The Meidiqi sage responded just as solemnly.

Lin Ke smiled at the corner of his mouth, brushed past this matter, turned his head to Luo Te Si Nuo and said, "I'm a bit tired, I want to rest a while."

"No problem."

Luo Te Si Nuo clapped his hands loudly, excitedly said, "I'll get you a room, guaranteeing absolutely no eavesdropping or covert filming, and absolutely soundproof, absolutely sturdy. You can toss and turn however you like!"

While saying this, Luo Te Si Nuo kept clapping his hands, producing a pap-pap-pap sound.

Lin Ke couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Mo Li, clinging tightly to Lin Ke's arm, showed no shyness; instead, she pressed her whole body into his embrace, almost straddling him, then gave Luo Te Si Nuo a provocative glance and sneered disdainfully, "The lament of a single dog."

Luo Te Si Nuo, hearing this, stared wide-eyed, utterly shocked as he looked at his sister-in-law.

"This..."

As a married woman and a mother, is this young lady really this open, this spicy?

The Meidiqi sage beside him also felt somewhat embarrassed.

For so many years he's only focused on cultivation; not only has he not started a family, he hasn't even found a female companion.

"Lin Ke, let's go."

Mo Li finished mocking Luo Te Si Nuo, then accidentally slighted the Meidiqi sage, held her head high and chest out, and walked away triumphantly.

Lin Ke apologetically smiled at Luo Te Si Nuo and the Meidiqi sage, then followed Mo Li toward the sleeping chamber that the starry sky airship's brain had instantly arranged according to Luo Te Si Nuo's request.

After entering the chamber, Lin Ke and Mo Li indeed lay on the bed, but they did not go wild as Luo Te Si Nuo had said.

Although a brief separation is better than a new marriage, for now there is important business; we should attend to that first before anything else.

Mo Li was very considerate, simply holding Lin Ke tightly, without murmuring or demanding anything, but instead accompanied him in researching the data on that special star system.

According to the sharing from the Immortal-Deity Civilization and the reconnaissance of the Wizard Civilization, strictly speaking, this special star system is not the territory of the Demon Monster Civilization.

It is merely a strategic chokepoint, akin to the Hangu Pass of Qin during the Warring States period in Lin Ke's past life; it is a necessary passage for the Immortal-Deity Civilization to attack the core star domain of the Demon Monster Civilization, and likewise a vital stronghold for the Demon Monster Civilization's 'eastward advance'.

Although the Immortal-Deity Civilization now faces the impending catastrophe of the Dharma-ending era, in terms of overall strength it overwhelmingly surpasses the Demon Monster Civilization, making it the attacker.

The Demon Monster Civilization is the defender.

Thus, the Demon Monster Civilization reluctantly coexists peacefully with this special star system, and there is no need to conquer it.

Besides the need to attack the Demon Monster Civilization, the Immortal-Deity Civilization also has a compelling reason to conquer this special star system.

That is, the occupiers of this special star system are the remnants of the 'Buddhist school' spoken of by the Ancestral Heavenly Master.

Those three stars are not actual celestial bodies, but manifestations of three Buddhas in incarnate form.

The status of a Buddha is equal to that of a heavenly immortal/heavenly venerable or a sage, and also equivalent to the heavenly demons and heavenly devils of the Demon Monster Civilization.

The titles of the three Buddhas are, respectively, Eastern Medicine Buddha, Central Shakyamuni Buddha, and Western Amitabha Buddha.

In this star system shared by the Immortal-Deity Civilization, the Demon Monster Civilization, and the Buddhist remnants, there is a saying that these three Buddhas are actually one Buddha.

Why is that said?

What does 'Amitabha' mean? It means infinite life; granting medicine yields infinite life, which is an extension of the Medicine Buddha Tathagata;

What does 'Amitabha' mean? It means infinite light; Vairocana Buddha is infinite light. Thus we know that all Buddhas are of the same essence but different names, all skillful manifestations for the benefit of beings.

Vairocana Buddha is the Dharma-body of Shakyamuni Buddha, meaning the Great Sun Tathagata, hence also called the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha.

Initially, the Immortal-Deity Civilization was not called that; it was called the Immortal-Deity-Buddhist Civilization, with three paths: the Immortal Path, the Divine Path, and the Buddhist Path.

Later, some events occurred; the heavenly immortals and venerables discovered that the end of the Buddhist Path is that anyone can become a Buddha, and that the myriad Buddhas are actually one Buddha; they immediately denounced the Buddhist Path as a heretical deviant way and went their separate ways.

At first it was merely a parting of ways, with no further interaction.

However, within the excluded Buddhist community a split occurred: one part remained Buddhist, while another part fell into demonhood and joined forces with the demons.

From then on, the Immortal-Deity Civilization launched attacks against the Buddhas, demons, and fiends.

The priority of overthrowing the combined demons and fiends was still placed after overthrowing the heretical Buddhist deviants.

After thousands of years of war, the Buddhist Sect was beaten by the Celestial Divine Civilization down to just the remnants of this star system.

Even the stars of this star system were completely destroyed by the Celestial Divine Civilization, forcing the three Buddhist Patriarchs to resort to this measure, manifesting as incarnations of the Great Sun to replace the function of the real stars.

Together they formed a defense line said to be indestructible, resisting further attacks from the Celestial Divine Civilization.

The Celestial Divine Civilization actually had ways to completely wipe out the remnants of the Buddhist Sect.

Soldier against soldier, general against general.

The remnants of the Buddhist Sect sent out the three Buddhist Patriarchs incarnated as the Great Sun, while the Celestial Divine Civilization could send three, four, or even five or six Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Venerables to break through the defense line formed by the three Patriarchs' incarnations.

However, at this very moment, the End-Time Dharma Crisis loomed.

The Celestial Divine Civilization was forced to abandon the decisive battle aimed at finishing everything in one go, instead choosing to wear down the Buddhist Sect's remnants on one hand, stalemate with the Demon Civilization on another, and actively seek ways to cope with the calamity of the End-Time Dharma Crisis.

「This... 」

After reading the encrypted data, Mo Li could no longer keep her composure.

Wanting to sigh but not knowing how, Mo Li simply flipped over and lay on Lin Ke, propping herself up with her arms on his chest, gazing into his eyes, and said in a cold voice: "Making you, a fifth-level Grand Sage, do what those Saints, Celestial Immortals, and Heavenly Venerables don't want to do—do you have the nerve? Still want to keep your face?"

"Don't rush, Mo Li." Lin Ke turned off the encrypted data, wrapped his arms around her waist, and said gently, "They went to all that trouble just to make me 'figure it out' on my own, to take the initiative to do this—there must be a reason. I think if the Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council want to do this, it's certainly not a brute-force attack but a clever acquisition. Since it's a clever acquisition, there's definitely some leeway."

"But... this is still too dangerous!"

Mo Li sniffled and said, "Lin Ke, can you not go?"

"I can't not go, Mo Li."

Lin Ke took a deep breath and said, "If I don't go, my freedom will be completely gone, your freedom, Mei Li Ya's freedom, and even your two lives..."

He stopped speaking at that point.

War between civilizations allows no room for tenderness.

Saints, Celestial Immortals, and Heavenly Venerables can fall, let alone a fifth-level Grand Sage.

No matter how special one's identity, how could it compare to the Saints, Celestial Immortals, and Heavenly Venerables standing at the pinnacle of the universe?

The so-called "predetermined fate"—this time, Lin Ke must go, with no room for negotiation.

Mo Li is no fool; she naturally understands this, but her worry clouds her judgment, her heart wholly fixed on Lin Ke, unconsciously overlooking this point.

After Lin Ke's reminder, she quickly realized and then decided: "I'll go with you, no matter how they arrange for you."

"Mm."

Lin Ke didn't refuse and directly agreed.

The God-Eating Insect is indeed a major weapon bred by the worm civilization that once stood on par with the Wizard Civilization.

As Mo Li's bound spirit beast, it continuously nourishes her, allowing her to rise at an extraordinary speed, and before she knew it, she was not far from becoming a fifth-level Grand Sage.

Her true combat power, proven in the previous battle when the Michel Grand Sage's Tower raided the advance team of the Rui Wo Si Si Academy, far surpasses that of an ordinary Beast Tamer Mage.

Therefore, Lin Ke did not, as usual, forcibly place Mo Li in the rear; instead, he agreed to let her set out with him, fighting side by side.

To be honest, Mo Li had thought Lin Ke might agree, but she didn't expect him to agree so readily.

To the point that Mo Li almost thought she was hallucinating.

"Really?"

Mo Li asked uncertainly, her big eyes fixed on Lin Ke, tense and expectant.

"Really!"

Lin Ke gave his reply softly but extremely firmly.

"Great!"

Hearing that, Mo Li cheered, slid her hands to the sides, and firmly pressed her red lips against Lin Ke's.

Luo Te Si Nuo's consideration was correct.

The feeling that a brief separation is better than a new marriage burst forth, like a world war.

The intensity of their mutual slaughter was extremely high, enough to be described as heaven overturning and earth dimming.

Fortunately, both knew restraint, did not completely indulge, and still retained the awareness to conserve and build up their strength.

Before the Starry Sky Vessel reached its destination, they emerged from the sleep chamber and returned to the cockpit.

Before Lin Ke and Mo Li arrived at the cockpit, the atmosphere inside was already quite awkward.

After all, one is a reincarnated Saint with an increasingly eccentric temperament, the other is merely a sixth-level Grand Sage, an "ordinary" wizard of the Supreme Council, and they have little in common.

This awkward atmosphere grew even thicker after Lin Ke and Mo Li entered the cockpit.

Because the two single dogs really couldn't stand the lovebirds who constantly wanted to merge into one, flaunting their affection with a sour smell.

Fortunately, the Starry Sky Vessel soon entered a port.

This is the forwardmost supply outpost set up by the Wizard Civilization in the direction of the Special Star System.

Past this supply outpost, the Wizard Civilization no longer has any power in the parallel universe's radiation.

"Ai Rui Si!"

Stepping off the Starry Sky Vessel, Mo Li immediately spotted Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke's figure, quickly released Lin Ke's arm, and ran over.

"Mo Li."

Ai Rui Si also shouted and went to meet Mo Li.

The two witches clasped hands, just like ordinary girls reuniting after a long separation, extremely excited.

To be honest, as a straight man, Lin Ke finds it hard to understand this behavior.

Luo Te Si Nuo and the Mei Di Qi Sage are even more so.

The three male wizards exchanged a glance, and after stepping off the starry sky flying vessel, they tacitly made a slight detour to clear space for the two female wizards.

At this moment, the long‑absent Fu Li Si Te Dean emerged from a corner, accompanied by Xu Jing Heavenly Master and… the Elemental Saint.

The Mei Di Qi Sage hurried over to the Elemental Saint to report the matter.

Luo Te Si Nuo swooped in beside Xu Jing Heavenly Master with a swish, put his right hand around his shoulder, and chuckled, "Xu Jing, do you also want to go adventuring in the new world with me?"

Xu Jing Tian Shi replied expressionlessly: "No need. I'm about to be promoted to Heavenly Immortal; no need to complicate things."

Huh?

Luote Si Nuo instantly felt sour, "Is it really that easy?"

Of course.

Xu Jing Tian Shi nodded as a matter of course: "It's really that easy."

Luote Si Nuo swished his arm loose, flashed to a corner, and squatted on the ground drawing circles.

Thinking of how, as a reincarnated sage, he had to run east and west to restore his sage status, and now even has to work for the will of the wizard world—how arduous…

Everyone present understood Luote Si Nuo's current strange temperament, so no one paid attention to his action; each went about their own business.

Lin Ke sought out Fuliste Dean, frowned and asked, "Dean, do you also have a mission?"

Fuluosite Dean gave a bitter smile: "The High Council has lifted its temporary control over the Tower of the Great Sage Michel, ordering the Tower of the Great Sage Michel to compensate the Ravosoth Academy for its losses, and then…"

Before he could finish, Lin Ke understood.

It was nothing more than three cups of penalty wine, an apology and compensation, and the matter dropped.

All right, time is pressing, no more delay.

At that moment, after hearing the brief report from Sage Medici, the Elemental Sage spoke and lightly waved a hand.

Everyone present, including Xu Jing Tian Shi and Luote Si Nuo, instantly moved from the periphery of the supply outpost to the innermost area.

This is a spherical space, with six sleep capsules floating at its center.

The Elemental Sage pointed at the sleep capsules and said, "This is a 'Body Seizing' magical device designed and forged jointly by the True Spirit, the Machina, and the Body Refinement cultivator together with me. With this 'Body Seizing' device, you six can bypass the defensive line set up by the three remaining Buddhist avatars, randomly enter one of the twelve planets in the remaining Buddhist star system, and randomly seize a person's body. After completing the body seizure, your task is simply to survive, and then do whatever you want—there are no compulsory requirements. Understood?"

Lin Ke's face involuntarily turned a little strange.

Really, it's like an Avatar plot?