Chapter 440: with translation of chapter title

446. Chapter 446: Confront

446. Chapter 446: Confront

After Monk Liaochen went down the mountain, his whereabouts became unknown.

After the monk Liaochen went down the mountain, his whereabouts became unknown.

Thus 【2】 After the monk Liaochen went down the mountain, his whereabouts became unknown.

When Lin Ke and Mo Li arrived at the White Horse Temple, they were also surprised by the changes in the White Horse Temple.

When Lin Ke and Mo Li arrived at the White Horse Temple, they were also surprised by the changes in the White Horse Temple.

"What's going on, Lin Ke?"

"What's going on, Lin Ke?"

Mo Li looked at Lin Ke, puzzled, and asked, "Is the good thing you sensed earlier related to this?"

Translate: Mo Li looked at Lin Ke and asked doubtfully, "Is the good thing you sensed earlier related to this?" Keep quotes.

"No."

Translate: "No."

Lin Ke shook his head and said calmly, "I didn't even sense this change."

Translate: Lin Ke shook his head and said calmly, "I didn't even sense this change."

"Then... what happened here?"

Translate: "Then... what happened here?"

Mo Li continued to ask, feeling that something was very off.

Translate: Mo Li continued to ask, feeling that something was very off.

The changes at the White Horse Temple came too suddenly, without any warning.

Translate: The changes at the White Horse Temple came too suddenly, with no warning whatsoever.

Moreover, the White Horse Temple, already reduced to ruins, shows no signs of battle; it has completely deteriorated under the influence of time.

Translate: Moreover, the White Horse Temple, already reduced to ruins, showed no signs of battle; it had utterly deteriorated under the influence of time.

There are only two possibilities for this situation.

Translate: There are only two possibilities for this situation.

First, the White Horse Temple had already declined long ago;

Translate: One, the White Horse Temple had already declined long ago;

Second, there exists a being capable of interfering with time that has acted upon the White Horse Temple.

Translate: two, some being capable of interfering with time has acted upon the White Horse Temple.

In either case, Mo Li feels greatly alarmed, with a faint sense of fear arising.

Translate: Regardless of which scenario, Mo Li felt greatly alarmed, a faint fear arising.

The reason is simple.

Translate: The reason is simple.

Involving time requires a being of saintly status.

Translate: Involving time requires one to be of a saintly stature.

Thinking of this, Mo Li lifts her head to gaze at the three suns above.

Translate: Thinking of this, Mo Li lifted her head and gazed up at the three suns above.

"Don't worry, it's fine."

Translate: "Don't worry, it's fine."

Lin Ke senses Mo Li's emotion, speaks to comfort her, then changes the subject: "Come with me."

Translate: Lin Ke sensed Mo Li's emotions, spoke to comfort her, then changed the subject: "Follow me."

After his words fell, Lin Ke detoured around the ruins of the White Horse Temple and walked toward the back mountain.

Translate: As his words faded, Lin Ke detoured around the ruins of the White Horse Temple and strode toward the back mountain.

Mo Li hurried to keep up with Lin Ke's steps.

Translate: Mo Li hurried to keep up with Lin Ke's steps.

Soon after, the two arrived at the lakeside behind the mountain, seeing the lake full of blooming, swaying white lotuses.

Translate: Soon after, the two arrived at the lakeside of the back mountain, seeing the lake full of blooming, swaying white lotuses.

"White lotus..."

Translate: "White lotus..."

Mo Li's lips moved as she murmured the word, and suddenly she felt some emotion.

Translate: Mo Li's lips moved as she murmured the word, and suddenly she felt some emotion.

Sour and astringent...

Translate: Sour and astringent...

Immediately, Mo Li suppressed these emotions and looked at Lin Ke.

Translate: Immediately, Mo Li suppressed those emotions and looked at Lin Ke.

At this moment, Lin Ke was also looking at Mo Li, and their eyes met.

Translate: At that moment, Lin Ke was also looking at Mo Li, and their eyes met.

Silence at this moment speaks louder than words.

Translate: At this moment, silence speaks louder than words.

As their eyes met, Mo Li immediately understood Lin Ke's next plan.

Translate: As their eyes met, Mo Li immediately understood Lin Ke's next plan.

"Go ahead."

Translate: "Go ahead."

Without hesitation, Mo Li spoke softly, "Don't worry about me."

Translate: Without hesitation, Mo Li spoke softly, "Don't worry about me."

Lin Ke remained silent, merely looking at Mo Li.

Translate: Lin Ke remained silent, merely looking at Mo Li.

"Go."

Translate: "Go."

With a smile forming at the corner of her mouth, Mo Li spoke again, urging him on.

Translate: With a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, Mo Li spoke again, urging him on.

"Mm."

Translate: "Mm."

Lin Ke nodded, then drifted toward the center of the lake.

Translate: Lin Ke nodded, then drifted toward the center of the lake.

Mo Li glanced, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.

Translate: Mo Li glanced at him, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.

Everyone has their own abilities; if something cannot be done by oneself, then do what one can.

Translate: Everyone has their own abilities; if something cannot be done by oneself, then do what one can.

Although the situation in this world is already chaotic and corrupt, it can become even more chaotic and corrupt.

Translate: Although the situation in this world is already chaotic and corrupt, it can become even more chaotic and corrupt.

Therefore, Mo Li intends to add another spark, making this pot of chaotic porridge bubble even more fiercely.

Translate: Therefore, Mo Li intends to add another fire, letting this pot of chaotic congee bubble even more fiercely.

In his special spiritual state, Lin Ke floated to the center of the lake, closed his eyes, and stood still.

Translate: In his special spiritual state, Lin Ke drifted to the lake's center, closed his eyes, and stood still.

The white lotuses across the lake bloomed even more profusely and swayed more joyfully.

Translate: The white lotuses across the lake bloomed even more profusely, swaying more joyously.

Soon, the blooming white lotuses gradually lost their luster, drooped, and withered.

Translate: Soon, the blooming white lotuses gradually lost their luster, gradually drooped, and gradually withered.

Not long after, all the white lotuses in the lake withered, leaving only a lake of withered lotus remnants.

Not long after, all the white lotuses in the lake withered, leaving only a lake of withered lotuses.

Soon after, the lake water surged as if something underground were pulling it, sucking in all the remaining withered lotuses.

Translate: Soon after, the lake water surged as if something underground were pulling, sucking all the withered lotuses into it.

Lin Ke continued to wait quietly.

Translate: Lin Ke waited silently the whole time.

The lake water began to spin, forming a vortex that grew larger and larger.

Translate: The lake water began to spin, forming a vortex that grew larger and larger.

An irresistible suction emerged from the vortex, pulling Lin Ke in his special spiritual state into it, where he merged with a white lotus seed.

Translate: An irresistible suction arose from the vortex, drawing Lin Ke's special spiritual form into it and merging with a white lotus seed.

The next second, the white lotus seed vanished, and the lake's vortex suddenly subsided.

Translate: The next second, the white lotus seed vanished, and the lake's vortex abruptly calmed.

Having left the White Horse Temple, Mo Li paused briefly, then continued on her way.

Translate: Mo Li, having left the White Horse Temple, paused momentarily, then continued onward.

Having been down the mountain for a long time, the monk Liaochen, who held the belief "if one goes and does not return, then one simply does not return," clasped his hands together and devoutly chanted: "Maitreya descends, the Bright King appears."

Translate: Having been down the mountain for a long time, the monk Liaochen, holding the belief "if I go and never return, then I go and never return," clasped his hands together and devoutly chanted: "Maitreya descends, the Bright King appears."

At this moment, Lin Ke could not see Mo Li's pause, nor hear the monk Liaochen's chant.

Translate: At this moment, Lin Ke could not see Mo Li's pause, nor hear the chanting of Monk Liaochen.

He entered an extremely peculiar state, an extremely wonderful space.

Translate: He entered an extremely peculiar state, an extremely wonderful space.

After merging with the white lotus seed, Lin Ke's existence vanished from the world of the White Horse Temple, following the call of "Unborn Parents, the Vacuum Homeland," and following countless prayers of those in hopelessness yearning for salvation, he arrived at the habitable world where Ares scattered sparks.

Translate: After merging with the white lotus seed, Lin Ke's existence vanished from the world where the White Horse Temple resides, following the call of "Unborn Parents, Vacuum Homeland," and following the countless prayers of those yearning for salvation in hopelessness, he arrived at the habitable world where Ares scattered sparks.

Ares

After arriving here, Lin Ke remains in a non-corporeal state, located in a "void" that is immensely vast yet infinitesimally small.

Translate: After arriving here, Lin Ke remained without a physical form, situated in an immensely vast yet infinitesimally small "void."

This seems to be the so-called "Vacuum Homeland."

Translate: This seems to be the so-called "Vacuum Homeland."

In the "Vacuum Homeland," a single white lotus lies at the very center.

Translate: In the "Vacuum Homeland," a white lotus stands at the very center.

Over a hundred thousand sacrificed spirits who believe in the "Unborn Mother, Vacuum Homeland" encircle the white lotus, sitting orderly in silent, earnest prayer.

Translate: Over a hundred thousand sacrificed spirits who faithfully follow the "Unborn Mother, Vacuum Homeland" encircle the white lotus, sitting orderly in silent meditation, earnestly praying.

The white lotus seed fused into Lin Ke's special spirit body hovered above that white lotus, extremely eager to merge with the white lotus, yet inexplicably fearful.

It seems that after merging with the White Lotus, something terrible will happen.

Moreover, the White Lotus underground does not appear to be the one that the White Lotus Seed from another realm originally intended to merge with.

After lowering his head to observe for a moment, Lin Ke discovered the reason.

The two extremely familiar seals, the Yang Binshi Du Gong Seal and the Nine Old Immortals Capital Seal, lay left and right in the White Lotus's pistil below, emanating pure light.

Two strands of pure light replaced the White Lotus Seed Lin Ke was currently merging with, serving to maintain the White Lotus's existence while continually attempting to purify it.

"Purification" is, of course, from the perspective of the two seals.

From the White Lotus's perspective, naturally one would change the term, such as "remodeling," or more precisely, "editing."

The two seals wish to edit the fundamental concept underlying the White Lotus's existence from the basic logic!

"Void Tranquil Heavenly Master."

Lin Ke murmured this title, then recalled the Heavenly Master's Manor behind the Void Tranquil Heavenly Master, and the Old Heavenly Master.

He said that this deep‑behind‑enemy‑lines, inside‑outside cooperation mission could not possibly rely solely on the Wizard Civilization without the Immortal‑Deity Civilization's participation.

From the present situation, it is evident that the Wizard Civilization and the Immortal‑Deity Civilization have a clear division of labor.

The Wizard Civilization handles the first half, the Immortal‑Deity Civilization the second half.

The True Spirit, Element, Artifice, and Body Refinement Saints representing the Wizard Civilization forged the Soul Seizure Wizard Implement; the Immortal‑Deity Civilization naturally could not appear stingy.

Come on, hasn't the Heavenly Master's Manor just produced imitations of the Yang Binshi Du Gong Seal and the Nine Old Immortals Capital Seal?

The key is: what is the function of these two sides' imitation seals, and what are the purposes of the Heavenly Master's Manor and the Immortal‑Deity Civilization!

Lin Ke pondered for a while, had some thoughts, but limited information prevented much gain, so he simply stopped speculating.

He focused his attention on himself.

According to the plan of certain existent beings, the White Lotus Seed from the White Horse Chan Monastery certainly must merge with that White Lotus below.

With the admixture of the two sides' imitation seals, the White Lotus Seed can still forcibly merge with the White Lotus, but the effect will definitely lean toward the plan of those existent beings.

Lin Ke has two points to consider:

One, whether to continue letting the White Lotus Seed merge with the White Lotus;

Two, whether he himself should merge in, and if so, in what form.

Without needing to think long, Lin Ke made a decision.

"My fate is mine, not heaven's."

With a murmur that directly points to the root of the Immortal‑Deity Civilization's Immortal‑Deity Path Golden Core Great Dao, Lin Ke began to act.

The Special Spirit Body detached from the White Lotus Seed, then struck heavily, completely crushing the White Lotus Seed.

Like dust motes invisible to the eye, the White Lotus Seed fragments, under Lin Ke's will, were evenly distributed into over a hundred thousand portions, floating above each sacrificed spirit's head. What is the true nature of the White Lotus Seed from the White Horse Chan Monastery?

Its true nature is the Great Master of Non‑Birth's realization of the Bodhisattva Vehicle Dharma, and the merit accumulated by the Great Master of Non‑Birth throughout his life practicing that Dharma.

These realizations and merits, Lin Ke now unsparingly shatters into over a hundred thousand portions, evenly distributing them to each sacrificed spirit.

"Poor Monk Liaofan vows to save all suffering beings, leading them all to Bodhi, thereby attaining perfect enlightenment."

"If I do not enter hell, who will?"

Two voices echoed in the "Void" of the suspected True Void Hometown.

The former is the Great Compassionate Vow, the latter the Firm Will.

With the aid of the Great Master of Non‑Birth's realization and merit, the Great Compassionate Vow and Firm Will combine, bursting forth with supreme power.

"Thus have I heard: one moment……

The voice uttering the Great Compassionate Vow and Firm Will sounded again, intending to chant sutras to liberate the over a hundred thousand sacrificed spirits in the True Void Hometown.

Located left and right in the White Lotus's pistil, maintaining the White Lotus's existence while editing it, the imitation Yang Binshi Du Gong Seal and Nine Old Immortals Capital Seal suddenly flew out of the White Lotus.

Just as the White Lotus Seed shattered, the two sides' imitation seals instantly split themselves, fragmenting into over a hundred thousand pieces.

"Thus have I heard: one moment, one moment, one moment……

The intention to chant sutras to liberate the over a hundred thousand sacrificed spirits was immediately interfered with, unable to continue, as if stuck.

Lin Ke noticed the change, was pleased with it, and did not intervene.

"One moment, one moment, one moment……

The voice intending to chant sutras, within the blockage, gradually faded until it disappeared.

Another, even more pure‑sounding voice then rang on, seamlessly connected.

"The Dao says:

"In former times, within the Initial Azure Heaven, the Azure Void Empty Song, the Great Floating Black Soil (du), receiving the Original Beginning Salvation's supreme excellence.

……

This pure‑sounding voice suffered no interference and began chanting sutras.

Within the chanting, the over a hundred thousand spirits who believed in the Non‑Birth Parents and True Void Hometown gradually awakened, clearly recognized their mistakes, and sincerely repented.

Then, in that sincere repentance, they received salvation.

"The heavenly qi surges vast; my Dao flourishes day by day."

As this sutra was spoken, the over a hundred thousand sacrificed spirits all rose to their feet, bowed toward Lin Ke standing above the withering White Lotus, received salvation, and walked toward their next lives.

In an instant, the immensely vast yet infinitesimally tiny space held only Lin Ke's Special Spirit Body and the White Lotus that appeared completely withered.

"Come out."

At this moment, Lin Ke drifted down from above the White Lotus, stood beside it, and shouted loudly.

His voice reverberated in that immensely vast yet infinitesimally tiny space, humming, empty and empty.

No one responded.

"Come out, stop hiding."

Lin Ke, calm‑expressioned, repeated the sentence.

The words fell, the withered white lotus vanished, and a woman whose appearance and figure were identical to Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke's appeared, though her demeanor was completely different.

This woman and Lin Ke are now the same, both existing in the form of a special spirit body.

"When did you know I was here?"

The woman appeared and asked a nonsensical question.

Lin Ke smiled: "I don't know, I guessed."

"Guessed."

The woman muttered, then asked again, "You called me out, what do you intend to do? Kill me?"

"Can't kill."

Lin Ke calmly replied, "I also don't want to kill."

"Why?"

The woman frowned, seeming very doubtful.

Obviously, the woman is the 'I' that Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke completely severed, and also the ruthless person who killed his way back from another universe to the Wizard Civilization Universe.

Also the chief culprit who brought Lin Ke to the Wizard Civilization Universe.

Furthermore, an existence that Lin Ke must face head-on, the predetermined fate that cannot be avoided.

Now, after everyone's efforts, Lin Ke finally faces the woman; what he intends to do is obviously not just fighting and killing.

The martial world is not just fighting and killing; the martial world is human relations and worldly affairs.

"What do you want to know?"

After doubting, the woman asked again in this way.

Lin Ke shook his head upon hearing: "I don't want to know anything; I just want to hear what you say and see what you do."

This sentence made the woman's brows furrow even tighter.

Between them, silence suddenly fell.

Lin Ke calmly looked at the woman, the woman frowned in thought.

In this strange space resembling a Vacuum Hometown, time seemed to have no meaning.

Lin Ke and the woman maintained the same posture, stalemating for a very long time in the meaningless time.

Moreover, they could continue the stalemate.

But in the outside world, the meaning of time is everywhere, with widespread influence.

Believers of the 'No Parents, Vacuum Hometown' creed, the followers of the Lotus Society, from some point on, gradually underwent a fundamental change in belief.

This change occurred silently, unnoticed by anyone.

Including the sixteen girls and twenty-seven women personally trained by Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke.

Sometime ago, the Lotus Society's propagation and resistance against Buddhist methods became increasingly natural and tranquil.

The Lotus Society no longer slaughtered upon encountering temples, nor killed upon encountering monks.

Instead, it captured what it could and seized what it could conquer.

After capturing monks and occupying Buddhist temples, the Lotus Society's followers began to lecture and discuss sutras.

Not only did they lecture and discuss sutras internally, they also did so with the captured monks.

At first, the Lotus Society's followers, whose reasoning was weak, could not possibly match the Buddhist temple monks in debate.

But soon, the Lotus Society's followers, in the process of lecturing and discussing sutras, filled the gaps and solidified their foundation under the guidance of voices from unknown sources.

The slogan 'No Parents, Vacuum Hometown' was mentioned less and less.

The name 'Lotus Society' was also gradually abandoned.

Because initially, joining the Lotus Society required contributing five pecks of rice, the name 'Five Pecks of Rice Dao' was smoothly accepted by the Lotus Society's followers.

The behavior of resisting Buddhism also gradually changed, ultimately defined as cutting down mountains, destroying temples, and uprooting heretical shrines.

Yes, the followers of the Lotus Society who have turned into the Five Pecks of Rice Dao have branded the lofty Buddhist establishment as heretical shrines!

Buddhism naturally could not stand by and watch this change, nor could it allow the Five Pecks of Rice Dao to grow strong.

The effort to suppress the Five Pecks of Rice Dao grew stronger; not to mention vajras and arhats, even bodhisattvas and buddhas were running around.

However, a single spark can start a prairie fire.

Originally, the Lotus Society could still be called rootless duckweed.

But now, the Five Pecks of Rice Dao is certainly not an empty framework without support.

The pursuit is also not some 'Vacuum Hometown' that can only be reached after death.

But rather an earthly Dao state to replace the mortal Buddhist realm!

This is a struggle for survival, and even more a struggle for the Dao lineage.

A scabies disease thus became a serious internal threat, progressing from an affliction of the skin to one of the marrow.

With three great suns above his head, he sat and watched the changes, unresponsive.