Chapter 441: with translation of chapter title

447. Chapter 447 Buddhist Mother

Human nature is selfish.

The world bustles, all coming for profit; the world rushes, all going for profit.

When the Elemental Saint brought out six possession witch's implements, Lin Ke did not fully believe the Elemental Saint's words.

Was it that they bypassed the defensive system of the three suns of the remnants of Buddhist civilization, using possession to infiltrate behind enemy lines, or did they reach a tacit understanding with the three Buddhas of the remnants of Buddhist civilization, and both possibilities are being considered?

Lin Ke did not prejudge, but held a bias.

Instead, he walked and observed, observed and thought, thought and adjusted his plan.

That's why the current situation came to be.

When the turmoil in the habitable world of the remnants of Buddhist civilization, into which Frister and Medichi had entered via possession, was quelled; when Ai Rui Si and Lotussno successively withdrew in different ways; when Mo Li continued to fan the flames,

Lin Ke and the 'I' spoken of by Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke were deadlocked in this extremely vast yet extremely minute special space, sitting and watching external changes.

He neither wanted to intervene and add fuel, making the situation of the two tumultuous habitable worlds even more unfavorable to the remnants of Buddhist civilization, nor did he want to figure out how to cause the other nine unaffected habitable worlds to also erupt in turmoil.

It seemed to Lin Ke that the Elemental Saint's so-called mission of infiltrating behind enemy lines and coordinating inside and outside was not important at all.

In fact, is that really the case?

Yes, that is exactly so.

Some problems, Lin Ke previously avoided seeing them for various reasons, not because he was unaware of them, nor because he had not discovered them.

When Lin Ke decided to comply with all parties' demands and also comply with his inner yearning, deciding to face the 'predetermined fate,' those problems he had previously avoided would no longer continue to be avoided.

From when did the constraints or guidance of the 'predetermined fate' placed on Lin Ke become more obvious, even more unbridled?

Since the second time he entered the special ruin world.

Since learning of the prophecy before the demise of the Mystic System Witch Saint Nuosituo Luodamu.

And even more from after Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke accepted the trial of the special ruin world.

Everything that happened afterward was closely related to the special ruin world.

And this special ruin world was brought to the witchcraft civilization's universe by the 'I' currently deadlocked with Lin Ke.

Therefore, for Lin Ke, to face the 'predetermined fate' is to face the 'I' standing before him.

The various forces pushing Lin Ke to face the 'I' before him also gave him ample hints in the process.

The High Council of the Witchcraft Civilization decided to intervene in the ninth trial that Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke was undergoing, allowing Lin Ke to enter the Human Immortal Martial World.

In the Human Immortal Martial World, there exists the Daoist sect, and likewise there are traces of Buddhist civilization.

Even the cultivation system of the Human Immortal Martial World shares a marvelous similarity with the Buddhist monastic martial system.

This is precisely a subtle hint.

After the High Council interfered with the ninth trial of the special ruin world, the biggest boss that emerged was none other than Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke, who had incarnated as the White Lotus Holy Mother that has destroyed countless worlds.

The measures taken by the Heavenly Master's Office, represented by Heavenly Master Xu Jing, and by the Immortal-God Civilization, represented by the Heavenly Master's Office, were to leave behind imitations of the Yang Bing Shi Du Gong Yin and the Jiu Lao Xian Du Yin seals from both sides.

The function of these imitation seals from both sides is not to kill the White Lotus Holy Mother, but to help Ai Rui Si. Ke La Ke sever countless incarnations or thoughts, purifying the self's true spirit.

Having lain low for several years, Lin Ke has never stopped thinking.

Having entered the Immortal-God Civilization's universe, Lin Ke has been constantly observing the situation.

As Lotussno went to look for stars, for that beam of light, Lin Ke has been paying attention to all aspects of the Immortal-God Civilization's dynamics, current state, and history.

Just as the Witchcraft Civilization has a mortal enemy in its own universe: the Gods Civilization.

The Immortal-God Civilization also has a mortal enemy: the Demon Civilization.

The Witchcraft Civilization and the Immortal-God Civilization developing each other's universes means the Witchcraft Civilization attacks the Demon Civilization, while the Immortal-God Civilization attacks the Gods Civilization.

Many people, including Dean Frister, who has long been renowned as a sage, have failed to notice a detail.

Lin Ke, based on some memories from his past life and the guidance from the shadows, noticed it.

The 'demon' in the Demon Civilization originates from a fallen 'Buddha'.

Thus, the formerly more powerful Immortal-God-Buddha Civilization has become the Immortal-God Civilization and the remnants of Buddhist civilization.

Another detail, Lin Ke also noticed.

The concept of the 'Age of Dharma's End' originates from Buddhist civilization, originally from the Central Buddha and the Present Buddha: Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Immortal-God Civilization's heavenly immortals and heavenly venerables accepted this notion without rejection and actively responded to it.

What does this indicate?

This indicates that since immortals, gods, and Buddhas have previously merged, they can certainly continue to do so.

The premise is that the 'Buddha' must sever itself, purify itself, first destroy the internal 'demon,' then the external 'demon.'

What is the internal 'demon'?

It is impure Buddhist teachings, monks who practice impure Buddhism, or the Buddhist sect.

Influence has always been mutual.

As the source of Buddhist teachings, the Buddha can inevitably greatly influence the monks who practice them.

Conversely, the monks who practice Buddhist teachings can also greatly influence the source of those teachings: the Buddha.

Because the Buddha is in the heart, under the feet, and among all beings.

If the remnants of Buddhist civilization, if the three Buddhas, do not find a way to eliminate the internal 'demon,' then the remnants of Buddhist civilization will cease to exist, instead wholly falling into demonhood and merging into the Demon Civilization.

The Immortal-God Civilization naturally does not wish to see the power of its mortal enemy, the Demon Civilization, grow stronger.

Before the Immortal-God Civilization lie only two paths: one, to help the remnants of Buddhist civilization sever themselves and purify themselves before they wholly fall into demonhood; two, to destroy the remnants of Buddhist civilization and the Demon Civilization.

The second path is, of course, the one the Immortal-God Civilization most wishes to take.

Only a dead enemy is a good enemy.

However, since the Demon Civilization and the remnants of Buddhist civilization can still survive despite the Immortal-God Civilization's constant assaults, it is impossible for the Immortal-God Civilization to wipe them out in a short time.

The crisis of the 'Age of Dharma's End' is once again placed before us.

The immortal-god civilization could only take the first path: helping the remnants of the Buddhist civilization achieve self-severance and self-purification.

Achieving this, whether merging with the flow or not, would indirectly weaken the demon civilization and strengthen the immortal-god civilization.

Thus, the immortal-god civilization could face the "End of the Dharma" crisis with greater composure.

From the very beginning, the immortal-god civilization never had a definite plan to exterminate the remnants of the Buddhist civilization!

Having understood these principles, after Lin Ke seized a body and entered the habitable world of the Buddhist civilization remnants, he never thought of merely stirring up trouble to overthrow Buddhism; he only wanted to root out the deformed Buddhism that was nearly demonic.

Lin Ke's way of eradicating the root was to revive the three vehicles of Buddhism—Śrāvakayāna, Pratyekabuddhayāna, and Bodhisattvayāna—and return to the source.

Even though the Bodhisattva vehicle is difficult to cultivate, achieving perfect enlightenment and realizing unsurpassed, complete, equal enlightenment is hard, yet as long as one practices, there will always be benefit.

Failing that, one may cultivate the Śrāvaka vehicle, achieve self-enlightenment, attain proper enlightenment, and gain the rank of arhat—there is nothing wrong with that.

Or, relying on one's own insight, one may cultivate the Pratyekabuddha vehicle, achieve self-enlightenment, attain proper enlightenment, and gain the rank of a solitary buddha. This is far superior to the nearly demonic state of Buddhism that Lin Ke observed.

In fact, doing so proved correct.

Although the remnants of the Buddhist civilization have overall declined, nearing demonic ways, they still retain the foundation for returning to the source, and many monks are willing to revive the three vehicles of Buddhism, especially the Bodhisattva vehicle.

The White Horse Monastery, Master Wusheng, and many monasteries like the White Horse Monastery, monks like Master Wusheng, have all considered self-redemption and purifying the world.

Some monasteries, some monks, have gone astray.

Some monasteries, some monks, have failed.

But the seeds of hope still remain.

Lin Ke incarnated as an ordinary monk, made a great vow, revived the three vehicles of Buddhism, practiced the Bodhisattva vehicle, and in the end only Monk Nengqing came forward to kill him—this is clear evidence.

This shows that, with the revival of the three vehicles, the three long-prepared Buddhas abruptly regained their influence and control over the Dharma, and intervened.

Watching internal turmoil, watching the turmoil grow, watching the sacrifices increase, cutting away the rotten flesh, and welcoming rebirth.

That is what nirvana means.

The problem arises.

What exactly happened that caused the three Buddhas—Eastern Medicine Buddha, Central Shakyamuni Buddha, and Western Amitabha Buddha—to simultaneously lose control over the Dharma, leading to its decline?

In Lin Ke's understanding, he could only find one event of sufficient influence.

The ancestor of the immortal-god civilization once discovered two beams of light at the source of the immortal-god civilization's temporal river; they crossed the universe, passed through the immortal-god civilization's universe, and landed in the wizard civilization's universe.

The Wizard Civilization's High Council and the Wizard World's Will, by some unknown means, clarified the origin and fate of the two beams of light and of the 'I' treading upon them.

The prophecy made by the Mystic-system Wizard Sage Nostradamus before his passing was a great upheaval unseen for thousands of years.

The Wizard Civilization, under pressure from the pantheon civilizations, fought on multiple fronts and developed the parallel universe where the Immortal-God Civilization resides.

The Immortal-God Civilization also, under pressure from the Demon Civilization, actively responded to the "End of the Dharma" crisis.

All these things, at their core, are actually follow-ups to the same event: the 'I' traversing many universes to return to the Wizard Civilization's universe!

Everything the Wizard Civilization does is to detach the influence of the 'I' traversing many universes to return to the Wizard Civilization's universe.

Likewise, everything the Immortal-God Civilization does is to detach the influence of the 'I' traversing many universes to return to the Wizard Civilization's universe.

Should the remnants of the Buddhist civilization, which are most affected, also detach themselves?

Of course!

The Wizard Civilization's approach is to prevent the 'I' from reincarnating smoothly.

The Immortal-God Civilization's approach is to prevent the 'I' from reincarnating smoothly while carrying the karmic burdens of the past.

What is the approach of the remnants of the Buddhist civilization?

Before, Lin Ke was not certain.

But now…

Gazing at the 'I' deadlocked before him, Lin Ke gained some insight.

"Pawn… crossing-the-river soldier…"

Murmuring to himself, Lin Ke straightened his mindset and resolved to faithfully fulfill the duty of the crossing-the-river soldier.

Just as in the trial of the mortal-immortal martial world, where he ultimately faced the White Lotus Holy Mother capable of destroying worlds countless times.

Lin Ke's role duty is to confront the 'I' directly.

Literally, to face it head-on.

Doing so allows the five sages of the Wizard Civilization, one reincarnated sage, and the Wizard World's Will; the myriad celestials, heavenly venerables, and heavenly Dao of the Immortal-God Civilization; and the three Buddhas and Alaya-consciousness of the Buddhist remnants to express their intentions, offer their choices, and present them to the 'I' for it to hear and select.

Before the standoff, Lin Ke said he "did not want to kill" and "could not kill" the 'I'; this was no empty talk, but sincere words.

He truly came only to listen to what the 'I' wanted to say and to see what the 'I' wanted to do.

Because the 'I' once again wanted to reincarnate carrying the "past karmic blemishes" as seen by the Immortal-God Civilization, and the Wizard Civilization remained indifferent, the Immortal-God Civilization met it with fierce opposition.

Is it permissible to seek reincarnation?

Just don't be like the essence of the White Lotus Holy Mother.

The Wizard Civilization does not want to welcome a White Lotus Holy Mother capable of destroying worlds countless times, and the Immortal-God Civilization likewise does not want such a being.

Thus, the Lotus Society's notion of "no parents, vacuum homeland" was distorted, and its name ceased to exist.

Having become the "Five Pecks of Rice" Dao of the Lotus Society, even if it ultimately succeeded in overturning Buddhism, what it established was not a "vacuum homeland" for the 'I' to rely on to carry its past karmic blemishes and reincarnate.

Rather, it became a "Terrestrial Dao State" that inflicts great harm and strong restraint upon the 'I'.

Thus, even if the 'I' finally reincarnates, it will no longer be the same form as before.

Thus, why should the 'I' bother to go through all this trouble?

Long ago, it accepted the choice given by the five sages of the Wizard Civilization's High Council and the Wizard World's Will: to sever the "past karmic blemishes," that is, the fruition the 'I' brought back from other universes, and reincarnate.

Luotesinuo is exactly the reincarnation of Nostradamus who shed his past fruition.

To regain the status of a sage, one must start cultivation anew and also obtain again the approval of the Wizard World's Will.

The 'I' does not want to, or dares not, do so.

Because in other universes, the 'I's method of seizing fruition was too opportunistic, and its status is not stable.

If I seriously cultivate once more, without taking shortcuts or pursuing heretical ways, I might only be able to stop at the ninth-level Great Sage.

Even being like Mixie'er Great Sage, cleverly obtaining the status of a Sage, might not necessarily be achievable.

The appearance of Mixie'er Heavenly Venerable was the result of each side's compromises in the repeated probes between the Wizard Civilization and the Immortal God Civilization.

It can be encountered but not sought.

The Buddhist Civilization Remnant, in this situation, with great sincerity, extended a new choice to me.

I want to be reborn carrying the burden of past karma, the main reason being unwilling to relinquish the Dao fruit of the Sage's position.

Yes!

The Buddhist Civilization Remnant is willing to confer the fruit position of Milefo.

If speaking of the fruit position of the Future World Buddha Ancestor, I think it's just drawing a big pie; I'm unwilling to accept it, but that's fine!

The Buddhist Civilization Remnant is willing to confer another fruit position whose nobility is not inferior to that of Milefo.

Buddhist Mother Great Peacock Wisdom King!

As long as I can cooperate with the Three Buddha Ancestors, help the Buddhist Civilization Remnant cut away the corrupt flesh, help the Buddhist Civilization Remnant return to its origins, and help Shijiamonifo achieve Nirvana once more.

Lin Ke waits for me to make a decision.