Chapter 724: Three Lifetimes
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Ning continued, “Actually, you don’t really need to be worried about not being able to gain experience points, good souls will be sent for reincarnation while evil souls can continue in the blood river in their reincarnated ma.s.sacre until they disappear… These evil-doers’ souls are supposed to be destroyed, never to be reborn. We will be following the hero’s path by doing this. It definitely fits the rules.”
“Mr. Rich Boss, you do think of everything. Sir System has been put to shame,” Sir praised from the bottom of his heart.
“Erm, when did you learn to refer to yourself in the third person? It sounds so out of place,” Fang Ning was not used to the term.
“How is that out of place? Aren’t human beings always doing the same? Why can’t I refer to myself as Sir System?” said Sir indignantly.
“I see. Well, as long as you are happy,” Fang Ning was too lazy to argue.
At this moment, Tianjing Faw.a.n.g had just finished speaking while the other two venerable powerhouses were smiling and nodding in agreement.
“How is the Venerable One planning to transform this realm?” Tianjing Faw.a.n.g asked while he turned the beads in his hands.
He had his reasons for asking this question. Buddhism had yet to gain a foothold in this world and he naturally had plans to have a footing in this realm.
However, he was a true eminent monk, which meant that he would not reveal his true intentions blatantly or make an outright request.
“Hm, this land is able to absorb people from different worlds, souls from the dead end in a divine state. I want good souls to be reincarnated and evil souls to fall. We should work differently from the Heavenly Axiom here, which absorbs both good and evil without judgment as its nutrient,” said Vigilante A lightly.
“The Venerable One is indeed wise, I will do my best to a.s.sist,” the Bodhisattva Spirit King approved of this and felt that he had found a kindred spirit.
“Erm… Venerable One, the saying goes that the butcher who lays down his knife will immediately become a Buddha. Evil-doers may have a chance of becoming good. There are also different kinds of wrongdoing, small and big, which we cannot lump down together as one. Besides, one may be evil in this lifetime but they could have been good in their last lifetime. Those who are good in this lifetime may have been evil in their last lifetime,” Faw.a.n.g Tianjing placed his palms together as he shook his head and sighed, not seeming to agree with Vigilante A’s words.
He naturally would not support all of Vigilante A’s doing as he had his own ways and persistence.
Buddhism advocated equality and those who have learned about it would attain enlightenment.
“Hmph, such a hypocrite. This is all you are,” the Bodhisattva Spirit King suddenly spoke up as the smiles on his face disappeared.
Everyone atop and below the hill was silenced at this.
Who would have thought that the enigmatic and poker-faced Bodhisattva Spirit King who was always smiling would be prepared for a fight at these words?
Tianjing Faw.a.n.g suddenly stopped turning his beads at the words and then, broke one with his fingers.
After a while, he replied lightly, “What would the Bodhisattva Spirit King mean by these words? Are my words that difficult to be digested?”
“When we were in the Upper Realm, your kind used this method to make a fool out of the people. The notion of three lifetimes is the worst of your lies. Convincing the people to bear with suffering in this lifetime in order to await their next life is just a way of wearing down the will of the people. Suffering in this lifetime is caused by evil doing in the last lifetime is one of many perceptions that have caused and encouraged many tragedy and sins, too many of these examples can be listed… Now that we are working on transforming Heaven and Earth, are you looking at poisoning this world again?” said the Bodhisattva Spirit King coldly.
“Oh…” The people hearing this came to a realization.
Within the System s.p.a.ce, Fang Ning sighed, “I see, this is the sutra that’s been pa.s.sed down by Buddha. The system notification had indicated that this was the saint’s sutra and Tianjing Faw.a.n.g had mentioned before that he had set up a holy clan on his own, I guess this was what caused it.”
“That doesn’t mean he should lose his temper. I remember that this Buddha is always smiling and gets along well with anybody. He was even allowed Chong Daqing to extort lots of good stuff from him… As a leader of Spiritual Insects, it’s always eating and never doing much, if it was some other Budhha, they would have kicked it out long ago,” Sir lamented.
Fang Ning shook his head in explanation, “This is where you don’t understand. This involves his path and his morality, the reason why he chose to be independent, which is why he expressed his stand so clearly. If one were to be ambiguous about their own morals and values, conspiring with others in hypocrisy, then they would not be able to succeed in any grand achievement. Take a look at the past pioneer of countries, every one of them had a clear aim and direction, which is why they could succeed.”
“I see, if that is the case, love and justice is your path…” Sir System said thoughtfully.
“Yes, that’s right. You are indeed a system worth teaching,” Fang Ning said proudly.
“There you go again being sarcastic, is calling me a bucket (TN: The word ‘bucket’ and ‘system’ has the same p.r.o.nunciation in Mandarin.) considered ‘love and justice’? Sir said.
Fang Ning was caught by surprise at the statement and said disbelievingly, “No, ‘bucket’ and ‘system’ have the same p.r.o.nunciation…”
“They may have the same p.r.o.nunciation but when the word you are thinking of is definitely not the one you are p.r.o.nouncing,” said Sir unhappily.
“Erm, I’m sorry. It’s just a force of habit, it’s just playful banter, my way of expressing friendliness,” Fang Ning explained forcefully.
While man and ‘bucket’ were arguing, there was also another argument going on the outside… No, it should be called a discussion.
Tianjing Faw.a.n.g explained, “Buddha has been with the Buddhist Clan for a long time and would, of course, have a deep understanding of the teachings. The notion of three lifetimes is not a hypothetical one. This lifetime and the next, as a man sows, so let him reap. I believe I would not need to explain too much about it. If there are no different lifetimes, how can the idea of reincarnation be established? How would the people be led to be law-abiding and not create trouble?”
“Do not look back into your last lifetime, and not have expectations for your next lifetime. All this is hypocrisy, only this lifetime is the real thing. What would be the use of reincarnation? There is no good and evil as all memories will be wiped away upon reincarnation, that’s the same as not being able to tell the difference between good and evil. That is why I have invented the Spiritual Insect Reincarnation Technique, which allows good souls to maintain their present memories and extend their time to on the Path, and not go through reincarnation only to start over again.” The Bodhisattva Spirit King replied in kind.
Two revered powerhouse members of Buddhism discussing the topic captured the attention of the people, who were listening intently.
These were two people who had achieved enlightenment in the Upper Realm and were of a highly respected status. To be able to listen to them in person is equivalent to the older legends talking about having fate in meeting the G.o.ds…
Besides the Venerable Dragon G.o.d and River G.o.d of Sky River, everyone else at the foot of the hill were mere mortals who had just started cultivating a path with minor results that are far from being on a path, it was more like following behind the footsteps of the people before them.
They were still at the state of imitation and were a long way from comprehending and fulfilling the path that was meant for them.
Tianjing Faw.a.n.g was silent for a long time after listening to the words.
It was only now that he had understood why this famous and revered demon-slaying Buddha would uncharacteristically establish an independent clan upon leaving the Upper Realm and ignore all instructions from the other Buddhas.
Otherwise, an Arhat such as him would not need to come down to this world to act as the vanguard.
The stronger Buddhas were not sent down because they were worried about causing too serious a clash.
He was the only sent down as vanguard as this demon-slaying Buddha was well known for his righteousness and would not bully those weaker than he was.
“Let’s not strain the harmony between us. We are, after all, true G.o.ds and in accordance with this world, we should put aside our differences and seek common ground to make development together. The Venerable One is still waiting for us to come up with a suggestion for transforming this land and prevent the many wors.h.i.+ppers from disappearing from Heaven and Earth with no good reason,” the River G.o.d of Sky River smiled as he diffused the situation.
“I have been too emotional, please do not hold it against me, Faw.a.n.g,” the Bodhisattva Spirit King said upon hearing the words and put on his smile again as he put his palms together.
“Bodhisattva, you are too kind and I am humbled. Our discussion is one of the ways of the path, there are no such things as being too emotional,” Tianjing Faw.a.n.g returned the gesture.
They are indeed Buddhas, being able to let things go immediately unlike common powerhouses who are petty at heart and unable to accept critic and question from others.
The people witnessing this were impressed.
“In that case, we will compromise and establish communication for the souls. I only request that the souls of the good to be reincarnated to the Spiritual Insect Realm, as for the determination between evil and moderate souls, I will leave it to Faw.a.n.g to decide,” said the Bodhisattva Spirit King generously.
“The Bodhisattva Spirit King is indeed benevolent, who am I in the face of this generosity?” Tianjing Faw.a.n.g immediately bowed in respect to the words.
“You are too kind,” the Bodhisattva Spirit King smiled.
“In my opinion, the moderate souls should be released into exile, the evil souls should be thrown into the River of Blood…” Vigilante A said.