CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 157: ENOUGH

To Li Ang’s disappointment, Lin Liangce, the author of "Central Earth Zen Sect," did not reveal the outcome of his search for the "Observing the Universe Scripture" at the end of the book. Instead, he redirected the topic back to the history of Zen spreading to the Central Plains. He also explicitly mentioned the Mutated Objects that had emerged during its propagation.

For instance, the Acha Mola Prayer Beads used by Emperor Wu of Liang, which delighted one’s mind as if one were in the Buddha Country—[Mutated--2--31].

The Xingtai Bodhisattva’s Altar excavated in Youzhou, which purified one’s mind and accelerated cultivation—[Mutated--2--189].

Buddha Altar, flags, covers, Scripture Pillars, lamps, flowers, incense, incense burners, clothes, duster, Ruyi, bamboo comb...

Li Ang continued searching through the catalog, and finally, in the "Flower" section, he found a description similar to the Dark Lotus.

[Name: Bitter Realm Lotus]

[Description: The Bitter Realm Lotus resembles a black lotus with a flower diameter of about seven inches, a multi-petal type, having stems but no leaves.

When any individual holds the Bitter Realm Lotus in a prayer position with hands clasped, an abnormal state will be triggered.

The Bitter Realm Lotus will reveal the sufferings one will face in the future, such as illness, separation, unfulfilled desires, hatred, greed, anger, ignorance, and death. The greater the suffering and the closer its arrival, the faster the petals fall.

Of all sufferings, the effect induced by death is the most pronounced.

When a person about to die of illness holds the Bitter Realm Lotus, its petals will fall one after another until not a single petal remains.

Meanwhile, this effect is not an absolutely accurate prediction; if the illness is cured, the petals will regenerate.

If it leaves the previous holder, the petals will regenerate as well.]

[Note: The above information is all recorded from hearsay regarding the Pure Thought Sect. The Pure Thought Sect considers the Bitter Realm Lotus a Secret Treasure and rarely displays it publicly. Therefore, it is uncertain whether the Bitter Realm Lotus has other uses or if any negative effects or taboos are associated with it.

Due to incomplete information and the disappearance of the Bitter Realm Lotus after the extinction of the Pure Thought Sect (suspected to be looted by other Sects), it is not included in the list of Mutated Objects at the Academic Palace.]

Bitter Realm Lotus...

Li Ang frowned slightly. Lin Liangce, the author of "Central Earth Zen Sect," had not obtained the actual Bitter Realm Lotus, but from the descriptive characteristics in the text, it indeed resembled that Dark Lotus.

A lotus that can predict life’s sufferings... perhaps it could be used as a medical diagnostic tool? If so.

Li Ang immediately thought of a use for the Bitter Realm Lotus. Assuming it checked a person’s health every 30 seconds, 24 hours a day, it could conduct medical examinations for over two thousand people, detecting if they had any serious diseases.

It would be akin to a mobile medical center.

Moreover, it could be used in specific treatments. A patient, after taking medicine, could hold the Bitter Realm Lotus to directly test the medication’s effectiveness and see if switching medications would work. This would save a significant amount of observation time and rescue people from dire situations. The potential was immense.

Li Ang suppressed the urge to rush home and test the Dark Lotus. He settled down in the Book Collection Pavilion to read for a while, attended his afternoon class, and returned home after school.

As usual, he entered the study, stayed inside the Ink Silk Sphere, took out the Dark Lotus, and according to the description in "Central Earth Zen Sect," placed the lotus in his palm, clasped his hands together, and quietly waited.

Seven and a half minutes passed, then fifteen minutes, with no change.

Could it be that I’ve been too fortunate lately?

Li Ang furrowed his brows. The Bitter Realm Lotus would shed petals based on one’s sufferings to make predictions, but if he had been having smooth sailing with no life-threatening situations recently, naturally its petals wouldn’t fall.

After pondering for a moment, Li Ang took out a Triangular Spear and made a very shallow cut on the surface of his thigh, letting a few drops of blood seep out.

This time, holding the Dark Lotus, a petal of the lotus seemed to tremble.

Li Ang’s eyes brightened. He immediately searched his room for a rope and a candle and made a simple device.

He first wrapped the rope around a beam, tying one end to a pillar and the other end to a blade, with his thigh positioned beneath the blade.

Then, he lit the candle and placed it under the rope. The rope was three inches above the candle’s flame. If the candle burned steadily, it would eventually burn through the rope, allowing the blade to fall and cut him.

After setting up the device, Li Ang turned away, not looking at the candle setup. This was to ensure he wouldn’t know exactly when the rope would burn through. He then picked up the Dark Lotus again.

This time, two petals quivered.

Indeed, it was the Bitter Realm Lotus with the function of predicting good and bad fortunes.

Li Ang’s mind stirred, and he continued with the next test—he attached a Gentle Breeze Talisman on the inside of the study door and replaced the candle with a torch.

The Gentle Breeze Talisman might extinguish the torch or accelerate its burning.

The results of this test, as well as subsequent, more complex experiments, showed that the Bitter Realm Lotus’s predictions were accurate, yet not accurate.

"It can predict both sudden events and those with strong causal links between good and bad fortunes.

The latter’s accuracy is higher than that of the former.

For instance, if someone contracts a terminal illness, the prediction will be very accurate, and its duration can be quite lengthy.

However, if someone suddenly has the idea to assassinate me, the duration of the prediction will be greatly reduced, and its accuracy will decline—it can’t predict whether I will definitely die, only if there is a lethal risk."

Having understood this, Li Ang was slightly disappointed, but he still collected the Bitter Realm Lotus.

This lotus could save his life at critical moments. In case he was caught in an abnormal event, it could be used to find a way out.

Moreover, if the Bitter Realm Lotus only had this predictive ability, it probably wouldn’t be regarded as a Secret Treasure by the Pure Thought Sect. That Shixing Monk wouldn’t have let his amnesiac self carry the lotus to retrieve his memories.

It felt like there was another use for it...

Perhaps I should return to the Book Collection Pavilion to look for more books by Lin Liangce?

"Who am I?"

"Where did I come from?"

"Why am I here?"

"Wan’er, who is Wan’er? Why do I remember her..."

In the wilderness to the west of Chang’an, a ragged figure wandered under the night sky.

His skin was pale, his steps wobbly, murmuring to himself.

"HOOT—"

In the distance, a bird called out. An owl, clutching a freshly caught mouse in its claws, flew across the wilderness into a ruined temple and perched on the temple’s beam.

It was about to rip open the mouse with its sharp claws when it suddenly sensed the approaching figure, snapped open its copper bell-like eyes, and issued a threatening hoot.

The figure paid no mind to the owl and just kept walking, aimlessly stepping into the ruined temple. He gazed up at the Buddha statue inside.

This was a long-abandoned temple; the leftover incense and magic artifacts in the corners were a testament to its former splendor.

The owl vigilantly watched the figure, clutching the squeaking mouse, and moved a few steps sideways.

The next moment, without any warning, it exploded. The mouse that had fallen to the ground didn’t even have time to get up before an invisible force burst it from within, splattering it into a small patch of flesh and blood.

The figure was oblivious to the death of the two animals. He dazedly raised his head, staring at the dilapidated Maitreya Buddha statue.

Moonlight streamed through the broken tiles of the ruined temple, illuminating his face—the left half of his head was missing a chunk, revealing the slightly twitching remains of his brain.

"I am...a Buddha? Yes, I am a Buddha. The Buddha among Buddhas, the Buddha of all Buddhas."

The being once known as Shixing Monk stared at the wooden Maitreya Buddha statue, which had a belly split open in laughter and coincidentally was also missing a small piece of its head. His remaining right eye began to brighten.

"What is my name..."

"The laughing Buddha..."

"My name is...Harvard?"