CHAPTER 479: CHAPTER 430 BUDDHA COUNTRY

"Worldly affairs change easily, human nature does not."

Jianquan spoke calmly, "Before one can transcend the world, one must engage with it. Having traveled the world for decades, I have seen all sorts of people and matters. In the past half-year, the Yu Country has prospered due to railroad construction, leading to widespread money shortages. The speed of casting copper coins cannot keep up with the rate at which people spend them, so the court has authorized the production of more paper money. This has brought new problems. The wealth of the common people has doubled, seemingly improving their lives, but the wealth of noble families and merchants has expanded rapidly with the aid of the railroads, increasing from ten to one hundred. In the future, it will become one thousand, even ten thousand."

Jianquan paused briefly before continuing, "The control and possession noble families and merchants have over the common people will inevitably become more direct and profound over time. Just look at the laborers, child laborers, and female workers in the workshops along the railway lines; their living conditions are not much better than those of the tenant farmers. Tenant farmers could at least keep half of their grain, but now, eight or nine-tenths of the wealth produced by laborers is taken by the workshop owners. The workshop owners take whatever they want, completely unrestrained. Is this normal? Or rather, does this align with the original intentions of the railway’s inventors—your Academic Palace?"

Without waiting for Li Ang to respond, Jianquan continued, "Yes, the Academic Palace adheres to morality and holds itself responsible for supporting the world, that much is true. However, looking back over the past three hundred years, the overall moral standards of the Academic Palace have largely depended on the Mountain Master at the time. The previous Mountain Master, Chou Zhibai, believed in governing by non-interference, unwilling to involve himself in court politics. Thus, Wu Hou was able to rise to power and hunt down the Li Yu Royal Family without fear of the Academic Palace’s intervention. The current Mountain Master, Lian Xuanyao, actively engages with the world. That is why the Academic Palace and the Li Yu Royal Family appear so close, maintaining a tacit understanding and remaining silent about all matters from Chou Zhibai’s era. I believe your morals are noble, but birth, aging, sickness, and death are the common lot of humanity; even Great Practitioners of the Near-Cliff Realm cannot escape this. Can you truly guarantee that, after you have invented various technologies, and after your death, every generation of the Academic Palace will always step forward to stand before the people most in need of help?"

"..."

Li Ang responded with silence. He had read the history of the Academic Palace and experienced the chaos of the Late Sui period. During the early Yu Chu period, the ratio of students from noble families to those from poor families in the Academic Palace was two to eight. Now, among the students of the Academic Palace, the ratio of those from noble families to those from poor families had shifted to nearly seven to three.

This was an undeniable fact. Li Ang himself had many friends from noble families. They adhered to the moral standards of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith, possessing virtues such as humility, courage, confidence, and a willingness to help others. But ultimately, they were not from the lower class; they could not see or imagine the lives of the common people. So much so that they sometimes made naive assertions akin to, "Why not eat minced meat?"—which was ironic. Even more ironic was that they were the very group who would control the direction of the Yu Country in the future.

Nobility breeds ignorance; ignorance breeds cruelty.

"Deep down, you know I’m right."

Jianquan stood upon the Lotus Platform, receiving the reverence of Bodhisattvas and Arhats, his form enveloped in a splendid golden light. He resembled a true Buddha, watching the complex expressions on Li Ang’s face from afar. He calmly said, "Even the loftiest ideals will succumb to the vilest human desires. This is the power of the surging mortal world, far beyond humanity’s ability to resist."

"...Perhaps."

Li Ang sighed deeply. "If only your Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion were not a black box, how wonderful that would be."

"It is precisely because it is a black box that things are interesting, is it not?"

Jianquan said lightly, "Your answer is..."

"..."

Li Ang remained silent for a long moment, then finally said, "Let’s have a fight."

"What?"

Jianquan frowned, wondering if he had misheard. The Buddha Light and chanting surrounding him paused, and the Bodhisattvas and Arhats all turned to Li Ang, their faces filled with disbelief.

"I said, let’s have a fight."

Li Ang flexed his wrists and said earnestly, "I know that the future course of events may not align with my most optimistic expectations. Yet, at the same time, the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion, being a black box, cannot convince me either. Perhaps, from the very beginning, no perfect option existed. Therefore, I have decided to stop thinking about it."

He cracked his knuckles, which emitted sharp SNAPS. He smiled and said, "Let the battle commence. Anyone is qualified to judge right from wrong, but only the victor has the power to walk their chosen path."

The old monk’s brow furrowed. "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure," Li Ang answered with conviction.

Seeing Li Ang’s resolute tone, the old monk’s gaze suddenly sharpened. His gentle and calm demeanor instantly dissolved, replaced by the blade-like sharpness of a Great Practitioner.

BOOM!

A dull thunderous roar echoed from the distant horizon.

The scenery within the Illusion Realm changed again. The earth rose, forming mountains and rivers; exotic flowers, precious herbs, ancient cypresses, and old pines spontaneously appeared. A multitude of houses emerged on the plains, inhabited by monks and common people, all smiling, gentle, and friendly. Purple Ganoderma and Peaches grew in the mountains, which were also home to Immortal Cranes, Peacocks, Qingluan, and colorful phoenixes. Majestic edifices were erected in the mountains, each soaring into the heavens, so tall one could seemingly pluck the stars from the sky. Above the white clouds rested ancient temples on high mountains, where Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Ah Luo, Jiedi, Great Light, Jialan, and others resided, engaged in profound Cultivation.

Pure Land Buddha Country.

Li Ang took a deep breath. He understood clearly that Jianquan, with his deep study of Buddhist dharma and philosophy, and his iron will and mental fortitude, held an overwhelming advantage in this Illusion Realm. He could even, through imagination, manifest an infinite Buddha Country.

"Thus I have heard," Jianquan slowly began, "At one time, the Buddha was in She Wei Country, at the Jeta Grove in Anathapindika’s Park..."

The Buddha Light blazed, and Buddhist hymns resounded. All Bodhisattvas and Arhats glared angrily at Li Ang as the entire Pure Land Buddha Country began to slowly tilt and press down upon him.

Indeed, it was spectacular.

Li Ang looked up at the oppressive, dark Sky Dome, exclaiming in genuine admiration. The Buddha Country was so majestic and breathtaking that it could make one lose the will to fight. Li Ang had no doubt that if he were suppressed by the Buddha Country in the Illusion Realm, his soul in the real world would also dissipate.

But the nature of the Illusion Realm meant that he too possessed the ability to create illusions...

Li Ang raised his palm. The Buddha Light beneath his feet twisted and darkened, slowly solidifying into...the shape of a metal cannon barrel.

A slight smirk touched his lips. Li Ang looked up at the myriad Gods and Buddhas in the sky. With a wave of his arms, a series of Heavy Tanks, Armored Vehicles, and Intercontinental Missile Launchers materialized beneath him. Fleets of Heavy Bombers and Fighters appeared, along with Cruisers, Battleships, and Aircraft Carriers...

A dense formation of weaponry stretched to the horizon.

Soldiers in black military uniforms, their faces hidden by full masks, respectfully saluted Li Ang. They then boarded the armed vehicles, uniformly inserted keys, and started the engines.

Since it is a dream, why not dream wildly.