Chapter 1108: Chapter 617: The King Enters the Temple (Double-Length)

"Indeed." He paused, then continued, "I sent them away in advance just to meet you."

Perhaps sensing that Chen Yi disliked too much empty chatter, Gongsun Guan answered directly.

Chen Yi didn’t waste words with him either, directly asking, "So, how can it be passed on?"

"No need to rush, let me first tell you a story. After you hear it, I’ll decide."

After all, he had a request from this man, so Chen Yi did not refuse. Moreover, during their brief interaction, his impression of the Sect Hierarch was surprisingly acceptable.

Gongsun Guan, as the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect, acted with an air of mystery, yet there was little pride in his words, nor were they sinister and eerie. Rather, there was a certain patience—though patience might not be the right word, it should be described as an unusual sense of calm.

Presumably, it’s also because of this blend of mystery and calmness that the Ming’an Divine Sect, despite being derisively called a Demon Sect, continuously attracts followers.

Gongsun Guan spoke slowly, "What I’m going to tell you is a story from a Buddhist scripture."

"Buddhist scripture?" Chen Yi raised an eyebrow.

With memories of his past life, Chen Yi had more or less some understanding of the Divine Sect’s scripture stories. He knew the answers to some stories and wasn’t afraid of Gongsun Guan’s questions. However, he never expected the Sect Hierarch to start with a Buddhist story.

"You are an outsider, so naturally I won’t ask about stories within the sect," he said.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yi replied, "Alright, ask away."

"In the Buddhist Sect, there is a Venerable called Nagashina. A king from Tianzhu asked him, after people die, do they reincarnate to another world? Nagashina used a lit lamp to make a metaphorical counter-question: if one lamp lights another, can we say the flame of the first lamp reached the second?"

When Gongsun Guan reached this point, he stopped, as if he were Nagashina in the story, waiting for Chen Yi’s answer. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Chen Yi slightly raised his eyebrows and then calmly said, "No, it cannot."

Whether it’s his constant nature or the Sword Intent he comprehended, both led to a negative answer—a response he had given long ago.

The Medicine Buddha once urged him amidst ignorance to transcend and realize, as the cycle of reincarnation never ends, and everyone will die, he was no exception.

He, however, said that even if everyone would die, he would not. He was unique.

Gongsun Guan then asked, "Then, would you say it’s a completely different flame?"

The Old Saintess heard this and wanted to give a hint but stopped herself.

Yet Chen Yi, without hesitation, said, "Yes, it is."

Gongsun Guan glanced at him, his gaze lacking astonishment or surprise, only understanding. He slowly said, "You’ve given a different response than what’s in the Buddhist scripture."

In this obscure Buddhist story, the king of Tianzhu responded with two negations: the lamp is not the previous lamp, and the flame is not completely different.

Chen Yi’s first response was the same, but the second was opposite.

One negation and one affirmation offered insight into his Martial Intent.

The flickering light reflected in Gongsun Guan’s eyes. He nodded slightly and suddenly praised, "Only the Great Saint, revered in the Three Realms, the compassionate parent to all sentient beings, also the Great Guide Master of the Three Realms, also the Great Medical Master to all beings, also Miao Kong who can embrace all forms, also inclusive of everything in heaven...also among the dead and the eternally living, also those with enlightened nature in sentient beings, also the bright gateway of liberation from all solid prisons of the Three Realms."

No matter how perplexed Chen Yi felt, he discerned that these words were praises for the Ming Venerable within the Divine Sect. After Gongsun Guan finished speaking, he paused, looked directly at him, and asked, "Do you think the Ming Venerable in the scripture is truly you?"

"I believe it is me."

"Do you remember the story I asked you?"

Chen Yi felt slightly alert.

"You think it’s neither the same lamp nor the same flame,"

Gongsun Guan said slowly:

"So the Ming Venerable may not necessarily be you.

Even if the Ming Venerable was you in the past,

you aren’t necessarily the Ming Venerable now."

.........

Chen Yi descended the mountain.

When he came to Gaoliang Mountain, it was concealed by foliage, and when he left, it was the same, unchanged and no different.

He pondered over Gongsun Guan’s words as he walked.

Even if he was the Ming Venerable in the past, the Ming Venerable is not necessarily him... This at first sounded nonsensical but pierced like a sharp sword, not at him personally, but at his Sword Intent.

Chen Yi firmly believed in his Sword Intent, believing himself to be unique, and thus distinguishing himself from the Living Sword or Murder Sword, forging a new path of Sword Creation of Heaven and Earth.

For this reason, for his belief in his unique nature, he is solely himself, just as in the question of the Buddhist scripture, there is no same lamp, no same flame; apart from himself, he is not others, and so he is not the Ming Venerable.

Within this, whether deliberate or not, Chen Yi seemed to hear the underlying implication from the Sect Hierarch. If he considers himself the same flame, then the Ming Venerable is him, providing a perfect resolution to everything.

Placed three years ago, Chen Yi might have been moved,

but,

Sword Dao is a matter of faith; if one does not believe firmly, only they themselves will perish.

The Old Saintess remained speechless throughout, listening to their entire dialogue as if she were entirely absent, without any comment or word.

Chen Yi also noticed this situation.

Truly...at a loss.

.........

Shortly after descending the mountain, Chen Yi walked through the town and suddenly stopped.

The visitor did not hide his aura and directly made his way through the crowd, clasping his fists in salute.

It was Qin Jingde.

This time, he wore casual clothes, with a friendly smile on his face, saying, "It’s been a while, sir."