Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 466: Monk, Devil, Dharma Conference_1
"Another year has passed." Wang Linchi gazed at the gradually lightening sky. Just moments ago, he had realized that the Calamity of the Last Law was intensifying drastically.
The level cap of his game character had abruptly plunged from the original Level 32 to Level 29.
At first glance, it was merely a drop of three levels. However, this signified one crucial thing: Level 30 had become a relic of the past, and no one could break through this threshold anymore.
"What could have caused this?" Wang Linchi was also quite puzzled. Why had the Calamity of the Last Law suddenly intensified so much?
Unless it’s declining according to Realms?
This thought crossed Wang Linchi’s mind.
Given this, can I still initiate the final trial?
Once Wang Linchi considered this, he wasn’t overly concerned. After all, he had already discovered a new world; to him, this was a petty matter.
If worst came to worst, he could just retreat when the time came. There was no need to stubbornly hold on.
As for whether this world could survive the apocalypse, he wasn’t particularly concerned.
He had experienced world destruction before.
What he cared more about was, of course, his own interests.
Will the final trial for a Spirit Master be scaled down, or will it become impossible to break through?
Currently, he was the only Spirit Master affected. Most Spirit Masters in Dajing were merely at Level 29, precisely at the cap.
Zhang Lin, of course, was also at this level. Level 30 marked another stage of honor. Since he had not participated in the final examination, he could only remain at this stage.
Succeed or fail, I must try. What if it’s still possible?
I have the Devil, the Dan Book Iron Coupon as a key, and Emperor Jing’s blood. Although it might not be as convenient as using the Jade Seal, the procedure itself should be sound.
Wang Linchi had naturally made some discoveries through his research; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to act.
Whether it’s the proclamation to the world or the precise timing, those are actually minor details.
The Imperial Examinations should inherently be controlled by the emperor. It’s just that after the dynastic interruption, what was originally a manual initiation has now become a preset, timed activation.
Even the list of candidates cannot be interfered with.
However, to a certain extent, this legacy issue from the dynastic interruption makes the promotion for a Spirit Master’s honors fairer.
In the past, a Jinshi could be nominated by Emperor Jing, which was akin to using connections. However, later, as the corresponding rights were lost, even Emperor Jing could no longer intervene. All selections and promotions were determined by the Imperial Examination system computer itself, allowing it to sift through the masses and select the most excellent talents.
As for where the Imperial Examination system computer originated, Wang Linchi had not yet found any clues. It was likely a relic from the previous dynasty, or even the one before that.
Wang Linchi immediately initiated the final trial.
There was no commotion... none at all, before Wang Linchi was transported away.
His vision was filled with ruins and crumbling walls, leaving Wang Linchi momentarily stunned.
"Isn’t this contrast a bit too drastic? The previous few places were at least houses. How has it turned into this?" Wang Linchi muttered.
He didn’t know what he had to do next, but one thing was certain: the Imperial Examination system computer was indeed all appearance and no substance.
Its dilapidated state was its true face, not the supposed magnificence and splendor.
"Descendant of the Li Clan, come here." A voice traveled from afar.
Wang Linchi quickly located the source of the sound and strode towards it.
The Royal Family’s surname was Li, so they were naturally known as the Li Clan. Since Wang Linchi had used Emperor Jing’s blood to fool the bloodline verification process, he had undoubtedly been identified as a member of the Royal Family.
Soon, Wang Linchi found the source of the sound. On a platform-like structure not far away, a mummy sat cross-legged. Judging by its attire, it resembled a monk—a figure that supposedly didn’t exist in the Jing Dynasty, as monks had vanished along with the Devil in the previous dynasty.
A closer look at the surroundings revealed it to be the site of a Dharma assembly, though now dilapidated. It was unclear whether it had been destroyed by the Devil or had fallen into ruin over the long passage of time.
Wang Linchi didn’t examine it closely and quickly approached the monk’s mummy.
"It has been a long time since anyone came. Has something significant happened to the Li Dynasty?"
The voice came from a dim Shariputra on the forehead of the mummified monk.
The monk had achieved parinirvana long ago; only his Buddhist nature, dwelling within the Shariputra, allowed him to maintain a semblance of existence.
"They were cursed with short lifespans. Some things were not passed down before people perished," Wang Linchi said.
Upon hearing this, the Shariputra flickered, as if pondering, or perhaps merely silent.
After a long while, it finally spoke, "This has always been the duty of your Li Clan: to suppress the Devil. For every day the Devil is suppressed, you rule the land for a day."
"Suppressing the Devil is what allows one to rule the kingdom?" Wang Linchi hadn’t expected this.
"Your Li Clan ancestors made a pact with us monks back then. The Devil is not merely the responsibility of your Li Clan’s domain; it is intrinsically linked to the Li Clan’s Heaven-bestowed mandate to rule," the Shariputra said.
"So, what now? I’ve come here. What should I do next?" Wang Linchi asked.
The kingdom mattered little to him; he was more interested in what to do next.
"You’ve come seeking the ultimate honor for a Spirit Master, haven’t you? That’s not difficult. You merely need to withstand the Devil’s power," the Shariputra replied.
"The power of Spirit Masters originates from the Devil?" Wang Linchi asked immediately.
"Correct. Back then, the Li Clan’s ancestor was a monk at the Huaijue Temple. However, as Buddhist wisdom in the world declined, the monks’ Buddha Power gradually waned, and they increasingly lost ground in their struggle against the Devil. Later, the Li Clan’s ancestor renounced monastic life, let his hair grow, and rose in rebellion, ultimately establishing your Dajing Dynasty.
"But it was all too late. Buddhist wisdom ultimately could not provide the monks with sufficient power, leading to the demise of many. The Devil seized this opportunity to annihilate all monks in the world.
"I was left with only a breath of life, saved by the Li Clan’s ancestor. Later, I cooperated with him. He used the power of the Devil and the remaining Buddha Power, combined with the Method of Ghostwriters from the previous—no, it should be the dynasty before the previous—to create Spirit Masters. He also had me use the incense offerings from numerous temples to establish the path of Imperial Examinations for Spirit Masters.
"Subsequently, the Li Clan’s ancestor suppressed the Devil using the nation’s destiny and controlled it with the royal bloodline.
"This led to the current state of affairs. However, the Buddhist wisdom in the outside world has declined yet another step, hasn’t it?" the Shariputra explained at length.
Wang Linchi roughly understood.
Buddhist wisdom, in my terms, is like ’levels.’ In the previous dynasty, it must have been the era of monks and the Devil. They relied on sufficient Spiritual Energy to engage in their struggles. However, when the environment suddenly became unsuitable, they naturally perished.
"Is there a necessary connection between dynastic changes and the decline of Buddhist wisdom?" Wang Linchi abruptly asked.
Otherwise, it couldn’t be such a coincidence.
"I do not know. Perhaps it is a coincidence, or perhaps there truly is a connection," the Shariputra replied calmly.
Since his parinirvana, he had been confined to this Dharma assembly site, with only descendants of the Li Clan occasionally visiting him.
"Then do you know why every change of dynasty results in an interruption of historical records? Currently, we know nothing about the previous dynasty," Wang Linchi asked again.
As for the ultimate power of Spirit Masters, Wang Linchi was not in a hurry.
The Devil was in his possession, which was precisely why the Jade Seal was needed.
"The great worldly calamity—that was the cause of our, the monks’, destruction."
"My master once said that Heaven and Earth intend to reforge Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, and recreate the cosmos. Therefore, although each dynasty experiences an interruption, talented individuals invariably rise in each."
The Shariputra shared its thoughts.
"So, this dynasty’s Taizu was one such talented individual," Wang Linchi said.
However, Shariputra added, "One among them."
"Then what?" Wang Linchi asked again. He didn’t care whether Taizu was the sole one or one among many; it was all in the past. He only wanted to know what benefits he could reap from this.
"There is no ’then what.’ As is tradition, I will ask you two questions: Do you wish for the Li Clan’s descendants to continue bearing this responsibility, or will you be the one to end it? If they continue, Dajing’s mandate can be extended for another ten years. If you choose to abandon it, then in less than ten years, the world will surely descend into chaos, and a new ruler will emerge. The former choice represents power; the latter, liberation," the Shariputra stated calmly.
"And you?" Wang Linchi did not answer directly. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Me? With this current decline in Buddhist wisdom, even my Shariputra can no longer endure. I will turn to dust in at most ten days. You need not worry about me," the Shariputra said.
"Then let it be liberation. ’I only wish my sons to be simple and dull, free from calamity and illness... and with no need for high office,’" Wang Linchi sighed.
"You are quite peculiar. Everyone who has come here before chose to uphold Dajing’s mandate." The Shariputra truly hadn’t expected someone to make such a starkly different choice.
However, it respected Wang Linchi’s decision. For it, there was no difference.
It couldn’t survive, nor could the Devil. After all, in this environment, they were all like fish out of water.
