From God of Lies to Lord of All Worlds

Chapter 239: Distinguishing Good and Evil Through Spiritual Salvation

This was perhaps the most surreal aspect of it all. The misalignment of identities, the intertwining of reality and virtuality, and the emergence of supernatural power ironically gave this bloody and terrifying Lion Camel Ridge a hint of normalcy.

It had nothing to do with Good and Evil, right and wrong, or virtue and malice. It was simply the most primal law of the jungle, the most fundamental duel of life and death.

Even a brutal confrontation like this seemed far brighter than the terrifying Dark Clouds that loomed over Kolkata.

Admittedly, this was a form of silent mockery.

What did "Journey to the West" know about the foot of Mount Sumeru? This city was the true foot of Mount Sumeru!

If it came down to cruelty and terror, the three demon kings of Lion Camel Ridge would have to bow down to the Brahmins. What did those demons know about the Rule of terror? In front of the true Brahmin lords, they were as pure as children.

They could never conceive of murdering people to sell their Corpses, nor could they imagine using a Dalit as a scapegoat whenever a scheme unraveled.

Much less could they fathom the concept of a Dalit's innate original Sin—a crime that could be used to condemn them at a moment's notice!

As the slaughter escalated, the desires and Wish Power that originally belonged to Hinduism were continuously consumed amidst the unending deaths.

This was the very purpose behind Bai Yang creating this special Dreamscape: to shatter the class system and cleanse their Souls.Right at that moment, the Buddhist Monk with a Shaven Head and White Robes appeared beside them. He spun around, transforming into Wutian, clad in Black Hair and Black Robes.

"Wutian Buddha, I wonder how you feel after witnessing this scene?" Bai Yang asked with a faint smile.

"The beings of Lion Camel Ridge cannot compare to the evils of the human world!" Wutian declared in a somber tone. His mood was no longer as clear as before. "To think that Shakyamuni... actually Proselytized in a place like this..."

If the former Wutian had been Kinnara—the 'Mara' who chose the most brutal rebellion due to the unprovoked harm inflicted by the World-Honored One—then the current him seemed to have developed a much deeper understanding of the mortal realm.

Perhaps this was the true meaning of cultivation. Perhaps this was the unique path of Buddhist enlightenment he had been searching for!

"This poor monk... has cultivated for countless eons, yet upon seeing this, I still feel like a frog at the bottom of a well!" Wutian stated quietly. "The Sin I have encountered cannot compare to this place, and the evil I have faced falls even shorter!"

"Boundless Sin and boundless evil should have naturally birthed boundless Compassionate Mercy, yet they only bred boundless calamities!"

"The World-Honored One's path is flawed, and my path might be flawed as well! Destruction cannot bring about a brand new world; it can only bring more wanton slaughter!"

"Perhaps I shouldn't practice the Buddhist Cultivation of Nirvana, but rather the Chan Meditation on Original Mind! The former cultivates absolute stillness, while the latter cultivates the true self. This might finally grant me some liberation!"

Wutian's words were clearly no longer as tyrannical as before. Instead, they carried his own profound reflections.

Through this period of cultivation, Wutian had obviously gained deeper insights and a broader perspective. It was perhaps at this very moment that he truly resembled a "Buddha," rather than the great villain from the original story.

Pondering issues with the mindset of a Buddha made him appear much more mature, and altogether more silent.

Hearing this, Bai Yang burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! If Bodhidharma heard those words, he would probably be overjoyed!"

Then, he continued, "So, I'll leave the selection of those with good intentions to you? Meanwhile, I will provide you with a genuine reason to Guide them to Enlightenment that will be more than enough to satisfy the entire world!"

"Many thanks!" Wutian pressed his palms together and bowed to Bai Yang. He then spun around, transforming back into the monk clad in simple White Robes.

Wutian's story had already found a new direction, but Zhenluo's path was far from over!

And so, within the four-hundred-kilometer expanse of Lion Camel Ridge—a domain interwoven with endless malice—a monk in white Buddhist robes slowly walked into the fray.

However, this time, he wasn't here to suffer or to save people. He was here to "select" them.

They had agreed on one-third, which meant exactly one-third—not a single soul more, and not a single soul less.

Once again, Zhenluo's method of selection remained incredibly simple: following the path of Goodness!

Even in Lion Camel Ridge, there was no shortage of benevolent Demons and malicious humans. Under the absolute law of the jungle, the boundaries of Good and Evil became strikingly clear due to their extreme consequences.

After all, this kind of benevolence was pure goodness, and purely good Demons had no way of surviving.

They couldn't bear to hurt others, couldn't stomach the thought of eating human flesh, and instead chose self-exile. To Zhenluo's Arhat vision, there were surprisingly quite a few of these individuals!

"Phew... It seems I still hold some prejudice toward this city!" Zhenluo remarked in surprise.

Through his eyes, he could see that even as fifteen million Demons and Human Flesh Food underwent an endless cycle of death and resurrection, there were still those who walked deep into the mountains, toward the outskirts, seeking refuge in places devoid of conflict.

Their numbers were not small; they made up nearly a tenth of the total population.

This meant the city wasn't entirely devoid of kindness and warmth. It was just that the overwhelming surge of malice had completely masked this underlying goodness.

But how could humanity truly lack compassion? Even man-eating beasts, wild Monsters from the mountains, or those so-called "harbingers of death"—even the most brutally heartless creatures—still possessed a glimmer of benevolence.

Because Evil is Human Nature, and Goodness is Human Nature as well.

Evil was the unbridled, infinite indulgence of human nature, while goodness was the natural flow and essence of it. Without goodwill, humanity would have ceased to exist.

It was a unique paradox that could never be fully deconstructed, one that left Zhenluo momentarily lost in emotion.

When exactly did he suddenly start pondering this specific question? It seemed to have begun when that starving Dalit, who didn't even have enough to feed himself, placed his meager food against Zhenluo's chest.

Or perhaps it was when he first entered the city from the outside, observing the metropolis and witnessing the events that unfolded.

Zhenluo couldn't tell for sure. Those complex interpersonal relationships, the pure depravity that seemingly transcended mortal ugliness, and the inherent kindness that surpassed its own essence—everything in this Realm was laid out with every detail clearly visible right before his eyes!

"Amitābha!" he chanted a Buddhist epithet, his gaze growing increasingly resolute. "A world like this must be changed! If Sin is too deep, it means the punishment isn't severe enough! If they are stubborn, it means the decrees aren't decisive enough!"

"But starting today, everything will be different! I will reshape this world, piece by piece! My Buddha's Enlightenment is also the Buddha! My Buddhist kingdom is also the Buddha!"

This was the very moment a Bodhisattva transitioned into a true Buddha, marking the complete fusion of Wutian Buddha and Kinnara Bodhisattva!

And now, he was about to judge life and death!

Thus, the walking monk once again struck his Wooden Fish!

"Thock!"

At the first strike, the Demons who were boiling and cooking human flesh suddenly went blank upon hearing the sound. Slowly, they stood up, stepped onto the road, and began trailing closely behind him.

Zhenluo's Wooden Fish acted as a unique judgment within this grand spectacle, serving as a distinct musical note echoing throughout this Purgatory.

In short, it seemed everyone heard the resonant knock, and all the Demons and monsters halted their gruesome tasks.

"Thock!"

With another strike, Zhenluo led the congregation of monsters step by step through the mountains of flesh, seas of bone, and heaps of Corpses.

Naturally, the humans spared by this sudden interruption stared in dazed bewilderment. Snapping out of their stupor, many stepped forward to follow Zhenluo, joining the ever-growing procession.

Only those completely devoid of external desires, wandering thoughts, and any attachment to their own existence managed to remain unaffected.

Filled with a mix of Divine Faith and Fear, they watched the monk and noticed he had already begun chanting scriptures:

"Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this."

"All phenomena bear the mark of emptiness; they do not arise or cease, are not defiled or pure, do not increase or decrease."

"Śāriputra, sentient beings who hear this should make a vow, wishing to be born in that land."

"If any good man or good woman hears the name of Amitābha Buddha and holds fast to his name... they shall be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss of Amitābha Buddha."

The Demons following behind him chanted the scriptures in unison as they walked.

These verses flowed like a clear spring, washing away the dust of their hearts. As they chanted, their minds naturally grew tranquil, focusing entirely on the wisdom of emptiness within the scripture and letting go of their attachments to the worldly illusions.

This was the true meaning of being guided to enlightenment!

"Thock!"

The Wooden Fish struck once more, but the surrounding cacophony had already vanished, leaving only the singular, rhythmic beat.

The monk in white led the Monsters and humans deeper into the massive mountain range of the four-hundred-kilometer Lion Camel Ridge. The forests howled and chilling winds blew, yet a sacred Sanskrit Chant echoed through it all!

Golden Light or Radiance surged, branding his unique Buddha's Seal onto their bodies and Souls. This was a Profound Spiritual Salvation from the flesh down to the very spirit!

The freezing wind howled and the golden light shone brightly, yet it brought an endless, biting chill!

"If there ever comes a day when a kind thought arises in your hearts and Compassionate Mercy sprouts, that will be the moment this seal breaks!" Zhenluo declared.

This, of course, was not his own mercy. It came from the "Ksitigarbha Fundamental Vow Pacifying Mantra". These were the words of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the ultimate Vow of Punishment he had designed for these Demons and monsters!

Did they truly believe that being guided to enlightenment was the end? After passing into Hell, there would still be infernal judgments. Weighing Good and Evil and delivering punishment was an absolute certainty!

"Thock!"

The rhythmic sound of the Wooden Fish continued to echo.