The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 623
Chapter 623: Shi Kong’s Breaking Point
In the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas within the Brahma Kingdom.
“Young friend, your words ring true. To cultivate, one must first cultivate the heart.”
“What use is retreating into the Buddhist Realm to escape the world? If one’s heart is not pure, all is in vain.”
“Sitting high upon the heavens, yet forgetting the true purpose of cultivation—Amitabha, indeed, indeed.”
“For years, our Buddhist sect has remained secluded from the world. Now that the Three Realms face calamity, it is time we contribute our strength.”
One by one, the divine beings bowed respectfully toward Lu Chao Chao.
Seeing that they had made their decision and were preparing to leave in a divine glow, Lu Chao Chao quickly spoke up, “Honored deities, please wait. I have a request.”
“If a deity has their godhood stripped and is removed from the divine registry, is there a way to save them?”
The deities exchanged glances before one solemnly answered, “A deity stands upon their godhood. If they are convicted of a grave crime, their divine status and godhood are stripped away. Within three days, they will vanish into nothingness.”
“There is no salvation.”
“This is the rule of heaven and earth, unchangeable by any. It was established at the dawn of existence, meant to restrain the gods themselves.”
The color drained from Lu Chao Chao’s face. Her fists clenched tightly, and unshed tears shimmered in her eyes.
“What if those in power act unjustly? What if they harbor selfish motives and conspire against their peers?”
“The gods govern the countless lives of the Three Realms. If they lose fairness, then what?” Though her voice was soft, her words sent chills down spines.
To question the highest god of the Three Realms—who would dare?
“In the mortal realm, if an emperor is unjust, the people will rise in rebellion until he is overthrown. Is there any such law in the Celestial Realm?” She looked at them expectantly.
The deities: ???
Then, she extended her small hand toward them. “Lend me some money. I have great need of it.”
The divine beings nearly collapsed in shock. You—you—are you planning a rebellion?!
Even with their boundless cultivation, their hearts as still as water, at this moment, they felt an undeniable panic.
Some even wanted to slip away quietly…
But to their horror, they found they couldn’t leave!
Xie Yu Zhou shyly peeked out from behind Lu Chao Chao. “Apologies, I set up a barrier in the Grand Hall.”
The deities were thunderstruck—betrayed by their own Buddha’s Child!
Underneath their lotus platforms, faint light flickered—the very statues that Xie Yu Zhou had touched just yesterday.
“A monk owns nothing. We have no wealth to offer. But if the young benefactor wishes, we can retrieve some scriptures from the Buddhist Realm to bestow upon you?”
Lu Chao Chao merely smiled without answering.
She had long set her sights on the Buddhist Realm’s sacred seal.
She might not have found a way to save her disciple, but she refused to leave empty-handed.
Back then, when she went fishing in the Heavenly River, she caught nothing. Even after jumping in and drinking half the river’s water, she did not return empty-handed.
The deities exchanged uneasy glances.
“Surely, the honored ones have already deduced my identity, have you not?”
“I know the Buddhist Realm upholds fairness and does not wish to align with the Celestial Realm’s corruption. But Han Chuan has been demanding the sacred seal ever since the Buddha’s Child failed to return, hasn’t he?”
“How much longer can you keep the sacred seal from him?”
“I know the Bodhisattvas are merciful. If Han Chuan gains the seal and his strength soars, how many innocent lives will be lost? Instead of that…”
“Why not lend it to me?”
“I will not take it without giving something in return. In exchange, I vow to guide the Buddha’s Child back to the righteous path. One day, I will ensure the sacred seal returns to him.”
Behind her, Xie Yu Zhou anxiously shifted his weight but ultimately remained silent.
“Since you all plan to descend to the mortal realm to observe the world, leaving the sacred seal in the upper realm may be less safe than placing it in my hands.”
“I swear to you all, no matter what fate awaits me in the Celestial Realm, I will never implicate the Buddhist Realm. I will protect its purity.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a golden lotus bloomed in the air.
The lotus rotated gently, each petal seemingly alive.
Lu Chao Chao extended her palm, and the small golden lotus descended onto it. Warm to the touch, its fragrance permeated the air. The moment it landed, it transformed into a small, delicate lotus-shaped seal.
“Many thanks for your generosity. I will not disappoint you.”
The deities remained silent for a long moment before sighing softly, “Amitabha, indeed, indeed. If that day truly comes, do not protect only the Buddhist Realm.”
“Protect all living beings.”
“All beings are equal, none greater or lesser.”
“We, too, have received the incense offerings of the mortal world. We must bear the responsibility of protecting its people. We cannot remain indifferent…”
Lu Chao Chao was momentarily stunned but then solemnly nodded.
“Honored ones, do you know where the Monarch Emperor is?” she asked.
“His tribulation is a secret of the Three Realms. But I once cast a divination—at most, in ten years, he shall return.”
A flicker of joy crossed Lu Chao Chao’s heart. She expressed her gratitude before finally allowing them to depart.
—
Buddhist Realm.
Shi Kong’s eyelids twitched violently, his wooden fish striking out of rhythm.
He turned to a young novice monk. “The deities have not yet returned?”
“They must have been delayed, persuading the Buddha’s Child. Shall I go to the boundary gate to await their return? I can welcome the Buddha’s Child home!” The young monk’s eyes shone with innocence.
Shi Kong nodded.
Originally, only one Bodhisattva was supposed to descend. But having been tricked by Lu Chao Chao before, Shi Kong had gained experience. He had convinced the divine elders to accompany them…
Surely, there would be no accidents this time.
Moments later, the novice monk returned at full speed.
The Buddha’s Child has returned?!
Shi Kong sprang to his feet before quickly coughing to compose himself. “Slow down. What sort of appearance is this?”
The young monk, face flushed from running, pointed outside, gasping for breath, unable to form words.
“The Buddha’s Child is at the gate? Good, good, I knew it! With all the honored ones gathered, they could surely bring him back.” Shi Kong beamed as he strode outside.
With so many deities absent, he had felt deeply uneasy.
The novice monk panted, “No—he did not return!”
Shi Kong froze, his brows knitting together. “Then it cannot be forced. If he is to return, he will return in due time.”
“Why, then, have the deities not returned?”
The novice monk stomped his feet. “They—they haven’t returned either!”
Shi Kong scowled. “I asked about the deities. Why are you answering about the Buddha’s Child? I already know he hasn’t returned.”
Tears welled in the young monk’s eyes.
“Master, none of them returned.”
“All the honored ones descended to the mortal realm!” The young monk was on the verge of sobbing.
“They followed the Buddha’s Child’s path—they ran away, all of them!”
Shi Kong’s mind went blank.
He understood every word, yet he simply could not process their meaning.
“Who… who ran away?”
The young monk wailed, “The deities said that without experiencing the world, they could not transcend it. A thousand years of cultivation is worth less than truly entering the mortal realm!”
The young monk gazed at his master in admiration.
Despite only ascending a few years ago, Master Shi Kong remained so composed.
Even though the entire Buddhist Realm had emptied out, he remained expressionless.
Shi Kong’s mind buzzed. A long silence passed before clarity returned.
Gone was the image of an enlightened master. He erupted in fury, tearing his prayer beads apart.
“Lu Chao Chao, you heaven-cursed brat!”
“I cultivated for years to ascend, only for you to STEAL MY ENTIRE SECT?!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation