Chapter 3995: Forced Enlightenment

Ji looked over, and battlelust illuminated his eyes as soon as he spotted Little Lotus King. However, instead of provoking that man, Ji looked back at Ning Xiao. “I’ll deal with you first.”

With that, his massive palm slammed down. There was a thunderous boom as the ground split open. The sword shadow shattered, and the giant stepped into the manor.

Onlookers were stunned. What incredible strength! This man had actually managed to shatter the sword shadow with brute strength.

Little Lotus King voiced his admiration, “Such strength! If he can become a peak Dukkhan, he might even be able to compare to Mr. Lu.”

Yu Xiang'er was taken aback. “Is his strength comparable to Mr. Lu’s?”

Little Lotus King smiled. “I don’t know about that, but I do know that none of his peers can surpass his strength. It is practically impossible for the Nine Odysseys Megaverse to produce a genius who can measure up to Mr. Lu, but finding someone comparable to him in a single aspect is not.

“Even then, it’s merely a comparison.”

He then looked up at the stars overhead. “Mr. Lu’s strength is without equal, absolutely impossible to surpass. The best that we can do is earn the qualification to compare ourselves to him. That is simply the limit.

“The way that Mr. Lu and that Insect Lord that fought with brute strength is something that absolutely no other person could replicate.”

After Yu Xiang'er and the others entered the city lord's manor, Jian Heng replaced the sword shadow at the gate, leaving those watching helpless.

That sword shadow served as a seal of qualification.

The occupants of the Scion Spire were in Blackmarsh City to compete for the title of First Scion, but none of them knew what sort of contest would take place. There had been no clear information from the Scion Spire. Everyone participating wanted to fight, but for the time being, things remained calm. No all-out battle had broken out.

The following day, Little Lotus King personally invited Fugui to wander about Blackmarsh City.

This news also spread, and Blackmarsh City was thrown into another uproar.

“What? Little Lotus King invited Fugui to tour Blackmarsh City with him?”

“No way! Did Little Lotus King invite Fugui for drinks?”

“Did Little Lotus King invite Fugui to spar?”

“That’s impossible. Did Little Lotus King invite Fugui to discuss the Dao?”

“Did Little Lotus King ask Fugui for guidance...”

As he walked down the street, Lu Yin overheard all kinds of discussions. The rumors were quickly growing increasingly exaggerated.

Beside him, Yu Xiang'er had an odd expression on her face. She had not considered the possibility of Little Lotus King inviting Fugui out for a stroll. She could not make any sense of it.

Little Lotus King naturally heard the gossip as well. “All rumors in the world merely carry people’s own desires. The ordinary wish for something extraordinary, while the exceptional wish for the ordinary. Such is nothing more than the different forms of life.”

“Please forgive me, Little Lotus King,” Lu Yin said in a respectful tone.

Little Lotus King smiled at him. “That doesn’t mean that they are entirely wrong. I truly am hoping to discuss the Dao with you.”

Lu Yin was baffled. “Discuss the Dao? With me?”

Little Lotus King did not explain. As they walked, he observed the bustling streets. With most of the insects eliminated, Blackmarsh City was starting to regain its former prosperity, and the cries of merchants filled the air.

“Fugui, can you tell me about your path of cultivation?”

“My path of cultivation? What do you mean?”

Little Lotus King blinked, looking at him. “You don’t have one.”

Lu Yin shook his head, a blank look on his face.

Little Lotus King stared intently at Lu Yin for a long moment. “Yes, how could you have one? The truth is that your purpose for cultivating is simple: survival. It is similar to how the Nine Odysseys Megaverse stands tall in the forest of the cosmos. Ordinary, yet not ordinary... What we cannot see, you can. People are, in the end, all the same...”

Lu Yin stared at the man in disbelief.

No way! Is he gaining enlightenment already?

Yu Xiang'er was equally dumbfounded.

How was there any opportunity for enlightenment in that? Is this what it means to be a genius?

Little Lotus King had received enlightenment.

However, the following day, he invited Fugui for another stroll. Then again on the third day. The fourth as well. Every day, he invited Fugui out for a walk. As for Yu Xiang'er, whether she decided to tag along or not was up to her.

Initially, people assumed that Little Lotus King was pursuing Yu Xiang'er, or perhaps testing to see if Fugui was worthy of her. Only later did people realize that their assumptions were completely wrong. Little Lotus King was genuinely focused on the idiot Fugui.

“The world is split into black and white. Ordinary or extraordinary, all are still human. Every universe follows its destined course. We can never truly see the side of life that belongs to the ordinary—yet is that not precisely the side we yearn for in cultivation?

“What is the essence of cultivation? The ordinary reach for the extraordinary, while the extraordinary long for the ordinary. That... is the essence of cultivation.”

Little Lotus King’s words swept through Blackmarsh City, stirring countless hearts.

People could not understand his words, but they all felt that what Little Lotus King said was profound.

Within the city lord's manor, the other young prodigies could not just sit still. Was Little Lotus King going to obtain multiple enlightenments just because of that Fugui?

It was true that Fugui was ordinary, and it was also true that they were among the most elite of geniuses and were unable to see the world through the perspective of someone so ordinary. They wanted to see what Little Lotus King saw, through the understanding of the foolish Fugui.

Fugui, Fugui... So that’s it! This must be why Yu Xiang'er chose him for a candlelit chat that night

.

It suddenly seemed possible that the two really had just chatted by candlelight. It was possible that Yu Xiang'er also sought to see the perspective of the ordinary through Fugui.

Greater Sancte Green Lotus taught of karmic fate and opportunity, of the ordinary and the extraordinary, of side upon side of existence. Was this not perfectly in accord with his teachings?

Yu Xiang'er had seen it, and so had Little Lotus King.

This was cultivation. These two were truly ruthless.

The others could not remain still. They immediately sought out Fugui as well. If they waited even another moment, it was possible that Little Lotus King might experience a complete transformation.

Before long, Lu Yin was staring blankly at the small crowd gathered around him in a courtyard.

Are they trying to use me as a springboard for their cultivation?

The prodigies’ purpose was quite simple. They wanted to see the world, the Dao of cultivation, themselves, and the cosmos through a different perspective. They wanted to experience the perspective of a so-called ordinary man. It was a perspective that they had never so much as caught a glimpse of before.

What Fugui had revealed to Little Lotus King had brought him enlightenment, and the others wanted to obtain that enlightenment as well.

But was what they sought really what was happening?

Of course not.

Lu Yin’s cultivation far exceeded the prodigies’. A glance was enough for him to understand that Little Lotus King had not obtained enlightenment through anything that Lu Yin had said, but because of an anchor, or rather, a thread. Yes, a thread. Lu Yin’s words had merely served as a thread. Little Lotus King had already received that enlightenment, but he had simply lacked another’s acknowledgment.

As Fugui, an “ordinary man,” Lu Yin had served as the validation for the breakthrough in Little Lotus King’s mindset.

It was true that Lu Yin was disguising himself as an ordinary cultivator, and such average people made up the vast majority of cultivators. That was why Little Lotus King believed that he had caught a glimpse of some hidden truth and received enlightenment. But in reality, his enlightenment had already been destined to appear at some point in time.

It was no different from how many people needed recognition, encouragement, or faith in order to take action.

By nature, humans were social creatures. No matter how high their cultivation might rise, they could never escape the traits of their species.

Lu Yin could see this clearly, but it was impossible to explain that to the young geniuses.

That was because he was pretending to be an average cultivator, a man who could show the geniuses the world of the ordinary. He could not lay bare their states of mind; all he needed to do was speak of what he saw and knew, like a recording device for the mundane world.

“Fugui, let’s take a walk together,” Gui Ji suggested, a broad smile on his face. His entire behavior was completely different from when he had chased after Xue Zhan.

Jian Heng coldly declared, “Fugui, I’ll give you a chance to challenge me-no.”

His eyes glinted sharply. “I’ll give you countless chances. Come at me anytime.”

The three-meter-tall Ji clapped a hand down onto Lu Yin’s shoulder while showing a guileless smile. The man boomed out, “Fugui, you should be stronger! Come! I’ll train you.”

Outside the courtyard, Xue Zhan was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed. “You’re being too hasty. You should first ask Fugui what he thinks.”

“What’s there to ask? He’ll just go with things.” Gui Ji rolled his eyes.

Jian Heng snapped back, “Wrong! What we want to hear is what Fugui has to say.”

Right

. Everyone immediately understood. They were seeking the perspective of the ordinary world through Fugui, which meant that they needed to listen more, watch more, and think more. That was what they should do.

Everyone instantly quieted down and then turned expectant stares onto Lu Yin.

He was left speechless by their behavior, and he glanced at Yu Xiang'er, begging her with his eyes.

Yu Xiang'er wearily asked, “Why do you all bother Fugui? He knows nothing.”

Gui Ji grinned. “Exactly! He knows nothing! That’s why we’re here.”

Ji jumped in. “He doesn’t know our world, and we don’t know his. Come, Fugui, share your perspective with us.”

Jian Heng’s tone remained frigid. “Whatever Little Lotus King heard or saw from you, I want all of it.”

Lu Yin coughed lightly. “Uh, you’re all overthinking things. Honestly, I don’t want to say anything.”

“Why not?” Ji asked in confusion.

Lu Yin shrugged with a sigh. “Tired.”

Ji stared deeply at Lu Yin. “Tired, huh? But you’ve clearly done nothing. Is just living in this world already too exhausting? We cultivators have never spared a thought for how the ordinary feel being beside us. Now I see it, they are utterly spent.”

Jian Heng lifted his eyes. “One word, tired. It sums up all the bitterness and hardship. Cultivators think cultivation is exhausting, but at least we have a goal, striving for Immortality. As for ordinary folk, All they seek is a decent life, and yet they still remain weary.”

Xue Zhan blandly declared, “Tiredness is relative.”

Lu Yin was dumbfounded.

Really? Does this even count?

Little Lotus King had gained enlightenment due to convenient timing, while these people were trying to force their enlightenment.

“Fugui, your name has some meaning, doesn’t it?” Gui Ji asked.

Lu Yin blinked. “It means I want to get rich.”

Gui Ji grinned. “A perfectly ordinary wish, and yet it points straight at the heart. People are always hiding. The higher one’s cultivation rises, the more false a person becomes. Some have the outward appearance of a sage, but they secretly push their cultivation to the point of going astray from their path. That is the importance of one’s mindset. What many spend their entire lifetime seeking is, in truth, just to be ordinary.”

Lu Yin arched a brow. What the man said was not wrong. Cultivation was a circle. The cosmos was a circle. From life to death, and from death back to life again; who could truly say what the end was?

When a person died, the world continued on. It was also possible that death was not truly the end, but the merging of one’s consciousness with another, to experience yet another life.

Strangely, even Lu Yin felt like he had found a trace of understanding.

There was no denying that it was a valuable experience to speak with true geniuses. Even when there was nothing of value, they could forcibly create value.

Lu Yin had always believed that the mortal world was the most important place for cultivators to temper their mental state. That was why, before he attempted his Origin realm breakthrough, he had wandered about mortal cities, telling fortunes while observing people’s lives. Doing so had proven to be quite effective at tempering his mindset.

If mortals and cultivators were separated into two distinct groups, then the perspective of a mortal emperor was similar to that of an Immortal among cultivators. Both held the power of life and death, and yet both were bound by countless restraints.

If an emperor committed reckless slaughter, his dynasty would collapse.

If an Immortal killed recklessly, while Lu Yin did not know the exact result, he was certain that it would not be a good outcome. At the very least, their karmic chain would prevent them from taking action.

In the mortal world, ordinary men dreamed of climbing higher. Without the ability to cultivate, it was necessary to rely on one’s family, background, schemes, or talent.

For cultivators, things were no different; they climbed upward by relying on their family, background, schemes, and opportunities.