Chapter 549: Buddha's Light

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Visual Settings:Microsoft YaHei

Is the timing truly off? This single question instantly seized the hearts of those present.

According to normal chronological comparisons, it certainly was. Chinese history, spanning only about five thousand years, seems long but is in fact relatively brief. How, then, could Chinese characters appear in an ancient mythical temple from tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of years ago? It was like having the grandchild before the grandparent.

However, the game's timeline is asynchronous; the flow of time in reality differs vastly from that in this world. Perhaps a thousand years ago, the ancient Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva ascended here from the Tang Dynasty. While only a millennium passed in the mortal realm, bringing people from ancient Tang to the internet age, enough time could have elapsed here for entire mythological epochs to unfold.

“If it truly is Ksitigarbha, then is this ancient hell-temple of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva his abode? Does that mean the vow ‘Hell is not empty, I vow not to attain Buddhahood’ is also true?”

“That can’t be right, can it? It’s just a legend. Whether Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva truly existed is unknown, and even who he was in life has several historical versions, though the story of the monk from Silla during the Tang Dynasty is the most widely accepted.”

“Given our experiences and the terrifying flow of time, nothing is impossible.”

The few people present felt bewildered, as if in a dream, yet theoretically, it had become entirely plausible.

“Cough, cough, cough,” one of the players quickly coughed. He suddenly felt a chill, goosebumps prickling all over. Sniffing, he wondered, “This isn’t a horror game, is it?” The more he thought about it, the more horrifying it became! The more he chewed on its implications, the more goosebumps he got.

He quickly looked at the plaque, pacing back and forth to examine the characters, and laughed loudly, “Guys! Why are you suddenly so quiet? This setting is quite interesting! A hundred years in heaven, a day on earth—the immersion is so deep! As expected of the game developers, their game's background and worldview keep expanding, constantly refreshing our understanding. It’s absolutely mind-blowing! Simply divine craftsmanship!”

“Yeah, yeah! These Easter eggs from Chinese mythology are perfectly integrated into this Six Paths of Reincarnation online game!” Another player quickly chimed in, snapping back to reality, quickly taking a screenshot, and letting out a laugh, “What an epic plot twist! All of that before was just buildup, it’s incredible! If we share this, they’ll be absolutely floored when they find out this mysterious temple in the dungeon has ancient Chinese characters!”

The group quickly started teasing each other. Bai Xiaojun glanced at them and tacitly nodded as well.

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence could sense that the 'black technology' behind this virtual online game was beyond modern capabilities. If it were a few hundred years in the future, and humanity had developed to the level of the Ishtar people's virtual online games, then such a virtual game setting would simply be praised as ingenious. But now… they were all starting to feel uneasy.

“Guys, let’s gather our thoughts! Time to strategize for the dungeon!” Bai Xiaojun and the others no longer hesitated, but they also weren't in a hurry to enter the mysterious ancient temple. After all, they had only encountered minor monsters blocking their path before. Entering the ancient temple likely meant the final boss stage of a particularly difficult dungeon. What dangers lay within? Unknown mysterious enemies? They had no idea. Before entering, the team definitely needed to discuss and consolidate information; a team wipe wouldn't be fun.

However, the two characters for 'Ksitigarbha' truly unsettled them. They didn't dare to immediately take screenshots and send them out to seek community assistance, as other players were competing for dungeon progress. If they found out they were secretly getting a head start, wouldn't all hell break loose?

“We can only clear this on our own! First, according to the current game lore, given the ancient Chinese characters 'Ksitigarbha', we players, as Asuras, are not the first ones to descend upon this world!” Bai Xiaojun and a few others squatted down, drawing and writing on the grayish-white sandy ground with a short stick.

Bai Xiaojun analyzed with a serious expression: “Before the ancient mythological epochs, even further back than the era of Jue Wushen, there were ancient 'players' from Earth thousands of years ago who entered this world, ascending one after another to arrive here—what we traditionally call the Immortal Realm or Buddhist Realm in Chinese legends.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Based on the background lore, this was indeed the case.

“They came from Earth, ascended, and became ancient mighty beings. Then, something unknown happened, and these immensely powerful gods fell. After an unknown period following their demise, it might have been the era of Jue Wushen.”

Everyone nodded.

“So, according to this deduction based on the lore, our five-thousand-year history of mythology becomes quite terrifying. For example, this 'Ksitigarbha' before us might have been an exceptional talent from Earth a thousand years ago, who stepped onto the Ancient Sun Road, entered the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and only now appears here in the prehistoric mythological period of tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of years ago, leaving ancient relics for us.”

“Then, what about Zhang Sanfeng? Does Shakyamuni still exist? Laozi heading west of Hangu Pass? The human ancestors Yan Emperor and Yellow Emperor? All these Heavenly Venerables from Earth, from the age of myth?” Their breathing quickened, and fear appeared on their faces.

The asynchronous flow of time opened up the greatest unknown and mysterious possibilities. They had thought the Six Paths of Reincarnation setting was already amazing enough! Inconceivable, with a brilliant and interconnected background story. But now, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of what had been revealed!

“So, how did these ancient beings who once walked the Earth disappear after leaving? Did they not survive until today? Or were they suppressed somewhere, with only their lingering souls remaining?” After pushing aside the dark mist, they had expected to see the truth of history, but instead, they were met with an even larger, denser cloud of uncertainty!

They gazed at the mysterious ancient temple, the two characters for 'Hell' piercing their hearts. Nothing could immerse them more deeply than familiar ancient characters from their own civilization. Before, they had felt a strong connection to Jue Wushen, but it was merely a feeling of appreciation and admiration for such a figure fighting for his world. Now, however, they discovered that even before Jue Wushen, in a far more distant prehistoric era, there were figures suspected to be from Chinese mythology, and it gave them goosebumps, making them feel as if they had truly become part of this native world.

The few of them shivered and started discussing animatedly, “This game is truly special! It lives up to its reputation as the first cross-era virtual online game! Billed as a 'second life,' it perfectly blends five thousand years of Chinese mythological history with the online game world background. The immersion is incredible!”

“However, distorting five millennia of ancient myths like this might just draw criticism from both sides!”

“But this game is genuinely fun!”“The background setting is astonishing!”

The group merely exchanged smiles and spoke lightly. As for whether any of it was real, they'd have to evaluate it slowly, keeping their true thoughts hidden.

After organizing themselves, they began to carefully explore the ancient temple. Dressed in their 'tin can' armor, they entered in order, surrounding Bai Xiaojun, as he was the core of the team. Without his ability to sense 'Qi,' even if they cleared the dungeon, they wouldn't be able to return and would surely die in the depths of Avici Hell.

They entered through the great gate of the ancient temple. On both sides were solitary bronze lamps, and the walls were covered in rich, colorful murals in the style of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. However, after countless ages, they had weathered beyond recognition, their colors faded, covered in thick dust. Only the unknown divine power permeating the air allowed these images to remain discernible.

Footsteps echoed, stirring up dust in the empty space. Walking through it, one felt the ancientness and silence of endless time. As they walked, they saw various Buddhist scenes: peace and prosperity with song and dance, countless celestial maidens, and Buddhist paintings, all in a typical Dunhuang ancient temple style. On both sides were exquisitely crafted stone carvings of standing disciples, Bodhisattvas, Heavenly Kings, and Vajra warriors, in both full and bas-relief, as if revealing another Cave of a Thousand Buddhas. It was simply too beautiful, a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

“How beautiful! This is true ancient Chinese architecture, truly worthy of the exceptional talents from Earth a thousand years ago. It’s far more beautiful than those overcrowded tourist sites. A mysterious temple, ancient and radiant in the vacuum of space, imbued with a sense of age countless times stronger. It’s just a shame these stone walls don't record history.” Bai Xiaojun expressed some regret, “But of course, that’s realistic. It would be bizarre for an ancient temple's murals to depict the history of its own destruction, unless later generations intentionally added them.”

However, as they continued walking, they saw lines of text within some of the paintings. The characters were ancient, starkly out of place with the mural style, seemingly carved in later. They weren’t traditional Chinese characters either, but an unintelligible, centipede-like script. They quietly noted them down and continued along the mural corridor. Running short on time, they spotted another line of script on a different mural, also completely indecipherable. It was clearly not the same language or writing style, and even the handwriting differed, as if from two distinct eras.

It was evident that these inscriptions were not left by the ancient temple's original owner, but added by people from successive eras who visited the temple. By the time of their visits, perhaps the temple was already damaged, reduced to the ruins seen today.

“Mighty beings from various epochs have passed through, leaving behind inscriptions and records of mysteries for future generations.”

“It’s just that we can’t understand any of it.”

“Brothers, since people from different eras have come and left their marks, should we also write 'we were here' on a mural?”

“You’re asking for a beating! That's destroying cultural relics!”

“Who are we to do that? I certainly wouldn't dare right now. But when I become successful and powerful, I will definitely leave my mark, just like those past great beings!”

The group discussed, finding the different scripts from various eras to be incredibly hardcore and authentic. They continued to analyze. After all, many dungeons are puzzle-based and require understanding and analyzing the background lore. Typically, boss information and various background details are displayed on the dungeon's stone walls.

But at this moment, they felt a profound sense of immersion and an intense curiosity about the myths of ancient times! After all, this ancient temple was an artifact of Earth's people! As they gradually went deeper, the stone walls seemed to be covered in more and more writings, symbolizing that over a dozen ancient mighty beings had explored the temple in different eras.

Finally, as they advanced, they gradually saw a line of readable text in the native infernal language.

“It’s similar to Jue Wushen’s handwriting.” Everyone was startled, having seen Jue Wushen’s script on arcade machines when he wrote his poetic title.

It read: “That Reincarnator, who annihilated my beloved. If only redemption were possible, then let their very being endure for a hundred lifetimes.”

The few people around exchanged glances and couldn't help but whisper, “It must be Jue Wushen, describing his era when the Six Paths of Reincarnation were established, and that Emperor of Reincarnation monopolized the entire age.”

“But this is already considered the recent epoch. What happened before then is very unclear,” they said, shaking their heads. “Perhaps that Emperor knows; he borders the recent epoch, and it's highly possible he's a remnant from a former age of old myths, who took over a shattered world, reshaped the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and then dominated for eons, monopolizing several eras. Despite his extraordinariness, he is still just a Heavenly Emperor.”

In the prehistoric times spanning tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of years, there must have been even more terrifying mythological eras, perhaps with eighth-tier gods abundant and world-class powerhouses. It must have been a period of terrifying destruction and great catastrophe that led to the rise of that Emperor of Reincarnation and the resistance of figures like Jue Wushen, ushering in the current era.

Bai Xiaojun looked at the long mural corridor, “So much of the long history has been extinguished. We can only guess at the circumstances of the last few epochs, the last few millennia!”

At this moment, in everyone’s eyes, the entire 'Six Paths of Reincarnation' worldview unfolded completely. This shattered world might have been even vaster and grander before its fragmentation.

As they continued to advance, they realized they were reaching the end of the ancient temple's path. Goosebumps gradually rose on their skin, and they exchanged glances. “Does anyone else feel like the radiation level has increased tenfold?”

“Indeed. Keep away from living beings. Even radiation-resistant creatures like us would likely struggle to withstand it. There must be a terrifyingly strong radiation source inside, obliterating all nearby life. In mythical terms, it’s still emitting 'hellfire' after tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of years.”

Everyone's faces were filled with dread. Indeed, many highly radioactive substances have half-lives spanning tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of years.

“Let’s keep going! We’ve made it this far! We have to see what’s inside!” Bai Xiaojun shouted, instantly boosting the confidence of the others. “We don’t just want to be the first team to clear the only main storyline dungeon and get the rewards; we also want to know the truth of history!” The others immediately gritted their teeth and pressed on.

It was a simple, unadorned, empty meditation room behind the ancient temple. An ancient, withered skeleton, draped in a kasaya, sat cross-legged on the ground. Behind it, as if a Buddha’s halo, its entire body emanated blinding, multicolored radiance.

“My eyes!” Bai Xiaojun cried out, his scalp tingling. “Run! We’ll die here! This is a massive radiation source, absolutely astonishing, hundreds of times stronger than before!”

They sprinted away, remembering the monk who had turned into skeletal remains, still radiating a fierce glow. They couldn't help but feel shocked, as if they had just understood the truth of history.

“So, this is what 'Buddha's light' really is?”

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