What people called "destiny" or "heaven's mandate", in Chen Kuang's case, actually referred to the national fate of the Liang Kingdom, which was now bound to him.
This was one of the key reasons why he had resolved to flee to the Pure Land.
Back when he had been threatened by the Zhou Kingdom, and ended up killing back in retaliation, sealing Ji Wangquan's soul into a shadow, that ability, Soul-Sealing Shadow Imprint, was not something he had ever learned.
Yet it had come to him instinctively, as if it were his own.
From that moment, Chen Kuang began to suspect that Su Yu was attempting to possess him.
No, this wasn't just a suspicion.
It was a fact.
It was then that he realized: Su Yu, carrying with him the national fate of the Liang Kingdom, had resided within Chen Kuang for far too long...
Though others had only seen Chen Kuang appear in their world for just over a month, the power of the Dao of Time had exerted its influence on him directly.
He had traveled both backward and forward through time.
And thanks to the Elixir of Immortality, he didn't age despite the passage of time.
But at the same time, Su Yu and the national fate of Liang, which were tied to him, also experienced that same duration of time.
Xi Mengquan had once disguised himself as Jiang Wuya and, through a dream, told Chen Kuang that if he wanted to sever his ties to the national fate, he had to awaken the Glazed Image-Freezing Lamp, and absorb Nine Heavenly Mandates through it to draw the fate into the lamp.
Until the fate of Liang shifted from decline to resurgence, or until Chen Kuang's death, Su Yu could not be revived.
But what Chen Kuang hadn't understood at the time was that there was another hidden implication.
Due to the fact that Liang's national fate was tied to him, the young princess, no matter what she did, could never truly restore the nation.
But precisely because of her persistent efforts, Liang's fate would gradually increase.
In other words..
Su Yu, bound with that fate, might slowly awaken.
Though he might not be able to fully replace Chen Kuang, he could begin to influence him.
Just like that inexplicable use of Soul-Sealing Shadow Imprint.
Such a gradual erosion of will could only lead to one outcome.
Perhaps one day, Chen Kuang would truly fulfill Huo Hengxuan's sarcastic prophecy, that he wished to be a new emperor, with a cruel twist of fate.
But inside the shell of this "new emperor"... would reside the soul of the former one.
Even someone like Chen Kuang, who had already felled a Martial Saint, felt a chill creep up his spine at the thought.
That so-called "Nine Heavenly Mandates" Jiang Wuya had mentioned, Chen Kuang had no clear directions, no idea when or how he could gather them.
Thus, the moment he heard about the Divine Ability of Exhaustion of Defilements, which could sever karma and destiny, he couldn't help but ask more.
But he had another idea in his heart.
Huo Hengxuan had been one of the masterminds behind Liang's downfall, an accomplice of Su Yu.
Originally, he should've been loyal to Su Yu.
When he first appeared outside the capital of Liang in his remnant soul form, Chen Kuang had clearly felt hostility from him, as if he were trying to aid Su Yu's resurrection through Chen Kuang's body.
Which was why he had been so wary.
But later, after being summoned by Su Huaiying using the Bell of Reversion, Huo Hengxuan had pointed Chen Kuang toward Garan Temple.
As a True Pearl Disciple, Huo Hengxuan would definitely have known that Garan Temple's "Exhaustion of Defilements" had such powers.
In other words, he had likely changed sides, and chosen to help Chen Kuang.
Perhaps it was because he had witnessed the growth of the little princess.
Or maybe... he saw potential in Chen Kuang?
Either way, Huo Hengxuan had chosen to betray Su Yu...
Thinking back to that old man who had endured countless humiliations in the imperial prison, Chen Kuang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
In front of him, Xiuzhu nodded without hesitation and said:
"Naturally. One who attains Exhaustion of Defilements steps beyond the cycle of rebirth and exits the Five Elements."
Having received a definite answer, Chen Kuang instead fell silent.
To bring the dead back to life, to sever all fate and karma, it was all a bit too extreme. Now that he truly had the chance, he found himself hesitating.
Xiuzhu noticed his expression and scratched his head:
"Well... actually, this Sixth Divine Ability is no longer attainable."
Chen Kuang was stunned: "Why not? Isn't it said that only true Saints possess it?"
Xiuzhu shook his head and explained:
"You misunderstand. A True Saint is not merely a Saint, it is an existence that transcends the Saint realm."
Chen Kuang immediately grasped the implication:
"You mean... the Celestial Vastness Realm, Canliao?"
Xiuzhu quickly nodded:
"I once heard my master say that, in ancient times, only those who reached the Celestial Vastness Realm were qualified to be called Saints. Those in the Daoist Shore Realm were merely quasi-Saints."
"But after the Celestial Vastness Realm ceased to exist, the title of 'Saint' was passed down to the Daoist Shore Realm instead."
"As for the Sixth Divine Ability, in all of the Pure Land's history, only the Buddha has ever attained it."
Chen Kuang sighed.
Alright then. No need to struggle with the decision, it wasn't even something that could be cultivated anymore.
That thought settled him, until something occurred to him.
If the Canliao Path had been severed...
Did that not mark the Age of the End of Dharma?
The End of Dharma destroys Heaven's order; Māra slays the Tathāgata.
Canliao Path severed, Heaven's fate scattered, Māra has emerged...
That prophecy, more than half of it had already come true.
The Pure Land... might truly be heading for a catastrophe.
After bidding farewell to the ever-enthusiastic Xiuzhu, who had just finished explaining the layout of the Pure Land, Chen Kuang lit the oil lamp in his meditation room.
The single lamp was dim; parts of the room were still swallowed in shadow.
He picked up the white monastic robe laid neatly on the bed. Despite the Pure Land's architectural fondness for gilded extravagance, its clothing was surprisingly minimalist.
Other than a subtle "卍" pattern woven into the fabric, there were no decorations at all.
Chen Kuang put on the monastic robe. Already tall and striking in appearance, this moon-white garment made him seem even more refined and ascetic, even a little holy.
There was also a string of matching white Buddhist prayer beads, threaded with golden thread, marking him as an official True Pearl Disciple of Garan Temple.
In other words, the three Grand Chan Masters had not only allowed him to retain his hair and keep his worldly status, they had even formally admitted him into Garan Temple.
But when he looked at the long black hair draping over his shoulders, he couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity and mockery.
The Five Precepts of Buddhism: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no intoxicants.
He had violated every single one.
In fact, he could practically be called the embodiment of sin.
And yet now, without even shaving his head, he had openly and honorably become a True Pearl Disciple of Garan Temple, truly, this was absurd to the extreme.
Especially considering how Huo Hengxuan had once been expelled from Garan Temple for merely violating the precept of sexual misconduct.
Yet now, those three monsters stood publicly before the entire congregation of the Pure Land, preaching dharma in solemn robes...
Chen Kuang could no longer laugh at the irony.
His gaze fell on the Bodhi tree in the courtyard, his expression contemplative.
That voice he heard back then, had it been an illusion?
That woman's voice... could it have come from this very tree?
Before he could think further, his status panel suddenly flickered again.
[You have witnessed the three Great Demonic Lords usurp the positions of the Pure Land's Grand Chan Masters, and successfully earned their trust. You have acquired the passive ability: "Usurper's Refuge": When you are undercover within an opposing faction, unless you expose yourself, no one will suspect your identity.]