Chapter 169: The Supreme Scripture of Universal Salvation
A faint, mocking smile appeared at the corner of Ah Li's lips.
"The Supreme Scripture of Universal Salvation was originally an orthodox Daoist cultivation method," she said slowly. "It emphasizes entering the mortal world to cultivate and accumulating virtue through good deeds."
"Ordinary Daoist cultivators, if gifted, shut themselves away in sect chambers rich in spiritual energy, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth for centuries before touching the threshold of longevity. Those without talent must venture into the world to seek their own fortune."
"But this scripture is different—it follows another path."
Chen Chang'an nodded thoughtfully. "So this cultivation art allows one to cultivate by doing good deeds and accumulating merit?"
"Precisely." Ah Li flicked her finger, and a bronze coin floated into the air, slowly rotating.
"Whether it's helping an old man cross the street or pacifying chaos in a region, as long as a good deed is done, the Heavenly Dao records it as merit. When enough merit is accumulated, the path of cultivation becomes smooth, even reducing the power of heavenly tribulations when breaking through to the Saint Realm."
So there's a heavenly tribulation when breaking through to the Saint Realm… Chen Chang'an was taken aback.
Ah Li didn't notice his expression. After pausing, a trace of ridicule flickered in her eyes. "Sounds beautiful, doesn't it?"
Chen Chang'an nodded quickly. "It's great, isn't it? Doing good deeds, accumulating virtue, and cultivating at the same time—perfect harmony."
"Heh." Ah Li sneered. "The problem lies in those two words—'merit and virtue.'"
"Merit in the world is divided into innate merit and acquired merit," she explained. "Innate merit was already seized by countless ancient beings eons ago, back when the heavens and earth first formed."
"Those great merits were long monopolized. What remains is acquired merit—slow to grow and extremely easy to lose."
Chen Chang'an frowned. "What do you mean?"
"For example, you save a person," Ah Li said calmly. "You think you've done a good deed and gained merit."
"But ten years later, that person becomes a murderer who slaughters an entire village. Then the merit from saving him is not only reclaimed by the Heavenly Dao but even deducted in punishment."
Chen Chang'an was speechless.
"What's more ridiculous is that sometimes, even when you clearly do good, it still turns out for the worse," Ah Li continued. "Suppose you help a poor scholar pass the imperial exam."
"But after becoming an official, he grows corrupt and causes countless people to suffer. That debt—the Heavenly Dao still attributes to you."
Chen Chang'an's mouth twitched. "That's… way too unfair."
"Exactly. After The Supreme Scripture of Universal Salvation appeared, it stirred great excitement, but few ever reached high realms through it," Ah Li said, shaking her head.
"Except for one so-called 'Heaven's Chosen,' almost no one succeeded. Over time, it was sealed away and gradually forgotten."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Until one day, it fell into the hands of the Buddhist sect."
Chen Chang'an blinked. "The Buddhist sect? Shouldn't they also practice virtue and compassion?"
"In theory, yes." Ah Li let out a cold laugh. "But among them were some 'clever' monks. After long research, they discovered a true shortcut."
"What kind of shortcut?"
"Reincarnated Buddha Child," Ah Li said, enunciating each word.
Chen Chang'an frowned. "Reincarnated Buddha Child? What does that have to do with merit?"
Ah Li did not answer directly. Instead, she smiled faintly and countered, "Everyone thinks it's unrelated. But did you know that ever since the Buddhist sect began this practice, wherever a Buddha Child was reborn, a great calamity soon followed?"
Chen Chang'an's pupils contracted as the realization struck him. "You mean…"
"Exactly." Ah Li's voice turned cold. "A ruthless demon wreaks havoc, causing mass suffering. Then, the reincarnated Buddha Child 'coincidentally' appears to save all beings, earning boundless merit."
"Once isn't enough? Then they do it again and again, until the Buddha Child's merit is complete and he ascends to the Immortal Venerable Realm."
Chen Chang'an drew in a sharp breath. "This… the Heavenly Dao allows that?"
"That's where their brilliance lies," Ah Li said indifferently. "Those evildoers were secretly cultivated by the Buddhist sect itself. Their actions are hidden through special techniques that obscure heavenly insight."
"Even if the Heavenly Dao suspects something, it cannot trace it back to them."
She paused, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes. "Now you understand why monks like Miao Hua are all so depraved?"
Chen Chang'an was silent for a long moment before speaking slowly. "Because they… are part of the calamity itself?"
Ah Li nodded. "Exactly."
The bustling noise of Ping'an Ward continued, yet to Chen Chang'an, that bright afternoon sun suddenly felt chillingly cold.
He thought for a moment—then shuddered.
Damn it.
Those bald monks appeared near Immortal Spirit City. Could it be… that Immortal Spirit City is about to face a great calamity?
He quickly turned to Ah Li. "Miss Ah Li, according to what you said, could it be that these monks wandering nearby have set their sights on Immortal Spirit City?"
Ah Li was polishing an ancient bronze mirror. Without even raising her head, she replied calmly, "You're underestimating them."
"Hm?"
"A mere Immortal Spirit City—how much merit could it possibly yield?" She let out a cold laugh.
"These bald monks never start small. Their appetite begins at the scale of a province. If they act, they act big—massacring cities, annihilating nations. What they want is scorched earth for thousands of miles and countless lives lost, then have the 'Buddha Child' descend to save all beings and harvest immeasurable merit."
Chen Chang'an was speechless.
Good heavens, their business operates on a massive scale!
He frowned deeply. No, he thought, this must be stopped. But then another idea struck him—
Wait!
Weren't Xiao Chen and Han Yu about to return soon? For those heaven's chosen youngsters, schemes and calamities like this were the perfect "level-up package." If they went to investigate, it would be both training and problem-solving. Perfect!
Thinking that, Chen Chang'an suddenly felt much better, even giving himself an invisible thumbs-up for his foresight ten years ago.
However, another thought suddenly arose in his mind.
"Miss Ah Li, since you know so many of these hidden secrets…" he asked cautiously, "aren't you afraid?"
Ah Li finally looked up. Her cool gaze swept over him lightly. "I am not afraid."
Chen Chang'an blinked. That was… way too direct!
He was about to ask more when he suddenly remembered what Ah Li had said before—she had once dealt with the Buddhist sect.
Wait a second.
The Great Zhou's destruction of Buddhism happened twenty thousand years ago, didn't it? If Ah Li really had contact with the Buddhist sect back then, wouldn't that mean…
Chen Chang'an's pupils trembled violently as he sneaked a glance at her.
The girl named Ah Li had skin as fair as snow, delicate brows, and a serene beauty that looked no more than twenty.
Twenty thousand years old?!
Chen Chang'an's scalp went numb. He quickly shook his head. "No, no, maybe she misspoke…"
But the more he denied it, the more strange images surfaced in his mind.
Damn!
Chen Chang'an suddenly felt that compared to the conspiracy behind The Supreme Scripture of Universal Salvation, this possibly twenty-thousand-year-old "young girl" before him was far more terrifying.
He forced an awkward laugh and pretended to organize the bamboo fortune sticks on the table, afraid his expression would betray his shock.
Ah Li seemed to sense something and suddenly glanced at him. "What are you thinking about?"
"N-Nothing!" Chen Chang'an waved his hands hastily. "I was just thinking… Miss Ah Li's knowledge is truly admirable!"
Ah Li gave a soft snort and ignored him, continuing to tinker with the strange items on her stall.
...
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