Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 848

The year 8035 of the Xia Calendar on Blue Star, on Lingjing Star, Liang Long observed the news in his grasp, a slight shake of his head escaping him. The dispatch detailed significant happenings from Blue Star, including the momentous construction of a cross-border teleportation array.

Lin Jiang had also implored Liang Long to establish a cross-border teleportation array originating from Lingjing Star concurrently, aiming to expedite the construction timeline. However, by the time the most critical information concerning the operational rules of this array reached him, it had become distorted, rendering the content utterly incomprehensible.

"It appears he still harbors mistrust towards me," Liang Long mused internally. Lingjing Star hosted an avatar of Xia Qingshan. Were Xia Qingshan amenable, he ought to have imparted the principles of power. Yet, Xia Qingshan demonstrably had not. Liang Long even harbored suspicions that Xia Qingshan himself was responsible for the distortion of the information.

Nevertheless, Liang Long maintained his silence. Certain matters, once articulated, take on an altered significance.

A few days hence, the leaders of the three factions convened. Liang Long addressed them, stating, "Following decades of dedicated construction, Lingjing Star has attained an industrial level of 1.0. This is insufficient; our industrial advancement must persist. We require the capacity to at least support our technology at level 5.0…"

Liang Long proceeded to elucidate the present status of Lingjing Star. After extensive efforts spanning decades, the planet's productivity had ascended to the 1.0 era. However, this represented merely a foundational stage, comparable to Blue Star's condition over a millennium prior. In more precise terms, Blue Star's industrial standing was at least 5.0, signifying that it had weathered five distinct industrial revolutions.

An industrial level of 0 was wholly inadequate to sustain their current technological endeavors; it was insufficient even for rudimentary tasks. Of course, the Modern City presented an exception, having been architected in accordance with their advanced standards. Yet, a solitary Modern City was far from ample.

"Are you alluding to Fa Kong?"

"Precisely. Technological advancement and industrial revolutions invariably inflict hardship. We must invariably compromise the interests of certain individuals. Blue Star’s technological march towards its present achievements spanned millennia. In contrast, Lingjing Star has existed for mere decades. I can assert with certainty that should we propel the technology here beyond level 3, the common populace and the cultivators of lower realms on Lingjing Star will find it untenable. The societal progression will outpace their comprehension, precipitating a cascade of social complications. Consequently, Fa Kong’s strategic deception might unravel, presenting a most perilous situation."

Zheng Yi affirmed his awareness of Fa Kong’s circumstances. This was a stratagem of deception devised by their superiors. While everything presented to Fa Kong was truthful, it was also deliberately incomplete. The objective was to destabilize Fa Kong’s Buddhist Heart. However, accelerating development could inadvertently expose the facade. Should Fa Kong perceive himself as betrayed, the repercussions would be unpredictable. Though they were confident in their ability to subdue Fa Kong, he was not an isolated entity; a vast and enigmatic domain of Buddhist cultivators stood behind him.

"It appears we must devise a method to resolve the issue concerning Fa Kong," Liang Long stated.

Liang Long concurred. The construction of a Space Battleship necessitated a colossal industrial support framework and an extensive technological supply chain. Fa Kong’s continued presence posed a significant impediment to these objectives.

"Liang Long, do you possess the capability to reverse the effects on Fa Kong?"

"This is exceedingly difficult. A cultivator of the Bodhisattva Realm does not readily relinquish their Buddhist Heart. The reason we could destabilize Fa Kong’s Heart was intrinsically linked to his personal background. Had any other individual been in his position, such a feat would have been impossible."

Liang Long elaborated that they were well aware of Fa Kong’s origins: he too hailed from the lower strata, truly one of the most disadvantaged. His capacity for empathy and susceptibility to influence stemmed from this shared background. Should it have been a different Buddhist cultivator, their methods would have proven entirely ineffectual.

"Then, what course of action do we pursue now? Blue Star lies over a hundred light-years distant. Even with a teleportation array, instantaneous transit is unattainable. The establishment of multiple teleportation arrays is not an endeavor that can be accomplished swiftly."

"Fire Scale Demon Emperor, what is the status on your end?"

"It is proceeding adequately, though the indigenous demonic populace of Lingjing Star proves quite vexing, exhibiting a notable lack of fortitude."

The Fire Scale Demon Emperor reported that their efforts on Lingjing Star were intensifying. They employed Demon Insects to subjugate significant swathes of territory, subsequently releasing numerous young monsters transported from Blue Star.

Numerous indigenous demon races still inhabit Lingjing Star, yet their allegiance lies more with the Buddhist cultivators than with the common folk, a reality the Fire Scale Demon Emperor finds deeply irritating. He has even personally executed many of these local demons, intending to eradicate all but a select few rare species.

"Very well, this concludes today's assembly. The teleportation array will not materialize overnight; several years of preparation are required."

Liang Long nodded, remarking that they currently present themselves as saviors to Lingjing Star, displaying great benevolence. They have lifted a significant burden from the ordinary inhabitants, imparted civilization, and bestowed technology, enabling them to stand with dignity as human beings.

However, this facade is merely an illusion; their true objectives remain concealed. Their ultimate aim is solely to acquire the resources abundant on Lingjing Star.

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Lingjing Star, Central Continent, Modern City

Fa Kong has resided in Modern City for several years. Despite his Buddhist heart faltering, he persevered in his search for any perceived failings in the people from Blue Star. He harbored a suspicion that their actions were a deception, that the Blue Star inhabitants were misleading him.

Yet, after these years, Fa Kong's disheartening discovery was that he had unearthed no such flaws. The opulent material lifestyle within Modern City was not plundered from Lingjing Star's populace but was instead conjured by the Blue Star people utilizing their almost miraculous science and technology. This dramatically boosted productivity, forming the material bedrock of their prosperous era.

"Master Fa Kong, Lord Liang has arrived to see you."

One day, Zhang Qing escorted Liang Long to meet with Fa Kong.

"Benefactor Liang."

"I was informed by Zhang Qing that the Master possesses a keen interest in technology; you should certainly seek me out."

"Master, Lord Liang holds the premier position in Blue Star Technology. He is a distinguished scientist across more than forty distinct fields and is widely recognized as one of the most pivotal figures in Blue Star's scientific history."

"Amitabha, I deeply admire Master Liang's extraordinary talents."

Fa Kong inclined his head towards Liang Long; no longer a novice regarding technology, he now grasped the profound significance of Zhang Qing's pronouncement.

Liang Long cast a glance at Zhang Qing, who, understanding the cue, discreetly departed, leaving the two men alone.

"Master, you have spent several years on Lingjing Star; what are your impressions of this place?"

"It changes daily."

"That description is exceptionally apt; it truly is undergoing daily transformation. The technology of my Blue Star is a millennium ahead of Lingjing Star's current level, and much progress still lies ahead for Lingjing Star. Nevertheless, my purpose today is to engage in a discussion about Buddhism with you, Master."

"I am eager to hear your insights."

"Master, in your view, what is the ultimate purpose of practicing Buddhism?"

"For all sentient beings in the world, practicing Buddhism serves to encourage virtuous conduct, foster positive karmic retribution, and cultivate harmonious relationships…"

Fa Kong responded without hesitation, his profound familiarity with Buddhist scriptures leading him to articulate from the perspectives of both the collective world and the individual.

"Master, your grasp of Buddhist principles is truly commendable. However, I have a further query: Master, how do we definitively establish what constitutes 'goodness'?"

"Virtuous deeds, harmonious relationships, positive outcomes…"

"Master, such abstract pronouncements lack substance. Allow me to offer an illustration: Imagine a train engineer encountering a child playing on the railway tracks. To the left, there is a single child; to the right, five children. There is insufficient time to halt the train, and the child is too terrified to move. Were you in the train engineer's position, what course of action would you take?"

"Amitabha, I am but a humble monk, alas…"

"Master, you comprehend the crux of my hypothetical scenario, do you not?"

"Indeed, by conventional reasoning, the train ought to divert leftward. Yet, is the child on the left not also an innocent soul?"

"Master, your wisdom is apparent. But what if I were to inform you that this scenario is not hypothetical but actually occurred, and the engineer did indeed strike the child on the left? Master, do you deem the engineer's actions to have been morally good or evil?"

"This humble monk cannot provide an answer."

"Then allow me to offer my perspective. In my estimation, and that of many others, the engineer acted correctly. Not only did he mitigate harm and minimize loss, but the financial compensation for a single fatality is vastly different from that for five. Concurrently, he preserved the livelihoods of numerous individuals."

"Benefactor, you…"

"What of me? I recount this tale to illustrate that Buddhist doctrines are profoundly hypocritical. You delineate between good and evil, yet your conceptualizations of morality are inadequate to resolve the world's complexities. What you term 'good' is merely your subjective conception of it, forcibly imposed upon others."

Buddhism has endured for millennia, yet its theoretical frameworks have remained stagnant, unrevised or unstrengthened, precisely because the sole aim is to preserve the status quo that serves your interests. In essence, Buddhism is no different from us; it merely adorns itself with an additional veneer of feigned virtue.

"Therefore, the Buddha you revere is not the true Buddha; it is an fabrication. Buddhism, at its core, is fundamentally flawed…"

Before Fa Kong, Liang Long spoke with deliberate precision, dismantling the tenets of Buddhism and thoroughly shattering its core principles, leaving Fa Kong utterly speechless.

With each word Liang Long uttered, Fa Kong's complexion waned, and the sacred Buddhist aura surrounding him dissipated. At that very instant, Fa Kong's Buddhist heart wasn't merely shaken, it was utterly annihilated.