Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 198 Countless Times

Indulgence, slaughter, conquest, extravagance...

These four words, like a red-hot branding iron, left a scorching mark deep within the consciousness of the Good Dharma Emperor. For a Buddhist practitioner with compassion in his heart, each word meant the ultimate test of his resolve, as if placing him in a bottomless purgatory, where greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt would gnaw at his soul in turn. Yet even so, the Good Dharma Emperor did not hesitate or fear in the slightest, facing and accepting everything with equanimity.

It was not unexpected for Li Xuanxiao that the Good Dharma Emperor would accept the game so readily. After all, he was the Good Dharma Emperor, a Buddhist practitioner who cared deeply for the common people. Even knowing that he was in an illusion, he would not easily abandon the people he saw.

As for whether the benevolent ruler can truly overcome this obstacle...

Li Xuanxiao could only say that it might be possible, but it would definitely be an extremely long time, even though the flow of time in the illusion was very different from that in the current Bitter Realm.

Looking at the gem that symbolized conquest, Li Xuanxiao simply said, "Good luck."

Of the four types of gems, Conquest is arguably the most lenient.

"The manager's ability to devise such a challenge is truly extraordinary."

Looking at the actions of the Good Law Emperor reflected in the water mirror, Tan Wuyu frowned slightly, but praised him.

This game, if left to either Tan Wuyu or Su Huanzhen, would surely be resolved satisfactorily with time and opportunity—that was their confidence. But the one who unfortunately stepped into this game was Shanfa Tianzi.

A truly enlightened monk, drawn into the situation by the needs of sentient beings, yet unable to break free from it, the final outcome was predictable.

At least Tan Wuyu is not optimistic.

"It's just some minor design, nothing to brag about."

……

"As expected of a great monk from the Divine Land, he truly deserves my praise." It was still the same palace, and the same dangerous king. Looking at the shattered gem in the hands of the Good Dharma Emperor, the king clapped his hands and laughed.

"Rest assured, Master. Since it was obtained through your conquests, I will not take what belongs to others."

Despite saying this, the king's gaze remained fixed on the mountain lion beside the Good Law Emperor, his eyes filled with undisguised desire.

Outside the city walls, a mountain lion wreaked havoc, killing passersby and harming the people. The Good Law Emperor took a stone for conquest, went into the mountains for three days, found the mountain lion, subdued it with force, and then taught it with Buddhist teachings, which made the mountain lion submit and willingly become the Good Law Emperor's guardian beast. This became a popular story in the city.

However, once a gem breaks, according to the rules of the game, the next round must begin immediately.

As the wooden box was opened, a gem emitting a dark pink light floated out, and the king's expression changed dramatically with excitement.

"The mage is truly lucky, the Stone of Debauchery, hahahaha." The king clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "The mage may seek out a destined person in the city. If not, my harem may also be opened to the mage. I look forward to the new surprises the mage will bring me."

The eyelashes of the Good Dharma King trembled slightly, not from temptation, but from pity for the deep-seated greed permeating this illusion. He recalled the various beings he had seen in the secular world before entering the monastery to practice: some abandoned their families and livelihoods for lust, while others killed their own flesh and blood for sexual desire.

Indulging in lust—is it indulging desires, or the human heart?

“I remember that every seven days, I had the right to exchange gems in the box.”

"Oh? Does the mage need it?" the king said nonchalantly. "Then, please."

The Good Law Emperor opened the wooden box once more, and the gem flew in and out. A crimson light shone throughout the hall, and upon seeing the gem, the king was even more delighted. "The highest quality killing stone excites me even more. Master, please."

The moment the gemstone shone with a scarlet brilliance, the air in the hall froze instantly. The officials turned pale, but the Emperor Shanfa looked at the scarlet gemstone in his hand with a calm expression, still chanting sutras with his eyes lowered, his fingertips slowly tracing the prayer beads.

"Without hesitation, use it. I will pardon all the Master's sins, no matter what they may be."

The moment the king finished speaking, the gem shattered, and gasps of surprise rang out in the court. The guards immediately became alert.

The king's expression remained unchanged as he looked at the benevolent Dharma King and calmly said, "I didn't expect the Dharma Master to be so decisive, then..."

As the king spoke, he pointed to the crowd around him and said with a smile, "The people at the front are all high-ranking civil and military officials of our country. They are a perfect match for this killing gem. Mages can choose their targets and make their move."

"Amitabha." The Good Dharma Emperor simply looked at the king on the throne and softly chanted the Dharma name, then put his hands together in a gesture of respect. The next moment, he activated his Buddhist energy and directed it towards the source of evil in the illusion before him.

The opening move, radiant with Buddhist light, was precisely—

"Reflecting on the vast universe!"

Faced with the ultimate attack, the king showed no anger but rather delight. He waved away the surrounding guards, burst into wild laughter, and when his palm struck down, it displayed an even more terrifying and horrifying power.

“Master, I admire your courage, but I will also mock your ignorance.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed down with his palm. The ring on the king's right hand emitted boundless power. At the moment the two forces collided, the Good Dharma Emperor felt an overwhelming force crush his protective Buddhist energy. The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible. His body flew backward like a broken rag doll, eventually turning into a blurry pool of flesh and blood that dissipated in the palace.

"The sorcerers of Shenzhou are nothing special," the king on his throne said coldly.

……

"Ah, the benevolent ruler!"

Inside the pawnshop, watching the Good Law Emperor being directly killed, Tan Wuyu couldn't help but cry out in shock.

"Why is the talented Yue so surprised? This is just an illusion." Li Xuanxiao's voice remained calm and composed. But the instant he finished speaking, a message flashed through his mind, and the smile on his lips became playful.

"Oh my, it's a surprising yet not surprising choice."

"What?" Tan Wuyu was taken aback upon hearing this, then realized what he meant. "Could it be that the Good Law Emperor..."

"Burning yourself time and time again, just to liberate all beings in this illusion, O Lord of Good Dharma, you are truly compassionate to the point of being unbearable."

As Li Xuanxiao spoke, he waved his hand, and specks of golden sand dissipated into the air.

"Since you have the courage and awareness to do anything, I don't mind giving you a little help in the cycle of reincarnation and life and death."

"Shopkeeper, does it mean that the Good Law Emperor is unwilling to end this?" Tan Wuyu asked hurriedly.

"I will not become a Buddha until hell is emptied." Li Xuanxiao pointed to the newly formed water mirror and said to Tan Wuyu, "Talented Scholar Yue, do you think this illusion resembles hell?"

(End of this chapter)