Having traversed countless realms, can you possibly be as clever as me?

Siddhartha, who had changed the rules of this world, spoke with a smile in Tsurugi's ear.

"It seems you've grasped the point."

Then he handed over a small booklet, tilting his head and smiling.

"Congratulations on graduating from my program. From today onwards, you are also an enlightened one!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Although I had already heard about it, the final plot of Land of the Lustrous was still disgusting to me, even just from watching the explanation. Some people say that Phosphophyllite is a reference to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, but I think even Ksitigarbha would be furious if faced with such a group of gods!

1004

723. Does a saint concurrently serving as Buddha constitute apostasy? (Bonus chapter, please vote!)

Have you realized it?

Looking at the returning Tsuruga, Siddhartha clasped his hands together and smiled.

"I've figured out something!" Tsugumi said, spreading her hands.

But Siddhartha was not angry; instead, he smiled at the Thrush. Had he not realized it? No, he had.

Enlightenment, in essence, isn't anything particularly lofty or profound. Frankly speaking, was the enlightenment he attained under the Bodhi tree something incredibly complex?

The concept of dependent origination and emptiness simply means understanding the impermanence of all things, the root of suffering, and the path to liberation. It means that all things in the universe arise from the coming together of causes and conditions; there is no eternal, unchanging ruler or god; everything is in a state of flux.

Well, if this happened now, a bunch of people would definitely drag it into being associated with some Bluebird.

The so-called enlightenment and the so-called principles are nothing more than this. True teachings can be conveyed in a single sentence, while false teachings can fill countless volumes. The so-called enlightenment can often be encompassed by just one sentence.

For most people, it's just a sentence, but for those who have truly attained enlightenment, it is the path they have gleaned.

So what was the Dao that Tsuruga realized?

It's nothing more than finding your true self and understanding the simple, easy-to-understand principles.

"Saving the world? Why should I necessarily save the world? I should do things because I want to, not just because of some inexplicable sense of responsibility or so-called mission."

Tsurugi revealed a rare, carefree smile. In that instant, he gained a clear understanding of his own true self, as if he had returned to the relaxed state of mind he had at the very beginning before his transmigration!

Why think so much? Everything has a cause and effect, good and bad. There's no need to take on so much responsibility for yourself, and even less need to shoulder problems that aren't yours!

He will continue to follow his own path, but from today onward, he will never shoulder any burdens or responsibilities that are not his.

To hell with them! I owe no one anything. Even if I were to become a savior, it would only be because I want to, not because I have to!

In the words of the great monk before us, it is said that form is emptiness, and emptiness is form.

Tsurugi pushed open the window in front of her, looked at the bright sunlight, took a deep breath, and exclaimed with delight.

"I should appreciate the scenery along the way, and I should enjoy the journey and the experiences!"

"Never carry a burden, never take on anything you hate!!!"

"Yes, why would I lose this composure? This is how it should be."

Tsugumi's mood instantly brightened, and the deep red mark surrounding his presence faded considerably as a result.

I am the Crimson King, but the Crimson King is not me. How can the words, legends, and descriptions of others affect me?

I am who I am, first and foremost Tsurue, and only then everything else. I will never allow any other identity to supersede myself.

So he smiled and waved to Siddhartha in front of him.

"Anyway, thank you, you're a really good therapist!"

Siddhartha chuckled heartily, and Tsurugi knew that the man before him preferred to be seen as a wise scholar and doctor rather than being elevated to a divine status by countless believers and called Buddha.

He is a human being, Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha—but not the Buddha himself. This truth has been successfully conveyed to Tsuruga.

This simple truth is far more precious than any so-called divine skill manual.

"You are also a very good student, Tsurugi. You owe me a consultation fee. I will ask you for it when I have the chance."

Siddhartha smiled slightly, then picked up an artificial flower from beside him and gently pressed it against Tsurugi's forehead.

Congratulations, you have graduated.

The moment it touched Tsurugi's skin, the plastic flower transformed into a soft epiphyllum petal, gently imprinting itself on Tsurugi's brow before vanishing without a trace.

Then, Tsugumi looked at her blank character card, where a brand new class had appeared.

[The Awakened One]

'Self-awareness, awareness of others, and perfect practice of awareness lead to enlightenment; transcending conventional truth, all beings can become enlightened.'

"So I became a monk?" Tsurue raised an eyebrow.

Hiss... Eek, I never imagined I was an incarnation of the World Honored One! But thinking about it, does this mean I've betrayed my faith?

"I am me, and Buddhism is Buddhism; they are two different things," Siddhartha shrugged.

Yes, although the enlightened Buddha Shakyamuni created the Sangha system, he never required the worship of idols. He established the Buddhist order, allowing people of any caste and social class to join, and they were equal and did not discriminate against each other.

The initial precepts he established covered everything from personal virtues to clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. He formulated systems such as wandering and begging for alms, the rainy season retreat, and repentance for transgressions. These later became religious practices for monks, but in Siddhartha's hands, they were merely precepts.

1004 >>

The one sitting here is not the Buddha, but Siddhartha, who is merely presenting proof of his enlightened status to Dongjiang in the guise of Shakyamuni.

"As long as one can understand oneself and forge a path forward, everyone can be an enlightened being. It is not necessary to sit on a lotus throne, eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and be compassionate in order to become an enlightened being."

Siddhartha laughed freely.

“I am my enlightened one, and you are your enlightened one, so why be so fixated on this? Of course, you may be affected by my imprint, but ultimately, as long as you do your best, there will be no problem.”

"Good." Tsurugi clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to Siddhartha.

Then he turned and left, while Jesus had been waiting for him for a long time.

“I knew it,” Jesus said, “Buddha was better at guiding others than I was.” Looking at the transformed Tsurugi, Jesus smiled with joy at his brother’s healing.

"So, where do you want to go next?"

"I don't know. I'll just go wherever I feel like. I need to find some peace and quiet to relax and get healthier. After all, I've only found the root cause of my illness; I haven't even started treatment yet." Tsurugi shrugged.

"How about I go play a hero game with my old buddies? Or go to a cruel universe and mess with the whole world? Or go to a relaxed world and enjoy my daily life?"

“Then let me take you to a better place, to come again as the Son.” Jesus opened his arms to him, opening yet another door, smiling.

"Whether as a god, a man, or a demon."

"Go there to experience, feel, and live a new life without regrets."

"What about this paradise? It's still a little bit left unfinished." Tsurue looked at the work he had left unfinished.

"Don't worry about me, go on vacation, brother." Jesus, almost impatiently, pushed Tsurugi into the room, then smiled and waved at him.

"If you really can't go on like this, remember to call me~~~~"

"But don't worry, I also have an identity in that world, and I'll always be watching over you, hee hee~~~"

In the instant she fell into another world, Tsugumi saw Jesus' smiling face, and in that brief moment, she became... malevolent.

Although there was no evidence, Tsugumi had a feeling that she might have been tricked!

But before he could react, he transformed into light and entered this world.

Then, Dongjiang's memory was swallowed up by the warm amniotic fluid that enveloped her, and she drifted off to sleep.

......

Dark, cold, damp

For the first time, Tsurugi truly experienced what it felt like to be a complete baby.

I can't open my eyes, my limbs are limp, and I feel cold all over.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm sorry, please forgive me..."

A voice filled with apology and sorrow rang in my ears; it was the voice of a mother, so grief-stricken it bordered on despair.

"But I can't let you..."

The sound abruptly stopped, and Tsurugi immediately felt himself immersed in this cold and damp place.

The power cannot be manifested.

The gentle yet cold thing that enveloped him suppressed all the power he tried to display, leaving him neither alive nor dead, yet unable to escape.

But this also made him realize what was actually covering him.

This is a river, a cold lake, flowing to an unknown destination, its waters cold, slippery, and damp like the deep sea.

He wanted to call for help, but stopped himself—he wanted to see how the fate of this world would lead him.

He drifted aimlessly for an unknown amount of time, listening to the endless sound of the water until a woman's voice, as beautiful as heavenly music, rang in his ears.

“Look what Styx has brought me? A child? Immersed in the River Styx, yet his form remains unchanged.”

Crash!!

With the sound of water, he was pulled out of the water, and Dongjiang's senses instantly came alive. He once again took control of his destiny.

Then, he opened his eyes.

This is a dry and desolate land. The sky is dark and the distance is shrouded in mist, which divides into three paths. Apart from withered olive trees with a deathly green color, there are only vast fields of purple belladonna in the distance.

The one who pulled Dongjiang out of the water was a tall, slender woman with two lanterns burning green flames floating beside her, her face shrouded in a veil, wearing a long, light purple gauze dress and a laurel wreath, with pale white hair reaching her hips.

"How interesting and cute!"

She played with the gift from the River Styx, her eyes sparkling as she smiled.

"You bear the scent of the Lady of the Night, yet why do you also possess the radiance of the sun? Are you the son of Helios? But you also carry the scent of thunder. Could you be yet another illegitimate child of Zeus?"

"Hmm, no, no, you are an enlightened being, you are a human being?"

“You should have been destroyed. The three Fates should have sent Moro to take you away long ago, but you came to the crossroads instead.”

1004>>>>

Does this mean that even they cannot decide your fate?

Tsurugi didn't know what she was saying; a strong drowsiness kept assaulting his mind.

"In that case, my dear little surprise, let me bestow upon you the blessing of 'opportunity'."