Chen Kuang himself had little research on Buddhist teachings, so naturally, he had never heard of this saying.

But once, in the Celestial Prison, Huo Hengxuan, in order to help him quickly understand those two cultivation techniques, had imparted much of his own cultivation experience to him.

Included within those experiences was the Buddhist teachings he had learned while cultivating at Jie Lan Temple.

Among them, there was a story, or rather a prophecy, "The End of Dharma destroys the Celestial Dao, Mara extinguishes the Tathagata."

Mara, that is, Demon King Mara, was rumored to be a powerful demon king from the ancient realm of desire.

Xiuzhu pointed to the Bodhi Tree and said:

"Buddha once cultivated under this tree for forty-nine years, and as he was about to attain nirvana after enlightening all beings, he met Mara, with whom he had fought many spiritual battles."

"Mara said to him: After you attain nirvana, I will destroy your Buddhist teachings."

"Buddha said: My Buddhist teachings are the true teachings, you cannot destroy them."

"Mara coldly laughed: When you are in the world, everyone believes and is admonished and restrained, naturally, I cannot destroy your teachings. But after you pass away, human nature is inherently evil, and without restraint, they will let themselves go. Fewer and fewer will believe in you, allowing me to destroy them."

"The Buddha said: The Buddha’s light shines universally, and the good hearts of the world will not be extinguished."

"Mara said: Saints have no constant heart, using the heart of the people as their heart. Mara also has no constant heart, using the heart of the people as his heart. You restrain people with precepts, keeping them away from desires, whereas I cater to people’s desires, fulfilling them. How can you compare to me?"

Xiuzhu stood beneath the Bodhi Tree, in a snow-white monk’s robe, just like the Buddha who comprehended the Way here back then.

But what he was narrating was a story about the Buddha’s death.

Xiuzhu spoke slowly and clearly: "The Buddha said: I have sutras left in the world."

"Mara then said: The scriptures are dead words. To educate mankind, there must be someone to interpret them."

"The Buddha said: I have disciples left in the world."

"Mara then said: In generations to come, in the Age of Dharma Decline, I will have my disciples become your disciples, wearing your kasaya, and destroy your teachings."

"They will distort the meaning of your sutras, destroy your precepts, achieving what I could not through force."

Xiuzhu smiled and said: "The Buddha heard this and remained silent for a long time, eventually shedding two lines of hot tears."

"Mara immediately knew the Buddha was helpless against this, and left with a wild laugh."

Chen Kuang looked at Xiuzhu, also silent for a while, glanced at the Bodhi Tree, and said:

"So... are you Mara?"

This story is exactly like the current state of this Pure Land, clearly even those three Great Zen Masters have already been replaced by monsters, yet remain unaware.

How can this still be a Pure Land? It has clearly become a Demon Cave!

One just didn’t know when exactly these three Great Zen Masters became like this...

Xiuzhu sighed: "Unfortunately, I’m not."

"I told you, I am Xiuzhu, a Zhengzhu Disciple of Jie Lan Temple."

Chen Kuang could tell that he was speaking the truth.

But if he and Xiuzhu were one and the same, this statement naturally wouldn’t be a lie either.

Chen Kuang said: "Then what do you mean by bringing up this story?"

Xiuzhu once again revealed that strange smile and said: "You see, don’t you? The true appearance of the three Great Zen Masters."

Chen Kuang kept his mouth shut.

Since no strange rumors ever emerged from Jie Lan Temple, and the numerous monks in the temple showed no signs of panic, it indicated that perhaps he alone discovered this anomaly.

After all, he still possessed the passive ability "Clear Sight," rendering any deceit or disguise ineffective before him.

And if that’s the case, assuming that Jie Lan Temple is entirely within the control of the Saints.

If he revealed his stance now, it might be detected by those three monsters.

Although Xiuzhu on the opposite side showed no concealment, for some reason, Chen Kuang didn’t dare bet whether he was setting a trap for him.

Xiuzhu smiled and said: "Rest assured, if they could perceive it, would I still be doing well now?"

"Since three years ago, their Divine Sense has been unable to leave the Zen Room, otherwise, they would not be able to sustain their physical bodies. Since they have let you out just now, it shows that you have passed the test of trust."

True words.

Chen Kuang felt slightly relieved.

Though he couldn’t determine if Xiuzhu’s understanding of this matter was true or false, since Xiuzhu considered it true, it meant he was engaging with Chen Kuang sincerely.

Looking at it this way, Xiuzhu seemed not to be aligned with those three monsters.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept Chen Kuang’s non-Lion Heart reincarnation a secret.

This Pure Land... now the situation has become increasingly complex.

Chen Kuang took a deep breath and said:

"So, they believe that I am the reincarnation of Lion Heart..."

"Precisely the opposite."

Xiuzhu said: "They actually think you are not Lion Heart."

Ha? Chen Kuang widened his eyes.

If they think he isn’t, why do they still trust him?

Xiuzhu said: "Do you know about ’Demons’?"

Chen Kuang: "Night Barbarian?"

Xiuzhu: "Yes, but also no."

He spoke in a tone that was both reminiscent and disdainful: "Today’s Night Barbarians are just the vanguard of ’Demons,’ a group of scum worshipping ’Demons.’

"The true ’Demons’ are like Demon King Mara, or... Barbarian God Loudro."

Xiuzhu looked at Chen Kuang with a meaningful gaze.

He spoke in the language of the Central Domain, yet the term magically corresponded with the ones Chen Kuang had heard in the Western Regions.

No, he recalled that word again... Chen Kuang quickly steadied his Heart Spirit to prevent himself from thinking further.

And he soon realized the possibility that the uniqueness of true demons might be that their names, or rather their real names pronounced in that peculiar language, could allow them to sense each other.

Chen Kuang frowned and said: "You mention ’Demons’ now, are you suggesting that they... are ’Demons’?"

Xiuzhu nodded and said:

"I know your doubts, if so, why, when they knew you were pretending, would they let you, an unstable factor, in?"

"The reason is simple."

Xiuzhu said softly: "You carry an aura of ’Celestial Demon’ on you."

Chen Kuang was stunned.

His heart thumped. Was his identity as a transmigrator discovered, such that he was labeled with the "Celestial Demon"...

Then, he suddenly remembered, he indeed had contact with a "Celestial Demon."

Or perhaps... "Celestial Emperor Demon King."

Chen Kuang’s sight fell on the status bar in front of him, countless passive abilities flashed through his view, finally landing on a passive ability that used to perplex him deeply.

[You resurrected the Celestial Emperor Demon King, gaining the passive ability "Celestial Demon Transformation": The techniques others use on you can be instantly replicated.]

It was he who, in a certain moment, resurrected the Celestial Emperor Demon King!

And now, being told he carries an "Aura of Celestial Demon" on him... it suggests he not only resurrected the Demon King, but also had contact with the Demon King before?

Chen Kuang squinted his eyes:

"So, they mistakenly think I am one of them? Therefore, even if I were fake, they don’t mind... in fact, precisely because I am fake, they feel more at ease?"

Xiuzhu smiled but said nothing.

But Chen Kuang already understood; he might have perceived this too.

Therefore, his threat wasn’t actually about knowing Chen Kuang was impersonating Lion Heart, but about Chen Kuang not impersonating Lion Heart in the guise of a "Demon."

Chen Kuang felt even more burdened.

If the latter were exposed, it seemed much more terrifying than the former...

The former, at most, would hurt the feelings of these great monks, and according to the Pure Land’s precepts, they would at most exile Chen Kuang and take away his cultivation.

But the latter, that would surely mean certain death.

But examining it this way, Xiuzhu’s position was clear—he seemed to want Chen Kuang to infiltrate Jie Lan Temple, earning the trust of those three monsters?