The Shining Star Above The Heaven-Chapter 550: What Makes You Think I Can Bear it?

After they passed the bridge and entered the temple area, Venerable Karma Seeker began chanting a Buddhist chant. Not long after, the view in front of them became wobbly, and Venerable Karma Seeker simply stepped inside, with Aldrian following.

He could sense strong illusion laws and a formation similar to the one in the bamboo forest.

"This illusion can trap someone at the emperor stage. If they are trapped here and try to approach the temple, they will never reach it in their lifetime unless they can overpower the illusion formation. It is powered by the entire sect ground, with our treasure inside serving as the eye of the formation," Venerable Karma Seeker said.

Aldrian nodded in understanding as they approached the temple. The temple did not have a door, and normally they could instantly see the interior from outside. However, because of a kind of formation that obstructed their view—like looking at wobbly space—they could not see what was inside.

Venerable Karma Seeker stopped once again and chanted a Buddhist chant before the wobbly space disappeared, revealing what was inside. Once the distortion faded, rich heaven and earth energy mixed with divine energy swept over Aldrian.

Inside, the temple resembled a hall, and in the middle of it was another pond, still connected to the one outside. However, his attention was instantly drawn to something at the center of the pond. What he saw was a translucent lotus, emitting a light that made it resemble a diamond illuminated by a radiant glow.

His eyes glimmered as the crystal lotus’s light reflected in them. He felt a strong connection to the lotus, which made him think of Tianlian.

Venerable Karma Seeker walked inside with a smile and stopped before the pond, then looked at Aldrian, who had followed him.

"Benefactor Aldrian, this is the Heavenly Lotus of the Buddha, the most treasured treasure of the Buddhist sect," he said, then looked at the lotus again.

"When our ancestors arrived on this continent, they found this lotus right here. It was as if fate had guided them to this place, making this place as the main sect of the Buddhist sect."

"Our ancestors, whose cultivation far surpassed the emperor stage, experienced the deepest comprehension of the Buddhist doctrine from this lotus. That was why they did not hesitate to declare it the most treasured treasure from that moment on. From this lotus, we have received many benefits. With its help, we developed our own techniques, unique to the Buddhist sect on this continent.

"For example, the lotus contains powerful karma laws, which allowed me and many others to develop techniques based on those very laws," Venerable Karma Seeker explained.

Aldrian’s focus remained on the Heavenly Lotus of the Buddha as he read the information about it.

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Heavenly Lotus of the Buddha

Description: This Heavenly Lotus is the embodiment of the supreme Tianlian Buddha ’s enlightenment and comprehension. His compassion for all living beings led him to share that enlightenment through his teachings.

The Heavenly Lotus of the Buddha also contains a powerful karmic bond with Tianlian Buddha, awaiting the arrival of the absolute ruler.

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As he expected, the lotus was connected to Tianlian. No wonder he felt such a strong connection to it.

"But here is the thing," Venerable Karma Seeker continued, "ever since our ancestors found this lotus, they were visited by a figure during their state of comprehension. This figure was holy, and according to the records, our ancestors felt as if they stood before a supreme being—someone far beyond their level."

"That being also radiated the holy light of the Buddha, which led them to believe it was the true Buddha, the supreme Buddha from a higher realm. From that vision, they came to know the nature of this lotus and our ancestors received a message—one we have preserved to this day. We inscribed it on the wall of this temple."

Venerable Karma Seeker then pointed toward the end of the temple.

Aldrian, too focused on the Heavenly Lotus, eventually looked toward the end of the temple and saw a writing engraved on the wall.

To the brightest star whose light shines upon all lands

The sign of the universe came upon you

Those who follow your light rejoice

Those who deny your light stray

May your light grow ever brighter as you find your destiny

Aldrian knew—once again, just like with the other traces left by his followers—this writing was meant for him.

"That figure gave our ancestors a message," Venerable Karma Seeker said, "telling us to show these words and the Heavenly Lotus to the destined one—the ’brightest star that shines upon the land.’"

He turned his gaze to Aldrian.

"All these years, we didn’t know how to find that brightest star, nor did we know who the destined one was. But then the prophecy came, followed by many phenomena—and your appearance. I knew right away that you were that star."

"Do you know what I saw in you the first time we met? What made me realize you were the one mentioned in this writing and led me to approach you?" Venerable Karma Seeker asked.

Aldrian looked at him with curiosity.

"Please enlighten me, teacher. What did you see in me?"

"What I saw was your blinding presence and immense karma—so immense that I couldn’t see the full extent of it. It was as if your karma was one with the world itself, something I dared not delve into. You will draw many things to you, even if you remain seated and do nothing."

"You are the opposite of me. I never wanted too many things to become connected to me through karma. Ever since my disciple became the Envy Devil, I’ve taken to venturing outside to help those in need. It’s my way of atonement—to gather good karma, bit by bit."

"But whenever I go outside, I use a karmic shield to the best of my ability—so that others will ignore my presence. They see me as no more than a stone by the roadside. They know I’m there, but they choose to ignore me. They neither look at me nor touch me. They act as though I am beneath their notice and instinctively avoid me."

Hearing this, Aldrian finally understood why Venerable Karma Seeker could do such things. A technique that made him "invisible but not invisible" through karma—this had to be a high-level karmic art.

He could still speak with Venerable Karma Seeker normally, without detecting any anomaly—something that genuinely impressed him. Venerable Karma Seeker had hidden his karmic shield so thoroughly that Aldrian couldn’t sense it at all unless he actively invoked his own karma laws.

Despite his deep comprehension of karma laws, the insight drawn from Tianlian’s Heavenly Lotus seemed strong enough to obscure even his perception.

"With the reaction from the Venerable Eyes of Destiny when he tried to look into your mystery, and all these phenomena surrounding you, I can’t help but wonder—who were you in your past life, Benefactor Aldrian?" Venerable Karma Seeker asked with a smile. But in his gaze, it was as if he already understood the secret Aldrian carried.

Aldrian simply smiled in return. He wasn’t disturbed by someone suspecting his past life was that of a mighty being. Even Xin Haotian had begun to question his true origin. And Venerable Karma Seeker, as a Buddhist cultivator deeply attuned to karma and reincarnation, was bound to notice something. There was no way to hide it from him.

"Well, maybe I’m just someone lucky enough to be chosen as the brightest star," Aldrian said with a smile.

Venerable Karma Seeker knew that Aldrian did not seem willing to reveal the whole truth—and that was okay. He understood that with how vast Aldrian’s karma was, and how he would attract everything in the universe, the truth would come out someday.

"Anyway, now that it seems I was correct in my judgment and have brought the destined one here, please feel free to do whatever you wish. It seems you already know why you are here," Venerable Karma Seeker said with a smile, a smile that showed he sensed Aldrian’s connection to the Heavenly Lotus.

Aldrian smiled at Venerable Karma Seeker and bowed with clasped hands.

"Thank you, teacher," he said before walking to the side of the pond.

He paused for a moment before stepping into the pond, which was actually shallow—only calf-high. He stopped right before the Heavenly Lotus, its light illuminating his body.

He was mesmerized by its beauty for a moment before sighing and looking back at Venerable Karma Seeker.

"Teacher, may I ask something?" he inquired.

"What is it that you wish to ask, Benefactor Aldrian?" came the reply.

"About your advice back then—the one where you said not everyone can bear the weight of righteousness—why do you think I can? What makes you believe I am worthy to bear a righteous heart? What if something happens, like what happened to you? What if the ones I love are the ones who cause destruction?"

"Will I still have a righteous heart to punish the wrong? What if I end up compromising my righteousness for those I care about? What if I’m too hard on myself and end up like your disciple?"

Hearing Aldrian’s questions, Venerable Karma Seeker continued to smile.

"The normal person might not be able to bear a righteous heart—I have failed at it myself—but you are not an ordinary human, remember? After everything you have experienced and done, do you still doubt your ability to carry that weight? Don’t underestimate yourself, Benefactor. If anyone can bear it, it is you."

"You may even possess the strength to avoid experiencing that kind of burden, so in the end, you won’t have to abandon your righteous heart."

Aldrian was stunned by the last part of Venerable Karma Seeker’s advice. He bowed once again.

"Thank you for the enlightenment, teacher."

Venerable Karma Seeker nodded in response.

Aldrian then turned back to face the Heavenly Lotus and closed his eyes.

"Yes, why should I think too hard about it? I have the ability to protect myself and those I love from making mistakes that could lead to a fate like teacher Karma Seeker."

"I must become stronger so I can prevent such a tragedy."

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