Chapter 1031: Chapter 499: Synthetic Monk, Memory Fragments, and Kasaya_2

"However, when I turn to ashes, he can indeed be free and gain the right to love wherever and die wherever."

After listening, Zhang Ze was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to comment.

After all, this sort of philosophical question — who am I, where do I come from, where am I going, who killed me, and whom did I kill — is not his forte.

Of course, this issue is also not the Little Monk’s forte, so he and Zhang Ze tacitly skipped this topic.

The Little Monk once again fell into his memories.

"Master was compassionate and didn’t force me to read memories from the palm or interrogate me after discovering the situation, but instead took me in and taught me how to cultivate.

"It’s just that I probably have a nasty streak, and wasn’t too fond of such arrangements."

The Little Monk sighed and began confiding to Zhang Ze.

"The first life was fairly normal, but starting from the second life, I suddenly began to loathe myself. This feeling is hard to describe; you might find it somewhat incomprehensible.

"I wanted to die, yet also wanted to live forever.

"So from the second life onward, I began wandering everywhere, engaging in reckless actions.

"Of course, while being reckless, I always claimed it to be in the name of seeking enlightenment, because only then could I justifiably wander around.

"But not every time did I manage to run away; most of the time, they wanted me to stay in the monastery and cultivate diligently."

The Little Monk looked up at the Buddha Country in this place, saying, "Because as long as it’s here, my path to Mahayana has no obstacles whatsoever."

"That’s great, what have you got against it?" Li was puzzled; from its perspective, this was something many people dream of.

A Mahayana Cultivator with a tenfold lifespan, what is there not to be happy about?

"Because it’s the end, right." However, Zhang Ze somewhat understood, looking at the Little Monk while rubbing Li’s head.

"Exactly, because it’s the end." The Little Monk looked at Zhang Ze with an expression that seemed to say, you truly are my soulmate.

"This man-made Divine Soul will ultimately have defects; when ordinary people ascend to Mahayana, they see endless unknown ahead, countless paths awaiting exploration, dangerous but also full of hope.

"Yet beneath my feet, there’s nothing; I can’t move forward, nor can I turn back. I’m like a monkey trapped in a box.

"Every day after Mahayana is torment for me."

Zhang Ze nodded, then made a candid remark, "Even though I understand, I still think you’re just dillydallying too much."

The Little Monk laughed upon hearing this.

He wasn’t angry, instead giggling and admitting, "Correct, I am indeed dillydallying too much.

"But that was the past me, unrelated to who I am now.

"Recently, I’ve decided that from now on, I’m going to live well, hanging on as long as possible."

Words he intended to use to enlighten the Little Monk were swallowed back by Zhang Ze, who curiously asked, "Why?"

"Because I’ve seen a variable, and that variable is you."

The Little Monk’s eyes were earnest, shimmering with Buddha light, making Zhang Ze’s scalp tingle.

Zhang Ze, "..."

Looking disgusted, Zhang Ze took a step back from the Little Monk, "If you were a Daoist nun and said this to me, I’d be much happier. But sadly, you’re just bald."

The Little Monk gave Zhang Ze the middle finger, and simultaneously, all the big hands in the Buddha Country did the same.

The Little Monk, "I’m speaking the truth, because ever since you appeared, this unchanging world suddenly changed, becoming interesting.

"Countless variables arise because of you."

Zhang Ze, "So you’ve decided to make an effort, join this variable, and strive to break the box that traps you?"

The Little Monk, "No, I plan to lie flat and let you help me break this ’box’."

Zhang Ze, "..."

"Ahem, just kidding." The Little Monk scratched his bald head, "I’m not completely lying flat; I’ve done some proper things."

After pouring out his feelings, the Little Monk was evidently much more at ease.

"I used to always resist discussing topics related to this hand, and the few masters in the Buddhist Sect who knew the inside story never forced me.

"Perhaps it’s because so much time has passed, and even by cultivator standards, at least two generations have changed; the current Buddhist Sect no longer holds the obsession of my master’s era.

"I don’t know if this counts as Zen principle.

"When everyone decides to let go, they can surprisingly pick it up easily."

"I’ve decided to remember who ’I’ am."

With that said, the Little Monk’s eyes once again turned golden.

The power of [Wonderful Boundless Golden Wheel Realm] enhanced him, as he grasped Zhang Ze’s wrist and looked at that jade-like withered hand.

Similar to the experience when Li pulled him into the dream world, but what he saw this time was even more fragmented, and he couldn’t move freely.

In the shattered memories, Zhang Ze saw Baiyujing of the past.

Truly worthy of the name Divine Capital. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Gradually, cheers rose in Zhang Ze’s ears. Looking up, he found himself blending into the crowd, looking up at the top scholar chosen by the Divine Monarch together with other people.

Meeting the eyes of the top scholar, after a moment of daze, Zhang Ze found himself transformed into the top scholar.

Riding a Dragon Steed, dressed in splendid attire, he could no longer see the white mulberry flowers blooming beneath the snowy mountain. All he saw was the vibrant peach blossoms conjured by the immortal technique of [Flowers Fall on the Divine Capital].

When a peach blossom fell on the horse’s head and was carried away by the wind, Zhang Ze’s gaze shifted again.

His sight rode the petals away from the top scholar, flying towards the Imperial City that could determine the destiny of everyone in East Continent.

This time, he inhabited a youth; the youth wore luxurious clothes, followed by a large group of eunuchs and maidservants, clearly indicating he was some Prince.