Chapter 88: The Buddha’s World in the Palm

The world knew that Leshan Nation was a devout Buddhist country, the foremost supporter of Buddhism. However, few realized that this nation, with a supposed history spanning nine thousand years, was nothing more than a divine ability. Even its own people were unaware that they never truly existed.

The Old Buddha of Mount Sumeru’s hand expanded infinitely, his palm lines resembling deep ravines. Even Jiang Li could not see its end at a glance. A massive golden 卍 symbol descended, sealing Jiang Li within.

The First Form of the Buddha’s World in the Palm—Reincarnation.

Jiang Li became the king of Leshan Nation, as if he had been reincarnated. He forgot everything, dedicating himself entirely to fulfilling his duties as a wise and just ruler. He governed with integrity, delegated power, and selected capable ministers. He was deeply loved by the people, and the nation flourished, causing neighboring countries to submit willingly.

But mortals have limited lifespans. He grew old, fell ill, and lay on his deathbed, breathing his last.

One of his ministers, having ventured far to seek medicine, returned in excitement.

“Your Majesty, I have obtained a secret remedy from the Buddhist sect. If you kill ten thousand people, you can reverse death and extend your lifespan!”

Under Jiang Li’s rule, Leshan Nation was peaceful—there were no locked doors at night, and every citizen practiced kindness. The prisons for death row inmates were empty. Who could he possibly kill?

“Your Majesty, you could kill your own people. If ten thousand lives can bring forth a wise ruler, it would only make Leshan Nation even stronger.”

“If I kill ten thousand people, I will no longer be a wise ruler.”

Jiang Li rejected the minister’s suggestion and forbade him from spreading the so-called remedy. He then passed away, and the entire nation wept.

Jiang Li was reborn as an ordinary citizen of Leshan Nation, remembering only that he had once been king.

However, the Leshan Nation before him was no longer the one in his memories. The people had changed beyond recognition—everyone sought to kill each other.

The minister had disobeyed his final command and spread the remedy. The new king, upon nearing death, believed in the method and slaughtered ten thousand people, truly regaining his youth.

Seeing that the remedy had worked for their ruler, the common people, too, refused to accept death. They began killing in pursuit of longevity, throwing the entire nation into chaos.

A king held high authority and needed ten thousand lives to reverse death. A commoner, however, only needed to kill one person to live an extra hundred years.

As Jiang Li walked through the nation, he witnessed fathers killing sons, sons killing mothers, husbands and wives turning against each other, and neighbors becoming enemies.

He did not speak or act—he simply walked.

Suddenly, an elderly man clutched his sleeve, his hands trembling as he held a butcher’s knife. He pleaded, “Young man, please… let me kill you.”

The old man was too frail to kill anyone. He had only the qualification to be killed. Hiding in the shadows, he had seen Jiang Li’s gentle demeanor and sought his help.

“Old sir, why do you seek immortality?”

The elderly man was stunned. He had never considered such a question.

Seeing no response, Jiang Li answered for him, “There are many joys in life—family, love, friendship, wealth, beauty, power… Even a lifetime is not enough to enjoy them all.”

“Then I want to enjoy those things! I want to live! Young man, can I kill you?”

Jiang Li smiled and asked, “Where can you enjoy them?”

The old man was at a loss. Under the rule of the previous king, those joys had been abundant. But under the current king’s rule, there was only death and betrayal.

Indeed, even if he survived, what would he do?

Live on… and then what?

Jiang Li sighed. “Killing for longevity… This world has fallen into chaos.”

“Then what should be done?”

The old man did not truly like the current Leshan Nation. Living had become even more exhausting than dying.

“The Heavenly Dao wishes to throw the world into chaos, and those in power do nothing. There is no solution.” Jiang Li shook his head. “If I were strong enough, I would restore order with an iron fist, ruling with ruthless authority. But as I am now, all I can do is talk.”

“If you were at death’s door, wouldn’t you choose to kill for survival? If you were the strongest being in the world, the most revered existence, wouldn’t you be unwilling to die?”

“Unwilling?” Jiang Li chuckled. “Why did I seek power?”

“To restore order.”

“And what is killing for survival?”

“…Destroying order.”

“Exactly. If I kill to live, then I have not changed the world—the world has changed me.”

Hearing this, the old man bowed deeply to Jiang Li. “I am enlightened.”

“Do something for me,” Jiang Li said.

“Please, sir, tell me what to do.” The old man’s attitude had turned extremely respectful.

“If killing grants immortality, what would self-killing result in? Would it bring resurrection or death?”

“…I do not know.”

Jiang Li nodded. “Neither do I. Let’s test it. If I kill myself and live, then you need do nothing. But if I die, please spread the word—tell everyone that the heavens wish to drive humanity to self-destruction.”

Before the old man could react, Jiang Li took the butcher’s knife, plunged it into his heart without hesitation, and perished.

Seeing Jiang Li collapse, the old man, distraught, honored his request and spread the message.

But the old man, being elderly and weak, soon became a target and was killed.

However, though the old man died, his words spread like wildfire throughout Leshan Nation.

Those with insight realized that humans reproduce—people killing people did not necessarily mean heaven sought to destroy humanity. But if suicide did not lead to revival, then heaven was deliberately driving humanity to madness before exterminating them.

If the heavens wished to annihilate humanity, that did not mean humanity would sit idly by.

A resistance force formed, determined to restore peace to the world.

The resistance prepared for battle, holding a banquet to boost morale. They slaughtered cattle, ate meat, drank wine, and steeled themselves for the upcoming war to overthrow the current king and restore order.

Among the cattle slaughtered that day was Jiang Li’s reincarnation.

Reborn as a cow, Jiang Li lived in ignorance, possessing only instinct, until he was eventually butchered.

“Kings and nobles represent the Heavenly Realm, commoners the Human Realm, and livestock the Beast Realm—together, they form a small cycle of reincarnation.”

Jiang Li stepped out of the Old Buddha’s palm, his consciousness fully intact.

The Old Buddha had attempted to use reincarnation to make Jiang Li lose himself, but he had failed.

He had also sought to manipulate Jiang Li into killing, to force him to acknowledge that murder for longevity was justified. Had Jiang Li accepted this, he would not have pursued revenge even after escaping the illusion. But that, too, had failed. Instead, Jiang Li had taught him a lesson.

“I cultivated the Buddha’s World in the Palm for nine thousand years, never once using it. Even a Tribulation Stage cultivator should have been lost within it. Now that I have become an immortal, its power is even greater than before. And yet, you regained yourself after experiencing just one cycle.”

The Old Buddha did not admit his second motive.

Seeing that he could not break Jiang Li’s Dao Heart, his hands grew larger and moved to enclose him. Each hand was like a separate world, containing boundless inner space.

Jiang Li once again found himself within Leshan Nation, but this time, he was not forced into reincarnation. Instead, he was trapped within an infinite space.

The Second Form of the Buddha’s World in the Palm—Endlessness.

This time, Jiang Li retained his cultivation. He attempted to fly, but there was no end in sight.

With a loud roar, he raised his hand like an axe and, relying on sheer brute force—split the space apart!