Chapter Seventy-Six: The Universe of Infinite Replication

In a daze, someone whispered in Guan Wen’s ear: “The Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Various Diseases—On Gu Poison—records: ‘Many kinds of insects and snakes are gathered together in a vessel, left to devour one another, until only one is left. That lone survivor is called Gu; it can deceive and harm, following food and drink to bring disaster upon people.’ In the world of martial arts, everyone claims that Gu magic is the most sinister of all strange arts, and the so-called righteous sects disdain to associate with those who practice it. But is there anything more dangerous than the human heart? Whether one kills with blade and spear or with Gu, is there any difference in the outcome? Rest assured, I will not kill you, for I am Tang Jue. Using Gu to kill is the most basic lesson for initiates of the Tang Clan in Sichuan, but I will never be like the others. The ‘Eightfold Deaths and Lives of the Heavenly Dragon’ is a supreme art, inscribed upon the golden beam at the center of the Tang Clan’s library; only disciples with the greatest wisdom are permitted to behold it…”

It seemed like Kalle’s voice, yet it wasn’t. Its existence, and the existence of such peerless arts, proved that the Tang Clan of Sichuan was the greatest sect in the martial world, its intelligence far surpassing that of its contemporaries. I can hardly find any suitable human language to describe such an art; I can only say, in general terms, that it resembles the pinnacle of virtual imaging technology, able to swiftly construct another world, immersing one completely within it, without awareness. In many science fiction films, future humans master such virtual technology, but only with powerful computer systems. In contrast, the ‘Eightfold Deaths and Lives of the Heavenly Dragon’ requires only one person, a single thought, to accomplish such a complex process, and it is ten thousand times more ingenious than any virtual system. For example, modern technology can easily create a robot, and advanced bionics can make its appearance indistinguishable from a real human, but scientists can never give it human thought or the ability to live by human reasoning. Likewise, no matter how real a virtual world may appear, it remains virtual, its core a thousand miles removed from reality. Do you understand what I mean?

Guan Wen certainly understood; it was simply the difference between genuine and counterfeit currency. A high-end copier can produce fake bills indistinguishable from real ones, but before the most sophisticated currency detector, the truth is always revealed. Yet he still doubted: could the Tang Clan’s Eightfold Deaths and Lives of the Heavenly Dragon truly conjure a real world, as Kalle claimed?

The secret of this peerless art lies in borrowing the mysterious powers of Buddhism’s ‘Eightfold Beings of the Heavenly Dragon.’ What are the Eightfold Beings? They are eight types of ‘non-humans’ in Buddhist lore, eight divine and monstrous entities: the Devas, Nagas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, and Mahoragas. Many Mahayana sutras record that when the Buddha preached to the Bodhisattvas and monks, the Eightfold Beings often attended to listen. The Lotus Sutra, in the chapter on Devadatta, records: “The Eightfold Beings, humans and non-humans, all witnessed the dragon girl attain Buddhahood.” Since the Eightfold Beings are ‘non-human,’ their true power is unknown to gods, Buddhas, immortals, humans, or ghosts. When the most intelligent disciple of the Tang Clan comprehends this art, he enters the world of the Eightfold Beings, borrowing their power at will, transforming instantly and accomplishing anything…

Guan Wen could not move or speak, but he agreed with part of what Kalle said.

In his worldview, humanity is but one among countless things in the universe, insignificant, like a single mustard seed at the foot of Mount Sumeru. Within the cosmos, there exist countless galaxies and solar systems, and naturally, countless Earth-like planets, each with tribes similar to humans. Thus, human cognition of the universe is extraordinarily shallow—perhaps one ten-thousandth, perhaps one billionth. Evidently, the scope of human knowledge is like a firefly’s light, illuminating only a few inches before it. So much knowledge is invisible to humans, beyond their reach, leading them to wrongly believe it nonexistent or impossible—among these, Kalle’s claim of conjuring a real world.

Do you know why I explain so much to you? Because after I release the ‘Eightfold Deaths and Lives of the Heavenly Dragon,’ I can scrape every bit of knowledge from your brain’s neurons, claiming it for myself. Then, no matter how I explain, there will be no audience. So I must implant this knowledge in you, then seize our conversation and your thoughts as my trophies, my most cherished memories… Guan Wen, you should understand: in this highest realm of thought, do treasures, gold, antiques, or any currency created by man hold any meaning? Absolutely not—they are nothing but waste paper, scrap copper, scrap iron. Thus, I pay no attention to the treasure of Mount Niseri; what I desire is the dark power of the Rakshasa Demoness. I have always believed that once I possess her power, I will be able to create universes in an instant, becoming the controller of countless universes, the sole ruler of worlds vaster than the cosmos itself—eternal, everlasting, undying…

Kalle’s words held an immense, intoxicating allure; as he spoke, Guan Wen’s mind wandered beyond the heavens.

If someone could replicate worlds, Earth, or even the universe, it would be the most earth-shattering, ghost-weeping event in history.

The universe is the largest realm within human knowledge, yet Kalle’s ambition was to replicate it infinitely—such was the power of the Eightfold Deaths and Lives of the Heavenly Dragon.

In the knowledge Guan Wen had encountered, there was a book describing the instantaneous replication of worlds by gods and Buddhas. In the classic Journey to the West, the Buddha transformed his palm into five pillars supporting the heavens. The Monkey King, Sun Wukong, somersaulted eighty thousand miles, yet never escaped the Buddha’s palm—not because the palm was vast, but because the Buddha had, through the art of shrinking space, perfectly replicated another micro-world to entrap Sun Wukong.

As for the history of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, Guan Wen had read from many official and unofficial sources that this sect participated in, propelled, and even directly instigated every major conflict in the martial world for centuries. Each generation of Tang Clan disciples produced outstanding figures, their wisdom and martial prowess a hundred times greater than their peers, becoming undisputed leaders, inventing miraculous poisons, hidden weapons, and martial arts. Though fate rarely favored them, preventing their ultimate success, no one dared to ignore the Tang Clan’s existence.

Without doubt, Tang Jue, who now called himself Kalle, was among these peerless masters.

What is the purpose of replicating the universe? Guan Wen couldn’t help but follow Tang Jue’s logic.

Purpose? The word ‘purpose’ is nothing but a self-deceiving construct invented by humanity. People believe that, born in this time and place, they must shoulder some responsibility, crediting it to destiny’s arrangement, as Mencius said: ‘When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility upon a man…’—ha ha ha! Heaven and its gods are busy as death every day; how could they spare a thought to bestow responsibility upon anyone? Let me tell you, when the universe can be replicated infinitely, every person will become a minuscule particle in my hand, every planet revolving at my feet. I will be the master of infinite universes, the owner of endless time and space, all within my grasp. No longer myself, but the eternal possessor of time and space…

Infinite? Boundless? To command all time and space, everything within a single finger… Guan Wen’s head suddenly throbbed, for Tang Jue’s concepts were so astonishing, surpassing the combined imagination of all physicists, astronomers, archaeologists, historians, and geographers throughout history.

Indeed, Tang Jue’s ambition and greed were a limitless black hole, devouring and creating all things; even the whole universe could not fill the pit of his desire.

I truly admire you, Tang Jue—no matter what, your theory could win the Nobel Prize in Physics; it is utterly shocking, opening my eyes. Yet it remains only a theoretical construct—how can you actually replicate the universe in an instant? Where does your power come from…?

Tang Jue laughed: Power? The Rakshasa Demoness is the source of that power.

A flash of insight came to Guan Wen—he had found the answer: Is the power connected to Mount Everest?

Tang Jue stopped laughing, sighing three times: Good, good, good—Guan Wen, you truly are my kindred spirit. You are the first and last to guess the answer.

Guan Wen recalled an article he read last year in the authoritative European astronomical journal Flying Saucers and Exploration, titled “The Mysterious Power That Bears Mountains,” authored by Bajera, a three-time Nobel Prize nominee in Physics.

The article explained: At the border of China and Nepal, the Himalayas are known as the roof of the world, gathering numerous peaks whose heights have shown a yearly increase in scientific surveys. According to pure physics, this is the result of orogenic activity, the internal pressure of the earth’s crust raising the peaks.

After extensive investigation and research, Bajera proposed a startling theory—the Himalayas conceal an astonishing power beneath, as magical as the giant bird of myth that could carry mountains aloft.

This theory sparked fierce debate between science and fantasy circles; several Hollywood screenwriters used it as the basis for dozens of sci-fi films, all featuring mountains and divine power as their selling points. Ultimately, Bajera withdrew from the European physics community and turned to religious theology.

Is the Rakshasa Demoness connected to that power? Is it her existence that lifts the Himalayas? Is she the root of that power? In an instant, Guan Wen connected all the key words, forming a fully closed question and answer.

Exactly. Tang Jue replied.

Guan Wen suddenly felt a hollowness inside, all his strength drained away, leaving only an empty, powerless shell: If it is true… If it is true… All humanity’s demon-slaying and exorcism are but vain fantasies; how could human strength contend with such power? Even if the world’s top ten military powers joined forces, it would still be insignificant.

There is no ‘if’—it is true. My purpose is to open the black hole and obtain the Rakshasa Demoness’s power. You are merely steps on my path; I must climb over your corpses to reach my goal… Tang Jue’s arrogant laughter faded into the distance.

Don’t hurt them, don’t hurt them—shaken to the core by Kalle’s words, Guan Wen suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.

In that instant, he saw Tang Jue and Little Huo sitting face to face, the former’s palms pressed tightly against Little Huo’s temples.

Don’t hurt others; I am willing to trade my life for theirs… Guan Wen shouted breathlessly, his vision darkened, and he collapsed backward once more.