Chapter 292 The Manifestation of the Silver Moon 2
Buddhist scriptures say that the Buddha has three bodies: the Dharmakaya, the Sambhogakaya, and the Nirmanakaya.
Leaving aside the question of what the Dharmakaya is, the Sambhogakaya refers to the body attained through spiritual practice. Gu Yue Shen uses the Sambhogakaya to represent the traces of thought left in people's hearts by the deceased. If a person has insights while living in the world, and if they can record these insights and pass them down from generation to generation, leaving their traces of thought in the world, then that is equivalent to leaving behind a Sambhogakaya.
Mathematicians, physicists, and other predecessors passed down their summarized theories to future generations, which can be said to be leaving behind their own legacy. This is what it means to "live in the hearts of people."
The so-called manifestations are incarnations of gods and Buddhas appearing in the human world due to karmic conditions. In myths around the world, gods do not necessarily have only one appearance; sometimes they manifest as an old man, sometimes as an animal, and sometimes as a natural phenomenon. Even Bodhisattvas have serene and wrathful forms. For example, Guanyin Bodhisattva has a wrathful form like Hayagriva, and like Sha Wujing, she wears a skull necklace and holds a skull ritual implement, which is very different from the compassionate image in people's minds.
Different incarnations may symbolize different spirits and codes of conduct, and sometimes they may even make people feel that different incarnations of the same deity are different individuals.
While not a perfect match, the Ancient Moon God might be seen as a kind of incarnation for the Silver Moon. This incarnation certainly doesn't align with the Silver Moon's own desires, but perhaps this inconvenience is inherent in "living in the hearts of the people." The self understood, expected, and believed in by others is ultimately different from the self seen by oneself. Similarly, there can easily be a significant discrepancy between the historical figures remembered by later generations and the actual historical figures.
The "resurrected" Silver Moon now seems more like an incarnation than the Silver Moon in life, another self created based on the methods and magic set up by Silver Moon in her previous life. I think Silver Moon probably buried her memories and other spiritual materials in the demonic bloodline of Chang'an, and at the same time as Chang'an's innate wisdom awakened, this spiritual material forcibly possessed Chang'an.
Chang'an also experienced the incident of his demon bloodline going out of control when he was a child. However, at that time, perhaps because he was still in his childhood, his demon bloodline was not fully developed, or perhaps because his immature body and soul could not bear the memories of Yin Yue for hundreds of years, he went berserk.
Things are different now. Chang'an has grown up and has a strong body and mind, making him the best vessel for Silver Moon's "resurrection".
The above is just my speculation. Due to a lack of relevant evidence, I don't know how accurate it is. At least I think most of the content is quite convincing.
To be honest, I really didn't want to believe that I had guessed the truth.
If this conjecture is true, then it means that there is probably no "Chang'an waiting for me to save" and "Silver Moon holding Chang'an's soul hostage" at all. What is there is only the incarnation of Silver Moon that was resurrected with Chang'an as a living sacrifice.
No matter how you look at it, that's the only way it can be. This isn't a problem that can be solved by simply killing the kidnappers; Chang'an has likely already been replaced. The outcome of the mental duel between Yin Yue and Chang'an is obvious. A massive amount of memories belonging to a Great Completion-level demon, spanning at least a century, suddenly surged into Chang'an's consciousness; while Chang'an himself only had memories of about twenty years spent as an ordinary person.
In this memory, he was nothing more than a rich young master who indulged in melancholy, eating, drinking, and having fun, occasionally getting into trouble with his cronies, and sometimes going on haunted house adventures with me, this weirdo...
Even if he lived a very meaningful life, so what? For example, what if he was actually a hidden super soldier king? Or even more far-fetched, what if he was a cultivator who traveled to a fantasy world and then traveled back?
How could twenty years of memories possibly withstand the spirit of the divine Silver Moon?
Even I could deduce this, so Gu Yue Shen probably hadn't overlooked it either. The reason she didn't say it was perhaps to avoid making me think pessimistically or negatively. Whether her intentions towards me were good or bad, as long as she was hostile to that Silver Moon, she would most likely expect me to be responsible for fighting the latter. If Chang'an couldn't be saved, then I would have no motivation to fight Silver Moon.
If I had to choose, I could fight Silvermoon under the pretext of revenge. However, the one alive now is perhaps, in a sense, Chang'an who possesses Silvermoon's memories. After all, the real Silvermoon probably never truly came back to life.
How can I, a superhuman who only knows how to manipulate fire, possibly solve this problem?
This isn't about giving up; I'm seriously considering this issue. Although the truth hasn't been revealed to me yet, I must first prepare corresponding strategies based on this premise.
Moreover, it seems that the Divination Master is still stirring up trouble in Silver Moon... Not only are there technical problems that leave me helpless, but there are also opponents whose strength I can't overcome. Just thinking about it gives me a splitting headache.
"Well, Zhuang Cheng? What have you thought about it?" Gu Yue Shen looked at me. "I will do my best to answer any questions you may have. And if you have any difficulties, I can help you as well."
“I am your loyal companion. As long as you intend to fight the Silver Moon to the very end, I will help you until the very last moment. If you wish to save Zhu Chang'an's soul, I can also provide you with the power.”
"But as you can see, I am still sealed away. I can't provide you with power, let alone take you to the Silver Moon."
"To break this troublesome seal, there is only one simple step: take me out of this fog."
"This is easy for you, right?"
The beautiful and pure-looking girl in white, a different species, spoke to me in a gentle and considerate voice. Hearing this, it was hard for me not to be moved.
That's right. Even if I can't find a way to save Chang'an myself, it doesn't matter. This Ancient Moon Goddess before me possesses the same power as that Silver Moon, and may very well have a level of mental manipulation comparable to the Great Impermanence, who was skilled in illusions in history. Even if she is not as strong as the Silver Moon in her previous life, her vision and techniques should not be much worse.
And this plot twist is totally my cup of tea. A benevolent villain is about to defect to our side, a former enemy becomes an ally, bringing in a wealth of valuable intelligence, and even helping our side overcome a seemingly insurmountable predicament. It's a very classic story development. I feel like I've stumbled into a fictional world, and the scenarios I've always longed for are unfolding before me like a dream.
However... because this trend is so promising, I've become extra wary at this point.
There's no doubt that the Ancient Moon Goddess has a certain understanding of my temperament. Could this trajectory also be something she meticulously planned? She says she's the enemy of the Silver Moon and will stand firmly by my side as someone who opposes the Silver Moon. But is that really the truth?
Could it be that she's been on Silvermoon's side all along, and is now trying to infiltrate me as a spy? Or, although she's Silvermoon's enemy, she doesn't intend to become my ally, but rather wants to act as a third party to do things that harm others for her own benefit?
As if the ancient moon god could read my mind, he first sighed with great regret, and then said, "...It seems that I still have not been able to win your trust."
“Of course. You’re too suspicious, I can’t trust you right away,” I said. “Next, I need to take Dongche out of this fog first, and then find the Diviner to see if he can save Dongche.”
"At the same time, I will also test the divination master's attitude. If he really stands with Silver Moon, then no matter whether we join forces or not, we will not be able to win in the end."
She said reluctantly, "The flow of time inside the mist is chaotic. You should leave now and come back to see me next time. I might have already been killed by Silver Moon after she has recovered from her injuries."
“You also possess a power similar to that of the Silver Moon, right? Use your power to adjust the flow of time in the vicinity and hold out until I return,” I said.
I thought she would try to persuade me to stay, or explain the pros and cons to me in other ways, but instead she just sighed again and said, "I understand... I will try my best."
"Don't you have anything else to say?" I asked, puzzled.
“I told you from the beginning that I am a benevolent soul born from the sincere hopes of humanity. I have no ill will towards humans, and I would never delay the life-or-death matters of others for my own selfish desires. Since you want to save that boy, then go. I will wait for you to return, take me with you to break the seal, and then we will defeat the Silver Moon together,” she said.
"Okay, goodbye then."
Having said that, I made a move to leave. In reality, I wasn't acting; I genuinely wanted to temporarily escape the mist. Asaha was currently at the edge of the mist; I could contact her via thermal signals and have her take me and Fuyuki away.
Gu Yue Shen truly didn't stop me; she simply watched my retreating figure silently. Perhaps my choice was within her expectations. Since she knew me so well, she should have anticipated that, given my proneness to overthinking, I wouldn't immediately believe her. If she truly had a scheme, it would likely be based on this premise. Perhaps I was still under her control.
In order to believe her, I must find a sufficiently credible way to verify it.
Do I have this method?
Yes, there really is.
(End of this chapter)
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