All under heaven knew that the Kindness Realm Kingdom was a nation of pure devotion to the Buddhist Sect—the foremost of all Buddhist-supporting countries. Yet few realized that this kingdom, boasting nine thousand years of history, was nothing more than a manifestation of divine power.
Even the very citizens of the nation were unaware that they themselves did not truly exist. The Old Sumeru Buddha’s palm stretched vast and boundless. The palm lines were like bottomless chasms, reaching so far that even Jiang Li could not see where they ended.
A golden “卍” mark descended from above, sealing over him. The First Form of the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm—Reincarnation. Jiang Li became the king of the Kindness Realm Kingdom.
As if reborn through countless cycles of reincarnation, he forgot all that he once was and governed wholeheartedly as a dutiful monarch. He ruled with honesty, delegated power, led by example, selected capable officials, and became deeply loved by the people. Under his rule, the nation flourished with vigor, and the surrounding countries one by one submitted before its might.
But mortals have finite lifespans—so too did he. In the end, he grew old and frail, lying upon his bed with only a feeble breath left. A minister returned from a distant journey and joyfully reported to Jiang Li: “My King, this humble servant has acquired a secret formula from the Buddhist Sect.
Kill ten thousand men, and you will reverse life and death and extend your lifespan.” Under Jiang Li’s reign, the gates were never locked at night, and all citizens strove for virtue. Even the prison for condemned criminals stood empty—where could he possibly find men to kill?
“My King, you could slay ten thousand commoners. In exchange for one virtuous ruler’s extended life, our Kindness Realm Kingdom shall grow ever greater.”
“When I have killed ten thousand,” Jiang Li murmured, “I will no longer be a virtuous ruler.”
He rejected the minister’s proposal and commanded that the matter of the secret formula never be spoken of again. Then, closing his eyes, he passed away. The entire kingdom wept and mourned.
Jiang Li reincarnated again—this time as a commoner of the Kindness Realm Kingdom. He remembered nothing of being the Human Emperor; he remembered only that in his previous life he had been this land’s king. To his shock, the kingdom before him was nothing like the one in his memory.
The people had changed utterly. Now, all wished to kill one another. The minister had disobeyed Jiang Li’s command and spread the formula through the land.
The current king, lying on his deathbed, believed in the formula. He slew ten thousand people, and indeed regained the vigor of youth. The commoners, seeing the formula’s power work upon the king, were unwilling to accept death.
Each sought to kill another in exchange for life. The Kindness Realm Kingdom fell into chaos. The mighty king required ten thousand deaths to reverse his fate.
But for the ordinary citizen, killing just one other person would grant another hundred years of life. Jiang Li walked the streets of the chaotic Kindness Realm Kingdom. He saw fathers killing sons, sons killing mothers, husbands and wives turning upon each other, neighbors at one another’s throats.
He said nothing. He did nothing. He simply walked.
Suddenly, an old man grabbed Jiang Li’s sleeve. His hand trembled as he clutched a butcher’s knife and pleaded, “Young man, take pity—let me kill you.” The elder was far too old; he lacked the strength to kill anyone and had become only a target for others.
Hiding in the shadows, he had spotted Jiang Li’s kindly face and begged his help.
“Old sir, why do you seek eternal life?”
Jiang Li asked. The old man froze, for he had never thought of such a question before. Seeing his silence, Jiang Li went on, “There are so many beautiful things in the mortal world—family, love, friendship, wealth, beauty, power—one cannot taste them all even in a lifetime.”
“Then I wish to enjoy them,” said the elder.
“I want to live forever. Young man, may I kill you?”
Jiang Li smiled again and asked, “And where would you enjoy such things?” The old man looked lost. Under the previous king’s rule, such blessings could be found everywhere.
But under the current reign, there was naught but killing and betrayal. Yes… even if he lived on, what would that life mean? To live—then what?
Jiang Li sighed softly.
“To gain life through killing... the world has fallen into chaos.”
“Then what should be done?”
The old man’s voice trembled. In truth, he too hated the current order of the Kindness Realm Kingdom. Living like this—it was better to die in peace.
“When Heaven desires to plunge the world into turmoil, and those in power do nothing, then indeed there is no solution.”
Jiang Li shook his head.
“If I were a true strongman, I would rule with iron and blood, restore order through domination. But as I am now, I can only speak.”
“Then, when you approach death one day, would you not seek life by killing? You would already be the strongest—the most honored under Heaven—would you truly not be unwilling to perish?”
“Unwilling?”
Jiang Li smiled faintly.
“And why did I seek strength in the first place?”
“To restore order.”
“And by killing to live, what would I be doing?”
“... Destroying order.”
“Exactly. If I kill to live, it would not be that I change the world’s order, but that the order has changed me.”
The old man bowed deeply.
“I am enlightened.”
“Help me with one thing,” Jiang Li said.
“Please, sir, speak,” the elder replied with the utmost respect.
“If killing brings long life, then what of killing oneself? What happens then—resurrection, or true death?”
“... I do not know.”
Jiang Li nodded gently.
“Nor do I. Let us test it. If I live after killing myself, then no matter. If I die, old sir, please tell the people the truth—that Heaven wishes mankind to destroy itself through madness and internal strife.”
Before the old man could respond, Jiang Li took the butcher’s knife from his hand, aimed it at his own chest, and drove it in without hesitation. His breath ceased. The old man stood dazed, then, remembering Jiang Li’s words, spread the tale across the land.
He did not live long after that. Soon, others spotted him and killed him. Yet though the old man perished, the story spread like wildfire throughout the Kindness Realm Kingdom.
Those with insight saw through the truth: mankind reproduces—men killing men does not show Heaven’s will to annihilate, but suicide without resurrection reveals that Heaven intends to drive man into madness, destroying itself by its own hand. Heaven’s will to annihilate mankind did not mean mankind must await death in silence.
Thus, men rose and formed a rebel army, vowing to cleanse the heavens and restore the world to clarity and order. The rebel army readied their banners, held a farewell feast, slaughtered cattle and drank heartily for courage. Then they marched, determined to overthrow the current king and restore peace.
Among the cattle they butchered was one that was Jiang Li reborn. Jiang Li, having reincarnated as an ox, lived in dull ignorance, guided only by instinct, and was finally slaughtered by men.
“As nobles dwell in the Heavenly Path of the gods, as commoners live in the Human Path, and as oxen and sheep dwell in the Beast Realm—these three form the Minor Wheel of Reincarnation.”
Jiang Li stepped out from the Old Sumeru Buddha’s palm, his mind clear and awake. The Old Sumeru Buddha had sought to drown Jiang Li’s spirit through illusions of samsara—but he had failed. He had even wanted Jiang Li to kill with his own hands within the cycle, to acknowledge that killing for life was correct.
Then Jiang Li would emerge from the illusion unwilling to harm him. Yet even in this, he failed—and was instead taught a lesson by Jiang Li.
“For nine thousand years I cultivated the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm, but never once had I displayed it. I believed that even a cultivator in the Tribulation Transcendence Stage would lose themselves once entering it. Now that I have ascended and gained the might of an Immortal, its power is even greater than before—yet I did not expect it to be useless against you. Just one round of reincarnation, and you found yourself again.”
The Old Sumeru Buddha gave no answer, suppressing his second intent. Seeing that he could not shatter Jiang Li’s Dao Heart, he spread his great palms wide again, pushing them inward. Both hands seemed like two vast worlds, their inner spaces boundless.
Jiang Li once more fell into the Kindness Realm Kingdom—but this time it was not the cycle of reincarnation he faced. It was the endless space of the kingdom itself. The Second Form of the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm—Endless.
This time, Jiang Li did not lose his cultivation. Seeing no end in sight, he let out a mighty roar, raised his hands like divine axes, and split the very fabric of space with primal force.
(End of Chapter)