CHAPTER 717: 165, ENTER REINCARNATION 2

The Crown Prince stood on the Imperial Platform, his gaze sweeping over the Princes and Princesses. He spoke indifferently, "Here, a single thought can last a long time. We have enough time to discuss. You should carefully consider what I have just said and decide how to choose."

The exchange of Divine Thought was akin to the speed of thought itself.

And this particular Illusion Realm seemed to utilize this concept.

The atmosphere was utterly silent.

Lin Yue looked at the Seventh Princess standing beside him. Her eyes were tightly shut, clearly indicating her consciousness remained in a state of slumber.

The Fourth Prince also came over, glanced at her, and then softly said, "Seventh Sister’s Divine Soul was just torn apart and hasn’t stabilized yet, but she’ll recover soon enough. No need to worry."

Lin Yue couldn’t help but turn his head and asked, "Fourth Brother, do you know the reason?"

The Fourth Prince paused for a moment, then said, "Seventh Sister practiced a Buddhist secret technique. When she was assimilated by the will of the Old One, her Divine Soul and heart were also divided into two people, one embodying kindness and the other evil. The evil one was assimilated by the Old One’s will, while the kind one fell into a dream of self-deception."

"Buddhist secret technique?" Lin Yue murmured, finally understanding the truth behind the tearing of the Seventh Princess’s Divine Soul.

The Fourth Prince softly continued, "Now, she has two consciousnesses within her, practically two separate people. It seems that her kind side’s consciousness was brought into the Royal Secret Realm, while her evil side’s consciousness should still be in that real dream."

Hearing this, Lin Yue asked involuntarily, "So if Sister Qiuhe is publicly executed, only her evil side will be punished?"

The Fourth Prince nodded slightly and said, "However, her Divine Soul has been severely damaged and won’t last even a thousand years before recovery. If her evil side undergoes public execution, the lifespan deduction due to her sins would result in complete obliteration."

"What a strange technique this is..." Lin Yue was somewhat shocked, but inwardly relieved for the Seventh Princess.

This Buddhist strange technique effectively protected her.

At this moment, their conversation wasn’t hidden from others. All the Princes and Princesses could hear it.

The Fourteenth Prince couldn’t help but speak, "Brother Ji, can we still practice that Buddhist strange technique now?"

It was clear he wanted to let another self take the blame by splitting his Divine Soul in two.

Other Princes and Princesses also looked at the Fourth Prince expectantly.

"If it were useful, I would have already taught it to all of you relatives."

The Fourth Prince shook his head and said, "To practice this secret technique, one must first cultivate the Bodhi Heart of our Buddhist path to perfection. Then, you must encounter a situation completely contrary to your beliefs, yet be forced to act, which passively triggers this technique, causing the Divine Soul and consciousness to split into two."

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.

Bodhi Heart was a special type of Dao Heart. It required long-term immersion in Buddhist teachings to develop the True Intent of Bodhi and transform it into Bodhi Heart. Achieving Bodhi Heart’s perfection was already quite absurd.

Moreover, encountering a situation completely contrary to one’s beliefs and having no choice but to act, such situations were also rare.

Most present did not enjoy wanton slaughter of innocents, but in killing them, it mostly didn’t qualify as a situation completely contrary to their beliefs.

There had been similar occurrences of this special secret technique and cultivation method.

For example, the Human Ancestor severing evil thoughts also bore similarities down this path, except it didn’t split into two people so thoroughly.

People of the Buddhist sect might possess Great Compassion, but they could also exhibit fierce wrath. When an ascetic became angry, it naturally contradicted Great Compassion, making the creation of such secret techniques understandable.

Each Prince and Princess could only give up helplessly.

The Second Prince seemed pensive as he glanced at the Fourth Prince, then let his gaze sweep over the Third Prince as well.

The Crown Prince remained expressionless as he watched this scene, not saying a single word, as if he’d never suspected anything.

"Speaking of which, everyone."

The Fourth Prince suddenly turned his head to address all those present, sincerely saying, "When Seventh Sister awakens, she won’t know what happened before. If possible, I hope none of you will tell her the truth."

"The world will know." The Seventh Prince spoke, "How can it be kept hidden?"

"Seventh Sister has always been aloof from others. I’ll make sure her household is arranged properly beforehand," the Fourth Prince said.

"Very well."

"With Seventh Sister’s temperament, it’s indeed best not to know."

"In any case, we’re going to reincarnate. Perhaps we won’t have the chance to say anything again."

Each Prince and Princess agreed with indifference.

"It might not be necessary to reincarnate."

The Crown Prince spoke up, "If you all agree, I shall immediately destroy the world. In just the span of a breath, the entirety of the Great Yong’s Eighteen States’ citizens would perish, leaving only those in Jingzhou. I have a way to prevent Jingzhou’s people from participating in the public execution, thus ensuring your safety. The nation’s fate would only lose one or two percent."

The Princes and Princesses remained silent.

The death of eight Princes and Princesses would cause the Great Yong’s national fate to decline by more than thirty percent.

After all, Proving Dao experts did not affect the Human Clan’s fortune, whereas the Princes and Princesses pre-Harmonization possessed power far surpassing other Human Clan Saints, playing a significant role that could only be described as one worth ten.

Yet the slaughter of fifty-two billion people would only cause a one to two percent decline in national fate.

But...

To gain just this one to two percent of national fate by sacrificing fifty-two billion lives, even in the entire history of the Human Clan, such a terrifying calamity had never occurred.

Even in the Demon Path, not everyone was indifferent to life, let alone among those facing public execution, there wasn’t a single one from a past life born of the Demon Path.

"Crown Prince, there’s no need."

The Fourteenth Prince spoke solemnly, "With my current Primordial Spirit and Realm, even if reborn, so long as I can reach cultivation, I have hope of returning to the Peak. But to save my life by actively murdering fifty-two billion people would shatter my Dao Heart."

"Enough. Though not a practitioner of Buddhism, I can hardly bear to witness such wanton slaughter of innocents."

"Fifty-two billion will die, I do not mind, but the burden of this causality is too great for me to bear. Let another life take care."

"It’s merely reincarnation, no need."

"The Crown Prince overestimates. In my past life, I cared not for life and death, and this life even less so."

Each Prince and Princess shook their heads and spoke.

Though the Crown Prince could not interfere with reincarnation, he could at least monitor it, knowing what they would reincarnate into and bringing them back to cultivation when the time came.

Even if the Great Yong Divine Formation shattered, the fifty-two billion might not die. But to kill them all for one’s own survival?

They were, after all, human, not heartless stones.

A slight smile appeared at the corner of the Second Prince’s lips as he looked at the Crown Prince, saying, "Crown Prince, were my words wrong?"

He dared to give the Crown Prince this opportunity and was willing to listen to others’ suggestions because he understood the hearts of others.

"As expected, truly foolish." The Crown Prince slowly shook his head.

He continued, "You all may end your lives and enter reincarnation. If you do not disperse your souls, and have reincarnation within this realm, you may at least retain a fraction of fortune."

A genius could indeed influence the fortune of the Human Clan, and after reincarnating, these Princes and Princesses would essentially become potential geniuses, with the hope of reaching the Peak once more.

Though most of the fortune would be lost, preserving even a small bit was worthwhile.

"Crown Prince."

The Fourteenth Prince saluted, "There’s still much time within this Royal Secret Realm. Allow us to bid farewell and have a few drinks."

The Crown Prince remained expressionless, not saying more.

Fortunately, in this Illusion Realm, it was much like reality. Even drinks existed, and though they couldn’t truly drink, it sufficed.

Life was filled with regrets, and even powerful cultivators couldn’t retain much.

Even when time nearly stood still, an end would inevitably come.

"Life and death are but a dream."

The Second Prince softly remarked to those preparing for reincarnation, "I know none of you fear death. With such fateful connections in this life, as long as reincarnation continues, we are bound to meet again one day."

A few drinks, a few farewells, and then it was time for separation.

"Everyone, farewell."

Having long become indifferent to life and death, without many words, eight Princes and Princesses vanished one by one from the Illusion Realm, clearly having ended their own lives, their Primordial Spirits entering reincarnation.

Vaguely, Lin Yue heard the Heavenly Martial Divine Cauldron, linked to the nation’s fate, emit a long, resonant hum.

It seemed to be mourning the nation’s fate, yet also appeared to be a farewell song.