The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Chapter 2998: The Past of Nalanda Monastery

Hearing Sorkhyar mention Sissna, Rogzim's expression turned a bit gloomy. He chewed on his food and said dejectedly:

"Sigh, she might not even like me."

"I think you're just too used to being a浪子, unwilling to settle down."

"How's the situation at the front with the Tyranids?"

"It's a bit troublesome. These Tyranids aren't particularly strong, but there are too many of them. It's disgusting to fight them. We're currently in a stalemate, and I'm looking for a solution."

"Brother, how about this? You see, I'm really not suited to be an official, but maybe I'm suited to leading troops into battle?"

Sorkhyar blinked and put down his empty bowl.

"Are you kidding me?"

"I'm serious! I want to contribute, too. I can't just stay here..."

After thinking for a while, Sorkhyar said slowly:

"I'll ask Master Shi later. By the way, what have you been learning these days? It's not all that 'listening to sounds to identify positions,' is it?"

"Uh... those golden baldies did teach me some strange fighting techniques, but you know, I was already strong to begin with."

"What about Master Shi? Did he say anything to you?"

"That one... I didn't see him much, but he always liked to suddenly appear behind me, even when I was going to the bathroom. I sometimes suspect he's eyeing my ass..."

Sorkhyar immediately waved his chopsticks as if shooing away a fly.

"Get lost! Do you know who he is? Don't talk nonsense!"

"Oh, right, he also gave me some kind of scripture, but you know, I hate books the most in my life. These things full of words are simply decadent and evil! But that old man forced me to read it. Half of my mental breakdown came from it."

"If he asked you to read it, it means it's good for you. What scripture is it? Can I take a look?"

Rogzim turned and shouted into the distance. Soon, Kron ran over eagerly, clutching something that looked like a rolled-up piece of leather in his hand.

"Here, take a look."

Sorkhyar took the scroll and found that the material used was not actually leather, but it wasn't paper either.

Instead, it was somewhat similar to spirit bone.

When he opened it, he was immediately dumbfounded.

Rogzim saw his expression and asked:

"What's wrong? Can't understand it? Or actually, I didn't quite understand it either."

Sorkhyar turned the scroll over. It was completely blank.

"What do you mean it's blank?"

"Huh? This—"

Rogzim pointed at it, as if there was something there.

"Can't you see it? There are many little people doing gymnastics or something, and those weird words... this is... 'Moo... Smarala... Paratinam,' ah, it's so damn hard to pronounce. Damn, if I wasn't forced to, I would never touch this thing in my life."

Sorkhyar blinked and turned it over again, but there was still nothing.

At this moment, he realized that the things on it could only be seen by Rogzim. Perhaps it was a kind of defense mechanism.

"Forget it, maybe it's afraid of being seen by others. It means this thing is unusual. Rogzim, does it have a name?"

"Name, let me think... it's also long and stinky... Dragon... oh! Dragon Treasury Abhidhamma! I don't know what this weird name means."

"Have you finished reading it?"

"Not really. Its content is constantly changing. I don't know when it will end."

"Do you feel any changes in yourself?"

"Do I?"

Rogzim touched himself.

"I do seem to have lost a little weight... Ouch, if I don't eat meat again, I'll be gnawing on the broken bones of the C'tan shard!"

"Haha, I think you're in pretty good shape now."

The two chatted for a while after the meal, when suddenly an electro-monk walked over.

"The Venerable One has finished his evening class, please come over."

"Okay."

Following the electro-monk into the pagoda, after walking up more than a dozen floors, Sorkhyar arrived in a large hall. The hall was almost empty, with only a shelf holding some books, scrolls, incense burners, and cushions. The windows were all open, but the black floor was densely engraved with tiny text symbols that Sorkhyar didn't recognize. Master Shi was sitting cross-legged in the center of the hall.

"Master Ananda, I'm here uninvited this time. I apologize for the intrusion, and hope you'll forgive me."

"This is unowned land, open to all. There is no such thing as intrusion."

Then Master Shi raised a hand, and an extra-large cushion that seemed to be specially prepared for Sorkhyar flew over from the shelf. Sorkhyar then sat cross-legged on it.

"Master Ananda, not long ago, I encountered a... thing."

"Mahāprajñāpāramitā."

Suddenly, Master Shi uttered an extremely awkward and obscure sentence. Sorkhyar was stunned and then said:

"Master Ananda, I don't understand."

"That is what you encountered."

"You know?"

"I do not."

"Uh..."

"Since it can make you come to seek me in such a hurry, then there should be nothing else besides it."

"I remember Master Ananda said that you were once the guardian of 'Wisdom,' then is it the so-called Wisdom? But... shouldn't the Standard Template Construct be the crystallization of humanity's highest science and technology? How could it appear in your... ancient era?"

"Where does technology come from?"

"Technology comes from human wisdom and exploration?"

"Where does wisdom come from?"

"Uh... the brain?"

"Understanding all phenomena is called wisdom, understanding all principles is called knowledge. All sentient beings possess the virtues of wisdom, but because of妄想and attachment, they cannot attain it..."

Sorkhyar thought for a while, nodded thoughtfully, and after hesitating for a moment, said:

"Are you saying... it is the abstract conceptualization of Wisdom? Similar to... some kind of Warp entity?"

Master Ananda shook his head without saying a word.

"You don't say whether it's right or wrong, but I feel like I'm wrong."

"If I spoke and caused you to have a wrong understanding, then I should not speak."

Sorkhyar sighed softly.

"I seem to have boundless power, but now I can't even touch the edge of your thoughts. It's truly disempowering."

"The Sacred Heart is without knowledge, therefore it knows all. The knowledge of not knowing is called all knowledge. Your wisdom is your wisdom, there is no need to understand the wisdom of others."

"Master Ananda, did this thing run out when the Void Dragon attacked Mars? Are you its guardian? It said it was only a part of the main body, does that mean the Nalanda Monastery and the Standard Template Construct still exist? Are they on Mars?"

"No, the Void Dragon's attack did not break through the Nalanda Monastery, and I am not its guardian. It was I who released it."

"Ah? Why is that?"

"Because it went astray. In order to prevent it from continuing to cause harm, I could only seal the Nalanda Monastery and sink it into the Sea of Souls. However, even stubborn stones can nod. I still hope it can have a day of enlightenment."

"I always thought the Nalanda Monastery was destroyed, but it was actually you... why? What did it do?"

After speaking, Sorkhyar's heart suddenly jumped, and a possibility leaped into his mind.

"Could it be the Iron Men rebellion!?"