System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 802: Chapter 802: The Shadow of the Great Abbot

High atop the Golden Sun Grand Colosseum, the atmosphere on the imperial balcony had grown dense. The Emperor kept his eyes fixed on the spiritual projection screen, watching the tide of divine gold and the karma beads binding the abyssal beast.

”It seems the old man chose a true successor,” murmured the Emperor.

”Do you know that technique, Your Majesty?” asked Vorian with a tilt of his head, intrigued by his master’s reverent tone.

Beside him, Princess Seraphina turned her face, looking at her father with curiosity.

”When I was newly crowned Emperor, long ago,” said the sovereign, caressing the rim of his jade goblet, ”a great meteor crashed onto the empire’s borders. Or at least that’s what I thought at the time. When I arrived to investigate, I found my entire vanguard army kneeling on the ground, chanting sutras and mantras. That was the day I met him: the Great Abbot of the Smiling Buddha Kingdom. His fame is no small matter; it is said that beneath the heavens, he cannot be defeated. Even among the other abbots of the continent, he alone remains undefeated.”

The sovereign closed his eyes for a moment, recalling that passage of his youth.

”When I saw my troops submitting, I was so enraged that I wanted to execute my own soldiers for such a humiliation. But the Abbot, with calm, simply stopped me. His aura was terrifying. I felt so weak beside him that I decided I couldn’t allow it. I unleashed all my power. My Imperial Dragon projection was released at its peak—or so I thought. Yet, the Abbot pulled out beads exactly like those and bound me. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t move. I could do nothing against him.”

Silence fell over the balcony. Vorian and the princess listened with bated breath. Neither dared to interrupt.

”That day he spoke words to me that I have been unable to forget,” continued the Emperor. ”He told me: ’To break the heavens, you must not merely live beneath them, but face them. Those who submit to the heavens are unworthy of the heavens themselves’. When I heard his words, I achieved immediate enlightenment. I broke through the bottleneck where I had been stuck for decades and ascended. I became a true Emperor and multiplied the empire’s territory tenfold... all thanks to a few words from that smiling old man.”

The sovereign let out a heavy sigh.

”I have never dared to seek a second lesson. I am certain, without needing to fight him again, that he is capable of destroying me should he wish to. I have no idea what realm that Abbot has reached.”

Vorian broke protocol to ask cautiously:

”My lord... if he is as strong as you say, why does he send his disciples to our trials? Why doesn’t he invade us or wipe us out?”

”The old Abbot’s mindset is one of tranquility,” replied the monarch. ”He is content with what he has and seeks no expansion. He only chose that mountain because he said it possessed great Feng Shui and he wished to live there. Since then, he has never left that place. Other empires have come to visit him; everyone knows his strength and offers him grander territories, authority, power... anything he might ask for. Yet, the Abbot remains there. I have no idea why he does what he does, but he seems to enjoy sending his disciples to our trials. Over time, it became a tradition.”

The sovereign cast his gaze toward the other kings in the court, who sat paralyzed by his words.

”And it is because of him that this empire enjoys peace. His presence makes other empires terrified to invade us; they know that disturbing the Abbot could mean the total annihilation of their realms. Always remember this, Vorian: never offend the Abbot or any member of his temple.”

The Emperor paused, watching as Ethan’s figure reappeared on the screen to stand beside the young monk.

”Just now, when Ethan approached and saved him, I felt a sense of relief,” admitted the sovereign. ”I was on the verge of directly interfering in the plane to rescue that boy. I can allow everyone else to die in that trial... but that monk cannot die. If something happens to him, none of us will be able to bear the consequences.”

Vorian tightened his fists beneath his ceremonial sleeves. Externally, he maintained a serene composure, but internally, his heart was in utter chaos.

How strong is His Imperial Majesty? thought Vorian, his throat dry. I couldn’t even sense when Ethan was closing in on the boy. My perception can barely reach inside that world; it’s far too distant, and the vision matrices are far too dense to feel through... How the hell did he sense it?

The enforcer swallowed hard as he recalled the sudden tension from a moment prior.

I thought the monk was going to die... but I felt a subtle spatial disturbance around His Majesty, continued Vorian, terrified by the realization. He isn’t lying. He was genuinely about to charge into that world to rescue the boy. How could he see Ethan’s movement before anyone else? Is the gap between us really that vast? No... it can’t be possible... damn it!

Beside him, Princess Seraphina broke the balcony’s heavy silence. She looked at her father, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

”Daddy, does that mean the boy Ethan has earned a great favor from the Abbot for us?” asked Seraphina. ”Will you ask the Abbot to guide you once more?”

”No, my daughter,” answered the Emperor, shaking his head. ”If the Abbot wishes to repay a debt of gratitude, he will do so directly with Ethan. I would never dare to interfere in the slightest. Angering the Abbot is simply something that must not be done, regardless of the circumstances.”

Princess Seraphina stood stunned. She couldn’t bring herself to believe what her ears were hearing. Her father, the most feared, respected, and imposing man across the continent, the absolute pinnacle of imperial power... appeared to be little more than a frightened kitten before the mention of the Great Abbot.