Chapter 856 - 256: The Theory of Reincarnation
Hmm, awakening!
Then, that "sliver of intelligence" kept as a backup would awaken!
Just like awakening memories of a past life.
Memories of the past and present lives fuse together once more.
But!!
Often in these Chapters, the author’s depiction gives Chen Yan a creepy feeling!
Because, although it’s said that memories of past and present lives are fused together.
In the novel, the Great Power, after the fusion, in every way—speech, demeanor—appears more like the personality and manner of the past life!!
The essence of the present life is almost none.
It’s as if... the personality of the past life devoured that of the present.
·
Chen Yan doesn’t care about reincarnation or Tribulation Crossing.
His main concern is: once the Tribulation Crossing is complete, after the fusion of past and present memories... is Lu Sisi still Lu Sisi?
If after Tribulation Crossing, Lu Sisi is no longer Lu Sisi, then regardless of whether she was some Nine Heavens Goddess in her past life, for Chen Yan, it is an unacceptable result!
In myth and legend, there’s another type of reincarnation that makes Chen Yan wary.
Reincarnation with memories of the past life!!
There’s an example many people know, yet don’t really know:
Nezha.
Not the Nezha from the movies.
But the Nezha in the novel "Fengshen".
The Nezha in the original book is a... a scoundrel.
The reincarnation of the Pearl Spirit, reborn as a human, born after three years of pregnancy by Lady Li Jing, gave birth to Nezha.
In the book, Nezha is a complete and utter scoundrel.
The Nezha from the movie features Lady Shiji, cute and chubby, very endearing, but actually a villain.
But in the original work, Lady Shiji is an innocent victim.
The plot in the book is, while practicing, Nezha tries archery, and accidentally kills Lady Shiji’s disciple with an arrow—an accidental killing of an innocent.
Lady Shiji sends someone to confront them, and Li Jing takes Nezha to explain and apologize.
Because of guilt, Nezha turns violent and kills more of Lady Shiji’s disciples. To defend himself against the innocence he killed, Nezha is full of excuses and denials, eventually joining forces with Taoyi True Man to kill Lady Shiji.
The Nezha in the book is an existence completely devoid of kindness and morality.
And the most crucial part is...
Li Jing couldn’t bear Nezha’s evil deeds and turned against him as father and son.
Nezha wanted to kill Li Jing directly—patricide!
Li Jing was chased by Nezha and almost killed several times.
Taoyi True Man persuaded Nezha not to commit patricide—because it would stain with karma.
Nezha said something roughly like: Li Jing was merely my nominal father as a mortal, killing him is no big deal.
From this, it’s clear... Nezha knows he is the Pearl Spirit and is well aware of his reincarnated self.
He doesn’t regard Li Jing as his true father.
·
[Which kind of reincarnation is Lu Sisi’s crossing tribulation?]
Chen Yan wondered in his mind.
Lu Sisi surely doesn’t know about her reincarnated self. But... how did that ghost awaken?
How long has it been awakened? Has it always existed, or was it recently awakened?
Thinking about that voice from the jade twenty years ago...
Chen Yan could conclude that this ghost (which is the Great Power from the past life) had existed at least twenty years ago.
But...
Lu Sisi doesn’t know her own situation, and with a personality like Lu Sisi’s... gentle, soft, kind, and innocent.
If one were to say she carries memories or personality of a past life, Chen Yan would not believe it.
Thus, the reincarnation of Tang Monk from "Journey to the West" is what Chen Yan finds most acceptable!
Tang Monk is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, but after surviving eighty-one tribulations...
Tang Monk was conferred the title of Buddha.
However... his personality and mannerisms still seem like that of Tang Monk.
He did not revert to the person of Golden Cicada from his past life.
Tang Monk still seems to be Tang Monk.
So...
If Lu Sisi has to complete the Tribulation Crossing...
This kind would be the most acceptable situation for Chen Yan.
Therefore...
There are generally three types of reincarnation and Tribulation Crossing.
The first and worst is the Nezha (from the original "Fengshen"), reincarnated with memories of the past life.
The second is where the Great Power leaves a backup, reincarnates after death, and after certain circumstances or completing a particular task, the past life’s backup memory is activated, and post-fusion, becomes the consciousness of the past life.
The third is like Tang Monk! After the reincarnation is complete, the personality of the present life is still retained.
"So, as long as we understand the conditions for each of these three types of reincarnation, perhaps we can... following certain conditions, ensure that after Lu Sisi completes her Tribulation Crossing, she still retains Lu Sisi’s personality!"
Chen Yan closed the book and pondered.
He had contemplated stopping the Tribulation Crossing with some determination, but after cooling down, he knew he likely couldn’t do it.
He could only try to delay as long as possible to gain time.
Chen Yan sighed.
Although he hadn’t found the answer, at least he had a direction and an approach to work towards.
Not without gain.
·
In the afternoon, Chen Yan put away the book, opened the room door, and walked out from the practice room.
The scent of incense in the room had dissipated, but actually, besides the incense scent, there was also a faint hint of sweet and cloying fragrance of a woman.
After all, it was Chu Keqing’s practice room.
Chen Yan took a deep breath; before Lu Sisi’s problem is solved, it’s not suitable for him to practice at home.
It’s best that the origin seed fruit is kept secret from that ghost; it might become a trump card for the unexpected in the future.