The Grand Temple of Xianzhou was an imposing structure, a sanctum of ancient power where the echoes of history whispered through the cold stone halls. Yet, as Surya moved deeper inside, he found it curiously devoid of life. The vast chambers, lined with towering pillars engraved with celestial symbols, stood empty. No monks, no guardians—nothing but an eerie silence. Surya muttered to himself, his voice reverberating in the emptiness, "A place of such power and grandeur... and yet, not a soul in sight? Something is not right here."
His footsteps echoed off the towering walls, where murals depicted epic battles between divine forces and dark entities. The flickering torches cast strange shadows that danced along the walls, giving the impression of movement where there was none. Surya moved cautiously, his senses on high alert, following the faint trail of essence left by Wei Li and Mei Lin. His mind wandered as he walked.
Skanda, Guardian of the Human Realm—韦陀尊天, was the reason for his journey here. A divine marshal and protector of balance, Skanda was revered as the defender of the Dharma and humanity against the forces of chaos. Surya had sought him out, searching for a fragment of the Sutra of Liberation. But now, finding himself in this vast, empty temple with only the fading trail of his friends' essence to guide him, he couldn't shake the feeling that a larger force was orchestrating these events. "Too many coincidences," Surya thought. "Too convenient, almost like a game I've yet to understand."
Finally, after traversing the maze of empty halls and grand chambers, Surya reached two colossal doors. Intricately carved with images of Skanda in his divine armor, standing triumphantly over legions of defeated demons, the doors exuded an aura of power and authority. Surya knew this was where Skanda resided—his throne room, where he judged the wicked and guided the righteous. It was also where the essence trail of Mei Lin and Li Wei continued.
Surya steadied himself, taking a deep breath, and tightened his grip on his staff. With a swift motion, he pushed the massive doors open, revealing a vast chamber bathed in an unsettling golden light. His eyes immediately darted around the room, taking in the scene before him.
A deep, resonant voice boomed from the far end, "We have been expecting you, Rebel Buddha."
Surya looked up to see Skanda seated upon a high throne, his presence imposing and powerful. In Chinese mythology, Skanda was depicted as a fearsome warrior clad in golden armor, his face resolute and eyes sharp with an almost divine authority. His armor gleamed with a celestial light, inscribed with ancient runes that glowed faintly. In his hand, he held a massive Vajra, a thunderbolt weapon, symbolizing his divine judgment and power. His gaze was piercing, as if he could see through to the very soul of anyone who dared stand before him.
Flanking Skanda were Chen Yi and Zhou Lei, standing vigilant with a menacing aura. Next to them, bound and gagged, were Wei Li and Mei Lin. Their eyes widened with hope as they saw Surya, and they tried to shout, but their voices were muffled by the binds that covered their mouths and restricted their movements.
Surya's gaze shifted to Skanda. "Why would you join the side of darkness, Skanda? You, who always boasted of law and order, justice and peace?" His voice was calm but tinged with disbelief.
Skanda's eyes narrowed, his voice like a rumble of thunder. "What would you know of law and order, Rebel Buddha? What would you know of justice and peace?"
Surya smirked, his voice cheeky and mocking. "So, you never liked me then, old friend?"
Skanda's gaze darkened, his lips curling into a disdainful sneer. "Liked you? I have never liked you, not from the beginning." His voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and unyielding. "You are a mockery of what it means to be enlightened, to be a Buddha. Your very birth questioned the path to true enlightenment, to Buddhahood. You speak of freedom, but all you do is sow chaos. You defy the order that keeps the human realm safe. You, with your so-called 'rebellion,' have done nothing but fracture the law and order I have strived to maintain."
Skanda's words were like a relentless torrent, each one striking Surya with the weight of divine judgment. "I am the protector of future Buddhas, the guardian of the sacred path. Yet to protect you, a twisted anomaly, would be a sin in itself. That is why I plan to revive the First Female Buddha. To restore the balance you have torn apart."
Surya shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "You've gone mad, Skanda. Lost in your own role, your own sense of duty. Years of being without a true purpose to control have driven you to this madness." His voice was calm and wise, each word spoken with a clarity that cut through Skanda's scorn. "You've forgotten the essence of the Dharma you were meant to protect. The rigidness of your rule has blinded you, made you see rebellion where there is none, and enemies where there are none."
Skanda's eyes blazed with fury, his grip tightening on the Vajra, as if ready to bring divine wrath upon the Rebel Buddha standing before him.
Surya remained calm, his gaze unwavering, his posture relaxed yet prepared. "You mistake rigidity for strength, Skanda. A river flows around rocks, but it does not shatter them. There is wisdom in understanding that not all things bend to the same path. The universe is vast, and enlightenment takes many forms."
The tension in the chamber was palpable, the air thick with anticipation of what was to come next. Skanda, Chen Yi, Zhou Lei, and Surya—each figure stood rooted in their resolve, each embodying a different facet of the eternal struggle between order and chaos, tradition and rebellion.