For a moment, he even wanted to interrupt the two monks outright and ask, "Can you speak like normal people?"
But because of the layer of fake monk identity that he himself had not yet decided whether to tear away completely, he forcibly swallowed the words back down.
Still, Madara Uchiha was Madara Uchiha after all. He was widely knowledgeable and had once stood at the summit of the Shinobi World.
After careful thought, he managed to piece together a rough outline of the two men's conversation from his own understanding.
This Ichisun suspected that the young monk Genjo was connected to his sect, perhaps even a fellow student, but Genjo had denied it and, in doing so, belittled the other party's cultivation method as a demonic path.
"Then forgive my poor eyesight for failing to recognize Junior Brother's true face."
Isshiki's gaze darkened slightly. "And forgive my shallow knowledge for not knowing what other method in the world, besides the method of the Bodhi Tree, could escape the sea of suffering."
At this point, Isshiki's gaze sharpened as he looked at Genjo and said seriously, "What is more! Junior Brother, as the saying goes, one thought makes a Buddha, one thought makes a demon; Buddha and demon share one body, truth and falsehood are one suchness. The World-Honored One and Papiyas may not necessarily be two different people."
"The World-Honored One subdued the hordes of demons beneath the Bodhi Tree; this is recorded in the scriptures. Yet if there were no Papiyas, then whom did the World-Honored One subdue? If there were no demonic army, then how could that enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree have shaken the three realms?"
"Papiyas may not necessarily be an external enemy. Perhaps he is precisely the Buddha's shadow. The World-Honored One and Papiyas are two sides of one body, each the outer and inner face of the other. How can Junior Brother know whether what was seen beneath that Bodhi Tree was truly the Tathagata, or Papiyas?"
What exactly is this guy muttering about?
Madara Uchiha grew increasingly impatient inwardly, but at this point, most of his desire to make a move had actually faded.
That mysterious young monk Genjo had just revealed a technique that could be called creation-level Dark and Light Style, and at this moment, that white-robed monk who seemed like a creation of Dark and Light Style was still standing in the temple, smiling as he watched them.
Madara Uchiha certainly had his own pride.
If it had been his younger self, he probably would already have fought these two mysterious monks, determined to settle which of them was superior.
But now his ultimate goal had been placed upon the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and to achieve that goal, he could hide in a lightless cavern for decades. All pride, spirit, and competitive desire had to make way for that objective.
Afterward, he could simply have the White Zetsu secretly investigate the origins of these two mysterious monks. For now, all he could do was try his best to piece together as much useful information as possible from their cryptic conversation.
And compared to Madara Uchiha, who was impatient yet barely restraining himself, Genjo still wore the same serene smile, while his thoughts raced inwardly.
In his previous life, he had only vaguely known that the ultimate pursuit of the Otsutsuki clan was to become gods, and that there was a so-called true God in the Otsutsuki clan.
It was said that after this true God ascended, the shell it left behind ultimately fell into the hands of Isshiki Otsutsuki.
(Author Note: The protagonist does not know the connection and difference between the true God and Shibai Otsutsuki.)
But as for when that shell fell into Isshiki's hands and by what means, he knew absolutely nothing about those crucial details.
And from what Isshiki Otsutsuki seemed to imply, the World-Honored One and Papiyas in this world were also related to that so-called True God in the Otsutsuki clan?
Could it even be that the World-Honored One and Papiyas were the same person?
And judging from Isshiki Otsutsuki's tone, it seemed that this divine shell was not even in his hands yet.
That made sense.
It was only decades later, after the end of the main era and before the next era began, that Isshiki Otsutsuki emerged to select and cultivate his own vessel.
Whereas before that, there had not been the slightest trace of him.
In other words, it was highly likely that this shell was still hidden somewhere he did not know about.
In that brief instant, Genjo's expression remained unchanged, but in his mind, he had already thrown every fragment of information he possessed, Isshiki's lines from combat clips in his previous life, the various comments in the comment sections below, and all the other scattered bits and pieces, into the analytical and deductive process of his mind, which was comparable to a supercomputer.
Then, following the meaning in Isshiki Otsutsuki's words, he smoothly continued: "So, Senior Brother's decision to leave the monastery and wander was to seek the traces of the Demon King? And to use the Demon King's method to resolve the suffering of your own reincarnation?"
At those words, Isshiki was even more astonished inwardly, though his expression did not change.
Pressing his palms together, he said, "Buddha and demon are one. What this humble monk seeks is both the Demon King and the World-Honored One. If I can behold my Buddha's true form, then perhaps I may understand the method of escaping this sea of suffering known as reincarnation."
"Junior Brother's insight is truly sharp. Since you knew that the two fellow students who came were those two, then I assume you also know that among them, one thinks exceedingly highly of himself and looks down on everyone else, while the other is foolishly straightforward and obeys orders without question."
"As for cultivation, in my current state, I would not dare claim I could match either of them. As for state of mind, this poor monk has been ordained for many years and had thought I had long since seen through all appearances, but now that it has truly come to this point, I still cannot let go of this skin and body, nor can I let go of this heart."
At this point, Isshiki let out a long sigh.
"If those two fellow students arrive, then this poor monk will have to return with them. And once I return, it will mean taking precepts in the same chamber, sharing the karma of fellow students, and being led into the boundless sea of suffering, unable to free myself, unable to see the farther shore."
"My body may not necessarily be utterly destroyed, but the sea of suffering is endless, and once one turns back, there is no shore. Since this junior brother has seen through this poor monk's origins within the workings of fate, could you perhaps also point out a path of clarity for me? Tell this poor monk whether, in the future, I would be able to find the traces of the World-Honored One and have hope of escaping the suffering of reincarnation?"
The ruined temple fell silent and off to the side, Madara Uchiha frowned, his arms crossed over his chest.
He very much disliked this feeling. He was clearly present for what was happening before his eyes, yet it felt as though he were not there at all.