325: debate

Tang Ku had been running inside this massive body for a long time...

After all, this torso was as large as an entire city, and it had undergone some kind of modification, forming many different intersections and cavities, making it much more difficult to navigate than a normal city.

Fortunately, he was fast enough. The underground chambers he descended into actually had thousands of individual rooms, and almost every room held quite a few people; he needed to go room by room and use the Sleeve Universe to take them all away.

Five minutes later, after confirming that no other life remained within, Tang Ku broke through the metal ceiling above and quickly jumped out.

As soon as he emerged, he saw Yang Jian and Tesla standing side by side, looking at him with strange expressions.

He felt a bit creeped out by their stares and couldn't help but clear his throat. "Do you two need something?"

Yang Jian suddenly pointed at Tesla and said, "This guy says he can talk you to death, and I bet him he couldn't... That's what it's about!"

Tesla laughed, "That's about the gist of it..."

Tang Ku instantly realized what was going on, his eyes lighting up as he asked, "Are there any stakes?"

Yang Jian exclaimed in surprise, "Shouldn't you be concerned about what he's planning to say right now?"

Tang Ku curled his lips, "I can't do things without a reward; it's beneath me!"

"Of course there are stakes!"

Tesla briefly explained their bet, causing Tang Ku to nod repeatedly.

"I knew it. I was originally planning to blow this thing up before retrieving the weapon System, but since you're helping, I won't have to go through the trouble!" Tang Ku smiled and said.

"So confident?" Tesla asked with some surprise. "Aren't you afraid of losing?"

Tang Ku laughed and said, "I'm more familiar with 'verbal combat' than you are. Whatever you want to say, just bring it on!"

Tesla laughed heartily, "You're a very interesting person... Hmm, as far as I know, Tang Sanzang is indeed unrivaled in debate. It seems I'll get to experience it today... Oh, right, you have so many people in your sleeve; shouldn't you put them down first? Lest you end up in a state of Qi Deviation from my words and accidentally crush them all in a rampage, that would be a huge loss!"

Tang Ku shook his right sleeve and smiled, "Don't worry, that kind of situation won't happen."

Tesla narrowed his eyes and said, "Confidence is a good thing, but your confidence is built upon thousands of lives. This is irresponsible toward life. As the saying goes, 'better safe than sorry.' Your actions are simply a hypocritical act that doesn't take these lives seriously, isn't it?"

Tang Ku was slightly taken aback by these words, but then couldn't help but smile. "Alright, so this is how it starts, is it? Heh, my state of mind is broad; saving people is purely based on my original intent. As for whether there will be an accident... how do you know I don't have a backup plan?"

Tesla laughed, "As expected of the Holy Monk, but having a backup plan doesn't mean you will definitely succeed... Don't forget, you have a dangerous enemy standing right in front of you. Do you think I will let you rescue these people unscathed? Are you gambling with so many lives just to show off your strength? Do you really think you can save everyone?"

"I will save as many people in distress as I encounter!" Tang Ku said. "Human power has its limits. Even a Saint cannot look after every life in the world. As long as I uphold my original intent and have a clear conscience, that is enough!"

"What a great 'upholding of original intent'!" Tesla suddenly smiled mysteriously. "Then... can you tell me what your original intent actually is?"

This question stunned Tang Ku. Before he could continue thinking, Tesla added, "Do you really have an original intent? Is saving people your original intent? Or is saving the world your original intent? Loving one person is love; loving everyone in the world is great love. As they say, great love has no boundaries. Is your heart meant to save this world?"

Tang Ku was silent for a moment, then nodded heavily.

Tesla clapped his hands and laughed, "Very good, very good... Then what if this world is actually rotten to the core?"

Tang Ku narrowed his eyes slightly, "Whatever you want to say, don't beat around the bush!"

"No, I don't have the habit of beating around the bush. In fact, what I am stating is something you are also very clear about..." Tesla looked at the sky and suddenly laughed. "Is this world truly worth saving? Is the human world really worth people making sacrifices for? Since you have heard of my name, you should also know about my experiences!"

Tang Ku nodded, "I have a rough understanding of them!"

"Heh, only a rough understanding?" Tesla said in a deep voice. "I remember when I was resurrected, someone once said that I was the person who illuminated the whole world. That's right, the light bulb. At that moment, I remembered that light bulbs must have become widespread in later generations, and the development of the power System even far exceeded my expectations. But... what did people do to me? The person I trusted the most, Edison, stole all my patents, making him an unprecedentedly wealthy man, while I, the true inventor, died in depression. Is this the fate of those who want to change the world?"

"I cannot comment on your experiences!" Tang Ku shook his head and said. "Right and wrong have their own judgment. As you said, Edison has already paid the price. Isn't he working for you now?"

"Heh, the first half of my experience should be the same as yours!" Tesla smiled. "Don't deny it. Actually, you and I should be the same type of person: not seeking wealth, not seeking reward, doing everything for this world. It's just that my goal is to transform the world, while your goal is to save the world. So, the question arises..."

Tesla's words seemed to carry a strange magic, pouring into Tang Ku's ears like a demonic sound. "Do you have no worries at all about the future? The world is full of treachery and ingratitude. When you use powerful strength to fight against even stronger enemies, will people admire you, or will they be afraid? Will the Great Tang you protect, will the Great Tang ruler be suspicious? Will your friends and comrades stab you in the back because they are jealous of your power and achievements? This world is full of malice, a malice sufficient to devour a person's Soul. Have you not felt it?"

"No, you have felt it. Your Buddha Dharma is profound, and you see things more clearly than anyone else. But you choose to ignore these flaws, ignore these negative influences that cause people to break down. But these things won't disappear just because you deliberately ignore them!" Tesla laughed. "They exist in your mind, don't they? In fact, you are fully aware of what might happen in the future. However, a strong sense of responsibility makes you unable to let go. Even if you might suffer betrayal in the future, you won't stop, right? Heh, how tiring. I feel tired for you!"

Tang Ku's mind suddenly fell into a state of Chaos, and even he himself didn't notice it. Yang Jian, standing on the side, seemed to notice that something was wrong. He turned his head sharply to look at Tesla and said in a deep voice, "Are you cheating? You're actually using an illusion?"

Tesla spread his hands, "Heaven and earth are my witness, I never cheat. I just... heh, used a small prop..."