Chapter 409: Great Vow

Where do you come from?

The poor monk comes from the Eastern Land of the Great Tang, heading to the Western Heaven to pay homage to the Buddha and seek the sutras!" Tang Xuanzang answered instinctively.

Master, there's no need to fear; we are messengers sent by the Buddha, tasked with escorting you all the way west!

Mu Yi laughed loudly, comforting the somewhat flustered Tang Monk.

"Indeed!" The Tang Monk didn't know whether he believed it or not, but at least he was calmer than the uncontrollable panic just before.

Please wait here a moment, Master; we four will pack our belongings and then escort you to the Western Heaven!

After settling the Tang Monk, the four departed from his side in tacit understanding, hurrying toward the direction of the Great Tang.

Jin Chanzi deliberately arranged for them to wait at the Two-Boundaries Mountain; between there and the Great Tang, there must be something they shouldn't know.

However, when they actually raced to the Great Tang, they saw a scene they had never imagined.

Damn it! What the hell is going on!

White bones, white bones everywhere.

And atop the white bone corpses, a dynasty was constructed.

The resentment, thick enough to condense into substance, swirled over the Great Tang, forming a demonic domain.

Reality and the demonic domain reflected each other, making it hard to tell what was real and what was illusion.

How could the Heavenly Court possibly tolerate such a thing happening!

Jingliu Yun's face was extremely grim; from the moment he saw Mu Yi and the others, he realized this commission was not as simple as imagined, but even after they saw only the tip of the iceberg of the truth, he still underestimated this commission's task.

What on earth have these Buddhist Sect lunatics covered up!

It seems Jin Chanzi has too many matters he hasn't made clear to us! Murphy lightly sniffed the white plum blossom in his hand.

Then he casually tossed it toward the demonic domain built from white bones; in just a moment, the white plum blossom was eroded by the domain, withering away.

If we can redeem the resentment here, it should be a great merit; that should also be Jin Chanzi's ultimate goal. Murphy gave an affirmative answer.

"Cough cough cough..." Shen Wanqian coughed twice, then slowly spoke.

It seems we need to exchange information... cough cough... intelligence!

Having said that, he ignored the reactions of the other three and continued on his own.

Jin Chanzi found me, hoping I could join the westward journey's party, escorting him to the Western Heaven to seek the true scriptures.

You may not know that this merit also has a shortcut; the Buddhist Sect has the Great Vow method, by which one can exchange an oath for great merit.

However, this method has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage is that one can steadily become a true Buddha, but the cost is too high!

In those days, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva attained his status by making a great vow.

Only when all beings are saved can one attain enlightenment; if hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha.

Being both great compassion and great merit, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva thus attained the Buddha's fruition as desired, and is called the Great Vow Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Having said this, Shen Wanqian's face flushed slightly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, and continued speaking.

But the cost is that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva cannot leave the netherworld, nor can he truly become a Buddha; even if he possesses Buddha's powers, he remains merely a Bodhisattva fruition, unless one day he can truly fulfill his great vow!

Later, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva improved this Great Vow method; although one can no longer directly ascend to heaven by making a great vow, one can still gain great power by establishing a great vow!

The lower one's strength, the better the effect; if I'm not mistaken, Jin Chanzi, in his reincarnated mortal body, made a great vow to go to the Western Heaven in mortal form to seek the true scriptures, then redeem this domain's resentment, and thereafter acquire great merit to seek Buddhahood.

After Shen Wanqian finished speaking, he silently tightened his fur robe; although his body was already immune to cold and heat, this habit he could never change.

The other three remained silent; they understood that this Great Vow method was indeed powerful—even if one attempt didn't make a true Buddha, several attempts would always achieve it.

At least it is a visible path to Buddhahood.

Compared to other uncertain paths, it possesses a unique stability.

Using the limitation of one's own strength to exchange for more merit is indeed a good method; moreover, to achieve it, they specially sought out Dharma protectors, which can also be considered a thorough strategy.

The number of trials is set; on this westward journey we will surely encounter the eighty-one tribulations, and with this trial added, I fear our journey will not be easy!

Murphy was playing with a plum blossom in his hand.

What I study is called Plum Blossom Numerology, which can peek at heavenly secrets, but in this dimensional world the heavenly secrets are chaotic, so I can only see this much.

Jingliu Yun reached out and changed the mask on his face to a blank clock mask, his voice devoid of sorrow or joy.

What's more troublesome is time!

According to what Jin Chanzi said, the true spirit of the Candle Dragon has descended upon this world's heaven and earth, time runs wild, and the flow of time in various regions has probably already gone haywire!

A thousand years of time is enough for seas to turn into mulberry fields, and also enough for a minor demon to cultivate into a great demon.

Mu Yi, after hearing the three's discussion, only felt a bit of a headache.

Jin Chanzi surely isn't lying, but he surely also has something concealed; sometimes deceiving people doesn't require telling lies.

No wonder he's so generous; he's determined to walk the westward path, and for that he's even bound himself with layer upon layer of shackles—truly the style of the Buddhist Sect, harsh to others and even harsher to oneself.

He sighed, then Mu Yi slowly spoke.

I only have one thing I can tell you!

In this world, I cannot sense the aura of the Heavenly Court or the Underworld.

On Jin Chanzi's westward journey, there originally was heavenly assistance from gods and buddhas, but now it seems only we ourselves must face it!

All four remained silent; although after this exchange of information, the mission was still to escort the Tang Monk to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures, but the substantive content had completely changed.

It feels like a big pit waiting for them to jump into.

Let me tell you another piece of good news! Mu Yi laughed.

Our enemies have increased! And they have already united!

On Mu Yi's retina, several Zongwang messages popped up.

Zongwang Prompt: A Zongwang squad used directional selection to enter the current world; a new faction has appeared, and the relationship between the two factions is hostile.

Zongwang Prompt: The current opposing factions are the Tribulation Faction and the Westward Journey Faction.

"Let's go, we need to pick up the pace; otherwise we won't be facing a scattered bunch, but an alliance!"

……

The four returned to Two Realms Mountain, said nothing more, and set off with Tang Monk along the Western Journey Road toward the Western Heaven Sacred Mountain.

"Indeed, everything has changed!"

According to the original route, their first destination should have been Guanyin Zen Temple, and their first opponent should have been the Black Bear Spirit.

But Black Wind Mountain was empty, and even Guanyin Zen Temple lay in charred ruins.

Heaven knows which timeline's Guanyin Zen Temple this is.

"These little demons gathered here only after Black Wind Mountain became deserted; there's no useful information at all!" Mu Yi tossed the little demon's corpse aside and sighed.

Tang Monk wore a face of sorrowful compassion and began to grant salvation to the little demons.

Although Mu Yi had already sent these little demons' souls to reincarnation, Tang Monk persisted, and Mu Yi and the others did not stop him.

Even though the road was urgent, they didn't mind losing a moment or two.

Black Wind Mountain, Yellow Wind Territory… the journey was surprisingly calm, giving everyone a sense of a storm looming over the building.

Along the way there were some households, unlike the bizarre Great Tang.

When they reached a river of clear, cold water, Mu Yi and the others hired a small boat and rowed toward the opposite bank.

"Hm?" Mo Fei snapped his fingers, flinging several silver needles into the void, but they struck nothing; nothing appeared.

"Trivial insect trick!" Mo Fei snorted coldly, his form turning into a shadow that slipped into the void, destination unknown.

Mo Fei's disappearance was like flipping a switch; hundreds of water arrows burst from the river surface, and hundreds of little demons brandishing weapons surged toward the boat.

Beneath the water, hundreds of water demons seemed to be drilling the sinking boat, trying to make Tang Monk fall.

A few little demons were no more than ants; Jing Liuyun somehow produced a large chessboard, black and white pieces fell rapidly, instantly turning the hundreds of little demons into a blood mist.

A massive water torrent burst from the river surface, and a towering demon clad in silver armor, a breastplate, wielding a poisonous dragon spear lunged forward.

The black and white pieces gathered, but were shattered by its single spear.

"Finally a chance to stretch my limbs; don't try to snatch this from us!" Jing Liuyun, at some point now shirtless and rugged, charged straight at the towering demon.

"Leave this to me!" Shen Wanqian extended a hand, and countless copper coins concealed Tang Monk's figure.

Mu Yi laughed lightly; compared with protecting Tang Monk, he was far more accustomed to slaying all opponents.

He strolled across the water surface, not yet having time to strike.

A black knight in heavy armor, riding a heavenly horse, descended from the sky, wielding two great swords that hammered toward the boat.

Countless copper coins materialized out of thin air, blasting him away, followed by a massive gold ingot that fell from the sky and struck the black knight.

While Mu Yi paused to watch the dragon‑tiger clash, demonic energy surged beneath the water, hundreds of white silver threads shot upward, weaving rapidly into a spider web that descended onto Mu Yi.

"Spider Spirit?"

Mu Yi smiled; there were a few familiar figures, suggesting this Journey to the West Road was indeed authentic.

A thought flickered, and hellfire ignited without wind, burning the descending spider web to ash.

"Hehehe, I have been waiting here for you all for a long time!"

At that moment, a beautiful woman cradling a pipa sat atop the spider web, dressed in moon‑white silk, her ten slender fingers plucking the instrument.

Waves of sound radiated outward, but Mu Yi remained unmoved; a barrier separated inside from outside, and even the loudest pipa tones could not affect him.

"Pipa Spirit?"

Mu Yi casually produced a Shura sword, hurling it toward the Pipa Spirit's face.

A golden brilliance, like a sharp blade, shattered the Shura sword.

"Hundred‑Eyed Demon Lord?"

Mu Yi stared at the bamboo‑hat demon that emerged from behind a rock.

"Spiders, scorpions, centipedes… where are the toad and gecko?" Mu Yi asked with a grin; only the toad and gecko were missing to complete the Five Poisons.

"No need for your concern, we are indeed here!"

As Mu Yi finished speaking, two more figures rose from below.

One was entirely crimson, its cheek pouches swollen—clearly a Toad Spirit; the other also wore a bamboo hat, its shape indistinct, but it was evident it was the final demon among the Five Poisons.

"So it really is the Five Poisons?"

Mu Yi examined the Toad and Gecko, creatures that shouldn't exist on the Journey to the West Road; indeed the Western Journey had become more treacherous, with demons gathering and even nonexistent ones appearing.

From their aura they seemed to be great demons, not mere petty minions.

"Form a formation!"

Hundred‑Eyed Demon Lord let out a low roar.

Seven Spider Spirits flung open their snow‑white bellies, casting spells from their navel, silver threads shooting straight at Mu Yi; at the same time Hundred‑Eyed Demon Lord let out a sinister laugh, his body radiating light as a thousand golden shafts shot out like arrows.

The Toad Spirit's cheeks swelled, then it expelled a torrent of magma‑hot substance; the Gecko Spirit indeed vanished into the void, its whereabouts unknown.

Mu Yi waved a sea of blood, blocking all attacks.

The Gecko Spirit spewed its tongue from the void toward Mu Yi's forehead, but Mu Yi turned his head to dodge and, in the same motion, seized the tongue; crimson blood flame spread from the tongue into the Gecko Spirit's body, then exploded violently.

And the Pipa Spirit shifted its form, mimicking a scorpion's tail, the infamous reverse‑horse poison stake that once stung Buddha, utterly domineering.

But Mu Yi, already prepared, gave the Pipa Spirit no chance; its poisoned body turned to blood water and dispersed, Mu Yi's true form appeared, and a single slash severed the scorpion tail.

"All together, kill him!"

Hundred‑Eyed Demon Lord roared, and thousands of golden rays, like sharp arrows, swarmed toward Mu Yi.

"It seems you have some misunderstandings!"

Mu Yi, with a calm expression, extended his hand; he merely wanted to gauge the demons' enhanced strength, yet it seemed to give them the illusion they could successfully kill him.

These demons were indeed formidable; the Gecko Spirit's power barely reached demi‑god level, which, by Zongwang's standards, corresponds to roughly a 33rd‑level challenge.

And the seven Spider Spirits together amount to about a 30th‑level challenge.

The strongest Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, his challenge level is also only around level 35.

Although swarming out like that is indeed troublesome, for Mu Yi now it's not worth mentioning at all.

The sole noteworthy Horse-Turning Poison Stake was resolved by him using a substitute, and the rest naturally showed no fear.

"Human Path!"

Golden light swept past, and the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord and other monsters vanished instantly.

Everyone and every monster secretly observing the battle here by various means were all startled, their faces drastically changing, as if they had seen a ghost.

In their minds, another name flashed simultaneously.

Five-Colored Divine Light, nothing is untouched.

However, Mu Yi actually just threw a few demons into the Reincarnation Barrier, where the army of the Human Path formed a formation to attack them.

However, to outsiders, it looked like Mu Yi instantly subdued several major demons.