Chapter 397

"How fragrant! What are you all eating?"

Just as Bai Lian Tongzi led a group of Western Teaching practitioners in enjoying themselves, a voice rang out above everyone's heads.

Hearing this, Bai Lian Tongzi's face changed.

In the next moment, thick holy light poured down.

Hmph!

A cold snort came.

Truly a bunch of filthy scoundrels, Venerable, please allow me to purge this place and restore a pure land to the Western Teaching.

Indeed, it should be cleaned thoroughly; otherwise, it's too filthy.

Ao Yifan nodded lightly.

Hearing this voice, Bai Lian Tongzi urgently said, "Sage, please spare my life!"

But before Bai Lian Tongzi's words finished, a golden light flew from the direction of the center of the Western Pure Land.

It's twelfth grade, no, ninth grade Merit Golden Lotus!

Seeing the golden light's appearance, all the Western Teaching practitioners turned pale.

How could the Western Teaching's sect-protecting holy object suddenly fly out?

But before they could think further, a ninth grade Merit Golden Lotus appeared before a Taoist.

Immediately, amidst the fearful gazes of the Western Teaching practitioners, the Taoist slowly stepped onto the ninth grade Merit Golden Lotus.

How could this be?

The Western Teaching's sect-protecting holy object was originally controlled by the Two Sages of the West; no one else could possibly approach it.

Even if the Protector of the Teaching Dharma King, Wen Dao Ren, had absorbed third-grade fortune, it is still far beyond what an ordinary person could control.

Just who is this Taoist?

Namo!

A Buddhist sound issued from the Taoist's mouth.

In an instant, the Taoist's body began to turn into flying ash and scatter, as if entering self-immolation.

But the ninth grade Merit Golden Lotus seemed to resonate with the Taoist, and rich Buddha light burst forth upon it, wrapping the self-immolating Taoist within.

Amitabha!

Accompanied by a Buddhist sound that echoed throughout the Western Pure Land.

In an instant, thick Buddha light poured down over every corner of the Western Pure Land.

Bathed in the Buddha light, the kind-hearted felt compassion and devoutly recited the Buddha's name.

While those harboring evil thoughts showed expressions of pain.

We are deeply sinful; thank the Buddha for his guidance!

Accompanied by a confession of sins, terrifying Red Lotus Karmic Fire ignited on their bodies.

Watching this, Bai Lian Tongzi felt his scalp go numb.

Fortunately, his cultivation was decent; otherwise, he too would be affected and ignite his own karmic fire.

This fire burns not only body and soul, but even the true spirit can be ignited.

In other words, those killed by this Red Lotus Karmic Fire lose even the chance to enter the sixfold cycle of rebirth.

One by one, Western Teaching practitioners bearing sins were purged, and Bai Lian Tongzi did not know what his own feelings were at that moment.

At the same time, Bai Lian Tongzi saw that the Taoist atop the ninth grade Merit Golden Lotus had completed his transformation, taking on the form of a Buddha.

"Now I am the Tathagata; do no evil, practice all good, purify one's mind—this is the teaching of all Buddhas!"

Accompanied by the Buddha's words echoing throughout the Western Pure Land, in an instant everyone knew that the Western Teaching had officially been renamed Buddhism.

The Two Sages of the West disappeared; the Tathagata Buddha thus became the leader of all Buddhism.

"Bestow, Ci Hang Dao Ren, as my Buddhism's Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

"Bestow, Wen Dao Ren, as my Buddhism's Protector of the Teaching Great Dharma King!"

"Investiture, Bai Suzhen, as the Buddhist Mother of the Eight Divisions of the Heavenly Dragon of my Buddhism!"

"Investiture..."

Following the investiture, Buddhism also launched a great conferral.

And as the Buddha today, with not a single sound falling, everywhere a swastika seal condenses.

And these swastika seals gather the Buddhist Sect Fortune, landing on the glabella of each person who receives the investiture.

"This is, partaking of my Western Sect Fortune!"

Bai Lian Tongzi, as an elder of the Western Teaching, saw at a glance that this newly arrived Tathagata Buddha was not bestowing investitures but was fundamentally partaking of the Western Sect Fortune.

During the investiture calamity, the Western Teaching gathered the Heavenly Dragon Eight Divisions and received a vast amount of fortune bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, but now it has all been bestowed out.

Moreover, as the number of those receiving investiture increased, Bai Lian Tongzi even sensed that the very foundation of the Western Teaching was faintly shaking.

However, bathed in that vast Buddha light, Bai Lian Tongzi dared not ask anything, dared not say anything,

Otherwise, he feared he too would, like others, ignite the fire of his own karmic sin and die.

After all, this Tathagata Buddha before us truly liberates those who have made mistakes!

Buddhism newly established, the great investiture trend also attracted the attention of all beings in the three realms.

Regarding Buddhism's act of dispersing fortune, the other major powers are very pleased.

After all, after the calamity, only the Western Sect Fortune did not fall but rose, having already reached its peak.

If the fortune could not be dispersed, many would be unable to rest or eat peacefully.

However, as the great investiture continued, the expressions of all beings in the three realms became increasingly strange.

Only because, are the Buddhist Mothers conferred by Buddhism perhaps too many?

Especially, the Three Hundred Chang'e of the Vast Cold Palace were all conferred the title of Buddha Mother.

Is that where you poked the Buddha Mother's nest?

Moreover, the East Sea Monster Clan, accompanied by the Eight Divisions Dragon Host, also saw their fortunes rise, with over a hundred female monsters likewise being conferred the title of Buddha Mother.

"Before, I only thought the Sect of the Cutting's myriad immortals paying homage was complex in structure; now, upon looking, compared to Buddhism, the Sect of the Cutting is actually comparatively pure."

In the Five Manor Temple, Zhenyuanzi gazed toward the direction of Western Buddhism, murmuring softly.

And atop his head, two little maidens, one big and one small, were wiggling their fair little feet, curiously gazing toward Buddhism.

In fact, during this grand conferral, not only were the beings of the three realms watching the spectacle, but even the Thus Come One Buddha himself felt increasingly uncertain the more he conferred.

You know, the list in his hand was given by Ao Yifan.

I originally thought it was just a simple roster.

But I never expected the conferral of titles upon the Buddha Mothers to be this long!

In the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Ao Yifan smiling and looking over here.

The Thus Come One Buddha knew that, although nominally he was the leader of all Buddhism, there was still this big dad above him, and moreover, a living dad!

"From now on, this life won't be easy!"

Just thinking of having to serve so many Buddha Mothers, the Buddha Ancestor now feels immense pressure.

After all, the title of Buddha Mother is not conferred for nothing.

Each Buddha Mother can receive a merit stipend from Buddhism every year.

The Thus Come One Buddha suspects that Buddhism's biggest future expense will be this very long list of Buddha Mothers being conferred today.

Yet he still cannot refrain from conferring.

After all, this person is a major figure who negotiated directly with his own master, and he dare not offend them.

"Finally, it's over!"

After the list conferral ended, the Thus Come One Buddha also couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

Immediately afterward, the Thus Come One Buddha's gaze fell upon the steamer basket beside the White Lotus Child, and he pointed a finger.

The next moment, as a ray of Buddha light shot forth, a monk slowly flew out from within the steamer basket.

"Disciple Jinchan, pays respects to the Buddha!"

Jinchanzi bowed his head in obeisance; having no choice, although he had lost his memory, his instinct told him he must find a backer, or else he would face great calamity.