Chapter 199: Tathagata's Backup Plan

Jin Chanzi could never have imagined that his reincarnation in this life would become so "heretical."

What kind of ecstasy soup did that old monk named "Liaochen" feed him?

It actually made him treat the supreme wonderful teachings passed down by the Buddha as poison to paralyze sentient beings, and instead treat that set of heretical theories as supreme truth.

He even came up with the statement that "all Buddhas in the world are great demons."

This was simply crazy!

Thinking that he had been debating scriptures everywhere in Xi Niuhe Zhou, stirring up temples, and fooling countless believers, Jin Chanzi wished he could slap his reincarnation in this life.

"This disciple's Buddha-heart was not firm, I was bewitched by others, took the wrong path, almost caused a great disaster, and failed the World Honored One's expectations. Please punish me, World Honored One!"

After shifting the blame, Jin Chanzi hurriedly asked for punishment.

After waiting for a long time, he heard a long sigh from Tathagata.

"Forget it, the fault is not entirely yours." Tathagata said slowly, "I was also negligent in this matter."

Tathagata's voice showed no joy or anger.

Jin Chanzi raised his head and saw the golden Buddha body transformed by Tathagata's divine sense looking at him with a complex gaze.

Tathagata had thought that with Jin Chanzi's Buddha-heart, even if he were reincarnated, there would be no mistakes.

But he didn't expect that Liaochen would appear halfway and trick the disciple he had high hopes for into being "crippled."

"What is the background of that Liaochen who taught you heretical theories in Pudu Temple?"

Tathagata asked the question he cared about most.

He wanted to get more clues about that mysterious person from Jin Chanzi's mouth.

"Master Liaochen?"

Jin Chanzi was stunned for a moment, and the figure in a simple monk's robe appeared in his mind.

Although he had now concluded that what Master Liaochen taught him was demon talk, for some reason, he couldn't feel any hatred toward that old man in his heart.

Instead, there was an inexplicable closeness and respect.

He recalled every bit of his time with Master Liaochen carefully.

"Replying to the World Honored One, this disciple doesn't know his background either." Jin Chanzi said with some shame, "This disciple spent five years with him and only knew his dharma name was Liaochen, and he was the abbot of Pudu Temple. He seemed to be just an ordinary mortal monk, doing nothing but growing vegetables and chopping wood, or meditating and cultivating every day."

"An ordinary monk?" Tathagata sneered, "An ordinary monk can say those remarks that shake the foundation of the Buddhist community? An ordinary monk can make you, a person with an innate Buddha-heart in this life, be convinced and change your faith?"

"This..." Jin Chanzi was speechless.

Yes, although Master Liaochen looked ordinary, the truth and wisdom contained in his words pointed directly to the human heart, making one want to explore and practice them unconsciously.

"Think carefully, was there anything special about him? Or, did he ever use any magic treasures?" Tathagata pressed.

He wanted to explore the magic treasure that could shield the Saint's deduction from Jin Chanzi's mouth.

Tathagata was not stupid. He sensed something wrong from Zhunti's specific exhortation to him.

Zhunti cared very much about that person behind the scenes and specifically told him not to investigate.

Tathagata thought about it and thought that since it could make Zhunti care so much, the magic treasure that could shield heavenly secrets and karma on that person behind the scenes must not be simple, otherwise it wouldn't be enough to make Zhunti's heart move.

Jin Chanzi frowned and thought hard.

Every scene of the five years flashed through his mind rapidly.

"There was nothing special. The only strange thing was that when he passed away, his body did not rot."

After listening, Tathagata fell into deep thought.

A body not rotting after death was indeed nothing; some monks without cultivation but with profound Buddhist knowledge could do it.

"After he died, where did you bury him?" Tathagata suddenly remembered something and asked.

"In the small mountain where Pudu Temple is located." Jin Chanzi answered truthfully.

Tathagata's true Dharma Eye opened, looking toward the mountain where Pudu Temple was located thousands of miles away.

A lonely grave stood in the mountain behind Pudu Temple. Tathagata's Dharma Eye looked through the soil into the grave, only to see a monk's robe left in the grave; where was there any unrotted body?

It seemed that Liaochen was indeed not a mortal.

Tathagata exerted his supernatural powers, took the monk's robe from the grave through the air, and tried to deduce Liaochen's identity based on the monk's robe.

However, the result was the same.

The heavenly secrets were in chaos, and any karma related to Liaochen was obscured by a mysterious force.

"Forget it."

Tathagata finally gave up.

He knew that as long as that magic treasure was there, he wouldn't be able to figure out the other party's background.

The top priority now was not to investigate that mysterious person, but to get Jin Chanzi back on track as soon as possible.

"Jin Chanzi, do you still remember why I wanted you to leave Lingshan and reincarnate to experience the tribulation?" Tathagata changed the subject and asked.

"This disciple dares not forget. The World Honored One wanted me to experience ten reincarnations, accumulate merit, obtain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, and become the scripture-fetcher for the spread of Buddhist teachings to the East." Jin Chanzi said respectfully.

"Not bad. The Journey to the West Tribulation is the general trend of the Heavenly Dao, and the spread of Buddhist teachings to the East is the opportunity for my Buddhist community to flourish. And you are the scripture-fetcher I have chosen."

"I let you experience ten reincarnations and suffer the hardships of the red dust, not to punish you, but to hone your Dao heart, let you complete your merit, and finally achieve the right fruit and attain the Buddha fruit position."

"But now, you have made such a big mistake in your first life. Do you know what the consequences will be if you delay the great plan of the Journey to the West?"

Hearing this, Jin Chanzi felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly asked: "May I ask the World Honored One, what will be the consequences?"

"Hmph," Tathagata snorted coldly, "The scripture-fetcher is not necessarily you. If you can't do it, I will naturally choose someone else to complete this matter. By then, the merit of your ten reincarnations will all turn into bubbles, and all the suffering you have endured will be in vain!"

"What?" Jin Chanzi was shocked. He had thought that he was the unique scripture-fetcher.

But he didn't expect that he could be replaced at any time.

No, absolutely not!

This merit of fetching scriptures must be his! That Buddha fruit position must also be his!

"World Honored One, please see clearly, this disciple already knows I was wrong! This disciple is willing to return to the right path immediately, complete the great cause of fetching scriptures, and earnestly hope that the World Honored One will give this disciple another chance!"

Jin Chanzi knelt before Tathagata.

"Very well, considering it's your first offense, I will give you another chance." Tathagata said slowly: "After you wake up, set off immediately and head to the Liushahe. There, your first tribulation will be fulfilled."

"Liushahe?" Jin Chanzi was stunned.

"Once you go, you will know."

After Tathagata finished speaking, the golden Buddha body that appeared in Fa Neng's sea of consciousness dissipated, turning back into a divine sense, hiding in the depths of Fa Neng's sea of consciousness.

This was the backup plan he left behind.

This divine sense could remind Jin Chanzi of his mission at a critical moment, ensuring he wouldn't go astray again.

At the same time, if that person behind the scenes dared to intervene in Jin Chanzi's reincarnation again, this divine sense of his would come in very handy. ===== CHAPTER 200 =====