Chapter 240: The Whispers of Taishang

In the Tushita Palace, the alchemical fire within the Eight Trigrams Furnace burned with a ghostly glow.

The voice of Maitreya Buddha echoed softly through the great hall; after asking his question, he lowered his head and remained silent.

The palm-leaf fan in the hand of Taishang Laojun continued to move at a steady rhythm, neither hurried nor slow.

After a long while, his calm voice sounded once more.

"Since he has entered the cycle of reincarnation, he is no longer the Duobao of the past."

Maitreya Buddha's heart stirred, and he listened intently.

"The past has been severed, and former days are like smoke. The Tathagata you speak of has already sought liberation for himself within the cycle of reincarnation." Taishang Laojun's eyelids lifted slightly, his murky eyes seeming to peer through all of Maitreya Buddha's thoughts. "A person who would abandon his own Dao fruit to seek liberation—why would he care about the mere superficiality of a master-disciple title?"

As these words fell, the heart that had been hanging in Maitreya Buddha's chest finally settled completely.

This statement from the Saint's incarnation was equivalent to a tacit admission.

"Taishang speaks truly; it is this disciple who was attached to appearances," Maitreya Buddha replied hurriedly, the smile on his face becoming a fraction more sincere.

"However..." Taishang Laojun's tone shifted, and these two seemingly casual words caused Maitreya Buddha's heart, just settled, to rise once more.

"Reincarnation has its own fixed numbers, and a reincarnated body has its own will." The Old Lord's gaze fell back upon the alchemical furnace. "Your Fomen may search, and you may guide, but you must not force. If he is willing to enter your Fomen, that is his karmic affinity; if he is unwilling, then that is his Dao."

"In this matter, his own opinion must be paramount."

Upon hearing this, Maitreya Buddha understood instantly.

The Old Lord's words, while seemingly fair, were in reality a shackle.

This was a warning to the Fomen: they could guide, but they must never use force.

Otherwise, he, the incarnation of the Taiqing Saint—and even his true self—would not sit idly by.

"This disciple understands." Maitreya Buddha cried out in bitterness internally, but dared not show the slightest hint of it on his face, replying respectfully: "Everything shall follow the true heart of the Senior Brother's reincarnated body; we shall never force him."

"Mm." Taishang Laojun responded faintly, waving his palm-leaf fan, and asked: "Is there anything else?"

This was a dismissal.

Maitreya Buddha, possessing a delicate mind, rose immediately and bowed deeply to the Old Lord.

"This disciple has no further matters and dares not disturb Taishang's cultivation. I shall take my leave."

Having said this, he bowed and slowly retreated from the Tushita Palace.

Not until Maitreya Buddha's figure had completely vanished outside the palace gates did a ripple appear on Taishang Laojun's ancient, waveless face.

He gazed at the raging Six-Ding True Fire, as if through the dancing flames, he could see the surging torrent of the Three Realms' future.

"A variable..."

A whisper, extremely faint, sounded within the empty hall, only to be swallowed instantly by the crackling of the furnace fire.

"This Three Realms, in the end, has given birth to a variable. This kalpa, I fear, will not be peaceful..."

He sighed gloomily, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Thirty-Three Heavens to look toward the Zixiao Palace deep within the endless chaos, his eyes complex.

Afterward, he sighed again and said: "Now that the Three Realms have changed, I do not know when my true self will be able to respond..."

On the other side, after leaving the Tushita Palace, Maitreya Buddha did not return directly to the Western Lingshan.

He stood upon the clouds, looking down at the immortal-mist-shrouded jade towers and pavilions below, the smile on his face slowly fading, replaced by a profound gravity.

As for Taishang Laojun, he had barely managed to pass.

Although a shackle had been set, at least there was no explicit opposition.

Then, the next step was the most critical and difficult hurdle of this trip.

The Lingxiao Precious Hall, Haotian the Jade Emperor.

The matter of the Journey to the West was a major event for the Three Realms, and one could not bypass this nominal Lord of the Three Realms.

Especially since the Jade Emperor had been nearly suppressed by Doumu Yuanjun because of the Fomen and had been forced to bow his head temporarily; trying to get him to nod in cooperation now would be extremely difficult.

And Maitreya Buddha knew clearly in his heart that within the Fomen, there were countless disciples who held grievances against the Jade Emperor, as Tathagata had ostensibly fallen because of him.

If he were to bow his head to this person now to seek cooperation, many Buddhist disciples would likely be unable to understand.

But for the great flourishing of the Fomen, for the Journey to the West kalpa, he had to bow his head.

"Sigh, the predecessor digs the pit, the successor fills it. This position of Buddha is truly a bitter chore."

Maitreya Buddha muttered to himself, straightened his robes, piled that signature smile back onto his face, and rode a propitious cloud toward the direction of Lingxiao.

The Heavenly Court of today had a different atmosphere.

Since the Jade Emperor had used the order of the Heavenly Dao to scatter Tathagata's cultivation and cast him into reincarnation.

Many Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who did not know the truth saw their own Heavenly Emperor being so firm against the Fomen and felt a sense of pride; along the way, the eyes with which those soldiers and generals looked at him, the World-Honored One of the Fomen, held less of the usual awe and more of scrutiny and arrogance.

After being announced, Maitreya Buddha arrived at the Lingxiao Precious Hall without obstruction.

Gazing at that majestic, towering hall, filled with golden light and a thousand strands of auspicious energy, Maitreya Buddha took a deep breath, preparing to step inside.

However, he was stopped by the Heavenly Soldiers guarding the gate, who indicated that the Jade Emperor was resting behind the hall and that he must wait for them to announce him before entering.

Maitreya's footsteps paused, the smile on his face stiffening slightly.

But in the end, he still said with a chuckle: "Then I trouble you to announce me to the Great Heavenly Sovereign; just say that Maitreya of the Fomen has come to pay a visit."

The Heavenly Soldier nodded arrogantly and went inside to announce him.

A moment later, the soldier ran out and nodded to Maitreya: "His Majesty invites you in!"

Only then did Maitreya step into the Lingxiao Hall.

Just as he entered the rear hall, he heard a majestic voice coming from within.

"Buddha Maitreya."

"Why have you come to My Lingxiao Precious Hall instead of presiding over Lingshan and saving all living beings?" ===== CHAPTER 241 =====