Chapter 651: The Terrifying Three Demons of Shituoling

"Tsk tsk, this chicken soup is truly not bad."

"Indeed, the taste is fresh and delicious, silky upon entering the mouth. I, Old Sun, have been eating peaches so often that my mouth has gone bland!"

"When training muscles often, one must pay attention to protein supplementation. This chicken soup is just right."

Bajie, Sun Wukong, and Xiaobailong could not help but speak to themselves.

"It's a must, after all, this is Green Flower Chicken."

To the side, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao chimed in.

"Master, you should have some too," said Zhu Bajie.

"Hmm, disciples, you drink it. Only by nourishing yourselves well can you..."

Xuanzang said, a touch of melancholy hanging on his face.

He thought of the Green Flower Chicken on Wuming Mountain outside Chang'an City; compared to that, the taste of the Green Flower Chicken in Chang'an City was still a cut above.

But most importantly, the people eating the Green Flower Chicken together were different now.

Back then it was him and the Old Monk; now it was him and a group of disciples. Truly, things are different and people have changed, with mountains and rivers stretching far between.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a streak of holy Buddha Light appeared inside Lotus Cave. Amidst the dense radiance, the flawless Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared out of thin air. She seemed to have come draped in stars and moonlight, the light on her body dazzling and brilliant.

As soon as Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared, she saw Xuanzang and his party breaking the precepts, and her Buddha heart fluctuated instantly, various thoughts passing through.

"Guanyin Bodhisattva."

Jinjiao Dawang and Yinjiao Dawang's expressions changed abruptly.

The two brothers had not expected that Guanyin would actually arrive first, so they hurriedly bowed: "Small demons pay respects to Guanyin Bodhisattva."

Guanyin Bodhisattva merely glanced at them and did not make things difficult for Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao; after all, they were people of Taishang Laojun, and one could neither scold nor punish them.

She then looked at Xuanzang and said:

"Xuanzang, do you know your crime?"

Xuanzang was sitting on Jinjiao Dawang's seat, lying on his side, looking extremely languid, and said lazily:

"Bodhisattva, what crime do I have?"

"Xuanzang, as the one seeking the scriptures, bearing the responsibility of saving all living beings, how can you waste time here?

And look at your disciples, what are they doing? Eating meat, drinking meat soup—this has already violated the great precepts of Buddhism."

Guanyin said, her face solemn.

After hearing this, Xuanzang was unconcerned and said:

"Guanyin Bodhisattva, we are all old acquaintances; don't bring up the old routine.

Saving all living beings—how could I possibly accomplish that alone? Moreover, the human world is inherently a hell; as long as the world exists, suffering will always sprout and spread with time.

Speaking of this, I have to criticize you at Lingshan Buddhism: as monastics, just cultivate Buddha and chant scriptures properly; don't keep interfering in the affairs of the human world. Human affairs should be settled by humans."

Guanyin was furious; was this guy trying to lecture her now?

"Guanyin, does it look like you want to make a move? Want to have a duel? Don't forget, my realm is higher than yours now; you can't beat me," Xuanzang said.

"You!" Guanyin was exasperated.

To the side, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao were trembling with fear.

Xuanzang Sheng Seng is truly too bold to speak to Guanyin Bodhisattva like this.

Within Buddhism, besides the Buddha, Guanyin has the greatest reputation in the Three Realms and Six Paths.

"Bodhisattva, why not drink some chicken soup to calm down?" said Zhu Bajie.

"Tianpeng, you are bold," Guanyin scolded. What kind of talk was this?

"Cough cough, Bodhisattva, there's no need for that, the fool has no malicious intent. To tell the truth, this chicken soup is indeed not bad. Bodhisattva, you know that I, Old Sun, am a vegetarian and have a picky mouth," Sun Wukong laughed.

"Bajie, Wukong, you don't need to say more. To Guanyin, this is breaking the precepts," Xuanzang said casually.

Bajie, however, complained: "What does eating meat count as breaking a precept? If we're really talking about breaking precepts, the karma committed by the four great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism is much greater."

"Oh? Bajie, what are you saying?" Sun Wukong asked curiously.

"Tianpeng, cease your nonsense," Guanyin said coldly.

Stared at by Guanyin Bodhisattva's threatening gaze, Bajie also knew he had been loose-lipped; some things cannot be brought out into the open.

"Bajie, speak. With me, your master, here, Guanyin cannot do anything to you," Xuanzang said calmly.

He naturally knew what Bajie wanted to say, so he deliberately stood toe-to-toe with Guanyin.

"Xuanzang, you are harming Tianpeng," Guanyin said.

"Bajie, have I harmed you?" Xuanzang asked.

"Of course not," Bajie replied earnestly.

"Then speak, just say how these four great Bodhisattvas broke the precepts," Xuanzang said.

Guanyin's expression was unpleasant, while Bajie helplessly spread his hands and replied:

"As everyone knows, this world is divided into four continents: Houzi Brother's East Victory Continent, Master's Nanshan Buzhou, the North Kuru Continent where demons gather, and the West Cattle Continent near Lingshan.

The point is this West Cattle Continent; legend has it that near the foot of Lingshan, there is a demon den called Shituoling, also known as the Eight-Hundred-Mile Shituoling.

Although it is said to be eight hundred miles, it spans at least over a thousand miles, with an area of about eight hundred thousand square miles or more, equivalent to a kingdom."

"Doesn't that make it about the same as my Huaguoshan? But Huaguoshan isn't as big as that," Sun Wukong said.

Bajie, however, shook his head and said: "Houzi, if your Huaguoshan were compared to theirs, it would be instantly crushed, alright?

That Shituoling demon den has three old demons: the Green-Haired Lion, the Yellow-Toothed Elephant, and the Golden-Winged Peng, each of whom is at the Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation level."

"So powerful? All of them are Great Luo Golden Immortals?" Sun Wukong said in shock.

"Of course, Houzi. There is a heaven beyond heaven, and people beyond people; where were you even at before?" Bajie said.

"Then what does that have to do with the Buddhist Bodhisattvas?" Heixiong asked curiously.

"Of course it's related. The Green-Haired Lion and the Yellow-Toothed Old Elephant are the mounts of Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, while the Golden-Winged Peng is the brother-in-law of Tathagata Buddha," Bajie said.

"What, Tathagata's brother-in-law? Heh heh!"

Sun Wukong couldn't help but laugh out loud. As the saying goes, even an emperor has a couple of poor relatives; to think that Tathagata, as the Buddha, actually had demon relatives.

"That's not the point. The point is that eight-hundred-mile Shituoling is covered in white bones; it is rumored that the human kingdoms there were long ago eaten up by the three demons.

These three demons eat thousands of young boys and girls every day; it is extremely bloody and tyrannical."

"At a glance, skulls are like ridges, skeletons like a forest. Human hair is matted into felt, human flesh and skin rot into mud and dust. Human tendons are wrapped around trees, dried and scorched, shining like silver. A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, the stench is unbearable."

Speaking of this, a look of terror appeared on Zhu Bajie's face.

Back when he was Fleet Admiral Tianpeng, he passed through Xiniu Hezhou and saw Shituoling from afar. He only saw blood-Qi soaring to the heavens and countless spirits. Innumerable wronged souls, unable to enter the Yincao Difu because their lifespans had not ended, wandered the Renjian, causing Yin-Qi to cover the sky. It is likely that even if a god went to Shituoling, they would be plagued by inner demons and suffer eternal damnation.

"What, how bold, what a cutthroat! To actually commit such a sin, I, Old Sun, must finish off this bunch of scum," Sun Wukong said indignantly.

"That's nothing. That Golden-Winged Peng, relying on being Tathagata's brother-in-law, eats five hundred Dragons every day, sigh."

At this moment, Xiaobailong spoke of a shameful history of the Dragon Clan.

To satisfy the Golden-Winged Peng, the Dragon Clans of the east, south, west, and north take turns offering tribute to the Golden-Winged Peng.

There is no other way; in this current era, the Dragon Clan is in decline and cannot defeat Buddhism.

In the eyes of immortals and gods, the Dragon Clan is actually no different from the Demon Race; they can only stay in the sea and have no qualifications to obtain a residence in the Heavenly Court.

"Five hundred a day? Brother Dragon, wouldn't your Dragon Clan be eaten to extinction?" Heixiong said.

"Of course not. My Dragon Clan was, after all, once the overlord of heaven and earth, but we cannot offend the face of Buddhism, so we refined two Dharma treasures: the Dragon Transformation Pool and the Dragon Gate.

As long as aquatic creatures with aptitude enter the Dragon Transformation Pool or leap over the Dragon Gate, they can transform into Dragons. There are more than billions of aquatic creatures in the four seas; we just need to put them into the Dragon Transformation Pool to be transformed," Xiaobailong said.

"So isn't this bullying people? Only the magistrate is allowed to set fires, while the common people are not allowed to light lamps."

The simple-minded Heixiong also sensed the problem at this moment and said loudly.

"Bodhisattva, that Shituoling is right at the foot of your Lingshan. That wicked beast is the foundation of your Buddhism. Why don't you go and subdue it, letting the millions of living beings of Shituoling be swallowed alive? Where is the compassionate heart of Buddhism? Where is the salvation of all living beings?" Sun Wukong questioned.

Facing this iron-clad fact, Guanyin knew that whatever she said would be useless, because the facts were just so; any more words would only be sophistry.

"Setting aside the phenomena to look at the essence, it is nothing more than for the sake of Merit."

"Those who died miserably have resentment soaring to the heavens, unable to enter reincarnation.

Lingshan chants scriptures and preaches Buddhism every day, forcibly converting those wronged souls with Buddhist Dharma to obtain Merit.

It is just like Dizang Wang who is in the Yincao Difu: 'Until hell is empty, I vow not to become a Buddha.'"

Xuanzang broke the secret in one word, directly tearing off the final fig leaf of Buddhism.

"Shameless," Bajie said, holding up his middle finger.

"Too shameless," Sun Wukong cursed angrily.

"Me too," Heixiong said, beating his chest and stamping his feet.

"Tch!" Baigu Furen curled her lip.

"Sigh, Xuanzang, some things are better left unsaid. And it is not something you or I can change!" Guanyin Bodhisattva said.

"You know that the Green-Haired Lion and the Yellow-Toothed Elephant, although they are mounts of Buddhism, have astonishing origins.

They were once inner-sect disciples of the Jie Sect, and also disciples of the Saint Tongtian Jiaozhu. They are even great demons from the ancient era, and their cultivation is unfathomable.

Unless the Buddha takes action, there are not many in the entire Buddhism who can stop them.

Furthermore, that Golden-Winged Peng is the younger brother of the Buddha's mother, Kongque Damingwang. His status is even higher than the Buddha's. The relationships here cannot be explained clearly in a few words," Guanyin said.

"So compared to a million living beings, Tathagata's face and the reputation of Buddhism are more important.

Because the other party has a significant background and is also Tathagata's brother-in-law, no one dares to take action," Xuanzang said.

"Ahem, Master. The Jade Emperor once sent Heavenly Soldiers to crusade against them, and fifty thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were eaten," Bajie said.

"..." Xuanzang.

"..." Jade Emperor.

Thinking about it carefully, with the strength and magic power of the three demons of Shituoling, I fear that even if the Nine Heavens Demon-Quelling Patriarch came, he would have to be slapped twice and have his two kidneys cut out before he could leave.

As for Yang Jian, Nezha, Leizhenzi, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and the Jiuyao Xingjun in the Heavenly Court, coming here would just be throwing their lives away.

This is not 'Uproaring the Heavenly Palace'; the strength of the three demons is entirely that of Great Luo Golden Immortals. They are extremely ancient and survived the Investiture of the Gods.

"Guanyin, so don't use the excuses of 'breaking precepts' and 'saving all living beings' to speak anymore," Xuanzang said.

"That's right, the magistrate sets fires, we should also light a sky lantern," Zhu Bajie echoed.

On the side, Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao had long since fainted.

Are these kinds of secrets about the Three Realms something they can listen to?

As attendants of Laojun, well-versed in the Way of Non-Action, did they punch each other early on and fall into a deep sleep?

"Master, why don't we go and wipe out Shituoling," Sun Wukong said.

"Ahem, no problem. However, Wukong, you go to Shituoling first to check the situation. Don't be in a hurry to take action, then come back and tell your master," Xuanzang said.

"Fine."

Sun Wukong struck a flying pose on the spot and disappeared.

Bajie shook his head, as if he knew his master's true intention; I fear that for a long time to come, Houzi Brother will have psychological trauma.

Guanyin did not stop him either; with Sun Wukong's current Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation, self-preservation is not a problem.

"Xuanzang, I still hope you will go to seek the scriptures early and not delay here," Guanyin said.

"No rush, no rush."

Xuanzang replied, his face still wearing a calm and composed expression.

He then asked casually: "Speaking of which, Guanyin. Have you ever thought about changing to a different mountain to develop?"

"What do you mean?" Guanyin asked.

"Look, Guanyin. Cultivation to your realm has already reached the top. Did Tathagata promise you the opportunity to become a Saint, to work together to make Buddhism bigger and stronger? But Tathagata himself hasn't become a Saint yet."

"Three years and another three years; Guanyin, have you not had enough of the empty promises Rulai paints for you? I can't even bear to watch anymore," Xuanzang said, his heart aching with grief.

"...," Guanyin remained silent; wasn't this just poaching, and he was even poaching her?

"Guanyin, in the end, everyone has only one goal in cultivation: to become a Saint.

Whatever Rulai can give you, I can give you as well.

Furthermore, that old fellow Rulai always just talks the talk to fool you all. I am different; I am practical and realistic," Xuanzang said.

"Heh, Xuanzang, you truly are silver-tongued and glib; why not bring out something substantial?" Guanyin mocked.

Xuanzang smiled mysteriously, and the surrounding space and time froze, with everything being concealed.

A purple mass of Qi appeared in his palm; the purple Qi mass was extremely mysterious, radiating an incredibly dense rhythm of the Great Dao, such that even a single glance gave one the feeling of ascending to immortality on the spot.

This is Hongmeng Ziqi!

Xuanzang shielded the heavenly secrets and simultaneously froze time and space; now, only Guanyin could see this scene.

Upon seeing this Hongmeng Purple Qi, Guanyin could no longer hold her composure, her eyes widening significantly.

"This... how is this possible? How could it be Hongmeng Purple Qi?" Guanyin said.

Hongmeng Purple Qi is the origin of heaven and earth born at the beginning of the world, totaling forty-nine strands.

Forty of them merged into heaven and earth, becoming the Great Dao Law, making the entire world more complete and stable.

Of the remaining nine strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi, eight were in the hands of the Dao Ancestor, and one escaped into the Chaos and vanished.

Eight of them created the Heavenly Dao Six Sages, and the Dao Ancestor also consumed one strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi after Beheading Three Corpses and merging with it.

The seventh strand was gifted to the Huoyun Cave patriarch Hongyun, but Hongyun could not grasp it, and he died and his Taoism dissipated.

Therefore, Hongyun's Hongmeng Purple Qi also escaped into the Void, never to appear again.

Guanyin had not expected that Xuanzang would actually possess a strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi.

"Why, Xuanzang, you show it to me; are you not afraid I will expose you?" Guanyin said, her gaze complex.

With Xuanzang's realm and talent, coupled with this Hongmeng Purple Qi, becoming a Saint was basically a certainty.

"I'm not afraid; Guanyin, you are not an outsider, is our relationship still in need of questioning?" Xuanzang smiled.

"You..."

How could Guanyin not understand the implication behind Xuanzang's words? Her face flushed red.

Whoosh!

Guanyin glared fiercely at Xuanzang and, without leaving a single word, vanished directly.