Chapter 159

"By the way, take a look at the menu of Chaos Residence—order a portion, it'll make ordering easier." Before Xuan Feng could recover, Nüwa said again.

Xuan Feng: "..."

She came twice, yet only saw a menu—what if it's not for sale? And every dish on the menu is painted so lifelike, one glance tells you it's not cheap.

Having paid for food twice, Xuan Feng wouldn't dare underestimate the price of anything at Chaos Residence.

It might even cost more than a meal.

"Alright." Nüwa waved her hand: "You may leave."

She still wanted to savor the peach blossom brew slowly, feeling that quiet moments held a special flavor.

"My lady, I..." Xuan Feng hesitated, yet never moved from his spot.

Nüwa furrowed her brow, speaking flatly: "What's wrong?"

Xuan Feng pinched his sleeve, feeling somewhat nervous.

"My lady, could you help restore my essence blood again? If I keep buying this much tomorrow, I won't be able to afford it!"

Nüwa paid no heed; her jade finger lightly tapped, sending another small portion of Holy Person's power into him.

But then, Nüwa softly exclaimed: "How has your essence blood already been depleted?"

The power she gave him before clearly should have been enough to sustain him through buying everything.

"Ah?" Xuan Feng's heart jolted—he had actually been discovered by the lady.

Sheepishly smiling, Xuan Feng stammered with an embarrassed face: "I wasn't looking at you buying so much peach blossom brew, was I? I just got a craving, so I… I also bought a few jugs."

"Oh?" Nüwa raised an eyebrow, intrigued: "How many jugs?"

Xuan Feng struggled a moment, then lied: "Two, two jugs"

Five jugs would be too much—what if Nüwa gets angry and stops giving me Holy Person's power? That would be disastrous!

"Hmm?" Nüwa expressed doubt; she knew the numbers well—just two jugs could never possibly cause essence blood depletion.

"Ah no, it's three jugs."

Her slender jade finger lightly tapped the tabletop: "Is that so?"

This tap seemed to shake directly into Xuan Feng's innermost heart.

Xuan Feng's face changed color, he stammered: "No, not four jugs! Five jugs—I bought five jugs of peach blossom brew."

That's about right; Nüwa nodded slightly, speaking softly: "Leave one jug."

Before Xuan Feng could react, she added: "You just broke one of my jugs."

Xuan Feng stared blankly—come to think of it, that did happen earlier; he'd been dazed by the spice and hadn't noticed.

Xuan Feng felt deeply pained, but helpless—after all, it was his own doing; as long as Nüwa doesn't pursue him for misusing funds, it'll be fine.

"Did you remember what I said?"

"Replying to the lady, I've remembered everything!"

Nüwa waved her hand: "Go out."

"Yes!!!"

At this moment, Buddhist Sect Ling Mountain, Great Thunder Sound Temple.

"The Buddhist Sect's Dharma Feast is not far off—Maitreya, has that monkey been arranged?" At the peak of the Buddhas, Tathagata's golden light and sacred form sat upon the highest and largest Buddha lotus.

Maitreya Buddha stepped forward in response, smiling happily: "Reporting to the Buddha Ancestor, everything is arranged."

He had long been eagerly awaiting that day's arrival!

"Very good." Tathagata Buddha nodded slightly, returning a Buddhist salutation.

He naturally knew of this.

After Maitreya found the monkey, he immediately reported it to him—but, making such an announcement in broad daylight before the masses can serve to stabilize hearts within the teaching.

From ten years ago until now, none of the Western Journey schemes have succeeded in getting the monkey to agree to come—this can truly be called a rare piece of good news.

He pondered: "Where is Guanyin?"

Among the assembled, Guanyin stepped forward holding the Yang Fei Jade Purifying Vase, walking gracefully, kind-eyed and benevolent, Buddhist murmurs soft and flowing.

Guanyin faced Tathagata's direction and bowed her head: "The almsgiving monk is here."

"Guanyin,

The almsgiving monk commands you to widely send out invitations to the Buddhist Sect's Dharma Feast across the Three Realms' immortals, so that all immortals of the Three Realms may come witness the grandeur of our Buddhist Sect's banquet!"

Guanyin did not immediately reply, but wore a look of surprise: "All sent out?"

Tathagata: "..."

"Sending out invitations like hammering nails—immortals of the Three Realms are as numerous as cow hairs; sending to each would mean even if we sent them until the day the Buddhist Sect's Dharma Feast opens, we still couldn't finish!"

His mouth twitched slightly, but Tathagata still forced himself to hold back, for the solemnity of his sacred form must be maintained at all times—only then does it carry conviction.

"Whatever immortals the Heavenly Court invites, our Buddhist Sect shall also invite." Tathagata's Buddha voice vast and deep, he commanded.

"Some immortals the Heavenly Court did not invite, but those of high cultivation and exalted status may also be invited."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin's brow furrowed slightly, speaking with difficulty: "Reporting to the Buddha Ancestor, our Buddhist Sect has no treasures like the Heavenly Court's Peach Banquet!"

"These immortals of the Three Realms may not necessarily come!" Guanyin voiced her concern.

Tathagata said nothing, but his expression clearly showed deep thought, also indicating his agreement—what Guanyin said made perfect sense!

Tathagata nodded.

Indeed, our Buddhist Sect lacks anything like peaches to draw people in; in terms of fame, we only have the all-purpose Eight Treasures Merit Pool to bring out.

Could it be… let every immortal attending the Dharma Feast take a bath?

No!

The thought had just arisen when Tathagata rejected it—a crowd crammed into one pool bathing? That's too absurd! What's more, what if there are female immortals?!!

Or perhaps we should settle for less—draw some merit water for them to soak their feet?

No way, no way!

The Tathagata shook his head secretly, this is even more of a nuisance, the water of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool is extremely precious, its regeneration speed is slow, losing even a drop requires a long wait to replenish.

So, using it as foot-washing water for them, in the end the water still has to be collected and poured back into the pool, although it can be quickly purified by the merit pool's effect, but the hesitation in the heart cannot be overcome!

A pool of foot-washing water?

"This needs no attention, if one is sincerely devoted to the Buddha, they will naturally come!" The Tathagata directly gave up.

Never mind him, let whoever comes count as one!

"Yes, the Almsgiving Monk has noted it." Guanyin nodded, and also breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, not all of it was released, otherwise, she would also have to endure hardship.

Seeing Guanyin agree, the Tathagata felt much more at ease, the reason he did this was not simply to oppose the Heavenly Court head-on.

Although the failure of many schemes did not cause much backlash, the Tathagata knows that the authority of the Buddhist Sect has already begun to waver.

Just in time, taking advantage of this Buddhist Dharma Feast inviting immortals from the Three Realms, he wants to, before the entire Three Realms, strongly suppress the Monkey.

In this way, he can intimidate the thoughts of some petty individuals.

Prove that their Buddhist Sect remains the mandate of heaven's great prosperity, unshakable!

"Very good, the purpose of holding the Buddhist Dharma Feast is not only to study Buddhist Dharma and exchange views, but more importantly to promote the profound mysteries of our Buddha's Dharma to the Three Realms, so that more people may realize the true meaning of the Buddha."

The Tathagata held the Buddha seal in his left hand, his voice vast.

"The Dharma Feast can be called the grandest ceremony of my Buddhist Sect, it concerns the great prosperity of my Buddhist Sect's undertaking, absolutely no mishaps allowed."

"A Mi Tuo Fo." After saying that, the Tathagata again concluded in the common language of the Buddhist Sect.

Even now, even he no longer has the absolute confidence he once had.

After all, from Sun Wukong's side, he doesn't even know how many times he has overturned.

This time, before everything is settled, he will absolutely not be careless, even if it is someone who has always been hidden behind that monkey, he will also drag them out!

Although his mind is filled with myriad thoughts, the Tathagata's appearance remains as calm as ever, he is now the mainstay and power holder of Buddhism.

Every word and deed not only concerns the development of the Buddhist Sect, but also concerns his own future, whether in bearing or conduct, the Tathagata's entire being conveys a single character.

Steady!