Chapter 435: Will the Tathagata Come of His Own Accord, or Shall I Send Him Away?

Looking at the fully resurrected Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang shook his head in pain, then sat on the ground and uttered a Buddhist chant.

As the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, the former disciple of the Tathagata, he had already awakened his past-life memories upon reaching Ling Mountain and regaining his Buddhahood.

Thus he clearly knew the methods of Buddhism, and also clearly knew how ruthless the Buddha was—any being unwilling to submit to Buddhism would be made to completely vanish by the Buddha's means.

Any who wished to become a Buddhist would also be made by the Buddha to serve Buddhism life after life.

His former senior brother Huang Mei had seen through all this, but Jin Chanzi had not; he had once mocked Huang Mei, but now he understood that the truly ridiculous one was himself.

He had knelt before the Buddha for a hundred years, finally securing an opportunity for his disciple Wukong.

The Buddha had set this trap: as long as Sun Wukong retrieved the five instruments and returned here to wear the golden hoop again, he would become the Victorious Fighting Buddha and continue serving Buddhism.

Thus he transformed into an old monkey and stayed on Flower-Fruit Mountain for several hundred years, as Wukong's master—how could he not have feelings for his disciple? Making Wukong the Victorious Fighting Buddha, though he would be bound by Buddhism, was still better than vanishing in life and death!

But who could have imagined that a great divine power would appear out of nowhere, disrupting his plan and also the Buddha's plan, rendering his hundred years of effort futile?

"Master! I know what you're thinking, I also understand what you're worried about, but I, Old Sun, must tell you.

My fate is mine, not heaven's! Where are my monkey children and grandchildren?" Sun Wukong shoved his golden-hooped staff back into his ear, approached Tang Sanzang, and spoke.

"Amitabha, Wukong, I hid them in the cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain, so they were not harmed by the heavenly soldiers and generals.

Have you really decided? You might die again, and no one can stand against the Buddha—he is the true supreme of this heaven and earth." Tang Sanzang sighed, looked at his eldest disciple, and asked.

"Master, the one who cannot see clearly is you! You were once the Tathagata's disciple? So-called his Western Journey propagation—he said demoting you to the mortal realm, and so he demoted you.

Did he ever care about your feelings? Now, after so many years, you still have to serve him." Sun Wukong spoke.

"Wukong, you don't understand—you cannot win, even if you summon your monster brothers; the result will still be the same as several hundred years ago, and you might even drag innocent people to their doom.

This patron, you are the second ancestral dragon in heaven and earth—if you could yield to the Buddha, perhaps you could gain a pure land.

But if you wish to contend with them and divide the interests of the Three Realms, that is absolutely impossible." Tang Sanzang shook his head at Luode and said.

"Hahaha! I quite like your temperament, Tang Sanzang—since that's the case, I will let you watch with your own eyes how the Buddha dissipates." Luode smiled and spoke.

"Amitabha, patron, do as you see fit—I am returning to the Great Thunder Sound Temple first; the master-disciple bond between me and Wukong may be severed, and I have done all I can as a master." Tang Sanzang finished speaking, gave Wukong no chance to reply, turned, and left directly.

"Alas! Master, he is still the same as before—Old Pig can see that he is not unfeeling toward us three brothers, but simply unable; he cannot resist the Buddha, and he is the one most cruelly oppressed by the Buddha." Zhu Bajie spoke.

The master had already attained Buddhahood, yet could not fathom the depth of the Heavenless Great God—all because his obsession was too deep.

When he practiced Buddhism before, everything went smoothly due to his deep faith in the Dharma; even when Huang Mei showed him multiple times the cruelty of human nature, Jin Chanzi remained unmoved.

But there is a saying: if you do not know another's suffering, do not urge them to be good; if you knew my suffering, you might not necessarily be better than me.

"Heavenless Great God! Please accept my bow—Old Sun, this time I can be reborn, and my magic power surpasses before, all thanks to your help." Sun Wukong approached Luode, dropped to both knees, and kowtowed three times.

If someone had helped him before, Sun Wukong would not have repaid them this way—he would just have said thanks and been done.

But now, after experiencing these hundreds of years of growth, after the blow of death and vanishing on the Journey to the West, he is no longer that irreverent monkey; now he wishes to truly inherit the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Before, he did not understand the use of this title, only thought the breeze sounded pleasant; but now he wants to do something for this heaven and earth, truly achieving equality with heaven.

"Hahaha! Congratulations, Wukong! After enduring myriad tribulations and returning, your resolve will be firmer, plus the life force I gave you will also strengthen your flesh, and even cured your eye ailment.

Arrange your monkey children and grandchildren, then come with me to the Great Thunder Sound Temple—I will first settle the Buddha's matter." Luode spoke.

"Heavenless Great God, Old Sun will now arrange the monkey children and grandchildren, but please wait a moment—I must go to the Small Western Heaven's Pagoda to see an old acquaintance; if successful, I will bring him along." Sun Wukong spoke.

Going to the Great Thunder Sound Temple will be the direct confrontation between Luode and the Tathagata Buddha, but Buddhism is not only the Tathagata Buddha.

In Buddhism, masters are as numerous as clouds—Guanyin Bodhisattva, other Arhats and Bodhisattvas, and all the Buddhas; many have strength comparable to Sun Wukong's, and even more surpass him.

He and Bajie, Ox Elder Brother, and this group of demon kings must help Luode resist some of Buddhism's masters.

Whether this war can be won depends on whether the Heavenless Great Sage can defeat the Tathagata Buddha.

During the battle between the Heavenless Great Sage and the Buddha, Sun Wukong must ensure no Buddhist master comes to disturb.

So, if Yang Jian can be brought over, the two of them joining hands—though not saying they will definitely defeat the Buddhas on Ling Mountain—will at least be able to hold them.

"Hahaha! I know what you're thinking—you want to invite your friend over to assist, and I also hold Yang Jian, the Erlang God, in high regard.

But no need to rush—after we return from Ling Mountain, we can look for him then." Luode laughed and spoke.

"Heavenless Great God, Old Sun knows your magic power is profound, but Ling Mountain is not only the Buddha—there are many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and even the Heavenly Dragon Eight Divisions, all top-tier masters." Sun Wukong spoke.

"Sun Wukong, you are mistaken—there is no Heavenly Dragon Eight Division now, but the Heavenly Dragon Seven Divisions.

My yaksha clan has already been exterminated, and even if restored, we would not again serve as the Heavenly Dragon Eight Division." The red boy, now in yaksha king form, spoke.

"Also, Wukong, the Heavenless Great God is an ancestral dragon—all dragon clans on earth naturally submit to the Heavenless Great God, so the dragon division will not exist either." Zhu Bajie, standing aside, spoke.

"Calling me Heavenless Great God is fine, but since we are going to the Great Thunder Sound Temple, we need to give ourselves a resounding title—from today on, you will call me Heavenless Dharma Ancestor!" Luode spoke.

I have already preliminarily comprehended my own path, even created my own cultivation method, even fused powers from several worlds—calling myself a Dharma Ancestor is not excessive.

"Heavenless Dharma Ancestor! Old Sun finally wants to ask one more thing—can you truly defeat the Tathagata Buddha?

If not, we should not go to the Great Thunder Sound Temple—instead, we will carve out our own domain, and the Buddha would not dare come to provoke us." Sun Wukong spoke.

"I naturally have full confidence—rest assured! I never undertake anything without certainty; I am far more cautious than you imagine." Luode spoke.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, he nodded at Luode and said: "Heavenless Dharma Ancestor, please rest assured—Old Sun, even if I sacrifice this life, will ensure that when you face the Tathagata, no other Buddhist master comes to obstruct, unless Old Sun has already perished and vanished."

"Saying that shows how little faith you have in me! Go arrange your monkey children and grandchildren! Then we will set out." Luode spoke.

Sun Wukong took a deep breath, nodded, turned back into Flower-Fruit Mountain, and found the monkeys protected by Tang Sanzang.

At this moment, the several hundred years of silence on Flower-Fruit Mountain had passed, and the monkey population had recovered to its peak—indeed, a hundred thousand strong.

However, Sun Wukong does not intend to let these monkey children and grandchildren step onto the battlefield again, following him in rebellion—these newly transformed minor demons at the elixir formation stage can handle ordinary heavenly soldiers and generals, but against formidable immortals, they would instantly have their souls scattered.

After properly settling his monkey children and grandchildren on Flower-Fruit Mountain, he instructed them to remain there henceforth—if he returns, they will continue to have him as their handsome monkey king; if he does not return, they must never leave Flower-Fruit Mountain.

After settling his monkey children and grandchildren, Sun Wukong and the other demons followed Luode, intending to go to the Great Thunder Sound Temple. Luode led the group, summoning clouds and mist, first flying toward the Bull Demon King's Flaming Mountain.

The myriad demon clans led by the Bull Demon King were also fully assembled at this time—the Bull Demon King's prestige remains great, and many demons who once admired his fame have come.

Besides these, there is the Great Sage Yellow Wind from Yellow Wind Ridge, the two scorpion spirits on Purple Cloud Mountain, the Official of the Mao Day Star, and a host of demon kings.

"Heavenless Dharma Ancestor, Old Bull has already gathered all the demon kings in this world who are unwilling to submit to Buddhism." The Bull Demon King, wearing black armor, approached Luode, clasped his fists, and said.

"Paying respects to Heavenless Dharma Ancestor!" The myriad demons and monsters on the ground also knelt before Luode.

"Hahaha! Rise! Since you pay homage to me, I will give you some benefits." Luode finished speaking, casually struck down a thread of pure life force, then split it and infused it into the bodies of all the demons present.

All the demon races, regardless of their magical power or strength, Luode uniformly infused them with some life essence, enhancing their overall vitality and slightly increasing their strength.

"Thank you, Wutian Fazu's grace, thank you, Wutian Fazu's grace."

"Hmm! I, your seat, am about to undertake a great matter, and I truly need you all to bear witness." Luode spoke.

"Wutian Fazu, if you have any orders, just command us to go through fire and water, we will not shirk." The demon kings below all knelt and bowed.

"Hmm! Follow me to the Great Thunder Sound Temple." Luode smiled and nodded, then directly activated his spatial divine power; everyone only felt a flash in their minds, and they were transferred from Flaming Mountain to an extremely sacred and solemn place.

Here, pearls and jewels gleamed, gold and brilliance shone everywhere, and a Buddha light radiated from every corner; even standing far at the gate, one could hear the mighty sound of sutra chanting.

In an instant, Luode used his spatial divine power to bring all the demon kings to the Great Thunder Sound Temple.

After arriving at the Great Thunder Sound Temple, apart from Sun Wukong, the Bull Demon King, and a few other demon kings such as the Yaksha King and Red Boy, the rest of the minor demons and demon kings were all frightened badly.

They never expected that this Wutian Fazu would actually say he was going to the Great Thunder Sound Temple—and then just go there.

This is the Buddha's domain! These little demons of theirs have never set foot in this sacred mountain and precious temple.

Luode paid no heed to the group of startled demon kings as he brought Sun Wukong, the Bull Demon King, Red Boy, Zhu Bajie, Huang Feng Dasheng, two tiger spirits, and two scorpion spirits straight into the Great Thunder Sound Temple.

Upon seeing Luode leading a host of demons forward, the few Vajra Dharma Guardians standing before the temple gate immediately tried to intervene, but before they could even touch Luode, they were flung backward, crashing into the pillars before the temple and spitting blood.

Along the way, everyone followed Luode and directly entered the Great Thunder Sound Temple's treasure hall on this Sacred Mountain.

Tens of thousands of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajra Guardians sat on both sides of the great hall.

In the very center of the hall sat a being tens of zhang tall, radiating golden light from his entire body, boundless Buddha light—this person was none other than the Western Paradise Tathagata Buddha.

Beside him sat Maitreya Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"Tathagata, I have come to see you." Luode spoke.

"Namo Amitabha, I originally thought the donor was the second ancestral dragon born between heaven and earth, a person of reason and principle.

Possessing great magical power, great divine abilities, and great wisdom, I did not expect that you would actually gather a host of demons and monsters to come to my sacred mountain and precious temple." The Tathagata Buddha seated on the high platform opened his eyes and spoke.

The birth of the second ancestral dragon between heaven and earth, who also obtained the position of Yin Tianzi in the underworld, even resurrected Sun Wukong, whom he himself had killed.

This caused the Tathagata Buddha to be slightly surprised—within the Three Realms, there were things he did not know.

But what of it? Even the Tai Shang dare not tear his face with him; this world belongs to him and the Tai Shang.

When my junior disciple Maitreya Buddha returned, he brought me a message, saying that this ancestral dragon would soon come to the Great Thunder Sound Temple to pay respects.

The Tathagata Buddha originally thought that if the other party came to pay respects with a good attitude and was willing to yield to him as Buddha, then letting him govern a region would not be unacceptable, after all, he is the second ancestral dragon born between heaven and earth.

But the power of the underworld—even if this Yin Tianzi has returned—our Buddhist sect has already firmly occupied what we hold, and no one can touch or alter it.

Yet I never expected that this one would indeed come to the Great Thunder Sound Temple, but his attitude was not like one coming to visit, but rather to cause trouble.

"Hahaha! Today, the heavenly numbers have changed; your calamity, Tathagata, cannot be spoken of, and I am your calamity." Luode spoke.

Today he came here to send the Tathagata Buddha to final nirvana.

"Namo Amitabha, why do you speak thus, donor? I have cultivated the Buddha's body, immune to myriad calamities, indestructible through countless eons; the heavenly numbers are with me, while you, you do not know that your calamity has already arrived." The Tathagata Buddha spoke.

It is astonishing that you would come and speak of heavenly numbers to this Tathagata of the Western Paradise—know that the term 'heavenly numbers' was invented by this Tathagata Buddha himself.

"Hahaha! Tathagata! Will you walk away yourself, or shall I send you away?" Luode spoke.

"I observe that the donor does not know his own calamity; never mind, I shall well guide and transform the donor, so that he may understand the heavenly numbers." The Buddha gave a gentle smile, and the golden Buddha lotus beneath him rose directly, emitting boundless auspicious light.

Luode also let out a cold laugh, sat cross-legged on the ground, and with his death divine power, evil energy, and all negative attribute forces, directly transformed into a pitch-black lotus flower.

This black lotus emitted boundless death power and an ominous force; this force was filled with destruction and ruin, even carrying a sensation that drives one mad—all the Buddhas present were greatly startled and dismayed.

Since we must send the Tathagata Buddha to final nirvana, we must use the black lotus indeed!

"Indeed, it is an evil heresy!" Gazing at the black lotus beneath Luode's seat, the Buddha coldly snorted.

Then his entire body surged with golden light, immense and incomparable Buddha power pressed toward Luode; his power reached the level of him and the Tai Shang, and unless they two fight, no existence can withstand it.

Before the Tathagata Buddha, all are like ants.

At this moment, Maitreya Buddha seated below also sighed, originally thinking that the second ancestral dragon born between heaven and earth would be his ally.

Planning slowly with me to deal with the Tathagata, I never expected the other party to be so irrational, directly attacking the Great Thunder Sound Temple, wanting to contend with the Tathagata for supremacy.

You too have cultivated to this level—where does your confidence come from, daring to face the Tathagata? At this moment, the Tathagata Buddha's face showed a smile, but soon the smile vanished from his lips, even his expression gradually turned solemn, and his face revealed disbelief.

The originally invincible Buddha light, when facing this person called Wutian before him, had no effect at all, while the opponent's black radiance suppressed his Buddha light and even slowly pressed toward him.

The Tathagata felt his indestructible Buddha golden body suddenly invaded by a strange force, which was madly destroying his spirit and consuming his soul.

Even his body was immobilized; no matter how he burned his own magical power, he could not move.

"You, you cannot possibly, you, you how could you, how could you have entered that realm!" The Tathagata Buddha's face changed wildly as he spoke.

Impossible, impossible—he and the Tai Shang Daozu never entered that realm, so why has another person entered it? (End of chapter)