Chapter 268: Ksitigarbha enters the netherworld; I vow not to become Buddha until hell is emptied!

The Western Buddhist Sect has indeed become the sole protagonist of today.

All beings have already forgotten to pay attention to the calm mind of proving the Dao and becoming sage.

Envious!

Jealous!

Seeing the mighty, grand spectacle coming from the West, beings couldn't help but click their tongues.

"Tsk... Chen Ku has clearly planned everything long ago, arranging posts for Buddhist disciples in the Underworld."

"Joining the Western Buddhist Sect actually comes with such good fortune?!"

"This way, the people of the Western Buddhist Sect will naturally fall into the Eastern Heaven and Earth."

"Moreover, they can even split the merit of reincarnation; this is truly unimaginable."

Beings can be said to have complex thoughts and varied expressions.

Before this, the Eastern and Western Heaven and Earth could be said to be clearly distinct.

Eastern powerhouses rarely set foot in the West, while Western beings must not meddle with Eastern fortune and the like.

But today, Chen Ku uses Buddhist disciples as pawns, laying out a plan in the Eastern Heaven and Earth.

Moreover, he places them in high-ranking positions within the Underworld.

Beings faintly feel that the pattern between heaven and earth will likely gradually change because of this.

Of course, whether envy or resentment, beings are merely in the position of onlookers.

Now, Ping Xin has already agreed, so beings naturally cannot say more.

In the arena.

Chen Ku also does not waste words, having already begun another arrangement.

His gaze shifted, looking toward the five leading figures in the Buddhist Sect.

These five people have each reached the cultivation of a Quasi-Saint.

Chen Ku, without hesitation, immediately bestowed enlightenment.

"You five shall be the Five Direction Ghost Emperors!"

"In the future, you shall guard the entrance of the Five Direction Ghost Lairs, capturing and judging ghosts!"

"And assist Fengdu in maintaining order in the Underworld's Yin bureaucracy."

Upon hearing this, the five immediately kowtowed in affirmation, thanking Chen Ku.

The Five Direction Ghost Emperors are also existences second only to the Great Emperor Fengdu in the Underworld, holding extremely high rank.

Thereafter, Chen Ku continued to bestow enlightenment, immortal light enveloping another four people.

"You shall be the Four Valor Officials, guarding the year, month, day, and hour."

Thereafter, the Four Valor Officials also bowed and accepted the orders.

Immediately after, Chen Ku again selected ten Great Luo Golden Immortals, ordering each to guard one of the Underworld's ten halls.

This is what later generations call the Ten Hall Yama, passed down by word of mouth.

Chen Ku spoke continuously, smooth as flowing clouds and water, with no hesitation or pause.

This made Ping Xin, standing nearby, look somewhat strangely.

What the Five Direction Ghost Emperors, Four Valor Officials, and Ten Hall Yama, etc., she completely did not know.

But looking at Chen Ku's appearance, it seems he had long planned and arranged this.

Regarding all matters of the Underworld, he knows them like the back of his hand.

This also makes Ping Xin unable to help but wonder: could this kid have long perceived the great trend of ages, knowing that the Underworld will eventually emerge and understand everything within it?

Such doubt naturally receives no answer.

Ping Xin likewise fell into contemplation.

On another side!

After a moment, all the various posts in the Underworld had been officially conferred.

However, unlike the previous Great Emperor Fengdu, the Five Direction Ghost Emperors, Four Valor Officials, and others did not receive recognition from the Heavenly Dao.

In other words, they did not obtain the corresponding fruition.

Chen Ku was not surprised by this, his expression remaining calm.

Nothing else!

Chen Ku clearly understands that reincarnation and the Underworld each have their own way of development.

For now, his arrangement can only be said to be a temporary substitute for the various posts in the Underworld.

If they are capable, they may naturally reside permanently in the Underworld thereafter.

But if they are incapable, they will naturally be replaced.

After all, given time, the Earth Dao can exist on par with the Heavenly Dao.

Therefore, Chen Ku's few words now naturally cannot decide everything.

But Chen Ku is not disappointed.

Where lies the authority to decide the selection of the Five Direction Ghost Emperors?!

Is it not in the hands of the Great Emperor Fengdu?!

In other words, it is decided by Chen Ku's will.

Chen Ku has no worry about this at all.

He possesses the great merit of refining the reincarnation spiritual treasure and creating the Underworld.

The position of this Fengdu land cannot be shaken by anyone.

Moreover, even Ping Xin cannot forcibly dismiss him.

Pingxin is the master of the six paths of reincarnation, while Fengdu Great Emperor is the true ruler of the netherworld.

After doing all this, Chen Ku looked toward Pingxin.

"Such an arrangement, I wonder what Lady Pingxin thinks?!"

Chen Ku said thus.

It seemed like he was asking for Pingxin's opinion, but in fact it was merely a symbolic question.

Hearing this, Pingxin nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Chen Ku's arrangement is extremely thorough!"

Without a doubt, Pingxin approved Chen Ku's arrangement.

Immediately afterward, she gave another light smile.

"Since that is the case......"

"You all may enjoy the netherworld's fortune upon your persons."

Chen Ku's words fell.

At the same time, Fengdu Great Emperor's hand caused the Register of Life and Death to unfurl violently.

A current of netherworld fortune immediately swept out, enveloping the Five Direction Ghost Emperors, the Four Valor Officials, and others.

These people, although they had not attained a fruit position recognized by the Heavenly Dao,

but enjoying the netherworld's fortune's support was still perfectly natural.

And this was merely a matter of a single thought from Chen Ku.

By this time, all beings could no longer hide their fervent gazes, their breathing hasty.

We've made a killing!

Needless to say, this wave, the Western Buddhist Sect definitely made a killing.

After all, you should know that even now, within the Three Pure Ones Daoist Orthodoxy, all disciples still follow their masters in cultivating the Dao, rarely emerging into the world.

And within the Buddhist Sect, there are already so many disciples capable of standing on their own in the netherworld.

But just as all beings were secretly sighing,

this matter had not yet ended.

After conferring titles upon the Five Direction Ghost Emperors and others,

Chen Ku's gaze had already turned, and then he shifted his attention to the Eighteen Levels of Hell.

His heart stirred, and he thought of something.

"Hehe, Lady Pingxin, I still have a small request."

Pingxin raised her eyebrows, noncommittal, merely waiting for Chen Ku's next words.

Chen Ku stared at the Eighteen Levels of Hell and continued speaking:

"The Eighteen Levels of Hell, each layer has harsh punishments, used to chastise the souls of those who were evil in life."

"However, I wish to give those souls a glimmer of life."

"I have a junior martial brother who is versed in the Buddhist Sect's wondrous methods; perhaps he could undertake the task of delivering those souls."

Chen Ku's words left Jieyin and Zhunti slightly startled.

You should know that anyone he calls a junior martial brother must necessarily be a disciple under Jieyin and Zhunti.

This kid still has schemes?!

Jieyin and Zhunti were full of curiosity, watching this scene.

And when Chen Ku's words fell, without a doubt, Pingxin naturally nodded in agreement.

The more powerful beings there are in the netherworld, the faster its growth and improvement.

Pingxin naturally would not obstruct it.

She also knew that salvation is better than punishment.

The latter merely makes those spirits feel fear.

But salvation, however, is a great virtuous deed capable of generating merit.

The two cannot be compared.

Seeing this, Chen Ku's divine sense stirred.

After a moment, Jieyin's personally transmitted disciple Dizang arrived, following the earlier ones.

Only seen, beneath Dizang's mount was a creature with a tiger's head, a single horn, dog's ears, and a dragon's body—a strange mount of the qilin clan that also came along.

That was nothing else but Diting, also the mount that Dizang had previously subdued.

Not bad!

What Chen Ku spoke of naturally was Dizang.

In his heavenly mandate, he ought to preside over the netherworld and deliver the wandering souls.

And if we waited for Dizang to awaken himself, perhaps it would still take a considerable time.

Since that is the case, today Chen Ku would preemptively arrange things, achieving the goal in one step.

Thus, Dizang's advancement could be faster, and he would sooner become the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva praised by all beings.

At this moment, Dizang was still a bit dazed.

After all, establishing the netherworld was too shocking and unconventional.

He asked himself, and it was not something he could participate in.

And Chen Ku merely gave a light smile, looked at Dizang, and spoke:

"Junior Martial Brother Dizang, you have also contributed many years to the Western Buddhist Sect, and you are diligent and uncomplaining!"

"Today, I will entrust the task of delivering the netherworld's wandering souls to your shoulders."

This is a great merit undertaking; as long as you diligently cultivate without cease, persist constantly.

Then, one day you will surely not be weaker than I.

Chen Ku spoke rather gently.

These words also came from the heart.

As a senior brother, he had long taken in everything Dizang had done for the Buddhist Gate.

One could say that all of today is also the reward Dizang naturally deserves.

Upon hearing these words, Dizang's expression changed, and he was overjoyed.

You should know that Chen Ku now can be said to be an existence lofty and unattainable in the hearts of Western beings.

But as Chen Ku said, I actually have hope, to stand shoulder to shoulder with Senior Brother Chen Ku?!

How could Dizang not be happy?!

This... this... Dizang bows in thanks to Senior Brother!

Dizang's words trembled, and he immediately performed a great ritual of thanks.

Such courtesy is normally only shown when facing one's own master Jieyin.

However, watching this scene, Jieyin merely wore a smile, full of relief.

He also knew that Chen Ku's action brought enormous benefit to Dizang.

One could even say that it paved a broad road of cultivation for him.

Even Jieyin might not be able to find such a good path for Dizang.

And Dizang could hardly conceal his immense excitement.

After rising, he still looked at Chen Ku with a face full of gratitude.

Senior Brother, rest assured, I will surely not disappoint you!

He spoke these words with solemn conviction.

Afterward, it seemed to express his unwavering determination.

Dizang suddenly raised his head, gazing straight at the nine heavens above, and spoke in a resonant voice:

I, Western Dizang, today wish to proclaim to all beings of heaven and earth.

From now on, I vow not to become Buddha until hell is emptied!

I hope this vow will be heard by the Great Dao...

Upon these words being spoken,

All beings were shocked and regretful, gasping incessantly, their eyes filled with indescribable tremor.

Hell not empty, vow not become Buddha?!

This... what a grand vow!

You should know that once the cycle of reincarnation is formed, all myriad beings in the world fall under its control.

Does Dizang intend to ferry across all the wandering spirits and vengeful souls?!

No wonder he earned Chen Ku's approval, allowing him to preside over the Underworld.

Such magnanimity and resolute Dao-heart alone make him a rare existence in the present age.

All beings marveled, feeling endless emotion.

Even some ancient mighty beings, looking at Dizang, could not help but feel a sense of admiration.

Such breadth of mind and courage are worthy of the beings' admiration and respect.

However, Chen Ku in the scene was somewhat startled.

Alright!

This Dizang kid really is blunt and straightforward.

I failed to stop him, and he already blurted it out, even proclaiming it to the Great Dao.

Bang!

Chen Ku immediately gave him a knuckle tap on the head.

Silly junior brother, these words are too heavy!

Chen Ku thus admonished.

You should know that even in the original heavenly numbers, the vow 'hell not empty, I will not become Buddha' is not so easily achieved.

Moreover, in this life Dizang has long emulated Chen Ku, not cultivating the Severing Three Corpses Method but instead cultivating the Three Worlds Buddha Body.

This also makes it just as difficult for Dizang to raise his cultivation, far from something achievable overnight.

Now adding this great vow, isn't it just adding greater pressure upon himself?!

However, looking from another angle, it is as the saying goes: fortune and disaster depend on each other.

Although the difficulty is great, if Dizang succeeds, attaining the Primordial Luo Golden Immortal Dao is not so difficult.

And even if he fails to attain the Dao, at that time the various sages will still show him some respect.

Upon hearing Chen Ku's admonition, Dizang also knew he had become somewhat overexcited.

He gave an embarrassed smile, daring not to say more.

However, once the great vow is made, it cannot be taken back.

The next moment, the Great Dao sensed it and suddenly erupted with a tremendous deafening roar.

A familiar scene reappeared, as boundless merit rained down from the heavens, vast and splendid, brilliant light illuminating the nine heavens and ten earths, dazzling to behold.

This scene also made the Five Direction Ghost Emperors, Four Values Officials, and others feel somewhat envious.

Obviously, with the Great Dao's great vow bestowed upon him, Dizang has gained more attention from the Great Dao and greater recognition.

This is why the Great Dao bestowed merit upon him alone.

Merit descended, and Dicang's originally steady breath also began to surge sharply.

In just a moment, he thereby cut off his present Buddha body in one fell swoop, entering the mid-stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal.

Moreover, it is the peak cultivation of the mid-stage Primordial Golden Immortal.

In the eyes of all beings, it is equivalent to the peak of the mid-stage Quasi-Sage, only half a step away from the late stage.

The advancement of the realm is merely secondary.

At this moment, boundless merit added to his body, causing Dicang to appear ever more solemn and majestic, his body radiating light.

From now on, no one can kill Dicang, not even a sage.

After all, slaying a person who bears merit will make the karmic retribution even more shocking.

The stronger the strength, the more shocking the backlash.

Besides, Dicang's mount, the All-Hearing, also gained great benefit, directly reaching the peak of the Great Net Golden Immortal in one fell swoop.

Feeling this great harvest, Dicang became ever more delighted.

"Dicang bids farewell to his senior brothers, bids farewell to his master and master-uncle!"

Dicang said no more.

Leaving behind those words, he immediately took the All-Hearing, stepped forth, and entered the Underworld directly, beginning his new path of cultivation.

For a moment, all beings seemed to faintly hear.

Waves of magnificent, unparalleled yet ethereal and boundless Buddha sounds gradually emanated from the Underworld, possessing a miraculous effect that cleanses the divine consciousness and purifies resentment.

Instantly, countless mighty titans also grew even more envious.