Chapter 803

Ksitigarbha, Maitreya.

These two major figures of the Great Thunderclap Temple in Buddhism never appeared.

But in this world, there is no doubt they exist.

When Tang Lu went to the underworld, using the Reincarnation Mirror to search for Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong's whereabouts, the first reaction of the Ten Yama Kings was to go ask Ksitigarbha (to go get beaten).

It was just like the Jade Emperor going to the Western Heaven to beg the Tathagata Buddha.

Only, the Jade Emperor managed to summon the Tathagata Buddha, but Ksitigarbha vanished without a trace, along with Avalokiteshvara, and they were never seen again.

They never appeared again.

Maitreya's situation is somewhat similar; when the Tathagata descended to the heavenly court, Maitreya did not follow.

This is not particularly unusual; at that time, Dipamkara and Ksitigarbha also did not appear.

Later, Maitreya sent his novice monk, who became the Yellow-Browed Monk to block the pilgrimage team.

The bloodstained area of a hundred miles gave rise to a great formation of living beings, which further enraged Tang Sanzang, causing the Golden Cicada Child to return.

However, Maitreya himself never appeared.

The "jianghu" lacks them, yet has their traces and legends.

Setting up the Myriad Immortals Formation, there was no sign of them; they never appeared in the formation at all.

Today, the heavenly court can be said to have completely perished.

The Great Thunderclap Temple now only has three left, yet they remain hidden, and they truly have the demeanor of a behind-the-scenes mastermind.

They are another type of behind-the-scenes mastermind, the completely hidden type, unlike the "little companion" type like the Golden Cicada Child.

So, who is the behind-the-scenes mastermind?

Tang Lu looked at the Golden Cicada Child—is it you?

Sun Wukong looked at Tang Lu and the Golden Cicada Child—is it you two?

The Golden Cicada Child then looked toward Avalokiteshvara, Dipamkara, and Manjusri: "You, hurry up and call out the behind-the-scenes mastermind, or you're doomed!"—so it's decided, it's you!

It's as if calling out the behind-the-scenes mastermind would prevent death.

Avalokiteshvara and the others showed no joy or sorrow, and said nothing.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Can you give a response? Call out the behind-the-scenes mastermind. I will liberate you, all becomes empty, the four elements are empty. Isn't that the true essence of our Buddhism? After cultivating Buddhism for so many years, in the end you still can't see through the 'four elements are empty,' and you dare to call yourselves Buddhist disciples?"

"... Wicked obstacle!" Dipamkara gave a furious retort.

The Golden Cicada Child then said proudly: "What wicked obstacle? When I, the Golden Cicada Child, attained the four elements being empty, you were still clinging to obsession and unwilling to let go. Don't speak of Buddhism; I see you've already fallen into demonhood."

This statement is not entirely baseless, but it does have some basis.

Back then, the Golden Cicada Child slighted the great teaching due to his identity and talent strength.

The punishment he received was not reincarnation, but after enduring countless eons of trials and tribulations, he was merely imprisoned in the Subduing Demon Tower to reflect.

Yet the Golden Cicada Child jumped out, mocking the Great Thunderclap Temple for having too much obsession, being non-Buddhist and demon-like.

True Buddhism should be the four elements being empty, leaving only the "concept" in the world, with nothing else needing to exist.

This is even more extreme than the Daoist principle of following nature and non-action.

The Golden Cicada Child was not just talking big; after uttering such heretical words, he directly made himself attain the four elements being empty.

Only a remnant of true spirit and soul remained for reincarnation.

It can be said he went to the extreme.

From this perspective, those who cannot let go are precisely the arhats, bodhisattvas, and buddhas of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

"Nonsense!"

Dipamkara flew into a rage, golden light blazing behind him, a phantom of the Buddha, and he slapped toward the Golden Cicada Child with one palm.

The Golden Cicada Child casually waved his hand, scattering Dipamkara's weakened golden body, and with one strike sent Dipamkara flying to ashes and smoke.

Only Avalokiteshvara and Manjusri remained.

"If you don't appear now, the Great Thunderclap Temple will truly be completely scattered like smoke. Maitreya, Ksitigarbha." The Golden Cicada Child pursued, striking the dying Manjusri flying, not caring whether he lived or died, controlling Avalokiteshvara, and shouting loudly.

The Golden Cicada Child felt uneasy in his heart because Ksitigarbha and Maitreya did not appear.

Dipamkara is actually already old, not worth fearing, his threat is not even as great as Avalokiteshvara's.

The true figures the Golden Cicada Child fears in the Great Thunderclap Temple, aside from the Tathagata, are only Avalokiteshvara, Ksitigarbha, and Maitreya.

Avalokiteshvara, now controlled by the Golden Cicada Child, frankly speaking, does not live up to the Golden Cicada Child's regard.

Could it be that he was beaten by the Great Heavenly Demon until he lost all spirit?

"Do you really want to see them?" Suddenly, Avalokiteshvara opened his mouth and asked.

The Golden Cicada Child's eyes instantly narrowed, he gave no answer, heedless, and struck downward with one palm toward Avalokiteshvara's head.

But the originally wounded Avalokiteshvara, who had been surrounded by a group of bodhisattvas attacking the Golden Cicada Child only to be beaten into disarray by him, now stretched out his hand and lightly blocked the Golden Cicada Child's palm.

A killing intent flashed in the Golden Cicada Child's eyes; the power of the Golden Cicada erupted, breaking through Avalokiteshvara's defense.

One palm heavily struck his head.

Avalokiteshvara instantly vanished like smoke, yet the Golden Cicada Child's face showed no joy at all; that palm, rather than saying he scattered Avalokiteshvara,

it would be better to say Avalokiteshvara actively disappeared.

That palm struck nothing!

"They've come out." Tang Lu spoke.

In the void, ripples like water surface appeared, two places in total, and two monks stepped out respectively.

One of them, broad-minded and stout, with a big head and big ears, had a harmless smile on his face, his eyes narrowed into two slits from smiling.

Although fat, he did not give the impression of being greasy or morbidly obese.

Maitreya!

The other wore a red-yellow monk's robe, his face slightly sorrowful, as if constantly grieving, faintly emitting a feeling of sympathy for heaven and pity for humanity.

Ksitigarbha!

These two important big shots who had been hiding for a long time without appearing had finally shown up as well.

And between the two of them was Guanyin, bearing a faint smile.

Guanyin's appearance: white monastic robes, peerlessly handsome. Guanyin's beauty had already transcended gender; dressed in men's attire, an unparalleled young master; in women's attire, a beauty who exhausted the loveliness of all under heaven.

Naturally, normally speaking, Guanyin was naturally that lofty Bodhisattva.

"Amitabha."

All three pressed their palms together before them, a Buddha's name uttered — just as they emerged, their figures faded.

Gradually merging together.

Jin Chanzi touched his bald head: "What does this mean, One Qi Transforms Three Purities?"

Following Jin Chanzi's words, the figures of Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, and Maitreya thoroughly merged. A golden lotus throne was born from the void. A monk sat cross-legged, golden monastic robes shimmering brilliantly, merging into the void behind him — even the stretch of sky behind him turned gold.

"..."

With this monk's appearance, the field fell completely silent.

The reason was none other than this monk's appearance being extremely similar to the Great Heavenly Demon Tang Xuanzang.

One could say, one was the youthful white-haired Heavenly Demon version, the other the young bald-headed Buddha version.

Although their looks seemed like the same person at different periods, the difference between the two was also very large.

The Great Heavenly Demon Tang Xuanzang's strength was extraordinarily terrifying; even the Buddha Ancestor was beaten into parinirvana alive by him.

But his whole person was very real — the kind who could pluck stars with one hand above, grasp the sun and moon, and below could fish and roast them to eat.

The monk appearing now — the feeling at first glance was that of a true god-Buddha, illusory, ethereal, lofty, yet truly existing.

Like this stretch of sky — visible, you know of its existence, yet cannot touch it.

Also like the great earth beneath one's feet — bearing all things, its borders and end unseen.

Three monks merge, turning into another Great Heavenly Demon?

Sun Wukong and the others' gazes kept flowing between the "Great Heavenly Demon" and the "Great Monk" — is this, two positions one body?

No, one body two bodies?

You are my future, I am your past?

Or, you are my demonic obsession, the barrier I cannot cross in a lifetime, only able to force out a Great Heavenly Demon?

The expressions of Sun Wukong and the others were very strange.

Jin Chanzi, however, frowned — the carefree, lighthearted expression on his face completely disappearing for the first time.

To speak the truth, even if another Tathagata Buddha ran out, Jin Chanzi would have the confidence to control the situation.

But now, the situation had completely exceeded his expectations.

"Foolish child, foolish child."

The golden-robed Buddha spoke, his voice grand like heavenly sound, yet identical to the Tathagata's.

"What kind of thing are you?" Jin Chanzi put away his playful cursing and asked.

But listening to it, it felt like he had cursed two people at once.

"I am Buddha." The golden-robed Buddha answered, "You all should also awaken."

"Awaken to what?"

"Obstinately deluded, unenlightened — why not let go?"

"You die, then I'll let go!" Jin Chanzi said. Behind him rose a towering golden Buddha phantom, continuously condensing and solidifying.

This time, even the features were clearly visible. That face was neither a temple Buddha's nor Jin Chanzi's own.

The face was actually a blank.

Jin Chanzi's hands formed seals. One hand stood upright before his chest, the other pushed out a single palm.

The giant Buddha followed with the same motion. Because of its excessive enormity, the movement appeared somewhat sluggish.

Simultaneously, it was as if this entire heaven and earth were being pushed by this one palm.

The golden-robed Buddha shook his head slightly, a look of compassionate pity appearing on his face, and let out a light shout.

Golden light ripples spread from his mouth, layer upon layer, blocking Jin Chanzi's palm.

Jin Chanzi maintained his palm-pushing posture. His white robes fluttered. Starting from the hem, a stretch of black like ink began to dye them.

The golden sun wheel on his forehead — its edges also stained with a layer of black.

Black flames ignited on the golden Buddha's body. Instantly it transformed from Buddha-might descending to demonic flames soaring to the heavens!

The golden-robed Buddha's low shout couldn't block that palm which was like demon, like Buddha.

The giant palm descended before him.

The golden-robed Buddha extended his hand just right, lightly tapping. A point of golden light bloomed.

Devouring everything around.

Including Jin Chanzi and the Buddha-demon phantom behind him.

When the golden light gathered, the golden-robed Buddha still sat cross-legged on the lotus platform. Jin Chanzi, however, fell from the sky, his body covered in fresh blood. His originally white robes turned black, now turned red.

Face pale as gold paper. The golden sun before his forehead dim and shattered.

Sun Wukong leapt up, catching the heavily injured Jin Chanzi, looking at the golden-robed Buddha.

"I let you walk to this point precisely so you would understand — Heaven's Mandate cannot be defied." The golden-robed Buddha said, "Bow your heads, obey your destiny."

"Fuck your destiny!"

Sun Wukong set down the heavily injured Jin Chanzi, instantly erupting. The phantom of the demon monkey behind him roared and flashed. The Golden-Hooped Rod in his hand became a sky-propping giant pillar, smashing toward the golden-robed Buddha.

The golden-robed Buddha extended his hand and lightly tapped once more. The Golden-Hooped Rod shattered on the spot.

Sun Wukong fell straight down. The great earth beneath his feet once again saw a deep pit appear. His whole body sank more than halfway in, both feet embedded into the ground.

But his knees remained ramrod straight, refusing to bend.

His Vajra-indestructible body was covered in cracks.

"Roar!"

Sun Wukong roared, intent on rising to fight again.

The White Bone Demon suddenly appeared, blocking his path: "Great Sage, don't! I beg you, don't fight anymore. You can't beat him!"

Back then she was wrong; now she doesn't want to make the same mistake again.

The Buddha manifested, and the Heavenly Demon just watched like that, not making a move.

Same origin?

All of this is a setup.

A grand scheme of heaven and earth to make them let go, submit, and bow their heads.

"Pfft!"

Before Sun Wukong could throw out the two words "scram," Tang Luo suddenly laughed.

The White Bone Demon glared at Tang Luo, unafraid of death.

Sun Wukong also turned his head — the kind that turns a full one hundred eighty degrees.

More hair on his face, lower jaw protruding, the form of a demon monkey gradually emerging.

Buddha and demon as one.

The golden-robed Buddha has acted; what does this Great Heavenly Demon of yours intend to do?

"Sorry, your words reminded me of my support." Tang Luo said with a smile.