A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1396 - 944: Cloud Crossing Bids Farewell to Great Saint Sun, Duanmu Huai Attacks Thunderclap Temple_2

Chapter 1396: Chapter 944: Cloud Crossing Bids Farewell to Great Saint Sun, Duanmu Huai Attacks Thunderclap Temple_2

If seen from this perspective, then Jin Chanzi’s irreverence towards Tathagata makes perfect sense. As previously stated, before Tathagata, it was Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha who managed Buddhism, and it was his scriptures that were recited, the so-called "Hinayana Buddhism" that Monk Tang recited, which bluntly put, required monks to renounce wealth such as gold and silver, and to engage in arduous self-cultivation, and so on.

But when Tathagata took over, it was time to turn the page. Burning Lamp’s methods became obsolete; now Buddhism was ruled by my word, where money took precedence over everything else.

Therefore, those who remained on Spirit Mountain were all those who were in cahoots with Tathagata. Those who found it disagreeable had long since left.

Jin Chanzi practiced the Buddhism of Burning Lamp, naturally, he couldn’t stand Tathagata’s money-grubbing ways, and thinking about it, his dozing off during Tathagata’s sermon was utterly justified, simply the right thing to do. We cultivate Buddhism to better ourselves, yet you prattle on above about "capturing performance metrics, raising prices" —— are we marketing the scriptures like pork? Who cares about that?

Jin Chanzi disliked Tathagata, and naturally, Tathagata disliked Jin Chanzi too. So Tathagata found a pretext to demote him to the mortal world. It also served as killing the chicken to scare the monkey, alerting others that if they displeased me for a moment, I’d retaliate by souring their entire lives.

So those who stayed on Spirit Mountain were just Tathagata’s clique.

And at the end of the journey, the conflict between both parties was laid out in blatant clarity.

As everyone knows, during Monk Tang’s first journey to retrieve the scriptures, he failed to bribe Ah Nu and Garan, hence they gave him scripture-less texts. When Burning Lamp performed the ritual and discovered this, Monk Tang again set forth, requesting the True Scripture from Tathagata. Tathagata gave the order; however, Ah Nu and Garan, upon arrival at the scripture hall, still asked Monk Tang for a bribe — without it, no scriptures for you!

Why were they so bold? Because this was the ideological clash between Tathagata and Jin Chanzi.

In Jin Chanzi’s view, the Buddhist Law was for the salvation of all people, "Having travelled through hardships to this place, you see my sincerity, you should also grant it to me."

Alas, Tathagata states that’s old news, now I make the rules here, you need money to attain the True Scripture, without money, regardless of your sincerity, I won’t give you the scripture, let’s see if you’ll accept that!

In the end, Jin Chanzi had no choice but to submit.

After all, no one was stronger than the prevailing situation. Tathagata disgusted him, and he could only accept it, handing over the Purple-gold Bowl to get those worthless papers written by Tathagata.

However, it’s a pity that Duanmu Huai is not Jin Chanzi, and wouldn’t let Tathagata disgust him either.

Duanmu Huai chuckled softly, then reached out to pat Sun Wukong’s shoulder.

"As for you... not bound by any Tightening Spell nor obligated to any decree of Tathagata, from now on the sky’s the limit for the birds, the vast sea is there for the fish to leap. Whether you decide to return to Flower Fruit Mountain or serve in the Heavenly Court, continue being the Heavenly Great Sage."

"Master————!"

"Go on, remember to return the horse. I’m not that easy to kill. Tathagata might be difficult for you to deal with, but you also know my capabilities, don’t you? Okay, don’t make it seem like we’re parting in life and death, off you go, enjoy yourself."

"This... yes, Disciple will abide by Master’s wishes."

Sun Wukong clenched his teeth, eventually taking the horse and bowing to Duanmu Huai.

"Oh, and make sure to spread my ’Eastern Tang Dynasty Western Regions Gourmet Diary’, after eating all along the way, I can’t just eat for free right?"

"Yes, well, Master... I’m going to return the horse."

"Off you go."

Watching Sun Wukong look back three steps at a time, leading the Pegasus away, Duanmu Huai finally stretched lazily, then turned around to gaze at the resplendent Spirit Mountain ahead, limbering up his neck, clenching his fists, and beginning to chant.

"Fifty years in the human world, like dreams, like illusions. With life comes death, what regrets can there be for the valiant."

As he uttered these words, Duanmu Huai began to walk forward.

With the first step, the ground trembled and split open, the rampaging river waters surged into the fissures, disappearing without a trace. Birds flew up in terror, scattering into the distance.

With the second step, heaven and earth shattered, flames rushed to the sky. Witness the green pines and cypresses turn to charcoal, the white cranes and deer to lifeless bodies.

With the third step, the six Bodhisattvas, four Kong, five hundred Arhats, three thousand Kinnaras, eleven major celestial bodies, and eighteen Arhats, all ended up as scattered souls, merely lamenting the impending arrival of The Last Dharma Age, with all Buddhas passing into extinction.

Meanwhile, a booming voice came from the sky.

"Amitabha Buddha———!"

Looking up, amidst the dense clouds, golden light shone intensely; the Tathagata sat on a lotus pedestal, hands clasped together.

"Foolish disciple, until when will you cling to your delusion?"

"Calling me your foolish disciple, you really think too highly of yourself?"

In the face of Buddha’s golden body, Duanmu Huai sneered.

"Throughout my journey westward to fetch the scriptures, all I’ve seen are corpses strewn everywhere, killing and wounding abound. This West Cowherd State, even worse off than my Eastern Tang Dynasty, savages from foreign domains bewitch the masses, daring to disrupt the emperor’s heart. Today, I act on behalf of the Heaven Son, executing first then reporting, to exterminate you, the cultish Devil that beguiles the masses!"

"Your words are mistaken."

Hearing Duanmu Huai speak, Tathagata gently shook his head.

"Your Eastern Land, Southern Zhanbu State, is merely abundant because of its vast lands and dense population, filled with greed, slaughter, lechery, deception, oppression, and fraud. Defying Buddhism, not seeking good karma, disrespecting the three lights, neglecting the five grains. Unfaithful, unfilial, unjust, and unkind, deceiving oneself, using unjust measures, harming lives, and slaughtering animals. Creating boundless sins, overflowing with evil, thus invoking the disasters of Hell, resulting in eternal damnation. Even with Confucius establishing the teachings of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, and emperors applying punishments like exile or execution, still, they wallow in ignorance and indulgence..."

"What’s that to you?"

Duanmu Huai coldly interrupted Tathagata’s speech.

"What are you good for? A Devil from a foreign domain, you dare to spout madness about my Tang Dynasty, rashly speculating. Even if my Tang Dynasty has flaws, what business is it of yours?!"

Duanmu Huai glared coldly at Tathagata, is that all? Is that all? Is that all?

Is this the extent of your abilities, Tathagata?

Don’t think that Duanmu Huai is unaware of what you are trying to do, Tathagata. Coming here to say all that, it’s basically claiming we are innately sinful, and thus inferior, in need of your leadership, right?

How is that any different from those bastards today claiming you’re ignorant for not being democratic, that everything you do is wrong and you must heed our democratic teachings before being recognized as civilized?

The Catholic Church also has the same attitude, immediately decreeing that humanity is born with original sin, needing faith in God to forgive your sins, historically religions have always been like this.

No, not just religion, those Aliens and Heretics trying to destroy humanity, and Demons, aren’t they the same?

They start by berating humanity for our evil, selfishness, greed...... therefore, we must exterminate humankind to save the world, the Universe...

However, how I, as a human, live, is none of your damn business?!

If you want to fight, fight; if you want to kill, kill; don’t look for excuses!

You say I’m cruel, should I just let you decapitate me?

Wrong!

What the Tribunal must do is let you see just how cruel I can be! Ensuring your accusations are not unfounded, you will personally experience the ferocity, brutality, and wickedness of humanity, and then amidst wails of pain———perish!

"Cult Demon God, blaspheming the orthodox Tang Dynasty with your absurd words, your crimes are unforgivable, your ten clans will be executed, sparing none!"

Before his words settled, Duanmu Huai’s figure suddenly shook, and the Dharma Manifestation arose; his stature reached heaven and earth, majestic, obscuring the sky. Darkness like night, red like fire, a killing aura like the wind.

"Today, watch as I annihilate your Spirit Mountain, slaughter your monks, burn your scriptures, to atone for your crime of deceiving the masses! Let this Western Paradise dissolve, entering The Last Dharma Age, meet your death!"