Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 480 - 431 Tathagata breakthrough, 33 years of Buddhism calamity

Chapter 480: 431 Tathagata breakthrough, 33 years of Buddhism calamity

In the Great Thunderclap Monastery, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Manjushri Bodhisattva, at this moment, were staring unwaveringly at the Tathagata.

Not only because the Tathagata was now the World-Honored One of Buddhism, but more importantly, to some extent, he was their guide.

Among the Four Great Bodhisattvas, except for Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who solely cultivated the Buddhist Law, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the others all practiced both Buddhism and Daoism!

This was also the reason why when they came to Buddhism, they only cultivated the path of the Bodhisattvas but did not become Buddhas, because they did not completely abandon their original Dao but instead integrated and embraced both.

And on this path, the one who had gone the furthest, without a doubt, was the Tathagata, who had been Multi-Treasure.

Above the great hall of Mount Meru, immeasurable merits descended from the heavens, and an incredibly mighty aura began to emanate from the Tathagata’s body.

"All Buddhas, Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and those below the rank of Quasi-Saints, all must leave the great hall!"

Just at this moment, Saint Jieyin and Saint Zhunti suddenly appeared, and then Saint Zhunti called out loudly.

Hearing the words of the Buddha Mother, the Bodhisattvas and Arhats in the great hall left one after another, leaving only a few behind.

In a moment, several auspicious clouds floated over, and then Ancient Buddha Ran Deng, the future Maitreya Buddha, as well as the rarely seen Buddha Juriyunsun and others, all made their appearance.

These Buddha Ancestors held esteemed statuses, yet they did not often participate in the daily affairs of Buddhism. Like Buddha Juriyunsun—they had originally entered Buddhism alongside Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and others.

Unlike the three Bodhisattvas, however, Juriyunsun had completely forsaken his original Dao from the Expounding Teachings Sect and converted to the Buddhist scriptures, hence becoming one of the Past Seven Buddhas.

So, in actuality, if one were to talk about factions, Buddha Juriyunsun and Manjushri Samantabhadra Guanyin were not of the same sect; he was closer to Ancient Buddha Ran Deng.

After all, Ran Deng was also considered a formidable figure from the creation of heaven and had once attended lectures in the Purple Cloud Palace. His generation was higher than that of the Tathagata and the others; hence, Jieyin and Zhunti still showed a certain respect towards Ran Deng.

As soon as Ran Deng entered, Saint Zhunti immediately greeted the Ancient Buddha Ran Deng with a smile.

"Ancient Buddha Ran Deng, you have also come!"

Ancient Buddha Ran Deng returned the greeting with a smile and then spoke, "I sensed the aura of the Tathagata, the World-Honored One, and thought perhaps we were under attack by a powerful enemy, thus I hurried over."

Having said this, Ancient Buddha Ran Deng looked up at the Tathagata, a flash of light appearing in his eyes.

"Now it seems that it’s not an enemy attack, but the Venerable Tathagata himself who is emitting the aura!"

After speaking, Ancient Buddha Ran Deng looked at the Tathagata, who was releasing an astonishing aura, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly opened his mouth to ask, "My Buddha, could it be that the Venerable Tathagata has made a breakthrough?"

Daoist Jieyin, who had been standing unruffled all this time, suddenly opened his eyes at this moment and nodded calmly, saying, "If all goes well, he probably has!"

After speaking, he couldn’t help but sigh with admiration, "Indeed, he is a peerless genius, beyond imagination, beyond imagination indeed!"

Beside him, Saint Zhunti was also nodding in agreement, extremely astonished.

And with the affirmation of the Saints, the faces of Ancient Buddha Ran Deng and Buddha Juriyunsun and the others were filled with shock at this moment.

One must know that the Tathagata was already at the pinnacle of Quasi-Saints before this, and if a pinnacle Quasi-Saint takes one more step forward, what would that be?

A Saint?

Clearly not, for the signs exhibited by the Tathagata did not resemble the marvels associated with Achieving Saintliness.

In fact, ever since the Six Sages became Saints in Ancient Times, Primordial Continent had established a clear understanding.

The peak of Quasi-Saints was the ultimate destination for all cultivators!

Without the emergence of new Hongmeng Purple Qi, it was practically impossible for a Quasi-Saint to break through to Saintliness.

But countless cultivators stuck at the peak of Quasi-Saint over eons, from the Ancient One, Dong Huang Taiyi,

to the later Ancestor River Styx, Kunpeng, Zhen Yuanzi, all the way to the current Tathagata, the second-generation Quasi-Saint of the Three Teachings.

Frankly speaking, these peak Quasi-Saints have always been seeking a new breakthrough opportunity; even if they couldn’t reach Saintliness, a breakthrough to a new level would still be desirable.

Among them, the Method of Dao Transformation has been one of the breakthrough methods continuously sought by some peak Quasi-Saints. Zhen Yuanzi and Ancestor River Styx chose this method for their attempt at breakthrough.

But, equally, the Method of Dao Transformation is extremely challenging, especially the conditions for Dao Transformation, as not every Quasi-Saint possesses a Spirit Root or Spiritual Objects that align with their Great Dao!

And to speak frankly, even Zhen Yuanzi and Ancestor River Styx, who embarked on the Method of Dao Transformation, have not been heard to have succeeded in their transformation.

Ultimately, it remains only a theoretical possibility for a breakthrough.

Overall, for the current Quasi-Saint peaks of the Three Realms, the path to breakthrough has essentially been severed.

But today, looking at the Tathagata, it seems he has truly forged a new path to breakthrough!

At this moment, the Tathagata’s eyes were closed tightly, sitting upright on the Lotus Platform, the aura around his body still gathering and releasing incessantly.

All the Saints understood that he was amassing all his strength, intending to challenge the barrier of the Great Dao!

Therefore, at this moment, Jieyin and Zhunti stood on either side of Ancestor Buddha Tathagata, serving as protectors, guarding against anyone who might strike at the Tathagata in secret at this critical moment.

Seeing the actions of Saint Jieyin and Saint Zhunti, the remaining Ancient Buddha Ran Deng and Manjushri Samantabhadra Guanyin, too, formed a large circle quietly around them, protecting the Tathagata within.

Suddenly, there was a fluctuation in the Tathagata’s aura.

Subsequently, a Daoist with an immortal demeanor slowly stepped out from the Tathagata’s body.

The one who appeared was none other than the Multi-Treasure Taoist!

Seeing the emergence of the Multi-Treasure Taoist, expressions of surprise appeared in the eyes of Guanyin Bodhisattva and the others. Wasn’t the Multi-Treasure Taoist, the Good Corpse of the Tathagata, already resolved of karma by the celestial Sect Leader and then integrated into the Tathagata himself?