Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 488 - 434: The Holy Monk Approaches, A Great Flourishing of Buddhism_2

Chapter 488: Chapter 434: The Holy Monk Approaches, A Great Flourishing of Buddhism_2

Even while witnessing this scene, having long forgotten that Xuanzang was once ordained as a Buddha at Mount Meru, everyone felt that it was only now that Xuanzang was truly about to become a Buddha.

Sun Wukong, upon seeing this moment, kept a steady expression on his face, but his heart naturally swelled with joy for his fortuitous master.

As merit flooded into Xuanzang’s body, his cultivation level slowly rose.

Originally having reached the Great Luo, it was extremely difficult to further improve one’s strength, but this was merit bestowed by the heavens. With merit pouring into his body, it was faster than any cultivation.

Wasn’t it the Goddess Nuwa who received the Heavenly Dao’s merit and achieved the Saint Fruit Position?

In an instant, Xuanzang’s cultivation level broke through the Great Luo Position, successfully reaching Quasi-Saint.

Flowers rained down from the sky, and a purple aura came from the East.

The entire Buddhist Temple was enveloped in endless auspiciousness.

Such commotion stirred the entire Chang’an City, and countless faithful bowed in the direction of the Buddhist Temple.

In those newly established Buddhist temples of the Southern Continent Jambudvipa, the Buddha Statues of the Sandalwood Merit Buddha shone brightly with golden light, compelling everyone to worship devoutly.

Wang Yang, who had been in seclusion on Golden Turtle Island, sensed the disturbance from Chang’an City and headed straight there without hesitation.

However, by the time he arrived, Xuanzang had already completed his breakthrough, becoming a newly-advanced Quasi-Saint.

"Buddhist Law is boundless!"

Gazing at the multitude of believers, Xuanzang uttered four words slowly.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Countless devotees pressed their palms together and knelt to worship Xuanzang.

...

While Xuanzang underwent such transformation, Wang Yang had already been inside the Buddhist Temple as a protector, because Xuanzang’s change might arouse the envy of Buddhism.

However, it seemed he had overthought it, as Buddhism did not take action against Xuanzang.

In the back courtyard of the Buddhist Temple, Xuanzang seemed to sense something and saw Wang Yang there.

"The master has arrived, and I hope that by now this humble monk has the strength to face the Three Realms’ great calamity!"

Xuanzang spoke.

"It’s still too early; a Quasi-Saint probably cannot protect himself!"

Wang Yang said helplessly, indicating that a Quasi-Saint lacked even the strength to participate in the great calamity of the Three Realms.

Xuanzang’s eyes showed a hint of dejection, but this only fueled his determination to continue cultivating.

"I observed that you have entered the Great Luo without possessing any magical treasures. This is from the Daoist Venerable, intended for you— the Vajra Bodhi seeds and the Merit Lotus Seeds, treasures of the Western Buddhist Sect."

This item was given to Wang Yang when he left Golden Turtle Island, from the Leader of the Tongtian Sect, meant for Xuanzang.

As Wang Yang spoke, he took out the Vajra Bodhi mala and the Merit Lotus Seeds and gave them to Xuanzang.

Xuanzang accepted them, and indeed, the aura of the Buddhist houses constantly flowed within this Buddhist treasure.

However, as the founder of a new sect, Xuanzang could also sense that although the items were imbued with the Buddhist Law, it was the Mahayana and Hinayana Dharma from Mount Meru.

Xuanzang smiled faintly, made a gesture with his hands, and the aura of the Buddhist houses remained, but the essence of the Mahayana and Hinayana Dharma disappeared without a trace, leaving only the Buddhist Law propagated by Xuanzang’s New Buddhism.

Seeing Xuanzang resolve the matter so simply, Wang Yang also nodded his head in satisfaction.

"Xuanzang, now you can truly be considered to have achieved Buddhahood and become an ancestor!"

"This poor Daoist only wishes that a Buddha remains a Buddha— whether it is a clay idol or something held aloft."

Xuanzang shook his head, having no interest in becoming an ancestor of a Buddhist sect!

He only wished to impart the most correct concepts of Buddhism to sentient beings, rather than using Buddhist Law to exploit them.

Hearing Xuanzang’s reply, Wang Yang was briefly stunned, but quickly understood and showed a gentle smile on his face.

"Stay true to your heart, never change it lightly! There is nothing wrong with this path!"

At this time, Wang Yang affirmed Xuanzang’s thoughts.

"Thank you, master!"

Xuanzang felt warmth in his heart, knowing that at least someone believed in him.

Contrasting with the harmonious scene in Chang’an City, in Mount Meru, Zhun Ti and Jieyin sat together in silence without a word.

The seedling that originally belonged to them had been easily taken away by someone else.

This was a tremendous loss for them.

But when they considered that this was orchestrated by the three Daoist Saints, the two could only sigh in resignation.

"Brother, this Wang Yang has indeed gone too far. If we allow his New Buddhism to grow, it will likely cause no small disturbance for our Mount Meru!"

Zhun Ti said to Jieyin, his heart filled with reluctance.

After all, they were both enticed by the boundless merit.

Of course, at their level, the merit brought by a mere Xuanzang couldn’t possibly allow them to transcend the Saint position.

It could increase the force of will!

Even if they are saints, such willpower is greatly beneficial to them.

"Let’s call it a day. Nowadays, the celestial secrets are obscured, and we can’t calculate much at all. Plus, in twenty years, the battleground of various sects will be opened in Jambudvipa, and there will be many things for us to manage."

"However, our plans from the three major forces can be completed before the conflict between the various sects erupts, and by that time, no one can stop the great rise of Buddhism."

Jieyin seemed very open-minded. After all, the Buddhism established by Xuanzang, though it has divided Buddhism, will also invisibly increase the fate of Buddhism.

But the idea of one sect passing down three doctrines, such a thing is perhaps unprecedented.

By the time Xuanzang stepped into the position of Great Luo Quasi-Saint, he had been propagating the Buddhist law in Southern Continent Jambudvipa for years, which had calmed things down a lot.

Decades after the return from Seeking Scriptures, Xuanzang almost became a legend in Chang’an City.

Emperor Taizong passed away, succeeded by Emperor Gaozong.

Gaozong ruled for more than thirty years, and the throne was passed on to Emperor Zhongzong. These were minor matters.

The critical point came shortly after Emperor Zhongzong’s accession to the throne when a woman named Wu Meiniang conspired to seize the throne. The original Great Tang thus became the Great Zhou.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xuanzang couldn’t help but sigh when he heard this news.

Actually, over the years, Xuanzang was either spreading the Dharma or studying Buddhist laws, paying no attention to the external world.

It was only after he became a Quasi-Saint that he thought of learning about the outside world.

And that woman of legend had become the first female emperor of Southern Continent Jambudvipa.

"Hahaha, I’ve finally succeeded!

"The phoenix indeed can swallow the dragon, not in vain was my century’s planning!

"Years of plotting have finally paid off, it seems like Southern Continent Jambudvipa really is about to see a change of heavens."

"Hiss, I didn’t expect them to succeed in the end!"

The very moment Empress Wu Zetian ascended to the throne, all the saints from various sects felt it.

Even Wang Yang could feel it all the way at Mount Huaguo.

The phoenix swallowing the dragon involves too many schemes behind the scenes.

"Greatly further Buddhism!"

"I, am the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha!"

"Whoever disrespects Buddhism shall be killed without mercy!"

The newly appointed emperor issued several orders, and Great Tang was suddenly in turmoil.

Seeing each order favorable to Buddhism, Xuanzang nevertheless sighed.

"Master, with this, our Buddhism will spread throughout Southern Continent Jambudvipa. In the future, the whole continent will be our strongest foundation for Buddhism!"

Zhu Bajie said excitedly.

If that day truly comes, perhaps some of the merit of Buddhism might be shared with him.

"You fool, you only see the benefits, but everything has its advantages and disadvantages!"

Sun Wukong said irritably.

"How could that be?"

Zhu Bajie asked with a puzzled face, "Junior Brother Sand, what do you think?"

At that moment, Sand Monk was still feeling down and couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to what Zhu Bajie was saying.

Xuanzang also shook his head and said, "It seems to be beneficial to Buddhism, but one cannot know how many will die."

However, he did not give up on promoting Buddhism because of this.

He even ordered all disciples in the temple capable of expounding the scriptures to go out and measure every inch of Southern Continent Jambudvipa with their feet, bringing the New Buddhism to every corner of the continent.

"Elder brother, this Buddhism is too bullying; it’s completely cutting off our foundations!"

Yuanshi Celestial Venerable, fuming, went to see Saint Taiqing beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens. The pattern of the phoenix swallowing the dragon, which they had originally perceived merely as a conspiracy, turned out to be an attempt to completely uproot the basis of Human Teachings Sect and Expounding Teachings Sect among the human race.

One can imagine, when everyone becomes a believer in Buddhism, how awkward their position as the other two teachings will become.

"Need not trouble yourself over this, after all, the phoenix cannot outplay the true dragon."

Saint Taiqing wasn’t overly concerned and simply stated.

Yuanshi celestial Venerable frowned and looked at Saint Taiqing, ultimately saying nothing more.

In Southern Continent Jambudvipa, Buddhism flourished.

The New Buddhism established by Xuanzang occupied the entire continent in a very short time.

The title of Holy Monk was even more effective in the eyes of the common people than those Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

After all, the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas couldn’t be seen, but the Holy Monk was right there in Chang’an, expounding the Dharma!