The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 116 - 114: Siddhartha Gautama Buddha is not the Tathagata

Chapter 116: Chapter 114: Siddhartha Gautama Buddha is not the Tathagata

But it happened that the Daoist Equal to Heaven became entangled by the chaotic currents within the Guixu Sea Eye, and, after being violently torn, he nearly ripped apart. He activated the "Sutra of the Other Shore" and ultimately managed to preserve himself.

Amitabha Buddha, compassionate towards all beings, protected the Daoist Equal to Heaven. The powerful suction around was all blocked from reaching them. The Daoist couldn’t help but sigh silently, "This is truly a Buddha. What is it that Tathagata preaches, and what about that false compassion? I wonder where Amitabha’s true form actually is."

He didn’t know how long he had dived downward, but it was a colossal vortex, and the Daoist found himself at the center, continually being drawn into the depths below.

Finally, he felt the surrounding suction forces calming down. When he deactivated his divine skill and looked around, he realized he had arrived at a shallow shoal.

Looking up, he saw the sea miles above, and it seemed this place was a secret realm covered by the ocean waters.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven looked in all directions, only to see sunken ships around the shoal, as well as some massive stone statues. These statues stood hundreds of feet tall, their features blurred and bodies damaged.

The Daoist walked up to these stone statues and looked at them, noticing that after countless years, their material had weakened, and a light touch would make them crumble.

"These don’t seem to be ordinary statues!" He looked up to see small holes at the center of the statues’ foreheads, as if intentionally carved out by someone.

The war from Middle Ancient Times was shrouded in mystery; one battle took place in Beiming of the North Sea and another in the Ruins of the South Sea. These statues probably were remnants from that era, possibly the remains of a magical treasure belonging to some ancient power, destroyed and left here.

He jumped atop one statue’s head and peered forward, only to see the ruins of a massive palace, greatly impaired yet still grand and monumental in its former glory.

The Daoist thought to himself, "Whose powerful secret realm is this, built within the Ruins? Such great magical power is indeed terrifying."

He could even detect traces of the great Middle Ancient war; some statues bore cuts from swords, while others had deep impressions of fists.

The Daoist flew down from the statue and walked towards the distant palace. The Swallowing Dragon Stele had ceased to react here.

This was clearly a secret realm created by a great mystic with immense divine power, though he had no idea which venerable figure it belonged to. A secret realm, called so because of its secrecy—otherwise, it might as well be called a manifest realm.

"Building a secret realm in such a place, isn’t it inconvenient? How do clan members come and go?" The Daoist thought to himself, "This doesn’t seem like a secret realm but rather more like a prison."

He arrived in front of the majestic and towering palace. The palace was staggeringly tall, hundreds of feet high, and stretched farther than the eye could see.

The Daoist entered, pushing open the decayed great door, when his foot suddenly kicked something. He picked it up to find it was a body wrapped in a kasaya, unknown whether it was a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. The body had decayed, evidently killed by a great mystic. Those who achieved the Dao of Immortals usually did not suffer from body decay.

The great hall was gloomy and chilly, with a coldness that stung the skin.

The Daoist passed through the empty front hall and arrived in the central chamber of the palace, where he abruptly stopped in astonishment. The hall was filled with the same giant statues found in the shoal outside. Amber stones seemed to be embedded in the foreheads of these statues, and within them, people laid enclosed.

"What is this... Are these statues absorbing the Dragon Qi from the Southern Dragon Remains, nurturing these people? Could it be that these people were gravely injured during the ancient celestial war?" he exclaimed in surprise.

He stomped on the ground, took to the air, and flew to one of the statues to get a clear look at the person inside.

It was a monk, wearing tattered kasaya, eyes tightly shut, with streams of Dragon Qi gradually entering his body.

There were numerous statues here, too many to count, each containing a person in slumber, none dead, but all with very weak auras, as if they had been wounded during the Ancient war.

"Who placed these people here? Could they all be mighty individuals who participated in the Middle Ancient war?" The Daoist was inwardly shocked. Among them were many unparalleled experts, with mana undoubtedly higher than that of a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal.

As he approached one statue, the Buddha inside suddenly opened his eyes, looked at him, nodded slightly, and spoke, "Fellow Daoist, whence have you come, and why have you entered the Hate Heaven Secret Realm?"

The Daoist Equal to Heaven was startled, performed a salute, and replied, "I am the Daoist Equal to Heaven. I passed by the Ruins by chance and was drawn here by the Sea Eye without intention."

The Buddha nodded again, appearing somewhat languid, and said, "If you could enter here, it must be destined by heaven."

The Daoist asked, "May I know the honored monk’s Dharma name?"

The Buddha then said, "I am the Western Merit Buddha."

The Western Merit Buddha!

Daoist Equal to Heaven felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet and exclaimed loudly, "If you are the Western Merit Buddha, then who is the Buddha in Mount Meru right now?"

The monk claiming to be the Western Merit Buddha frowned slightly, pressed his palms together, and said, "Monks do not speak falsehoods, I am indeed the Western Merit Buddha, I would not deceive you. As for the person in Mount Meru, I know not who he is. Perhaps someone has assumed my identity."

Daoist Equal to Heaven frowned and said, "How do I know whether you are truly the Western Merit Buddha or not?"

The Western Merit Buddha smiled and said, "Amitabha Buddha! I will not argue with Daoist brother. What is real is real, and what is false cannot become real."

Daoist Equal to Heaven heard that he was chanting "Amitabha Buddha" instead of "Namo Amitabha Buddha" and was inwardly moved, as monks nowadays would only call upon "Namo Amitabha Buddha."

"Now in the world, there is only ’Namo Amitabha Buddha.’ Where does ’Amitabha Buddha’ come from?" Daoist Equal to Heaven feigned ignorance.

"Who is ’Namo Amitabha Buddha’? I am referring to the founder of Buddhism, the Guiding Buddha, whose dharma name was later changed to that of ’Amitabha Buddha,’" said the Western Merit Buddha, vaguely sensing that something was amiss. After all, he was a person of great wisdom, otherwise, how could he have achieved Buddhahood?

Daoist Equal to Heaven responded, "Namo Amitabha Buddha is the current Sect Leader of Buddhism, the Respectful Ruler of the World, Siddhartha Gautama."

The Western Merit Buddha frowned and said, "Siddhartha Gautama is here with us, cultivating. Daoist brother, please do not speak recklessly."

Daoist Equal to Heaven was stunned and felt a coldness spread over his body as he asked, "Then who is Siddhartha Gautama on Mount Meru? Why do the monks only know ’Namo Amitabha Buddha’ and not ’Amitabha Buddha’ nowadays?"

The Western Merit Buddha was even more shocked and asked with a trembling voice, "What are you saying? There’s still a Siddhartha Gautama Tathagata in Mount Meru now?"

Daoist Equal to Heaven also realized that this matter was probably not as simple as it seemed. How could a reincarnation of Duobao challenge the Three Pure Ones? In principle, Duobao, being a disciple of Celestial Venerable of Spiritual Treasure, shouldn’t possess such ability. Hearing what the Western Merit Buddha had said, he understood most of it and believed most of it, too.

Perhaps the Tathagata seated in Mount Meru was not the real Siddhartha Gautama Tathagata but an impostor from who knows where, who had even replaced all the Buddhas in the West. That Amitabha Buddha, Wukong too, was only known by name and never seen in person—it’s likely he also fell prey to the sham Tathagata. But, where did this fake Tathagata come from? Even in Ancient Times, nobody could contend with the Three Pure Ones!

"Western Merit Buddha, you have slumbered here for long and are unaware—Mount Meru now is likely overtaken by a swarm of false Buddhas! Even Amitabha Buddha and Zhun Ti Buddha Ancestor have vanished without a trace, probably ensnared by that faux Tathagata’s schemes," Daoist Equal to Heaven exclaimed, "I wondered why there have been such drastic changes in the Buddhist sect nowadays, so sinister and malevolent, without a trace of compassionate benevolence! Furthermore, the doctrines currently taught by the Tathagata differ greatly from those of Amitabha Buddha! Now I see, now I see!"

This was undoubtedly a shocking revelation, and if it weren’t for some clues Daoist Equal to Heaven had, it might have been dismissed as the ramblings of a senile Western Merit Buddha. But upon further reflection, the matter seemed gravely substantial indeed! During the Middle Ancient Times’ war, many Buddhas of the Buddhist sect perished or were gravely injured, taking refuge here to heal. Naturally, Mount Meru was left somewhat vacant, vulnerable to intrusion. However, whoever dared to exploit this opening left by the two Saints of the West must not be a nobody. Yet, who could stand against such Saints?

With his hands pressed together and a somber expression, the Western Merit Buddha said, "Although I was not gravely injured in the Middle Ancient Times’ war, I cannot leave this place now. Please go find Siddhartha Gautama Tathagata; he is within the second stone statue to the east."

Daoist Equal to Heaven asked, "Is that true? Are these stone statues for your healing?"

But the Western Merit Buddha said, "These stone statues are a type of Magical Treasure, forged by the Ancient Hate Heaven Clan, to be used as battle armor, or to absorb Dragon Qi, healing and curing diseases."

Daoist Equal to Heaven asked, "Then why don’t you go to a place abundant in Dragon Qi to absorb it instead of absorbing Dragon Qi here from the Southern Dragon Remains?"

The Western Merit Buddha answered, "If we were to absorb Dragon Qi elsewhere, we might damage the Dragon Vein, and also be discovered by those who do not wish us to survive. Absorbing Dragon Qi from the Southern Dragon Remains does not harm the Dragon Vein and is extremely secretive. Though it’s slower, it is ultimately the safest method. Moreover, this Hate Heaven Secret Realm is protected by a formidable prohibition, ordinary people can neither enter nor leave."

"What exactly is the Ancient Hate Heaven Clan? A clan from Ancient Times?" Daoist Equal to Heaven asked curiously.

"The Ancient Hate Heaven Clan has been the guardians of the South Sea Ruins for generations, born here. However, this Secret Realm was sealed off, trapping them inside, unable to leave, while outsiders found it difficult to enter. Over time, their resentment grew, believing the heavens had treated them unfairly, so they named themselves the Hate Heaven Clan. But their history is too ancient, probably existing since the beginning of the heavens and earth, which is why outsiders call them the Ancient Hate Heaven Clan," the Western Merit Buddha explained.

Daoist Equal to Heaven wanted to ask more, but the Western Merit Buddha then said, "I was awakened by chance this time and must continue my healing process. Please relay this matter to Siddhartha Gautama Tathagata without delay. Forgive my impoliteness!"

With that said, his eyes closed again, seemingly falling back into deep sleep.

Daoist Equal to Heaven went to the stone statue where Siddhartha Gautama was, according to the Western Merit Buddha’s instructions, soared into the sky, eager to see what the true Buddha ancestor looked like.

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the following Chapter.