The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 237 - 224: Great Emperor Zhenwu Meets Longevity Buddha

Chapter 237: Chapter 224: Great Emperor Zhenwu Meets Longevity Buddha

Laozi, using the "Huahu Scripture" as a launching point, challenged Tathagata, and his question immediately altered the expressions of those in the Buddhist sect present.

If it were a commoner who had spoken these words, they would have been met with immediate curses and arguments, but since the speaker was none other than Laozi, the leader of the Three Pure, who would dare to scold him? Would that not be akin to an old man seeking death by eating poison? Thus, the Buddhists present were rendered speechless, waiting for Tathagata to respond.

Tathagata pondered and then said, "There seems to be such a matter, perhaps it’s just that Laojun’s name is so revered that it spawned rumors among the people! Or maybe it’s because the people in The Eastern Land feel a closeness to Buddhism, thus holding it in such high regard."

Laozi, hearing Tathagata play it off, directly asked, "But I have heard others say that the scripture was written by Buddha Ancestor himself."

Tathagata shook his head and said, "Monks do not speak lies, there is absolutely no such thing. There has always been strife between Buddhism and Daoism, perhaps it was fabricated by the common folk."

Tathagata’s denial was adamant, and Laozi found himself without recourse, as after all, Tathagata was the Respectful Ruler of the Western Heaven. He couldn’t exactly storm the table to force a confession from Tathagata.

After hearing this, Laozi spoke no further, but then Great Emperor Zhenwu stepped forward and addressed the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, "Boundless Heavenly Immortal! The last time I met with the Buddha of Immeasurable Life at Mount Meru, it has been a long time since we saw each other. That magic combat was put on hold, and who knows how long it will be until we meet again? Why not today, for the Buddha of Immeasurable Life to spar with me a little, to see if my Taoist Arts are more refined or if the Buddhist Law of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life is more profound?"

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life, put on the spot by Great Emperor Zhenwu, naturally would not show weakness, stood up, brought his palms together and smiled, "What Great Emperor Zhenwu said is true. I too have been contemplating this, to settle our karma with the Emperor! However, since this is the opening ceremony of Louguan, if we were to combat too fiercely, it might not be appropriate, right?"

Great Emperor Zhenwu, however, laughed and said, "There’s no harm, let’s just engage in a literary duel this time, which too, can distinguish the superior from the inferior."

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life asked, "How does one engage in a literary duel?"

Great Emperor Zhenwu stood up, pushed the table to the center of the plaza, and then with a movement, ten teacups flew from one side, clattering down onto the table, arranged into two sides, five a side. Great Emperor Zhenwu then said, "We shall use these ten teacups for our duel, and we will compete in Thunder Magic, what do you think?"

The faces of those present changed at the mention of Thunder Magic, which is fierce and terrifying, notoriously hard to control. To use ten teacups on a table for Thunder Magic duel was almost unheard of, demanding a masterful control of Mana and Thunder. The Buddha of Immeasurable Life was proficient in Thunder Magic as well, while Great Emperor Zhenwu, being of the Xuanwu, excelled in Water Thunder, making this competition well-matched between the two.

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life, intrigued by such a method of duel, laughed and said, "What Great Emperor Zhenwu suggests is indeed interesting. I am fairly proficient in the ways of thunder and lightning, and can just manage to spar with the Emperor."

Great Emperor Zhenwu, smiling, said, "In that case, nothing could be better. My best skill is Water Thunder; I just hope that the Buddha of Immeasurable Life is not inexperienced in Thunder Magic, lest anyone should say that my victory was not honorable."

The people watching were focused intently as these two were about to engage in Magic Combat. The Buddha of Immeasurable Life was ranked very high among the Three Thousand Buddhas, having reached the level of Creation Boundary. Great Emperor Zhenwu was also of the Creation Boundary. Both were only a step away from becoming Quasi-Saints—a pair of formidable experts! Although the rules outlined a literary duel, it sounded very intriguing and promising.

"Ancient Buddha says, who will win this bout, the Buddha of Immeasurable Life or True Martial Demon Conqueror?" Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch asked nonchalantly.

Tathagata’s expression remained unchanged, he replied softly, "The path of learning has no strict sequence. The Great Emperor Zhenwu and the Buddha of Immeasurable Life are roughly from the same era, both of unparalleled talent, and I dare not say who might win or lose. But if Celestial Venerable insists on an answer, then I believe the Buddha of Immeasurable Life might win."

This contest relied not on Magical Treasures, but on whose control of Mana and Thunder was more exquisite. This literary battle was sure to be a spectacle, elegant and without disrupting the celebratory atmosphere of Louguan’s opening, most fitting indeed.

"Then I shall say that the North Pole True Martial Demon Dispeller will win; perhaps Buddha Ancestor would agree to add some stakes?" Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch asked.

"Oh, what kind of stakes?" Tathagata’s eyes flashed momentarily as he inquired in a low voice.

"How about I put up ten Heavenly Sandalwood Beads as stakes, and see what Buddha Ancestor has to wager?" Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch asked smilingly.

"Then I shall put up ten Golden Sand Pills, adding to the stakes with Celestial Venerable—a wager it shall be." Tathagata smiled calmly and gently sipped from the tea cup he had picked up from the table.

Upon hearing this, everyone present involuntarily drew a sharp breath. True enough, being the leaders of Buddhism and Daoism, the stakes they wagered were substantive! Ten Heavenly Sandalwood Beads, ten Golden Sand Pills! These Golden Sand Pills were refined from a mountain of Taiyi Pure Gold, while the Heavenly Sandalwood Beads were crafted from sandalwood struck by lightning but undying over a million years—a treasure that can act as a Magical Treasure, aid in meditation and concentration, certainly a remarkable item.

Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch and Tathagata proceeded to wager, while those seated could only sit back and watch, unable to match such significant stakes.

Great Emperor Zhenwu bowed to the Buddha of Immeasurable Life and said, "Please!"

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life, standing at the round table, joined his palms and slightly bowed, saying, "Great Emperor Zhenwu, please proceed!"

Great Emperor Zhenwu said, "In this literary duel, we must not damage the table or the teacups. If all the opponent’s teacups are shattered, that counts as a loss. Buddha of Immeasurable Life, do you find this acceptable?"

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life smiled and replied, "Since Great Emperor Zhenwu has set the rules, naturally, he will not deceive me. Of course, it is acceptable."

Great Emperor Zhenwu had established the rules by using the tea in the teacups to conjure thunder, then competing in magic combat. While attacking the opponent, they also had to ensure they did not damage the table or allow the opponent to destroy their own teacups. To control the power to such a delicate extent was a very challenging task!

Great Emperor Zhenwu calmly formed a spell with his hands and softly shouted, "Be careful!"

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life immediately became solemn, clasped his Dharma Seal, and struck out. From the five teacups, thunderbolts burst forth. Although the thunderbolts were small, their power was terrifyingly formidable. Even a master of the Indestructible Realm could be hit and reduced to ashes instantly.

Great Emperor Zhenwu pinched a spell, and the tea in his cup surged up, turning into mist about five inches above the table, then transformed into a dark cloud. The rolling dark cloud received a blast of True Qi from Great Emperor Zhenwu, and immediately thunderbolts began to form within it. Each thunderbolt was only as thick as a strand of hair, but their power was terrifying enough to flatten a mountain!

"What impressive skills, although these thunderbolts look small, their power is astonishing!"

"No wonder he is Great Emperor Zhenwu. This use of water to conjure thunder is simply too exquisite!"

"Buddha of Immeasurable Life is also formidable. It’s hard to tell who will win this round. Such stakes are truly envy-provoking."

Great Emperor Zhenwu pointed his finger towards the Buddha of Immeasurable Life’s five teacups, and immediately thunderbolts fell from the dark clouds, a thunderous clap sounded, and five cold flashes targeted those five teacups! The Buddha of Immeasurable Life issued a soft chant, and thunderbolts suddenly appeared beneath the teacups, lifting them into the air.

Great Emperor Zhenwu’s strike missed, and the Martial Thunder was about to hit the table, which was only made of ordinary pear wood. If it was struck by the thunderbolt, what would happen? It would burst open and shatter into dust. Therefore, Great Emperor Zhenwu bent his fingers, and the five thunderbolts immediately rose, aiming for the Buddha of Immeasurable Life’s teacups!

"Ha!"

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life exhaled True Qi, turning the thunderbolt that supported the base of the teacups into a large shield. The five thunderbolts struck it, causing the teacups to shake, but not a drop of tea spilled.

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life flicked his fingers, and golden light immediately burst from the teacups, forming another five thunderbolts that charged towards the five teacups in front of Great Emperor Zhenwu.

Great Emperor Zhenwu clasped his hands together, creating thunderbolts in the clouds again. These thunderbolts formed two palms, seemingly practicing Tai Chi Fist, one Yin and one Yang, catching hold of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail pose, causing the five teacups to be affected by these thunderbolt hands and suddenly spin into the air.

"Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!" Zhang Junshi could not help but shout, as he was the only one who could perceive how formidable Great Emperor Zhenwu’s move actually was.

Zhang Junshi’s creation, Tai Chi Fist, even impressed Great Emperor Zhenwu, who considered it incredibly mystical and learned a few moves himself, evolving the principles of Yin and Yang Universe and elucidating the profound truths of heaven and earth.

Seeing how adept Great Emperor Zhenwu was with this move, neither could touch the teacups directly but only control them through thunderbolts. Great Emperor Zhenwu directly transformed two hands that applied the launching force of Tai Chi Fist, using Silk-Reeling Power to make the five teacups whirl up, causing the Buddha of Immeasurable Life’s Martial Thunder to miss its mark.

"Dividing Yin and Yang, transforming the myriad things of the universe! Yin Yang Wild Thunder!" Only to hear Great Emperor Zhenwu chanting incantations, infusing the Power of Yin and Yang into the thunderbolts, which instantly turned from golden to both black and white, greatly increasing their power.

A thunderbolt struck down, aiming at the Buddha of Immeasurable Life’s leftmost cup!

The Buddha of Immeasurable Life did not dare to delay, hurriedly releasing a thunderbolt from the cup, but the Yin Yang Wild Thunder from Great Emperor Zhenwu instantly wrapped around the Buddha’s golden thunderbolt, coiling like a python, and struck the cup fiercely!

Though so much was said, from the start of the magical combat to now, the thunder and lightning happened in just an instant.

"Crack!"

The first teacup of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life was shattered by Great Emperor Zhenwu’s Yin Yang Wild Thunder, turning into smithereens. However, the Buddha reacted swiftly, using his mana to condense the tea from that cup into a ball, dividing it between the remaining four teacups.

They were conjuring thunder with water, and spilling even a bit would greatly diminish the thunder’s power, so naturally, they were meticulous in their actions.

As for who will win, please follow the next part to find out. (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, you are welcome to visit Starting Point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)