The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 253 - 234: Heart Monkey Escapes from Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 253: Chapter 234: Heart Monkey Escapes from Five Elements Mountain

Bodhisattva Guanyin arrived in Chang’an City and unfolded a series of ingenious plans, using the opponents’ force against them, ultimately aiming to accomplish great things.

Yuan Shoucheng and the Jing River Dragon King became pawns in her hands; the Jing River Dragon King was slain in Wei Zheng’s dream, and Guanyin guided his soul to the Western Heaven. When Emperor Taizong of Tang awoke, he could no longer rise; he only felt an overwhelming weakness and extreme frailty.

Emperor Taizong wished to emulate Liu Bei, who entrusted his young son to others in Baidi City, and sent for Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and other important ministers of the state, preparing to entrust his legacy.

In the Underworld, Emperor Taizong’s soul received assistance from Judge Cui, who added two strokes to his record in the Book of Life and Death, turning one into three. Judge Cui said, "Your Majesty, this time it is Bodhisattva Guanyin who asked this humble one to help, thus I dared not refuse. Your life span has been changed from thirteen to thirty-three, adding precisely twenty more years. Your Majesty can rest easy now."

Emperor Taizong breathed a sigh of relief and was pushed into the river by Judge Cui. It felt like a grand dream, and upon waking, his illness had vanished.

In the Underworld, Emperor Taizong saw his own brothers, those he had killed during the Xuanwu Gate Incident to seize the throne. Lacking humanity is common in royal families, where heartlessness prevails. The Emperor, being unique under heaven and respected throughout the Eight Desolates and Six Directions, even immortals must bow before the Human Emperor.

In the Underworld, Emperor Taizong encountered the brothers he had wronged, who came to claim his life. This too was arranged by Guanyin, by placing these members of the Li Family along the path Emperor Taizong would inevitably take into the Underworld, instilling in him a natural sense of fear, followed by King Yan suggesting holding a water and land ritual to save them.

"Bodhisattva, the great task is accomplished!" Mu Zha exclaimed joyfully.

"Hmm! This affair is largely settled. The water and land ritual just needs to be held, and the great affairs of Buddha Ancestor will be in good order," Guanyin said with a smile.

Emperor Taizong indeed convened monks from across the land to conduct the water and land ritual. The Louguan Sect watched coldly from the sidelines, having discussed this matter beforehand, they would not make things difficult.

"Cihang, you have great nerve!" a voice thundered. The Taoist was old and wisdom-marked, with a youthful face and crane hair, possessing an aura of an immortal.

"So it is Xuandu Grand Master, my fellow Daoist! This poor monk greets you," Guanyin said.

Xuandu Grand Master snorted and said, "I am not here to seek you out this time, but your senior brother is looking for you. I am merely leading the way."

Behind Xuandu Grand Master emerged another person, the Golden Immortal Guang Chengzi, with a grim expression as he eyed Guanyin and said, "You are about to make a grave mistake for the ages, do you know that?"

Guanyin asked, "May I know what grave mistake for the ages Fellow Daoist Guang Chengzi speaks of? Please share."

Guang Chengzi snapped, "If not for my master sending me and it wasn’t to fight you, I would have crushed you with my Sky-Overshadowing Seal right here! I am here to tell you that the Tathagata in Mount Meru is a villain, and the true reincarnated Siddhartha Gautama is not in Mount Meru! The Mahayana Buddhist Sutras he propagates are used for brainwashing, to gather madly devoted followers, thereby increasing his own power, much like those Esoteric Sect people from Vedha Continent. If these Buddhist Sutras are spread, my Taoist Sect will naturally decline, and when Buddhism grows strong, great horror will descend!"

Guanyin simply smiled and said, "Now that True Person Guang Chengzi has even said this, it seems you have deep prejudices against our Buddhist Sect!"

Guang Chengzi bellowed, "I am here under my teacher’s orders, not to seek you out today, but next time I encounter you, I will show you the force of my Sky-Overshadowing Seal! I have delivered the message, believe it or not, that’s up to you! Hmph! Helping to destroy the Four Great Continents, you assist the tyrants. When the great catastrophe descends upon heaven and earth, I wonder how you will face it."

Guanyin’s heart skipped at these words, but having been in Buddhism for a long time, how could she be swayed by a few words from Guang Chengzi?

Guang Chengzi added, "This matter was assigned by my teacher for me to tell you. Whether you listen or not is up to you. We Taoists will not intervene in this particular affair."

Guanyin brought her hands together and said, "Namo Amitabha Buddha, many thanks to True Person Guang Chengzi for coming to inform this poor monk of this matter. True Person, please go ahead!"

Xuandu Grand Master and Guang Chengzi flicked their sleeves and departed, feeling somewhat irate at seeing these traitors who had left the Taoist Sect.

Zhunti and Jieyin gained Buddhist Law in a dream and performed rituals in West Cow He State, hence the Western Religion, and later, Duobao Tathagata was born to the West, known as Buddhism.

It is said that the patriarchs of Buddhism originally came from the orthodox lineage of the Mystic Sect, disciples of Hongjun Daozu.

After the two Taoists departed, Guanyin furrowed her brows in deep contemplation, yet there were some doubts regarding this matter.

Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch is the supreme being of the Taoist Sect. He sent Guang Chengzi to relay a message, certainly not in jest, but regarding this matter... Guanyin found it shocking, and the teachings remained to be deciphered. But for now, the priority was to hold the water and land ritual, further the Journey to the West.

During the water and land ritual, Guanyin loudly declared, "This indeed is Hinayana Buddhism, which can only save oneself, not others!"

Emperor Taizong, having received Guanyin’s priceless kasaya and nine-ringed staff among other treasures for Xuanzhuang, saw that the visitor was her and could not readily object. He then asked, "So do you have any Buddhist Law to save others?"

Guanyin replied, "Yes, I have the Mahayana Buddhist Sutras!"

Having said that, she transformed into a divine light descending onto the platform, then began preaching the Mahayana Buddhist Sutras. Suddenly golden lotuses sprang from the earth, white birds and phoenixes sang together, and true dragons ascended amongst the clouds. Those present felt their hearts bloom, experiencing a sense of calm and the rising of a profound compassion.