The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 267 - 240: Zhen Yuanzi’s Fierce Battle with Kong Xuan

Chapter 267: Chapter 240: Zhen Yuanzi’s Fierce Battle with Kong Xuan

Tang Sanzang and his companions were imprisoned within the Wuzhuang Temple by Zhen Yuanzi, and naturally, the Buddhist sect would not stand for this. Wisdom Bodhisattva disguised himself as Yin Xi to rescue them, but was struck down by a palm from Zhen Yuanzi.

Zhen Yuanzi, known as the Ancestral Earth Immortal, wouldn’t dare assume such a prestigious title without remarkable skill. His palm strike sent shivers down the spines of numerous bodhisattvas and arhats of the Buddhist sect, infuriating only those Buddha Ancestors of great abilities.

Dipankara Buddha had previously suffered a great loss at the hands of Zhen Yuanzi and doubted his own ability to stand against this Ancestral Earth Immortal, whose mana had reached the quasi-saint level. Only the likes of the Ming River or the formidable figure Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva could possibly contend with Zhen Yuanzi.

The death of Wisdom Bodhisattva naturally caused a great stir within the Buddhist sect; no one had anticipated that Zhen Yuanzi’s methods were so powerful.

Tathagata’s face darkened as he said, "Wisdom Bodhisattva really did something foolish, disguising as someone from their sect, thus giving them a pretext and leverage! This is most troubling!"

Dipankara Buddha said, "We renunciates do not lie, yet Wisdom Bodhisattva disguised himself as another. Despite his good intentions, such actions are hardly commendable."

Tathagata, feeling indignant, knew that both the Buddhist and Taoist sects were testing each other on the road; although Monkey King had killed many demons and ghosts, those were minor events. Now, the real battle had begun, and Buddhism had initially fallen behind, directly giving Zhen Yuanzi a pretext. If it came to a siege, it’s likely that the ancestors of the Louguan Sect such as Yin Xi would not sit idly by. If the Louguan Sect got involved, it would be even more difficult to handle! The Louguan Sect had good relations with many of the Guanlong nobility. If they started exerting influence from Emperor Taizong of Tang, the very foundation of the Buddhist sect could be destroyed in an instant.

For the Buddhist sect, the Louguan Sect was like a fishbone stuck in the throat, and Laozi’s move to undercut the sect was exceedingly vicious. Moreover, the Louguan Sect’s study of the "Huahu Scripture" strongly advocated the notion that Buddhism stemmed from Taoism, which made the people of the Eastern Land naturally regard Buddhism as inferior to Taoism.

Laozi reincarnated as Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, civilizing the barbarians—this notion alone made the people of the Eastern Land feel pride.

Tathagata asked, "Who is willing to fight Zhen Yuanzi?"

Kong Xuan stepped forward and said, "Buddha Ancestor, let this humble monk confront him! I have long heard of the Ancestral Earth Immortal’s reputation, and I am curious whether his Book of Earth can withstand my Five-Colored Divine Light."

Tathagata, overjoyed, said, "Excellent, if Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva goes, perhaps he can teach Zhen Yuanzi a good lesson."

Kong Xuan declared, "Then I shall go immediately! Delay may lead to unexpected changes."

With these words, Kong Xuan rose from the Lotus Platform and transformed into a beam of Five-Colored Divine Light, soaring out of Mount Meru’s Da Xiong Palace, heading straight for Wuzhuang Temple on Ten Thousand Year Mountain.

"Zhen Yuanzi is extraordinarily skilled; relying solely on Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva may be insufficient. I shall go aid him!" said Buddha of Immeasurable Life.

"Hmm! With such determination from Buddha of Immeasurable Life, excellent! You go and lend Peacock Great Ming King a helping hand," Tathagata said.

"If Buddha of Immeasurable Life goes, then I, Buddha of Immeasurable Light, must also accompany him!" declared Buddha of Immeasurable Light.

Buddha of Immeasurable Life and Buddha of Immeasurable Light were brothers whose combined attacks were exceptionally formidable. Together with Kong Xuan, they had a much better chance against Zhen Yuanzi.

Dipankara thought to himself, "That Zhen Yuanzi is indeed very skilled; not to mention the Book of Earth, just his ’Universe in the Sleeve’ technique alone is enough to repel countless foes."

Zhen Yuanzi’s "Universe in the Sleeve" technique was immensely powerful; with a wave of his robe sleeve, he could trap magical treasures and living beings alike. No matter how great one’s skills were, once in his sleeve, it was exceedingly difficult to escape! There were indeed clues to his sleeve, but more so, the Divine Skills directly manifested a whole world, akin to Tathagata’s Buddha Land in Palm, profound and mysterious. Thus, entering Zhen Yuanzi’s sleeve was perilous.

Zhen Yuanzi in the Wuzhuang Temple waited calmly for the high-level practitioners of the Buddhist sect to challenge him. As the saying goes, ’the skilled are bold.’ Zhen Yuanzi, with his extraordinary mana, feared no monks or Buddhas in West Cow He State; a fight would reveal whether Buddhist Law was profound or Taoist Arts more mysterious.

Zhen Yuanzi was meditating in the Quiet Room when Bright Moon rushed in, exclaiming, "Master, there is trouble!"

Zhen Yuanzi asked, "What trouble has befallen that you are so flustered? Compose yourself!"

Bright Moon reported, "A bodhisattva has arrived outside, claiming to be Peacock Great Ming King from Mount Meru—he who wields the Five-Colored Divine Light!"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi was prepared, as the high-level figures sent by the Buddhist sect were limited to but a few people. He nodded slightly and said, "Very well, I shall go and meet this Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva."

Zhen Yuanzi rose from his meditation cushion and strode out of the Wuzhuang Temple to see a monk at the entrance; with clear brows and handsome features like a graceful young man, save for his shaved head which was rather unsightly. Zhen Yuanzi knew this monk was Kong Xuan and that one should never judge by appearances, or else suffer great losses.

Kong Xuan brought his palms together and said, "Namo Amitabha Buddha! I am monk Kong Xuan, and I have come to meet the great Zhen Yuan Immortal. I have heard that the great immortal has detained Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Could you possibly show mercy and let them go?"

Zhen Yuanzi answered, "These evil monks have destroyed my foundation by toppling my pepino fruit tree and shall not be let off lightly! Kong Xuan, return from whence you came! If you interfere, we will inevitably have a fierce battle."

Kong Xuan replied, "Why should the great immortal lower himself to their level? While the great immortal claims to be the Ancestral Earth Immortal, wouldn’t such behavior be beneath your dignity?"

Zhen Yuanzi scoffed and said, "Peacock Great Ming King, your Buddhist sect may repay enmity with kindness, but our Taoist sect does not! The principle of repaying debts and avenging wrongs is only natural: they have destroyed my pepino tree, and they must bring it back to life! Otherwise, if I let them go just like that, what prestige would Zhen Yuanzi have left? How would I establish myself in West Cow He State?"