The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 271 - 242: The Three Pure Ones Set a Trap to Kill Tathagata

Chapter 271: Chapter 242: The Three Pure Ones Set a Trap to Kill Tathagata

Kong Xuan suffered a palm strike from Zhen Yuanzi and fell to the ground, dazed and in intense pain.

Yin Xi saw his opportunity, threw out the Tai Chi Diagram, and aimed to directly capture Kong Xuan.

However, just when Kong Xuan, Buddha of Immeasurable Life, and Buddha of Immeasurable Light seemed on the verge of being captured, a gigantic hand descended from the void, tightly grasped the Tai Chi Diagram, and with a fierce squeeze, a muffled "bang" was heard as the Diagram exploded. The two Buddhas of Immeasurable Life and Immeasurable Light tumbled out, their bodies covered in blood. Clearly, they suffered greatly within the Tai Chi Diagram, nearly dissolved into blood water. This was the effect of the Taoist Arts simulating the Tai Chi Diagram and the Purple Gold Calabash; had they been there for two more hours, the Golden Bodies of these two Buddha ancestors would likely have been destroyed.

"Acala, World Honored One!" Kong Xuan saw the newcomer, hurriedly pressed his palms together, and bowed in salute.

This was none other than Acala, the Vidyaraja who leads all others, transformed from the wrath of Buddha Ancestor. With Buddhist sect known for compassion, the Respectful Ruler of the World, Tathagata, wouldn’t usually act. The task of defending the Dharma naturally fell to Acala, who commands all Vidyarajas and protects Buddhism with his formidable strength.

Another huge hand reached out from the void, heading straight for the house where Tang Sanzang and his companions were, intent on taking them away directly.

"The audacity!" Zhen Yuanzi roared furiously, and with that, the Book of Earth flew out, managing to block the enormous hand.

Yin Xi was also shocked; this Acala was indeed formidable, crushing his Tai Chi Diagram with such ease! His methods were simply terrifying.

The second attacker was Tathagata. If he allowed Kong Xuan, Buddha of Immeasurable Life, and Buddha of Immeasurable Light to be captured, not only would the Buddhist sect’s face be greatly damaged, but it would also be a crippling blow, as these three were extraordinary masters. Although there were three thousand Buddhas in Buddhism, not every one of them was so capable in battle.

The Book of Earth blocked Tathagata’s palm. Rarely had anyone seen Tathagata take action, except for that time he played a game with Wukong in the Heavenly Court, challenging him to leap out of his Buddha Land in Palm. A magic combat with others, however, was unheard of.

"My master told me to lure out Tathagata, and I’ve done just that. Why do I see no one coming to assist?" Zhen Yuanzi thought to himself.

Tathagata was a Semi-Saint, while he was a Quasi-Saint. Relying on the Book of Earth, he could barely contend, but if Tathagata truly unleashed his Great Divine Power, gathering Ming Wang’s Power, then Zhen Yuanzi stood no chance. Only a supreme expert like Donghuang Taiyi could deal with him. However, where Donghuang Taiyi and Kunpeng were at the moment was anyone’s guess.

Taiyi had appeared near Mount Futu before, where he had imparted the "Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra" to the four disciples. This time, Wukong carefully memorized the scriptures and discovered within them practices of visualization among their profound methods, so he began studying them. Naturally, he couldn’t guess that this Wu Chao Zen Master was a great personage like Donghuang Taiyi, simply assuming he was sent by someone from the Three Pure Ones or Tathagata.

Lingbao Celestial Venerable had ordered Zhen Yuanzi to draw out Tathagata, and now Zhen Yuanzi was going to strike down three great generals of Buddhism in one fell swoop. Tathagata could sit still no longer at Mount Meru.

All the movements in West Cow He State were under Tathagata’s watchful gaze. With a single thought, he could sense everything. As soon as the three had departed, Tathagata opened his Dharma Eye to observe the happenings around Ten Thousand Year Mountain, only to see Yin Xi capturing Buddha of Immeasurable Life and Buddha of Immeasurable Light with the Tai Chi Diagram, and even Kong Xuan was about to be taken. He couldn’t sit idly any longer and commanded Acala to act immediately. He himself arrived at Ten Thousand Year Mountain to snatch Tang Sanzang.

With a single flip of his palm, Tathagata managed to suppress the Book of Earth, renowned for its unbeatable defense. However, Zhen Yuanzi’s mana was also sublime, launching Divine Thunder while sweeping his sleeve using the Creation of the Void technique. He conjured Divine Thunder from thin air; his Universe in the Sleeve contained heaven and earth, having refined a Secret Realm within. Its vastness was unknown. The unleashed power thundered and boomed, turning into a sea of thunderstorms that submerged Tathagata’s palm underneath.

"Ouch!" Tathagata couldn’t help but frown and cry out, his golden flesh bombard until it was ripped and torn. Zhen Yuanzi’s techniques were indeed quite formidable.

At that moment, Tathagata suddenly experienced an impulsive sensation, making his entire body feel as though it would explode. This feeling was indescribable, almost blinding him. Generally, when great masters of a certain level encounter danger, they feel an impulsive sensation, as if the hair on their body stands on end. Therefore, many who strike a sneak attack will employ Secret Techniques to blind the target’s impulsive sensation. With Tathagata’s level of cultivation, he nearly had his senses blinded, which shocked him greatly.

The senses of Buddhas are unblindable; they belong to "emptiness," which signifies nothingness, the emptiness of all things. What, then, can blind emptiness?

Tathagata shouted,"Who dare attack me so despicably, attempting to hit me with a sneak attack!"

The response came in the form of a purple Divine Sword that pierced through his chest with an abrupt thrust, blood spraying as it passed through cleanly. The speed was so swift that Tathagata himself couldn’t react in time. Only when his own blood showered his face did he come to the shocking realization that the sneak attack had indeed hit him!

The Divine Sword circled back around, slashing toward Tathagata’s head with extreme speed, leaving no time for reaction. Acala released a Dharma Seal with his hand to block in front of Tathagata, but the sword split his head open, sending it soaring into the air, with blood scattering across the ground.