The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 301 - 266: The Three Emperors of the Flaming Cloud Cave Manifest

Chapter 301: Chapter 266: The Three Emperors of the Flaming Cloud Cave Manifest

Chi Songzi, using the "Divine Firmament Torrential Rain" technique "Nine Heavens Thunder Movement" divine skill, summoned endless thunderbolts from the Nine Heavens to slay Maitreya.

Fortunately, at the last moment, Maitreya managed to protect his own soul. Otherwise, his soul would have regressed, and his fruit of realization would have been lost! Should Maitreya, one of the Three Worlds Buddha, have his soul regress and his fruit of realization shattered, the Buddhist sect would have truly suffered a great loss! He was, after all, the Respectful Ruler of the World destined to succeed the Tathagata.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha!" The Buddhas of Mount Meru, unable to help themselves, clasped their hands in prayer for Maitreya’s passage. However, Maitreya had already turned to ash; how could they help him transcend?

It wasn’t easy for Chi Songzi to slay Maitreya; he was almost thwarted by the Tathagata. Fortunately, the Ming River from the Netherworld Blood Sea made a move. After all, the Ming River had been slapped by the Tathagata, creating significant karma. Now, this piece of karma had been intercepted by Maitreya as his tribulation. Indeed, good causes produce good results, while evil causes yield evil consequences!

The Ming River laughed wildly, "Chi Songzi slaying Maitreya, the Future Buddha, means our karma has also been passed onto Maitreya as his tribulation! Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha!"

Maitreya, being someone of such high cultivation, was mistakenly slain by Chi Songzi. Yet by some mysterious design, he became the person to bear the karma that the Ming River and the Tathagata had sown. Who knows what Maitreya would think if he knew?

In the present, the Ming River still has karma to resolve with Randeng, who had injured him severely with the Sea-Calming Pearl. But now, having settled the karma with the Tathagata and having made a Future Buddha face tribulation, the Ming River feels immensely satisfied every time he thinks of it!

The Tathagata was furious, yet powerless to act. He could only watch as Maitreya turned to ashes under Chi Songzi’s Nine Heavens Thunder Movement. The Ming River had not acted at all. But once he did, he spoiled a great deal. With the Future Buddha slain, the next Respectful Ruler of the World fell upon the shoulders of the Medicine Buddha.

The Tathagata angrily declared, "In days to come, I shall level your Netherworld Blood Sea and scatter your remains into ten thousand pieces!"

However, the Ming River scoffed, "The Buddha Ancestor has shown anger! Ha-ha, ha-ha! I have set up the Innate Blood River Great Array to welcome you. Let’s see how you will level my Netherworld Blood Sea!"

The Innate Blood River Great Array within the Netherworld Blood Sea is exceptionally powerful. Once activated, even Saints are reluctant to challenge it. This is why, during the chaotic Ancient Times when witches and goblins were battling for supremacy, the Netherworld Blood Sea could stay out of the fray and untainted by karma because everyone knew the Ming River’s Innate Blood River Great Array was not to be trifled with, making them unwilling to provoke him.

This incident prompted numerous mighty ones from the Buddhas of the Spirit Mountain to take action. Among the Buddhas, there were countless creators, each a formidable being capable of dominating a realm.

With a single thought from the Buddha Ancestor, myriad minor worlds could be created. Those who had achieved Buddhahood and become ancestors, only creators reach such a level, capable of evolving worlds and creating from the void, aren’t they the same as the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal of the Third Heaven’s boundary of creation?

Chi Songzi, in slaying Maitreya, simultaneously annihilated the countless beings of the Mile Buddha Kingdom. Those people, living like the walking dead, only prayed and recited sutras to provide Maitreya with incense power and wishes. Their existence was meaningless, akin to livestock bred to provide power and wishes for others. Thus, instead of accruing negative karma, Chi Songzi’s slaughter of so many actually found favor with the Heavenly Dao.

"You of the Buddhist sect preach compassion, yet you imprison countless souls in a life worse than that of pigs and dogs, leading a muddled existence. Are these even humans?" Chi Songzi, though he slew Maitreya, did not abate his anger and cursed loudly.

The Ming River laughed and praised, "Well said, Chi Songzi!"

He singled out Randeng from among the Buddhas and cursed him, "Randeng, you sneak-attacked me last time. Today, I seek a proper battle with you!"

Seeing the Ming River as the challenger, Randeng’s heart tightened. He lifted his Demon-Subduing Staff and turned to confront the Ming River.

Randeng’s mana was inferior to the Ming River’s, and although the Ming River’s mana was on par with Zhen Yuanzi’s, he had more magical treasures. Indeed, his combat power was even stronger! If Randeng were to face the Ming River head-on, how could he ever be a match for him?

As the Ming River saw Randeng approaching, he remained calm and composed, turning around to make a strike with his sword. With this slash, the sword qi spanned thirty thousand miles, chilling the light across the Nine Provinces. Out of nowhere, the Sea-Calming Pearls sent his way were all struck down by this one stroke. The Ming River grimly said, "Randeng, did you think I couldn’t see through your illusion? Wanna sneak attack me again? Ha-ha, to think you could succeed a second time!"

The Ming River has been at odds with the Ksitigarbha King, and later was used as a scapegoat by both the Buddhist and Daoist sects. He was wounded by the Tathagata and Randeng, developing a deep-seated hatred for the Buddhist sect. How could he let such a wonderful occasion of Chi Songzi slaying Maitreya be ruined by the Tathagata? Therefore, he recklessly made a move to block the Tathagata. And now, he’s all set to settle the karma with Randeng—truly fierce!

Seated in Mount Meru, the Tathagata dispatched the Five Great Wisdom Kings, reportedly born from the Buddha’s anger and meant to protect the faith and slay demons.

The Buddha Ancestor rarely takes action himself. Even during Wukong’s Havoc in Heaven, the Tathagata merely placed a bet with him, flipping his hand to trap him. The task of slaying demons and eliminating evil usually falls to the Five Great Wisdom Kings.

"Tathagata, Randeng! When the two of you wounded me last time, it enabled me to grasp the deeper mysteries of the Blood God Sutra. I have changed utterly since then!" The Ming River laughed wildly, shattering Randeng’s illusion with two strokes of his sword and charged straight towards his real body.

Since the Ming River was injured by the Tathagata and Randeng, he reflected deeply on his pain. He cultivated earnestly in the Blood Sea, comprehending the ultimate mysteries of the Blood God Sutra. Now was the time to emerge. With chaos ensuing between the Buddhist and Daoist sides, it was his chance to join the fray and unleash a tremendous slaughter!