The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 331 - 292: Good Cultivation in Purple Cloud Palace

Chapter 331: Chapter 292: Good Cultivation in Purple Cloud Palace

It is said that three people brought the Medicine Buddha to the Wuzhuang Temple, and seeing that no one was following, they entered peacefully and sat down.

After eating three pepino fruits, the Medicine Buddha immediately grew into a youthful appearance, his face clear and handsome, and his head bald, but he already possessed a majestic and venerable aura that inspired awe and reverence in those who saw him, declaring him inviolable.

The full name of the Medicine Buddha is the Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light, who clasped his hands together and said, "The Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm was constructed by Amitabha Buddha for me, so that after my birth in this place, I could absorb the abundant incense of the realm and directly cultivate great divine power, succeeding the Venerable Maitreya as the Respectful Ruler of the World and taking control of the Buddhist sect. Yet now, it has been occupied by a False Buddha, and I must seize it back. Alas, at present, I am still too weak and frail."

The pepino fruit is born of Heaven and Earth spiritual roots, but eating too many is of no use; after three, their effect diminishes. The essence of the Medicine Buddha still lies within the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm. Once he retrieves the realm, he can swiftly grow in power, rivaling the Tathagata, a true sovereign of the future, and not inferior to Siddhartha Gautama in the three worlds of Buddha.

The Medicine Buddha was born from the elemental forces of earth, water, wind, and fire, the will of the Buddhist sect, and the order of the Heavenly Dao, a person of serendipity and unique destiny. However, with all resources now seized, he has no choice but to find another way.

"Taiyi has arrived!" A figure clad in a Golden Crow robe, moving with the might of a dragon and the grace of a tiger, entered the Wuzhuang Temple, none other than Donghuang Taiyi himself.

Chi Songzi bowed and said, "Thank you, Eastern Emperor, for your timely assistance. Otherwise, emerging from that Lapis Lazuli World would have required many strategies."

Donghuang Taiyi raised his hand and replied, "Chi Songzi, there is no need for courtesy! We, as people of the Four Great Continents, naturally have to consider Heaven and Earth and collectively contend against the Various Heavens. The Medicine Buddha is crucial for the rise of the Buddhist sect; my assistance is only rightful."

The Medicine Buddha asked, "I was born in the future, and only Fuxi among us can predict my birth; how did Eastern Emperor come to know of it?"

Taiyi laughed and said, "Everything is under the Heavenly Dao; how could I not know?"

"Hongjun?!"

The people present could not help but be surprised. Besides Fuxi, there was another, Hongjun.

Taiyi continued, "Hongjun, after a fierce battle with the Otherworldly Heavenly Dao, is gravely injured. He is in the midst of Nirvana, and only at the next grand world calamity will he be able to recover. Now, he can no longer control the Heavenly Dao. The operation of the Heavenly Dao is simply its own volition. So now, everything depends on us."

After Pangu opened Heaven and Earth on Hongjun’s command, Hongjun controlled the Heavenly Dao but was also severely injured. Using the Nirvana Method, he awaited the chance for a phoenix-like rebirth to determine fate with the Otherworld. The last time at the Wuzhuang Temple, plotting against the Tathagata, the purple Divine Sword was released by Hongjun. But the plan was not quite successful, and the Tathagata escaped. If it were Hongjun’s prime, not even a thousand or ten thousand Tathagatas and Acalas would have any fate other than to be crushed. One can imagine how heavy Hongjun’s injuries must be.

The Medicine Buddha said, "I have sensed that the true Venerable Maitreya has succumbed to his wounds, reaching Nirvana in the South Sea Ruins. Hence, I was born prematurely. The Heavenly Dao is in disarray, a great calamity will come in the future, and that disaster will lead to the collapse of laws. Then the various heavens will descend again, and the existence of both realms will depend on that calamity."

The world is not benevolent, and the Heavenly Dao is merciless. Even Fuxi didn’t know why the Otherworldly Heavenly Dao invaded and what deep-seated enmity exists between the two worlds?

Even Hongjun, at his level, shed all sentiment, which at such a realm becomes a burden. Zen is without sentiment, Zen is without ceremony, Zen is not always Zen, and not Zen is also Zen; the Dao is without sentiment, Dao is without ceremony, Dao is not always Dao, yet all that can be followed is Dao. In the highest transcendence, emotions are forgotten. They all have emotions; they simply forget them, as emotions only hinder cultivation and the operation of the Heavenly Dao.

The Medicine Buddha said, "Now that I have been born, it will affect the fate of the Buddhist sect. The Tathagata will surely stop at nothing to kill me. You must protect my life, and even help me regain the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm. Otherwise, I, too, can only become an illusion, reduced to ashes."

The Medicine Buddha felt truly lamentable for being born into such a predicament. However, this was precisely what he, the sovereign of the future, should do; he should strive to turn the tide at the brink of collapse.

The Eastern Emperor Taiyi said, "I am here to take you away. Your presence in the Four Great Continents serves no purpose but would indeed become a liability."

The Medicine Buddha was only a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal of the First Layer, which though commendable, paled in comparison to all Buddhas; it was like casting stones against eggs. He had to dilute the Buddhist sect’s fate and, in the future, seize back the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm. He could only bide his time and endure for now, like King Yue Goujian, to amass strength quietly for a striking blow. Small impatience can ruin great plans.

The Medicine Buddha was a person who understood the larger picture. It was too dangerous for him to stay in the Four Great Continents, so it was only with Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s departure and concealment, under his and Hongjun’s protection, that he could escape the Buddhist sect’s deadly grasp. Otherwise, with his death, there would no longer be a sovereign to rule the Buddhist sect.

The Medicine Buddha sighed, "Venerable Maitreya has entered Nirvana, and I have been born as a result. Although all is emptiness and life and death is but a fleeting dream, like dew or a flash of lightning, I still must cherish my life to avoid being poisoned by others, lest no one spreads the compassion of the Buddhist sect. I can only follow the words of the Eastern Emperor and depart with him."

Chi Songzi nodded and said, "The Celestial Emperor Fuxi also agrees. You are key to overthrowing the current Buddhist sect in the future. As long as you live, you can stealthily siphon the fate of the Buddhist sect to strengthen yourself! Once you grow powerful, our chances of success will be greater. Everything now is to prepare for the future calamity, and we must eliminate all internal strife, otherwise, we too will only face death and become illusions."

The Medicine Buddha’s identity was extremely sensitive. Hiding anywhere would be difficult as once Tathagata became aware, he would come out in full force to retrieve him. After all, the theft of the Buddhist sect’s fortune would thin its collective fate—Tathagata could not just sit idly by. Even if he hid within the care of the Three Pure, Tathagata would spare no effort to take him back or even kill him directly.

Reflecting in silence, Enlightenment Dao thought, "Who would have thought that Venerable Maitreya would prolongedly suffer until now, only to enter nirvana. The battle during the Middle Ancient Times must have caused him grievous harm."

The Medicine Buddha said, "This time, I’m indebted to all of you for your rescue; I’m grateful beyond words."

Donghuang Taiyi added, "Tathagata has numerous strategies and is unfathomably mysterious. We shouldn’t delay. Let’s hide now to prevent any unforeseen incidents."

The Medicine Buddha agreed, "Good!"

With a wave of Donghuang Taiyi’s sleeve robe, the two of them vanished without a trace.

Since the Middle Ancient Times, the Purple Cloud Palace has been out of sight. Rumor had it that its foundation was shattered, but in fact, Hongjun had hidden it away.

Now, Donghuang Taiyi was leading the Medicine Buddha to hide within the Purple Cloud Palace because even Celestial Emperor Fuxi wouldn’t be able to predict their location, let alone Tathagata.

Upon arriving at the Purple Cloud Palace, the Medicine Buddha saw a Taoist seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion. The Taoist’s face was clear, but he was forever unrememberable, unthinkable, unobservant, uninhabitable, unemptiness, unforgetable - a sense of impermanence that was difficult to grasp.

This Taoist was naturally Hongjun, who was now healing his wounds. He wouldn’t inquire into anything else, as the Heavenly Dao relied solely on instinct to operate.

"He is undergoing Nirvana, cultivating a brand new body from his own injured one to remove all old wounds," realized the Medicine Buddha. This was a Nirvana Method to discard the old body and condense a new one.

Donghuang Taiyi advised, "Medicine Buddha, you should cultivate diligently within the Purple Cloud Palace. This place is uniquely conducive to cultivation and will enhance your power swiftly. Digest the Congenital True Qi from the pepino first, then relearn the principles of the Buddhist sect from scratch, and you’ll soon achieve the Law Realm."

Clasping his hands in prayer, the Medicine Buddha said, "Amitabha Buddha! I thank you, Eastern Emperor. I shall not elaborate further and will commence my cultivation now."

The Medicine Buddha was then seen sitting cross-legged, his posture strange, palms spread as if he were holding up the firmament. Vast True Qi flowed into his body through his palms, soles, and at the Baihui acupoint.

Donghuang Taiyi thought to himself, "His fortune is truly strong. To cultivate beyond the level of creator is not too difficult for him. He should be able to achieve it before the onset of the great calamity. Although the Buddhist Law is from an otherworld, it is indeed an extraordinary thing!"

Donghuang Taiyi chuckled, "That Macaca must be suffering in the Outer Domain Demon World. Once he becomes a creator, I’ll lead him back here." He couldn’t help but muse to himself, "Back in the day, it took me only ninety-five years to become a creator. During the golden age of Ancient Times, many heroes emerged, and I had a unique advantage, having existed since the creation of heaven and earth, only I was nurtured within the sun and not yet born. Sun Wukong, after over a thousand years of cultivation, will also achieve the status of creator. During this chaotic era of the Heavenly Dao filled with karmic entanglements, it’s exceedingly difficult."

Donghuang Taiyi was truly a prodigy, unparalleled in talent below the Saint.

Born from the sun at the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, he belonged to the same generation as the Three Pure. During the Ancient Times, he was undefeated in battles across the world, established the Heavenly Court, and governed order. Even the Jade Emperor’s foundation was passed on from him.

Although there were many slaughter calamities during the Ancient Times, it was shortly after the creation of heaven and earth, True Qi was abundant, and the order was stable. Cultivation progressed swiftly.

Now the Heavenly Dao has become chaotic, the order unclear, and karmic entanglements difficult to disentangle. Even he feared contamination by the dust of the world, which is why he rarely left the Purple Cloud Palace, only intervening when Kunpeng was captured by the Buddhist sect at Mount Meru, who he could not bear to watch being taken without acting.

For Wukong to become a creator in just over a thousand years was extremely impressive. Even existences like Chi Songzi took nearly two thousand years to achieve creator status and even longer to reach Quasi-Saint.

Seeing that the Medicine Buddha had started his cultivation, Donghuang Taiyi did not slack off. He sat down cross-legged and let his mind roam through space, wandering outside the World of Heavenly Demons.

To find out what happens next, please wait for the following Chapter. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Starting Point (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)