The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 359 - 308: Confluence of Human Path Will

Chapter 359: Chapter 308: Confluence of Human Path Will

All the philosophers from the Hundred Schools of Thought arrived at Mount Meru to attack the Tathagata.

Confucius, with the Iron-cast Commandment Scroll and the Spring and Autumn Annals Pen, wrote a proclamation. The Confucian sages criticized both verbally and in writing, greatly weakening the fortune of the Tathagata. However, the Tathagata, with his extraordinary methods, managed to suppress his fortune from diminishing further. Even Confucius, wielding the Spring and Autumn Annals Pen once more, could not weaken his prosperity.

For those of Confucianism, a stroke of the pen could immortalize a person in history or, conversely, condemn them to be infamous for eternity. Therefore, people of the Immortal Path dared not offend those of Confucianism. Otherwise, they would find their reputations destroyed and their fortunes weakened as a result of verbal and written condemnation.

Wukong thought to himself, "The Tathagata also has Primordial Magical Treasures to suppress his fortune; only such treasures can withstand the verbal and written condemnation of Confucianism. Otherwise, fortune will decline from prosperity to misfortune, turning into calamity."

"World Honored One, we have arrived a step late!" Two bodhisattvas called out as they hurriedly entered the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation.

It turned out to be Bodhisattva Judliusun and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva who arrived late, but just in time, as the battle had not yet started. It was the perfect moment to join the formation.

"Victorious Fighting Buddha, I have led Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva to the North Sea where he listened to the ’Sutra for Crossing Sentient Beings’ by Celestial Venerable Spiritual Treasure, which led him to a complete awakening. Now he is on our side. Tathagata is extracting our fortunes, quickly use your Divine Skills to help us suppress it. Otherwise, our lives will be bound to the Tathagata’s."

Judliusun and Mahasthamaprapta had just entered the formation and immediately felt their fortunes being drawn out from within them.

"Innate Deity Combat, suppress all! The fortunes of all beings, must not falter!" Wukong chanted a spell, linking with both Judliusun and Mahasthamaprapta, suppressing their fortunes. However, Tathagata had already extracted part of their fortunes.

The Buddhist sect concealed these spies within; at a decisive moment, they switched sides with a single strike, naturally causing immense pain to the Tathagata.

Judliusun personally led Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva to the War God Mystic Realm in the North Sea to listen to the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating preach, cleansing the Power of the Heavens and restoring clarity and freedom, understanding the Tathagata’s conspiracy. Now, he was also a crucial figure for turning the tide.

The fortune of the Tathagata, at its zenith, might have been weakened a bit, but that was merely like the light of a firefly, and Wukong secretly suppressed the fortunes of so many without him noticing, because the Tathagata’s fortune was already immense. It was like a rich man with enormous wealth who woke up the next day to find two gold ingots stolen. He wouldn’t mind, nor would he notice.

The Hundred Schools of philosophers gathered at Mount Meru; countless Vast Spirit Rivers hung in the void, with Confucius standing above the rivers, holding the Spring and Autumn Annals Pen with extraordinary grace.

"Tathagata, you act perversely against natural order. Now, as Siddhartha Gautama Buddha is about to return, why don’t you hastily vacate Mount Meru and cede the throne to the true World Honored One? Usurping others’ nests is an unforgivable sin! Today, I, Kong, shall question your divine powers!" Confucius shouted, stirring the Vast Spirit River.

The sound of Wen Tianxiang’s "Song of Righteous Qi" resounded from within the Vast Spirit River. Wen Tianxiang almost became a saint on the spot, but still fell short. All of the Confucian scholars recited this piece, and the magnificent Righteous Qi from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths swept over and poured into the Vast Spirit River.

Confucianism is practiced through a breath of Magnificent Righteous Qi, which screams for action against injustice, calling for vocal and written criticism! Although Buddhism entered The Eastern Land and twisted Confucianism to some extent, there were still those who could see through to their true nature and propagate the true Way of the Dao of Confucianism.

The examination system of the Ming Dynasty period indeed distorted Confucianism. The study of Confucianism, vast and far-reaching, how could it be constrained to a single essay form? Authentic Confucianism encompasses all, containing the principles of heaven and earth, with heaven, earth, ruler, kinship, and teacher as the five main tenets, placing the heavens and the earth above all.

"Righteous Qi endures forever!" Confucius shouted, as all the philosophers powered together, and the Vast Spirit River roared down, entering the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation.

Tathagata formed a Dharma Seal, unmoving as a mountain, only to hear the myriad Dharma Protector Vajra chant in unison, "Prajna Vajra, protect our Buddhist sect!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The Vajras glowed with golden layers, transforming into a gigantic Dharma Protector Vajra. Towering in stature, it reached out to grasp the Vast Spirit River.

All the adept masters of the Buddhist sect gathered here to maintain the formation. This time, by manifesting a Golden Body, they managed to shatter the Vast Spirit River with a grasp! Then launching a Subduing Demon Fist, the move’s might shook even the hidden demons and monsters within West Cow He State, killing them with its mere force.

"Unparalleled literary works!" Wang Yangming stepped forward, hand holding a spell, as the poems from historically Great Confucians filled the void, forming a sea of poetry.

Countless great Confucian works and poems emerged en masse, smothering the void, fusing into the Vast Spirit River and intensifying its terrifying power.

"Boom! Boom!"

Another clash, and the books, poems, and paintings of Confucianism transformed into a Great Confucian who was handsome, wearing a Silk Scarf on his head and holding a folding fan, with the other hand wielding a large pen, as if splashing ink across the Yangtze River, ready to transcend to immortality. With a sweep of his pen, waves crashed and rocks shattered with awe.

"Heaven, Earth, Man!" The Great Confucian penned three words, an overwhelming Righteous Qi rolling forward to clash with the Buddhist Vajras."

Vajras are the protectors of Buddhism; Buddhas generally do not engage in fights, their duty being to enlighten all beings. Combative protection is what Vajras do, which is why Buddhas transform their wrath into the Five Great Wisdom Kings.

Now, as the existence of Buddhism reached a critical point, Buddhas could not concern themselves with appearances and joined the fray, commanding the formation to counter external threats.