The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 363 - 309: The Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals Great Formation Against Mount Meru_2

Chapter 363: Chapter 309: The Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals Great Formation Against Mount Meru_2

Tathagata said, "Even if all of you attack together, you won’t be able to break through my Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation. I have been plotting this formation for countless years, and now it is finally complete. Even if the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating were to attack it personally with the Four Swords of Celestial Slaying, he might not be able to break through it! Only Hongjun himself could possibly do it! But I fear that Hongjun is now at a critical juncture of Nirvana and cannot make a move. You simply cannot kill me."

Tathagata was arrogant, but no one present seemed to care. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha stepped forward and said, "Tathagata, you have stolen my position, and your sin is unforgivable! Now that I have returned, I must slay you, a cancer to our Buddhism—otherwise, I would have no face to meet the people who believe in our Buddhist sect."

Tathagata sneered, "Buddhism originally spread from our world, and Zhunti and Jieyin were chosen by us only because they stepped in dog shit. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, now that my influence is already established, gathering the fortune of All Buddhas, your return does nothing!"

"This Siddhartha Gautama Buddha is a cancer of our Buddhist sect, intent on taking over my position as the Respectful Ruler of the World. Be aware and do not let him beguile you! When the opportunity arises, he must be slain!" Tathagata began to inculcate the will that Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was the poison of the Buddhist sect into the Bodhisattvas who were not from his original team. This tactic was common for him, just like when he wanted to kill the Medicine Buddha back in the day. However, the Bodhisattvas and others in attendance had been suppressed in their fortunes by Wukong with the God-Beating Whip and had come to their senses—who would be befuddled by Tathagata now? Even if Tathagata spoke eloquently and blossomed lotuses with his tongue, it would be useless—they would betray him at the crucial moment.

"The World Honored One speaks the truth, this Siddhartha Gautama Buddha is indeed a cancer of our Buddhism and wants to ruin the World Honored One’s grand scheme! We must slay him!" bellowed Wukong.

"Yes!" everyone shouted, making Tathagata believe they had been brainwashed to think Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was the cancer, but the real cancer was Tathagata.

The real Buddhas of the Spirit Mountain also appeared, and seeing another Buddha identical to themselves seated in the middle of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation, flames of anger leaped within them.

Nearly all the Buddhas of the Three Worlds had perished, the Lamp Buddha had entered Nirvana, and Maitreya had died of severe injuries; the Lamp Buddha sitting in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation now was a fake who had stolen the twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls from the real Lamp Buddha.

With a long howl, Zhen Yuanzi called out, "Tathagata, you have laid out the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation, but my teacher foresaw this long ago! I have already imparted to everyone the mysteries of the Array of Ten Thousand Immortals. Let us see how your Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage compares to my Shangqing Lingbao’s Ten Thousand Immortals Great Formation!"

Tathagata could not help but sneer, "So it turns out you are the remnant of the Shangqing Lineage, Zhen Yuanzi, no wonder you have such means. Not even if Heaven-Penetrating himself came could he break through my Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation!"

Suddenly, Wukong heard a voice in his heart—it was coming from the Great Year Whip.

"Wukong, at the critical moment, you can use this whip to steal Tathagata’s fortune! I have already calculated this. The whip may seem like the Great Year Whip, but it is actually made from the first strand of fortune from the creation of heaven and earth, refined into the Fate-Stealing Whip. If you can steal the fortune Tathagata has gathered now, you may be able to steal fortune and become a saint. The Mixed Yuan Seed we have planted in your heart will sprout, allowing you to comprehend the Primordial Great Way."

The voice of the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating echoed in Wukong’s mind; he had long since left divine thoughts in the Divine Whip. It was not the Great Year Whip, but a Fate-Stealing Whip made to look like one deliberately to deceive others! It was intended to steal Tathagata’s fortune!

Great Emperor Zhenwu, seeing Wukong, raged, "Sun Wukong, you ungrateful wretch! Your teacher Subhuti is the Celestial Venerable of the Shangqing Sect—Lingbao Tianzun—and yet now you are helping Tathagata, trying to slay Siddhartha Gautama Buddha? Tathagata is the real cancer. Make your move quickly, and help us break the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation."

He didn’t know Wukong’s true situation, seeing that Wukong was still speaking on behalf of Tathagata, he was extremely annoyed.

"Ha ha, ha ha! Great Emperor Zhenwu, your words are mistaken. We cannot conspire with those who follow a different path, only Buddhism is the truth. Only Buddhism can save the people, only Buddhism can salvage the national destiny. You are the ones against the way of heaven, speaking with undue arrogance! Dare to try and turn me? I, as the Victorious Fighting Buddha of Buddhism, how could I be beguiled by your demon words? You taught me divine skills, merely using me for the Journey to the West. I was almost killed by your master hands during the journey, how could I possibly help you? Only Buddhism is merciful, willing to personally enlighten me, imparting the true meaning of the Great Dao!" laughed Wukong.

At this key moment, even if Tathagata had doubts, he would not engage in a conflict within. This was a critical time to be united against outsiders, with no room for negligence. Moreover, he had already tested Wukong and had great confidence in him.

"Sun Wukong, now that Tathagata is acting against the way and committing atrocities, yet you are still aiding him, don’t blame us brothers for being ruthless!" the Demon King of Flower-Fruit Mountain also shouted. It was all an act.

"Ha ha, we have long been devoid of brotherly affection, and today we shall settle our life-and-death feud, ending karma! Don’t even dream of shaking my Buddhist faith," sneered Wukong.

At this moment, all the masters inside and outside the Three Realms joined forces. Whether they were from the path of righteousness, the Path of Demons, or the Demon Path, they were united in spirit and purpose.

"Boom!"

A loud rumble echoed through the void as the Projections of the Heavens appeared once more, causing trouble in the Four Great Continents. The Nine Heavens also made their moves, capturing the Projections of the Heavens to battle high up in the Nine Heavens.

Tathagata pointed to the sky, and with a cold laugh, said, "The Heavens are about to descend, and now the Five Decays of Heaven and Man have come. Below the Golden Immortal, all will perish in the Yellow Springs, and all life will wither!"

The aura of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man was so rich that it made it hard to breathe. Inside, the True Qi weakened, and the vitality of all things in heaven and earth was being destroyed.