Honghuang: Eat a Hunyuan Daluo

Sun Wukong remembered that after the pilgrimage team was assembled, the next step was the so-called test of the Zen mind by the Four Sages.

Sun Wukong was actually looking forward to this ordeal, as it would be a good opportunity for him to take advantage of the situation and teach those Buddhist monks a lesson.

However, to Sun Wukong's surprise, the Four Sages did test his Zen mind, but they skipped over him.

With the protection of Duobao, Jin Chanzi had no problem.

Only Pigsy and Sandy suffered some losses.

Sun Wukong suddenly felt bored, and the four of them continued on their journey westward. The journey was uneventful, and the group moved forward slowly but tirelessly.

After an unknown amount of time, the thorny and rocky westward journey suddenly opened up into a bright and clear path.

A sacred mountain came into view. The mountain was of unknown height, shrouded in clouds and mist, with rays of light shining everywhere. The air was filled with spiritual energy, and just smelling it made one feel refreshed and invigorated.

"What a magnificent mountain! Brother Monkey, where are we?" Sha Wujing asked curiously.

Sha Wujing had always stayed by the Jade Emperor's side and rarely left the Heavenly Court. Even after being demoted to the mortal realm, he had remained in the Flowing Sand River and had never visited this famous river in the primordial world, let alone this extraordinary and otherworldly immortal mountain that seemed to belong to a different realm.

After gazing at the distant immortal mountain, Jin Chanzi said, "If nothing unexpected happens, we have arrived at Longevity Mountain."

"Longevity Mountain, what kind of place is that?" Sha Wujing felt that the place sounded familiar, but for a moment he couldn't remember what Longevity Mountain was.

Pigsy explained, "Longevity Mountain is the Daoist temple of Zhenyuan Daxian."

Upon hearing the name Zhenyuan Daxian, Sha Wujing was startled. How could he not know Zhenyuan Daxian?

This man was one of the three thousand guests of Zixiao Palace back then, the Lord of the Earth, and one of the most powerful beings in the primordial world, with unfathomable cultivation.

"Is Zhenyuan Daxian's Daoist temple, Wuzhuang Temple, located on this Longevity Mountain?" Sha Wujing asked cautiously.

"Correct."

"I see."

Seeing Sha Wujing's cautious demeanor, Jin Chanzi smiled and said, "Alright, old Sha, there's no need to be so nervous. I've had some dealings with Zhenyuan Daxian before, and he's not a difficult person to get along with. Since we're here, let's go to Wuzhuang and take a look!"

Sun Wukong was also very interested in Zhen Yuanzi, the lord of this region, so the group followed the winding path through the clouds and mist, heading straight up. After traveling for an unknown amount of time, a Taoist temple came into view, with a couplet in front of it.

Pigsy approached and muttered, "The immortal abode of immortals, the Taoist family that lives as long as heaven, what a grand spirit! No wonder you are Zhenyuan Daxian."

"Wuneng, knock on the door and see if anyone is home," Jin Chanzi said.

Pigsy nodded and immediately stepped forward. Just as he was about to knock on the door, it opened by itself. Two boys with red lips and white teeth, dressed in white Taoist robes, slowly walked out. These two were Qingfeng and Mingyue, the attendants of Zhen Yuanzi.

Jin Chanzi dismounted and put his hands together, saying, "Amitabha, I am a pilgrim from the Tang Dynasty in the East, on my way to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. These are my companions and disciples. We have come to pay our respects to Zhenyuan Daxian. Please help us inform him of our arrival."

Upon hearing this, Qingfeng and Mingyue looked Jin Chanzi up and down, then nodded and said, "Please come in, everyone!"

As Jin Chanzi and his entourage entered the Wuzhuang Temple, they were greeted by pavilions, towers, carved beams, and painted rafters, creating an otherworldly and refined atmosphere.

Soon, the group arrived at the main hall, but Zhen Yuanzi was not there.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. As the lord of this land, how could Zhen Yuanzi have time to meet Jin Chanzi and the others here?

Please wait a moment.

Before Qingfeng finished speaking, a figure appeared out of thin air. Just by standing there, this figure gave people a feeling of awe and reverence, as if gazing at the heavens and earth.

The person who came was naturally Zhen Yuanzi.

"It's been a long time, Jin Chanzi," Zhen Yuanzi greeted with a smile.

"I have met Zhenyuan Daxian."

"I haven't seen you for five hundred years. I never imagined you would be reincarnated."

Five hundred years ago, Jin Chanzi met Zhen Yuanzi at a Ghost Festival.

At that time, Zhen Yuanzi came to participate in the Ullambana Festival on a whim. He was famous in the prehistoric world. When he entered and exited some formal occasions as Zhen Yuanzi, people would often come up to talk to him. In order to avoid this trouble, Zhen Yuanzi simply hid his identity.

By chance, Jin Chanzi had some interaction with Zhen Yuanzi, who was hiding his identity. After discussing the Dao, they both felt that the other was good and thus became old friends.

As they were about to part, Jin Chanzi realized that the person he had been discussing philosophy with was the renowned Zhen Yuanzi.

“There is a saying in Confucianism that I like very much: ‘Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar?’ Today, distinguished guests have arrived at our door. How wonderful! Gentle breeze and bright moon, go and fetch five ginseng fruits.”

Qingfeng and Mingyue nodded in agreement, took the golden mallet, went to the backyard, and knocked down five ginseng fruits.

The ginseng fruit looked like a newborn baby, pink and translucent, emitting a strange fragrance, and was placed on the table.

Zhen Yuanzi said with a smile, "Please eat as much as you like, don't be shy."

Both Pigsy and Sandy swallowed hard, but dared not pick it up and eat it directly.

Without saying a word, Jin Chanzi picked up one and started eating it with a crunch.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong also picked up a ginseng fruit and ate it.

With Jin Chanzi and Sun Wukong as role models, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the White Dragon picked up the ginseng fruit and began to eat it in big mouthfuls.

Ginseng fruit tastes incredibly sweet and fresh. With one bite, the translucent flesh transforms into a warm current that slides into your stomach.

Once the spiritual energy entered my abdomen, it exploded like a small bomb, releasing a vast and swirling burst of energy that nourished my limbs and entire body.

After eating the ginseng fruit, Zhen Yuanzi said with a smile, "The journey to obtain the scriptures is not easy and the road is long. Why don't you all rest at Wuzhuang Temple for a few days?"

"Thank you very much, Great Immortal Zhenyuan." Jin Chanzi agreed without saying a word.

For several days afterward, Jin Chanzi would go to Zhen Yuanzi to discuss Dao, while Sun Wukong listened with great interest.

Jin Chanzi had a deep understanding of Buddhism, while Zhen Yuanzi shared his Xuanmen supernatural powers, which he had studied for many years, with Jin Chanzi.

Having reached Zhen Yuanzi's level, he could draw inferences from one thing to another, and both Buddhist teachings and other methods were of great help to him. Before they knew it, seven days had passed. On this day, Sha Wujing whispered, "Master, we've wasted quite a bit of time at Wuzhuang Temple. When will we continue our journey west?"

Jin Chanzi also felt that this delay had been a bit too long, so he went to Zhen Yuanzi and said goodbye.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi laughed heartily: "It's only been a short time, but we've been on the pilgrimage for so long. What's wrong with relaxing a bit?"

Jin Chanzi had no choice but to continue staying at Wuzhuang Temple.

In the blink of an eye, another month has passed.

Jin Chanzi and Zhen Yuanzi discussed the Dao every day, with Sun Wukong listening in. One day, while listening to the Dao, Sun Wukong unknowingly broke through his bottleneck and reached the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Zhen Yuanzi nodded in satisfaction, thinking, "Now the task arranged by Fellow Daoist Bai Jing should be considered complete."

After Sun Wukong's cultivation broke through, Zhen Yuanzi stopped discussing Dao with Jin Chanzi. He originally intended to find an opportunity to send them away.

However, at this moment, the guide, no, now we should call Amitabha Buddha, arrived at Wuzhuang Temple.

When Amitabha Buddha saw that Jin Chanzi and his party had been delayed at Wuzhuang Temple for more than a month without setting off, he became somewhat anxious. He was afraid that Zhen Yuanzi would be envious of the good fortune of the westward journey and might do something bad.

Zhen Yuanzi sensed Amitabha Buddha's arrival as soon as he stepped forward to stand before him.

Wuzhuang Temple was still in the primordial world, not in the realm of earthly immortals, so Zhen Yuanzi's cultivation level at this time was the same as Amitabha Buddha's, both being sub-saints.

To be honest, Zhen Yuanzi had always harbored resentment towards the two former Western Saints. Zhunti was ruthless in achieving his goals and had harmed many people.

Compared to Zhunti, Jieyin has some bottom lines, but not many.

Both of them were saints before. Now that Zhunti has perished, his true spirit has been listed on the Investiture of the Gods and he has become the mountain god of Mount Ling. Jieyin has been stripped of his saintly position and has become Amitabha Buddha in Buddhism.

Since Zhen Yuanzi was looking for an excuse to drive away Jin Chanzi and his disciples, he decided to use Amitabha Buddha as the excuse.

Thinking of this, Zhen Yuanzi's face darkened, and he asked, "What brings you to my Wanshou Mountain?"

“Jin Chanzi and the others have stayed at Wuzhuang Temple for too long, so I came to check on them out of concern.”

"You mean to say that I, a humble Taoist priest, intend to harm your Buddhist pilgrims on their journey to the West?"

Amitabha Buddha paused for a moment. He did have that intention, but what did Zhen Yuanzi mean by saying it directly?
The next second, Amitabha Buddha understood, because Zhen Yuanzi actually attacked him directly!
The moment Zhen Yuanzi made his move, the heavens and earth trembled. With a flick of his long sleeve, he unleashed the "Universe in the Sleeve" divine power, creating a chaotic world within his sleeve, where space distorted, like a black hole devouring everything.

He casually drew upon the earth's energy from Longevity Mountain, transforming it into streaks of earth-yellow dragon-shaped primordial energy that roared towards Amitabha Buddha.

These earth vein dragon energies are no ordinary things; they are the essence nurtured by the primordial earth for hundreds of millions of years. They are as heavy as mountains and as sharp as weapons, with each wisp of dragon energy carrying the supreme power of the ancestor of earth immortals.

Amitabha Buddha remained expressionless, clasped his hands together, and chanted the Buddha's name softly. His body radiated boundless golden light, and the Buddha's light, like a sea, instantly covered a hundred miles.

He used his "Enlightenment in a Dream" supernatural power; with a thought, the surrounding world transformed into an illusory dreamscape. In the dream, lotus flowers bloomed, auspicious clouds swirled, and countless phantoms of Bodhisattvas and Arhats appeared, accompanied by chanting, seemingly to dispel all hostility.

The image of Amitabha Buddha appears and disappears in the dream, as if transcending reality and standing between the real and the illusory.

Zhen Yuanzi's earth vein dragon energy rushed into the dream, but it seemed to sink into a quagmire. The dragon's roar gradually weakened, and the earth vein power was worn away layer by layer by the dream, turning into an illusory bubble.

Zhen Yuanzi snorted coldly, how could he let Amitabha Buddha easily resolve the attack?
He formed a hand seal and stomped his feet on the ground. The Wanshou Mountain where Wuzhuang Temple was located suddenly trembled, and he mobilized all the power of the earth veins within a thousand miles, transforming them into a huge earth immortal dharma image.

This Dharma image is ten thousand feet tall, with a towering tree behind it. Upon closer inspection, one will find that this tree is the Ginseng Fruit Tree. The roots of the Ginseng Fruit Tree penetrate deep into the earth, absorbing endless earth energy. Its canopy blocks out the sky and exudes a strong vitality.

Then, Faxiang slammed down with his palm, and the power of the earth veins condensed into a giant earth-yellow mountain, carrying an unparalleled heavy pressure, which crashed down on Amitabha Buddha's dream.

Upon seeing this, a golden lotus bloomed between Amitabha Buddha's brows, and his supernatural powers, which he had attained in the dream, were pushed to their ultimate limit.

In my dream, a boundless golden Buddha appeared. The Buddha was over 100,000 feet tall and sat on a nine-tiered lotus platform. Behind him, billions of rays of light transformed into a rotating Dharma disc, within which three thousand worlds flowed, each world expounding the profound meaning of Buddhism.

The golden Buddha chanted the "Great Sun Tathagata Sutra," his words like thunder, shaking heaven and earth, attempting to suppress the earth immortal's form with the boundless power of Buddhism.

The earthen-yellow mountain crashed into the dream. At first, it was worn down by the Buddha's light, and the mountain cracked. But with a thought from Zhen Yuanzi, the power of the earth's veins was continuously replenished, and the mountain was reshaped in the dream, becoming more and more solid, and forcefully suppressing the Buddha's light by several points.

The two sides clashed, causing the heavens and earth to lose their color, the mountains and rivers outside Wuzhuang Temple to collapse, and the wind and clouds to swirl back.

Zhen Yuanzi unleashed his divine powers once more, employing the second transformation of the Universe in His Sleeve. The world within his sleeve transformed into a chaotic hell, where earth fire, wind, and thunder surged, and the power of the earth's veins condensed into billions of earthly demon soldiers, swords, spears, and halberds, which swept across the sky and pierced towards Amitabha Buddha.

Amitabha Buddha responded with a dream, manifesting countless Buddha lands where hundreds of millions of monks chanted scriptures in an attempt to purify the evil spirits of the land with the sound of Buddha's voice.

However, the Earthly Fiends were formed from the earth's ley lines, making them incredibly fierce. Although the Buddhist chants could weaken them, they could not completely neutralize them. Some of the Earthly Fiends broke through the Buddhist realm and pierced directly at the golden body of Amitabha Buddha.

Amitabha Buddha sighed softly, and with a wave of his hands, a twelve-petaled golden lotus appeared in the dream. The lotus petals unfolded layer by layer, and on each petal was the phantom of the Buddha, all of whom used their supernatural powers to resist the earthly demon soldiers.

At the same time, his thoughts shifted, and a "Formless Buddha Light Sword" condensed at the core of his dream. This sword was formless and intangible, possessing the purest power of Buddhism, and it slashed towards Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Immortal Dharma Form.

Wherever the sword light passed, the power of the earth's veins was cut apart inch by inch, and a crack appeared on the Dharma Image's chest.

Zhen Yuanzi frowned, and with a flick of his finger, the ginseng fruit tree behind the Earth Immortal Dharma Image suddenly grew, its roots like billions of tentacles, entwining the Formless Buddha Light Sword and crushing it to pieces.

The tide of battle gradually turned, and Zhen Yuanzi, taking advantage of the earth's veins, launched increasingly fierce attacks.

When the third transformation of the "Universe in the Sleeve" is unleashed, the world within the sleeve transforms into a real world, containing mountains, rivers, the sun, the moon, and stars, as if a primordial world has been recreated.

This realm directly enveloped Amitabha Buddha's dream, and the Buddhist kingdom in the dream began to collapse under the crushing force of reality. The lotus flowers withered, and the Buddhist chants gradually weakened.

Amitabha Buddha exerted all his strength to activate his golden body, trying to stabilize the dream, but the power of the earth veins surged like a tide, endless and inexhaustible. Half of his golden body was absorbed by the world within his sleeve, and the earth fire, wind and thunder raged against him. The Buddha light on the surface of the golden body dimmed, and cracks appeared.

At the critical moment, a resolute look flashed in Amitabha Buddha's eyes. He used his dream-enlightenment supernatural power to forcibly reverse the situation, transforming himself into a single thought in the dream, briefly detaching from the world within his sleeve, and reshaping his golden body outside the Wuzhuang Temple.

However, this action consumed a great deal of his magical power, and his aura was already unstable, with a trace of golden Buddhist blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi rolled up his sleeves, stood with his hands behind his back, and said contemptuously, "Jieyin, you have lost today! I have no interest in Jin Chanzi and his group. I will make them get lost tomorrow. You should leave quickly and not disturb my peace again!"

Amitabha Buddha remained silent for a moment, knowing that further fighting would be futile, especially since Zhen Yuanzi had already stated that he was not interested in Jin Chanzi and his group.

Amitabha Buddha then said no more, transformed into a ray of light, and vanished into the distance. (End of Chapter)