The author of the book "The Book of the Dead"

Chapter 252 The Investiture of the Gods System, Thunder Sound Demon Buddha

"Da Leiyin Temple is located on Lingshan Mountain."

Where is Mount Ling?

"In the far west of Xiniuhe Continent, there are six kingdoms: Yaksha Kingdom, Shura Kingdom, Baoxiang Kingdom, Celestial Kingdom, Mortal Kingdom, and Heavenly Dragon Kingdom."

"The six kingdoms converge, forming a hidden formation. Only those with wisdom can see the sacred mountain and cultivate Mahayana Buddhism."

Everyone knows that Mahayana Buddhism is very powerful; those who cultivate Mahayana Buddhism can simultaneously practice various supernatural powers. While practitioners of Hinayana Buddhism can cultivate faster, they are still considerably weaker than Mahayana practitioners.

“Everyone with the right aptitude has five years to practice Mahayana Buddhism. If they fail to comprehend the Dharma after five years, they will be expelled from Da Lei Yin Temple and forced to practice Hinayana Buddhism.”

Jiedi Vajra smiled bitterly.

He longed to return to Lingshan.

Thinking of this, the Vajra Guardian knelt down with a thud and prayed:
"This humble monk can only take you to the vicinity of the Great Thunderclap Temple. Since you have a connection with the Great Thunderclap Temple, you will surely be able to enter it. At that time, I hope..."

At this point, the Vajra of the Gate stammered.

"But it doesn't matter."

"I hope that you, senior, can persuade the Buddha Xuanzang to grant this humble monk another five years to practice Mahayana Buddhism."

Jieti Vajra still hopes to practice Mahayana Buddhism.

The advantage of Theravada Buddhism is that the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir stage is relatively easy to cultivate. However, once you reach a higher level, without the previous experience of the Great Dao, you may get stuck in a certain state and not be able to make any progress.

It was precisely because Jieti Vajra saw this point that he sought help from Liang Yue.

“Alright.” Liang Yue glanced at the Vajra of the Gate and said, “I still suggest continuing to practice the Vajra Indestructible Dharma.”

"You have a talent for this method, it would be a pity to give it up, so why not do it this way for now..."

Liang Yue opened his palm, and his hand manifested the Vajra Indestructible Divine Power.

The skin on my palms changed from gold to purplish-gold, and then to a glassy gold.

At his level, the divine thoughts of the Yang God can manifest many things.

This body has not cultivated the Vajra Indestructible Divine Power, but that does not prevent me from simulating it through thought.

"This is?"

“A diamond is also a diamond. Cultivating to the level of a diamond is similar to the first stage of the innate golden elixir.”

The first transformation of the Innate Golden Core is roughly the upper limit of this path. Unless a person defies fate and creates a new method, they cannot break through the upper limit.

"I understand."

The Vajra of the Gate sighed inwardly, thinking that this person was truly the founder of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Power. Apart from himself, no one else in the world had used the Vajra Indestructible Divine Power to such an extent.

"lets go."

"Yes!"

After arranging all other matters, Jiedi Jingang and Liang Yue disappeared into the Vajra True Sect, one after the other.

Heading to the sacred mountain, a hundred and eight thousand miles away.

……

Lingshan.

This mountain is majestic and towering, shrouded in azure mist and rosy glow, imbued with auspicious energy.

At the foot of the mountain, there are rare flowers and herbs, ancient cypresses and pines, and intelligent creatures living in harmony in the forest, including black apes brewing wine and colorful phoenixes carrying flowers.

Purple Ganoderma lucidum and fairy fruit bloom year after year, and the crimson wind soars, bringing countless spiritual sensations.

The mountain road winds its way through the welcoming pine forest and across the Lingyun Ferry before finally reaching the Leiyin Ancient Temple.

The ancient temple, a thousand feet high, soars into the sky. Looking down at the setting sun, one might reach out and pluck a shooting star.

A magnificent palace, a jeweled pavilion.

The ancient temple shone brightly with gold, and the halls were adorned with purple gold, agate, lapis lazuli, red dragons coiled around the beams, and golden phoenixes perched on the roof.

The hall contains sculptures ranging in size from as tall as mountains to as small as human figures.

Eight Bodhisattvas, four Vajras, five hundred Arhats, and three thousand Jiedi.

A small portion are living people, such as Jiedi and Luohan, but most are statues.

The statue is so lifelike that it looks like a human figure.

In reality, they were transformed from living people. Because the ancient spiritual energy was annihilated, most Buddhist disciples transformed into golden bodies to save the world.

The temple was filled with the sounds of chanting and the murmurs of believers coming from all directions.

The believers' faith manifested as tangible white light, forming multiple layers of seven-colored halo behind the Buddha's head in the center.

This Buddha sits cross-legged on a nine-tiered lotus platform, his sixteen-foot-tall golden body pierced by a white rainbow.

Her eyes seemed half-closed, and a mysterious lotus flower bloomed in the air.

Behind him stood a seven-jeweled Bodhi tree, from which seven treasures radiated mysterious light, a sight beyond description.

This is the present Tathagata Buddha.

Beside the Buddha was a handsome monk in white robes. The monk's appearance did not have the same wondrous golden body as other Buddhas; he seemed to be just an ordinary mortal.

At this moment, everyone's gaze was drawn to the Bodhisattva statue not far away.

The Bodhisattva statue holds a Vajra Wisdom Sword and sits on a blue-maned lion.

This is Manjushri Bodhisattva, one of the eight great Bodhisattvas.

Below Manjushri Bodhisattva sits a woman in elegant palace attire.

This woman possesses the same qualities as Manjushri Bodhisattva: "powerful and wise, with profound compassion."

"Be still, and contemplate the Buddha's teachings. Remember your precepts, and you will surely attain the fruit of the path. Realize Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi."

Now the Buddha's voice was deep and resonant, like a great bell, deafening.

A massive incense offering flowed towards the woman beneath the statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva.

The image of Manjushri Bodhisattva gradually dissolved and was absorbed by the woman below.

"Jin Chanzi, success or failure hinges on this moment." Now the Buddha looked at the white-robed monk, Xuanzang.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, this battle will surely be a success." Xuanzang was full of confidence, but he was not entirely sure of himself. He could only secretly hope that Wu Zetian would live up to his expectations.

It concerns a bet between the two.

Buddhism is based on innate gods and demons. Being innate gods and demons does not mean that one can be resurrected after falling into slumber. None of the eight great bodhisattvas have been able to awaken successfully to this day. Most of them have turned into statues over the long years and can no longer return to their original form.

Xuanzang offered two solutions for the present Buddha: one was to wait patiently for time to allow the statue to regain its sentience.

Secondly, humans absorb its Dharma form and become new Bodhisattvas.

Xuanzang advocated the second point, and now the Buddha has agreed.

However, the Buddha has a condition: if the fusion fails, Xuanzang will forever become a guardian deity of Buddhism.

Xuanzang's conditions were also very simple: if this path was feasible, Buddhism would be dominated by humans in the future, and he would be on equal footing with the current Buddha.

Of course, in the Buddhist hierarchy, one's own seat is one head lower than the present Buddha, to show that the present Buddha is the primary one.

In short, Xuanzang wanted to "obey summons but not orders." He would accept verbal audiences and court assemblies, but he would not accept any orders or commands.

"We'll see." Now the Buddha clasped his hands together, his eyes displaying a half-smile.

The Great Dao of innate gods and demons is beyond the comprehension of mortals. Even if one could comprehend it, that person would be assimilated by the Great Dao and transformed into a new statue.

Humans cannot comprehend orthodox Buddhism and attain the supreme enlightenment.

Xuanzang was exceptionally gifted, but he lacked a deep understanding of the essence of Buddhism and did not comprehend the influence of incense offerings on people.

The Incense Path is a method to gain the faith of the masses and cultivate oneself with their power. It offers great convenience and is also influenced by the masses.

Wu Zetian may have been able to merge with Manjushri Bodhisattva, but the final result was that Wu Zetian became Manjushri Bodhisattva, not the other way around, Wu Zetian refined Manjushri Bodhisattva.

In essence, they are still innate gods and demons, only now they have changed into human bodies.

Soon, the situation gradually shifted in the direction of the present Buddha. Wu Zetian's body gradually transformed into a golden body, becoming more and more like the previous Manjushri Bodhisattva's Dharma body.

Her entire appearance gradually changed from feminine to masculine.

Xuanzang suddenly stood up, his face showing shock, and said, "Please, Buddha, awaken Fellow Martial Arts."

Now the Buddha clasped his hands and sighed, saying, "It's too late. It's a fait accompli and cannot be changed. This is Wu Zetian's destiny."

No one forced Wu Zetian to do anything; this time, Wu Zetian volunteered.

Originally, Xuanzang was supposed to take the initiative himself, but Wu Zetian felt that it would be too much of a loss for Xuanzang to integrate the eight great bodhisattvas with his talent, so she simply volunteered to take the gamble herself.

The power of incense continuously flowed into Wu Zetian's body.

"You have lost." Now the Buddha looked at Xuanzang.

“There is still a chance.” Xuanzang looked at Wu Zetian.

The assimilation of Manjushri Bodhisattva's golden body slowed down, resulting in a situation where the two sides were competing with each other, maintaining a strange balance.

"It won't be long before Fellow Martial Artist attains enlightenment." Xuanzang looked at the Buddha.

"It seems we've reached a draw this time." Now, the Buddha smiled compassionately and withdrew his golden wheel of merit.

The moment the golden wheel retracted, there was a brief moment of complete darkness, which spread like a contagious disease across the golden body of the Buddha.

The golden body, one piece of gold and the other of black, flickers and changes in light, sometimes showing compassion and sometimes resentment and anger.

"Oh no! The desire for incense!"

Xuanzang's expression changed, and he immediately came to the side of the present Buddha and began to recite the Lotus Sutra.

This scripture is the culmination of Xuanzang's centuries of painstaking work, and it is also the reason why Buddhism values ​​Xuanzang today.

The wondrous Dharma lotus, its fragrance filling the void, sets off the solemn and dignified appearance of Xuanzang.

The core idea of ​​this sutra lies in the word "Nirvana," which symbolizes the lotus flower that purifies everything.

As the scriptures were recited, the wrathful black form of the Buddha gradually faded away.

Now the Buddha has returned to his original compassionate self.

"The greatest enemy of Buddhism lies with me." The Buddha's expression was now sorrowful. "The path of incense has carried the evil thoughts of tens of thousands of years. I am about to be corrupted and become a terrifying demon. If I become a demon one day, I hope you will personally end it."

"You are the future Buddha, the next leader of Buddhism."

"Is there no solution?" Xuanzang asked, puzzled.

"No, this is a dead end. No one can withstand the enormous negative power of incense offerings. This is a calamity that Buddhism must face."

The reason why the Buddha's power is currently stuck at the level of a deity (similar to a Yang God) is that he has not been able to resolve the demonic thoughts associated with incense offerings.

"The Lotus Sutra possesses divine power to ward off negative influences; the future of Buddhism lies with you," the Buddha said. "Was the Lotus Sutra truly taught by a Taoist priest?"

"Not at all. I drew upon some of the ideas from Senior Lingbao and then incorporated them into my understanding of Buddhism over the years."

The Taoist principles of valuing life and saving countless people, along with Liang Yue's ideas of rebirth and transcendence, have created the wondrous Lotus Sutra, which still amazes Buddhists today.

"Lingbao Tianzun... I wish to meet him."

Even if the Buddha wanted to see him now, he wouldn't have the ability to make his wishes come true.

In the time that followed, Xuanzang kept a close eye on Wu Zetian's situation and occasionally went out to preach Mahayana Buddhism to his disciples.

The foundation of Buddhism lies in spreading the Dharma. The more believers there are, the more incense offerings there will be, and Buddhist venerable ones can use the incense offerings to create golden statues.

Buddhism does not solely rely on incense offerings and faith; it also occasionally engages in good deeds through nearby Theravada Buddhist groups to solidify the faith of its followers.

Time passes gradually.

Wu Zetian's situation did not improve as expected; Manjushri Bodhisattva's power gained the upper hand, and things took a turn for the worse.

At this moment, a golden-bodied Arhat arrived at the Great Thunder Temple.

"Reporting, the Vajra of the Gate and the Taoist of Lingbao request an audience."

"Hmm? Daoist Lingbao? Senior has emerged from seclusion?"

A hint of excitement appeared on Xuanzang's usually calm expression.

Throughout history, Buddhism and Taoism have been fiercely competitive, but truly accomplished individuals do not narrowly exclude other schools of thought.

The relationship between Senior Lingbao and Xuanzang was more like that of a master and disciple. Although they belonged to different sects and had different cultivation methods, in Xuanzang's heart, he had long regarded Liang Yue as half a master, just like the Taoists back then.

"Lingbao Daoist? Please invite fellow Daoist in for a chat." The Buddha's voice now resounded throughout the entire Great Thunderclap Temple.

Before long, Liang Yue and Chang Xi arrived, led by Luo Han.

"This humble Taoist priest, Lingbao, is fortunate to meet the Buddha. Xuanzang, it has been two thousand years since we last met. Are you well?"

Liang Yue greeted everyone one by one, glancing at the golden statue of Manjushri beside him.

"All is well, thank you for your concern, Master." Xuanzang said with a smile, "World Honored One, this is the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable that I mentioned before."

"I've heard so much about you," the Buddha said with a smile, his palms pressed together.

"Nice to meet you."

After eight lifetimes of spiritual transformation, Liang Yue was finally qualified to sit on equal footing with these ancient and renowned gods and demons.

Even if the opponent is a weakened version of a god or demon.

Before the group could catch up, Liang Yue said to the Buddha, "May I save this disciple first?"

"Of course." Now Buddha was also curious about how Liang Yue would display his ultimate technique.

Liang Yue walked up to Wu Zetian and sensed her internal condition.

"Manjushri Bodhisattva, Vajra of Wisdom, not bad."

Liang Yue pointed into the void, drawing upon the life force of the innate peaches, and then had Chang Xi infuse them with moonlight.

A series of thoughts, like beads of Dharma, were refined into a golden elixir using the method of creation from emptiness.

The method of creation by the Yang God startled Xuanzang, whom he had not seen for a long time, and the Buddha he was meeting for the first time.

Such profound spiritual attainments! It has the ability to transform thoughts into all things, and coupled with innate vitality, it can transform almost anything.

After taking the elixir, Wu Zetian felt much better. Her own consciousness took over, and she gradually returned to her original appearance.

“Venerable One, you have lost this bet. Humans can also inherit the Buddha’s position,” Xuanzang joked.

Liang Yue looked at the Buddha and said, "Welcome to the Buddhist sect to join the human race. We will share the glory and disgrace of the human race and will certainly not disappoint you in the future."

Seven of the eight great Bodhisattvas have not yet been resurrected, and the human race has a chance to occupy all of their positions.

At that time, the human race's forces will consist of the Queen Mother of the West, led by the Eastern King Duke, and the Buddhist sect, which can be described as having a promising future.

"Excellent, excellent." Now the Buddha gladly accepted, "With the help of fellow practitioners, I will not be afraid of the backlash from incense offerings in the future."

"Backlash from offerings?" Liang Yue asked, puzzled.

Xuanzang briefly explained the way of incense offerings.

Liang Yue analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the practice of burning incense.

This approach might be worth using.

Instead of borrowing it for themselves, they are using the incense offering method to cultivate more cultivators?
Of course, it is not advisable to cultivate a large number of ignorant believers. We should learn from the "masses" attribute of the incense-burning pilgrimage and establish a unified cultivation system.

Just like the "ordination and access to magic" that I used in the Tang Dynasty, on a larger scale it could be called the "Investiture of the Gods system".

The Investiture of the Gods system can encompass many different pantheons, firmly linking the interests of all people.

Liang Yue only had this idea; he was not a member of the Buddhist community and did not understand the incense system.

The only way is to get involved yourself.

"I have a way to solve this."

"What Dharma do you have, fellow Daoist?" The Buddha's eyes lit up.

"Pour all your desires for incense and offerings into me, and I will become a demonic Buddha within the Buddhist sect."

(End of this chapter)