Simultaneous travel: Starting from returning to the main god space.

Chapter 362 Bullshit! (Seeking monthly votes! Seeking follow-up subscriptions!)

The Western Paradise, atop Mount Ling, stands the Great Thunderclap Temple.

Unlike the Eastern Heavenly Court, because it is located in the Western Continent of Niuhe, the Western Heavenly Spirit Mountain does not have the saying "a day in the mountain is a thousand years in the world". Its time flow is roughly the same as that of the human world.

Therefore, more than three months have passed since Wu Xian turned the Golden-Winged Roc into a hand-shredded chicken on Flower Fruit Mountain and then smashed the Buddha's image with a stick.

What's strange is that the Buddha's reaction to this matter was very calm. He not only showed no anger or led his army to suppress the monkey demon, but also mysteriously fell into silence.

Especially in the past month, the atmosphere throughout Mount Ling has become extremely strange. Buddha even summoned all the Bodhisattvas and Venerable Ones who were away to Mount Ling and began to close the temple to preach. At the same time, he refused all communication with the outside world. Even when news came from the Heavenly Court, he treated it coldly and ignored it.

Many Buddhist disciples did not understand the meaning of the Buddha's actions. Only some Bodhisattvas and Buddhas thought of something, but they all chose to remain silent and wait quietly.

Inside the Great Thunderclap Temple, the Tathagata was expounding the Dharma as usual. Wherever he spoke, the true meaning of the Buddha's teachings transformed from the abstract to the concrete, turning into a shower of light that fell from the sky, forming golden lotuses all over the ground. The surrounding Buddhas and Bodhisattvas listened with rapt attention.

Just then, the chanting of scriptures suddenly stopped, and all the strange phenomena from before vanished. The Buddha opened his golden eyes wide and looked at the tightly closed bronze door in front of him, revealing an indescribable smile.

With a loud bang, the seemingly heavy bronze gate was kicked open from the outside, causing the five hundred Arhats, numerous Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas of the three worlds inside the temple to instinctively look in the direction of the sound.

But when they saw the gray-robed monks who had entered, their expressions changed, as if they had seen something incredible.

"Haha! Five hundred years have passed, how have you all been?"

The young monk let out a hearty laugh. He had a handsome face and kind eyes, like a prodigal son who had been away from home for a long time and was finally returning to greet his elders and fellow villagers.

However, when faced with the young monk's greetings, all the Buddhas lowered their eyes and remained silent, their eyes fixed on their noses and their noses on their hearts. Only Guanyin Bodhisattva, sitting on the lotus platform, had a flickering gaze, as if she were filled with worry.

"Amitabha……"

As a Buddhist chant rang out, the Tathagata appeared seated high on the altar, surrounded by countless rays of Buddha light. His eyes, like the vast and boundless starry sky, looked down at the young monk who had intruded into the Great Thunderclap Temple, and said in a calm tone, "Buddha of Sandalwood Merit, have you finally stopped hiding?"

Sandalwood Merit Buddha!
This is one of the thirty-five Buddhas of the ten directions, an emanation of Shakyamuni Buddha, ranking eleventh.

If we consider Buddhism as a company, then the Sandalwood Merit Buddha is already one of the directors of the highest decision-making body of Buddhism, wielding immense power.

Of course, his other name is more well-known than this one.

The Great Tang Monk Tang Sanzang, the tenth reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, was once the second disciple of Buddha. He was also Sun Wukong's second master.

Five hundred years ago, Sun Wukong died under the siege of the Heavenly Court and many great demons. At that time, Tang Sanzang, who had already attained the Buddhahood of Sandalwood Merit, suddenly left Mount Ling and disappeared without a trace. No one knew where he had hidden.

Unexpectedly, the other party appeared on his own initiative at this moment. Considering the recently made-up person who had caused so much trouble, the Buddhas couldn't help but think of many things, and their gazes toward Tang Sanzang became complicated.

“Buddha is mistaken.”

Tang Sanzang replied with a smile, raising his head to look at the Buddha and meeting his gaze with those golden eyes that were devoid of joy or sorrow. He said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This disciple has never hidden away. I just wanted to find a quiet place to think about some things. Now that I have figured it out, it is only natural that I should return."

"Oh! What are you thinking about?"

The Buddha seemed intrigued and asked, “I’ve been thinking, since the core of Mahayana Buddhism is to save all sentient beings and enable everyone to become a Buddha, then why is it that in this Western Paradise, only Mount Ling is bathed in auspicious light and blessings, while the people below suffer from hardship and natural disasters? Why are all the immortals and Buddhas high above, while others are only fit to kowtow and burn incense… And now, I finally understand.”

Having said that, Tang Sanzang shifted his gaze from the Buddha, slowly sweeping it across all the Buddhas before finally returning it to the Buddha, and laughed, "Because the so-called Mahayana Buddhism, the so-called equality of all beings, is nothing but a fart from you, Buddha!"

Upon hearing this, all the Buddhas who had been keeping their eyes down and silent changed their expressions drastically, looking at Tang Sanzang as if he were a madman.

He publicly cursed and insulted Buddha...

Throughout history, since the emergence of the Eastern and Western Heavens, among the countless beings in these heavens, who has dared to act in this way? It is truly heretical and unorthodox. Even the Golden Cicada of that time would not have dared to act so recklessly...

"How dare you! You wretched creature, you dare to utter such nonsense and defile the Buddha's presence!"

At this moment, Venerable Ananda, who was standing beside the Buddha, glared angrily. With a wave of his hand, an ordinary-looking monk's knife appeared out of thin air and slashed down fiercely at Tang Sanzang.

A burst of golden light appeared, and the blade's edge transformed into a writhing golden fire dragon, baring its fangs and claws, which landed squarely on Tang Sanzang.

"clang----!!!"

But when the slash landed, there was no blood splattering as expected. Instead, it struck steel, producing a deafening roar. The golden fire dragon shattered into pieces, let out a mournful cry, and vanished into the air.

Tang Sanzang was unharmed. He merely glanced at him, and a flash of golden light appeared in his eyes. Instantly, Venerable Ananda was struck as if by lightning. His face turned deathly pale, and he collapsed to the ground, spitting out golden blood.

“Buddha said that all beings are equal. Since we are all equal, what harm is there in me saying a few words about him? How can it be considered defamation? Does that mean that Buddha is not among all beings?”

"If that is the case, then it further proves what I said before: Mahayana Buddhism is nothing but a deception, a means for you to absorb the spiritual essence of sentient beings."

Such actions are no different from those of demons who wreak havoc on living beings. What right do you have to enjoy the offerings and faith of the masses?

Tang Sanzang's unrestrained laughter was like thunder.

In an instant, a fierce wind rose from the top of Mount Ling and blew into the Great Thunderclap Temple through the opened bronze gate.

As the strong wind blew past, many Arhats and Bodhisattvas seemed to become mortals, being blown about left and right, almost falling off the Buddha platform.

Only a few figures remained, along with Tang Sanzang, whose monk's robes fluttered in the wind, standing motionless in the main hall.

The Buddhas' expressions changed drastically. They never expected that Tang Sanzang's strength was so formidable, surpassing even that of the Golden Cicada when he was still a monk.

"Namo Amitabha……"

At this moment, the Tathagata, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. His robe bulged up as if boundless winds and clouds were surging. Behind him, the Buddha wheel contained the Buddhas of the three times, the Buddha lands of the ten directions, and countless devout believers, appearing and disappearing.

"The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore... Tang Sanzang, I know you came for the chosen one, but fate has been decided, and you cannot resist it by your own strength. If you stop now, there is still a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, you will be doomed and never be able to turn back."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Second update at noon!
(End of this chapter)