I start by accepting Sun Wukong as my disciple and reshape the Journey to the West

Chapter 153 The Advantage Lies With Me
"Fellow Daoist's methods are truly extraordinary. Not only did you infiltrate Mount Ling silently, but you also managed to attract me into the void. I really underestimated you!" Old Ancestor Styx's face was cold.

He had gone to great lengths to seize the body of the Buddha, and it seemed that in just a few more years He would be able to completely control the entire Mount Sumeru. But the scene that suddenly appeared today made Him feel an unprecedented crisis.

The moment Ye Xuantian, who possessed the essence of Buddhism, drew Him from the lotus platform to this place, He knew that something unexpected was bound to happen at Mount Ling.

"Ancestor, you flatter me!" Ye Xuantian didn't exchange many pleasantries with Ancestor Styx, because he could clearly sense that Ancestor Styx was constantly eroding the barrier here.

As Ye Xuantian finished speaking, three grains of light suddenly bloomed between his brows.

The Buddha's essence radiated dazzling golden light, rapidly covering the area once more.

The essence of desire is to render Ye Xuantian himself in seven colors.

The essence of battle made Ye Xuantian's seven-colored light even purer.

The Styx Ancestor sighed, "It seems that the Desire Heaven did not completely possess Guanyin Bodhisattva. In that case, Mosquito Daoist was also defeated by you, fellow Daoist."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuantian's lips curled up slightly: "It seems that the Ancestor himself is in the Spirit Mountain and cannot achieve sufficient resonance with his main body in the Blood River."

With just one sentence, the Styx Ancestor's expression changed drastically. As if he were furious, the Styx Ancestor's figure flickered slightly and appeared in front of Ye Xuantian, throwing a punch.

"Fellow Daoist's scheming is truly profound; you have managed to subtly influence my true nature."

The Styx Ancestor's punch came with great force, and Ye Xuantian, who possessed the origin of battle, could naturally see clearly the power hidden in the Styx Ancestor's punch.

He immediately made a move to meet the attack and threw a punch in return.

Just as their fists were about to collide, the Styx Ancestor grinned and said, "You've been tricked."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Styx Ancestor clenched his fist into a palm, and a huge character for "forbidden" appeared in his palm.

“In the name of Buddha, I forbid all his magic.”

hum!
The forbidden character immediately transformed into countless silver needles, attacking Ye Xuantian's acupoints.

All of this happened so suddenly that Ye Xuantian seemed completely unprepared, standing there dumbfounded as the silver needles spread all over his body's acupoints.

"Hmm?" The Styx Ancestor seemed to realize what was happening and immediately tried to withdraw his hand.

"too slow!"

Ye Xuantian's figure slowly emerged in the distance, while the Ye Xuantian who was originally in front of the Styx Ancestor transformed into the phantom of Manjushri Bodhisattva.

The silver needles pierced all the acupoints of the Bodhisattva's phantom image.

At the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling, the character for "forbidden" on Maitreya Buddha's palm shone brightly. Looking at the motionless Manjushri Bodhisattva, he said in a low voice, "I apologize."

The bag of human beings appeared in Maitreya Buddha's hand and directly took Manjushri Bodhisattva into it.

Seeing this scene, a cold glint flashed across Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's face, and his body shone with Buddhist light: "Even if it means losing some of my cultivation today, I must keep them here."

As Samantabhadra Bodhisattva uttered his command, the other bodhisattvas also shone with golden light, their eyes filled with blood-red light, and unleashed countless techniques.

The Bodhisattva Pilanpo temporarily forced Lu Ya Dao Ren back, and his figure suddenly grew taller. A crack appeared between his eyebrows, and golden light radiated outwards, continuously reinforcing the barrier of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

“Buddha of the East, if this continues, we may not have a chance to escape. We came here today to break the deadlock, so let’s not try to steal a chicken and lose the rice instead, and end up getting ourselves killed here.”

The scarecrow in Lu Ya's hand gradually transformed into the appearance of the Bodhisattva Pilanpo, and he shouted loudly.

Maitreya Buddha had already arrived beside Guanyin Bodhisattva, helping Guanyin Bodhisattva to resist Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. After casually blocking an attack, he replied, "Fellow Daoist Xuantian said that we only need to restrain them, and someone will naturally build a passage."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva blocked the powerful blow from Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva with his staff and couldn't help but ask, "Who is it? I thought it would be you, Buddha of the East, who came to open the passage!"

The forbidden character in Maitreya Buddha's palm bloomed again, but Samantabhadra Bodhisattva had just seen it clearly. The supernatural power of this forbidden character was extremely strange. It could even lock his own soul, making Manjushri Bodhisattva unable to move. Therefore, he was on guard at all times.

Almost at the instant Maitreya Buddha opened his palm, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's figure became ethereal. When he reappeared, he was already behind Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, holding the Abhaya Mudra and blasting out.

Maitreya Buddha replied with a furrowed brow, "We have already reached our limit in sealing these Bodhisattvas. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva actually thinks I have the power to open the passage. If I really had such means, I would have taken over the Great Thunder Temple long ago."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was not angry when he was rebuffed, because before he came to the rescue, he had made several divinations at Cuiyun Palace, and the results of his divinations were exactly the same as those of Maitreya Buddha.

The bodhisattvas had the advantage of timing and location. Apart from themselves and Guanyin Bodhisattva, Lu Ya and Ye Xuantian were all subject to time restrictions.

In other words, as long as the other side can hold them off, and once Lu Ya and Ye Xuantian are pushed out of Lingshan, the others can swarm and defeat them, and the people will not be on their side.

After all, once the Styx Ancestor breaks free from his control, the combat power of all the Arhats, monks, and nuns present will be greatly enhanced under his control.

"The key to breaking this game lies in the chess piece in the corner of the board. Sage Xuantian has always liked to use chess pieces hidden by heavenly secrets to achieve unexpected victories. I am very curious now about who Sage Xuantian will use this time." Guanyin Bodhisattva dipped the willow branch in her hand into the spiritual spring in her vase and dropped it towards the myriad Buddha avatars manifested by Maitreya Buddha around her.

Suddenly, the clones seemed to be strengthened, and their previously suppressed state instantly became balanced.

"You underestimate the Ancestor. Although Ye Xuantian is powerful, he has no idea that the Ancestor has already devoured most of the Buddha's power and can even mobilize half of it. In this way, Ye Xuantian will be facing two Quasi-Saints at the same time, and he will definitely lose!"

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva threw out his robe while chanting the Buddha's name. Instantly, the golden threads on the robe formed a protective barrier around the Great Thunder Temple at an extremely fast speed, and with the blessing of Vimalamitra Bodhisattva, another layer was added.

"Now, as long as we completely keep you here, Mount Ling will become our possession. Your so-called breakthrough today is nothing more than walking into a trap in our eyes."

……

"Fellow Daoist Xuantian, I admire your strategy and respect your ability to help recruit a Bodhisattva in such a short time. But unfortunately, I will not make the same mistake again. I will kill you with overwhelming force!"

The Styx Ancestor's eyes were filled with undisguised coldness. He didn't understand why Ye Xuantian could transfer his power to the outside world, but he didn't care.

As Styx Ancestor finished speaking, the golden body of Buddha Tathagata slowly materialized behind him. The moment that golden body appeared, the vast Buddhist aura in the area was completely swallowed up by it.

Ye Xuantian's expression changed slightly. The power of the Buddha's origin was actually devoured by the golden body of the Tathagata Buddha? How could this be?

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Xuantian, you probably don't know yet, but this golden body of mine is the Tathagata Buddha who has been assimilated, and it is not just an illusion."

As if in response to Styx Ancestor's words, the golden avatar detached itself from Styx Ancestor and took a step forward on its own.

"I am Tathagata, you are not Jin Chanzi, why do you possess the origin of Buddha!" ​​Tathagata Buddha spoke, his confusion barely concealed, and his killing intent so intense it seemed tangible as he lunged at Ye Xuantian.

A swastika appeared in Ye Xuantian's palm: "I hold the essence of Buddha, you are merely an illusory body, how dare you presume to replace Tathagata!"

As Ye Xuantian uttered the cold shout, his figure vanished from the spot and reappeared in front of the Buddha, thrusting out with a single palm.

The swastika took the lead, growing larger and larger at a visible speed. The overwhelming swastikas resembled a sky curtain, pressing directly down on the Buddha.

"I am who I am! I am not an illusion!" Faced with the suppression of the Buddha's essence, the Buddha showed no emotion in his eyes.

"I am Buddha, and Buddha is me! You do not recognize the true Buddha Tathagata, and you are not worthy of possessing the origin of Buddha!" ​​The voice of Tathagata Buddha was extremely cold, without any emotion.

At the same time, behind him, countless phantom images of Buddhas appeared, and countless hands simultaneously formed seals, striking the swastika.

Bang bang bang!
The deafening roars, like the striking of a bell, sent waves of sound scattering outwards, cracking the barrier in the air.

"Since you are Buddha, I, holding the essence of true Buddhahood, command you to awaken!"

The source of desire between Ye Xuantian's eyebrows burst forth with seven colors, all of which surged into the Buddha's brow.

"not good!"

The Styx Ancestor gave a low shout in his heart, and his movements were even faster. He appeared between the eyebrows of the golden Dharma body, sitting there, with endless blood color spreading from his body.

The crimson color almost instantly eroded the Buddha's golden body. The phantoms of ten thousand Buddhas closed their eyes at the same time, and the Tathagata's golden body was no exception. The Styx Ancestor spat a mouthful of blood directly at the swastika.

Ye Xuantian raised an eyebrow and retreated even faster.

hum!
The golden body of the Buddha slowly dissipated, and the Styx Ancestor's eyes were filled with coldness. He could not believe that Ye Xuantian could do such a thing.

"You actually dare to attempt to awaken the Buddha?"

Ye Xuantian withdrew his supernatural power: "It's a pity that the ancestor reacted too quickly, otherwise, the ancestor might have to stay here today."

Ye Xuantian's regret was genuine, and the Styx Ancestor was greatly shocked. He knew very well how domineering Ye Xuantian's methods were. It had taken him hundreds of years to assimilate the Buddha Tathagata and obtain such a golden body.

But just now, Ye Xuantian actually tried to rescue the true spirit of the Buddha from the River of Blood by relying on the origin of Buddha and the origin of desire.

Although the Styx Ancestor was unwilling to believe it, the truth was that he dared not use the golden body of the Buddha again, and even had to divide his attention to suppress it.

"Didn't the ancestor say he wanted to leave me here? Why am I not moving at all?" Ye Xuantian said sarcastically.

The Styx Ancestor ignored this and immediately sat cross-legged, staring at Ye Xuantian and said, "You were able to enter Mount Ling this time only because of the power of Maitreya Buddha. You yourself are still not accepted by Mount Ling. When the time comes, the barrier here will naturally be broken. At that time, no matter how many other Buddhist reinforcements you invite, they will become turtles in a jar."

Ye Xuantian: "Oh? Is that so? Is Ancestor that confident?"

"Of course, the current barrier of Mount Ling can only be broken if both the Sage of Reception and the Sage of Cundi act at the same time. However, you cannot allow both of them to appear at the same time. Therefore, the barrier of Mount Ling will not be broken. Without a way to break it, you and other Buddhists may be able to escape, but once Buddhists enter Mount Ling, even Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will not be taken away by the Cuiyun Palace."

"Now all I need to do is wait for the barrier here to disappear," the Styx Ancestor said confidently.

"Is that so? Since the Ancestor doesn't intend to kill me, then I'll stay with him and wait for the outcome, so that he can know what it means to be unable to defy the tide of history!"

Hearing Ye Xuantian's words, the Styx Ancestor's heart trembled slightly. He snorted coldly, "Great power? If there really were a great power, I wouldn't have seized the body of the Buddha under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Dao. Now the great power is in my hands!"

Old Ancestor Styx's words seemed more like self-comfort, and Ye Xuantian did not refute them. He slowly sat down cross-legged and entered meditation.

Seeing Ye Xuantian's calm and collected demeanor, the Styx Ancestor's unease intensified. He began to make continuous deductions and was able to guess who Ye Xuantian had mobilized this time.

Those people alone are not enough to quickly break through the barrier of Mount Ling. As long as it cannot be broken, anything is possible. Even if Maitreya Buddha steals his forbidden spell with the help of Ye Xuantian, so what?
Even if Maitreya Buddha really seals all the Bodhisattvas away, as long as they can't leave, everything will return to normal when he goes out.

The advantage is in my hands!
Meanwhile, in the Tang Dynasty, the grand Water and Land Assembly, spearheaded by the Tang Emperor, was finally held as scheduled, with the Venerable Xuanzang serving as the host.

A grand land and water festival has finally begun.

Debating scriptures and performing rituals for the deceased are the core of the Water and Land Assembly.

Famous monks from all over the country attended the event. It is worth mentioning that Sagara was among them, as the abbot of Shokoku-ji Temple, but he did not try to steal the limelight from Master Xuanzang.

On the contrary, they helped Master Xuanzang with the reception and assisted him in completing this Water and Land Ceremony.

In the end, the Water and Land Assembly lasted for forty-nine days.

On the last day, the Tang Emperor announced that the monk Xuanzang would represent the Tang Dynasty on his journey to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Immediately, all the monks were grateful for the Tang Emperor's kindness. After all, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Tang Emperor intended to promote Buddhism on a large scale.

Most importantly, the Tang emperor recognized the monk Xuanzang as his younger brother and bestowed upon him the surname of the Tang Dynasty, changing his name to Tang Sanzang.

On this day, the heavens and earth were filled with spiritual light, and Buddhist aura permeated the entire Tang Dynasty.

"Now, Tang Sanzang has been ordered to travel west to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and obtain scriptures. In gratitude for the Tang Emperor's merits, he specially requests the Western Paradise to send down guidance to prove the true name of our Buddha!"

Tang Sanzang knelt before the Tang Emperor and proclaimed in a loud voice.

As his voice faded, all the monks present shouted, "Western Heaven, please send down guidance to prove the true name of our Buddha!"

At that instant, the bell of the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling in the Western Paradise suddenly rang out.

(End of this chapter)