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

Chapter 159 Qiu Shou Xian Receives the Order

"Can Your Excellency accept this?"

Faced with Ye Xuantian's unvarnished questioning, Maitreya Buddha raised his eyes, his gaze filled with confusion.

As the Venerable Maitreya, the Buddha who came from the East of Mount Ling, and who holds the true name of the future Buddha, he now hesitates when faced with the future of Mount Ling!

The Human Seed Bag is one of His natal magical artifacts and already possesses a spirit. However, at this moment, the Human Seed Bag quietly rests in Ye Xuantian's hand without showing any emotion.

It seemed to understand the situation its master was facing, so much so that the human-shaped bag was as quiet as an ordinary cloth bag.

Houtu Niangniang's eyes were filled with curiosity. Facing the heavy responsibility of the life and death of her clan, Houtu Niangniang knew how difficult it was. After all, the Ancestral Witch lineage had faced a predicament no different from that of Maitreya Venerable today.

However, at that time, I had a slightly easier time making a choice than Maitreya, since he had already made a great vow.

Ye Xuantian did not urge him this time either. Just as he had said to Venerable Maitreya before, there was still a long time. The journey to the West had only just begun, and even the preparation for the Little Thunderclap Temple would take a long time.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of Ye Xuantian and the Earth Mother, Venerable Maitreya slowly rose, closed his eyes, and took the human seed bag.

“The Lingshan lineage should now be supported by me. After all, I am the only one left of the Three Buddhas. Only I can make this choice. Even if I am hesitant, confused, and at a loss, the general trend is forcing me to move forward. I have no choice from the beginning, have I? Sage Xuantian!”

Ye Xuantian narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that although there were people in the Three Realms who constantly praised his true name and called him a saint, Ye Xuantian was ultimately only at the Perfection stage. Although he was not a typical Quasi-Saint at the Perfection stage, he was still half a step away from becoming a saint.

This half-step is the arrogance of all Quasi-Saints at the peak of their cultivation. That's why Maitreya Buddha rarely calls Ye Xuantian a Saint, but now he does.
"That's right, the general trend is the hand that manipulates fate, and all living beings in the Three Realms are involved in it. This has never changed!"

Ye Xuantian handed the Human Seed Bag to Maitreya Buddha. Maitreya Buddha acted decisively, immediately untying the Human Seed Bag, and several golden lights appeared, revealing Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and other bodhisattvas.

At this moment, however, the eyes of the bodhisattvas were filled with peace, devoid of any bloodlust.

"I never imagined that the Goddess Houtu already possessed such abilities?" Maitreya Buddha exclaimed in admiration.

"I was just about to tell you that it's not that I'm powerful, but that the Asura lineage power in these Bodhisattvas is very weak, unlike the demon king level like the Desire Realm, so it was easy to remove them."

The Earth Mother looked at Ye Xuantian: "That one clearly only left a demon king-level will on Guanyin Bodhisattva. Does the sage know what that one is trying to do?"

"Of course, the first bite of crab is bound to be extremely delicious. If I were that person, I would also put all my effort into the first bite of crab so that I could better formulate a plan."

"Could it be that the Styx Ancestor wants to seize the first strand of the eighty-one merits?" Manjushri Bodhisattva asked.

“That must be the case. Otherwise, I would have brought all the powerful Bodhisattvas out of Mount Ling, yet I didn’t detect a single trace of power belonging to other demon kings. This is enough to show that the Styx Ancestor has never given up on the struggle for the merits of the journey to the West,” Maitreya Buddha said in a deep voice.

"I wonder if the Sage made arrangements for the first strand of merit in the journey to the West?" asked Bodhisattva Vimalamitra.

"no!"

Ye Xuantian's answer stunned everyone present.

No?

Ye Xuantian has been targeting every bit of merit since the beginning of the Journey to the West. Now that things have finally progressed to the merit of the pilgrimage, Ye Xuantian claims that he has done nothing.

“Sage, how can you not make a move in a contest with someone of the Styx Ancestor’s caliber? Wouldn’t that mean handing over the first merit of the pilgrimage?” Bodhisattva Samantabhadra’s tone was slightly anxious.

After all, they were the ones who had just escaped from the hands of the Styx Ancestor. Only by personally experiencing the suppression from the Blood River could they truly understand how terrifying the Asura lineage was.

Once these bodhisattvas are immersed in the desires that have evolved from the river of blood, they can only hold on and have no chance of actively breaking free.

Ye Xuantian looked at Maitreya Buddha and said nonchalantly, "Your Excellency just spoke of the great trend, but ultimately you do not believe in it. After all, since the beginning of time, all living beings have been under the rule of the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor for a long time, and they disdain the so-called great trend. I know that in your eyes, the so-called great trend is nothing more than the result of the evolution of the thoughts of sages. But what I want to tell you now is that the great trend has always been there. Even mortals can use the power of the great trend to resist the Heavenly Dao with minimal effort!"

"A complete fantasy!" Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva finally spoke.

"The so-called general trend is nothing more than one of the directions under the evolution of the Heavenly Dao. It has always been so from ancient times to the present. In the face of the Dao, mortals are nothing but ants. For ants to dare to dream of shaking the heavens is truly a fool's dream!"

The words of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva were utterly merciless. They were all accomplished beings in their cultivation, but precisely because of this, they had absolutely no empathy for Ye Xuantian's idealistic vision, and were even unwilling to put themselves in Ye Xuantian's shoes to think from his perspective.

"I will make the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta completely submit!"

Ye Xuantian did not explain to the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, because facts speak louder than words. After Ye Xuantian finished speaking, he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the Goddess Houtu.

"We haven't even congratulated the Goddess Houtu on regaining her true form yet!"

Houtu Niangniang hurriedly returned the greeting: "If it weren't for the help of the Sage over the years, I would probably have perished during the Lich War and become part of the cycle of reincarnation. How could I have achieved what I have today? I should be thanking the Sage Xuantian."

Ye Xuantian didn't hesitate and nodded. Then his figure gradually disappeared into the ground. Before he left, Ye Xuantian's voice could be faintly heard: "I look forward to the two Bodhisattvas' moves in the journey to the West. I hope they will not disappoint me."

Seeing Ye Xuantian leave, and noticing the bodhisattvas exchanging glances as if communicating telepathically, the Earth Mother immediately said loudly, "Bodhisattvas, I have just regained my original form, and my cultivation still needs to be stabilized. I'm afraid it's inconvenient for me to keep guests."

The bodhisattvas all looked somewhat sullen, after all, in terms of seniority, they were not as high as the one in front of them. Now that the Goddess Houtu had asked them to leave, they were quite embarrassed.

Maitreya Buddha, on the other hand, was quite composed. He bowed to Houtu Niangniang and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on regaining your true form. I look forward to Your Majesty regaining control of the underground passage in the future."

"To regain control of the Earthly Dao!" Houtu Niangniang murmured, then smiled and shook her head: "We'll have to see what fate has in store for me. It would be difficult on my own. Moreover, when that person sensed my struggle against the will of Heaven, they proactively released their consciousness, alerting Heaven and giving me time to better restrain it. That person now has the demeanor of a Lord of the Earthly Dao. As for the future, let fate decide."

Houtu Niangniang mentioned the "great trend" twice in a row, which finally made Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva speak again: "Earth Mother, do you also believe in the great trend that Fellow Daoist Xuantian speaks of? If there really is a great trend, how can we explain the current Western Journey Calamity? To put it bluntly, isn't it just the work of the sages?"

"If it weren't for the grand trend, do you think the future Buddha could have smiled and not eaten the rare flower and fruit when the Styx Ancestor replaced the Buddha? If it weren't for the grand trend, do you really think you could have withstood the Styx lineage's erosion for so long on your own? The Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine! There is always a glimmer of hope within it; this is the grand trend's resistance against the Dao." Houtu Niangniang's long-winded discourse did not convince Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, who continued to press: "So, all the Dao we've comprehended over the years has been false? Only the grand trend is correct?"

"If the Dao is selfless, then the Dao is the great trend. If the Dao is selfish, even if the Dao has evolved to the forty-nine, the great trend can still be reversed by one force!" After Houtu Niangniang finished speaking, the temple door closed.

All the Bodhisattvas looked at Maitreya Buddha, but Maitreya Buddha remained silent. Manjushri Bodhisattva stepped forward and whispered, "Buddha from the East, what should we do next?"

Only then did Maitreya Buddha regain his senses and look at the bodhisattvas: "At all costs, we must snatch back the merits of the journey to the West from Fellow Daoist Xuantian. I will transform the Little Thunderclap Temple and reintegrate all the merits into Mount Ling! I will appoint Buddhas on behalf of my Buddha!"

Upon hearing this, all the Bodhisattvas subconsciously took a step back, increasing the distance between themselves and Maitreya Buddha.

This statement is truly terrifying: "Evolving the Little Western Paradise to bestow Buddhist positions? Is this a plan to usurp the throne while the Buddha is away?"

"Some things always have to be done by someone! The Goddess Houtu is right. If there is a predetermined outcome under the circumstances, then even if I have done such a disrespectful thing, it will not affect the return of Buddha. The matter is settled. Everyone, use your own methods!"

After speaking, Maitreya Buddha's figure vanished, giving the bodhisattvas no time to respond.

"Manjushri Bodhisattva, what do you plan to do?" Samantabhadra Bodhisattva broke the silence first.

“My Buddha is currently in the Netherworld Blood Sea, his fate unknown. Logically, he should naturally obey the future Buddha.” After saying this, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva did not hesitate and his figure slowly dissipated.

Manjushri Bodhisattva wanted to ask something more, but the other Bodhisattvas avoided him at all costs. Almost at the same time that Samantabhadra Bodhisattva disappeared, Manjushri Bodhisattva also concealed his form.

For a time, only Manjushri Bodhisattva remained in this place.

The temple doors of Houtu Niangniang opened once more. Looking at the solitary Manjushri Bodhisattva, she couldn't help but laugh and ask, "Bodhisattva, what's wrong with you?"

"Wasn't Your Majesty supposed to be consolidating your cultivation? Why are you out again?" Manjushri Bodhisattva raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh, I just thought you were being too noisy, so I told you to leave. I suddenly heard the aura around me dissipate very quickly, and I thought you had all left. I didn't expect you to still be here."

"Can I really trust the Sage Xuantian?" Manjushri Bodhisattva hesitated for a moment, but finally asked the question he most wanted to ask.

boom!
The only response from Manjushri Bodhisattva was the sound of Houtu Niangniang slamming the door shut with lightning speed.

Manjushri Bodhisattva gave a wry smile, but did not press further. After all, the answer was already obvious: Houtu Niangniang's trust in Ye Xuantian far exceeded that of all of them.

Manjushri Bodhisattva vanished from the Earth Mother Goddess's sacred site and rode the clouds toward his own, his face clouded with worry.

"Even if I decide to help Venerable Maitreya forcibly obtain the merits of the pilgrimage, I still need people! Those chosen ones are not weak. If an ordinary disciple goes down to the mortal world, he will probably become their food. I need to choose someone with considerable strength."

Manjushri Bodhisattva kept muttering to himself, feeling extremely agitated about the selection of candidates.

Almost the instant he entered his own sacred space, Manjushri Bodhisattva seemed to sense something, and a blue-haired lion slowly stepped out from the forest.

"Qiu Shou Immortal?"

So much has happened in this period of time that even Manjushri Bodhisattva has somewhat forgotten what is right in front of him.

Suddenly, His eyes were filled with a sharp light.

Qiu Shou Xian was originally a disciple of the Jie Sect during the Investiture of the Gods. Now he has become the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva. In terms of both strength and seniority, Manjushri Bodhisattva believes that there is no one more suitable than Qiu Shou Xian.

"Are you willing to enter the Great Tribulation...?"

Manjushri Bodhisattva hesitated to speak, for he remembered something: after the Investiture of the Gods, not only had Qiu Shou Xian been castrated by him, but his combat power had also plummeted. The current Qiu Shou Xian was no match for those four people.

"Does Master have any instructions?" Qiu Shou Xian seemed to sense the presence of Manjushri Bodhisattva as well, and immediately raised his eyes. When he confirmed that it was Manjushri Bodhisattva, Qiu Shou Xian's lips curled up, revealing an extremely handsome face.

The current Qiu Shou Xian showed no sign of fear, and even Manjushri Bodhisattva sensed a familiar aura, though it was so faint that it was not worth Manjushri Bodhisattva investigating further.

Manjushri Bodhisattva stared at Qiu Shou Xian for a long time before speaking: "If I help you break free from the shackles of your divine will and allow you to advance further, would Qiu Shou Xian be willing to enter a great eon to earn merit for my Buddhist sect?"

After much deliberation, Manjushri Bodhisattva could not find a more suitable candidate than Qiu Shou Xian, so he immediately asked directly.

The wisp-headed immortal was stunned for a moment, then knelt on the ground in fear and trepidation: "Master, do you not want me anymore?"

Seeing this scene, Manjushri Bodhisattva could no longer hide his disgust. He immediately waved his sleeve, and Qiu Shou Xian faintly felt a crisp sound ringing out in the void.

Contractual bondage!

Although Ye Xuantian had helped Qiu Shou Xian shield himself from Manjushri Bodhisattva's control over divine thoughts, some contracts are witnessed under the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, it would be best if Manjushri Bodhisattva could resolve this matter himself.

"Now that I have lifted the restrictions on you, I only ask you, are you willing or not!" Manjushri Bodhisattva said coldly.

Seeing that Manjushri Bodhisattva seemed genuinely angry, Qiu Shou Xian immediately lowered his kneeling body even further, his voice muffled: "This disciple is willing, please give your instructions, Bodhisattva!"

"They won't listen to reason, so they'll have to suffer the consequences! They only accept it after I ask them this way. The Jie Sect are truly full of worthless people." Manjushri Bodhisattva thought to himself.

"From this moment forward, you shall descend to the mortal realm and find a country along the path the pilgrims are destined to take. Seize its fortune and then confront the pilgrims!"

"As you command!" Qiu Shou Xian bowed deeply, burying his head in his arms. Manjushri Bodhisattva was completely unaware of how bright the smile on Qiu Shou Xian's face was at that moment.

(End of this chapter)