Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Chapter 159 Using the Immortal Slaughtering Formation Diagram as Bait, Returning it to the Intercepting Sect

At this moment, everyone's attention was mainly focused on the Jie Sect, after all, how would Duobao treat the Jie Sect in the future?
Is there still any connection between the family and the temple?
In terms of disciples' cultivation, Buddhism and Jiejiao are now considered the top two sects in the Three Realms.

Will these two churches unite to target independent practitioners?
Therefore, all eyes were on the Golden Spirit Mother and the Buddha, to see what their state would be!
Of course, the combination of Buddhism and the Chan sect, along with top-tier spiritual treasures, is considered the best. If Buddhism and the Jie sect were to form an alliance, they could become enemies of both the Ren and Chan sects.

This Ullambana Festival has many implications, and the situation in the three realms is also subtly related to it.

If the eldest and second eldest brothers were to join forces, then the independent cultivators would have to side with the Chan Sect.

In the current state of the Three Realms, no one trusts anyone else; it's like a Warring States period in the Immortal Realm.

Anything is possible when there is enough profit.

After all, Yin Ziyu understood that Duobao was no ordinary person, and he also knew that the Human Sect and the Chan Sect were actually going to do their best to help the West during this great calamity.

However, this was a secret negotiation of the sage, unknown to others.

Therefore, the attitudes of Buddha and the Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit during this Ullambana Festival will determine the choices of all parties.

Upon hearing the question posed by the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit, Tathagata tapped the golden lotus with his fingertips, his gaze slightly narrowed, then instantly transformed into a gentle smile.

The Tathagata was naturally aware of the thoughts of all parties in the Three Realms.

This is a rare opportunity. Right now, all the rogue immortals are trying to maintain a balance. If the other side thinks that they are too close to the Jie Sect, then all these rogue immortals will distance themselves from the Jie Sect.

"This humble monk congratulates Fellow Daoist Jinling on becoming the leader of the Jie Sect. How could I possibly forget the past friendship we shared within the Jie Sect? However, the ways of Heaven are clear, and vows are as firm as iron. Now, this humble monk has entered the Mahayana Dharma and taken the name 'Shakyamuni,' no longer the Daoist Duobao of Biyou Palace. Fellow Daoist should know that cause and effect cycle, and each has its own path. Looking back, the three thousand disciples of Buddhism were all once disciples of the Jie Sect. My entry into Buddhism can be seen as a continuation of the bond of spreading the Dharma. During the Investiture of the Gods calamity, this humble monk and my three thousand disciples were all captured by the sages, unable to control our own destiny. Alas, the Great Dao of Fate is unpredictable and treacherous. Today, these three thousand disciples are all under my protection. It is truly a poignant situation!"

The Buddha's words immediately made everyone think deeply.

Duobao showed no hostility whatsoever and still displayed the affection between fellow disciples. However, because of the vow I made to establish this sect, it cannot be Duobao anymore. Nevertheless, our friendship remains.

Before Jinling Shengmu arrived, she heard Yin Ziyu analyze the possibility of Duobao.

In this respect, it can be considered a warning to the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit.

Of course, since they all come from the same religion and have a bond that has lasted for millions of years, all the great gods from all sides watched the situation with solemnity.

Yin Ziyu was naturally watching Duobao's performance.

In terms of the overall situation, the West and the Jie Sect are bound to be enemies. Although Duobao has now become the Buddha, he has not yet been accused of betraying the sect.

Now, Duobao's words are: I did not betray the sect, nor did the three thousand disciples. We suffered from force majeure during the Investiture of the Gods.

This emotional appeal was truly flawless, leaving the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit speechless for a moment.

After all, being captured by a sage and having no choice in his own life doesn't count as betraying the sect. Duobao didn't have a direct conflict with the Jie Sect, but there was still a significant karmic connection between them.

So, as it stands now, Duobao, who was once diligent and loyal to the Jie Sect, became the leader of Buddhism due to unforeseen circumstances. If we look at it from the perspective of a native rather than a time traveler, then there is absolutely no problem with it.

Upon hearing this, all the cultivators from different sides were extremely solemn. If the relationship between the two religions improved, and they didn't start fighting, then Mahayana Buddhism would have to establish its authority by targeting the three cultivators and the Humanist and Chan sects.

At this moment, the Great Master Xuandu of the Human Sect remained unmoved by the ancient well, with boundless mysterious energy descending from the exquisite pagoda above his head, completely unconcerned by the raging storm.

The Chan Sect members appeared somewhat solemn, while secretly conversing with these rogue cultivators.

After all, many things are still unseen. When there are no conflicts or contradictions between Buddhism and Jiejiao, then Sanxiu and Chanjiao will inevitably face enormous pressure.

Guang Chengzi first won over several powerful rogue cultivators.

It was as if they had formed a small group to analyze the situation.

"Esteemed seniors, Duobao was once the chief disciple of the Jie Sect. After being captured during the Investiture of the Gods, he was enlightened by his grandmaster, Huahu, and was able to ascend to the position of the leader of the Mahayana Sect. However, his heart was not loyal to the Sage. Even though the Sage bestowed upon him a great opportunity, he ultimately betrayed his grandmaster. Now, the Buddhist sect is powerful enough to dominate the Three Realms. If it were to collude with the Jie Sect to control the fortune of the Three Realms, then our Chan Sect and the Human Sect would be in grave danger, and all of you seniors would also lose the fortune of the Three Realms."

After Guang Chengzi finished speaking, the Old Man of the South Pole immediately added to his statement.

"Esteemed seniors should be aware of the grand trend of Heaven's will, and the signs of the Journey to the West have already appeared. If Mahayana Buddhism spreads eastward, and the Jie Sect uses the old grudges of my Chan Sect and the Human Sect to seek revenge, then Buddhism will surely take advantage of the situation to sweep across the Three Realms. This is truly a time of life and death! At this Ullambana Festival, we must sever ties decisively and prevent the merger of Buddhism and Jie Sect from gaining momentum."

Guang Chengzi and the Antarctic Immortal have hit the nail on the head. At this point, many rogue cultivators turn their attention to the figures of the Tathagata of Many Treasures and the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit conversing in the hall.

Styx became serious: "Looking at Mahayana Buddhism today, there are already six Quasi-Saints guarding the sect, and the Jie Sect also has four Quasi-Saints, forming a synergy between East and West. It is true that Duobao and his many disciples of Mahayana Buddhism did not betray the sect, but were forced to do so. They may not be without camaraderie. Duobao also led many Jie Sect disciples to plead for a decisive battle with the Chan Sect. Now that the trend is in Buddhism, it is not impossible for them to unite under the banner of camaraderie and seek revenge for the grudges of the Investiture of the Gods. Although the Chan Sect and the Human Sect are declining, we will also forever lose the opportunity to attain enlightenment!"

The words of the Styx River were taken very seriously by all the rogue cultivators and great gods. If that was the case, then it was indeed impeccable.

During this period, the various forces were in a state of confusion and uncertainty, making it impossible to distinguish between friend and foe.

For the great teachings of the sages, everything is still within their grasp, and they can make arrangements at their leisure.

Since the Jie Sect and the independent cultivators did not communicate with any sages, the balance of power between them was chaotic and unreliable.

The Buddha didn't say much, just these few simple words, indicating that it wasn't apostasy but a last resort, which already created countless possibilities.

Zhen Yuanzi sighed after hearing this: "What you fellow Daoists say is quite true. From ancient times to the present, the struggle for the destiny of the Three Realms is no ordinary one. Now, the followers of Mahayana Buddhism are as numerous as clouds, and the immortals and gods of the Jie Sect are all elites. They all need a vast amount of destiny to attain the Dao fruit. This is a matter of vital importance to their own Dao, how can they give it up lightly? Buddhism uses compassion as bait, while the Jie Sect uses literary destiny as its guiding principle. Both want to control the destiny of the world. Destiny is like the water of a river; it rises and falls, and there is no way to have both. Now, Buddhism and Jie Sect stand side by side, occupying the east and west, and are the most powerful. In the past, when the Investiture of the Gods was established, the Jie Sect was defeated and sunk to the sands. Now, the situation has changed, and they have made a comeback, forming a strategic alliance with Buddhism. Whether Tathagata will unite with the Jie Sect or fight against them is unknown. In the current situation of the Three Realms, the struggle for destiny could, at best, lead to the decline of the Dao lineage, and at worst, to complete annihilation."

Upon hearing Zhen Yuanzi's words, the Queen Mother of the West echoed, "Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi's words resonate deeply with me. The river of time flows ceaselessly, and countless heroes of yesteryear have been swallowed up by the great calamities. The primordial gods and demons, the ancient Emperor Jun and Taiyi, and the various clans of the Ancestral Witches have all turned to dust. If we do not plan carefully, we will ultimately be nothing more than passersby in this long river."

"."

The Queen Mother of the West's words were very serious; they concerned a matter of life and death.

For the great gods of the primordial era, the choice is made before the great change, not after it.

The plans were laid out tens of thousands of years ago; how could we wait until the event actually happened to make preparations?

Even if one reaches this level of cultivation, can one rest easy?

How many great gods have perished in the great eons?
With such power and influence, Di Jun and Tai Yi are destined to become mere passersby in this primordial world.

What about them? Furthermore, let's analyze these causes and effects from the perspective of the indigenous people, rather than from the perspective of time travel.

If Buddhism were to spread eastward, it would be highly likely to choose to renew its kinship with the Jie Sect and eradicate the Chan and Ren Sects.

It is more likely that they will choose to cooperate with the Renjiao and Chanjiao to wipe out the Jiejiao and the Yin Shang.

Is it more likely that they will cooperate with independent cultivators to wipe out the three Eastern religions?

If the West were still the Western Religion, then it would be right for the Western Religion, the Human Religion, and the Chan Religion to cooperate in eliminating the Jie Religion. However, the current leader is Duobao, and the three thousand Buddhas are all disciples of the Jie Religion.

And who can be sure that Duobao and Jinling Shengmu didn't secretly plot or scheme against each other?

Given this entanglement of cause and effect, which would any prehistoric native tend to do?
It's not that Guang Chengzi and the others are entirely correct, but the facts are undeniable. Considering the cause and effect of Duobao's hatred for the Chan Sect and the fact that his own disciple, the Holy Mother of Fire Spirit, was beaten to death by the Chan Sect, choosing to form an alliance with the Jie Sect was the optimal solution.

The choice to align with the Chanjiao-Renjiao alliance is somewhat incomprehensible.

At this point, it's impossible to discern the true nature of this chaotic situation, but we can trace the greatest possible outcome from the cause and effect.

Guang Chengzi was quite pleased with himself when he saw that everyone approved of him.

"Esteemed predecessors, having traversed countless eons and witnessed the secrets of heaven, know that the calamity of the Journey to the West is imminent. The Three Thousand Buddhas and Tathagata will surely follow the trend and seize the destiny of the East. The Jie Sect and the Yin Shang lineage are deeply intertwined with our Chan and Ren sects. If I were the Golden Spirit Mother, I would surely use our past connections to collude with Buddhism and plot revenge, while the Yin Shang would seek to restore their dominion over humanity. If they gain power, we will be like fish in a pot, with no chance of escape! And you great gods will have no chance of attaining enlightenment!"

Guang Chengzi's words immediately gained everyone's approval. If this were the case, the Jie Sect would suddenly become powerful and difficult to control, while the Chan Sect would suffer a setback after the events in the East Sea.

The declining Chan sect poses no threat, while Buddhism, having gained the support of the Heavenly Way, may thus attain enlightenment.

If so, the fortune of the Three Realms can be completely drained, and these people will never have a path to enlightenment again.

Now is the primordial era without saints. For them, this may be the only opportunity. At this time, they can still plan for destiny and attain the Dao. If others attain the Dao at this time, the Three Realms will inevitably enter the Dharma-ending Age.

For them, it will be like a wave in the long river of time.

The Buddha's words also surprised the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit.

Yin Ziyu's initial analysis now seems to have wavered even regarding the Golden Spirit Mother.

If Yin Ziyu hadn't always been a master strategist, Jinling Shengmu would never have believed anyone else who said Duobao was unreliable.

It's difficult to believe someone's character based on their deductions.

This is similar to how Sima Yi, before his rebellion, was a model of loyalty, no less than Zhuge Liang.

The Duke of Zhou feared rumors, and Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation. Had they died then, who would know their loyalty or treachery throughout the ages?

Now, Duobao's words left Jinling Shengmu speechless, unable to refute or question them, and even unsure of what to say.

Logically, one should be moved, praising the Buddha's hardships and showing the bond between master and disciple, but remembering Yin Ziyu's words, one cannot believe them.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit gazed intently at the Buddha, her eyes filled with suspicion: "Now that the Buddha has become the Lord of the West, how does he intend to treat the Jie Sect?"

The Buddha saw that the Holy Mother of Golden Spirits was suspicious of him, and he was afraid that he could not convince her of his identity in a short time.

This made Tathagata feel somewhat solemn. This opportunity was rare, and how long this master-disciple relationship could last depended on himself.

The longer it lasts, the more likely it is to dismantle all external support for the Jie Sect and confuse those wandering immortals.

The Buddha understood that this was a rare opportunity, and that Yin Ziyu was not under his control. If he could not seize this opportunity, the Ullambana Festival might not turn out any better.

At this point, when a decision must be made, as long as one side extends an olive branch and there is a promising future, then the Golden Spirit Mother will surely consider forming an alliance.

At this point, a false alliance with the Jie Sect would sow discord among the scattered immortals of the Three Realms, while a true alliance would be formed with the Human Sect and the Chan Sect. In this way, all of Yin Ziyu's allies could be completely dismantled, and his alliance could be broken in one fell swoop. The success of the Journey to the West would then be a matter of course.

Therefore, it is time for the Tathagata to make a decisive decision.

Even if Yin Ziyu understands by then, there will be nothing he can do.

After some deliberation, Tathagata took out an object, an ancient array diagram, but it revealed the source of slaughter.

Upon seeing this, the Golden Spirit Mother exclaimed in surprise: "The Immortal Slaughtering Formation Diagram!"

The other members of the Jie Sect couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The Buddha sighed as he held the array diagram: "Although I reside in the West, I was once the chief disciple of the Jie Sect for countless eons. Although I can no longer be a disciple of the Jie Sect, the karma between us must eventually be settled."

After saying this, Tathagata actually sent the array diagram directly to the Golden Spirit Mother.

"This is the array diagram brought with it from the Zhuxian Sword Formation that day, and I am now returning it to you, fellow Daoist. I hope that you, as the leader of the Jie Sect, will forgive the three thousand Buddhist disciples for being forced to enter Buddhism. This would settle the karmic debt between the two sects and be considered a good deed. What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

The Golden Spirit Mother's fingertips trembled slightly, and the jade ruyi almost slipped from her hand.

"Ziyu, shall we accept this treasure?"

The Golden Spirit Mother immediately used her supernatural powers to inquire of Yin Ziyu, and Yin Ziyu immediately replied, "Receive!"

After Su Shou took the array diagram, she suddenly felt that there was a faint Buddhist light and sword energy intertwined on it. It was clear that Duo Bao carried it with him and that his Buddhist Dharma and killing essence were intertwined!

"Elder brother..."

Holding the array diagram, the Golden Spirit Mother hesitated, then said, "Since you have shown me such kindness, Senior Brother, I will certainly accept it. Very well, this is the last time I will address you as Senior Brother. It is my destiny that my three thousand disciples have been able to return to your tutelage. You, as a master, have been leading your disciples and spreading the Dao, and now you have also returned to your tutelage!"

When Duobao presented the array diagram to the Golden Spirit Mother, all the rogue cultivators present became solemn, and Yin Ziyu was also shocked by Duobao's decisiveness.

(End of this chapter)