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

Chapter 164: Prioritizing the greater good of the Xuanmen sect, Jin Ling gains great prestige.

Upon hearing Bixiao's words, Tathagata frowned. He couldn't help but wonder if the other party knew about his plan.

Did the Jie Sect truly acknowledge this bond of kinship, or were they fully aware of his scheme to oppose the West and use this opportunity to outmaneuver him?
If the other side knew about my plan, wouldn't that mean that the Jie Sect members were making a fool of me?
Now that I have given away the formation diagram, the members of the Jie Sect should understand that this is a great opportunity for the East and West to unite. How can they disregard the overall situation and such a favorable opportunity?

Logically speaking, as a major force in the Three Realms, the Jie Sect must have its own strategy.

Mahayana Buddhism is the leading power in the West and has a close relationship with the Jie Sect. Therefore, the Jie Sect should choose to form an alliance with Buddhism in the East and West to restrain the weaker factions.

However, the behavior of the Jie Sect has become somewhat strange. They have taken the benefits but have not made any gestures in return, and instead forced Dingguangxian to his death.

While the Buddha was deep in thought, Dipankara spoke.

Dipankara Buddha, through a secret method, informed the Buddha: "Buddha, you are wise. Bixiao is known for her fiery temper, outspokenness, and lack of manners. However, given the opportune moment, Bigan, skilled at manipulating people, is using her as a weapon of the Jie Sect, demanding whatever she desires. Just as he once manipulated Nezha's nature, this suggests Bigan is plotting against her. If we grant her request now, she will surely seek other reasons in the future, potentially becoming a cautionary tale for Xiqi. Xiqi, relying on wishful thinking, gradually fell into ruin precisely because of this flaw! The Great Sun Buddha and the Three Immortals of Bixiao are entangled in karma, and this entanglement must eventually end. Looking at Bixiao's actions now, she shows no intention of forming an alliance, only a desire to provoke conflict."

Dipankara's words immediately made Tathagata realize: "What the ancient Buddha said is very true. This Bigan is most adept at manipulating people's hearts and understanding their hearts. His manipulation of Bixiao is exactly the same as his manipulation of Nezha. Yet, the Golden Spirit Mother has no way to refute it. Clearly, this humble monk has not shaken the Golden Spirit Mother's heart!"

Dipankara continued, "Buddha, Bi Gan's cunning is divine, hailed as the foremost strategist in the Three Realms. He must have told Jin Ling that his schemes surpass ours. Therefore, even if you, Buddha, send him the array diagram, it cannot sway his mind. Though our plans are profound, they may not escape his discerning eyes. If we delay any longer, I fear that if we give him one today, we will have to give him three tomorrow, until we lose all our bottom line and are controlled by him. I urge you, Buddha, to abandon any侥幸心理 (a gambler's mentality) and act decisively. Even if we lose the array diagram, it is merely a loss in one move. If we cling to the hope of survival, I fear we will plunge our sect into eternal damnation!"

Randeng had truly clashed with Yin Ziyu during the Investiture of the Gods period. Like a gambler, he kept increasing the costs indefinitely until there was no turning back.

We absolutely cannot allow Buddhism to continue investing in this scheme now. As for the array diagram and Dingguang Xian, let's just consider them as inferior in skill.

The Buddha immediately said, “What the ancient Buddha said is very good. Now, when dealing with the Jie Sect and Bigan, we should regard them as seeing through my false alliance and using them to counter our Buddhist sect.”

"Buddha! Bi Gan's wisdom surpasses all others in the Three Realms. To be his enemy, we must be prepared for his schemes to be completely exposed! Even if we have perfect plans, we must still guard against his keen insight. If we retreat now, we will be using the religion as a pawn, at his mercy. Even if we are determined to break with him, we must not retreat even half a step. Hesitation in planning will inevitably lead to defeat. Hesitation will only bring chaos!"

"."

After all, this was the first time that Tathagata had fought against Yin Ziyu, while Dipankara had suffered losses far too many times.

Only then did Tathagata realize how terrifying Yin Ziyu was, as if his entire scheme had been known to him, yet he had remained so confident.

It must be said that Tathagata's plan was flawless. The array formation aroused suspicion among the immortals and gods of the Three Realms, and the alliance between the East and West best served the interests of the Jie Sect.

If an alliance is formed, the combined forces of the East and West will inevitably defeat the Chan and Ren sects. This is the optimal strategy. I should not fail in trying to win over the Jie sect with array diagrams and incense offerings.

But now it has failed, and even where exactly it failed, Buddha is completely bewildered.

Regardless, it's clear that Yin Ziyu has seen through it all. If he continues his scheme, he'll just become a laughingstock.

A tangled mess needs a swift cut!

When the situation in a chess game is chaotic and unclear, exchanging pieces to bring the situation to a clearer point may not be a bad idea.

Seeing that Bixiao was pressing him so urgently, and that this was now a matter of face, Tathagata looked at Jinling and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Jinling, this humble monk has treated you with sincerity, yet you have repeatedly made things difficult for me. Do you truly think this humble monk is easily deceived? Do you perhaps regard this humble monk's sincerity as a joke?"

Seeing the change in Tathagata's tone, the Golden Spirit Mother also suppressed her smile: "Since you ask in this way, fellow Daoist, please allow me to speak frankly. These three were originally the Seven Immortals who served the Jie Sect. For the sake of our master's reputation, it is my duty as the leader of the Jie Sect to retrieve them. If these three had not submitted to Buddhism but were merely his mounts, how could I have ignored them? As for your sincerity, fellow Daoist, the Immortal Slaughtering Formation Diagram is a treasure of our sect. Although it was not my intention for you to be captured and transformed into a Buddha, returning it to its rightful owner today is my duty as the leader. Your return is also a way of voluntarily settling this karmic debt!"

Upon hearing this, Buddha sighed, "So be it. I had hoped to use the Lotus Platform of Ultimate Bliss as a boat to ferry my fellow disciples out of the sea of ​​suffering, based on our past friendship at Biyou Palace. But I did not expect you to disregard my sincerity and force me so vehemently!"

Golden Spirit Mother looked directly at Tathagata, then suddenly smiled calmly: "Sincerity? Since you hold the position of the Western Sect Leader, you are already a Westerner, with no further connection to the East. Both of us are aware of the general trend; the future lies in the eastward spread of Buddhism. No matter what, I must safeguard the Eastern destiny. Now, the East and West are locked in a fierce struggle. You, who control the vast destiny of the West, how can you expect me to betray the Eastern destiny out of old friendship simply because of the existence of a causal array within your own sect? Using an array belonging to the Jie Sect as sincerity, yet asking me to relinquish the Eastern destiny, how can I accept this? If you are truly sincere, why not abandon this lotus throne and return to the Jie Sect?"

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit no longer concealed her true feelings and spoke frankly, which immediately shocked all parties in the Three Realms.

At this point, the Holy Mother Jinling suddenly straightened her expression and bowed respectfully to the Buddha: "If you, fellow Daoist, are willing to lead the disciples of the Western Intercepting Sect back to Biyou Palace, I am willing to relinquish the position of sect leader without complaint!"

At this moment, everyone in the Ullambana Festival understood that after the Golden Spirit Mother finished speaking, she completely disregarded the fact that Tathagata had once been the chief disciple of the Jie Sect, and instead firmly adhered to the concept of East versus West.

Styx couldn't help but exclaim, "The Holy Mother Jinling is truly a person of integrity and uprightness. I underestimated her in the past. Her words are worthy of the leader of the Jie Sect. To protect the Eastern Daoist tradition, she was willing to abandon the Western alliance. Such integrity truly commands our utmost respect!"

Kunpeng also sighed, "The Holy Mother Jinling strictly adheres to the distinction between East and West, and does not let sectarian personal relationships override the greater good. She truly deserves to be the leader of the orthodox Xuanmen Jie Sect! Judging from her actions, the death of Dingguang Xian must have been a premeditated act of revenge, eliminating a traitor. Such methods are truly unfathomable!"

The Queen Mother of the West clapped her hands and said, "Buddha presented the array diagram with the intention of forging an alliance with the Jie Sect, but unexpectedly lost a precious treasure, allowing the Jie Sect to rightfully reclaim the diagram. Now, the Golden Spirit Mother is pressuring Buddha with the question of returning to the mountain, putting Buddha in a dilemma! The Ullambana Festival was supposed to be a place for Buddhism to establish its authority and finalize the opportunity for the Journey to the West, but instead, the array diagram was lost, Guangxian was injured, and the Jie Sect used the opportunity to kill a traitor. It can truly be said that Buddha lost power before even starting his campaign. Let us see what strategy Buddha will use to salvage this situation?"

"."

At this moment, the Golden Spirit Mother completely dropped her pretense, and all the great gods instantly saw through the situation. The entire Ullambana Festival saw the Buddha's plan completely fail, causing Buddhism, which had intended to establish its authority, to suffer an unfavorable start and a drop in morale.

Upon hearing Jinling's words, Yunxiao immediately straightened his robes and said, "Fellow Daoist Tathagata, why not heed Senior Sister Jinling's wise advice, return to the Jie Sect, and rebuild the sect? We are willing to support our eldest brother as the sect leader and restore the prestige of Biyou Palace!"

The Holy Mother of the Tortoise Spirit, with a fiery temper, immediately stepped forward upon hearing this: "If Senior Brother still cherishes our bond, he should return. If Senior Brother is willing to lead the Jie Sect, this humble Daoist is willing to pave the way for him with my halberd!"

"."

The Buddha's face was solemn. He was caught in a dilemma, which made him extremely annoyed. He should not have planned this. It was a huge failure. Instead, he lost the morality he had been upholding. If morality is lost, what should he do?
After a long silence, the Buddha said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, why do you say such things? When I was enlightened by a sage and converted to Buddhism years ago, I made a great vow to protect the Western Buddhist faith and save all sentient beings. This vow is as clear as the sun and moon; how can I go against the will of Heaven and break my promise?"

Upon hearing this, the Golden Spirit Mother sighed deeply and immediately said, "Since you, fellow Daoist, have upheld your oath to the Heavenly Dao, I, as the leader of the Intercepting Sect of the Three Teachings of the Xuanmen, should naturally be concerned with the rise and fall of the Xuanmen. The division between East and West is a fundamental principle of the Great Dao; even if we were once fellow disciples, we cannot abandon this great righteousness."

After hearing this, the Buddha nodded calmly: "Since that's the case, this humble monk will say no more. From this moment on, the cause and effect are settled!"

As the leader of the Jie Sect, after Jinling Shengmu finished speaking, the Jie Sect's destiny and karma were revealed, and in an instant, spiderweb-like golden threads of karma tore open from the void. This was because the three thousand Buddhist monks and Tathagata had not been expelled from the Jie Sect after being captured during the Investiture of the Gods, so their karma still existed. Now, after these words, the karma was completely severed and revealed.

This was a karmic bond planted during their shared cultivation at Biyou Palace, and it was now crumbling inch by inch, with each break scattering blue and gold hues.

This is meant to be shown to all the independent cultivators in the Three Realms. Since the Buddha intends to isolate the Jie Sect in this way, the Golden Spirit Mother proclaims to all parties the great principle that the fate of the Xuanmen must be upheld, based on the distinction between East and West.

"Having severed the ties of cause and effect, there is no turning back! From this day forward, the Jie Sect will return to the East, and Buddhism will reign supreme in the West!"

Yin Ziyu smiled faintly, while Luo Shen asked, "Ziyu, is this how the danger of being isolated can be resolved?"

"Not only was it resolved, but before the Ullambana Festival even began, we lost Dingguang Xian and the array diagram. However, at the same time, it allowed Jinling to establish a great reputation for justice and righteousness for the sake of the Xuanmen! The Buddha's brilliant plan to secure the world resulted in the loss of the array diagram and the army!"

"puff"

Upon hearing Yin Ziyu's words, Mi Fei couldn't help but laugh.

"Ziyu's words are truly interesting. Since the bond is gone, the future will be a contest, won't it?"

Yin Ziyu nodded: "Yes, since the friendship is gone, the next step is to compete. This is the plan for the Journey to the West. We need to establish great prestige, so we should deal with it properly."

"Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

After settling the karmic debt with the Jie Sect, it's time to announce the next important matter.

The Tathagata first proclaimed the Buddha's name, and instantly all the Buddhas in the entire Mahavira Hall proclaimed the Buddha's name in unison, their voices resounding throughout the Saha world.

Twenty-four golden wheels rose from behind the Buddhas, interlocking and radiating light that spread across the ground, transforming into a thousand-petaled golden lotus that formed a lotus platform. Amidst the auspicious light, the sounds of Brahma and celestial music flowed, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere that stirred the hearts of all the wandering cultivators in the hall to seek refuge there.

A peaceful atmosphere filled the void. The Buddha rose up with a flick of his sleeve, and the sixteen-foot-long halo behind his golden body illuminated all the heavens.

"Today, at the Ullambana Festival, I am deeply grateful for the presence of great beings from all realms of the primordial world. This gathering is a grand event jointly undertaken by all the heavens, firstly to discuss and prove the Dao, thereby clarifying the ultimate truth; and secondly, to open a path for fame and recognition. I hope that all fellow immortals will generously offer their guidance, so that all parties in the primordial world may bask in the light of heaven."

Meanwhile, the various independent cultivators watching the battle were all delighted. What followed was a discussion of the Dao, an opportunity to make a name for themselves.

Although the Buddha's invitation to the Ullambana Festival may have been seen as an attempt to establish his authority, it was nonetheless a momentous event that would last for millennia.

All this is because the grand gathering is a great opportunity to make a name for oneself and establish one's reputation. In the vast universe, reputation is the manifestation of good fortune, and when one's fame spreads far and wide, good fortune will follow. This principle is consistent with that of heaven and man.

A person with great prestige benefits indescribably, both for the sake of a great religion and for the sake of personal fame.

Those who remain unknown will inevitably have little fortune, while only those who are prominent and renowned can grasp the secrets of heaven.

Therefore, cultivators in the prehistoric world value their reputation and always try to make a name for themselves when they attend important events, such as by reciting an entrance poem. This is a unique custom in the prehistoric world.

For example, Sun Wukong, whenever he met a stranger, would always begin by saying, "I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago." He would use this title to everyone he met, not only to boast and show off his abilities, but also to make his name known throughout the world, to create momentum, and to increase his personal fortune.

Before the Three Pure Ones attained sainthood, each of them had an entrance poem, and Hongjun also had one; this is the reason why.

The reason why the primordial world has such a majestic spirit is because fame and fortune are intertwined, and power and influence are born together.

If it is for the sake of promoting the great religion, then the religion will prosper; if it is for the sake of establishing a personal reputation, then the foundation of the religion will be solid.

Now that we have entered a period without saints in the Three Realms, the last Penglai Gathering failed to gain fame in all aspects due to Yin Ziyu's scheming.

It should be noted that many people, including the three thousand guests of Zixiao Palace, need this opportunity to gain prestige; otherwise, hundreds of thousands of years later, they won't even have a name left.

They could be said to have faded into obscurity among the masses, but Yin Ziyu also brought some talented businessmen with him, which was a good opportunity for him to make a name for himself.

Guang Chengzi looked at the Buddha and said, "Fellow Daoist Buddha, please proclaim the rules!"

The Buddha nodded, his sixteen-foot-tall golden body radiating precious light, and spoke clearly: "The discussion of the Dao is divided into three stages: the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage, the Daluo Golden Immortal stage, and the Quasi-Saint stage. There are two rules: first, spiritual treasures are forbidden; second, the discussion ends when the opponent is right, and superiority is determined by supernatural powers."

"The Taiyi Seat is a test of the potential of future generations. If those who come after can distinguish themselves, it demonstrates the merit of the sect's transmission and can foreshadow its rise and fall."

"The Grand Preceptor is a pillar of the sect. Only by engaging in comprehensive discussions can one truly understand the depth of a sect's foundation and discern the basis for its strength or weakness."

"The Quasi-Saint Seat is comparable to the prestige of a religious leader. If a sect's leader can command respect and subdue others, it reveals the rise and fall of the sect's lineage and can determine its destiny."

The Buddha's rules immediately sparked heated discussions among all parties, as this could be seen as a three-dimensional struggle for power in the Three Realms.

These three rounds were not merely contests; they were crucial opportunities to determine the fate of the sect and its rise and fall. If Taiyi lost, it would mean the potential of the younger generation was insufficient; if Daluo was defeated, it would mean the middle generation was lacking; and if the Quasi-Saint lost, it would be a disgrace to the sect leader.

The difference between victory and defeat will inevitably affect the prestige of the three realms.

Yin Ziyu smiled. He had come prepared, and everything was in place. At the same time, he was about to make a move against the Great Luo Golden Immortal!

(End of this chapter)