Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 752 A Wish Must Be Repaid
——Kneel down!
—Submission!
—Worship!
Xu Xuan's knees creaked, yet he remained stubbornly still. He defied the overwhelming force, slowly raising his head to meet those eyes—

He was furious, really furious.

Who on earth dares to do this...?!
The other person wasn't looking at him at all.

The gaze pierced through his body and landed on the thousands of ghost kings below.

"So it was just a phantom of the past..." Xu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, but was secretly alarmed.

How could a mere remnant image possess such overwhelming power?!

Upon closer inspection, the figure was nearly ten feet tall, towering like a mountain; wearing a twelve-tassel crown with pearl and jade curtains swaying slightly; dressed in a black python robe with a jade belt around the waist, every line of the robe seemed to be flowing.

His face was indistinct, neither handsome nor ugly, and it was even difficult to tell his age—as if the concept of "appearance" had lost its meaning for him.

Overbearing and domineering, ruling over all the heavens!
More majestic than earthly emperors, more noble than celestial deities, his mere presence alone evokes a suffocating sense of "all things should submit to him."

Xu Xuan recalled the passage from the "Buddha's Discourse on the Eighteen Hells":

"Ordinary people who do not observe the precepts and do not practice the seven virtues will die and enter hell, where they will be recorded by the five officials and their fates will be governed by the hell king. The king is named Yama, who oversees the Buddhist realm, all the heavens, people, ghosts and spirits, dragons, birds, and hunters, all of whom belong to the king..."

The one who could make even the Venerable Mahakasyapa feel pressured was none other than the supreme being who ruled the underworld—

Yama, the King of Hell.

Wow~~~ I've met a real big shot.

Xu Xuan felt a little numb and realized that he shouldn't be too reckless. He should probably take a step back.

Such a powerful being, at least an immortal Golden Immortal, might be able to manifest in illusions or memories. After all, if they can do it themselves, how could a being of a higher dimension not be able to?

Just then, a gaze as warm and gentle as the earth fell softly on... behind him.

That gaze contained boundless compassion and wisdom, as if it could soothe all the suffering in the world.

Xu Xuan was startled and blurted out:

"Buddha?!"

I saw——

The earthen-yellow robe, as heavy as the earth itself, bears the weight of all suffering.

Holding the Mani jewel in his left hand, he illuminates the darkness of the underworld;

Holding a nine-ringed staff in his right hand, he shook open the gates of hell;

Seated serenely on a thousand-petaled blue lotus, countless phantom images of chanting spirits floated on the petals...

It was none other than the powerful patron he had been worshipping, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!
Xu Xuan suddenly realized:

No wonder thousands of ghost kings have gathered! This is the legendary "Ksitigarbha Dharma Assembly"!
Once every thousand years, the Bodhisattva manifests in Jambudvipa to preach the Dharma to beings in hell. Regardless of the depth of their sins or the strength of their attachments, all can come to listen to the sutra. Even if they only receive a single word of guidance, they have a chance to escape the sea of ​​suffering.

Xu Xuan didn't know what the Bodhisattva wanted him to do, but he decided to keep watching.

We're on the same side, so it shouldn't be a problem for me to get a lecture for free.

But the Dharma assembly in front of us... seems a bit off.

Yama, the King of Hell, spoke: “We, along with the ghost kings, are able to attend this great assembly today thanks to the power of the Buddha and the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. It is also because of our good fortune. I have a small question and dare to ask the World Honored One. I beseech the World Honored One to compassionately explain it to me.”

His voice was like the clang of metal, the roar of a dragon, and the howl of a tiger. The moment he opened his mouth, it resounded throughout Jambudvipa. As the saying goes, "Divine grace enters the sea, divine might is like a prison," and he was exuding a majesty as vast as the sea and a prison.

And as Yama, the King of Hell, finished speaking, the special attraction disappeared.

Xu Xuan then realized that he had been affected across time and space, and was actually immersed in the Dao principles.

For the first time in my life, I believe that such a thing as "the aura of a king" really exists in this world.

However, the content was somewhat unsettling.

This means: "World Honored One, I observe that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva uses hundreds of thousands of skillful means in the six realms to deliver suffering beings from their sins, without tiring of it. This great Bodhisattva possesses such inconceivable supernatural powers. However, these beings, having escaped the retribution of their sins, soon fall into the evil realms again."

World Honored One, since Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva possesses such inconceivable divine power, why do sentient beings not rely on the path of goodness and attain eternal liberation? I beseech the World Honored One to explain this to me.

However, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was right in front of him, yet he directly looked up and questioned the World-Honored One Tathagata, who was not in this world.

He seemed to think, "I don't think much of this Bodhisattva," and even considered it a waste of time...

The atmosphere was tense from the start, and Xu Xuan thought it would be normal for both sides to pull out their magical weapons and have a fight.

Yama, the King of the Underworld, is the supreme ruler of the five ghost emperors, in charge of the cycle of life and death, and assists Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun in saving the souls of the dead. He has the dual functions of punishment and redemption.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, having vowed "I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty," entered the underworld and was granted the power to leave, naturally harboring resentment.

If there's any dissatisfaction, they directly question the leader of the Buddhist community; this kind of toughness and domineering attitude is truly impressive.

Just as tensions were about to rise—a sacred chant suddenly descended from the heavens!

The voice was not like the thunderous armor of Yama, but like the morning bell and evening drum, carrying timeless compassion, the Buddhist chant resounding, each word transforming into a blooming golden lotus:
"The beings of Jambudvipa are stubborn and difficult to tame. This great Bodhisattva, for hundreds of thousands of kalpas, has rescued such beings one by one, enabling them to be liberated as soon as possible. Those who have committed sins and have even fallen into the deepest evil realms, the Bodhisattva, through skillful means, uproots their fundamental karmic causes and helps them to realize the events of their past lives."

Xu Xuan was shocked. This was clearly... the World-Honored One Tathagata transmitting his voice from another realm!
What a steal! I never expected to witness such a grand spectacle.

The Buddha told Yama, the King of Hell, that the beings of Jambudvipa (the southern continent) are too stubborn in nature, their behavior difficult to reconcile, and their minds difficult to subdue. This great Bodhisattva (referring to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) has been rescuing these stubborn, sinful beings one by one for hundreds of thousands of kalpas, hoping they will attain liberation as soon as possible. Even those who have already fallen into the deepest hells, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva still uses various skillful means to break the root causes of their hellish descent, precisely eliminating their sins and enabling them to awaken to their past lives.

According to a certain Zen Master Fahai, this statement is somewhat unreasonable.

It's like answering "and" in a yes or no situation.

They are practically unrelated; the tradition of using official language truly dates back to ancient times.

The crown of Yama, the King of Hell, trembled slightly, and his left hand slowly moved away from the Book of Life and Death, the dragon pattern on his black robe ceasing to move.

In the end, he merely snorted coldly: "I... shall wait and see."

I intend to hear what abilities this Bodhisattva-level Ksitigarbha possesses.

Xu Xuan, who was just watching the show... felt a little disappointed.

Although Buddha himself offered a way out, we had to give him face.

But behind you stands the Great Savior of Suffering, and behind the Great Savior of Suffering is the Dao Ancestor.

What's there to be afraid of? What's wrong with just fighting back? We wouldn't lose a fight. Even if I were a Buddhist disciple, I...

Xu Xuan also quoted a classic saying, mainly because he was still bothered by what he had seen before, where thousands of ghosts knelt on the ground offering their faith. He felt that it would be better to eradicate these things from their source.

Unfortunately, his true feelings could not be conveyed to the outside world, and he could only express his regret as a third party.

When the golden light of the heavens dissipated, the Dharma assembly in the arena continued.

Faced with the almost provocative attitude of Yama, the King of Hell, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva simply smiled slightly.

He neither got angry nor offered any explanation; he simply unfolded his robe and began to perform the ritual—

In an instant, the Thousand-Petaled Blue Lotus bloomed, and countless golden Sanskrit characters fell like rain, each one precisely sinking into the brow of the Ghost King present.

Xu Xuan was about to listen carefully when he realized that time was passing by at an accelerated pace!
The Bodhisattva's voice became muffled, as if veiled by a thick curtain. Clearly, this past "true teaching" was beyond his current comprehension.

Only the Ksitigarbha Sutra in my arms felt slightly warm, quietly recording a few fragments of wisdom...

Unlike the profound Buddhist teachings of the Bodhisattvas, Yama, the King of Hell, preaches in an unexpectedly practical way, even his brief words getting straight to the point.

Xu Xuan was even more surprised to find that although Yama King spoke coldly to Ksitigarbha, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes when he mentioned the oath that "hell will never be empty".

He made no attempt to hide his disgust for the Buddhist system, and when he heard the words "ascension to paradise," the jade beads on his crown trembled.

A moment later, the sermon ended, and the thousands of ghost kings bowed and dispersed.

Yama, the King of Hell, gave Ksitigarbha a deep look, his black robe billowing as he vanished into black mist. The golden Buddhist light gradually dimmed, but the Bodhisattva remained seated on his lotus throne, seemingly lost in thought.

There was also a Zen Master Fahai deep in thought, who was certain that the big shot had shown him this scene.

What is being expressed in this?

Why can't you just give a direct instruction? All you do is give empty, vague instructions, and you have no concept of taking responsibility.

And there is...

"Bodhisattva, oh Bodhisattva, everyone says that listening to a great master preach can lead to a leap in spiritual cultivation, but why haven't I experienced this? You won't even let me listen..."

Mr. Xu, who believed in getting something for nothing, was somewhat indignant, then his voice grew softer and softer...

Because those compassionate eyes that had been lowered slowly lifted up and met his gaze!

"?!"

Xu Xuan froze, instinctively flinging left and right to test the waters.

The Bodhisattva's gaze follows you like a shadow!
shock!
He could swear that the Bodhisattva seemed to see him.

At this moment, the Bodhisattva looked away, as if she hadn't seen Xu Xuan.

He looked at Jambudvipa and felt endless sorrow in his heart.

What is truly awe-inspiring is the Bodhisattva's subsequent soliloquy: "It is certainly wrong to wallow in the sea of ​​suffering in a daze..."

"But even Buddha... is not omnipotent."

"The power of a vow must be repaid."

As the last few words were uttered, the entire illusion trembled violently.

Xu Xuan felt a chill run down his spine—Bodhisattva, what's wrong with you?
As the supreme master who vowed not to become a Buddha until hell is emptied, how could he now personally admit the limitations of Buddhism?!

Such words from a great Bodhisattva sent chills down Xu Xuan's spine.

Then, the figure of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva vanished like smoke.

In the blink of an eye—time flows by, and the world changes.

Fast forward to the point where the immortals and Buddhas have disappeared and the order of the underworld has collapsed.

The gold paint on the Buddhist temple peeled away, revealing beams and pillars made of stark white bones. The kneeling ghosts suddenly awoke, discovering that the sins within them had not diminished in the slightest. The skins of those "high monks" chanting Buddhist mantras cracked open, and nightmare demons emerged, sucking the power of the vows.

The countless ghosts realized they had been deceived. The monks accepted the faith and received the power of their vows, but it did not absolve them of their sins, nor did it allow them to reach the legendary Western Paradise.

I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!
In the blink of an eye, the biggest upheaval occurred.

"fraud!"

"The Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss does not exist!"

"Give us back our piety!"

A riotous tide of ghosts swept across Jambudvipa: Rakshasa tore the plaque of the Mahavira Hall to shreds with six arms, Yakshas paraded Buddha statues with heads strung on bone spears, and most ironically... those souls who had been saved from suffering personally pressed the monks into the oil cauldrons where they had suffered.

As the last Bodhisattva statue was toppled, Xu Xuan spoke softly:
"The lotus emerges from the mud, but now the mud is burned away—the seed of Buddha is extinguished."

All that remained before me was ruins and rubble.

Xu Xuan nodded as he looked at the final outcome. Although it was terrifying, it wasn't too bad.

After witnessing the changes in Jambudvipa, the world becomes nothingness.

He returned to the dilapidated Ksitigarbha Temple amidst a golden light.

Looking at the ruins before me...

The order established by Yama, the King of Hell, could no longer be enforced after his disappearance, and the lies woven by Buddhism were also exposed.

So, is what Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is trying to express?
Changing Jambudvipa?!
Not the kind that uses karmic fire, but true salvation.

Bodhisattva, you think too highly of me.

We possess boundless magical power; we wouldn't use it here to cause seas to split and mountains to collapse.

Xu Xuan felt that his understanding might be slightly wrong. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was a good person, and might just want him to kill Yin Yang Dharma King as soon as possible and then get lost.

Right, that is it.

(End of this chapter)