Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Above the East China Sea, the Jianmu tree reaches for the sky, majestically supporting the sea and sky.

Boundless blue mist swirled and flowed, revealing glimpses of palace outlines.

The golden giant that suddenly appeared was hundreds of feet tall, its entire body as if cast from pure gold, shimmering with precious light.

As soon as it appeared, boundless golden light burst forth, enveloping the sea.

The numerous cultivators on Woniu Island and the surrounding islands felt as if they were surrounded by a dazzling golden light, unable to see clearly, and could only hear the roar of the waves and thunder.

The golden giant spread its five fingers and quietly sealed off the entire Sleeping Ox Island.

He then bent down, wrapped his arms around the base of the mountain, and lifted the entire island up as if moving soil and rocks.

Rocks fell in a flurry, and the cultivators on the island screamed in terror, becoming nothing more than ants in the palm of someone's hand.

"Boom!"

The island, separated from the sea, stirred up towering, turbulent waves, and the air was thick with moisture.

The giant, seemingly unaware, strode across the surging waves, taking a few steps and arriving beneath the divine Jianmu tree in a matter of breaths, surrounded by boundless blue mist.

"go!"

The giant roared, his voice booming like a bell, and formed the Vajra Sumeru Seal, causing his body to radiate golden light once more.

They suddenly hurled that enormous Crouching Ox Island towards the depths of the blue mist where the Jianmu Palace's gate was located!

The island crashed into the chaotic, undefined blue mist and was instantly swallowed up.

In the distance, on the clouds, the Lion Camel King scoffed at this brute-force method of moving mountains:

"Bald monk, barbarian."

"Could this be a guardian deity of Buddhism?"

Master Ziyang, standing beside Chen Jiao, witnessed this scene and couldn't help but gasp, his face filled with surprise and uncertainty.

This is truly appalling.

Regardless of the surrounding area of ​​Jianmu Palace, where the Heavenly Tribulation had just passed and the remaining purple and blue lightning energy was intertwined and rampant with chaotic innate spiritual energy, the danger was still unclear.

This ancient grotto has been sealed away for countless years, hidden in the gaps between the heavens. What it looks like inside and what restrictions it has are completely unknown to outsiders.

To throw an entire island of life into this place without any distinction between right and wrong is truly reckless.

Before the words were finished, Chen Jiao beside him let out a deep shout that overwhelmed the wind and waves of the sea.

"The Five Wisdom Kings and the Eight Vajras of Buddhism, those who come, please state your names."

His eyes flashed with intense white lightning, and he suddenly raised the thunder halberd in his hand.

The golden light that stretched for miles was cleaved in two by a single halberd strike.

Where the golden light dissipated, the giant's true form was revealed.

It was seen to have three faces, each with wide-open, angry eyes and exposed fangs, all displaying an appearance of great rage and ferocity.

It has eight arms, some forming mudras, some holding pestles, and some grasping wheels. A blazing halo of flames burns behind its head, further enhancing its majestic and terrifying aura.

It is the appearance of a guardian deity in Buddhism.

Master Ziyang stared intently, his expression growing even more somber, and said:

"So it was the King of the Three Worlds. Your Buddhist tradition upholds compassion and refrains from harming living beings."

"What is the reason for putting the lives of all the cultivators on the island in such uncertain danger today?"

The golden light on the face of the three-generation Buddha was pierced by a halberd, revealing that he could not conceal his true form, and he said:

"Greetings, True Lord."

Upon hearing the question posed by the True Man Ziyang, the King of the Three Worlds immediately began to chant the Buddha's name in a low voice. His blue Dharma face opened, and his voice, like a resounding bell, shook the sea and sky.

"Amitabha Buddha, you are attached to appearances. The Buddha is compassionate and saves all those with affinity."

Although the grotto has been opened, it has been sealed for countless ages, its internal energy is stagnant and chaotic, and the lingering power of tribulation lightning still lingers. Furthermore, the dormant killing intent has not yet dissipated, making it a place of hidden danger and not easily entered.

The Three-Faced Man King paused, golden light swirling in his three eyes, and then said:

"With the blessing of the supreme Buddha Dharma, I used the power of Vajra to move the island into the interior, so that all those who are destined to benefit may break through the outer layer of illusion and save them the trouble of exploration."

Secondly, it uses vital energy as a catalyst to harmonize the stagnant, murderous, and violent atmosphere within the palace, transforming a dangerous place into a blessed land.

This is a convenient method to help them quickly attain the right conditions for liberation, which is a great merit and a manifestation of great compassion. What is wrong with it?

Having said that, he raised his eight arms slightly, his back blazing with flames, and stood quietly on the waves.

Upon hearing these words, the cultivators on the clouds all had complex expressions. Some seemed thoughtful, some looked mocking, and others looked at the Sleeping Ox Island, which had been mostly swallowed by the blue mist, with worried eyes.

Upon hearing this, Master Ziyang's anger intensified. He pointed his whisk at the churning blue mist and said sternly:

"Your Majesty's words are far-fetched! The cultivators on the island have varying levels of cultivation and different temperaments. If they enter, will they gain blessings or fill a ditch?"

To forcibly provide assistance without one's consent is no different from kidnapping. This is not compassion; it is utterly reckless!

The central face of the three-fold Vajrapani King showed neither joy nor sorrow, while the angry-looking figure on the left coldly snorted and said:

"Foolish! I have protected the island with my great magical power, reducing its danger by seven-tenths."

The remaining three points are precisely the opportunity to cultivate a compassionate heart and clearly discern cause and effect.

Life, death, fortune, and misfortune are all determined by fate and karma; this is the way of Heaven and also in accordance with Buddhist principles.

Those who cling to outward appearances fail to see the true nature of things, thus only inviting arguments and disputes.

The person on the right side spoke slowly: "In Buddhist practice, we only ask about one's intentions, and do not adhere to worldly etiquette."

True masters and sages of the Daoist school should know that "Heaven and Earth are not benevolent," so why do they imitate ordinary people and act with the benevolence of women?

You should know that entering this grotto is fate, encountering danger is also fate, and even dying in it is also a way of settling a karmic debt.

The purpose of this Dharma practice is to help them directly confront the Dharma and attain enlightenment as soon as possible.

Have you not heard the saying, "If I don't go to hell, who will?" This is true courage and great diligence.

"absurd!"

Upon hearing this, Master Ziyang felt that all the Buddhists he had met that day were sophists, and immediately replied:

"Forcing a bull to drink water is not the same as forcing it to do so. Depriving someone of a choice is not the same as being brave."

"Forcing a bull to drink water is not the same as forcing it to do so. Depriving someone of a choice is not the same as being brave."

If the enlightened king truly possesses great compassion, why doesn't he personally enter the area and calm the hostile atmosphere?

The King of the Three Worlds pretended not to hear and continued speaking to himself:

"What the true person sees is ultimately only a small compassion. The Buddha's teachings are boundless, how can they be confined by form? The true meaning here cannot be fully expressed in words."

After speaking, his body was enveloped in golden light, and he was about to turn around and perform a ritual to leave.

"Clang!" A flash of blazing white lightning suddenly appeared, like a chasm stretching across the sky.

The three wrathful faces of the King of the Three Worlds suddenly stopped, turning towards his chest.

A boundless thunder halberd was pressed against the vital spot on the golden body's chest. Although it hadn't touched it, the demon-slaying thunder intent emanating from it had already caused the golden body to feel a hidden pain.

Chen Jiao held the Thunder Halberd firmly and asked in a cold voice:

"Is it great compassion, or selfishness?"

How could he not know? He had long ago noticed that there were several Buddhist powers mixed in on Woniu Island, hidden and not obvious, all of whom were Arhats.

It is likely that because he previously beheaded the incarnation of the Buddha Mother and seized her feathers, these Buddhist venerables are wary and dare not approach him easily, for fear of angering him.

This Ming King's act of convenience may also be motivated by a desire to guide his fellow disciples and seize the initiative.

She was shrewd in her calculations, but she couldn't fool him.

The Third King of the Underworld felt the condensed yet powerful thunderous aura emanating from his chest, a aura strong enough to pierce through the golden body.

The three men, their expressions growing increasingly ferocious and vicious, dared not act violently, but instead asked:

"What does the True Lord mean by this?"

"The True Lord possesses profound wisdom and inherent Buddha-nature, which even the Buddha himself praised highly. Yet, why does he repeatedly cause trouble for our Buddhist community?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao simply said calmly:

"Immortals, Buddhas, demons, and monsters all exist under the laws of Heaven. My actions are guided by the will of Heaven. How can there be any talk of difficulties?"

Since Your Majesty has a compassionate heart and a desire to help the world, why not do another good deed for everyone present?

First, cleanse the remaining residual lightning energy from the outer perimeter of this grotto-heaven to ensure the completion of the merit.