Chapter 719: Share the True Deity's Burden?
Chapter 719: Share the True Deity's Burden?
In the Foshan Hall.
Jin Chan Bodhisattva quickly composed himself and resumed his steps, walking into the hall.
The spacious hall was devoid of any Buddha statues.
The True Buddha resided within Mount Sumeru, and under the True Buddha, the Bodhisattva of Great Liberation governed the mortal world. Ordinary Arhat Bodhisattvas had no right to have their statues placed in the hall of the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation.
A long corridor ran along the side of the hall.
Jin Chan Bodhisattva walked forward, gradually entering a secluded chamber.
There stood a white-robed monk before the incense altar. Due to his extreme thinness, the normal long robe hung loosely on his frame, revealing the outlines of his ribs.
However, his hands, free from any blemish, were unusually white and beautiful.
At that moment, those hands were gently inserting incense into the altar.
There was still no Buddha statue before the incense altar.
He took a slight sip of the green smoke, offering it to himself.
"Has Tian Wu left?"
"Respected World Purification, he has been sent away."
Faced with the white-robed monk, Jin Chan Bodhisattva visibly reined in his confrontational demeanor, behaving with utmost courtesy.
The Bodhisattva of Great Liberation had transcended the Five Elements, and any one of the future could ascend to the Lotus Throne and become a True Buddha, far surpassing a Third-Grade cultivator. He could be considered Jin Chan's elder.
After speaking, Jin Chan Bodhisattva hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Respected, I wish to go down the mountain to see the world."
Even though he had already donned the kasaya, spending his days on Mount Sumeru, how could the world know his revered name? Even someone like Tian Wu still treated him as a junior.
"Where do you want to go?" asked the World Purification Respected, turning to look at him.
"I have not decided yet, please give me guidance", Jin Chan Bodhisattva suppressed his pride. As a disciple personally chosen by the Future Buddha, he had no need to beg for alms in the mortal world. Thus, he knew little about the world below, and his occasional appearances were mostly to interact with the disciples of the Three Teachings.
Of course, he was just being polite and did not really need any guidance.
The mortal world was a mere trifle for someone of his cultivation; he could go anywhere he pleased.
"The Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva has fallen."
The World Purification Respected turned his gaze back to the incense altar. "Do you still want to go?"
Before the words had even finished, Jin Chan Bodhisattva was already looking up in shock. Reaching the Third-Grade realm and residing high above the clouds, revered as a divine being by mortals, such an existence could actually die in the mortal world?
But in an instant, Jin Chan Bodhisattva composed his expression. Having spoken, he did not want his half-elder to underestimate him: "If it is a great tribulation, there will certainly be risks. I am already prepared to lay down my life in the mortal world."
"..."
Hearing this, the World Purification Respected's eyes showed a slight change.
It wasn't that he truly believed Jin Chan's words.
He was just inexplicably moved.
Not long ago, in the eyes of these Bodhisattvas within the sect, and the masters of the San Xian Jiao, the so-called tribulation was nothing more than a grand play.
They only needed to push things from behind, set the stage for their disciples, and wait for the Divine Dynasty to crumble.
As for personally taking risks, that was absolutely out of the question.
But in such a short time, first Tian Wu, and now Jin Chan, these people seemed to have forgotten that they could have remained on their high pedestals, and were now eager to enter the mortal world.
This change was indeed abrupt.
Could it be that they themselves were also part of the play?
The changes in the hearts of the masses were but a thought of the sect leaders.
"You are a disciple of the Future Buddha, and I should not overstep my bounds. However, since you wish to go down the mountain, I will give you two paths to choose from."
"One is to investigate the matter of the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva, and the other is to go and share the True Deity's burden."
"..." Jin Chan Bodhisattva's face showed a hint of reluctance. He, a future True Buddha, was descending the mountain to earn a name, not to do menial labor.
Any Bodhisattva could do these tasks; what mattered was who would ultimately gain the glory.
The Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation remained silent, waiting for his response.
Just then, a voice from outside announced, "Great King Subduing Dragons and Tigers requests an audience with the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation!"
"Hmm?"
Jin Chan Bodhisattva, still hesitating, suddenly turned around.
He was all too familiar with this title.
Even during the transmission of the scriptures in the imperial capital, discussions had already begun in Southern Sumeru Mountain. Many compared this mysterious Ming Wang, who had appeared from nowhere, to himself.
Even behind closed doors, some speculated that the loss of the scripture guardian position might have deeper implications.
Jin Chan Bodhisattva had always been too lazy to pay attention to such gossip. After all, he hadn't taken the scripture guardian role simply because he was working on achieving the Bodhisattva rank. Once he donned the kasaya, all the noise would die down.
However, after the Great King Subduing Dragons and Tigers killed Tianwu Xuanwu and seven other peers outside the Beiliu River, the noise only grew louder and more grating.
Just a laughable squabble among the young generation, hardly worth the fuss.
Jin Chan Bodhisattva sneered coldly, adjusting the bright red kasaya on his shoulders. He wondered if these so-called illustrious figures would still show respect when they met him.
Thinking of this, he mocked, "This Myriad King sure knows how to pick his timing. If he had come earlier, he might have had a chance to meet Tianwu."
The Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation remained silent, only watching the long corridor.
Soon, a young man in a simple long robe slowly approached the two. His face was handsome, his skin fair, but compared to Jin Chan Bodhisattva, he seemed more reserved and calm, with clear, unassuming eyes.
"Disciple greets the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation."
The young man bowed slightly, placing his hand over his heart.
World Purification Venerable nodded, recognizing the young disciple, even though this might be his first visit to Mount Sumeru. His name was already well-known in the Bodhi Sect: "What brings you here this time? Is it related to the True Scripture?"
"Disciple apologizes, but the True Scripture has been lost."
Shen Yi raised his head again. Although this was his first visit to Mount Sumeru, he had already asked Master Zhikong countless details on the journey, which gave him the composure he needed now.
"Then why are you back?" Jin Chan Bodhisattva suddenly lowered his gaze and laughed softly, interjecting.
No matter how famous he was, he ultimately failed, just like the evil lion and the white elephant.
"..."
Shen Yi looked at the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation, then took out a yellow cloth bundle and carefully unfolded it, revealing a broken small statue: "Disciple is here to escort the Bodhisattva back to the sect."
Even though he had already heard the news, Jin Chan's eyelids still twitched when he saw the broken Bodhisattva rank.
It had been years since the Bodhi Sect had lost a Bodhisattva.
World Purification Venerable was silent for a moment, then gently took the broken rank with his beautiful, clean hands. He caressed it lightly with his fingers, not angry, but his eyes grew deeper and more serious as he looked at the young man before him, as if trying to see through him: "What happened? Tell me in detail."
Shen Yi met his gaze without hesitation: "Disciple was engaged in a struggle with the Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens, but did not expect the San Xian Jiao to cheat. They set a trap and ambushed the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva who came to guide me."
"Who were the attackers?"
"I don't know."
"Any evidence?"
"None."
Shen Yi shook his head: "After escaping, I followed the Bodhisattva's guidance and went to the Divine Dynasty. When I arrived, all that was left was this rank. The physical body was lost."
Their conversation was filled with inconsistencies, as if he hadn't prepared at all. But even Jin Chan Bodhisattva, who usually disliked Shen Yi, did not find fault with him this time.
A mere high-level Arhat could hardly influence the battle between a Bodhisattva and a Da Luo Xianzun. No matter how outstanding he was among his peers, in such a situation, he was no different from an ant.
Not seeing the details and having no evidence was normal.
Finding evidence would have been the anomaly.
"Ah."
The Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation exhaled softly, putting away the Bodhisattva rank without commenting on Shen Yi's account.
He turned and said calmly, "I understand."
The San Xian Jiao had no reason to attack the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva. After all, it was still just a play in everyone's eyes, and a play should not involve outsiders.
But as he had thought, the lines between the play and reality were already blurred.
"Is this your first return to the sect?"
Jin Chan, who had been ignored, finally found an opportunity to speak.
He had already adjusted his sleeves several times, but the Great King seemed to ignore his bright red kasaya.
From start to finish, he only showed respect to World Purification Venerable.
"Um." Shen Yi glanced at him.
"That makes sense", Jin Chan Bodhisattva said with a restrained smile. "Since you've only been in the sect for a short time, it's understandable. But now that you're back on Mount Sumeru, you should learn the basic rules and etiquette."
Seeing the young man quietly staring at him, as if he couldn’t understand, he slightly frowned. "Though you are called Great King, you are merely an Arhat. Why don’t you pay your respects to me?"
“……”
Shen Yi pursed his lips slightly.
In the next moment, a dense glow of Buddha light surged from his robes, lotus petals swirled around him, and the six-armed shadow behind him extended, forming a radiant halo.
Having performed this gesture, Shen Yi ignored the man and turned his gaze back to Venerable World Purification.
“You….”
As this manifestation appeared, the smile on Jin Chan’s face gradually faded. He felt his kasaya, under the illumination of the Buddha light, seemed much dimmer.
This young man had actually become a Bodhisattva!
Thinking of the incessant chatter within Mount Sumeru, a hint of anger flickered in his eyes. He had thought that reaching the Third Grade would quell these rumors, but it seemed that this opponent was incredibly bothersome, always following closely like a leech.
Unfortunately, Jin Chan didn’t get another chance to speak.
Bodhisattva of Pure World slowly turned around and sized him up.
With his keen eyesight, he could easily discern the lineage of this Bodhisattva’s position. Clearly, it was not only from the Shenwei Guardian Path Sutra but also the same path as the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva.
Achieving such a result was not something that could be done overnight.
It required the transmission of the fundamental order, and years of dedicated teaching and cultivation.
Only then did Shen Yi’s words gain some credibility.
Only such a disciple would be worthy of the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva’s risk.
"How did you attain this position?"
"Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva left it to me."
A simple response, his tone unchanged, Shen Yi glanced at the broken object in the other’s hand, a mix of sorrow and anger gradually clouding his eyes.
At that moment, the restraint he had shown began to fade, and he finally exuded the aura of a Great King!
Someone who could cut down eight peers of the same realm outside the Northern Flowing River couldn’t possibly be a humble and gentle person.
Silence was his way of enduring, enduring for the sake of revenge.
The Bodhi Sect emphasized compassion, but in the face of great calamity, a touch of fierce resolve was also necessary to suppress all sides.
"What do you intend to do with what he left you?" Bodhisattva of Pure World suddenly asked.
"Completing the tasks I promised to the Bodhisattva."
"What did you promise him?" Bodhisattva of Pure World showed a hint of interest.
"Entering the world to endure tribulations and spreading the scriptures among humans."
Shen Yi raised his gaze slightly, as if reminiscing, the anger in his voice growing thicker. "I am enough."
He didn’t mention revenge, because to complete this tribulation, those enemies were already marked for elimination.
This simple statement made Bodhisattva of Pure World raise an eyebrow.
Jin Chan, on the other hand, twitched at the corner of his eye.
Enough with just you?
What does that make me?
He suddenly turned and bowed to Bodhisattva of Pure World. "Disciple is willing to go down the mountain and seek the True Deity."
“……”
However, Bodhisattva of Pure World seemed to ignore him, still staring at Shen Yi.
He could tell that this promise was genuine.
After a long silence, the white-robed Venerable nodded lightly. "If so, then don’t waste what he left you. Go to the Eight Extremities Valley. Another Bodhisattva will tell you what to do."
"Disciple obeys."
Shen Yi closed his eyes and took a few breaths to calm his emotions. When he opened them again, he had returned to his usual quiet demeanor.
He turned and quickly walked through the long corridor, exiting the great hall.
On the Buddha Mountain, many novice monks who had gathered upon hearing the news saw the six-armed manifestation on this young man and fell silent. They remained quiet until he vanished into a streak of light, leaving Southern Sumeru Mountain.
The murmurs erupted immediately.
"Great King has become a Bodhisattva!"
"Bodhisattva of Subduing Dragons and Tigers!"
“……”
In the room, these murmurs were like thunder in Jin Chan’s ears, causing his features to contort involuntarily.
Even his hands trembled as he bowed.
"Go to Cockcrow Cliff."
Venerable World Purification glanced at him casually.
Regardless of strength, sometimes it was only through comparison that the gap became apparent.
"Before you leave the mountain, take off this kasaya. It’s too conspicuous and will hinder your actions."
Even the most beautiful kasaya needs the light of Buddha to shine; otherwise, it’s just a gaudy, mundane garment.
"Disciple… obeys!"
Jin Chan, his hands trembling, clutched the kasaya. With Venerable World Purification’s reminder, it suddenly felt unbearably glaring. He yanked it off his body.
Indeed! Indeed!
If I don’t leave the mountain soon, how will the world know of my future as the True Buddha!
(End of Chapter)
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