Reporting Him

Venerable Ananda looked at the ashes of the Scripture of Perpetual Freedom through a Thousand Calamities, a storm of mixed emotions churning in his chest. He felt both deep admiration and a lingering, uneasy panic toward the Great World Honored One Tathagata.

"World Honored One, the Western Heaven does not hold only Lingshan; there is also Dipankara Buddha's Spirit Vulture Mountain and Maitreya Buddha's Snowy Peak Mountain. If Lingshan cannot protect the bodhisattvas, venerables, and arhats under our banner, I fear they will simply abandon us for Spirit Vulture Mountain and Snowy Peak Mountain! The Era Calamity may not have arrived yet, but Lingshan will already have perished!"

He paused for a fraction of a moment, then pressed on. "Now that Chen Shi has not yet left, there is still time. Have him write out another copy of the Scripture of Perpetual Freedom through a Thousand Calamities. This disciple is willing to cultivate this scripture and bear the infamy for Lingshan."

The Great World Honored One Tathagata laughed. "Ananda, Lingshan is not all that important to cultivators of our generation. Nor am I that important to you. Do not cling to attachments; learn to let go."

Venerable Ananda's words grew increasingly fierce as he urged, "World Honored One, although the Western Heaven currently respects you above all, Maitreya Buddha and Dipankara Buddha are also World Honored Ones! They likewise command immense prestige! I have even heard rumors within the Western Heaven that some have joined forces with the Immortal Court, not merely to borrow the Immortal Court's power to weather this Era Calamity, but also to seize this opportunity to drive you down from your seat! If the World Honored One fails to display thunderous methods, I fear the Western Heaven will fall into the hands of others!"

Ever since