Maitreya

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

Maitreya is depicted as a plump, bald monk. After his regression, he retains radiant Buddha Light and a Golden Wheel of Merit behind his head 146 422 560.

• Bare-chested, with an exposed belly and a jovial smile when he faces Yuan Hong 560.

Abilities & Skills

Golden Body and Buddha Light

• Forms a golden barrier that blocks Xing Tian’s first axe strike, though his golden body cannot withstand the subsequent attack 151.
• Uses his Golden Body’s strength to fight Golden Peng at close range 422.
• Projects a Buddha Light Great Hand Seal, golden lotuses and a rune-filled magic array against Nezha 397.

Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound

• Sends out sonic ripples to disrupt Kong Xuan’s inner world in an attempt to rescue Zhunti’s corpse incarnation; Ao Lie counters with a dragon’s roar 355.
• Uses it in the Earth Blazing Array, where Zhen Yuanzi nullifies the sound waves with Wu Tu energy 527.

Other Buddhist Techniques

• Cultivates Bodhi Sarira Divine Light 527.
• Uses Buddha Kingdom in Palm against Yuan Hong’s body while Yun Ting controls it; Yun Ting’s Law of Battle pierces the attack 560.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Demon Subduing Pestle — Maitreya’s close-combat weapon, named the Vajra, World-Shocking and World Purifying Demon Subduing Pestle in different encounters 355 397 422.
• Golden cymbal / Golden Cymbals — traps Golden Peng temporarily; Zhen Yuanzi later seizes the cymbals in the Earth Blazing Array 356 527.
• Purple-gold alms bowl — used against Nezha 397.
• Pure World Glazed Pestle — used as the core of the Western Teachings’ array against Ming He 551.
• Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit — lent to protect him during confrontations, including his entry into the Blazing Flame Array 268 532 533.
• Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree — lent by Ancestor Bodhi when Maitreya enters the Ice Array 544.

Relationships

• Zhunti — Maitreya’s master, who repeatedly sends aid when Maitreya is threatened 268 400 532.
• Jieyin — a leader of the Western Teachings who assigns Maitreya to preach to the Wu Clan and later directs him to assist Subhuti 146 355.
• Ksitigarbha — fellow disciple assigned to preach to the Human Race while Maitreya goes to the Wu Clan 146.
• Medicine Master and Kinnara — fellow Western Teachings combatants who join Maitreya against Golden Peng 423.
• Shen Gongbao — Maitreya offers to seek help with the seal on his powers and welcomes him as a junior brother after he joins the Western Teachings 499 501.
• Golden Peng — recurring opponent who defeats Maitreya in one battle and pressures him in another 356 423.
• Rulai — Buddha Ancestor whose order Maitreya follows despite misgivings about the karma involved 729.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Preaching to the Wu Clan: Maitreya recites scriptures on Mount Buzhou for days. Xing Tian attacks and injures him, and Dijiang takes him captive; Zhunti then comes to negotiate his release 151 152.
• North Sea conflicts: Maitreya intervenes for Dragon Subduing, tries to rescue Subhuti from Kong Xuan, and fights Golden Peng. In a later close-combat match, Medicine Master and Kinnara step in as Golden Peng gains the advantage 341 355 356 422 423.
• Investiture arrays: Zhen Yuanzi defeats him in the Earth Blazing Array. Taiyi then burns him back to Grand Unity Golden Immortal in the Blazing Flame Array, and Ao Bing beats him when he enters the Ice Array 527 533 544.
• Journey to the West preparations: Maitreya negotiates Guanyin’s release from the East Sea Dragon Palace using a drop of Jieyin’s essence blood. Later, he obeys Rulai’s order to erase the Flower-Fruit Mountain monkeys’ memories, then chants scriptures for them because of the karmic debt 727 729.