Debating Mahayana Buddhism with the Two Sages of the West?

Lion Camel Ridge.

The stench of blood mingled with the odor of corpses, blending with the demon aura soaring into the sky and turning the area within a thousand miles into a foul, smoky wasteland. Waves of wailing drifted out from within.

"There are two blessed immortal lands in the Western World. Mount Sumeru is the cultivation ground of the Two Sages of the West, while Mount Ling is guarded by their direct disciple, Maitreya Buddha."

"Beneath the Buddha's feet, demons and fiends slaughter humanity. What a joke..."

Ling Xiao stood atop the World-Ending Black Lotus, looking down at the crisscrossing auras below.

Killing intent surged in his heart, and the Kongtong Seal trembled.

After the Demon Clan had slaughtered humans without restraint to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword, ninety-nine percent of humanity had become corpses. Although their numbers had continued to recover since then, they could no longer compare to what they once were.

Most humans now lived and multiplied on the eastern continent. Those who had migrated to the western continent had gradually developed civilizations and beliefs unique to themselves.

The humans here believed in the Western Sect. They firmly believed that by doing good and accumulating virtue, they could enter the Ultimate Bliss World.

Ding! Divine Choice Mission successfully refreshed!

Choice One: Destroy Lion Camel Ridge and slaughter the demon hordes. Reward: Innate Thunder Essence.

Choice Two: The root of Lion Camel Ridge lies in the dealings of the Western Sect, the Golden-Winged Great Peng, and others. Confront the Two Sages of the West face-to-face. Reward: Top-Grade Primordial Spiritual Treasure Demon-Suppressing Sword.

Choice Three: Persuade the Two Sages of the West and ask them to handle this matter. Reward: Top-Grade Primordial Spiritual Treasure Buddha Relic!

The system's voice suddenly rang through Ling Xiao's mind.

Three Divine Choices lay before Ling Xiao!

"I understand!"

"The reason the Western Sect allows the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the others to wreak havoc at Lion Camel Ridge is, first, because they do not wish to form karmic ties with the Sect of Interception and the Demon Court. Second, because this benefits the Western Sect's efforts to gain followers among humanity."

"After the Heavenly Rules of Interception were abolished, the Golden-Winged Great Peng came to Lion Camel Ridge to slaughter humans. From that time onward, the humans of the western continent gradually began believing in the Western Sect, to the point that the Western Sect's disciples did not even need to convert them."

Ling Xiao muttered to himself, suppressing the fury in his heart.

As Saints of the Heavenly Dao, Jieyin and Zhunti had allowed the Demon Clan to run rampant across the western continent, turning countless humans into bloody food for demons and making Lion Camel Ridge into a forbidden land.

Destroy one Lion Camel Ridge, and countless more Lion Camel Ridges would appear in the future.

In the original history of the Primordial Wilderness—

During the Journey to the West Tribulation, Tang Sanzang and his disciples left the Eastern Great Tang and traveled west to seek the scriptures. Yet once they left the borders of the Eastern Great Tang, the demons became more numerous and increasingly difficult to deal with.

The root of it all was the Western Sect's indulgence!

Without suffering and torment, why would humanity believe in the Western Paradise?

"System, I choose Choice Three!"

After considering it, Ling Xiao immediately made his decision.

He was not foolish enough to confront the Two Sages of the West face-to-face. Given how shameless the two brothers were, how could they possibly admit to the dealings between the Western Sect and the Demon Clan?

Therefore, he could only probe indirectly and lure them with profit!

Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Top-Grade Primordial Spiritual Treasure Buddha Relic!

Within the system space, Buddhist merit shone brilliantly.

Buddhist teachings were boundless, suppressing evil and demons while granting insight into the Buddhist Dao.

With only the slightest movement of his Divine Sense, Ling Xiao understood the Buddha Relic's wondrous uses. Compared to using the Twelfth Grade Merit Golden Lotus to suppress the Western Sect's fortune, the Buddha Relic was the best choice.

Thus, an idea emerged in Ling Xiao's mind...

Immediately after!

Ling Xiao stepped on the World-Ending Black Lotus and headed toward Mount Sumeru. He sorted through his plan from beginning to end, ensuring that he would not be so passive when facing the Two Sages of the West.

Mount Sumeru was filled with swaying spiritual herbs and flowers.

During the conflict between the Dao and demons, the earth veins of the Western World had been detonated by Demon Ancestor Rahu. From then on, the Western World had become a barren land, with only Mount Sumeru and Mount Ling remaining as blessed immortal lands.

However, after Zhen Yuanzi began restoring the Primordial Earth Veins, the world essence and spiritual energy of the Western World gradually recovered. Though still inferior to the eastern continent, it was at least no longer so impoverished.

"This humble Daoist, Ling Xiao, has come to visit the two Saints!"

His Daoist voice rang out, echoing through the air.

Ling Xiao stood ten thousand miles from Mount Sumeru. As he gazed at the Merit Golden Light filling the sky and listened to the Buddhist chants that affected the Divine Soul, a faint smile gradually appeared on his lips.

Could the Two Sages of the West resist the temptation of the Buddha Relic?

"The arrival of the Great Emperor of the Azure Radiance truly brings glory to Mount Sumeru! Dao Friend Ling Xiao, please come with me. My two masters await you at the summit of Mount Sumeru."

Bhaisajyaguru Buddha wore an elegant Daoist robe. He gave Ling Xiao a Daoist salute, then stepped upon a phantom lotus and led Ling Xiao toward the summit of Mount Sumeru.

The Western Sect of today was not the Buddhist sect of later generations.

Few disciples of the Western Sect wore Kesa. Only believers of the Western Sect dressed in monk's robes and shaved their heads, displaying their reverence for the Buddha and longing for the Western Paradise.

Those of the Western Sect who had attained the Dao usually had fleshy topknots covering their heads, symbolizing nobility, wisdom, and perfection, such as Maitreya Buddha and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

"Thank you for the trouble, Dao Friend!"

Ling Xiao walked beside Bhaisajyaguru Buddha with a faint smile on his face.

Among the Western Sect's disciples, only a handful were truly capable, and Bhaisajyaguru Buddha was one of them.

Had Daoist Randeng, Daoist Duobao, Lu Ya, and the others not joined the Western Sect during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha would at least have obtained the fruit of Buddhahood.

"Among the competing sects, the Western Sect alone grew dominant. How lamentable! But now, this humble Daoist will act. Those people may fall, or they may be listed in the Investiture of the Gods, but they absolutely cannot switch sects unharmed."

"Among the heavens and earth of the Primordial Wilderness, all sects should remain balanced. Only the Heavenly Court can command the overall situation!"

Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes as he calculated inwardly.

Jieyin and Zhunti had originally been Dao Ancestor Hongjun's registered disciples. Later, in order to prove the Dao and become Saints, they established an unorthodox path. In a sense, this was an act of defiance against the Mystic Sect and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Yet in the end, it benefited the Primordial Wilderness, so it was acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao.

A moment later!

At the summit of Mount Sumeru, extraordinary phenomena arose.

Beneath the Bodhi Tree, Jieyin and Zhunti sat cross-legged upon lotus platforms. They wore simple, unadorned Daoist robes, their auras carrying a quality of returning to simplicity. Behind them, Buddhist Merit Golden Light flickered in and out of view.

"This humble Daoist, Ling Xiao, greets the two Saints!"

"I hope you will forgive this unannounced visit!"

Ling Xiao bowed slightly and gave the two men a Daoist salute.

Setting aside all other prejudices, Jieyin and Zhunti's Dao hearts, as well as their grand aspiration to restore the Western World by any means necessary, were worthy of his respect.

"You have come for Lion Camel Ridge, haven't you, young friend?"

Jieyin nodded lightly and watched Ling Xiao sit down.

The moment Ling Xiao appeared at Lion Camel Ridge, Jieyin had known his purpose. Yet he was somewhat puzzled. Why had Ling Xiao come to Mount Sumeru?

Could it be that he intended to stir up some trouble?

"The Saint's divine abilities are vast. My thoughts cannot be concealed from you."

"However, destroying Lion Camel Ridge is merely one of my minor objectives. I have come this time to discuss the Dao with the two Saints. More precisely, to debate Buddhist teachings and discuss the Buddhist Dao!"

His words were shocking enough to never let the matter rest!

Ling Xiao's tone was calm as he looked at Jieyin and Zhunti.

Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, standing behind the Two Sages of the West, was instantly dumbfounded by Ling Xiao's words. The composure he had maintained for countless ages began to crumble at this moment.

The Two Sages of the West had comprehended the Buddhist Dao and Buddhist teachings, then established the Western Sect.

Was Ling Xiao not simply showing off before an expert and making a fool of himself?

"To debate Buddhist teachings and discuss the Buddhist Dao!"

"Young friend Ling Xiao, your words are truly startling. You have caught us brothers somewhat off guard. What sort of Buddhist teachings and Buddhist Dao do you wish to discuss?"

Zhunti did not become angry. Instead, he asked with a beaming smile.

Ling Xiao's Foundation and talent both rivaled those of the greatest Primordial Gods. Moreover, he was the Great Emperor of the Azure Radiance personally appointed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Zhunti did not believe that he was spouting nonsense.

"Young friend, you wield the World-Destroying Black Lotus and the God-Slaying Spear. Both are supreme treasures of the demonic Dao. You must know that Buddha and demon cannot coexist. Do not disappoint this humble Daoist!"

Jieyin stroked his beard and smiled at Ling Xiao.

At this, Ling Xiao remained utterly unmoved.

"A single thought makes one a Buddha; a single thought leads one into demonhood!"

"Buddhas may be false Buddhas, while demons may also be true demons! Whether one is Buddha or demon lies within a single thought. If one devotes oneself wholeheartedly to the living beings of the Primordial Wilderness, then even a demon may be a Buddha!"

Ling Xiao looked at Jieyin, his tone neither hurried nor slow.

Then, he changed the subject.

"What this humble Daoist wishes to debate with the two Saints is Mahayana Buddhism..."