Western Sect gods and Buddhas stepped forward one after another, taking sides in support of Maitreya Buddha succeeding Guanyin Bodhisattva and overseeing the Journey West to Obtain the Scriptures.
"Maitreya Buddha is the Future Buddha and the future master of our Buddhist School. Given his high status and great authority, he should naturally take charge of this matter, which concerns the prosperity of our Buddhist School!"
However, others soon disagreed.
Although Puxian and Manjusri were merely Bodhisattvas, and Burning Lamp Buddha was an outdated Past Buddha,
the Bodhisattvas were, after all, two of the Buddhist School's Five Great Bodhisattvas, while Burning Lamp Buddha was, no matter what, honored as one of the Three Lifetimes Buddhas.
Over the years, under his deliberate efforts to win them over, quite a few had indeed attached themselves to their faction.
"My Buddha, I believe the Journey West to Obtain the Scriptures should be overseen by Past Buddha Burning Lamp Buddha. Nothing could be more suitable."
"Maitreya Buddha is busy with affairs at Little Thunderclap Temple and has no time to oversee the Journey West to Obtain the Scriptures. Burning Lamp Buddha should handle it instead."
"I second the motion. Burning Lamp Buddha is older, steadier in his actions, and higher in cultivation."
"Now that someone is striking at our Buddhist School from the shadows, only someone as steady and powerful as Burning Lamp Buddha can suppress those petty schemers."
"I believe it would still be more suitable for Maitreya Buddha to oversee the Journey West to Obtain the Scriptures."
"Clearly, Burning Lamp Buddha is more suitable!"
Though neither of the two principals had personally joined the fray, their supporters were fighting tooth and nail over the position of overseeing the scripture journey.
Yet Tathagata Buddha said nothing, merely watching quietly as they fought over