During the era of the Battle of the Gods, many members of the human dynasties were disciples of various sects and possessed tremendous power.
But after the Battle of the Gods, humanity's status declined steadily.
The Immortals and Gods truly became high above all others.
Perhaps this was also why the Heavenly Court and Daoism had acted as driving forces.
But Ksitigarbha did not agree with this, especially after reading Seeking Demon.
"Is that so?" Ksitigarbha said noncommittally. "Guanyin, I don't agree with this. Besides, you people must think I'm an idiot."
"How could that be?" Guanyin froze for a moment.
"When I was stationed in the underworld, while several of you Bodhisattvas and Arhats were spreading faith among humanity, did I still have any offerings of incense?" Ksitigarbha said slowly.
Before leaving the underworld, Ksitigarbha had naturally looked into this matter.
There was no longer any faith in Ksitigarbha among humanity.
In the underworld, he had been doing nothing but useless work.
He had been helping Daoism entirely, and had done so like an idiot, without complaint or regret.
Instead, the other members of Daoism had been the ones to benefit.
"This..." Guanyin was left speechless.
Because what Ksitigarbha had said was indeed true.
Nowadays, the Bodhisattvas and Arhats had flourishing incense offerings among humanity. But as for Ksitigarbha, there probably weren't many people who still remembered him.
"And this time, during Daoism's tribulation, you obtained Merit and Destiny. Did I? You never discussed any of this with me."
"I was the only one foolishly converting evil ghosts, obtaining Merit and Destiny for Daoism..."
As Ksitigarbha continued speaking, Guanyin's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.
"Ksitigarbha, you and I are both doing this for Daoism," Guanyin said, shaking her head.
"Daoism?" Ksitigarbha laughed disdainfully. "You should say that I alone was working for your so-called Daoism. You, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and even Buddha Tathagata were all working to increase your own strength."
"Guanyin, you were originally a member of the Daoism. Even Buddha Tathagata was a disciple of the Interception Sect. Do you truly possess a Buddha's heart?"
"Today, I, Ksitigarbha, shall leave Daoism and sever all ties with it."
Chapter Fifteen: The Demonic Path! The Demonic Kingdom of Heaven and Earth!
Leave Daoism.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's words directly shocked all the powerful members of Daoism present.
Ksitigarbha's status in Daoism was extremely high, and he was entirely different from ordinary Daoist powerhouses.
In the past, some Daoist powerhouses had also left Daoism, but none of those departures had caused serious damage. Ksitigarbha, however, held the status of a Bodhisattva.
"Ksitigarbha, do you know what you're saying?" Guanyin's expression darkened.
Ksitigarbha's previous words had struck her as well.
After all, Guanyin had once been a disciple of Daoism. Joining Daoism had been a humiliating matter for her.
Few people could have imagined that most of Daoism's higher-ups were actually disciples of other sects.
It could only be said that the Two Sages of the West had truly expended considerable effort for Daoism.
Daoism's doctrine was to Deliver All Living Beings, while the Two Sages of the West wanted Daoism to develop better in the mortal world.
That would allow them to fulfill the vows they had made in the past.
As for Tathagata, Guanyin, Manjushri, and the others joining Daoism, that was also because the Two Sages of the West had provided them with certain assistance. Moreover, they could indeed obtain Merit and Destiny within Daoism.
After the Battle of the Gods, it had become the tribulation through which Daoism rose.
The Daoism of figures like the Three Pure Ones had also been weakened considerably in this era.
This was an important reason why Guanyin and the others had betrayed Daoism and joined Daoism.
Otherwise, during the Battle of the Gods, the Interception Sect had been defeated, but Daoism had not failed. Instead, it had been the victorious side.
Even in the Heavenly Court, there were disciples of Daoism residing within it.
Yet so many disciples of Daoism had joined Daoism, causing Yuanshi Tianzun to cough up blood at the time.
It could only be said that the true victors of the Battle of the Gods were the Two Sages of the West, who had not participated in it.
Daoism had only come into being afterward.
Later.
The speed at which Daoism rose in the mortal world was truly astonishing.
Compared with Daoism, Daoism had not existed for long. Yet in the hearts of humanity, Daoism's status was sometimes far higher than that of Daoism.
This was because of Daoism's doctrine.
Deliver All Living Beings, all beings are equal...
But in the eyes of Daoism's Bodhisattvas, were humans truly equal to the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas of Daoism?
Guanyin's attitude made it clear that this was completely a joke.
"I said that from today onward, I shall sever all ties with Daoism and draw a clear line between us," Ksitigarbha said in a deep voice. "Besides, it's time to settle the matters I have done for you during this period."
"Ksitigarbha, you have fallen into demonic cultivation." Guanyin stared at Ksitigarbha.
The Ksitigarbha before her left Guanyin somewhat unable to understand him.
In the past, Ksitigarbha had been someone devoted entirely to Buddha in Guanyin's heart, always thinking of how to Deliver All Living Beings.
Otherwise, why would Ksitigarbha have made the great vow that he would not become a Buddha until the hells were empty?
To some extent, in Guanyin's eyes, Ksitigarbha had merely been an idiot.
But the Ksitigarbha before her had changed.
Ksitigarbha had seen the truth. He was doing it for Buddha, but not for the Daoism before him, nor for Guanyin, Tathagata, and the others.
As long as one had Buddha in one's heart, even a demon was a Buddha.
"Guanyin, you should understand that even if one is a demon, as long as one has Buddha in one's heart, one is still a Buddha."
As soon as his voice fell.
The Buddha light that had originally radiated from Ksitigarbha suddenly erupted into unimaginably terrifying Demonic Energy.
The Demonic Energy shot straight into the skies, causing Spirit Mountain to shake violently.
The Demonic Energy of the Quasi-Saint level was tremendously terrifying.
"It was you..."
Guanyin's expression truly changed at this moment.
When Ksitigarbha had erupted with Demonic Energy back then, Guanyin, who was also a Quasi-Saint, had sensed it. It had been someone who had entered the Demonic Path.
Now she had discovered that it was actually Ksitigarbha before her.
"Ksitigarbha, do you understand what you're doing?" Manjushri Bodhisattva also appeared there.
"Ksitigarbha, turn back while there is still time," Samantabhadra Bodhisattva likewise stood there.
Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Ksitigarbha were the four most powerful among Daoism's several Bodhisattvas.
Aside from Ksitigarbha, Guanyin and the others had all betrayed Daoism before joining Daoism.
"Ksitigarbha, I, Guanyin, will bring you back to your senses now." Guanyin held the Jade Pure Bottle in one hand and waved a willow branch with the other, sending beams of green light blasting out.
"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, I'm sorry." Manjushri calmly spoke as he threw a string of Prayer Beads at Ksitigarbha.
The Prayer Beads grew larger in the wind. Buddhas within them chanted scriptures, as though worlds were being destroyed and born inside each bead.
At the same time, a golden Buddhist staff appeared in Manjushri Bodhisattva's hand and struck toward Ksitigarbha.
"Demonic Path, Deliver All Living Beings."
Facing the attacks of three Quasi-Saints, Ksitigarbha pressed his palms together and spoke in a low voice.
Terrifying black Demonic Energy spread in all directions, causing a demonic kingdom to take shape around them.
The Arhats and Buddhas of the Great Thunderclap Monastery all changed expressions and fled rapidly into the distance.
The collision of Quasi-Saint-level power.
They would be unable to help even if they stayed.
Instead, if they were touched by such power, they might even die.
"Boom..."
When the power of the Demonic Path collided with the power of Guanyin and the others, an astonishing shock wave erupted.
All of Spirit Mountain shook, splitting open with crack after crack. The Great Thunderclap Monastery also trembled and began to collapse.
What was unbelievable was that Ksitigarbha had withstood the attacks of Guanyin and the others by himself.