Even the Great Thunderclap Monastery itself could not compare in size to the Dharma Body Golden Form Tathagata had unleashed this time.
Just as Tathagata had said, Ksitigarbha's strength had earned his respect, so he would use his true power to fight Ksitigarbha.
He would not simply make a casual move as he had before.
"Boom..."
The Dharma Body Golden Form wore a compassionate expression. One hand held Prayer Beads, while the other gripped a Vajra Pestle.
The Dharma Body Golden Form swung the Vajra Pestle forward.
Space tore apart. The Buddhist radiance infused within it was now filled with killing intent and destruction.
Buddhism was not always compassionate. When a Buddha grew angry, there was also the Wrathful Buddha.
As the source of Buddhism, Buddha Tathagata naturally understood this.
"Ksitigarbha, take this!"
The golden Vajra Pestle smashed into the Power of Annihilation, and the two forces collided.
In an instant,
the eyes of the Buddhist experts in the distance could see nothing, and their ears could hear nothing.
The clash between these two Quasi-Saint powers had even affected the souls of some weaker members of Buddhism nearby.
That was the real reason they could neither see nor hear.
Quasi-Saint experts like Guanyin and Manjushri, however, could withstand the impact of this power.
"So this is Ksitigarbha's true power? It's incredible," Manjushri said in shock.
If Ksitigarbha had used this power just now, they would likely have been badly injured too.
Manjushri Bodhisattva had to admit as much.
"It is indeed powerful, but it still falls short of Buddha Ancestor's," Guanyin said, her eyes glinting.
She could still predict how this battle would turn out.
Ksitigarbha had used every trump card, even the power of Buddha and demon that might leave him gravely injured.
But Tathagata's expression had not changed at all.
The Tathagata they saw was clearly still holding back with ease.
Even Guanyin could not predict the true limits of Tathagata's power.
A moment later,
the land of Mount Ling returned to clarity, and the Demonic Energy that had filled the heavens and earth vanished.
Mount Ling still gleamed with golden light, standing firm in place, and the Great Thunderclap Monastery was no different.
It was as if that devastating attack had never happened.
In truth, Mount Ling had not changed at all, but that was entirely because Buddha Tathagata had protected the sacred mountain.
As the heartland of his Buddhist order, Tathagata had no desire to see Mount Ling destroyed.
That would be tantamount to a stinging slap in the face for Buddhism.
"Ksitigarbha..." Tathagata opened his palm. Twisting black light glimmered upon it—the power of the Demonic Path.
Tathagata and Ksitigarbha had attacked each other, but in the end, Ksitigarbha had still escaped.
Naturally, that was also related to the strength Ksitigarbha had displayed.
If Tathagata had truly tried to keep Ksitigarbha there, some of the Buddhist experts in the Great Thunderclap Monastery would likely have been caught in the crossfire.
That was something Tathagata did not want to happen.
There would be plenty of time to deal with Ksitigarbha.
Even if Buddhism gained another enemy in Ksitigarbha, it would be no great matter.
"Buddha Ancestor, something terrible has happened!" A bodhisattva in magnificent robes hurried over to Tathagata.
"Moonlight Bodhisattva, what is it?" Tathagata asked.
Moonlight Bodhisattva was one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism.
However, his strength could not compare to Guanyin or Manjushri. He had only the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
After all, even in Buddhism, Quasi-Saints were few and far between.
"Bodhisattva, several of Mount Ling's pagodas have been completely looted!" Moonlight Bodhisattva hurriedly reported.
The pagodas were where Buddhism kept its treasures.
According to Moonlight Bodhisattva, every last treasure had been stolen.
"Ksitigarbha." Tathagata's face darkened.
The only one who could have done it without him noticing was Ksitigarbha, who had been fighting him.
At the time, Ksitigarbha's Demonic Energy had spread across the land. Tathagata could not constantly monitor every change on Mount Ling.
After all, he had been facing an opponent of comparable rank.
Even if Ksitigarbha was weaker than him, he was still a Quasi-Saint.
"Haotian, have you watched enough?" Tathagata stared up at the heavens, as if he could see Haotian watching the battlefield.
As soon as he spoke, an immensely terrifying Buddhist radiance surged toward the sky.
"Crack..."
A sound like shattering glass rang out. Tathagata then turned his gaze away.
"Buddha Ancestor..."
Guanyin, Manjushri, the other bodhisattvas, arhats, and Jialan all bowed respectfully.
Buddha Tathagata was the most revered being in Buddhism.
And after this battle, they understood even more clearly just how terrifying Buddha Ancestor was.
Compared to him, they were on completely different levels.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva, announce to the world that Ksitigarbha has been expelled from Buddhism. He is now a disgrace to the Buddhist order and must be converted," Tathagata told Guanyin.
"Yes, Buddha Ancestor. Guanyin understands," she replied, quickly nodding.
Ksitigarbha's attack on Buddhism would surely cause a great stir throughout this world.
What happened to him after that would depend on how Buddhism chose to deal with him.
Buddhism could not simply watch Ksitigarbha betray the order without taking any action. Otherwise, it would lose face.
"Everyone, return," Tathagata said solemnly. "Ksitigarbha's matter is not important to Buddhism."
That was right.
For Tathagata, the most important thing was the Journey to the West Tribulation five hundred years from now.
"Yes, Buddha Ancestor..."
On the Primordial World, some distance from Mount Ling,
a streak of black light flashed into view. It was Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
"Pfft..."
A mouthful of blood sprayed from Ksitigarbha's lips, scattering through the air.
Though he had escaped from Tathagata, Ksitigarbha had paid a price. Even his foundation had sustained some damage.
"Whew... Tathagata really is formidable," Ksitigarbha murmured. "I never imagined the gap between us was this vast."
After obtaining the Demon Heart, Ksitigarbha had grown stronger and felt utterly confident. This battle had brought him back down to earth.
He was not yet in a position to grow arrogant. He was still far weaker than Tathagata of Buddhism.
There was always someone stronger, and there was always a higher heaven.
"Looks like the gap between Quasi-Saints is even greater than I imagined."
"Master." A voice suddenly rang out.
A strange creature appeared, its body combining a tiger's head, a single horn, dog ears, a dragon's body, a lion's tail, and more.
It was Diting.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's spirit beast.
Diting was the one who had made the treasures in Mount Ling's pagodas disappear.
Diting could discern all things in the world, and his ability had been perfectly suited to the task.
"Diting, looks like you succeeded." Ksitigarbha smiled.
Chapter Nineteen: Bajie, So It Was You