The Four Mounts of Buddhism Are All Disciples of the Jiejiao Sect!

"Who from our Spirit Mountain can be sent down to the mortal world to undergo tribulation?"

Dabao Tathagata's gaze swept across the assembled disciples, finally settling on Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Guanyin had already calculated this in her heart. She pursed her lips and smiled:

"Shizun, our Spirit Mountain has four great mounts that can descend to the mortal world and undergo tribulation!"

After speaking, Guanyin crooked her finger.

Soon, the four great mounts crawled in.

Behind them, monks wielded the Demon-Slaying Whip, lashing their rumps viciously.

"Crawl faster, you four beasts, dawdling and dragging!"

These four great mounts were:

A Six-Tusked White Elephant, A Green Mane Lion, A Golden Mane Dragon-Lion (Golden Mane Roar), And a Golden Winged Great Peng.

Their hindquarters were split open and bloody, clearly having suffered no shortage of whip lashes.

Looking closer, each mount wore a placard around its neck, inscribed with words.

Around the Six-Tusked White Elephant's neck:

[Ling Ya Xian, disciple under Sect Master Tongtian]

Around the Green Mane Lion's neck:

[Qiu Shou Xian, disciple under Sect Master Tongtian]

Around the Golden Winged Great Peng's neck:

[Yu Yi Xian, disciple under Sect Master Tongtian]

Around the Golden Mane Roar's neck:

[Jin Guang Xian, disciple under Sect Master Tongtian]

So it was—though these four had been reduced to mounts, they were once disciples under Sect Master Tongtian, all among the Seven Attendant Immortals, with status comparable to Inner Sect Senior Disciples.

This Six-Tusked White Elephant was Ling Ya Xian, one of the Seven Attendant Immortals. When Sect Master Tongtian set up the grand Ten Thousand Immortals Formation to vie with the Chan Sect, Ling Ya Xian guarded the Two Principles Formation within it. He was captured alive by Samantabhadra, then beaten back to his original form by the Old Immortal of the South Pole, becoming Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's mount ever since.

This Green Mane Lion was Qiu Shou Xian of the Seven Attendant Immortals. In the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, he guarded the Supreme Ultimate Formation, but was defeated by Manjushri, likewise beaten back to his original form by the Old Immortal of the South Pole, and now served as Manjushri Bodhisattva's mount.

As for the Golden Winged Great Peng, he was Yu Yi Xian of the Seven Attendant Immortals, subdued by Ratnākara and ultimately reduced to Buddha Ratnākara's mount.

And the Golden Mane Roar was Jin Guang Xian, one of the Seven Attendant Immortals. In the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, he guarded the Four Symbols Formation, finally subdued by Guanyin and turned into a mount.

Tathagata gazed at the Four Beasts and spoke slowly:

"Ling Ya Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, Jin Guang Xian, Yu Yi Xian—your sins from years past are grave. This time, I send you down to undergo tribulation. When your merit is complete, your sins will be cleansed, and you shall become the four auspicious beasts of our Buddhist sect..."

"Aoooh~"

Qiu Shou Xian let out a great roar, lifted his head, and glared at Dabao Tathagata with a ferocious gaze:

"Dabao, you shameless turncoat! As the Inner Sect Senior Disciple of the Jiejiao Sect, you abandoned your teachings and joined the Western Sect... Do you have any shame before Master Tongtian... Ah!!!"

Before he could finish, the Demon-Slaying Whip fell heavily, and blood splattered everywhere.

Guanyin even stepped forward, planting her foot on Qiu Shou Xian's head, and said:

"Wretched beast, daring to shout at Shizun—you're asking for death! The Dao Ancestor has decreed that sages may not enter the Primordial Wilderness in person. Even if This Seat kills you here today, what can Sage Tongtian do about it?"

As she spoke, Guanyin raised the Demon-Slaying Whip in her hand.

The whip fell with a heavy crack, and screams rang out.

Soon, Qiu Shou Xian was a bloody mess.

Seeing this, Ling Ya Xian, Yu Yi Xian, and Jin Guang Xian burned with even greater fury and roared:

"Dabao, you traitor! Master Tongtian will never forgive you!"

"One day, the disciples of the Jiejiao Sect will raze your Spirit Mountain to the ground!"

"Jiejiao disciples would rather die than submit! If you've got the guts, kill us!"

At these words, all the buddhas and bodhisattvas changed color.

Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Lingji Bodhisattva sprang forward, each planting a foot on the head of one beast, and likewise raised the Demon-Slaying Whip, bringing it down viciously.

Instantly, wails and screams shook the heavens.

Dabao Tathagata sat high on his lotus throne, watching the scene with cold indifference the entire time.

Only when the four beasts were nearly unconscious did he wave his hand, his voice utterly frigid:

"Ling Ya Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, Yu Yi Xian, Jin Guang Xian—you four beasts are truly foolish and shallow, beyond the reach of teaching and reform!"

"Back then, This Seat entered the Western Sect and converted the barbarians to Buddhism, all in accordance with the Heavenly Dao. How could that be called abandoning the sect?"

With that, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he looked down at the Four Beasts with contempt, saying:

"The Investiture of the Gods Tribulation was meant to follow Heaven's will, but Tongtian... the teacher insisted on defying it, which is why Dao Ancestor Hongjun brought him to the Purple Cloud Palace for punishment!"

"You must understand, the Heavenly Dao is the chessboard, and all living beings are the pieces."

"The vast majesty of Heaven is unfathomable, and you and I are all struggling and scheming within it."

"This Seat merely followed Heaven's will. Tongtian... the teacher will surely understand This Seat!"

Regarding his defection back then, Duobao still harbored some guilt in his heart.

But now, he was the Human World Lord of Buddhism, exalted in status, and his fortune was bound to the Buddhist faith—prosperity and ruin shared alike.

Having reached this point, he was long past having a choice!

Besides, he had grown accustomed to the feeling of wielding such power!

At that moment, Duobao cast a faint glance at Guanyin.

Guanyin immediately understood and said:

"Shizun must not be insulted; those who insult him must die! These four beasts dared to show disrespect to Shizun in the Grand Hall of Heroes—they deserve death!"

Then, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva stepped forward and said:

"These four lowly lives are not worth regretting, but with the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West upon us, Spirit Mountain is in need of manpower. We could spare their lives and let them atone for their crimes through service!"

Hearing this, Tathagata said, "Oh? Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, do you have a plan?"

Samantabhadra bowed to Tathagata and said:

"Shizun, eight hundred li east of Spirit Mountain lies the Shituo Kingdom. It does not revere the Buddhas, nor does it accept teachings. Not only have they driven away monks, but they have also demolished Buddhist temples on a large scale. Their emperor has even declared that all monks in the kingdom must return to lay life, or be killed!"

"How can such a heretical kingdom be allowed to exist at the foot of Spirit Mountain? Its dynasty must be destroyed, its royal family annihilated, and its people slaughtered. Turning this place into a hell on earth will serve as a warning to all! It will intimidate the kingdoms and tribes of the Western Ox Continent, so they dare not disrespect Shizun or the Buddhist faith again!"

Tathagata sat high on the Twelve-Rank Golden Lotus Throne, his appearance solemn and his expression grave, as he slowly said:

"Good."

"Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, I leave this matter to you."

Samantabhadra's face lit up with joy. "I shall follow Shizun's decree!"

With that, Samantabhadra kicked Qiu Shou Xian in the backside, brandished the Demon-Slaying Whip, and said:

"You four beasts, hurry and follow me to the Shituo Kingdom to atone for your crimes!"

After Samantabhadra left, the Grand Hall of Heroes returned to its sacred peace, as if nothing had happened.

Buddha Tathagata still sat high on his lotus throne, majestic and solemn, and slowly said:

"I have heard from Venerable Bodhi that Sun Wukong once vanished for three years. Someone taught him a cultivation method, and he reached the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm."

"This matter concerns the rise and fall of Buddhism and must be handled with caution!"

Tathagata's brow furrowed slightly as his gaze swept over the assembled disciples, finally settling on two bodhisattvas:

"Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva, you two will go to the Dragon Palace. Ensure that the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West proceeds smoothly, without any mishaps!"

"We shall follow Shizun's decree!"

The two bodhisattvas rose to accept the order, mounted the Auspicious Clouds, and headed toward the Eastern Sea.

Seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva asked:

"Shizun, do you suspect that a Saint is interfering, sabotaging the Grand Plan of Journey to the West?"