Golden Cicada's Bewilderment, Shituo Kingdom's Calamity

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

Seeing Tathagata's brow tightly furrowed, Guanyin Bodhisattva couldn't help but ask.

Tathagata nodded. "The one who taught Sun Wukong is unfathomably deep."

"Not only is Venerable Bodhi utterly confused, but even the Saints Jieyin and Zhunti cannot deduce anything."

"Such means of obscuring Heavenly secrets can only be the work of a Saint."

Tathagata spoke slowly, while silently speculating in his heart.

Which Saint had made a move?

Could it really be Master Tongtian?

Alas!

Tathagata sighed inwardly. Master Tongtian, during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, you went against Heaven's will!

Now, in the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, will you defy Heaven again?

Do you truly not fear the Heavenly Dao's punishment, stripping you of your Saint Position?

Guanyin seemed to read Tathagata's thoughts and quickly offered comfort:

"Shizun, do not worry. This Buddhism Spreads East and the Great Prosperity of the Buddhist Sect were decreed by the Dao Ancestor. It is also the Dao Ancestor's way of repaying the karmic debts from long ago and mending his own fortune."

"Even if Tongtian... well, even if a Saint steps in to obstruct, it is not only going against Heaven's will but also opposing the Dao Ancestor. His venerable self will never stand idly by!"

It turned out that back in the ancient conflict between Dao and Demon, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had allied with Old Ancestor Yin Yang, Old Ancestor Qiankun, and Old Ancestor Yang Mei to fight against Demon Ancestor Luohu.

In the end, Demon Ancestor Luohu self-destructed!

Old Ancestor Qiankun and Old Ancestor Yin Yang fell!

Old Ancestor Yang Mei was gravely wounded and fled into the Chaos, his whereabouts unknown.

Meanwhile, Hongjun, uniting with the Heavenly Dao, emerged unscathed as the greatest victor, becoming the Heavenly Dao's spokesperson.

From then on, the Great Dao retreated into seclusion, and the Heavenly Dao took control of the Primordial Wilderness.

However, when Demon Ancestor Luohu self-destructed, he damaged the Western earth veins, leaving the Western lands barren and sparse in spiritual energy.

This was the karmic debt the Dao Ancestor Hongjun owed the West!

Now, the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West was also meant to repay that karma and mend fortune.

Thus, anyone who obstructed the Journey would be opposing Hongjun.

Dabao Tathagata naturally understood this karma as well and sighed faintly:

"The Great Prosperity of my Buddhist Sect is Heaven-ordained. Even if a Saint makes a move, it is difficult to go against Heaven's will."

At these words, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas spoke in unison:

"Excellent!"

Yet, one person remained coldly aloof, saying nothing.

This person, though bald, carried an air of heroism, his gaze clear. He was Tathagata's second disciple—Golden Cicada.

"Golden Cicada, do you seem perplexed?"

Tathagata's gaze fell on Golden Cicada. This second disciple was gifted with intelligence and exceptional insight.

For this Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, he intended for Golden Cicada to become the Pilgrim, using the Journey to gild his status and become one of Spirit Mountain's Thirty-Five Buddhas—the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, symbolizing supreme compassion and wisdom.

At the same time, it would strengthen Dabao's control over Spirit Mountain!

Golden Cicada pressed his palms together, bowed, and said:

"Master, the Shituo Kingdom merely failed to honor monks and did not revere the Buddhist faith, yet it was annihilated, reduced to a hell on earth. Is this not too cruel?"

"Master often says that my Buddha is compassionate. Is this what compassion looks like?"

"My Buddha seeks to save all beings. Is this how all beings are saved?"

Golden Cicada spoke slowly, his gaze sharp as a sword as he looked at Tathagata:

"Your disciple is confused and seeks Master's guidance to resolve this doubt!"

Hearing this, Tathagata did not answer. Instead, he smiled faintly, holding up a flower, and slowly rose, addressing his disciples:

"The Dharma is boundless. This sermon ends here. You must cultivate with all your hearts, comprehend the true essence of the Dharma, and only then can you save all beings!"

With that, Tathagata drifted away!

"We respectfully see off the Buddha!"

The Bodhisattvas and disciples quickly dispersed, leaving only Golden Cicada, his gaze vacant, lost in deep thought.

After a long while, Golden Cicada murmured to himself:

"The Dharma is boundless?"

"If the Dharma is boundless and can save all beings, why can it not save the people of the Shituo Kingdom?"

"Can't solve the problem? Then just get rid of the one who raised it?"

Endless doubts left Golden Cicada mired in confusion and hardship.

Yet his questions were ones Tathagata could not answer, nor could all the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain.

On the other side, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva led his four mounts—Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, Jin Guang Xian, and Yu Yi Xian—up to Shituo Ridge.

Beneath this ridge lay Shituo Kingdom!

The king governed with diligence, encouraging monks to return to lay life, engage in production, vigorously develop agriculture, and lighten taxes and corvée.

Now Shituo Kingdom boasted a population of over a million. The people lived in peace and contentment, no one picked up lost items on the road, and doors were left unlocked at night.

It could be called a sage ruler's prosperous era—a rare land of abundance on the Western Ox Continent.

On Shituo Ridge, as Samantabhadra's gaze swept over the scene, a fierce rage flashed across his face:

"This Shituo Kingdom sits at the foot of Spirit Mountain, yet it does not revere the Buddhist path and drives away monks—truly deserving of destruction!"

"White Elephant, Green Lion, Golden Mane Roar, Great Sand Sculpture—you four base beasts have one task: devour every last man, woman, old, and young in this kingdom! Leave it piled with white bones, rivers of blood, and souls strewn everywhere—turn it into a hell on earth!"

"Let every other kingdom on the Western Ox Continent understand: this is the price of disrespecting our Spirit Mountain!"

Hearing Samantabhadra's words, the four beasts—Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, Yu Yi Xian, and Jin Guang Xian—all changed expression.

This thriving mortal city, a million living souls!

Were they to be wiped out just like that?

Slaughtering an entire kingdom's people—such karma was not something they could bear.

Qiu Shou Xian let out a furious roar:

"Pah! You Buddhists are nothing but sanctimonious hypocrites! On the surface, you save the suffering and show great compassion, but underneath, you're sinister, venomous, and ruthless! Aren't you afraid of harming the harmony of heaven and bringing down divine punishment?"

At this, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's face twisted, his gaze darkening as he said:

"You Green Mane Lion, full of rebellious bones—This Seat will teach you a lesson today!"

With that, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva kicked Qiu Shou Xian to the ground, raised his hand, and brought down a blade!

Crack!

The Green Mane Lion's manhood fell to the ground!

Samantabhadra had directly gelded Qiu Shou Xian, turning him from that moment into a... eunuch lion!

Excruciating pain and searing shame drove Qiu Shou Xian into a maddened struggle!

"Aaaaah! Samantabhadra, you bastard, how dare you do this to me..."

"Aaaaah! Master Tongtian will never let you off!"

"Samantabhadra, I'll kill you! I'll kill your whole family!"

Yet the four beasts had long had Heavenly Dao restrictions planted inside them by the Buddhist path!

With just a thought, Samantabhadra could suppress their entire cultivation!

Their life and death hung on a single thought!

Let alone any resistance!

"Shut your fucking mouth!"

"This Seat will make you wish you were dead, yet unable to die!"

With that, Samantabhadra used every means to torment Qiu Shou Xian.

A full hour later, after Samantabhadra had vented his rage, Qiu Shou Xian was a gruesome sight.

Samantabhadra clapped his hands and sneered darkly:

"Hmph, This Seat gives you one month. If Shituo Kingdom hasn't become a hell on earth by then, I'll turn the three of you into... eunuchs too!"

With that, Samantabhadra mounted his Auspicious Clouds and returned to his dojo.

He had no fear that the four beasts would flee—after all, the Heavenly Dao restrictions inside them meant their lives were in his hands with a single thought.

"Pah! Samantabhadra, one day I, Qiu Shou Xian, swear I will kill you!"

Qiu Shou Xian ground his teeth as he spoke.

Compared to the physical pain, the grief and humiliation of becoming a eunuch had driven his hatred to its peak!