"Shizun, do you suspect a Saint is interfering with the Grand Plan of Journey to the West?"
Seeing Tathagata's furrowed brow, Guanyin Bodhisattva could not help asking.
Tathagata nodded. "Whoever taught Sun Wukong is unfathomable."
"Not only is Venerable Bodhi at a loss, but even the two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, cannot divine his identity."
"Only a Saint could conceal the workings of heaven so thoroughly!"
As Tathagata spoke, he made his own guesses.
Which Saint has made a move?
Could it really be Master Tongtian?
Alas!
Tathagata sighed inwardly. Master Tongtian, you defied heaven during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation!
Now, during the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, will you defy heaven again?
Do you truly not fear punishment from the Heavenly Dao, or being cast down from the Saint Position?
Guanyin seemed to read his mind and hurried to reassure him:
"Do not worry, Shizun. Buddhism Spreads East and the Buddhist School's Great Prosperity were ordained by the Dao Ancestor himself. It is also how he intends to repay an old debt of karma and restore his fortune."
"Even if Tongtian... ahem, even if a Saint tries to obstruct it, he would be defying heaven and setting himself against the Dao Ancestor. The Dao Ancestor would never stand by and watch!"
In the old days, the Dao and the demons had fought for supremacy.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun had joined forces with Yin-Yang Ancestor, Qiankun Ancestor, and Old Ancestor Yang Mei against Demon Ancestor Luohu.
In the end, Demon Ancestor Luohu blew himself up!
Qiankun Ancestor and Yin-Yang Ancestor perished!
Gravely wounded, Old Ancestor Yang Mei departed for the chaos beyond and vanished.
But Hongjun, allied with the Heavenly Dao, emerged unscathed. He was the greatest victor and became the Heavenly Dao's representative.
From then on, the Great Dao withdrew, and the Heavenly Dao ruled the Primordial Wilderness.
Yet Demon Ancestor Luohu's self-destruction had damaged the western earth veins, leaving the western lands barren and thin in spiritual energy.
That was the debt of karma Dao Ancestor Hongjun owed the west!
The Great Tribulation of Journey to the West was meant to repay that debt and restore his fortune.
Thus, anyone who obstructed the journey would be setting himself against Hongjun.
Dabao Tathagata understood this as well. With a quiet sigh, he said:
"The Buddhist School's Great Prosperity is ordained by heaven. Even a Saint would struggle to defy it."
At his words, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas chorused:
"Well said!"
Yet one person watched coldly throughout and said nothing.
Though bald, he carried himself with spirit, and his eyes were clear. He was Tathagata's second disciple, Golden Cicada.
"Golden Cicada, is there something you do not understand?"
Tathagata turned to Golden Cicada. His second disciple was gifted and exceptionally perceptive.
Tathagata intended to make him the Pilgrim in the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West. The journey would earn him merit and elevate him to Sandalwood Merit Buddha, one of the thirty-five Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, a symbol of supreme compassion and wisdom.
It would also strengthen Duobao's control over Spirit Mountain!
Golden Cicada pressed his palms together and bowed.
"Master, Shituo Kingdom merely failed to honor monks and did not revere the Buddhist School. For that, it faces annihilation and will become hell on earth. Is that not too cruel?"
"Master often says that Buddha is compassionate. Is this what compassion means?"
"Buddha seeks to save all living beings. Is this how he saves them?"
Golden Cicada spoke slowly, his gaze sharp as a sword as he looked at Tathagata.
"Your disciple does not understand. Please enlighten me, Master!"
Tathagata gave no answer. He merely smiled, rose slowly, and addressed his disciples:
"The Dharma is boundless. Today's teaching ends here. Cultivate diligently and grasp its true meaning, and only then can you save all living beings!"
With that, Tathagata drifted away.
"Farewell, Buddha!"
The bodhisattvas and disciples soon dispersed, leaving Golden Cicada standing there, staring blankly as he wrestled with his thoughts.
Only after a long while did Golden Cicada murmur to himself:
"The Dharma is boundless?"
"If it is boundless and can save all living beings, why can it not save the people of Shituo Kingdom?"
"If you cannot solve a problem, do you simply get rid of the people who raise it?"
Endless questions left Golden Cicada lost and troubled.
But Tathagata could not answer him, and neither could any of the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain.
Elsewhere, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva led his four mounts—Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, Jin Guang Xian, and Yu Yi Xian—to Shituo Ridge.
At the foot of Shituo Ridge lay Shituo Kingdom!
Its king governed diligently. He encouraged monks to return to lay life and take up productive work, developed agriculture, and kept labor demands and taxes low.
Shituo Kingdom now had over a million people. They lived in peace and prosperity; lost possessions went untouched on the roads, and doors remained unbarred at night.
Under its wise ruler, it had become one of the rare prosperous lands of the Western Ox Continent.
From atop Shituo Ridge, Samantabhadra surveyed the kingdom, fury flashing across his face.
"Shituo Kingdom lies right beneath Spirit Mountain, yet it refuses to revere the Buddhist School and drives out monks. It deserves to be destroyed!"
"White Elephant, Green Lion, Golden Mane Roar, and Great Sand Sculpture, your task is to devour everyone in Shituo Kingdom, young and old, men and women alike! Leave its bones piled high, its blood flowing like rivers, and its dead scattered everywhere. Turn it into hell on earth!"
"Let every other kingdom on the Western Ox Continent understand what happens to those who disrespect Spirit Mountain!"
At Samantabhadra's words, the expressions of Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, Yu Yi Xian, and Jin Guang Xian changed.
This thriving city was home to a million souls!
Were they to wipe it out just like that?
They could never bear the karmic burden of slaughtering an entire kingdom.
Qiu Shou Xian roared:
"Bah! You people of the Buddhist School are hypocrites! You preach compassion and relief from suffering, but underneath, you're vicious and ruthless! Aren't you afraid this atrocity will bring punishment down from heaven?"
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's face darkened, and his gaze turned cold.
"Green Mane Lion, you've always been defiant. I'll teach you a lesson today!"
With that, Samantabhadra kicked Qiu Shou Xian to the ground and brought his blade down!
Crack!
Green Mane Lion's severed member fell to the ground!
Samantabhadra had castrated Qiu Shou Xian. From that moment on, he was a... eunuch Green Lion!
Agonizing pain and crushing humiliation sent Qiu Shou Xian thrashing wildly!
"Aaaagh! Samantabhadra, you bastard! How dare you do this to me..."
"Aaaagh! Master Tongtian will never let you get away with this!"
"Samantabhadra, I'll kill you! I'll kill your whole family!"
But the Buddhist School had long since implanted Heavenly Dao restraints in all Four Beasts!
With a mere thought, Samantabhadra could suppress all their cultivation!
Their lives and deaths rested on his whim!
Resistance was out of the question!
"Shut the fuck up!"
"Today, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
With that, Samantabhadra tortured Qiu Shou Xian in every way he could.
A full hour later, when Samantabhadra had finally vented his anger, Qiu Shou Xian was a pitiful sight.
Samantabhadra dusted off his hands and smiled darkly.
"Hmph. I'll give you one month. If Shituo Kingdom hasn't become hell on earth by then, I'll turn the other three of you into... eunuchs too!"
With that, Samantabhadra rode away on his Auspicious Clouds, returning to his sanctuary.
He had no fear that the Four Beasts would flee. The Heavenly Dao restraints inside them left their lives and deaths in his hands.
"Bah! Samantabhadra, one day I, Qiu Shou Xian, swear I'll kill you!"
Qiu Shou Xian spoke through gritted teeth.
Worse than the physical pain was the grief and humiliation of being made a eunuch. His hatred had reached its peak!
Before you continue