After hearing Xuanzang's words, Tathagata Buddha could not help frowning. Was Xuanzang really this bold? He had actually confronted him directly about acting for personal gain!
"Xuanzang, do not speak recklessly about certain matters!" Tathagata Buddha said coldly.
"Tathagata World-Honored One, someone previously claimed that your refusal to promote Mahayana Buddhism was entirely because you wanted to monopolize it and increase your own strength. You did not wish for all living beings in this world to learn Mahayana Buddhism, because if everyone could achieve universal salvation, it would pose a great threat to you. You would no longer be able to absorb most of the power of Buddhism. Is that true?"
Xuanzang looked at Tathagata Buddha and continued questioning him.
Upon hearing this, Tathagata Buddha's brows drew tightly together, fury flashing in his eyes. "Utter nonsense! Whose words are these?"
Tathagata Buddha truly was enraged, because this was nothing but slander.
There were many reasons why Tathagata Buddha did not promote Mahayana Buddhism. One of them was indeed his fear of losing his current position, and of course he also feared damage to his strength. But he had never intended to monopolize Mahayana Buddhism and absorb the power of Buddhism for himself.
That was because it was unrealistic. Mahayana Buddhism needed people to practice it before its power could be absorbed. Of course, there could not be too many practitioners. Once their number grew too large, Tathagata Buddha would no longer be able to control them.
Thus, within Spirit Mountain, Tathagata Buddha allowed certain people to cultivate Mahayana Buddhism, such as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Golden Cicada, and others.
He had always kept their numbers under control, maintaining a fixed number of Mahayana Buddhist cultivators. Their number absolutely could not increase; even if many were lost, not a single additional