In the Heavenly Court, within Tongming Palace.
Jade Emperor Lu, who had been sitting cross-legged after court was dismissed, suddenly opened his eyes. His expression was calm, yet a hint of shock flashed through the depths of his gaze.
"Since we already know about this—"
Lu Chuan's eyes flickered. "Then we absolutely cannot let them have their way."
It had to be said, the game laid out by the Two Sages of the West was rather vast. The Buddhas of the Three Ages were like trees they had planted, and their Sarira were the fruits borne by those trees.
Now that all sixteen ancient Buddhas had entered nirvana, it meant the fruits had already ripened, and the second batch of fruits represented by Tathagata also seemed to have reached the time of ripening.
This catastrophe could be seen as a harvesting operation.
As the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, Tathagata had walked the farthest on the path he himself had opened. If even he entered nirvana, would that not prove that the road he had led them down was wrong? And would the Buddhas of the Present lineage, who had followed behind him along that path, not have their state of mind collapse on the spot?
When the Present Buddha lineage and the Past Buddha lineage were both extinguished in nirvanic radiance, would Maitreya, as the appointed head of the Future Buddhas, not be able to take over the Buddhist Sect openly and rightfully?
Using a catastrophe to complete a transfer of power, changing the dynasty and replacing the era—afterward, perhaps no one would ever imagine that such hidden workings lay behind this incident.
"Only..."
A trace of doubt flashed through Lu Chuan's eyes. "Are the fruits of the Buddhas of the Three Ages truly meant to accomplish Maitreya Buddha?"
Such