Ch. 321Meeting Golden Cicada at the Foot of Spirit Mountain
Key Plot Points and Events
- Ye Zhuo arrives in Che Chi Kingdom, where the king, fearing him, has built a temple in his honor.
- Ye Zhuo criticizes the mortals' reliance on immortals for rain and encourages self-reliance.
- Ye Zhuo encounters and kills three demons who had been terrorizing the kingdom.
- He receives a quest to visit Lingyun Ferry beneath Spirit Mountain, where a corpse that has not decayed for five hundred years awaits.
- At the ferry, he meets Jieyin Daoist and Golden Cicada, the latter being a reincarnated version of Tang Sanzang's body.
- Golden Cicada, along with Tang Sanzang, the Jade Emperor, and Tathagata, share their insights gained from their journey.
Character Developments
- Ye Zhuo: Shows compassion towards mortals, encouraging self-reliance and effort. He also expresses a desire to become a protagonist like Pangu.
- Golden Cicada: Reveals that he has cultivated sentience in his physical body after reincarnating. He shares his insight that only people can save themselves, echoing Tang Sanzang's teachings.
- Tang Sanzang: Reiterates his belief in the importance of personal realization and understanding in the Buddhist Dao.
- Jade Emperor: Expresses his view that victory and defeat are merely starting points for new beginnings.
- Tathagata: States that she must begin anew with every great calamity, reflecting the cyclical nature of existence.
Significant Themes
- Self-reliance vs. dependency on others (immortals)
- The cyclical nature of existence and enlightenment
- The importance of personal realization and understanding in spiritual growth
Character Interactions
- Ye Zhuo interacts with the king of Che Chi Kingdom, showing compassion and encouraging self-reliance.
- Ye Zhuo encounters and kills three demons, demonstrating his power and lack of mercy towards those who harm mortals.
- At Lingyun Ferry, Ye Zhuo meets and engages in philosophical discussions with Golden Cicada, Tang Sanzang, the Jade Emperor, and Tathagata, each sharing their insights gained from their journey.