A short while later, Venerable Guanyin arrived at Buddha-Suppressing Mountain, descended from her cloud, and approached Tathagata.
"Buddha, is that monkey really so powerful that even you cannot escape?" Bodhisattva Guanyin asked.
"Yes. Though that monkey's cultivation is at the quasi-Saint peak, his strength reached the level of a Saint after he transformed. There is no mistaking what I sensed," Tathagata said.
"What are we to do? With that monkey so powerful, how can the Journey to the West Calamity proceed?" Venerable Guanyin asked.
"Do not worry. The two Saints will resolve this. Besides, this is the course ordained by the Heavenly Dao. Even if the monkey possesses a Saint's strength, he must still fulfill his role in the calamity," Tathagata said.
"Oh, then I can rest easy. But Buddha, your suppression here disgraces Buddhism," Venerable Guanyin said.
"It does not matter. So long as Buddhism can flourish, what does a little damage to my reputation matter?" Tathagata said.
"Well said!" Saint Zhunti's voice rang in Guanyin's and Tathagata's ears.
"Tathagata, you truly deserve to be the leader of Buddhism. That spirit is worthy of praise. Rest assured, we have already reached an agreement with that monkey. Five hundred years from now, he will fulfill his role in the Journey to the West Calamity. The price, however, is that you must remain suppressed for five hundred years," Zhunti said.
"So that is how it is. As long as the Journey to the West Calamity can proceed normally, this disciple is willing to remain here for five hundred years," Tathagata said.
"Good. Rest assured, Tathagata, you will still be the leader of Buddhism five hundred years from now. No one can replace you. For these five hundred years, however, the Future Buddha Maitreya will temporarily oversee Vulture Peak," Zhunti said.
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