The Decline of the Myriad Monster Nation

Lingji Bodhisattva immediately felt as if he were floating and about to ascend to immortality. It was incredibly refreshing.

This feeling was truly enjoyable.

This pack of cigarettes was laced with something special. Tang Yu hadn't even smoked any, and he wouldn't dare to.

He had originally planned to let Tathagata Buddha have a puff later, but he hadn't expected Lingji Bodhisattva to enjoy it first.

So good!

It was truly too good.

Lingji Bodhisattva quickly gulped down a cigarette in a few bites and immediately lit another one for himself.

Looking at the cigarette in his hand, he became conflicted. Such a good thing should be kept for his own secret enjoyment.

However, if the Buddha discovered him enjoying such a good thing without showing filial piety, it would be easy to gain a handle on him.

Thus, Lingji Bodhisattva took out some from the cigarette pack. Looking at the cigarettes in the pack, there seemed to be quite a few, so he took out a few more.

Only three cigarettes were left in the pack. He planned to take them back to show filial piety to the Buddha, while he would hide these and smoke them secretly, enjoying them slowly.

Having made up his mind, he held a cigarette in his mouth and headed back to the Western Heaven.

"Buddha, I have returned. Guanyin has returned to Mount Putuo of the South Sea."

Lingji Bodhisattva quickly arrived at the Western Heaven and reported to the Buddha.

He thought about how difficult it had been for Guanyin Bodhisattva recently, having been severely berated by Tang Yu.

She had also nearly lost her life to the Yellow Wind King and ultimately ended up with nothing.

"It's good for her to return to Mount Putuo of the South Sea to cultivate her state of mind. After all, she needs to keep a close eye on the group from Journey to the West. I imagine there will be no shortage of worries for her in the future."

Tathagata Buddha was quite understanding.

Some Arhats and Bodhisattvas exchanged glances, secretly gloating in their hearts.

They knew that by participating in the Journey to the West Tribulation, they would also gain considerable merit once the tribulation was completed.

Regarding this opportunity, each of them had fought tooth and nail to obtain it.

They had all eagerly volunteered, wishing they could have a big fight to compete for this opportunity.

They were all anxious, scratching their heads and ears, desperately wanting this mission.

They were so anxious that they had lost all their hair.

Yet, this opportunity had fallen into Guanyin Bodhisattva's lap.

This made them feel it was incredibly unfair. Was it just because Guanyin Bodhisattva was a woman?

So, the Buddha was showing favoritism.

However, things had already been decided. The Buddha was the leader, the boss of the Western Heaven.

Since he had made the arrangements, who dared to object? Did they still want to stay in the Western Heaven?

They could only envy, jealousy, and hate in their hearts.

Now, seeing that Guanyin Bodhisattva had suffered a setback, they couldn't help but secretly chuckle.

It seemed this mission wasn't so simple. If it had fallen upon them, they might have been the ones who ended up with nothing.

"Buddha, after the Yellow Wind King died, I discovered this."

Lingji Bodhisattva presented the cigarettes like a treasure.

Wasn't this the thing Tang Sanzang often held in his mouth?

"Buddha, this is a treasure! Holding it in your mouth, lighting it, and taking a puff is simply an enjoyment."

As he spoke, Lingji Bodhisattva wanted to smoke again, but it wasn't good to smoke in such a public place. Most importantly, he was afraid others would snatch it.

The Buddha glanced at Lingji Bodhisattva.

The Buddha took a cigarette, placed it in his mouth, lit it, and took a puff.

With that puff, he felt a sense of euphoria.

His mind became clear, and it seemed his understanding of Buddhist teachings, the profound emptiness, became even more lucid.

What a good thing!

A truly good thing.

Lingji Bodhisattva indeed wasn't wrong about this brat. He actually knew to bring such a good thing to show filial piety to me.

Hmm?

What Lingji Bodhisattva had said earlier clearly indicated that he had been smoking secretly.

No wonder he smelled of smoke when he spoke to me just now.

He gave Lingji Bodhisattva a deep look. This old fellow was apparently playing games with him.

However, since he had brought back such a good thing to show filial piety, he couldn't directly question him at this moment.

"Lingji Bodhisattva has made great contributions to our Buddhist Sect."

"What?"

"This has already earned great merit." The Buddhas below exchanged glances.

"But, you're the boss, so whatever you say goes."

"Buddha is wise."

Tathagata Buddha nodded with a smile, then took a puff.

Ah...

So refreshing!

This was simply divine.

"Why would the Yellow Wind King suddenly dare to attack a Bodhisattva? Could it be that people from the Myriad Monster Nation are interfering? It seems I need to issue a warning to those demonic creatures."

For some reason, after taking a couple of puffs, the Buddha felt his mind clearing up, and his thoughts seemed much more comprehensive.

As expected, this was a good thing.

Tang Yu had originally intended to let him enjoy it too, but by a twist of fate, the Buddha had taken a puff himself.

If Tang Yu knew about this, he would surely burst into laughter.

"Also, Tang Sanzang and his party are about to reach the Flowing Sand River. Sha Wujing is still waiting there. This tribulation should be completed as smoothly as possible to avoid any unforeseen circumstances..."

Tathagata Buddha surveyed the assembly, his gaze falling upon Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. "Later, I will trouble Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to make a trip to the Myriad Monster Nation to warn those demonic creatures. After that, you can visit Mount Putuo of the South Sea and ask Venerable Guanyin to accompany Tang Sanzang and his group as closely as possible to ensure this tribulation is completed smoothly."

"As you command, Buddha."

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva received the Buddha's decree and headed towards the Myriad Monster Nation in the lower realm.

Myriad Monster Nation!

It no longer possessed its former glory. It was filled with ruins and desolation.

Only some elderly monsters and a few newly born young ones remained.

After the defeat of the previous generation's Demon King, the Myriad Monster Nation had long since declined and was in a state of disrepair.

In that battle, the Demon King led the demons of the Myriad Monster Nation.

They had mobilized the entire nation, disregarding all consequences, to confront the Heavenly Court. Ultimately, the Buddhist Sect intervened.

The Myriad Monster Nation suffered a crushing defeat, and even the Demon King's primordial spirit was shattered.

After that battle, the Myriad Monster Nation completely declined.

As for some famous Demon Kings, the Green Lion and White Elephant were converted by the Buddhist Sect, forgetting their past and becoming the mounts of Bodhisattvas.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven Bull Demon King, due to some secret connections with the Heavenly Court, narrowly escaped disaster, but he dared not cause any further trouble.

As for the minor demons who had narrowly escaped death, they could only return to the Myriad Monster Nation, surviving precariously between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect, enduring humiliation.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, what happened after that?"

A young demon, who had just taken human form, pestered her grandfather.

Her skin was snow-white, her eyes were bright and cunning, and she possessed an ethereal aura that seemed otherworldly.

She was like a little fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.

Her grandfather was very old, his face etched with deep wrinkles, and his eyes were clouded.

He coughed softly, a hint of reminiscence flickering in his eyes.

It was a memory of past battles.

"After that, the demons of the Myriad Monster Nation were slaughtered and massacred. Only a small number of monsters managed to escape back to the Myriad Monster Nation, where they barely clung to life."

"What about the Demon King?" the young demon asked.

The old demon's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he saw his younger self, following the Demon King and conquering the world.

However, his eyes slowly blinked, and tears welled up from their clouded depths.

"Later, Tathagata Buddha of the Western Heaven, wielding a Sage's artifact, shattered the Demon King. Yet, the Demon King still stubbornly swung his Iron Staff, fighting until the very last moment. He never stopped fighting. He fought until the moment he died, never letting go of his weapon. In the end, he was beaten back to his original form, turning into a stone, and falling to the lower realm..."

The old demon's voice choked with emotion.