An Ill-Fated Fall into Pansi Cave (36)
Meanwhile, the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva directly confronted the Tathagata Buddha.
Kasyapa was furious.
Tathagata Buddha stopped him again, saying:
"If one reports insults, anger, beatings, or fights in this way, then each person is giving evil to the other; but if one does not report insults, anger, beatings, or fights, and instead leads them to abandon anger and afflictions and understand the right path, then this is the true Dharma."
Upon hearing this, Kasyapa clasped his hands in receptiveness.
Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and others also joined their palms in receiving the teachings.
The Tathagata Buddha said:
"My intention to Eastern Migration is in accordance with the will of Heavenly Dao. The treasures passed down through generations on Spirit Mountain are the result of good deeds Merit, not treasures or sacred Taoist temple. The Demon Dragon has set up an array to challenge my sect. To fight it would mean certain death if we lose, which is not my wish; to win would mean the destruction of countless lives, which is also not my wish. Do you all understand this?"
Upon hearing this, a small group of the Monks clasped their hands and sat down.
Mahakala Bodhisattva said, "So you've finally admitted it, you're still afraid of the Demon Dragon! Let me cut off its head before I argue with you!"
Upon hearing this, the Tathagata Buddha shed tears from his Golden Body, which fell onto the Nine-Rank Golden Lotus Platform. The Lotus Throne, moved by this, emitted a radiant light of Merit.
All the the Monks were astonished.
Mahakala Bodhisattva laughed loudly, "Shakyamuni, you, the dignified World-Honored One, have you been frightened to tears?"
The Tathagata Buddha wiped away his tears, faced the assembly, and said:
"The Buddha possesses great compassion and cannot bear to see people die. Although you speak slanderously, your intention is to argue. If one were unmoved by your own death, one would not be the Buddha; if one were to watch your death without speaking out to stop it, one would not be the Buddha; if one were to watch your death without taking action to prevent it, one would not be the Buddha; if one were to watch your death without feeling grief and shedding tears, one would not be the Buddha."
As soon as he finished speaking, Maitreya Buddha was the first to shed tears.
Randeng Ancient Buddha and Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light each have their faces covered, with one head bowed and the other's hands clasped together to cover their eyes.
The Tathagata Buddha observed this, saying nothing more, and said, "Kasyapa, bring Gold Powder and Vermilion Ink."
Upon hearing this, Kasyapa fetched it and presented it to him.
The Tathagata Buddha wrote a letter, and after finishing it, instructed Kasyapa to give it to the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta.
The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva asked, "Buddha, what is this?"
The Tathagata Buddha said, "The eastward spread of my teachings is the will of Heaven, and I cannot defy it. You are my Monks, and I cannot bear to see you die. In the past, I rendered meritorious service to His Majesty the Jade Emperor by annihilating the demon Demon Monkey. The Bodhisattva has entrusted this letter to His Majesty, so that all the heavenly Divine General may assist in testing the Demon Dragon's Formation. Remember, if things go wrong, return to the Western Heaven immediately. Those who do not heed my words will bring great calamity upon themselves, perish in the calamity, and regret it too late."
Seeing this, Mahakala Bodhisattva sneered a few times, thinking that Tathagata backing down and showing weakness. He thought that it would be good to get some help for nothing, so he didn't say anything.
The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva received the letter.
The Monks gathered around, with Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva and Mahakala Bodhisattva at the center.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva said, "We are willing to accompany Bodhisattva to slay the Demon Dragon!"
Mahakala Bodhisattva said, "No need. This little Demon Dragon is easily annihilated by Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva and myself. You all stay at Spirit Mountain and guard our 'family property'."
When he finally spoke of the word "family business," Mahakala Bodhisattva emphasized the pronunciation and glanced at the Tathagata Buddha.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva nodded in agreement.
Kasyapa was furious upon seeing this and shouted, "You scoundrel, what do you mean by this!"
Mahakala Bodhisattva sneered, offered no reply, and walked straight out of the hall.
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva bowed to the Tathagata Buddha and then followed.
The two rode on auspicious Auspicious Clouds and arrived in the Heavenly Realm in a short while, where they met the Jade Emperor and presented him with a letter.
After reading the letter, the Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor asked Wang Lingguan on his left, "How long have Taibai Jinxing and Heavenly King Li been in the Lower Realm?"
Wang Lingguan replied, "Your Majesty, it has been almost a day."
The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor said, "Summon these two people up here."
Wang Lingguan then descended to the Lower Realm and summoned Taibai Jinxing and Heavenly King Li to the mortal realm.
The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor glanced at the two men and, seeing that Heavenly King Li was properly dressed, was much more satisfied. He asked, "Taibai Jinxing, how is the matter of the Demon Dragon?"
Taibai Jinxing said, "Your Majesty, the Demon Dragon claims to be Buddhist Sect Disciple. This disturbance is merely a conflict between the major and minor branches of his sect. We have no legitimate reason to send troops, therefore we have asked Venerable Kasyapa to return to the Western Heaven to consult the Buddha."
The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor nodded, took out the letter, and said:
"This statement is not without merit, but the letter from the Buddha is earnest and moving. The Buddha's past merit in pacifying the realm cannot be ignored. Therefore, I hereby order the Five Dipper Star Lords—the Seven Stars of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper, the Five Dipper Star Lords of the Five Stars of the Eastern Dipper, the Four Stars of the Western Dipper, and the Three Stars of the Three Stars of the Central Dipper —to Subduing Demons to the Lower Realm mortal realm to subdue demons. The Sun Star Lord, the Taiyin Star Lord, and the Water and Fire Departments shall assist them. The Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunderclap Puhua Tianzun shall lead the Thunder Department's Divine General to the Lower Realm."
The decree was issued, and the gods came to receive it.
The Five Dippers of the Host of Stars, unchanging through the ages, have descended to the mortal Lower Realm today by imperial decree.
The Thunder Department Celestial Worthy also donned his armor and went into Subduing Demons, descending to the Lower Realm to subdue demons.
This venerable Celestial Worthy being was so respected that even Heavenly King Li held him in high esteem.
The gods, having gathered, descended to the mortal Lower Realm in a grand procession.
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva and Mahakala Bodhisattva followed.
The Divine Cloud trembled, and the Calamity Qi spread, enveloping the entire area of Pansi Ridge for tens of thousands of miles.
Those who are inspired will see foxes worshipping the heavens, weasels praying to trees, crows flying south, and fish leaping north.
It is pitiful that all living things, sensing the great trend of Heaven and Earth, must migrate to preserve themselves, while Bodhisattva and deities are unaware of this.
When the gods arrived outside the Yellow Flower Temple, the Celestial Worthy commanded the wind to rise. The Wind God of the Thunder Department whipped up Gale darkened the sky and earth for miles around the Yellow Flower Temple, sending bricks and tiles flying.
Ao Tu led the gods out, raised the Black Lotus, and blocked the Gale.
The Heavenly Celestial Worthy then ordered the release of electricity and thunder.
The Thunder Department Divine General to cast his spell.
In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
However, it still could not shake the Auspicious Light the Black Lotus.
Seeing this, Mahakala Bodhisattva couldn't help but leap down and say, "Demon Dragon, die!" He then thrust a trident into the Black Lotus Black Lotus Jewel Light, shattering Jewel Light.
Upon seeing this, Nezha drew his sword and prepared to step forward.
Ao Tu immediately recognized that this was a Great Luo, so he reached out and shielded Nezha behind him.
Mahakala Bodhisattva said nothing more, but his eyes blazed with Divine Fire as he burned toward Ao Tu.
Ao Tu pushed Nezha aside, revealing Sixteen-Foot Golden Body, impervious to fire.
A strange light flashed in Mahakala Bodhisattva's eyes as he carefully examined Ao Tu. He was clearly just a minor Golden Immortal Ao Tu, yet he could use such Supernatural Ability, and he couldn't see through any of his tricks.
Ao Tu, however, saw through the other party at a glance. He was just a wild god from the Western Heaven who had ascended to the Great Dao by relying on the Incense Offerings Fortune. He had no fundamental the Path to enlightenment and had only barely Transcendent Dao Attainment by worshipping the Western Heaven and relying on Buddhist Dharma.
Mahakala Bodhisattva observed for a long time but could not find any flaws. He then took a precious bow and shot an arrow at Ao Tu.
Ao Tu extended his fourth arm from the lower left, grabbed the precious arrow, and threw it back at Mahakala Bodhisattva.
Mahakala Bodhisattva departed from the mortal Present World and hid himself outside the long river.
Ao Tu stretched out his eight arms, breaking through the Present World and, through time, space, and reality, directly grabbed Mahakala Bodhisattva, who had just escaped into the long river, and dragged him back to the Present World.
Mahakala Bodhisattva was greatly alarmed and exclaimed, "You are a great Supernatural Ability being!"
Ao Tu didn't answer, and continued dragging.
A black venomous snake rushed out from behind Mahakala Bodhisattva. It was originally the bowstring of the divine bow from before, which had transformed into a venomous snake. It was also a Western Heaven deity named Vasuki Dragon God.
The venomous snake bit Ao Tu's arm, but failed to break through the Golden Body.
Ao Tu pressed down on Mahakala Bodhisattva with six hands, freeing up two hands to grab the snake's tail with one hand and its head with the other. With a mighty pull, he tore the snake in two, and a wisp of True Spirit entered the calamity.
Ao Tu threw the body into the East Sea and the West Sea for the aquatic creatures to enjoy, and then continued to drag Mahakala Bodhisattva.
Mahakala Bodhisattva fought back fiercely, but was no match for Ao Tu's strength, which filled him with fear.
Fortunately, at this moment, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva leaned out halfway and wielded his sword, forcefully slashing at Ao Tu's arm, leaving a foot-long wound.
Dragon blood flowed out, soaking into the Precious Sword of the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, crushing the blade.
The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly said, "Old Celestial Worthy, please help!"
Upon hearing Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunderclap Puhua Tianzun commanded all the gods to emerge, their Divine Light enveloping the land and lightning raging.
Upon seeing this, Ao Tu feared that he might damage the Taoist temple and disrupt the formation, so he withdrew and stopped holding onto Mahakala Bodhisattva.
This person is nothing more Tathagata a lackey sent by the Buddha from the Western Heaven; he can be easily eliminated, so there's no need to pay him too much attention.
Ao Tu continued to prop up the Black Lotus, blocking the gods, and sat on the Black Lotus with Golden Body Treasure Appearance, chanting the True Scriptures.
A beam of Auspicious Light swept across, and the gods turned against them once more.