A mistaken fall into Pansi Cave (40)
Meanwhile, the the Monks left Spirit Mountain to break the Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle.
Mahakala Bodhisattva rides a white bull with a Ox-Head and a human body, a camel on its back, four arms, and an axe. It rides on Colored Clouds and treads on Rosy Radiance; it is Strange Beasts of the Western Heaven.
Behind them were Bodhisattva Arhat, some riding Divine Cloud, others riding strange beasts, leading 300,000 Buddhist Soldiers. The sound of bells and chimes filled the sky, and the Three Realms heard it, which had long since alarmed all beings, including gods, humans, ghosts, and all ten kinds of creatures: eagles, scaled creatures, hairy creatures, feathered creatures, and insects.
At that very moment, Wukong was at the Yellow Flower Temple.
Because the preparations of Mahakala Bodhisattva and others were slow, Wukong waited outside alone, accompanied only by a few people such as the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunderclap Puhua Tianzun. After a while, he couldn't stand it anymore, so he went into the formation on his own, partly to look after Tang Sanzang, and partly because it was more lively with more people.
At this moment, Mahakala Bodhisattva and others arrived with their entourage. When Wukong saw them, he hurriedly went out of the formation to greet them, but he was still a step too late, and Mahakala Bodhisattva saw him coming out of the formation.
Mahakala Bodhisattva angrily said, "Sun Wukong! You little Monkey Demon, your wicked nature remains unchanged. You were suppressed by Shakyamuni for five hundred years, and after joining my sect, you still dare to collude with Demon. What is your punishment?"
Wukong laughed and said, "Bodhisattva, you've misunderstood. I went inside to gather information!"
Mahakala Bodhisattva asked, "What information have you gathered?"
Wukong laughed and said, "There's a Demon Dragon inside, the Fifth Son of the Jing River Dragon King, named Ao Tu. He says that the Buddhist Sect deliberately plotted to harm his father in order to scheme against China, and now he's here to seek justice for his father, so he's stationed his troops here to challenge Spirit Mountain."
Upon hearing this, the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva stepped forward and rebuked, "Nonsense! Everyone knows this, why would you need to inquire?"
Wukong laughed and said, "So, it's true?"
The Mahakala roared, "Insolence! Utter nonsense! Sun Wukong, you are clearly colluding with the Demon Dragon, yet you dare to speak such disrespectful words here! I will take you back to Spirit Mountain to be punished!"
After speaking, Mahakala Bodhisattva drew his trident.
Upon seeing this, Wukong, without waiting for the Mahakala Bodhisattva to throw anything, turned around and Somersault Cloud into the formation to escape.
Mahakala Bodhisattva aimed his trident at Wukong's back and threw it. The trident was behind Wukong in the blink of an eye.
Ao Tu was far away at Pansi Ridge at this time. He had deduced this scene in advance using the Hetu Luoshu, so he captured the Little Spider Demon, put it on his lap, pulled out the Silver Threads, threw it far away, wrapped it around Wukong's waist, and dragged Wukong towards Pansi Ridge.
Upon seeing this, the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva let out a bellow, curled its trunk around Wukong's legs, and pulled him toward the the Monks.
Just as the two sides were locked in a fierce struggle, the Heaven and Earth suddenly changed. The sun and moon disappeared, Taibai Star shone alone in the sky. A Slaughter sword aura slashed down and landed directly on the face of the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva.
Fortunately, Krishna Bodhisattva placed a Wondrously Seeing Golden Wheel in front of Elephant-Head Bodhisattva in time, blocking the Geng Metal Slaughtering Sword Qi and saving Elephant-Head Bodhisattva's life.
Unfortunately Elephant-Head Bodhisattva's face is enormous, with a long trunk and two large ears. Krishna Bodhisattva's wheel only covers the upper half, not the lower half.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva's long trunk fell off with a thud, followed by a scream, and divine blood splattered throughout the Yellow Flower Temple.
Wukong was then dragged into the Pansi Ridge.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva covered his face, looked up at the Heaven, and roared, "Li Chang Geng, how dare you cut off my nose!"
Taibai Star did not respond and vanished in an instant.
Elephant-Head Bodhisattva grabbed an axe in his left hand, a battle-axe in his right, a broken tusk in his second left hand, and a divine hook in his second right hand, ready to charge into the formation to avenge the loss of his broken nose.
Even if the Fire God Zhurong and the Water God Gonggong were combined, they wouldn't be as valiant as the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva.
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva quickly grabbed Elephant-Head Bodhisattva and said:
"Elephant-Head Bodhisattva, do not be reckless. Look at this formation: a wisp of cloud, a few gusts of wind, no killing intent revealed, no malevolent aura displayed. Countless Heavenly Deities Stars universes are hidden within it, unseen; endless changes of water, fire, wind, and thunder are concealed within it, undetectable. It truly seems like an ordinary place; how can you enter lightly?"
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, caused by a nosebleed flowing backward, and said:
"Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, you may see the dangers within that formation, but you've forgotten the power of us Western Heaven deities! Look at us, 300,000 soldiers, all bearing the countenance of Buddha; they wield vajras and hold bells, chanting sacred hymns; their Kasaya are made of Merit, their Buddhist Prayer Beads condensed from fortune; you only see the Demon Dragon leading his horde to set up the Formation, but have you ever seen the flourishing fortune Incense Offerings of our Western Heaven? The art of Formation is but a trivial matter, at most borrowing the power of mountains, rivers, Earthworks, and trees, the energy of Heaven and Earth and earth, Stars, to use the few to defeat the many, and the many to attack the few. Now, we, 300,000 men, have the upper hand; why should we fear them, boosting their morale and diminishing our own?"
Upon hearing this, all the the Monks responded in unison.
The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva said, "Are we just going to barge in like this?"
Mahakala Bodhisattva said, "We'll have to fight eventually, so it's good to test the waters."
Upon hearing this, Elephant-Head Bodhisattva was even more encouraged. With a shout, Varaha Bodhisattva, Kama Bodhisattva, Axe-Wielding Arhat, Snow Mountain Arhat, Mountain Forest Arhat, Water Heavenly Deities Guardian, Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian, and thousands of Sangharama Bhikkhu, along with tens of thousands of monks, charged into the formation.
Once the the Monks entered the formation, they found themselves in a different environment from the outside world.
The Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle is a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao. Once inside the array, one can only see the sky and not the earth.
The earth is the mother of all things, bearing countless things and giving birth to all things. Heaven gives birth to life, and the earth takes shape. Now there is heaven but no earth, and all the Monks stand formlessly.
Those who fail to solidify their Golden Body and attain Immortality are unable to exert their power, mobilize their magical abilities, stabilize their physical form, or preserve their soul.
Elephant-Head Bodhisattva was still observing the Formation and searching for Taibai Star's hiding place when he heard the terrified cries of the the Monks behind him. Turning around, he saw the the Monks' bodies beginning to separate, their souls rising while their Fleshly Body fell, their magical power collapsing and their strength disappearing. Half of the monks died instantly and entered the calamity, leaving Elephant-Head Bodhisattva terrified and unsure of what to do.
Fortunately, Kama Bodhisattva reacted first.
The reason was that Kama Bodhisattva had a Mount, a large blue parrot, which could roam freely in the Three Realms. After the the Monks entered the battle, the parrot's body, which was not as sturdy as a human's, disintegrated beforehand, and its True Spirit went into the calamity.
When Kama Bodhisattva fell down, he realized how terrifying the formation was. He quickly used his great magical power to shield the the Monks, thus saving half of their lives.
Before the the Monks could even tremble in shock, the three creatures —Bi Yue Wu, Wei Tuzhi, and Mao Riji— had already appeared.
The Monks entered from the Western Heaven, which is Hao Heaven Western Heaven, the domain of the Three Stars Wei, Mao, and Bi.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva looked over and saw the three Star Lodges dressed in Ancient Times Stars robes, holding banners representing the Star Banner Stomach, Pleiades, and Hyades. He couldn't help but laugh:
"You three are among the Twenty-Eight Mansions of the Heavenly Realm. Why do you wear such strange clothes, aiding and abetting tyranny and defying the Buddha's decree of the Western Heaven Buddha?"
Upon hearing this, the Mao Riji stepped forward, pointed to the sky, and said:
"That Pig Demon, how dare you speak so arrogantly here! The heavens here are the heavens of Ancient Times, and our divine robes are the official robes of Ancient Times. How dare you, a barbarian from the countryside, offend the majesty of heaven?"
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva roared in anger, "Mao Riji, who are you calling Pig Demon?"
The Mao Riji, tilting its head back, laughed and said, "A broken-nosed sign, isn't that just a pig?"
Bi Yue Wu laughed and said, "Brother Dao, in my opinion, this person is not even as good as a pig!"
Enraged by this, the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva rushed forward and brandished his Axe and Yue.
Although Elephant-Head Bodhisattva is somewhat lacking in intelligence, as a native Western Heaven deity, he is naturally endowed with unique advantages and unparalleled divine power. Even the three Star Lodges cannot compete with him and can only avoid his sharp edge.
Bi Yue Wu retreated to the Bi Mansion, waved the Stars Treasure Banner, and said, "I am Bi Mansion of the White Tiger Seven Mansions in the Western Heaven, in charge of the borders, wars, and the victories and defeats of conquests! How dare you, you audacious Demon, defy the will of Heavenly Dao!"
After speaking, the Formation activated the Heavenly Dao, instantly seizing the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva's chance of victory.
No matter how much the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva wielded his Axe and Yue, he could not defeat the three Star Lodges.
Bi Yue Wu seized the opportunity, swooped down, pecked at the head of the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva, broke the skull, and snatched away the head.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva, having lost his mind, suddenly gained Wisdom and knelt down, begging for mercy. "Spare me! Spare me! Mao Ri Xing Guan, your mother, Pilanja Bodhisattva, is also a member of my Buddhist Sect. I am willing to acknowledge her as my mother and serve you as your elder brother. I only hope that you can intercede for me and spare my life!"
Bi Yue Wu listened and looked at Mao Riji.
Mao Riji said calmly, "Black name."
Bi Yue Wu then swallowed the head of the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva in one gulp.
The Elephant-Head Bodhisattva lay supine, his True Spirit departing for the calamity.
The Mao Riji, still not satisfied, swooped down and tore apart the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva's Fleshly Body, pecking at it and eating it, Earthly Way viciously, "How could this Star Lords have a brother like you, a pig and a dog?"
Then the treasures of the Elephant-Head Bodhisattva and the Bi Yue Wu were divided equally.
Upon seeing this, the the Monks were overcome with grief and wept as they looked up to the sky.
Varaha Bodhisattva, holding an iron wheel, conch shell, and pestle; Kama Bodhisattva, holding a divine bow, stepped forward together.
Varaha Bodhisattva has a pig's head and a human body, with giant teeth and four arms. He is also known as the Earth Guardian Bodhisattva. Legend has it that in Ancient Times times, when the Western Heaven land collapsed, Varaha Bodhisattva used his tusks to support the earth and protect the peace of the Western Human Race, thus attaining the Buddhahood Bodhisattva.
Naturally, Varaha Bodhisattva's roots were in the Western Heaven. If he were to migrate to the Eastern Lands, his original Faith would be severed. Therefore, he resolutely followed Mahakala Bodhisattva to fight alongside him.
In comparison, Kama Bodhisattva is somewhat inferior. He is the native God of Love and Desire in the Western Heaven, wielding a divine bow that can stir people's hearts. He possesses five precious arrows: a white lotus for love, a blue lotus for infatuation, a mango for tenderness, a jasmine for longing, and Ashoka Flower for obsession. In addition, there is a divine parrot, which is now dead.
As Varaha Bodhisattva and Kama Bodhisattva stepped forward, the Axe-Wielding Arhat, the Snow Mountain Arhat, the Mountain Forest Arhat, the Water Heavenly Deities Guardian, the Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian, and some powerful Sangharama Bhikkhu stepped forward.
Upon seeing Bi Yue Wu, the Mao Riji, and the Wei Tuzhi each went back to their respective roosts.
Within the grand formation, the stars Mars Mercury Star appeared.
Among them, Mars is ruled by the Fire Virtue Star Lord, Mercury Star by the Little Alligator Dragon and the Little Mirage Dragon, and the Gods of the Water Department.
The two Stars greeted the Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian and Water Heavenly Deities Guardian.
Those two Guardian deities are also native Western Heaven deities; one is called Agni, and the other is called Varuna.
The Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian is entirely crimson, surrounded by flames, sits on a blue ram, and holds a staff, a bottle, and a bead in his four arms, exuding majesty and solemnity.
The Water Heavenly Deities Guardian is entirely green, surrounded by water and clouds, sits on a spirit tortoise, and holds a dragon-binding lock, Precious Sword, Lotus Flower in his four arms, exuding compassion and kindness.
The Fire Virtue Star Lord, seated in Mars, waved his Stars Treasure Banner and said:
"I am Mars, in charge of heavenly fire, mountain fire, hearth fire, furnace Divine Fire, divine fire, evil fire, dry fire, and plague fire. All fires in the world are under my jurisdiction. What kind of Demon are you, daring to usurp the position of the Fire God!"
After speaking, he activated the Formation, drew upon the Heavenly Dao, and stripped the Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian.
On the other side, Little Alligator Dragon, Little Mirage Dragon, and others, seated on the Mercury Star, also waved the Stars Treasure Banner and said:
"I am Mercury Star, in charge of the heavens and waters, the seas, rivers, lakes, mountain springs, rain and dew, ice and snow, and tides. All the waters under heaven are under our rule. How dare you, you Western Demon, overstep your bounds?"
After speaking, he activated the Formation, drew upon the Heavenly Dao, and stripped the Water Heavenly Deities Guardian.
In an instant, the flames and water clouds on the bodies of the Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian and Water Heavenly Deities Guardian dissipated.
The two were furious and shouted, "We are the Guardian Heavenly Deities the Western Heaven Buddhist Sect! How dare you, a god of the Heavenly Realm, steal our divine power?"
The Little Alligator Dragon and the Little Mirage Dragon were at a loss for words.
The Fire Virtue Star Lord pointed arrogantly to the Heavenly Dao and declared, "This is the Ancient Times Heavenly Dao, which only recognizes us, the true gods of the Stars, and does not recognize you, you barbarian Demon from the Western Heaven!"
The Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian and Water Heavenly Deities Guardian were enraged upon hearing this. Lacking divine power, they had no choice but to grab their weapons and charge forward.
The Fire Virtue Star Lord wielded a Flying Smoke Sword to block the Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian.
The Little Alligator Dragon threw out a large Water Official's Great Seal, blocking the Water Heavenly Deities Guardian.
Suddenly, Taibai Star appeared and unleashed two Taibai Geng Metal Slaughtering Sword Qi, severing the heads of the two Heavenly Deities Guardian, Water and Fire, in one fell swoop.
The Little Mirage Dragon, being vicious by nature, saw this and pounced down, grabbing the head of the Water Heavenly Deities Guardian and swallowing it whole.
Seeing this, the Little Alligator Dragon also wanted to eat, but it was too late. The Fire Virtue Star Lord took out a treasure pot, chanted "Collect," and collected and refined the corpses of Fire Heavenly Deities Guardian.
The True Spirit of Heavenly Deities Buddhism Guardian deities of water and fire then entered the calamity.
The three parties divided the obtained treasures equally without mentioning it.
On the other side, Varaha Bodhisattva and Kama Bodhisattva faced off against the three Star Lodges Bi Yue Wu, Wei Tuzhi, and Mao Riji.
When Varaha Bodhisattva and Kama Bodhisattva looked back, they saw the tragic deaths of the two Guardian Heavenly Deities of water and fire, and they couldn't help but feel a little reluctant to leave.
The Mao Riji returned to the Mao Mansion and, seeing the two about to leave, raised its flag and said, "I am the Mao Mansion, one of the White Tiger Seven Mansions in the Western Heaven, in charge of punishments, prisoners, calamities, Inspection Good and Evil. You two have defied Heaven and usurped your divine positions; how dare you escape?"
Having said that, he used the Formation to communicate with the Heavenly Dao and imprison the two within it.
No matter how much power Varaha Bodhisattva and Kama Bodhisattva used, they could not escape the range of the Mao Mansion in the Western Heaven.
The Wei Tuzhi returned to the Wei Mansion, holding a flag and saying, "I am the Wei Mansion of the Western Heaven White Tiger Seven Mansions, in charge of granaries, grains, harvests, and people's livelihood. You two have defied the Heavenly Dao and deserve to be punished with starvation!"
Having said that, he used the Formation to communicate with the Heavenly Dao and sent down hunger.
Varaha Bodhisattva and Kama Bodhisattva felt their strength rapidly dissipating, their hunger becoming unbearable, and their Wisdom fading away. One of them ate three arms, and the other gnawed off half of his thigh.
Unable to bear such a tragic scene, Taibai Star suddenly appeared and cut the two of them in half at the waist with a single sword strike.
Bi Yue Wu, Wei Tuzhi, and Mao Riji divided the food among the two Bodhisattva and split the treasures equally.
Without the protection of Kama Bodhisattva's power, those tens of thousands Sangharama Monks would all be crushed by the great formation.
Seeing this, the Axe-Wielding Arhat, the Snow Mountain Arhat, and the Mountain Forest Arhat had no choice but to use their magical powers to protect the the Monks.
But this also rendered them unable to launch an attack.
Mao Riji looked at the three people one by one and saw that their names were all in red on the roster, so he asked:
"Are you three willing to surrender? If you do, your lives will be spared; if you do not, you will all be condemned to Great Calamity."
The Axe-Wielding Arhat and the Mountain Forest Arhat did not respond immediately upon hearing this.
The Snow Mountain Arhat said, "My two fellow Daoists, if one sees the Monks dying and does not save them, one is not a true Arhats Path."
The Axe-Wielding Arhat and the Mountain Forest Arhat were moved by what they heard.
Upon hearing this, many of the the Monks, including Sangharama Bhikkhus of the Bhikkhu and the India monks, declared, "We serve the Western Heaven and swear to never surrender to Demon!" With that, they leaped out of the magical range of the three Arhat and were crushed by the great formation, their True Spirit entering a calamity.
The three Arhat watched silently as thousands more monks, unwilling to surrender, jumped out and were crushed by the formation.
Bi Yue Wu, Wei Tuzhi, and Mao Riji watched this scene without moving.
These thousands of people don't even qualify to be on the list.
After the Monks had finished their jumps, more than ten thousand Monks remained. Unwilling to die and fearing that their spiritual cultivation would be lost, they reluctantly pleaded for their survival.
For the sake of these people's safety, the three Arhat knelt down and surrendered.