Vanquishing Demons at Lion Camel Ridge (27)
However, under the Great Calamity, the secrets of Heavenly Secrets were obscured, and disaster struck at every turn.
Even with the greatest Supernatural Ability, if one cannot see the road ahead, one will still fall into calamity.
Two lines from the Jade Pool Palace of yesteryear are quite apt:
He closed the Cave Gate tightly, quietly reciting two or three volumes of the Yellow Court Classic; he threw himself into the Western Land, where a famous person resides on the Investiture of the Gods Platform.
The Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light tilted the Medicine Buddha Gourd slightly, pouring out a Seven-Colored Glazed Golden Elixir. Instantly, the room was filled with fragrance, and the colors shimmered like a tapestry.
The Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light three times between the noses of Great Brahma King, Great Brahma King coughed and woke up.
All the the Monks were delighted and composed an eight-line verse of praise:
Returning to the Realm of Full Moon, the Pure and Wondrous Lapis Lazuli Venerable.
The Dharma medicine saves people from the heavens; this is the origin of twelve vows.
With boundless compassion and vows, I wish to liberate all sentient beings.
I now offer my praise and pay my respects with utmost sincerity.
Although the Great Brahma King has awakened, his injuries have not yet healed. Of his original five heads, one was knocked away by the Peacock, one was broken by the Red Sand, and one was turned into pus by the Blood Fiend. Now he only has two heads left, Dao Foundation has been severely damaged.
If the Medicine Buddha were to give him the Lapis Lazuli Golden Elixir, it would heal his injuries. However, the Western Heaven is barren, and the precious elixir must be reserved to save all sentient beings; therefore, it cannot be given to Great Brahma King.
The Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light, "Great Brahma King's injuries are still severe; he should quickly go and recuperate."
Great Brahma King repeatedly bowed in gratitude, tears welling in his eyes. He said that Demon were rampant and had severely injured him, and he begged the Medicine Buddha to help him subdue them.
Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light thought it wouldn't hurt to lend a hand. If they could retrieve the Supreme Dao Ancestor's Treasure Banner, they could do a favor by returning it to the Tushita Palace, which would be a great opportunity.
Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light then told Great Brahma King to go and recover from his injuries. He and several other Buddha, known as the Seven Medicine Buddhas, discussed how to subdue the demon.
Among the Seven Buddhas, several avoided Karma and dared not easily enter the calamity.
Ultimately, Four Buddhas volunteered to go: Buddha Well-Praised, Buddha Solemn Light, Jewel Light Buddha, and Buddha Without Worries.
Beneath the four Buddhas are countless Bodhisattva, numerous Arhat, and Buddhist Soldiers filling the Heavenly Deities of the ten directions, endless in number.
Upon learning this, the Great Brahma King was overjoyed, thinking that this time the Demon Dragon had no protective formation and no Heavenly Realm gods to defend it. How could it possibly stand against the Buddhas? It was doomed to die!
But then he thought that his injuries would not heal in a short time. If the Four Buddhas killed the Demon Dragon, he would not gain anything and would suffer such serious injuries for nothing.
Great Brahma King took some tonics to rouse himself and stalled the Four Buddhas Four Buddhas, telling them to allow him a day to rest. He promised that once he had recovered, he would lead the the Monks to join the Four Buddhas in slaying the Demon Dragon and rescuing Guanyin Bodhisattva.
The Four Buddhas asked him how he could possibly recover from such severe injuries in just one day.
The Great Brahma King, whose mind was already filled with the Calamity Qi, lied and said that he had a precious medicine to heal his injuries and that he would be almost Seventy to Eighty Percent recovered by tomorrow.
In reality, he didn't have any precious medicine. He had just taken a few jars of tonics to tough it out, planning to rest for a day to recuperate. He intended to follow the Four Buddhas the next day, casually using a couple of spells to kill the Demon, and then go up to divide the treasures.
The Four Buddhas, unaware that Great Brahma King was lying, thought that since Great Brahma King had been the one to first propose the Demon Dragon Annihilation, and now that he had said so, they couldn't just abandon him, so they agreed.
After resting for a day, the Great Brahma King was still listless the next day, because his Essence and Qi had been damaged. However, he forced himself to appear unharmed, stood in front of the platform, commanded the the Monks, and led the Monks down the mountain.
The Four Buddhas standing to the side seemed more like mere accessories.
On the other side, in the Heavenly Realm.
Ao Tu returned to the Flower Realm, transformed into the appearance of Perfected One Taixi, and prepared to go to the Cloud Tower Palace later to attend Xiao Zhenying's apprenticeship banquet.
Before that, I need to prepare some gifts for my little apprentice.
Ao Tu took out a piece of Purple Gold, cut off a corner, placed it in the Alchemy Furnace, and refined it with the fire of the Five Phases. He also put in the fragments of the Jewel that had been broken by the Great Brahma King, and refined it into a Longevity Lock.
Ao Tu then turned and went to the Immortal Pool. Seeing that the Bitter Bamboo had grown taller, he cut off a section, split it in two, and refined it into a Treasure Casket.
Then he took some Immortal Brocade and cut out a Daoist Attendant Robe.
There were exactly three treasures in total, no more, no less. Apart from the Longevity Lock for protection, the other two treasures were not particularly valuable.
Ao Tu deliberately did not forge any treasures with a Slaughter aura, lest Xiao Zhenying imitate her brother and cause him trouble.
However, in truth, Nezha's Universe Ring and Universe-Splitting Silk don't seem to be considered weapons of Slaughter.
It took some time to refine the three treasures, and the apprenticeship banquet was almost ready to begin.
Sure enough, someone came to visit soon after.
Ao Tu opened the door, and there stood Xiao Zhenying, accompanied by Nezha and followed by many Attendants.
Xiao Zhenying was dressed festively, with her hair tied in a sideburn, and greeted everyone with a deep bow, saying solemnly:
"I am deeply grateful to my esteemed teacher for accepting me as a disciple. I have chosen an auspicious day and prepared a simple meal to express my sincere gratitude. I dare to ask my esteemed teacher to grace me with his presence so that I may perform the formal ceremony of formally becoming your disciple. I humbly beseech your permission."
Ao Tu chuckled as he helped Xiao Zhenying up, patted her hair, and said, "Who taught you to speak like that, so stiff and awkward?"
Xiao Zhenying smiled and said, "It was my father who taught me. He said that when inviting my master over, we must be respectful and not be impolite."
Ao Tu asked, "Did your father also style these sideburns?"
Xiao Zhenying said, "It was made by my mother."
Ao Tu laughed and said, "You looked better with your previous bun hairstyle. We're not under the Three Pure Ones Sect here, so we don't have as many rules. Just keep it the way it was before."
Xiao Zhenying happily said, "Thank you, Master!"
At the invitation of the two, Ao Tu went to the Cloud Tower Palace for a banquet.
On the way, Ao Tu saw that Nezha was wearing formal clothes and shoes, which was rare for him, and couldn't help but laugh:
"The Third Prince usually wears the Universe-Splitting Silk and rides the Wind Fire Wheels, but today he's dressed so plainly; it must be because he looks down on us Daoist."
Nezha rolled his eyes at Ao Tu, thinking the Demon Dragon was too childish and unwilling to say anything more to him.
Xiao Zhenying quickly explained, "Master, no. My Older Brother had planned this all along, knowing that today is the day I become a disciple. He knew that Master and all the immortals would be coming, so he specially made new clothes for me, afraid that the previous ones weren't dignified enough."
Ao Tu laughed and said, "I see!"
Nezha scoffed, deliberately changing the subject, "A few days ago, Wang Lingguan reported that Blood Fiend was rising into the sky at Lion Camel Ridge in the Lower Realm, disturbing the primordial spirits of the Nine Heavens Yuanchen. The Jade Emperor ordered the Kitchen God to investigate, but what kind of Formation have you set up? Do you need my help?"
Ao Tu laughed and said, "Everyone says that you, Third Prince, are loyal and righteous, and it's true. Once I occupy Spirit Mountain, I'll also grant you a Buddha position."
Nezha turned around with a smile and said, "Who wants your Buddha position?"
Xiao Zhenying, who was listening nearby, was in a daze, wondering what she had just heard. Could she have misheard?
Before long, Ao Tu arrived at the Cloud Tower Palace.
Heavenly King Li was already waiting outside.
Although he and Ao Tu had always been at odds, he always maintained proper etiquette.
Ao Tu was welcomed inside.
The immortals also arrived one after another afterward.
Under the witness of all the immortals, Li Zhenying then performed the formal apprenticeship ceremony for Ao Tu and presented him with gifts.
Ao Tu bestowed three treasures, which he had prepared beforehand, upon his youngest apprentice.
Xiao Zhenying was overjoyed to have the treasure with her. Seeing Ao Tu talking with the other immortals, she went off to play by herself.
Upon seeing this, Nezha laughed with Xiao Zhenying, "He's quite generous, taking out these three treasures; they can be used for self-defense."
Xiao Zhenying asked, "Older Brother, these three treasures have no sharp points or blades, how can we use them for self-defense?"
Nezha said, "Little sister, you don't know. The effectiveness of this treasure doesn't lie in the treasure itself, but entirely in how you use it. Bring me the Longevity Lock and the Treasure Casket, and I'll demonstrate it to you."