Rescue the Bhikshu Kingdom (Twenty)
Meanwhile, the Vishnu Bodhisattva and others sought guidance from the Tathagata Buddha on how to survive.
The Tathagata Buddha said, "You have changed your appearance, destroyed your temples, and are rebuilding your Golden Body from west to east; this is a virtuous path."
Vishnu Bodhisattva and the others heard this, how could they possibly be willing?
To destroy the Golden Body cultivated through countless eons and start over is no different from death.
So they all knelt down and begged, asking to be given another chance to live.
The Tathagata Buddha said, "Nothing! Nothing!"
After speaking, the Golden Lotus closed, and the Buddha departed.
When the the Monks saw this, they knelt and pleaded outside, Tathagata Buddha ignored them completely.
During this time, Kasyapa came out and instructed them to kneel at the small gate so as not to disturb the Pilgrims. The Monks, fearing the power of the Tathagata Buddha, had no choice but to endure the humiliation and move to the small gate.
She knelt like that for ten days, and no one paid her any attention.
The Monks then turned to insults and curses, continuing for ten days and ten nights, Tathagata Buddha ignored them.
The Monks had no choice but to kneel and pray to Amitabha Buddha.
After praying for ten days, Amitabha Buddha finally appeared.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva forward, shedding tears, and said, "With no Sage appearing, Shakyamuni has taken sole control of Spirit Mountain, plotting to wipe out all of us Western Heaven gods!"
Amitabha Buddha said, "After all, there is still a bond of Incense Offerings. I have always valued old friendships and am not a heartless person, so I will help you."
The Monks were overjoyed and expressed their gratitude.
They then arrived at Willow Grove Slope, Ten Thousand Immortals Formation was located.
Amitabha Buddha tossed out a Sarira, knocking Manjushri Bodhisattva to the ground. He then captured the four Arhat —Long-Eyebrow, Bag-Carrying, Ear-Cleaning, and Hand-Reaching—and said, "The formation is broken. I will send them to Spirit Mountain for punishment."
The Vishnu Bodhisattva Amitabha Buddha and went forward, where they saw another person.
Holding a hooked sword and riding White Elephant, he is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
Without further ado, they clashed.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva had not yet entered the Great Luo, and his martial prowess was insufficient. After fighting for a few rounds, he retreated into the formation.
A fine formation: Once Supreme Ultimate is divided, Yin and Yang are established. Set up an altar with two classes on the left and right. The left is Yang rising, and the right is Yin descending. They disperse and transform into all things, hiding within our bodies, or transforming with things. All intentions can be fulfilled.
It is said: Within the Universe in the Sleeve is turned upside down; within the Yin-Yang formation, the high and low are determined.
As the saying goes, "A fall into Vishnu Bodhisattva dared not enter the formation and instead sent the Horse-Head Arhat beside him into the formation.
Horse-Head Arhat wasn't stupid, so naturally he didn't dare to enter the battle. He then sent another Wrathful Bodhisattva into the battle, but the Wrathful Bodhisattva also didn't enter, instead sending someone else into the battle.
In the end, no one dared to enter the battle.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva laughed and said, "You all act perversely and against the natural order; do you dare not test our skills?"
Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva of Universal Enlightenment, unwilling to diminish his reputation, instructed one of his mounts, a thousand-headed giant python—a Dharma protector of Buddhism—to enter the battle. He also forcibly dispatched forty Arhats and Bhikkhus to assist in the attack.
Upon seeing this, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva dispersed into the formation and disappeared.
Shesha entered the formation, he could not find Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, so Original Form and used a thousand heads to search for him.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva threw out a Wu Hook Sword, which pierced the giant python's seventh inch. The Yin-Yang Divine Thunder was released from the formation, turning all one thousand heads into Powder.
Shesha then sent True Spirit into the calamity.
The Dragon-Subduing Arhat Tiger-Taming Arhat appeared from both sides of the Formation and wiped out the remaining Monks who had entered the formation.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva and others were terrified and dared not enter the formation. They waited outside for two or three months until Amitabha Buddha returned, knocked a Sarira down from Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and captured the two Arhat Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming, thus breaking the Formation.
Amitabha Buddha led Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and others back to Spirit Mountain.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva and others continued on their way and encountered another person with Lotus Flower on his head, emitting Divine Light; this was the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Retreat! Retreat! Wait for Amitabha Buddha to arrive!"
The Monks all agreed.
So the the Monks returned to the Royal City to take refuge.
Upon seeing this, the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom asked, "Venerable Bodhisattva, how is the battle going? Have the rebels been quelled?"
The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Only one person remains. Once Amitabha Buddha arrives, the matter will be settled."
The king of Bhikkhu was overjoyed and said, "In that case, I shall personally lead the expedition."
Two or three months later, in the middle of summer, when the weather was hot, Amitabha Buddha returned. The king of Bhikkhu then personally led an expedition against the rebels, mobilizing his entire army and defeating them in one battle.
The group left the city, a large army of over a thousand Troops. As they passed through villages, people and dogs alike gave way. When they reached Willow Grove Slope, the men and horses were exhausted and drank water at the foot of the slope.
When Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva saw this, he composed a song, which read:
It is as if bathed in Golden Light, and the body exudes fragrance. This is called the Fragrance-Light Adornment. The Four Divine Guardians are in their positions, surrounding and protecting the altar. Evil spirits cannot enter, and ghosts and demons cannot invade. The inside and outside are isolated, forming a natural formation. It gathers those who recite the Buddha's name and guides them to the West and East.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva and others dared not fight, and cried out to Amitabha Buddha for help.
Amitabha Buddha emitted a Sarira, which knocked down Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, broke the Formation, and captured the four Arhats hidden in the formation Laughing Lion Arhat, the Elephant-Riding Arhat, the Open-Hearted Arhat, and the Meditating Arhat.
Thus, the three Sarira broke through the three layers of defenses of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Encampments.
Amitabha Buddha wished to lead Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva and others back to the Western Heaven Paradise.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva wept and said, "May the Buddha have mercy, please wait. There is still Demon Dragon to be subdued. Please subdue the Demon Dragon before proceeding."
Amitabha Buddha said, "Very well."
The Monks then went forward and entered the Qinghua Manor Cave Heaven.
Ao Tu had been waiting for a long time.
His demon followers are arrayed in formation, standing amidst mountains and lakes, encompassing all things to the east, surrounded by azure clouds to the south, churning endlessly to the west, and mysterious and wondrous to the north.
Because: a single spark of inspiration changes the Great Dao, turning heaven and earth upside down, even ghosts and gods are terrified. The Sage devised a plan to divide the world into two religions, for destiny and fate have always been intertwined.
Another poem says:
Ten thousand immortals stood in a fierce array in the mountain hollow, while a chilling wind swept across their faces.
Pieces of Auspicious Light enveloped the handle of the Dipper, while murderous intent permeated the Numinous Terrace.
At this moment, the true and false can be distinguished, and jade and stone will be completely transformed.
How many cultivators have suffered this calamity? The three corpses are severed and the five clouds open.
Ao Tu, surrounded by three Treasure Banner — the Northern Black Origin Water-Control Banner, the Southern Earth-Leaving Flame-Light Banner, and the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner —astride the clouds, asked, "Old monk, why have you come here?"
Amitabha Buddha smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, please return to your position in the Western Heaven and become its Cult Leader!"
Ao Tu laughed and said, "Easy! You converted me to be a monk back then, and today I'll convert you to be Daoist. I'll go with you!"
Amitabha Buddha smiled and said, "I am Daoist, why should I convert him?" After saying this, he transformed himself, changing his Kasaya into Green Lotus Daoist Robe, and Taoist Jieyin.
Ao Tu angrily retorted, "Old monk, you've torn my Treasure Banner!"
Having said that, he stepped forward with the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and struck.
Amitabha Buddha sighed and caught the precious tree.
Below, demons and the Monks clashed.
Vishnu Bodhisattva saw the Demon Dragon facing Amitabha Buddha, he disregarded everything else and, relying on his Great Luo body, charged into the formation, wielding a Vajras Staff in one hand and a divine wheel in the other, slaying several Demon King.
First, he smashed a stone spirit, then cut off the four heads of the Nine-Headed Ying. Then, seeing the Spider Demon weaving a web, he pulled at it, dragging all four Spider Demon over and throwing them to the ground. Each of them had their limbs broken and vomited green liquid.
Fortunately Many-Eyed Monster came with a sword, and the Golden Light emanating from its side blocked the attack. However, it was still struck by the Vajras Staff of the Vishnu Bodhisattva, which cracked its armor and blinded it in all its eyes.
Fortunately, at this moment, the Vishnu Bodhisattva fell into the center of the formation.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Formation had Miaoshan in the center, with four hundred Demon King positioned in forty-nine directions. Yin and Yang were linked, forming a self-contained array. The alternation of movement and stillness was endless, locking the Qi channels internally and blocking the demonic aura externally.
The sun and moon shine brightly, heaven and earth are in harmony. Human Way prospers, the way of ghosts declines. I follow the Heavenly Dao, and all immortals follow me. All evil and filth shun me.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva was trapped in the center of the formation, unable to move or use his magical Great Dao.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva hastily took out Lotus Flower to protect himself, Precious Sword to defend against the enemy, and the divine bow Kaladanda to break through the formation.
Guanyin Bodhisattva raised her hand and summoned a Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity, which collected all things and took into it all the Magic Treasure in the hands of the Vishnu Bodhisattva.
The Vishnu Bodhisattva was greatly alarmed.
Guanyin Bodhisattva dropped the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity downwards, striking the head of the Vishnu Bodhisattva. Instantly Vishnu Bodhisattva Niwan Palace shattered, and a wisp of his True Spirit departed into the tribulation.