Rescue the Bhikshu Kingdom (Twenty-One)
Now, let's talk about the Buddhist Sect Grand Assembly Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.
Upon seeing this, the Taoist Jieyin composed a verse:
Returning to one's true nature requires avoiding greed and anger; breaking free from attachments means recognizing that clinging is an obstacle and an enemy.
Even True Buddha, when faced with karmic tribulations, will fall into the realm of other beings and ultimately perish.
Ao Tu laughed and said, "Old monk, isn't this verse you're describing about yourself?"
The Taoist Jieyin laughed and said, "I am Sage. Even if I have some worldly entanglements, they all return to the Heavenly Dao, unchanging through countless ages. Karmic tribulations will avoid me. If you don't believe me, I'll give you three moves."
After saying this, the Taoist Jieyin truly bared his chest and belly, only covering the leprosy lesions on his back, and ordered Ao Tu to beat him.
Ao Tu didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the Seven Treasures Tree, and with the support of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation behind him, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Arhats and Bhikkhus, and four hundred demon kings, he swung it at the Daoist who was guiding him. The Daoist was completely unmoved. He took the blows three times, but his eyes were still blurry, so he rubbed them.
The body of Sage surpasses even the Primordial Heaven treasures.
Ao Tu realized the power of the formation and knew it couldn't be broken. So he broke the formation, telling the demons not to help him anymore and to focus on fighting below.
The Taoist Jieyin smiled and said, "How about it, fellow Daoist, come back with me?"
Ao Tu said, "I won't let this go. If I can't break through today, it's because my strength is insufficient. I'll teach you three blows."
Having said that, Ao Tu put away the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and only surrounded himself with the three flags, saying, "Please, Sage."
The Taoist Jieyin laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are very clever. When I taught you how to fight, you were bare-chested and exposed, without a single treasure for self-defense; but when you taught me how to fight, you brought out three Treasure Banner. How can that be fair?"
Ao Tu said, "If we're being fair, you just covered your head with your hand, guarding against me. You're allowed to guard against me, but I'm not allowed to guard against you?"
The Taoist Jieyin laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are quite clever. Very well. However, these Five Directional Banners correspond to the Five Phases of Heaven and Earth. If I break these three of your flags and damage the land and water of my Western Heaven, wouldn't my Daoist brother blame me? Let me bring them down."
The Taoist Jieyin raised his thumb and pressed it in the air, causing the water element to fall and the Northern Black Origin Water-Control Banner to drop; he pressed it again, causing the Earth element to fall and the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner Flag to drop; he pressed it again, causing the Fire element to fall and the Southern Earth-Leaving Flame-Light Banner to drop.
The Taoist Jieyin struck out with three fingers, pressing down the three Great Dao. The three Treasure Banner fell to the ground, overlapping each other, and vaguely showing signs of merging together.
Upon seeing this, Ao Tu seemed to understand something. Without thinking too much, he took out the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree again, used it to Taoist Jieyin, and picked up the three Treasure Banner on the ground.
Below, in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, the Vishnu Bodhisattva died in the tribulation.
The remaining bodhisattvas, arhats, and bhikkhus fought together.
The four Arhats – the Plantain Arhat, the Bowl-Lifting Arhat, the River-Crossing Arhat, and the Pagoda-Bearing Arhat– worked together to suppress the Horse-Head Arhat on the ground.
The Horse-Head Arhat shook his head, transforming into a giant horse with a human body a thousand feet long, neighing and emitting white smoke and sweat, which the other Arhat could not restrain.
Upon seeing this, the White Bone Spirit used her Yin energy to strike the Horse-Head Arhat in front of his eyes, causing Horse-Head Arhat two eyeballs to turn into crystals and roll off.
The Horse-Head Arhat is unable to see; defeat is inevitable.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Scorpion Demon stung his leg, Horse-Head Arhat immediately fell to the ground, his legs twitching in pain, kicking the Contemplation Arhat beside him away.
Finally, the Horse-Head Arhat was sealed by the White Bone Spirit energy, preventing his sweat from evaporating. Due to the severe toxins in his body, he weakened and died, and his True Spirit departed into the mortal realm.
There was a Wrathful Bodhisattva who was skilled in fire magic. He drew out the Five Poisons Fire from an Eagle Demons, causing it to die from the poisonous flames. He also burned a turtle demon to death. Seeing that the Horse-Head Arhat was in danger, he wanted to go and save him. However, he was surrounded by twenty-two Demon King. The Feiniu emitted Plague Qi, which ruined his Supernatural Ability. Then, they joined forces to kill him, and his True Spirit went into the calamity.
The remaining Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Bhikkhus, and Sangharama who entered the battle all died one after another, and their true spirits entered the calamity.
Of course, many demons also died or were injured; tens of thousands of Little Demon were killed, and even the Demon King died over a hundred times.
The reason why these Demon are too weak is that even the Demon King have only just become Demon Immortal. There are too few with the abilities of the Scorpion Demon, and many of them have entered tribulation in the previous battles. Therefore, they cannot unleash the full power of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.
Fortunately, with the help of Guanyin Bodhisattva and many Arhats and Bhikkhus from Buddhism, they ultimately achieved a great victory.
The Soul-Scattering Gourd and the Purple-Gold Red Gourd were suspended at the core of the formation, collecting all the dead True Spirit to be conferred as Investiture of the Gods in the future.
After the battle, Guanyin Bodhisattva put away the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity and said to the Scorpion Demon and the Human Way, "You must leave quickly without hesitation."
The Demon Daoist, "Your Great King has not yet escaped."
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I'm going to save him; you mustn't hold me back here."
Upon hearing this, the demons agreed and withdrew from all directions.
The Old King of the Bhikshu Kingdom, leading his troops, hid outside the battle lines. Seeing that the Vishnu Bodhisattva and others had been killed, he was sweating profusely, dared not move, and dared not go forward. He ordered his soldiers to flee.
Just then, the demons also retreated from the vicinity.
The soldiers dared not utter a sound, and one by one they lay on the ground, inching their way out.
A soldier said, "Your Majesty, your face is covered in mud and water. Quickly, get Cloth to wipe it off!"
The Old King said, "What time is it? You still have the mind to clean these things? There are Demon all around. Let's escape first."
Fortunately, the demons were so focused on retreating that none of them noticed the Old King and his entourage.
On the other side, Ao Tu, wielding the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, blocked and defended against the Taoist Jieyin.
Seeing that the demons had retreated, Guanyin Bodhisattva released the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity and pushed it towards the Taoist Jieyin, intending to force him to retreat.
Unexpectedly, the Taoist Jieyin became angry upon seeing this.
When Mahakala Bodhisattva, Great Brahma King, Vishnu Bodhisattva died and entered the calamity in the past, the Taoist Jieyin was not angry at all. But now he was extremely furious and shouted:
"How dare you! How could you be so insolent?"
He pointed his index finger at the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity, which emitted a Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity roar that shook the Tongtian and the earth. The spiritual light dissipated, and the cauldron flew back into Ao Tu's arms.
Guanyin Bodhisattva coughed up a mouthful of blood, her face turning deathly pale.
The Taoist Jieyin pointed with his little finger again, and Ao Tu hurriedly placed the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree in front of him to block out Guanyin Bodhisattva.
The Taoist Jieyin placed his little finger on the very last branch of the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, and with a "crack," the branch broke off and fell to the ground.
Half of Guanyin Bodhisattva's arm was struck off.
Ao Tu quickly embraced her, boarded the Black Ship, and left shortly afterward.
The branches of the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree fell to the ground and transformed into a sacred tree.
All the Arhat were so frightened that they dared not move.
The Taoist Jieyin transformed himself into Amitabha Buddha, regaining his compassionate expression, and looked at the sacred tree, saying:
"This ordeal is over. You should act according to the Buddha's decree and have no need to be afraid. Guanyin Bodhisattva acted improperly just now, which I resented and was punishing her for."
Upon hearing this, the Monks bowed down.
Amitabha Buddha nodded and said, "This precious tree is useful. Move it out and plant it on Spirit Mountain for future generations."
The Monks readily agreed.
The Joyful Arhat and the Gatekeeper Arhat stepped forward and tried together to move the precious tree, but they could not budge it.
Amitabha Buddha shook his head helplessly, reached out and lifted the tree, handing it to the two Arhats to hold. The two Arhats couldn't lift it either. In the end, ten Arhats and many monks and monastics pulled, lifted, and carried the precious tree until it was finally lifted up.
Amitabha Buddha secretly felt ashamed. He should have known better than to lose his Fire Qi so much. Although Guanyin Bodhisattva was somewhat rude to him, she was at least exceptionally talented and not like these people.