Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom (II)

Meanwhile, Ao Tu and the Patriarch Styx headed west.

The two rode on auspicious Auspicious Light, traveling thousands of miles in a short time.

[Enter the Mission Area]

[Current Side Quest: Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom]

[Quest Requirement: Block the Pilgrim from reaching the Kingdom of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom. Rewards will be calculated based on the time taken to block them.]

[Quest Reward: 3 days/ Ying Pearl, Seven Days / Gold Within Kan, Half a Month / Spiritual Root · Bodhi Leaf, one month/ Houtian Spiritual Treasure · Eight Trigrams Mirror, Season / Supernatural Ability · Power of Extinguishing the Outflows, half a year/ Essence of Li Fire, one year/ Ancient Buddha Remnant Body, three years/ Qingping Sword), Twelve Years / Jade Tablet Fragment, Sixty Years...]

[Current Progress: 87 days]

Ao Tu stopped in his tracks, only to see auspicious Auspicious Clouds passing by ahead, which appeared to be Guanyin Bodhisattva with the Rat Spirit she had just captured.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Teacher said he was going back to the Southern Sea, so why did you come here? I suppose you're tired of me and are therefore finding an excuse to say goodbye."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "No. It is because the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom lies ahead, and the King wants to kill the monks. Therefore, I waited here for Golden Cicada to give him some instructions, so that he and his disciples would not be unaware of this matter, violate the Royal Law, and delay their Journey to the West."

Ao Tu listened and asked:

"I heard that the King made a great vow to kill ten thousand monks. Has he not yet fulfilled that vow?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I have already killed 9,996 nameless monks. I only need four more named monks to make it 10,000, and then it will be complete. But you keep getting in the way, and the person destined for this calamity is late in arriving, delaying their completion!"

After speaking, Guanyin Bodhisattva asked again, "What are you doing here?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I heard that monks are killed here, so I came to test the Pilgrim."

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, "How shall I test you?"

Ao Tu said, "I don't know yet. Let's go into the city and take a look first."

With that, Ao Tu bid farewell to Guanyin Bodhisattva and led the Minghe onward.

The Patriarch Styx said, "You, as the Cult Leader of this sect, are far too unrespectable!"

Ao Tu said, "How can you not be dignified?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "That Guanyin is a junior; you call her 'Teacher,' which makes me feel ashamed."

Ao Tu shook his head and said, "If that's the case, you're far more shameful! Let's not even talk about the Guanyin Bodhisattva in teaching me, which I can't forget. Just consider that I've sworn brotherhood with many Demon, Nezha even considers me a brother. Now that I've attained Creation, how can I not acknowledge our past friendships? Even Shakyamuni, after Attaining Buddhahood, still brought his disciples and friends to Spirit Mountain!"

The Patriarch Styx listened and reluctantly agreed, but still stubbornly insisted, "Shakyamuni was merely a junior..."

Ao Tu smiled, ignored him, and continued walking forward. When he reached the Main Road, he encountered many merchants and pedestrians, and also saw a group of thieves robbing people on the road.

Ao Tu casually cast a spell, causing the leader of the bandits to fall off his horse, thus saving the robbed merchant.

The two entered the city. Ao Tu looked at the city and found it to be magnificent, with five drum towers and six military camps, all orderly and peaceful. Purple Qi rose from the city walls, and Auspicious Light rippled through it.

The two strolled through the market, where all kinds of businesses were thriving. Ao Tu wandered around, then entered a restaurant, ordered a top-class meal, and was accompanied by courtesans playing the pipa and singing.

The Patriarch Styx asked, "When you came, you said you wanted to discuss establishing a sect. Has anything progressed since then?"

Ao Tu said, "I've got it."

The Patriarch Styx was somewhat surprised and asked, "Really? Or are you just trying to fool me?"

Ao Tu said, "Of course it's true. As the Cult Leader, why would I lie to you for no reason? Look at this country, the ruler is righteous and the ministers are virtuous, the country is peaceful and prosperous, and what's even more rare is that monks are being exterminated in the country. How many countries like this can there be in the Western Ox Continent? Isn't this the place where I established my sect?"

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch Styx considered it carefully and found it quite reasonable. He happily said, "Indeed. Cult Leader, what are your plans?"

Ao Tu asked, "Do you have a solution?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "I have revealed my Dharma Body to establish my authority among the people, so that Mortal in this country will believe in me and dare not disobey!"

Ao Tu shook his head and said, "Using Supernatural Ability powers to subdue people is the worst possible strategy."

The Patriarch Styx said, "They're just a group of Mortal, so what?"

Ao Tu scoffed, "If the Asura you created were born stupid, that might work. But these are Human Race, the essence of Heaven and Earth and earth, the spirit of all things. How can you subdue them with Supernatural Ability for long?"

The Patriarch Styx was somewhat annoyed upon hearing this and said, "Then what do you suggest?"

Ao Tu said, "Go and invite my Teacher here."

The Patriarch Styx asked, "What do you want her to do?"

Ao Tu said, "She knows we're here. If I plot something, she'll definitely figure it out, and the whole thing will be exposed. Only by getting her involved can we ensure things go smoothly."

The Patriarch Styx listened and agreed. He took a step forward, arriving outside the city. Using his Divine Eye, he spotted the location of Guanyin Bodhisattva, stepped forward, considered his words, and then spoke:

"Miaoshan, my Cult Leader requests your presence."

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled upon hearing this, said nothing, and followed the Patriarch Styx to the upper room of the restaurant. Upon seeing Ao Tu, she gave a slight bow and asked with a smile, "What brings the Cult Leader here?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu thought for a moment and realized it was because of the Patriarch Styx. He didn't mind and pulled Guanyin Bodhisattva to sit down beside him.

The Rat Spirit also wanted to sit, but after being glanced at by Guanyin Bodhisattva, it dared not move and could only stand aside.

Ao Tu invited Minghe to sit on the other side, and said:

"We invited the Teacher here in order to test the Pilgrim of Buddhist Dharma."

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, "How shall I test you?"

Ao Tu said, "The Pilgrim is well-versed in Buddhist scriptures, but it is unknown whether he can be transformed from evil to good. Coincidentally, the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom is disgusted with Buddhism and persecutes monks. I would like to ask you two to make a change, firstly to help the Pilgrim transform from evil to good, and secondly to make the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom believe in Buddhist Dharma."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva exclaimed "Excellent!" and asked, "How can it be transformed?"

Ao Tu said, "I will transform into an Old Man, and you into an Old Granny. We had a son late in life, and we spoiled him too much, neglecting to discipline him. When he grew up, he became an outlaw, causing havoc in the region and endangering the country. We, as husband and wife, burned incense and prayed to gods and Buddhas, seeking salvation in every temple and monastery, but to no avail. Fortunately, we met Reverend Monk from the Great Tang, whose boundless Buddhist Dharma converted him to goodness. The country was rid of a great scourge, the people lived in peace, and the King has since embraced Buddhist Dharma. Isn't this a great blessing?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva was delighted upon hearing this and said, "This is an excellent plan!" and agreed.

Ao Tu said, "There's no time to lose, let's transform."

The Patriarch Styx, who was standing nearby, quickly stopped him, saying, "Wait! Wait!"

Ao Tu asked, "What's wrong?"

The Patriarch Styx said, "You become an old man, she becomes an old woman, what will I become?"

Ao Tu laughed, "Vice Sect Leader, you haven't been to the mortal realm in a long time. Don't you know? There are three of us. We'll each transform into one, and you'll naturally transform into the remaining one—your son!"

The Patriarch Styx was furious upon hearing this, and said angrily, "Me, turn into a son? No way! If this gets out, it will ruin my reputation! Besides, in terms of age, I am far older than you. How can it be that the older one turns into a son and the younger one turns into Laozi?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu sneered, "I am the Cult Leader!"

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch Styx was speechless, unable to refute it for a long time. In the end, he could only sigh indignation and agree to transform his son.