Why the anxiety?
Of course, it was because ever since Sun Wukong had altered the karma of the Journey to the West five hundred years ago and become increasingly reckless, the Four Great Bodhisattvas treated him like a mouse seeing a cat. They couldn't communicate, nor did they dare to probe.
Naturally, there was no way to individually dispatch the four of them to participate in the seventeenth trial!
According to the original arrangement.
Among these four, three were from the Spirit Mountain Buddhas, namely the Three Great Bodhisattvas: Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
The last one should have been inviting Mother Lishan, a disciple of the Grand Pure Master Tongtian.
But unexpectedly.
Just now, when Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha merely suggested the assistance of the first three, he was already refused with blushing faces by the three Bodhisattvas, who refused to go no matter what.
And when it came to Mother Lishan, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha had a headache.
Not for anything else.
It was precisely because the Two Saints of the Western Religion had chosen neutrality. As the representative of the Two Saints, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha really had no way to directly approach Grand Pure Master Tongtian to discuss this matter.
Thus.
Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha, who had just made a splash at Yellow Wind Ridge a few days ago, was once again frowning, worried.
He was almost utterly vexed!
After much deliberation.
The ultimate target of his vented anger was still Sun Wukong!
"This damned Sun Monkey, has his influence reached this far?"
"This Buddha has now advanced to the lower stage of Quasi-Saint. Although I haven't severed the three corpses, I am no longer what I used to be. How can I still not be able to handle this seventeenth trial?"
"Alas, fine, fine, I still have to admit that in terms of uniting allies and dispatching teammates, this Buddha is inferior to Sun Monkey."
"Although after the last time, everyone in the Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism obeys me, if I truly encounter trouble, these fellows are all more cunning than the last, unwilling to go out alone."
"And if such a small matter requires this Buddha to accompany them, how can this Buddha consolidate my cultivation?"
"It seems the only way now is to imitate Sun Monkey from back then."
"The three Bodhisattvas are not timid, but they are unwilling to take risks without benefit. This Buddha will give them some benefits. As for Mother Lishan, I'm afraid I will really have to make a move and go find Grand Pure Master Tongtian!"
With this thought, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha's face no longer held the joy he had a few days ago when he broke through to the lower stage of Quasi-Saint with the help of the Two Saints of the Western Religion.
After all, even after breaking through to the lower stage of Quasi-Saint, his strength might not necessarily be able to confront Sun Wukong head-on. Among ten Quasi-Saints, he would still be at the bottom.
Otherwise, why would he be unable to discipline the Four Great Bodhisattvas, let alone be resentful by the Spirit Mountain Buddhas last time when he contributed the most?
To put it bluntly.
Even though Sun Wukong and Spirit Mountain were drifting further apart, and even though Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha had made significant progress, in terms of controlling people's hearts, he had to admit that Sun Wukong was the most insightful back then.
To put it nicely, on the Mahayana Buddhism side, Bodhisattvas like Lingji Bodhisattva were still sensible and agreed to be on standby at any time.
Although the people of Mahayana Buddhism were generally aloof and difficult to invite.
There was also Chan Master Wuchao, who did not cooperate with Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha and specifically sought cooperation with Sun Wukong.
But at least he could persuade one or two.
On the Hinayana Buddhism side, there was almost no one reliable.
To put it bluntly, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha did not ascend happily back then. Instead, he inherited a colossal mess after the Nirvana of Tathagata Buddha.
Setting aside other matters.
Just taking the battle between humans and demons in the mortal realm last time, the more than 2,700 Buddhas who fled were recently heard to have obtained meritorious rewards near Yellow Wind Ridge after he broke through his realm.
They shamelessly wanted to return to Spirit Mountain.
Truly audacious!
For such ungrateful wretches, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha naturally had no pleasant expression. Before these people, relying on their many years of cultivation and being mere Golden Immortals, dared to try to curry favor.
Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha directly invited Bodhisattva Lingji. Relying on Bodhisattva Lingji, one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism, he easily drove away those trash.
Until now.
Finally, there was peace, no need to be troubled by the returnees.
However, the thought of still having to offer benefits and personally seek help from Grand Pure Master Tongtian made Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha feel utterly displeased.
"Damn it all!"
"It would have been better not to break through to Quasi-Saint."
"If I hadn't broken through, this Buddha could have found a way to blend into Mahayana Buddhism, ignoring all this, instead of being so vexed like now?"
"Alas, fine, I'll go. At worst, I'll give away three of the Dinghaizhus. After all, since one is missing, it's no longer complete."
"Plus, with the original owners like Zhao Gongming and others joining the Demonic Alliance, this Buddha will consider it a sacrifice to avoid disaster. After all, after inviting these three cowardly Bodhisattvas, I still have to go to Golden Turtle Island."
With such a tragic thought, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha no longer hesitated. He immediately found the three who were enjoying the warmth in his temple.
Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Manjushri Bodhisattva.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
Before the three could utter sarcastic remarks, he directly took out three brilliant, shining Dinghaizhus and threw them over!
"Burning Lamp... Brother, what is the meaning of this?"
"Enough with the pleasantries. There are no outsiders here. You and I are both intelligent people, and we naturally know that these three Dinghaizhus are in exchange for your participation in the seventeenth trial and earning merit rewards for my Hinayana Buddhism."
"Do you not like them? Very well, this Buddha can take them back and find someone else."
Seeing that the three were still putting on airs at this point, still expecting him to beg them to act, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha was almost furious.
Fortunately.
With the last sentence of provocation, coupled with the fact that the three Dinghaizhus, though not as powerful as when they were complete, were still formidable innate spiritual treasures.
How could the Three Great Bodhisattvas dare to refuse?
They immediately accepted with smiling faces.
Seeing this.
Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha did not want to spend too much time with them. Seeing the three nod in agreement, he decisively left Spirit Mountain, the Great Thunderclap Temple.
Heading towards Golden Turtle Island, Jade Purity Palace.
This time, barring any surprises, he took out another Dinghaizhu and promised Grand Pure Master Tongtian that he would try his best to cooperate in the future.
Only then did he gain Grand Pure Master Tongtian's approval!
"Mother Lishan?"
"No problem, my sect has agreed. You can go to the Heavenly Court and you will naturally find her. But as I said, this is doing you a favor. If you are injured by that Sun Monkey later."
"You will have to pay double compensation!" m..oΓg
Before parting, the dignified Grand Pure Master Tongtian spoke so stingily that Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha almost went mad and erupted on the spot.
But for the sake of the greater good, Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha truly dared not fall out with Grand Pure Master Tongtian.
Three days later.
Mother Lishan was also invited out. Together with Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, they immediately transformed into an old mother and three daughters in a manor in Xi Niu He Zhou.
Originally, according to the plot, they would have to perform a scene to trick Tang Sanzang and his disciples, which would count as a test.
But unexpectedly.
The four had an extremely perfunctory attitude. As soon as Sun Wukong and his party entered, they revealed their true forms, left a few lukewarm words, and then each departed.
Truly the same old trick!