Spirit Mountain.
Great Thunderclap Temple.
Once a place of prosperity, hailed as the abode of myriad Buddhas, it had become exceptionally desolate.
But now.
With Burning Lamp Buddha’s breakthrough to the Lower Grade of Quasi-Saint and his significant contributions during the two trials at Yellow Wind Ridge, he had once again established his fame. The Great Thunderclap Temple began to buzz with activity again.
This was not because the more than two thousand seven hundred Arhats were re-admitted.
On the contrary, it was precisely because these buffoons had departed that Burning Lamp Buddha could gain complete control over the entire Lesser Vehicle Buddhism of Spirit Mountain.
As it happened.
Especially after the seventeenth trial, with the failure of the four figures including the Old Mother of Li Mountain, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva all immediately changed their attitudes.
They became even more reverent towards Sun Kong and his companions.
And towards Burning Lamp Buddha, who was the only one qualified to contend with Sun Kong on behalf of both Mahayana and Lesser Vehicle Buddhism, their attitude evolved from indifference and disdain to admiration and respect during this period.
Thus.
On this particular morning.
With the upcoming two trials at the Five Villages Temple and various factions once again making a grand display to vie for merit rewards, Burning Lamp Buddha issued an order.
Immediately, the three Bodhisattvas, who had been somewhat disobedient, scurried over with alacrity.
Behold.
On the foremost seat of the Great Thunderclap Temple sat Burning Lamp Buddha, the Quasi-Saint powerhouse who, after the Tathagata Buddha, was the second to achieve the title of the true Ancestor of Myriad Buddhas.
Behind his head, besides the immeasurable Buddha-light emanating and surveying an area of tens of millions of miles,
The original Dinghai Pearls, being incomplete and inconvenient to use, had long been removed.
Instead, the first coffin from the creation of heaven and earth, his true form, the Spirit Coffin Lamp, was now in place, emitting immeasurable Spirit Coffin light that illuminated the vast territories of Lesser Vehicle Buddhism.
Its might was actually no less than that of the Tathagata Buddha in his prime!
The right side was empty, it was unknown whether it was reserved for Sun Kong, who still bore the title of Deputy Buddha, or intended for someone else, or would remain vacant forever until the end of the first Journey to the West calamity in the Immortal World.
And to the left.
Sat Patriarch Bodhisattva, one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas representing Mahayana Buddhism.
This indicated that.
After the previous collaboration, Burning Lamp Buddha had not only regained his confidence and believed that he alone could quell the discontent of the Buddhas on Spirit Mountain, but he was also vigorously courting Mahayana Buddhism.
After all.
Among the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, the most formidable were the Four Great Bodhisattvas. Apart from them, others had either fled or remained behind to live out their days, with few being truly useful.
But Mahayana Buddhism was different.
Patriarch Bodhisattva, though perhaps only at the level of the Four Great Bodhisattvas in terms of strength, represented a Mahayana Buddhism that included seven other Bodhisattvas and other experts.
For instance, Maitreya Buddha, the chief disciple of Daoist Jieyin, was a being whose strength was not inferior to that of a Quasi-Saint.
Even during the era when Tathagata Buddha was in power, he was not inferior to anyone.
Another example would be the two experts from the ancient Phoenix clan heritage, the Peacock Great Bright King and the Golden Winged Great Peng Bright King, both of whom were incredibly powerful.
The former possessed the Five-Colored Divine Light, which even saints found difficult to deal with.
And the latter was once the uncle of Tathagata Buddha, and his role in a future Journey to the West calamity could not be underestimated.
Under these circumstances, despite the three Bodhisattvas eagerly wishing to be promoted to Arhats, Buddhas, or even for one of them to replace Sun Kong and occupy the seats beside Burning Lamp Buddha,
Now, seeing Patriarch Bodhisattva representing the entire Mahayana Buddhism, and with the decree of the Two Sages of Western Teachings, Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, no matter how dissatisfied and unwilling they were in their hearts,
They could only kneel and pay homage!
"We three pay our respects to Burning Lamp Buddha, and to Patriarch Lingji…"
"May we inquire as to the purpose of the Buddha's summons?"
"The oversight at Guanyin Monastery last time…"
Out of reverence for Burning Lamp Buddha, the three intended to take this opportunity to apologize, lest someone hold the seventeenth trial against them in the future,
Preventing them from even being Bodhisattvas.
However.
In the eyes of Burning Lamp Buddha, there was no concern for the mere losses of the seventeenth trial. Instead, he focused more on the upcoming two trials at the Five Villages Temple.
The eighteenth and nineteenth trials.
For this reason.
Without waiting for the three Bodhisattvas, whom Sun Kong often called sisters, to continue their prevarication, Burning Lamp Buddha let out a cold laugh, proclaimed his Buddhist title, intimidating the three and compelling everyone present to look at him.
Appearing to listen attentively!
"Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, you three need not mention past matters."
"This time, I have summoned you not to address past mistakes, but to prepare for the significant events at the Five Villages Temple."
"According to my calculations, and with the guidance of the Two Sages of Western Teachings, this eighteenth trial, 'Middle of the Five Villages Temple,' and the nineteenth trial, 'Living Ginseng Fruit,' are both related to Zhen Yuanzi and must be taken seriously."
"Among these, the eighteenth trial, 'Middle of the Five Villages Temple,' has little to do with outsiders. However, once Sun Kong completes the process, the Ginseng Fruit Tree will inevitably be destroyed, and Guanyin Bodhisattva, you will need to intervene."
"Therefore, Patriarch Lingji and I have discussed it. You three will depart in advance, led by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and be ready at all times to save the Ginseng Fruit Tree and win over Zhen Yuanzi."
"During this period, if Sun Monkey or others do not cause any disruptions, you may stand by."
"Otherwise, if you cannot complete the mission, you may enlist the help of Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. If that fails, you may light the signal, and I will personally intervene. Do you understand now?"
Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva immediately understood. It turned out that Burning Lamp Buddha had invited them to act because the merit rewards involved in this Five Villages Temple event were considerable.
This was not something they could refuse.
However, the fact that Burning Lamp Buddha, who was closer to them, had not informed them beforehand but had discussed it with Patriarch Lingji before speaking to them,
Left the three feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
But facing Burning Lamp Buddha, who now firmly occupied the throne of Spirit Mountain, they truly lacked the power and confidence to refute him. With no other choice, they could only agree.
"Please rest assured, Buddha. The three of us will do our utmost to complete this mission and prevent Spirit Mountain from losing any more of its deserved merit rewards."
"However, this matter involves not only us and the Zhen Yuanzi lineage, Sun Monkey, and others, but also potentially people sent by the Heavenly Court."
"Our cultivation is weak, making it difficult to contend with the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court. In critical moments, we implore the Buddha to lend us support."
After saying this, seeing Burning Lamp Buddha agree readily, the three no longer lingered on Spirit Mountain and indeed departed in advance to the vicinity of the Five Villages Temple.
Awaiting the occurrence of the eighteenth and nineteenth trials!
…
Concurrently.
On the side of the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor summoned the Three Immortals of Penglai and, after giving them secret instructions, the three immediately set out for the vicinity of the Five Villages Temple.
However, what no one expected was that the Three Immortals, having not descended to the mortal realm for many years, had gotten lost!