Chapter 628: Chapter 613, Ksitigarbha asks the Buddha
Tang Sanzang frowned and sighed constantly, hammering his own leg. To travel 180,000 miles on horseback was unimaginable. Who in this world could endure it without their buttocks being worn raw?
Sun Wukong thought for a moment and said, "How about I buy you a horse carriage for you to ride in? Have The White Dragon Horse pull it."
Tang Sanzang immediately replied with joy, "Good, good, that’s a great idea."
The White Dragon Horse suddenly spoke up, "I object!"
Tang Sanzang earnestly said, "Third Prince, you fell to this state precisely because you were arrogant and indulgent. Now you must heed advice."
Sun Wukong’s eyes lit up, curious, he asked, "Master, you know its past story?"
"Just a bit!"
"I’ll have you tell me later."
"Snort~" The White Dragon Horse snorted hot air from its nostrils, and a violent look flashed in its eyes.
Sun Wukong raised his fist threateningly and said, "Looking for a beating, are you?"
The White Dragon Horse immediately lowered its head to graze, behaving very obediently.
"Wukong, hurry and buy a horse carriage for your master."
Sun Wukong pulled out his Three Realms Mall and suddenly remembered that a horse carriage would likely cost quite a sum of money. He coughed and said, "Little monk, as you know, all my money has been lent to The Buddha, so you’ll have to buy the carriage yourself!"
He pulled out three golden hairs from behind his head, placed them in front of him, and snapped photos with the Three Realms Mall.
Tang Sanzang asked in confusion, "Wukong, what are you doing?"
Sun Wukong smiled proudly and replied, "My Divine Skills are vast, and my magical powers are strong. When would I ever need to rely on external forces? So, I’ve decided to gift them to someone fated to have them."
"Ding~ Your item is now listed. Three life-saving hairs, capable of resolving emergencies and aiding in times of need, priced at 10,000 Merit Coins each."
Sun Wukong happily stowed away the Three Realms Mall. Guanyin truly is a good Bodhisattva! She sent me a magic treasure just when I’m short on money, truly living up to her reputation as the savior of the distressed.
...
Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Court Jade Pond, Long Ji, Jingwei, and A Xiu were leisurely boating on a clear lake.
Long Ji took out his mobile phone, excitedly saying, "Senior Sister, my magic treasure has been rented out."
A Xiu curiously asked, "Someone actually spent a large amount of Merit Coins to rent a magic treasure? Who rented it?"
Long Ji held up his Three Realms Mall, smiling, "It’s Tang Sanzang. I didn’t expect him to be rather wealthy."
Jingwei calmly said, "He must have borrowed it."
"It doesn’t matter whether he borrowed it or not; it’s mine now. I really didn’t expect him to pass the verification."
Jingwei hesitated for a moment, then listed her own magic treasure on the Three Realms Mall as well. Since she didn’t need them at the moment, why let them sit idle? Better to let them earn some Merit Coins for her.
...
Elsewhere, in the Underworld, Ksitigarbha, in a great hurry, rushed back into the temple and called out loudly, "Diting~"
Diting arrived on an auspicious cloud, elegantly stepping down in front of the Buddha Hall.
Within the hall, Ksitigarbha paced back and forth, his expression filled with anger and anxiety.
Diting entered and bowed, saying, "Bodhisattva!"
Ksitigarbha stopped walking and spoke, "Diting, listen for me, who are those esteemed figures responsible for the Eighty-one Difficulties of the Westward Journey."
Diting lay down on the floor, his ears flapping, listening to the Three Realms. After a moment, Diting stood up respectfully and said, "The Black Bear Spirit of Black Wind Mountain was enlightened by Guanyin’s spiritual charm, The Yellow Wind Demon is a creature nurtured by Lingji Bodhisattva."
...
"In the Kingdom of Baoxiang, the Yellow Robe Demon, and from the Heavenly Court, the Kui Wood Wolf Star descended to the mortal realm.
Flat Peak Mountain, the Green Bull from Doushuai Temple descended to the mortal realm."
Lotus Cave, Doushuai Temple Child descends to the mortal world.
Wuji Kingdom, Immortal Elder of the Southern Pole’s mount descends to the mortal world.
...
Tongtian River, Guanyin Bodhisattva’s Golden Fish descends to the Lower Realm.
Daughter Country, Black Scorpion from Spiritual Mountain descends to the Lower Realm..."
Diting listed names one by one, and the more Ksitigarbha heard, the more troubled his expression became. Could it really be as the Master said, that all hardships bring merit? If there was no benefit, why would so many Buddha Bodhisattvas allow their Disciples and mounts to descend as demons, even the Child and mounts from the Doushuai Temple had descended—there must be an immense benefit behind it.
"Bodhisattva, there are some calamities I cannot investigate."
"That is enough for now, you may leave."
Diting turned and walked out.
Ksitigarbha paced back and forth within the great hall, his brows furrowed deeply with the increasing suspicion that he had been betrayed, abandoned by Buddhism; no, he must seek clarification.
Beneath Ksitigarbha’s feet, a large lotus blossomed, enveloping him as he vanished in a flash of Buddha Light.
At Spiritual Mountain, pristine jade-like peaks soared, each crowned with magnificent Buddha Halls, bathed in Buddha Light, resonating with waves of Sanskrit.
Atop the highest peak stood the Great Leiyin Temple, where the faith of the Buddhist congregation converged.
Suddenly, a Golden Lotus emerged from the void before the Great Leiyin Temple, causing the guarding Arhats to turn their gaze upon it—Who dares such insolence at the gates of the Great Leiyin Temple?
The Golden Lotus unfolded, Ksitigarbha stepped out, his expression stern.
The guarding Arhat Vajras bowed respectfully, "Greetings to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva proceeded inward.
The leading Vajra General hesitated, "Would the Bodhisattva kindly wait? The Buddha is currently receiving Guanyin Bodhisattva."
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva spoke calmly, "There is nothing that can’t be spoken of openly," and continued walking inside.
The head Vajra General was now in a dilemma, uncertain whether to block or stand aside.
From within the Great Leiyin Temple, a grand voice called out, "Welcome, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!"
The gatekeeping Arhat Vajras sighed with relief, hastily retreating to either side to clear the gateway.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva entered the Great Leiyin Temple, just as Guanyin Bodhisattva emerged from within.
Guanyin nodded with a smile.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva scoffed, holding his proud head high; passing by Guanyin, he whispered, "A flatterer!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva paused, with the image of Bai Jin surfacing in her mind, and as she realized Ksitigarbha was insulting her, rage filled her. However, upon looking again, Ksitigarbha was nowhere to be seen.
Inside the Great Leiyin Temple, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sat opposite to The Buddha.
The Buddha smiled, "Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, instead of converting vengeful spirits and Fierce Ghosts in the Underworld, what brings you leisurely to the Great Leiyin Temple?"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva joined palms, "Buddha, I have heard of the Westward Journey, eighty-one difficulties, each bringing merit—could this be true?"
The Buddha smiled, "Indeed, this is the merit of our Buddhist Law!"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva thought, "As expected! No longer concealed."
The Buddha inquired, "Does Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva see something amiss?"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva smiled and shook his head, "All is well. Under the Buddha’s leadership, Buddhism shall thrive!"
"Please, Bodhisattva, continue to oversee Yin Mountain and strategize for the Qi Fortune of our Buddhist Law."
"I honor the Dharma Decree of the Buddha!"
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva bowed respectfully, his hands still joined, and vanished in a beam of Buddha Light.