Chapter 431: Chapter 388, Ran Deng asks Buddha Mother
The Eight-winged Bodhisattva flew out of the Spiritual Mountain, transforming into a giant Eight-winged Blood Mosquito, heading towards the Lower Realm, its buzzing sound shattering the void.
The Eight-winged Blood Mosquito destroyed the Bodhi Tree and devoured Shakyamuni, yet Shakyamuni burst forth from its back, taking control of the Eight-winged Blood Mosquito to descend upon the Spiritual Mountain.
To salvage the name of the Eight-winged Blood Mosquito, Randeng claimed that Duo Bao Tathagata emerged from the abdomen of the Eight-winged Blood Mosquito, insisting its life should no longer be harmed, and sealed the mosquito as the Blood Mosquito Great Bright King Buddha Mother Bodhisattva.
This also tacitly acknowledged the existence of Small Mahayana Buddhism; the hearts and minds of the Buddhas at the Spiritual Mountain wavered, with many former Jie Sect Disciples rejoicing.
...
Within the Heavenly Court, All Gods witnessed the affairs related to the establishment of Small Mahayana Buddhism from beginning to end.
Many Divine Beings felt a pang of sorrow, thinking, "Oh Great Senior Brother!"
Heavenly Emperor Hao Tian looked towards Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad and asked, "During the Divine Enthronement Battle, Duo Bao was captured by Senior Brother. Today, Duo Bao has transformed into Shakyamuni and established Small Mahayana Buddhism; was this upon your guidance, Old Lord?"
All Gods also turned their gaze towards Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad.
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad gently said, "Duo Bao’s determination in seeking the Tao was unwavering, and I could not bear to cut off his path to the Great Tao, so I gave him a bit of guidance."
"With this move from Senior Brother, those two Senior Brothers in the Western lands now have their worries."
Heavenly Emperor Hao Tian lifted his cup and laughed heartily, saying, "Senior Brother, please!"
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad also lifted his cup, smiling, "Your Majesty, please!"
Below them, Gu Liang, Shi Ji, and others sat beside Bai Jin.
Gu Liang whispered, "Senior Brother, what are they talking about? I don’t understand!"
Bai Jin picked up a Purple Pattern Flat Peach in front of him, stuffed it into Gu Liang’s mouth, and said, "Eat your peach, I will explain it to you when we return."
Gu Liang’s eyes brightened, and she giggled, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"
...
Outside the world within the Chaos, inside Yu Yu Heaven.
Tongtian Sect Master also saw the establishment of Small Mahayana Buddhism, and sighed, "Perhaps this is the path that Duo Bao was meant to take!"
In a daze, it was as if he saw the little chubby boy who used to follow behind him eagerly; now, he too had established a Great Sect.
In Qingwei Heaven, Chan Sect Disciples gathered at the Yuxu Palace.
Primordial Venerable huffed a sound, eyeing the Chan Sect Disciples below discontentedly, and said, "Duo Bao has been able to establish a Great Sect; look at yourselves, not even reaching the Quasi-Saint level, all of you go back and cultivate."
"Yes~" The Chan Sect Disciples responded in unison, quickly rising to their feet and hurrying outside.
...
Amidst the mountains of the Western lands, two Spiritual Mountains stood towering into the clouds, with Small Mahayana Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism opposing each other.
Ever since the establishment of Small Mahayana Buddhism, former Jie Sect Disciples kept secretly defecting to follow Duo Bao Tathagata, and even the Qi Fortune of Mahayana Buddhism was tilting towards the Small Mahayana Buddhism.
Inside the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Jieyin and Zhunti constantly observed the Primordial World.
Zhunti lamented, "It’s the making and the breaking by the Jie Sect!"
Jieyin grimaced and said, "Junior brother, you should not have provoked Senior Brother Taishang."
Zhunti fell silent for a moment before speaking faintly, "I never expected Taishang to seek revenge with such intensity. Not content with merely guiding my mortal self into the way, he even wants to annihilate our Great Sect."
The two exchanged glances, speechless, as a move from the Great Senior Brother proved to be a lethal blow.
Jieyin hesitated before saying, "Should we... apologize to Great Senior Brother? He seems quite amiable usually."
"Heh heh~ Senior Brother, are you still dreaming? With Taishang’s scheme nearing success, how could he easily cease his efforts?"
Zhunti shook his head and said with emotion, "After this incident, it is clear to me that the kindest-looking Senior Brother Bai Jin, is actually the most terrifying Saint in secret. Even the imposing Primordial and the sharp-edged Tongtian cannot compare."
Zhunti then looked towards Jieyin, hopefully saying, "Senior Brother, could you also be a hidden master strategist?"
Jieyin shook his head repeatedly, with a bitter face he said, "Junior brother, the way of strategizing, I truly do not master it!"
"Sigh~" Zhunti heaved a sigh, looking up to the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, My mentor is disappointing, isn’t he!
Jieyin, completely oblivious to the shift in Zhunti’s mood, murmured, "Now, all we can do is depend on Randeng Buddha."
Randeng, Buddha, Zhunti’s eyes sparkled with a sudden smile and he said, "The Taoist Ancestor once said that heaven never bars one’s way, and that everything in the world has a glimmer of hope."
Jieyin looked at Zhunti, asking, "Junior brother, where does this hope lie?"
Zhunti smiled slightly and said, "It lies within the heart!
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad has calculated everything. If nothing unexpected happens, Duo Bao Tathagata will destroy Mahayana Buddhism, cutting off our line, but he cannot predict the heart."
"What do you mean, junior brother?"
Zhunti smiled and said, "Senior Brother, isn’t Small Mahayana Buddhism still Buddhism! Duo Bao has ambitions of being unrivalled."
Jieyin nodded thoughtfully.
A young monk dressed in a moon-white robe approached, and Jin Naluo respectfully clasped his hands together and bowed, saying, "I report to Buddha, Randeng Buddha seeks an audience!"
Zhunti restrained his smile and said, "Let him in!"
"By your Dharma Decree!" Jin Naluo clasped his hands together and bowed, then turned and walked outside.
Moments later, Randeng Buddha slowly entered, coming to the edge of the Merit Pond.
Randeng Buddha clasped his hands together and bowed, saying, "Namo Amitabha Buddha~ Namo Xu Puti Buddha~"
Jieyin and Zhunti also brought their hands together and bowed, saying, "Namo Randeng Buddha!"
Suddenly, a Golden Lotus sprouted beneath Randeng’s feet, upon which he immediately sat cross-legged and said, "Buddha, with Shakyamuni privately establishing Small Mahayana Buddhism, how should we act?"
"Look!" Zhunti stretched out his hand towards the Merit Pond, and ripples spread out upon its surface before returning to calm.
Randeng, looking thoughtful, then said with sudden joy, "Is the Buddha Mother implying that Small Mahayana Buddhism is but a rootless source, although it may cause ripples on the surface for a moment, it will eventually merge into the grand tides and cannot last long."
Zhunti nodded with a smile and said, "Good!"
Randeng immediately asked again, "Buddha, with the followers of Mahayana Buddhism becoming agitated, what should be done?"
Zhunti extended his hand towards the nearby Bodhi Tree and said, "Look again!"
Randeng looked at the Bodhi Tree, watching as leaves slowly fell, twirling through the air.
With a flash of insight, Randeng said joyfully, "The Buddha’s meaning is that the green leaves last long on the great tree; those that leave the tree will be battered by wind and rain, eventually turning to dust.
Those disciples who abandon Mahayana Buddhism will also fall into the mortal world."
Zhunti smiled and nodded, saying, "Good!"
Randeng then asked, "Buddha, what will become of Shakyamuni?"
Zhunti pointed towards the sky and smiled, "Look!"
Randeng looked up into the empty sky, realization dawning upon him as he said, "It is the disciple who was attached to form. When the mind is calm, there is nothing. If there is no Shakyamuni in the heart, then Shakyamuni does not exist. If there’s no Small Mahayana Buddhism in the heart, then Small Mahayana Buddhism was never established."
He clasped his hands together respectfully and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Buddha, for alleviating my confusion; the disciple has now understood it all."
Zhunti, smiling, said, "Most excellent! I have always believed that Buddhism will flourish in the hands of Buddha."
Overjoyed, Randeng Buddha bowed, rose, and turned to walk away, quickly disappearing from sight.