Conferred God: Got cramped at the beginning

Chapter 1008 Xuanzang's Questions and Answers, The Bull Demon King Returns

The next day, the morning sun shone brightly across the land.

At this moment, the mortals on earth were shocked to discover that some of the monks they were familiar with, and even some of the temples they remembered, had disappeared without a trace.

Within the Xuanmen (Taoist sects), some lineages seized the opportunity to occupy the sites of Buddhist temples, while simultaneously informing mortals that the temples they regularly worshipped were filthy and corrupt. Therefore, the righteous gods of Heaven dispatched the deities of the Northern Exorcism Bureau to cleanse the temples.

In these statements, whether implied or explicit, the killings of the gods of the Arctic Exorcism Academy in the night were like the wind, sweeping across the entire human world.

It was at this time that a Taoist appeared in the human world and stopped a monk.

This monk was named Xuanzang.

He was a highly virtuous monk who had been ordered by the Tang Emperor to travel to the Western Paradise to seek Buddhist teachings.

"Master Xuanzang, please wait!"

"May I ask, Venerable Master, have you heard of the thunder and lightning last night?" The Taoist priest stopped Xuanzang in the market and asked loudly.

"Of course I know." Xuanzang shook his head, the nine-ringed staff in his hand jingling as if he were about to raise the staff and knock the head off the Taoist in front of him at any moment.

—The Tang Dynasty valued martial prowess.

When the Tang emperor selected the envoys seeking Buddhist teachings, he ordered those eminent monks to discuss the Dharma with each other—and what they discussed was not just Buddhism!

Xuanzang, who was ultimately chosen, was not only the best in Buddhism, but also the best in staff fighting!

“It’s good that the monk heard about the wind and thunder.” The Taoist sat down on the ground in the market. “I heard that the wind and thunder last night were because the gods in heaven could not bear to see the Buddhist sect harboring filth and defilement, so they destroyed it with wind and thunder.”

"I wonder if that's the case?" the Taoist asked, his face full of curiosity.

The people at the market, upon hearing the Taoist priest's question, also erupted in a clamor.

The rumors of the wind and thunder have already spread throughout the world—

Amidst the wind and thunder, the mortals of this world each held differing opinions regarding the truth or falsehood of the rumors.

Some people believe it to be true.

Some people think it's fake.

But no one has dared to go to those Buddhist temples to ask whether the change of wind and thunder was real or not.

At this moment, a Taoist priest stopped the monk Xuanzang in the market and asked him if it was true or false... Who wouldn't be curious about the answer?
After all, Master Xuanzang was summoned by the emperor and, after the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, he won the debate against all the other eminent monks, making him the greatest monk in the world!

It represents Buddhism!
The answer that comes out of his mouth must be the truth about the storm that night!
And this truth must be related to the overall situation of Buddhism in the human world.

"Of course it's true." Under the gaze of countless people, Master Xuanzang nodded frankly. "The wind and thunder last night were indeed caused by a great deity from the Heavenly Court cleansing the Buddhist community."

"So, Master Xuanzang already knew about the corruption and filth within Buddhism." Upon hearing Master Xuanzang's response, the Taoist priest's expression hardened, and he then feigned sudden realization, yet also looked incredulous.

Then, the Taoist priest's tone changed again.

“Master Xuanzang, His Majesty commands you to travel west to seek the Buddha’s teachings and save all sentient beings.”

"But these Buddhist temples are filthy havens—can such Buddhist institutions and such Buddhist teachings truly save all sentient beings and enlighten them?" the Taoist questioned.

“Amitabha, well said, well said.” Master Xuanzang put his hands together in prayer.

"Buddhism has been spread in the human world for a long time, and many Buddhist temples have different understandings and interpretations of it."

"Those numerous scriptures are mixed together, making it impossible to discern their truth from falsehood."

"The reason why Buddhist temples in various places are filthy and defiled is precisely because of this."

"This is a difference in the scriptures, not a fault of the Buddha's teachings."

"This humble monk went to the Western Paradise to seek the Dharma, precisely for this purpose."

"This humble monk is going to the Western Paradise, and will return with the true scriptures and Dharma of Buddhism."

"At that time, we should rectify Buddhism with the true Dharma and then use the true scriptures to save all sentient beings."

"Amitabha."

Xuanzang looked calm and composed.

At the market, the clamor of ordinary people turned into whispers.

The greatest virtue is to admit one's mistakes and correct them.

For the intelligent beings of Pantian, what they worry about and what they hate is never someone making a mistake—but rather someone who makes a mistake and then refuses to repent!
Knowing your mistakes, correcting them, and admitting them... it's not an easy thing for anyone to do these three things.

The higher a person's status, the less likely they are to admit their mistakes.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were some feudal lords who knew they were wrong and corrected their mistakes, but they alone refused to admit their mistakes... This shows just how difficult it is to admit one's mistakes.

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Venerable Xuanzang admitted his mistake.

He knew he was wrong and admitted it.

Then he frankly admitted that his journey to the Western Paradise to seek the Dharma was precisely to correct his mistakes.

Even those who were at odds with Buddhism and looked down on monks couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration when they looked at the seated Master Xuanzang.

To acknowledge, admit, and correct one's mistakes—given Xuanzang's current status, these words directly represent the attitude of the entire Buddhist community.

The idea of ​​admitting, acknowledging, and correcting mistakes carries the weight of the entire Buddhist community, but it also directly offends the entire Buddhist community!

From this moment on, countless monks in the Buddhist community will regard Master Xuanzang as a great enemy of Buddhism, and will spare no effort to kill him, condemning his words as heresy and fallacies...

"Does the monk understand what he is saying?"

"Does the Master understand what the consequences will be after he speaks these words?" The Taoist sat upright, facing Xuanzang with an extremely solemn demeanor.

"Amitabha."

"Right is right and wrong is wrong."

"To admit one's mistakes and correct them is the act of a righteous person."

"To know one's mistakes and not correct them is not human."

Xuanzang's expression was peaceful.

He knew perfectly well what he was saying and was aware of the consequences of his words—but so what?

There is a problem with Buddhism—a fact that countless people within the Buddhist community are well aware of.

But no one dared to say it.

Because no one can be certain of the source of the problem.

Is it that later generations have misinterpreted the true meaning of Buddhism?
Or is there a fundamental problem with Buddhism itself?

In the past, Xuanzang also dared not face this question. Because every temple in this world has its own unique Buddhist teachings and scriptures—every monk has his own interpretation of those teachings.

He cannot override other people's interpretations with his own.

It would be a mistake to declare a particular lineage as Buddhism—because at that time, there is no correct definition.

But after the Emperor made the decision and ordered him to go to the Western Paradise to seek the Dharma, he dared to do it!
The reason why it is difficult to distinguish between right and wrong in Buddhist teachings in the human realm is because no one knows what is right.

Since that was the case, he took all his questions about Buddhism, as well as the contradictions within it, and went to the Western Paradise, to the Great Thunderclap Temple.

He will pass by all the temples on his journey.

He would record the monks' confusion, the doubts in the scriptures, and the places where Buddhist teachings conflicted with reality.

Then, when he was worshipping the Buddhas in the Great Thunder Temple, he would personally ask them about the fundamental principles of Buddhism, as well as the right and wrong of those teachings.

Finally, he will return to the human world with the true Dharma of Buddhism and the responses of all Buddhas, thereby purifying the origin of Buddhism.

As for the difficulties, slander, and humiliation along the way... he didn't care!
Hearing the determination revealed in Xuanzang's words, everyone in the market, as well as the scholars, noble families, officials, immortals, and gods in the surrounding high-rise buildings, showed admiration in their eyes.

The Venerable Xuanzang before me was already a true seeker of the Way!

Many people dislike Buddhism.

But a true seeker of the truth is admired by everyone.

"Good, good, good." Seeing Xuanzang's unwavering attitude, the Taoist laughed three times. Then, a cloud of smoke swept by, and the Taoist had transformed into a monk.

“Xuanzang, I am Jin Chanzi, a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha.”

"By order of the Buddha, I bestow this robe upon you."

With a flick of his wrist, Jin Chanzi tossed the robe he had obtained from the future Star Lord of Calamity, and it landed on Xuanzang's body.

“Xuanzang, since I came to the human world, I have seen that the Buddhism in this world is different from that in the Western Paradise, which I find quite puzzling.”

“I will wait for you at the Great Thunder Temple and see how the Buddhas will purify the essence of Buddhism for you.”

"Amitabha, well said, well said." As Jin Chanzi spoke, he transformed into a ray of Buddha's light and fled westward.

……

"Acknowledge your mistakes, admit them, and correct them."

"What a fine monk Xuanzang!" As soon as the light that Jin Chanzi had transformed into dissipated, the figure of a stone monkey jumped out from the examination hall not far away.

It was none other than Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who served as the protector of the Wenchang Emperor.

"Monk, your journey to the Western Paradise must be fraught with countless hardships and dangers. Shall I accompany you on your way?"

The Monkey King revealed his true form.

"Thank you, Divine Lord." Xuanzang pondered for a moment, considering the impending open and covert attacks from numerous temples in the mortal realm, and then nodded.

"Alright, let me, Old Sun, see if you, monk, truly live up to your words and deeds."

"If Old Sun finds out that you, monk, are two-faced, don't blame me for killing you with this stick!"

“That is certainly the case.” Master Xuanzang returned the greeting. “This humble monk will follow the example of the True Man Sa and take the Divine Lord as a warning. If the Divine Lord sees that this humble monk has broken the precepts, committed any transgression, or acted against good and evil, please kill him.”

Master Sa, also known as Celestial Master Sa, is one of the Four Celestial Masters of the Jade Emperor's Palace of Enlightenment.

Before attaining enlightenment, he rebuked Wang Lingguan for his mistakes. Wang Lingguan refused to accept this and secretly followed behind Master Sa to observe Master Sa's actions, to see if he had violated any precepts, heavenly rules, or the laws of good and evil, etc.

Thus, Wang Lingguan, having observed Sa Zhenren from behind for a full 120 years, never saw Sa Zhenren do anything against his conscience. As a result, he became completely convinced of Sa Zhenren's abilities and also devoted himself to guarding the Heavenly Court while serving as a protector of Sa Zhenren's lineage.

……

“Xuanzang is not wrong.” On the execution platform, Ao Bing’s gaze swept across the mortal realm.

Buddhism has spread to the human world for tens of thousands of years, even though it has been suppressed for a long time, and even though some problems have arisen with the essence of Buddhism.

But even within Buddhism, there are still some true seeds.

As Ao Bing sighed, the deities of the Arctic Exorcism Academy descended upon the hidden temples in the Eastern Continent, Southern Continent, Northern Continent, and even in the vast ocean, directly sweeping across the various temples.

In Buddhism, whether it's Arhats, Bodhisattvas, or Buddhas, they all look helpless when they see those arrogant and domineering deities from the Arctic Exorcism Bureau.

Even if someone couldn't resist wanting to intervene, they were always stopped by those around them...

What is the significance of taking action?
Those below the Great Luo level are no match for those murderous bastards from the Arctic Exorcism Academy.

Above the Great Luo realm... that Heaven-bearing and Righteous Great Dragon God sits on the Execution Platform, watching intently, waiting for the Buddhist sect to make their move.

……

"My sworn brother is quite an interesting fellow."

Inside the Cloud Cave of Accumulation Mountain, the avatar left behind by the Bull Demon King dissipated, and the primordial energy within the avatar flowed little by little, receiving the power from beyond the realm.

In this Southern Continent, there were even more demon gods who returned to the Heavenly Revolving Wheel along with the Bull Demon King.

As the snowflakes gradually descended upon Pantian, the Bull Demon King clearly perceived the changes within it.

It was an impenetrable net, pressing down on the Pantian Avenue and locking away all living beings in Pantian.

That vast net suppressed all power that could touch the Great Luo—the Bull Demon King himself was already a being of the level of a Great Divine Power.

However, after the Heavenly Cycle was reversed, the power he could use was suppressed to below that of the Great Luo.

The enormous net that suppressed Da Luo was none other than this.

That is precisely the ritual of faith.

That is a net of heaven and earth, forged by all the Great Luos in the Pantian realm with their own Dao fruits. Only by leaving their names in the golden book of faith and becoming a part of this net of heaven and earth can they once again touch the great power of the Great Luos.

"What a magnificent Great Dragon God who upholds Heaven and righteousness!"

"No wonder they wanted me to return to the Heavenly Revolving Wheel." The Bull Demon King looked up at the void above the sky.

Then, in a daze, a cow's moo resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

On the golden book of faith, the name of the Bull Demon King appeared, and the power of that great supernatural being shone from the southern sky down to the Pan Heaven, and finally, in the Pan Heaven, the corresponding Dao fruit manifested.

As the cow's moo resounded, countless people throughout the world turned their gaze to the Southern Continent.

"As expected of the Bull Demon King!" everyone exclaimed.

As one of the players on the Jade Emperor Chess Game, while the other players were still concealing their identities, this first demon god after the Primordial Era had already declared his existence to all the players on the Jade Emperor Chess Game with an extremely powerful attitude!

"Hey!" In the mortal realm, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, hearing the bull's moo, wanted to leap away and drink with the Bull Demon King, but he couldn't bear to leave the monk in front of him.

(End of this chapter)