Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

The Great Celestial Venerable personally descended to the mortal realm to control the people of Jinshan Temple. This was clearly a message to the Western Paradise that he was willing to fight against the Western Paradise to the end for Lin Zhu!
Lin Zhu was also taken aback; he hadn't expected the Jade Emperor to risk his life for him like this. He had been considering how to escape unscathed, but now he suddenly felt incredibly confident.

He realized that he had someone backing him up, and that it was the Great Celestial Venerable himself who had come forward.

This warmed Lin Zhu's heart, making her feel that she was truly valued by the Great Celestial Venerable.

The faces of the three thousand Buddhas were grim; they had not expected things to develop to this point.

They originally wanted to kill Lin Zhu because he disrupted the cause and effect of Journey to the West and affected their merits.

But now the Great Celestial Venerable has made it clear that anyone who dares to touch a single hair on Lin Zhu's head will have their journey to the West canceled and will face wrath from the Heavenly Court.

This forced them to reconsider.

The Buddha coughed lightly, his gloomy expression vanishing, and he regained his usual dignified and solemn countenance.

He said calmly.

"The Buddha is compassionate, without self, without others, without sentient beings. Even demons should be treated equally."

His words were an attempt to save face for himself.

He had realized that taking any rash action against Lin Zhu would only cause the Western Paradise to suffer.

"Lin Yushen, let's call it quits for today. Go back now, our Buddhist sect will not hold this against you."

However, Lin Zhu had no intention of giving up.

He looked coldly at the three thousand Buddhas and said without any politeness.

"You are the ones who should be held accountable!"

He pointed at Maitreya Buddha and angrily questioned him.

"I ask you now, why did you instruct Weituotian to assassinate my wife?!"

Upon hearing this, Maitreya Buddha's expression changed drastically.

He denied it in a panic, shouting.

"Lin Zhu, stop talking nonsense! Wei Tuo Tian is a protector of our Buddhist sect, how could he obey my orders alone! Don't make false accusations!"

"Hahahaha!"

Lin Zhu burst into laughter, a laugh filled with sarcasm and disdain.

"Maitreya Buddha, you're still trying to deny it! Do you think no one knows about the shameful things you've done?"

Lin Zhu was not afraid at all; he mocked Maitreya Buddha's shamelessness and ridiculousness.

"Why does Bodhisattva Weituo choose to reside in the Eastern Pure Land of Vaidurya, the realm of the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha? And why did you send him to ambush my wife? Do you really think that the Haotian Mirror of my Heavenly Court is just for show?!"

A tense standoff is unfolding atop the Grand Hall of Lingshan.

Lin Zhu held the God-Slaying Spear, its tip pointing directly at Maitreya Buddha. The black and red spear exuded a chilling killing intent.

He glared at Maitreya Buddha, accusing him of instructing Bodhisattva Weituo to assassinate his wife. His words were sharp and piercing.

Maitreya Buddha was struck where it hurt, his face turned red, and his heart was filled with anger.

However, when his gaze fell upon the jet-black Heavenly Origin Demon Stone in Lin Zhu's hand, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

He knew that if Lin Zhu really attacked with the God-Slaying Spear and the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, he would probably not escape death.

He was filled with shame and indignation, but he stubbornly refused to admit it, claiming...

"Lin Zhu, you brat, stop spouting nonsense! I am a quasi-saint, a Buddha from the East, a highly respected figure. How could I possibly do such a despicable thing? You are slandering me!"

Maitreya Buddha knew that as a quasi-saint with great power, as long as he resolutely refused to acknowledge it, no one could do anything about it.

After all, there is no evidence in death.

The Buddha stood to the side, his face dark with anger.

He knew Maitreya Buddha's character and guessed what Maitreya Buddha was doing.

He had repeatedly warned everyone not to attack Lin Zhu without authorization, but Maitreya Buddha still openly disobeyed his orders.

The Buddha Tathagata deeply understood the importance of the Quasi-Saint realm, especially at a time when saints were blocked from entering the Three Realms. The Quasi-Saint was the pillar of the Three Realms.

Each additional Quasi-Saint adds to the power, enough to influence the entire Three Realms.

He questioned Maitreya Buddha.

"Maitreya, are you really not instructing Bodhisattva Weituo?"

Maitreya Buddha remained defiant, claiming...

"Venerable One, I swear on the great principles of Buddhism that I would never do such a thing!"

Lin Zhu looked coldly at Maitreya Buddha, her eyes filled with disdain.

He knew that Maitreya Buddha was putting on an act, trying to save face for himself.

"Maitreya Buddha, do you think I can't do anything to you just because you deny it to the death?"

Lin Zhu coldly revealed Maitreya Buddha's true purpose.

"Before his death, Bodhisattva Weituo revealed your entire conspiracy! You were determined to suppress the Buddha's authority and hasten your own ascension to the throne, and I, Lin Zhu, became an obstacle in your eyes! That's why you didn't hesitate to disobey the sage's advice and instigate Bodhisattva Weituo to assassinate my wife!"

Upon hearing this, Maitreya Buddha's face turned red with anger, and he cursed inwardly.

He hadn't expected that Lin Zhu would even know these things.

But on the surface, he still pretended to be calm and sneered.

"Lin Zhu, stop spreading alarmist rumors! There's no way to prove it when the dead are dead. Summon the Bodhisattva Weituo and let him confront me!"

Lin Zhu sneered inwardly. Maitreya Buddha thought he could stubbornly deny everything, but he was wrong!

He didn't say anything more, but suddenly took out the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone and held it high.

That pitch-black magic stone exuded pure and intense demonic energy, like a black hole threatening to devour the entire hall.

"Since you won't give me justice, then I'll make you all taste what it's like to cry out in injustice and die!"

Lin Zhu shouted, making a move to smash the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone.

This action instantly startled all the Buddhas present, who all tried to stop it.

"Lin Yushen, stop!"

"Don't be impulsive!"

"If you shatter the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, the entire Western Paradise will be plunged into an abyss of no return!"

They knew the power of the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone; if it were shattered, the Western Paradise would face a catastrophe.

At that time, demonic energy will run rampant, Buddhism will cease to exist, and everyone's cultivation will be affected.

Even the Buddha himself couldn't sit still, for he knew Lin Zhu's methods all too well.

If he were to truly perish along with all, even the Buddhas of the Western Paradise would find it difficult to escape.

"Lin Yushen, let's talk this out! We are both people of status, why be like this?"

Lin Zhu sneered, raising the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone in his hand higher and higher.

"Fairness? I came to Mount Ling only to seek justice! I have been wronged, yet I have no chance to redress my grievances! Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless and letting everyone taste the bitterness of crying out for justice and dying!"

Lin Zhu's words shocked all three thousand Buddhas present.

They had never seen such an arrogant person, nor had they ever imagined that someone would dare to threaten to destroy the entire Western Paradise on Mount Ling. The Buddha was even more helpless; faced with Lin Zhu's unyielding attitude, he could only swallow his anger for the time being.

Just as Lin Zhu was about to shatter the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, a voice suddenly rang out from among the Buddhas.

"Lin Yushen, wait!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was the Medicine Buddha from the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli.

He stood up, his face solemn, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Lin Zhu.

"Lin Yushen, this humble monk is willing to seek justice for you. I am willing to take full responsibility for this matter and give you justice!"

The moment the Medicine Buddha spoke, the atmosphere of the entire Vulture Peak froze.

The three thousand Buddhas present seemed to awaken from a nightmare and collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

They were all stunned, but a sense of relief at surviving a disaster welled up in their hearts.

Finally, someone stepped forward and made Lin Zhu, this "madman," stop his actions that were about to shatter the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone.

In their hearts, as long as the Western Paradise and the Journey to the West could be preserved, it would be worth it no matter who was sacrificed or who was offered up.

However, Maitreya Buddha panicked.

He never expected that the Medicine Buddha would step forward at this time.

Maitreya Buddha had previously only revealed his intention to take action against Lin Zhu to Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and Skanda Bodhisattva.

Medicine Buddha is one of the few people Maitreya Buddha can trust in the Western Paradise.

Back then, the Medicine Buddha was implicated because of a disciple's mistake in spreading the teachings. One of his disciples was expelled, and the disciple was also punished.

It was Maitreya Buddha who stood up for him and protected him from punishment.

Maitreya Buddha had always felt that his relationship with Medicine Buddha was extraordinary, but now Medicine Buddha had come forward to testify. Maitreya Buddha was filled with shock and disbelief. He could not believe that Medicine Buddha would betray him.

However, the Medicine Buddha calmly revealed Maitreya Buddha's sins.

"World Honored One, fellow Buddhists, this humble monk is willing to testify on behalf of the Forest God that this matter was indeed done by Maitreya Buddha."

These words struck like a bolt from the blue, shocking all three thousand Buddhas present and leaving Maitreya Buddha reeling.

Why did you betray me?!

Maitreya Buddha was so anxious that his face turned red. He couldn't believe that Medicine Buddha would betray him, and he questioned Medicine Buddha why he would betray him.

The Medicine Buddha responded calmly, his voice clear and firm, filled with the truth of Buddhist teachings.

“Buddha Maitreya, a monk does not lie. I am merely speaking the truth and testifying against the guilty. I am upholding justice, so how can this be considered betrayal?”

Medicine Buddha continued to expose Maitreya Buddha's conspiracy, recounting Maitreya Buddha's actions in detail.

“A few days ago, Maitreya Buddha came to my Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli, wanting to recruit me to assassinate Lin Zhu’s wife, in order to provoke Lin Zhu and take the opportunity to kill him. I refused on the spot, but Maitreya Buddha went back to find Bodhisattva Weituo, and with a combination of kindness and coercion, ordered Bodhisattva Weituo to assassinate Lin Zhu.”

The Medicine Buddha's tone was filled with regret and sorrow.

"Unexpectedly, Bodhisattva Weituo has passed away. He should have been someone who subdued demons and monsters, but he died because of Maitreya Buddha's selfish desires. How heavy is the karma of such a death!"

The Medicine Buddha chanted a Buddhist name, then lowered his head, emanating a compassionate light from his body.

He clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist scriptures, praying for the salvation of Bodhisattva Weituo.

"Amitabha."

Three thousand Buddhas cried out in unison, their light shone brightly, and the sound of chanting sutras resounded as they bid farewell to Bodhisattva Weituo.

However, Maitreya Buddha was repelled by this endless Buddha light. He stood still, his body trembling, as if he had been abandoned by the Buddha light.

Clearly, the Medicine Buddha had already made up his mind to betray Maitreya Buddha.

Maitreya Buddha, enraged, laughed instead. He pointed at Medicine Buddha and shouted angrily.

"Pharmacist! You despicable person! You..."

However, before he could finish speaking, the Buddha Tathagata waved his hand and a beam of light suppressed Maitreya Buddha.

"Buddha Maitreya, what else do you have to say?"

Maitreya Buddha tried to struggle to get up, but the three thousand Buddhas attacked together, and beams of Buddhist light converged into a huge force, pressing him firmly to the ground, making him unable to move.

The Buddha's face was calm at this moment, but beneath that calm lay a raging fire of anger.

He pronounced his verdict calmly, his voice echoing in the hall, each word like a heavy hammer, striking Maitreya Buddha's heart.

"Maitreya Buddha, you are the future Buddha of our Buddhist sect, yet you abuse your power for personal gain, harbor selfish desires, and attempt to kill a god, disregarding compassion. Your sins are grave! Our Buddhist sect will not tolerate such an evil person as you!"

"I have decided to revoke your position as the future Buddha, and punish you severely for your crimes. You will bear immense karmic burdens and lead millions of Buddhist soldiers to suppress the riots of demons in the South China Sea, for ten thousand years!"

The punishment for this crime is undeniably severe.

Maitreya Buddha is the future Buddha, a quasi-saint with great power, and the second-in-command of the Western Paradise.

But now, he is being severely punished by the Buddha, who even wants to strip him of his future Buddhahood and send him to suppress the demons of the South China Sea, never to rise again.

The Buddha Tathagata looked calmly at Maitreya Buddha and told him that if one's mind is not filled with evil thoughts, evil thoughts will arise. The suppression of the South Sea was to help him cultivate kindness, cleanse his mind and thoughts, and stop harming living beings so that he could return to the Western Paradise in the future.

Maitreya Buddha was filled with resentment. He was so angry that he laughed and questioned Tathagata Buddha about his crimes.

"What crime have I committed?!"

"Everything I have done is for the Western Paradise! All my actions are for the sake of Buddhism! How could I have any selfish desires?!"

Maitreya Buddha's voice was filled with anger and resentment.

He swore that he had no selfish motives whatsoever, and that he had committed no crime.

But the Buddha responded coldly, his voice as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion.

"The evidence is irrefutable. You disregard compassion and are ruthless. How can you be a Buddha?!"

The three thousand Buddhas remained aloof, observing from the sidelines with indifferent eyes and chanting Buddhist mantras, as if everything before them was irrelevant.

Looking at the indifferent and aloof demeanor of the three thousand Buddhas, and then at the seemingly compassionate and righteous appearance of the Tathagata Buddha, a mad flame surged within Maitreya Buddha.

He suddenly recalled that when the disciples of the Medicine Buddha were expelled from Buddhism for being tainted by worldly desires, the Tathagata Buddha also sat on a high platform, watching from the sidelines, and only later persuaded and exonerated the Medicine Buddha.

All of this was both familiar and unfamiliar to Maitreya Buddha.

The same thing that happened to the expelled disciple back then is now happening to him.

The righteous words of the Western Paradise have been spoken for thousands of years, but the Western Paradise is cold and ruthless, and everyone is the culprit.

The Buddha coldly told Maitreya Buddha to quickly accept his punishment and report to the South China Sea, otherwise he would have no place in the Western Paradise.

This would be a tremendous threat to any Buddha.

The Western Paradise is a Buddhist Pure Land. Even if one does nothing, one can still reap the incense offerings and faith of believers in the lower realms. Moreover, most Buddhas need the protection of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in their cultivation so that they can advance safely without disaster or calamity.

The advantages of the Western Paradise have attracted countless Buddhas who have risked their lives to advance their cultivation there, and have also drawn countless mortals to the Western Paradise.

Maitreya Buddha was so angry that he laughed loudly, his laughter full of sarcasm and mockery of the hypocrisy of Tathagata Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, and the Western Paradise.

He claimed that he was only concerned for the safety of the Western Paradise, and that he was innocent in vanquishing demons and monsters.

However, he suddenly stopped laughing, made a gesture of respect with one hand, and his face returned to a calm smile, indicating that he was willing to accept punishment.

This transformation was extremely bizarre; one second he was mocking and jeering, the next he was willingly accepting punishment. (End of Chapter)