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

"However, I also have a question in my mind that I cannot understand. I hope you fellow practitioners will consider it."

Amitabha Buddha's gaze became profound, as if it could pierce through the fog.

"As far as I know, my nephew Ao Lie should have been waiting quietly at Yingchoujian for the call of the Venerable Guanyin to embark on the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures, so as to fulfill his opportunity and merit."

This is a predetermined fate, involving multiple causes and effects. Why...why did he suddenly appear on the battlefield outside the Snowstorm City in Southern Jambudvipa? And why did he happen to clash with the White Lotus Child, and even perish?

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of guidance and skepticism.

“Nephew Ao Lie has a special identity, and his whereabouts should be kept secret. His sudden appearance on the battlefield and his involvement in the killing spree, is it... that someone did this on purpose? Is it that someone knows his identity but deliberately puts him in danger, or even... uses him as a pawn, a sharp knife, to achieve some ulterior motive?”

This statement, seemingly a question, actually revealed a blatant provocation! He was subtly pointing the finger at the person who might have "arranged" Ao Lie's appearance on the battlefield! And who was most likely to have "arranged" Ao Lie's appearance? Naturally, it was Lin Zhu, the leader of the camp Ao Lie was in when he last appeared!
The Platinum Dragon Emperor's cold dragon eyes shifted slightly, glancing at Amitabha Buddha before letting out a cold snort.

"Hmph! Amitabha, although your words may seem to be an attempt to shirk your own inadequate supervision, it is indeed possible that the whereabouts of my clan's descendants have been exploited by those with ulterior motives."

If anyone dares to use my dragon clan's offspring as pawns, committing such a despicable act of using someone else to kill, no matter who they are or what their background is, my dragon clan... will never let them off lightly! We will drag them out, skin them alive, refine their souls and burn their spirits, ensuring they are never reincarnated!

The Dragon Emperor's words were filled with bloodthirsty killing intent. Although he also expressed his dissatisfaction with the "lax supervision" of the Western Paradise, his attention was clearly also guided by Amitabha Buddha, and he began to think about the possibility of "someone manipulating things behind the scenes".

Upon hearing this, Nezha's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped his Fire-Tipped Spear.

He naturally realized the trap in Amitabha's words—it was meant to shift the blame onto Lin Zhu! The little white dragon had indeed come out of Wind and Snow City with them. Although he ran away on his own, outsiders would inevitably think that he was sent by Lin Zhu.

He glanced nervously at Lin Zhu, only to see his master remain calm and composed, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he were an outsider. Seeing Lin Zhu's composure, Nezha felt slightly relieved, but his vigilance remained undiminished.

Faced with Amitabha's subtly pointed question and the Platinum Dragon Emperor's menacing addition, Lin Zhu seemed to have just come to his senses. He let out a soft "Oh," his face showing just the right amount of realization and a hint of righteous indignation. He spread his hands and said in a calm but clear tone.

"So the Buddha suspected that someone was manipulating things behind the scenes, using the Dragon Prince as a pawn? If there really is such a despicable and insidious person who, for personal gain, is willing to use others and even harm innocent lives, then he should indeed be torn to pieces and die without regret."

If Lin were to encounter him, he would be the first to face the consequences, making him truly "enjoy" what it means to reap what you sow.

He spoke with righteous indignation, as if he deeply abhorred such behavior and even took the initiative to express his determination to punish evil and eliminate wickedness.

However, to those in the know, there was something strange about it, especially given his calm expression, which made it seem more like... irony?
"Hmph! Eloquent and flattering!"

The Buddha, who had been observing coldly, finally couldn't hold back any longer. He took a step forward, his face filled with long-suppressed anger and a cold ruthlessness as if he had seized a handle. He pointed at Lin Zhu, his voice loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire area.

"Lin Zhu, the God of Hell! No matter how you try to deny it, you can't change the facts! Prince Ao Lie charged out of the Snowstorm City that you were guarding and headed straight for my Western Heaven Formation!"
"If it weren't for your instigation, how could a dragon prince who should have been in Eagle's Sorrow Gorge have ended up there? And how could he have happened to confront the White Lotus Child? You are the mastermind behind all of this! You are using Prince Ao Lie to incite conflict between the Western Paradise and the Dragon Clan, so you can profit from it!"

To increase his persuasiveness, before Lin Zhu could refute, the Buddha suddenly waved his sleeve, unleashing a surge of immense Buddhist power that instantly condensed into a massive, pale golden, round mirror in the air. The mirror's surface shimmered, quickly displaying an image—the scene from the previous battle in Jambudvipa!

In the scene, Ao Lie, dressed in white with a resolute expression, can be clearly seen transforming into a white rainbow as he rushes out from the direction of Wind and Snow City, heading straight for Indra in front of the army of the Buddhist Kingdom of Tianzhu. Then, the White Lotus Child appears...

The scene here was deliberately manipulated by the Buddha, only showing the part where Ao Lie was captured by the White Lotus Boy and he arrogantly shouted that he was going to torture Ao Lie. But it stopped abruptly at just the right moment, without showing the arrogant scene and specific process of the White Lotus Boy beheading and crushing the primordial spirit.

This gives the impression that those who are unaware of the truth will have.

Ao Lie deliberately charged out from Lin Zhu's camp to provoke him. Although Bai Lian Tong Zi captured him and threatened him, he didn't seem to kill him immediately. The reason for Ao Lie's charge was firmly pinned on Lin Zhu!

“Amitabha Buddha… Well done, well done.”

Amitabha Buddha let out a long sigh at the opportune moment, his face showing a compassionate expression, and he looked at Lin Zhu with "heartache" as he shook his head.

“Lord of the Prison God, how could you be so cruel? Even in a war between two armies, each fighting for their own master, you should not use a child, a dragon prince burdened with heavy karma, to push him into a deadly situation! How is this any different from that of a demon? In fact, it is even worse.”

This coordinated attack directly labeled Lin Zhu as the mastermind behind "exploiting children, instigating conflict, and possessing a cruel nature comparable to a demon"! In particular, Amitabha Buddha's compassionate yet condemnatory tone, coupled with the "evidence" provided by the Buddha, was extremely inflammatory.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the entire arena froze once more! All eyes, especially the cold and scrutinizing gazes of the nine true dragons, focused once more on Lin Zhu! The terrifying dragon might, mixed with the subtle hostility of the Buddhas of the Western Paradise, formed an invisible, heavy pressure, pressing down on Lin Zhu and the people in the nine-layered heavenly prison behind him like a mountain!
The Platinum Dragon Emperor turned its massive head toward Lin Zhu, its dragon eyes flashing with cold light, its voice like the clang of metal, carrying an unquestionable majesty and questioning tone.

"Lin Zhu, the God of Hell, are the words of Tathagata and Amitabha true? Nephew Ao Lie, was it really because you instructed him to leave his proper place, get involved in the battlefield, and thus perish?"

The people in the Nine-Story Heavenly Prison tensed up instantly. Nezha's Fire-Tipped Spear was already glowing crimson, and the Golden Turtle of the Abyss and the others were also secretly channeling their magic power, ready to fight to the death at any moment. The atmosphere was extremely tense, and it seemed that a melee could break out at any moment.

Faced with this accusation that was practically pointing a finger at him and the overwhelming pressure from everyone present, Lin Zhu suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, even somewhat relaxed, as if the tense situation before him had nothing to do with him.

He first glanced at the floating round mirror, then at Amitabha Buddha with a "compassionate" expression and Tathagata with "righteous indignation," and gently shook his head, his tone still calm and unhurried.

“Buddhas, the power of this round mirror to travel back in time is indeed wondrous.”

"However, since it's a retrospective, why not reveal the entire course of events, especially the details of how Crown Prince Ao Lie was 'killed,' so everyone can see it clearly? Taking things out of context and only showing half is not the proper attitude for 'distinguishing right from wrong.'" He paused, his gaze sweeping over the powerful dragons before finally meeting the Platinum Dragon Emperor's eyes, and said frankly.

"As for why Prince Ao Lie appeared in Snowstorm City and why he went to war... I can tell His Majesty the Dragon Emperor and everyone present that Prince Ao Lie did visit Snowstorm City, but I never gave him any orders to go to war."

His unauthorized departure from the city to challenge was his own personal act. Upon learning of this, Lin even went immediately to dissuade him, but unfortunately, it was too late. My generals and some of the fellow Daoists from the Western Heaven who were present at the time can all testify to this.”

The Buddha, not allowing Lin Zhu to speak, immediately interrupted him sternly.

"Shut up! Facts speak louder than words! The round mirror is the irrefutable proof! Ao Lie comes from your camp. Without a military order, how could he dare to go into battle on his own? Such arguments are weak and unconvincing! As for the witnesses you mentioned?"
"Hmph, your men will naturally speak for you, but my people from the Western Heaven... the battlefield was chaotic then, who can remember what you said? Perhaps you were outwardly advising, but in reality, you were secretly giving instructions, who knows!"

He pressed on relentlessly, his tone becoming increasingly sharp.

"Moreover, while the Round Mirror can rewind time, it cannot see into the depths of human hearts and the depths of evil, nor can it reveal whether you secretly transmitted orders! Unless... we use the innate spiritual treasure that hangs high in the Heavenly Palace, monitoring the Three Realms and illuminating fragments of the past and future—the Haotian Mirror! Only then can we truly see whether you acted secretly at that time!"

At this point, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on the face of the Buddha, and his tone turned into a slightly sarcastic helplessness.

"It's a pity that the Haotian Mirror is a vital artifact of the Heavenly Court, used to suppress the Heavenly Court's fortune. No one can touch it without the Jade Emperor's decree. Moreover, the Heavenly Court has a complex and intertwined relationship with the Western Paradise, the Dragon Clan, and even you, the God of Hell."

"My fellow Daoists of the Dragon Clan have been in seclusion for a long time. Perhaps you are unwilling to easily become entangled in the karmic consequences of going to the Heavenly Court and seeking the Haotian Mirror's reflection? After all, the Lingxiao Palace is not a tranquil place; once you step inside, you enter a calamity."

His words, seemingly stating difficulties, were actually a roadblock! He pointed out that the Haotian Mirror was in the Heavenly Court, and the Dragon Clan did not want to be entangled in the Heavenly Court's karma, therefore they "could not" verify whether Lin Zhu had secretly given the order. Since verification was impossible, based on the "ironclad" fact that "Ao Lie came from Lin Zhu's camp," the responsibility could be pinned on Lin Zhu!
Amitabha Buddha nodded slightly and echoed.

“What the Buddha said is very true. The Haotian Mirror is of great importance, and the Heavenly Court is in turmoil, with heavy karmic consequences. Fellow Daoists of the Dragon Clan are detached from worldly affairs and cultivate in peace. It is really not appropriate for them to get involved in the Heavenly Court for this matter and become entangled in unnecessary worldly karma. Perhaps we do not need to seek help from the Heavenly Court. We can make a decision right here, based on the evidence we have.”

The two Buddhist leaders acted in concert, one presenting "ironclad evidence" while the other blocked the path to "verification," seemingly forming a closed loop in logic.

Lin Zhu had a motive and "facts," yet he couldn't prove his innocence. Therefore, he was the culprit!

Upon hearing this, the powerful members of the Dragon Clan, though still furious, did show a hint of hesitation in their eyes.

They certainly wanted to find out the truth, but the Heavenly Court was a place with deeply entrenched power and the Investiture of the Gods hanging high, a place with profound karmic consequences, which these ancient dragons who lived in seclusion were unwilling to easily set foot in. The words of Amitabha Buddha and Tathagata, to some extent, addressed their concerns.

Seeing this, the Buddha's spirits lifted, feeling that he had finally seized the initiative. He took another step forward, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring directly at Lin Zhu, his voice booming as if he were proclaiming a verdict.

"Lin Zhu, the God of Hell! Prince Ao Lie died because of you, and his crime has been proven, the truth is out! What else do you have to say? Now, you should atone for the death of my West Sea Dragon Clan's prince!"

As his words fell, the gazes of the three thousand Buddhas, as well as the cold, scrutinizing, and murderous gazes of the nine true dragons of the Dragon Clan, once again converged on Lin Zhu! This time, the meaning in their gazes was even more complex.

Some were gloating, some were murderous, some were smug... The three thousand Buddhist followers had felt stifled for a long time, and now they finally had the chance to vent their anger. Their eyes as they looked at Lin Zhu were filled with a sense of "you've finally met your match."

The atmosphere in the room was extremely tense, like the calm before a storm.

The people in the nine-story prison had sweaty palms and were on edge.

Lin Zhu, who was the focus of countless gazes, remained calm, even appearing somewhat overly calm.

He stood there quietly, as if waiting for something, or as if he had everything under control, just waiting for the right moment.

Amitabha Buddha sat serenely on his lotus throne, looking down at the bamboo forest. In the compassion on his face, a trace of the serene indifference of a victor, carrying a hint of charity, finally emerged.

He clasped his hands together, his voice gentle yet carrying an unquestionable tone of judgment, and slowly began to speak.

“Lord of the Prison God, your sins are grave and unforgivable. However, the Buddha is merciful and saves all sentient beings. Even the most heinous criminals have a chance to turn back to the right path.”

He paused, his gaze becoming deep and "tempting," as if bestowing upon Lin Zhu a tremendous favor.

"If you are willing to repent and turn back from your misguided path, lay down your butcher's knife, take refuge in the Buddha, enter the Western Paradise, and recite scriptures and worship the Buddha before the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, repenting for your sins... for ten thousand years."

"Then, this humble monk can grant you your life and a chance... to start over."

Amitabha Buddha sat serenely on a seven-jeweled thousand-petaled lotus throne, his body radiating a warm Buddhist light. The compassion on his face deepened, and the way he looked at Lin Zhu was as if he were not looking at a prison god who could rival the Western Paradise, but at a stray dog ​​that had gone astray, covered in mud, and about to be abandoned by its owner.

It was a condescending "compassion" that carried connotations of charity and judgment.

Although the Purple-Gold Dragon Emperor was swayed by Amitabha Buddha's previous provocation and began to doubt Lin Zhu, it was ultimately an ancient dragon emperor who acted directly and domineeringly. Its cold dragon eyes locked onto Lin Zhu, and its voice was like rolling thunder as it asked directly.

"Lin Zhu, the God of Hell! I ask you, was Ao Lie sent to the Southern Battlefield to his death at your behest?! Are you the one who sent him into battle?!"

This question carried the arrogance and unquestionable authority characteristic of the dragon race. (End of Chapter)