Simultaneous travel: I am proving the great way in the heavens.

Chapter 580 Luofu's Surprise! A Clear Opportunity to Prove the Path to Sainthood!
Why did Guanyin Bodhisattva say in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, that Hinayana Buddhism could not save the wronged souls in the underworld?

He turned around and found himself at Liangjie Mountain on the border of the Tang Dynasty, where he was slapped in the face by Tang Sanzang.

This is a matter of interpretation within Buddhism.

As the founder of Mahayana Buddhism, Luofu's disciples may have followed the Hinayana path of the Śrāvakayāna and the Mahayana path of the Bodhisattvayāna. However, as long as Luofu acknowledges it, then it is considered Mahayana Buddhism.

Who made Luofu the true founder of the Middle Vehicle Buddhism? The right to interpret Middle Vehicle Buddhism rests with Luofu.

Inside the meditation room, the sixth prince of Lion Camel Kingdom and Tang Sanzang, who were sitting and discussing the Dao, saw Luofu push open the door and come out.

The two immediately stood up and stepped forward to greet each other.

"Xuanzang."

"The disciple is here."

Luo Fu cut to the chase, saying, "You've lingered with me at Ruzhen Temple for quite some time now; it's time for you to set off westward."

Tang Sanzang was overjoyed upon hearing this. Although he had lingered at Ruzhen Temple for so long, it was mainly because Luofu had forced him to stay.

Even his disciples, Pigsy and Sandy, were hanging outside the temple gate.

But Tang Sanzang selectively ignored it.

He can't ignore it, there's nothing he can do.

When it comes to Luofu, circumstances are always more powerful than people.

"Thank you, Buddha." Tang Sanzang suppressed his excitement and said, "This disciple will pack his luggage and set off immediately with my disciples."

After nodding, Luo Fu turned his gaze to the sixth prince of the Lion Camel Kingdom standing to the side.

"Your connection with Ruzhen Temple has come to an end."

The sixth prince was startled and immediately knelt down, saying, "Buddha, please forgive me. I do not know what I have done wrong. I am willing to admit my sins and accept punishment. I beg you, Buddha, please do not expel me from the mountain."

“Your karmic connection with Ruzhen Temple has ended, not with the Buddhist community. Even if you leave Ruzhen Temple, you must not slacken in your cultivation in the future.” Luo Fu said bluntly, “Several years ago, you entered the tutelage of Ruzhen Temple for the purpose of restoring your kingdom. However, at that time, the time was not right. Today, your opportunity to restore your kingdom has arrived. After decades of trials, the Lion Camel Kingdom has reached the time when its tribulations are complete.”

Upon hearing Luo Fu's words, the Sixth Prince was both surprised and delighted.

Needless to say, he was overjoyed. Even after so many years, he still would never forget the hatred of the destruction of the Lion Camel Kingdom. The hatred of the Lion Camel Kingdom being wiped out and its millions of people being devoured by monsters was etched into his heart.

But now, he only has a few subordinates under his protection who are all under the wing of Ruzhen Temple. How can he possibly restore the Lion Camel Kingdom with just a few of them?
Luo Fu immediately saw through the Sixth Prince's worries and said, "You don't need to worry about the demon king of the Lion Camel Kingdom. Xuanzang and his disciples will solve your problems. But when you restore your ancestors' legacy, you should remember the kindness of Xuanzang and his disciples, treat your people well, and spread Buddhism widely."

The sixth prince looked at Tang Sanzang in surprise.

During this time, he had many discussions with Tang Sanzang.

In the eyes of the Sixth Prince, Tang Sanzang was at best a monk who was well-versed in Hinayana Buddhism and had a thorough understanding of the scriptures of the Śrāvakayāna, but he had no supernatural powers whatsoever.

They're not even as good as me. At least I'm one of the very few disciples in Ruzhen Temple who can comprehend the Golden Body Dharma through the Buddha's Ruzhen Wonderful Dharma Golden Body Sutra.

If it weren't for Luofu specifically naming him, preventing him from becoming a monk in Buddhism or entering Ruzhen Temple, his comprehension alone would likely have made him second only to the Seven Emotions Bodhisattva in Ruzhen Temple.

Now, Luo Fu, this so-called Buddha, is speaking with absolute certainty that Tang Sanzang and his disciples can help him restore his kingdom. This is something the Sixth Prince finds hard to believe no matter what.

In truth, Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Zhu Bajie, the former Marshal Tianpeng, and Sha Wujing, the Curtain-Raising General, did not display the slightest bit of the prestige they should have at Ruzhen Temple.

“I know you have doubts in your heart.” Luo Fu reassured the sixth prince, saying, “You can go west with Xuanzang and his disciples, and then you will see the truth.”

After a slight pause, Luo Fu casually summoned a sharp claw that appeared out of thin air.

Immediately afterwards, in front of Tang Sanzang and the Sixth Prince, Luo Fu took out a Golden Elixir Sand, used the Red Lotus Karmic Fire to temper the sharp claws, and with the Golden Elixir Sand as an aid, he used the Golden Elixir Dao to refine the treasure in the void.

In a very short time, the claw that Sun Wukong had destroyed, which came from the body of the Golden-Winged Roc, was refined by Luo Fu into a magical weapon similar to a golden mace.

It is over three feet long, with a hammerhead shaped like a golden melon, which can be used for smashing and hammering. As a magical weapon, it can also instantly transform into a claw for grappling.

Unfortunately, due to the destruction caused by Sun Wukong and the fact that it was not restored by the Dao of Creation, even with the Golden Elixir Sand as an aid, Luo Fu could not refine it into a pure magic weapon, but rather something between a magic weapon and a weapon.

It seems to have a few more uses, as it can be used as a magic weapon or a golden mace, but in reality, it is not even a post-natal spiritual treasure, at most it is just a celestial artifact.

At best, it's only slightly stronger than Sha Wujing's demon-subduing staff.

After forging the eagle claw hammer, Luo Fu waved his sleeve, and the eagle claw hammer landed in front of the Sixth Prince. He said, "This treasure is given to you for protection. You can figure out its wonderful uses yourself. If you encounter any insurmountable difficulties, you can come to Ruzhen Temple for help!"

The sixth prince was instantly moved to tears. Holding the eagle claw hammer in both hands, he kowtowed repeatedly to Luo Fu and said, "This disciple thanks the patriarch. I will never forget the patriarch's kindness. When I restore the country in the future, I will definitely make my Ruzhen Zen Temple lineage the state religion and be respected by the whole country."

Luo Fu simply nodded and smiled, offering no response.

After Tang Sanzang finished packing his luggage, before he could even leave the gate of Ruzhen Temple, he ran into his disciples Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.

The group of master and disciples wished they could get as far away from Ruzhen Temple as possible right now.

They simply wasted far too much time at Ruzhen Temple.

Just as Tang Sanzang was about to bid farewell to Luofu, the Sixth Prince, accompanied by several loyal guards, arrived before the four travelers.

“Master Tripitaka, the Patriarch said that we may go west on our own and there is no need to go to say goodbye.”

Sun Wukong blinked, glanced at the Sixth Prince and his guards, and asked in surprise, "Don't Master and the others want us to go to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures too?"

Pigsy was overjoyed upon hearing this. He handed the load he had just picked up directly to the Sixth Prince and his subordinates, saying, "Hehe, since you're going to the Western Paradise with us, then this luggage is yours!"

"Bajie," Tang Sanzang said angrily, "quickly pick up your luggage. The Sixth Prince is only traveling with us. He will part ways with us when we reach the Lion Camel Kingdom."

Pigsy, who had been happy for less than a minute, could only grimace and reluctantly pick up the load again.

Among the westward-bound team, Sun Wukong, the strongest fighter, was responsible for tasks such as clearing the way, determining the direction, and begging for alms.

Sha Wujing was responsible for leading the horse and protecting Tang Sanzang.

The one who was truly responsible for carrying the load was Pigsy (Zhu Bajie).

That's right. Unlike Luo Fu's childhood impression of TV dramas, in the journey to the West, it was actually Zhu Bajie, not Sha Wujing, who was responsible for carrying the load.

Even the reason why Pigsy was able to be appointed as the Cleansing Altar Messenger after achieving perfect merit was because the Buddha Tathagata used his merit in carrying the load as the reason. This is also why Pigsy was overjoyed when he mistakenly thought that the Sixth Prince and the survivors of Lion Camel Kingdom were also going to join the journey to the West.

However, the truth is disappointing.

However, neither Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing, nor Zhu Bajie showed any reluctance or resistance to the Sixth Prince and others traveling with the westward journey team.

The reason is not hard to understand.

After Tang Sanzang left the territory of the Tang Dynasty in the Eastern Land of Jambudvipa, with Sha Wujing joining the group, there were eighty-one tribulations waiting on the seemingly long journey of 108,000 miles.

In reality, the so-called relief of the eighty-one tribulations was only a very short period of time during the journey to the west.

Compared to the fourteen-year journey, most of the time was spent on tedious travel, often lasting for months at a time, with the four of them walking through desolate, uninhabited mountains and wilderness.

The hardship was not only physical, but also, for months on end, the four of them, master and disciples, were always together, without even a chance to talk to anyone else.

Under such circumstances, having the Sixth Prince and others accompany the westward journey for a period of time is actually a good thing for the group.

After Tang Sanzang and the others left.

Luo Fu, however, never paid any more attention to the westward journey.

After all, he has a lot on his plate right now.

Firstly, even if he received compensation, Luo Fu still needed to reforge Yun Cheng's wings and the remaining grappling claw. Secondly, there was the feather that came from the hands of the Goddess Nuwa.

Don't underestimate this feather just because it comes from the Xuan Tian Fire Phoenix Jin Ning. This phoenix feather is imprinted with the creative power of the Sage Nuwa. This is an opportunity for Luo Fu to glimpse the wonders of manipulating creation.

Not to mention that not long ago he also received the method of enlightenment in a dream, personally taught and transmitted by the Buddha of Amitabha.

No matter which matter it is, it requires Luo Fu to spend a great deal of time and energy.

Under these circumstances, he had no mind to care about the situation of the westward journey team. Moreover, the Ruzhen Temple lineage in Luofu had already gained a great deal from the westward journey team.

The combination of the Spider Cave and the Ruzhen Temple has created a dilemma for the westward-bound group.

In the tribulations of the Journey to the West, Luofu would have little chance of gaining any greater benefits.

Instead of worrying about the calamities of the Journey to the West, which offer no benefit, it's better to improve one's own strength.

Luo Fu was not in a hurry to refine magic weapons. Compared to magic weapons, he was actually more interested in attaining enlightenment in dreams and the first of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques, the Art of Manipulating Creation.

Indeed, these two supernatural abilities offer Luo Fu an advantage that no other gain can match.

In Luo Fu's view, attaining enlightenment in a dream and manipulating creation are actually quite similar.

Proving the Way in a dream is a means of reversing dreams and transforming reality into illusion, turning all experiences in the dream into real and tangible gains, and manipulating creation, thus possessing the ability to create things from nothingness.

The former acts upon oneself, internally; the latter acts upon others, externally.

The two secret techniques are a match made in heaven.

Especially when combined with the innate Yin and Yang energies that Luo Fu has already refined, though not yet fully mastered, to the point of being able to apply them to other situations, it may ultimately provide him with an opportunity to clearly define the path to sainthood.

Faced with such an opportunity, the tribulations of the Journey to the West held absolutely no appeal for Luofu.

Luo Fu went to great lengths for this retreat, even informing his disciples, the Seven Emotions Bodhisattvas, to close the mountain gates, sever ties with worldly affairs, and even disregard the propagation of the Middle Vehicle Buddhist lineage.

This is understandable, since the Pratyekabuddha Vehicle itself doesn't really care about lineage.

Through a series of karmic connections, one attains enlightenment on one's own—this is the true Pratyekabuddha path. The so-called transmission of the Dharma is actually just the transmission of methods for controlling the seven emotions and desires.

If one can achieve something by spreading the Dharma, then it should be Hinayana or Mahayana Buddhism, and it has nothing to do with Pratyekabuddha Buddhism.

While in Luofu, they were immersed in comprehending the way of creation and the methods of attaining enlightenment in dreams.

As expected, the westward-bound group ran into Lion Camel Ridge.

Even without the Golden-Winged Roc, one of the three great demon kings of Lion Camel Ridge.

The blue-haired lion demon and the yellow-tusked white elephant alone were enough to make it impossible for the westward-bound caravan to move an inch.

Perhaps in the eyes of many powerful beings in the Three Realms, the green-haired lion demon and the yellow-tusked white elephant were merely the mounts of Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

However, few of the powerful beings who truly experienced the Investiture of the Gods would forget that these two demon kings were Qiu Shou Xian and Ling Ya Xian, two of the Seven Immortals who served under Tongtian Jiaozhu of the Jie Sect.

During the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, Qiu Shou Xian was beaten back to his original form by Antarctic Immortal. In the end, he was ordered by Yuanshi Tianzun to be taken as a mount by Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun. As Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun abandoned Taoism and entered Buddhism, he became the Green-haired Lion Spirit he is today.

Lingya Xian's experience was similar. He was also beaten back to his original form by the Antarctic Immortal, and was eventually bound by the Rainbow Rope by the True Man of Samantabhadra, ultimately becoming his mount.

It can be said that these two were the most tragic during the Investiture of the Gods calamity.

Compared to Chang Er Ding Guang Xian, who was also among the Seven Immortals, he is now Ding Guang Huan Xi Fo in Buddhism. Even Duo Bao Dao Ren, the senior disciple of the Jie Sect, is now the World Honored One Tathagata.

They were the only ones who suffered the worst fate, becoming the mounts of Buddhist disciples. Jin Guangxian was the golden-haired roar that the westward journey team encountered in the Kingdom of Zhu Zi.

If Luofu had not appeared out of nowhere, the westward journey team would have encountered tremendous trouble on Lion Camel Ridge, even forcing Sun Wukong to seek help from the Buddha at the Western Paradise.

However, in this process, the one who truly made things difficult for the westward journey was the Golden-Winged Roc, while the Green-Haired Lion Demon and the Yellow-Toothed White Elephant gave the impression of being there without putting in any real effort, merely filling in the numbers.

This time, however, the westward expedition suffered an overwhelming defeat at Lion Camel Ridge.

Although neither the Green-haired Lion Demon nor the Yellow-tusked White Elephant possessed any particularly powerful magical treasures, they could rely on their own realm, magical power, and cultivation, along with the formation of over 48,000 demons from Lion Camel Ridge.

The westward-bound team nearly perished on Lion Camel Ridge.

Even the Sixth Prince and his party were captured in one fell swoop by the two demon kings of Lion Camel Ridge.

Only Sun Wukong escaped death in a very dangerous situation.

After escaping far from Lion Camel Ridge, Sun Wukong found himself in trouble once again.

(End of this chapter)