Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 629 The Dragon's Efforts at Mount Ling are in Vain

Then one day...

Venerable Kasyapa entered the meditation room as usual, focusing his mind and energy, slowly drawing the devout thoughts gathered on the golden Buddha statue into his body to nourish his cultivation and condense the Dharma body of the "seven-foot golden body".

However, suddenly, Kasyapa felt a stagnant and turbid energy quietly mix into the originally pure and flawless torrent of mental power, and suddenly surged against his meridians with unstoppable force!

“It’s bitter!”

Kasyapa was greatly alarmed, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly focused his mind and looked inward.

Upon seeing this, he was so terrified that his soul flew out of his body and his spirit scattered to the heavens.

But his own "seven-foot golden body," which should have been as clear as crystal and radiant with holy light, was inexplicably covered with many gray and white spots, like a beautiful jade covered in dust or a gold ingot mixed with stones. Its brilliance dimmed instantly, its spirituality greatly diminished, and its former sacred and solemn appearance was completely gone.

Almost at the same moment.

“It’s so bitter!”

A heart-wrenching cry also came from the Venerable Ananda, clearly indicating that he too had suffered the same misfortune.

……

He saw that his "seven-foot golden body" was showing abnormalities.

Kasyapa and Ananda looked at each other in bewilderment and panic.

At that moment, they didn't care about anything else and hurriedly went down the mountain to the temple, eager to see the golden Buddha statue enshrined there.

Upon arriving at the temple.

The once magnificent and solemn Buddha statue, radiating golden light, was no longer there.

The Buddha statue, which originally exuded a sacred aura, has now become a mottled and gnarled rock.

The two examined it more closely and saw:

"Where the gold leaf peels away, the clay and grass core reveal their hideous appearance; when the precious light dims, the stubborn stones and impurities are fully exposed."

Just a few days ago it was radiant with golden light and looked extremely solemn, but today it has become mottled and dull, like a stubborn rock!
It turned out that the "turning stone into gold" technique had expired, the illusion had dissipated, and the stubborn stones that had been forcibly transformed by the magic revealed their original forms.

Some turned back into stone, while others stuck together with the real gold, indistinguishable from each other.

Buddha statues cast from such "stubborn stone gold" are impure and the incense and prayers they absorb are naturally not pure.

Kasyapa and Ananda's cultivation of the golden body with such impure thoughts is tantamount to drinking poison to quench their thirst. Not only will their cultivation make little progress, but it will also taint the foundation of their golden body with impurities, almost turning it into a "seven-foot stone body".

All the hard work and self-cultivation of the past seemed to vanish in an instant.

……

At first, Kasyapa and Ananda suspected that the temple keeper had become greedy and embezzled the incense offerings, causing the Buddha statue to become covered in dust and its golden body to be damaged.

However, after years of investigation, it was discovered that someone was secretly plotting against them, intending to destroy their foundation.

Kasyapa and Ananda pondered that only the Taoist immortals who were proficient in the "Seventy-two Transformations" and "Turning Stone into Gold" had such means to play tricks on them, and only they would dare to be so audacious.

……

After a secret discussion, Kasyapa and Ananda concluded that this was the work of the Daoist sect, and they were filled with resentment.

Kasyapa trembled with rage, pointing at the mottled and fragmented Buddha statue, his voice sharp and fierce:

"You wretched child! You wretched child!"

Kasyapa trembled with rage, pointing at the weathered Buddha statue, his voice shrill:
"Who could be so malicious as to ruin the foundation of my golden body?"

"It must be those wicked Taoist priests from the 'Heavenly Craft Pavilion' who, seeing the prosperity of our Buddhist sect, became jealous and thus resorted to such insidious means to destroy the foundation of our Buddhist sect!"

"The 'turning stone into gold' and 'seventy-two transformations' are secrets kept by the Taoist school. How can anyone but a disciple learn them?"

Ananda also beat her chest and stamped her feet, gritting her teeth and saying hatefully:
"If I don't take revenge for this, I swear I won't be a human being!"

"However... however, if this matter becomes a big deal, and the World-Honored One finds out that we have been secretly amassing wealth and casting golden statues, it will only bring trouble and criticism..."

……

Buddhism has eight precepts, which require abstaining from greed, anger, and ignorance in order to achieve a state of purity of body and mind.

During his journey to the West, Tang Sanzang upheld the Buddhist heart, regarding gold and silver as fleeting clouds, relying solely on alms to obtain food to fill his stomach, and adhering to the duties and purity of a monk.

However, upon arriving at Mount Ling, Kasyapa and Ananda acted out of character and openly demanded money from Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang was devoted to Buddhism and had nothing to his name; where would he get money to give them?
There is a term called "the successor of one's mantle".

In Buddhism, the "successor of the robe and bowl" has a special and important significance.

What is clothing? What is a bowl?
That is, the kasaya (monk's robe) and the food bowl.

In Buddhism, the transmission of the robe and alms bowl to disciples is known as the "transmission of the robe and alms bowl." This is not only a material inheritance but also represents the orthodoxy of the transmission of Buddhist teachings.

Normally, Jin Chanzi's "eating bowl" is meant to be passed down to his "eldest disciple, Sun Wukong".

However, in "Journey to the West", after Jin Chanzi arrived at Mount Ling, the two monks Kasyapa and Ananda ignored the tradition of "passing on the mantle" and took away the "eating bowl" of Jin Chanzi, his former senior brother.

Their greed is astonishing.

Even the gluttonous and lustful Pigsy, though occasionally having some minor flaws on the journey to the West, only secretly hid "four qian and six fen of silver" in his private stash along the way.

Zhu Bajie's meager savings seem insignificant compared to the greedy demands of Kasyapa and Ananda, which also reflects that Tang Sanzang and his disciples were all poor people.

……

As monks, Kasyapa and Ananda should have been practicing with pure hearts, propagating Buddhism, and saving all sentient beings in the Buddhist pure land of Xiniu Hezhou.

However, they deviated from the original intention of Buddhism, started businesses, and amassed wealth on a large scale, completely disregarding the constraints of Buddhist precepts.

Where there is light, there is also darkness.

Otherwise, what is light?

If the water is too clear, there will be no fish.

Within the vast system of Lingshan, there also exist some unknown "unspoken rules."

There are some things that everyone knows, but they are tacitly understood, maintaining a delicate "balance".

Although the Buddha turned a blind eye to this, if such a thing were to spread, it would ultimately damage the reputation of Buddhism.

As the saying goes:
"People need face, trees need bark."

There is something called "face".

Face refers to a person's dignity and image.

If you don't tell me, I won't know, and then everyone still has a "fig leaf" to cover up, maintaining a superficial harmony and solemnity.

The Three Realms are not about fighting and killing; the Three Realms are about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

No matter how big the problem is, as long as people don't completely break off relations, there's still room for maneuver.

It's like two masters sparring; although they're secretly competing, they remain polite to each other on the surface.

However, if this matter is brought up in the open, it will be embarrassing for everyone.

Once the facade is completely torn off, things will become very difficult.

This is true both within Mount Ling and in the relationship between Buddhism and Taoism.

……

I was scammed by someone using fake gold.

Although Ananda and Kasyapa harbored immense hatred, they were hesitant to speak out for fear of inadvertently harming the Buddha, nor did they dare to ask the Buddha to use his wisdom to see the cause and effect.

After all, this matter is "shameful" and cannot be brought into the open.

Moreover, the Taoist immortals behind the "Heavenly Craft Pavilion" are not pushovers and are not so easy to deal with. It would be difficult to completely break ties with them.

Ananda and Kasyapa could only swallow this bitter pill and hold the Daoist sect accountable, hoping to take revenge in the future.

……

It's like a basin of clear water suddenly having a pool of ink poured in.

When ink and water mix, the water is no longer pure.

The same applies to the "seven-foot golden body".

The gold was mixed with the fake gold, and a large number of impurities appeared in the "seven-foot golden bodies" of Kasyapa and Ananda.

The impurities in the golden body are like a malignant tumor clinging to the bone. To thoroughly cleanse and purify it, or to recast a flawless golden body, the amount of real gold required would be ten, a hundred, or a thousand times greater than before!
even more!

The mottled appearance of the "seven-foot stone body" haunted them like a nightmare, spurring them on day and night.

The two of them had only one thought in their minds:
We need more, more, and more real gold!

After this ordeal, Kasyapa and Ananda's desire and obsession with gold had reached a near-madness.

In order to cast more golden Buddha statues and dilute these impurities, they became even more frantic in their pursuit of wealth, resorting to any means necessary to amass gold.

The restraint and considerations of the past have long been burned away by the fire of greed ignited by this "real and fake gold case".

……

At this moment.

Huang Mei, Jin Chanzi's rival, appeared before Ananda and Kasyapa with a large amount of gold and silver jewelry, inquiring about Jin Chanzi.

For the sake of gold and silver, Ananda and Kasyapa betrayed Jin Chanzi, their former fellow cultivator and close friend, without reservation.

Faced with the temptation of profit, they did not hesitate to betray their friendship with their master.

……

Meanwhile, King Yellow Eyebrows, having exchanged gold, silver, pearls, and jade with the Venerable Ananda and Kasyapa for all of Jin Chanzi's schemes, already understood them perfectly.

He thought to himself:

"That Jin Chanzi is exceptionally cunning!"

"He has already begun to recruit Marshal Tianpeng, General Juanlian, and the Third Prince of the Jade Dragon of the West Sea, and he is also using the scheme of ten lifetimes of cultivation and arduous journey through thousands of mountains to deceive people, which shows that he is determined to succeed."

As the saying goes, "A hero needs three helpers, and a fence needs three posts." "How could I, Huang Mei, lag behind?"

"We also need to find some helpers so that we can compete with him for the true fruit of spreading the scriptures in the East."

Mind this.

King Yellow Eyebrows bid farewell to Ananda and Kasyapa, and was pondering who could be his helper.

King Yellow Eyebrows thought to himself:

“What Guanyin Bodhisattva said is indeed reasonable.”

"The people of Jambudvipa mostly worship the Dragon God."

"Among them, the human emperor even directly called himself the 'Son of Heaven,' to show his nobility."

"Since Jin Chanzi seeks the assistance of the West Sea Dragon Clan, I also need to find a member of the Dragon Clan to help me spread the scriptures, so that I will not be at a disadvantage."

Just as I was pondering this, I suddenly heard three bells ring out, melodious and grand:
"Clang, clang, clang!"

Its sound was loud and clear, like the roar of a dragon or the howl of a lion, coming from the depths of the sacred mountain, cleansing the mind and sweeping away worldly worries.

This is the wondrous sound of the "Diamond Prajna Bell." One ring can awaken the ignorant and stubborn, two rings can break through demonic obstacles, and three rings can illuminate the cause and effect of the three lifetimes. It is truly an important Buddhist instrument.

Upon hearing this, the Yellow-Eyebrowed King's yellow eyebrows stood on end, and a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes:
"Excellent! I almost forgot about this 'bell-ringer' brother!"

"He is also a legitimate dragon, with considerable strength, and can help me succeed."

"Moreover, he carries a blood feud, isn't this exactly the perfect move for me, Huang Mei?"

Having made up his mind, he rode a yellow wind and followed the sound of the bell towards the Bell Tower of Lingshan, intending to find his virtuous brother, the "Bell Master of Lingshan," to plot a great plan together.

……

The fifth son of Ao Yuan, the Dragon King of the Jing River, was known as the "Futile Dragon".

That is, Little Crocodile's fifth brother.

For a long time, the Dragon has been stationed at Mount Ling, shouldering the important responsibility of "the Bell Keeper of Mount Ling".

There is a phrase called "morning bell and evening chime," also known as "morning bell and evening drum."

The morning bell and evening chime are the regular rituals of Buddhist temples.

At dawn, the temple bells toll gently, awakening the sleeping spirits of the world.

As dusk falls, the temple chimes echo softly, bidding farewell to the day's hustle and bustle.

Song Qi of the Song Dynasty once wrote a poem:

“The morning bell and evening chime never cease, and the green bamboo and yellow flowers shine brightly together.”

The Song Dynasty poet Lu You also left behind the following lines:

"A century of glory, a tragedy shared by all; the 'morning bell and evening drum' never cease."

In vain, Long was the "bell-ringer" of Lingshan, who was responsible for "striking the bell on Lingshan".

Huang Mei is the "Child of the Bell" under Maitreya Buddha, who strikes the bell for Maitreya Buddha.

The dragon is the one who rings the bell.

Yellow Eyebrows is the one who strikes the chime.

The duties of the Futile Dragon and the Yellow Eyebrows are similar; in large-scale rituals at Mount Ling, bells and chimes are often played in unison.

For example, in "Journey to the West," when describing the Little Thunder Temple of the Yellow-Eyebrowed King, it was said:

Suddenly, auspicious light appeared, and colorful mist filled the air. There was a pavilion and hall, and the faint sound of bells and chimes could be heard.

“The pavilions and terraces rise abruptly, the gates face the mountains, and the bells and chimes resonate slowly and melodiously.”

……

Long Sizhong and Huang Mei struck the chime in vain. The two operated the magical instruments in unison, their cooperation was perfect, and over time, they developed a deep friendship.

Fu Laolong and Huang Mei knew each other naturally and had a good relationship.

Fu Laolong can be considered one of Huang Mei's few good friends.

However, as the "Bell Keeper" of Mount Ling, Fu Laolong was very busy and had to ring the bell on time every day without any slack.

As a pageboy under Maitreya Buddha, Huangmei directly obeys Maitreya Buddha and only needs to play the chime in Maitreya Buddha's palace, so he has relatively more freedom.

Although Maitreya Buddha has his own sacred site, he also resides on Mount Ling for a long time.

such as:

When the Buddha subdued the Garuda, the three Buddhas of the past, future, and present went together.

After Maitreya Buddha subdued the Yellow-Eyebrowed King, he bid farewell to Sun Wukong and rode on auspicious clouds to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

……

then.

Huang Mei went straight to the bell tower of Lingshan and found Fu Laolong there.

……

As the "Bell Keeper" of Mount Ling, Fu Laolong's daily bell-ringing duty may seem ordinary, but it is an indispensable part of Buddhist rituals.

He was exceptionally skilled, and his supernatural powers were no less than those of some of the dragons of the four seas.

It should be noted that General Curtain-Roller accompanied Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, enduring numerous hardships, but in the end, he only managed to obtain the title of "Golden Arhat".

Ao Lie, the third prince of the Jade Dragon of the West Sea, carried Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, and then carried the scriptures to the East. He endured many hardships along the way, and in the end, he only obtained the position of "Eight Heavenly Dragon Horse Bodhisattva" at Mount Ling.

What is the purpose of this "Eight Heavenly Dragon Horse Bodhisattva"?
In the grand finale of "Journey to the West", the White Dragon Horse stretched out, shed its fur, grew new horns, and became covered in golden scales. Silver whiskers sprouted from its cheeks and chin, and it was filled with auspicious energy. With its four claws adorned with auspicious clouds, it flew out of the Dragon Transformation Pool and coiled around the towering pillar in the mountain gate.

to be honest.

Ao Lie, the third prince of the Jade Dragon of the West Sea, eventually transformed into the dragon coiled on the pillar supporting the sky in the Lingshan Mountain gate.

The white dragon horse went to "cozy up on a pillar" at the gate of Mount Ling.

However, before embarking on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, Fu Laolong had already secured his position as the "Bell Keeper" of Mount Ling.

in other words:

"Before the White Dragon Horse entered the 'Spirit Mountain System,' the Futile Dragon had already entered the 'Spirit Mountain System.'"

It is evident that Fulilong's abilities and opportunities are both extraordinary.

……

Now, let's talk about the scenic Lingshan Mountain, atop the bell tower of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

But we see:

"Glazed tiles shine in the sunlight, and purple-gold beams are adorned with dragons that exhale auspicious omens."

“The magnificent palace opens on all eight sides, and the auspicious clouds of nine layers protect the Zen gate.”

That "Vajra Prajna Bell" hangs high beneath the vermilion carved beams. It is neither copper nor iron, neither gold nor jade, but a piece of innate, strange mineral from the bottom of the Western Merit Pool. It was transformed by the great power of the Buddha and imbued with the power of incense and prayer over millions of years.

The entire Diamond Sutra is engraved on the bell, densely covered with Sanskrit characters, shimmering with golden light, and faintly emanating Buddhist radiance. Beneath the bell stands the bell-keeper of Mount Ling.

When this bell rings, its sound resounds throughout the three thousand worlds. It can awaken the ignorant and stubborn, break through demonic obstacles, and connect the causes and effects of the three lifetimes. It is truly a precious artifact of Mount Ling and a supreme treasure of Buddhism.

The bell-ringer was no ordinary monk, but the fifth son of Ao Yuan, the Dragon King of the Jing River, named "Fu Lao Long" (meaning "Dragon of Futile Labor").

This dragon was born extraordinary, indeed:
"Golden scales gleam in the sun, reflecting auspicious clouds; jade claws hover in the air, striking the sound of Buddhist chants. Silver whiskers flutter beneath the chin, shrouded in auspicious mist; wise eyes between the brows illuminate the universe."

"Originally the master of turbulent rivers, now the one who strikes the bell on sacred mountain."

In vain, Long followed the Buddha's decree to perform this duty, diligently attending to the Buddha's teachings morning and evening without the slightest negligence.

Every time the morning bell rings, its resounding sound echoes through the pines of the seventy-two peaks of Lingshan Mountain, prompting the eight classes of heavenly dragons, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas to chant mantras in unison. When the evening drum sounds, its lingering resonance allows countless monks, arhats, and novices to return to tranquility and enter into meditation.

The dragon, though titled "Dragon of the Bell-Bell of Ling Mountain," held a prestigious position, yet it was like an old steed in a mill, endlessly repeating the cycle, rarely making any progress.

Hence the name "Futile Dragon".

This day.

The dragon had just finished striking the "Dispelling Calamities Bell" at noon, and the lingering sound still echoed among the clouds, dispelling three thousand worries and awakening countless dreams.

He stood alone in the bell tower, gazing into the distance with sorrow and grief in his eyes. He stared intently at the vast sea of ​​clouds in the east, his brows furrowed with worry.

Clutching tightly the letter from the Western Sea, each word a tearful lament, it recounted the tragic news of his father, the Jinghe Dragon King Ao Yuan, being unjustly killed and buried on a desolate cliff, as well as the perilous battle his younger brother, Little Crocodile Dragon, was wrestling with the Eight Immortals of Taoism in the Western Sea.

As the son of the Jing River Dragon King, he longed to grow wings and fly back to his homeland to avenge his father and help his brother escape his predicament.

However, he was burdened with the important task of ringing the bell, and the rules of Ling Mountain were strict.

He had previously asked the Buddha for leave to return home for a sacrificial ceremony, but his request was denied.

therefore.

He could only channel all his grief and indignation into the heavy, melodious tolling of the bell.

After Fu Laolong finished ringing the bell, he sat on the bell tower in a daze, looking sad as if he had lost his parents.

"Hey……"

Just as Fu Laolong was lamenting his fate, he suddenly heard a gust of wind behind him, accompanied by a few light footsteps.

When Fu Laolong turned around, he saw a disheveled monk with yellow eyebrows and a wolf-tooth club at his waist standing behind him with a grin. Who else could it be but the yellow-browed boy who was the bell-ringer in front of Maitreya Buddha?
"Huh? It's all in vain, Brother Long!"

Huang Mei feigned surprise, strode forward, and put his arm around Fu Laolong's shoulder, saying affectionately:

Why are you sighing and looking so worried here?

"Could it be that you find the Lingshan Bell Tower too desolate, unlike the carefree Crystal Palace of your Jinghe Dragon Palace?"

"Or do you still find this bell-ringing job tedious and tasteless, wearing down your heroic spirit?"

(End of this chapter)