Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Houtu nodded and then said, "If Buddhism wants to spread the Dharma to the East, it needs to use my Six Paths of Reincarnation to allow the pilgrims to reincarnate ten times."

"But the Six Paths of Reincarnation in my Nine Netherworld are not prepared for any particular sect. If your Western Buddhism wants to accomplish this, shouldn't you also show some attitude?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva naturally knew that Houtu was doing this to deceive others. After all, in this cycle of reincarnation, it's inevitable that other forces would have eyes and ears.

So she spoke directly, "I wonder what attitude Your Majesty thinks our Buddhist sect should take?"

Houtu didn't stand on ceremony and said directly, "My Nine Netherworld needs 30% of the fortune for the eastward transmission of Buddhism. If you can't make that decision, hurry back and ask Zhunti and Jieyin."

"At the same time, please pass on a message for me: if they don't agree, I can't guarantee what will happen to Jin Chanzi after his reincarnation."

As they spoke, someone stepped forward and took away Jin Chanzi's true spirit. However, instead of letting it directly enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation, it was sent to the Pingxin Hall.

In the eyes of others, Houtu was taking this opportunity to extort money from Buddhism. She even detained Jin Chanzi's spirit as a bargaining chip.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's face also showed a troubled expression. In the end, she could only reluctantly return to Mount Sumeru in the West to report.

When the Buddha learned of this, he couldn't help but think to himself, "Uncle Houtu is as unreliable as ever, demanding three-tenths of the merit right off the bat. Isn't this cutting into the flesh of Buddhism?"

Recalling her time on Qinglian Island, Houtu would often run back from the Nine Netherworld to wreak havoc on her grandmaster's vegetable garden. It's not surprising that she could say such a thing.

Although he chuckled inwardly, his expression turned incredibly grim. He spoke directly, "However, this humble monk cannot make the decision either. I can only go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to see Amitabha Buddha and Cundi Bodhisattva."

After saying this, the Buddha went to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, leaving this difficult problem to the Bodhisattvas Amitabha and Cundi.

The Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is not located on the Western Paradise, but rather within the chaos. It was established by the two Buddhas of the West using their great magical power after the Investiture of the Gods.

It wasn't that they didn't want to stay in the primordial world, but rather that the sages of humanity wouldn't allow it. Unless they were willing to submit to humanity, as sages of the heavenly way, they would have to go to the chaos to establish their own dojos.

After much negotiation, Emperor Jun finally allowed the Heavenly Sage to leave behind an avatar to manage the sect's affairs in the prehistoric world.

Therefore, not only are the two Western monks not in the prehistoric world, but even Zhen Yuanzi only left behind a self-incarnated Zhen Yuan Daxian to sit in the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.

Upon entering the Pure Land, the Buddha bowed and said, "Disciple Shakyamuni has important matters to discuss with Amitabha Buddha and Cundi Buddha Mother."

The moment the Buddha entered the Pure Land, Jieyin and Zhunti sensed it. They immediately led him into the main hall of the temple and asked him questions.

"Now that the great calamity of the Journey to the West has begun, is there something you cannot decide and need to see this humble monk for?"

The Buddha nodded and then relayed Houtu's request to the two true Buddhas of Buddhism.

Upon hearing that Houtu actually wanted three-tenths of her merit, Zhunti Daoist was so enraged that he cursed loudly. He was practically ready to go directly to the Nine Netherworld to confront Houtu.

The reason he didn't go wasn't because he couldn't, but because he would only be making a fool of himself. After all, none of the Twelve Sages of the Path would reason with him.

Not only would he not reason with him, he might even beat him up. So, Master Zhunti would never actually do something so shameful and embarrassing.

Helpless, he looked at the Guide and said, "Senior brother, do we really have to agree to Houtu's request? That's a full three-tenths of our merit!" "If we lose those three-tenths of our merit, causing the Buddha and the Dao to fail to awaken, the consequences would be truly unimaginable."

The Guide was also in a dilemma, unsure of what to do. After all, three-tenths of one's merit was no small sum.

Left with no other choice, he went to Zixiao Palace in person and presented this difficult problem to Hongjun, leaving the final decision to him.

When Hongjun learned of this, he was not surprised. He even said to the Daoist guide, "The difficulties of the Nine Netherworld are easy to deal with, but the difficulties of the human world are what will be most troublesome for you."

"After all, the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi cannot complete the eastward transmission of Buddhism without the support of human kings. In fact, the support of the human race is the key to the great Journey to the West."

"At that time, Di Xin will definitely make exorbitant demands, and even 30% of the merit may not be enough to satisfy him."

Upon hearing Hongjun's words, the Guide Daoist's face turned extremely ugly. He almost blurted out to Hongjun, "If all the merits have been distributed to them, what's the point of going on the pilgrimage?"

Seeing the Guide's expression, as if his own father had died, Hongjun frowned, wondering how he had ended up taking in such useless disciples.

If it were truly possible, Hongjun would love to expel all these useless fellows from the sect. Unfortunately, Hongjun dared not do so, since the tasks ahead still needed to be handled by these good-for-nothings.

He immediately said, "It's just a small amount of merit. What impact will it have on the awakening of Buddhism and Taoism? What harm is there in giving it to them?"

"What we need now is to awaken Buddhism and Taoism, not to make Buddhism the master of the primordial world. What difference does it make whether we have the merits of the Journey to the West or not?"

“If you can’t even distinguish between what is important and what is not, then you are not qualified to be a spokesperson for Buddhism and Taoism.”

The Guide was taken aback upon hearing this, but then he understood the meaning behind Hongjun's words.

Indeed, the revival of Buddhism and Taoism does not rely on so-called merit, but on genuine fortune.

While accumulating merit can help Buddhism and cultivate a few near-saints, it cannot awaken Buddhism and Taoism.

Otherwise, Hongjun would have directly bestowed boundless merit upon Buddhism in his capacity as the Heavenly Dao. Wouldn't Jieyin and Zhunti then have become the direct representatives of Buddhism and Taoism?
Therefore, the key is still fortune, and the way to obtain fortune is to gain the recognition of Buddhism in the primordial world. Only by gaining recognition can one obtain sufficient fortune.

Even so, the Guide Daoist still felt a pang of reluctance. After all, he and his fellow disciple had truly suffered from poverty.

Finally, reluctantly, he said, "Thank you, Master, for clearing up my doubts. I know what to do. I will have someone agree to Houtu's request."

The moment the Guide Daoist uttered those words, Hongjun nearly died of anger. He spoke with a look of utter disappointment and frustration.

"If you agree directly, aren't you telling others that Buddhism doesn't care how much merit you gain this time?"

"If Buddhism doesn't care about merit, why does it still spread Buddhism eastward? Do you think those shrewd people can't understand the key point?"

The Guide was feeling aggrieved, thinking to himself, "You're the one who gives it to me, and you're the one who doesn't. Can't you just give me a straight answer?" (End of Chapter)