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

When Manjushri saw his master confronting the Human Emperor, the glimmer of hope that had just risen in his heart vanished completely once again.

After all, Zhenyuan Daxian was merely the benevolent incarnation of Zhenyuanzi, and his cultivation was only at the Quasi-Saint level. Di Xin, on the other hand, was a genuine Human Saint. If a fight broke out, Zhenyuan Daxian would undoubtedly be defeated.

Even Manjushri Bodhisattva knew this, so how could Zhenyuan Daxian not know? His eyes, as he looked at Di Xin, were filled with endless resentment and unwillingness.

Even so, Zhenyuan Daxian simply didn't have the courage to actually fight Di Xin. After all, that would be no different from courting humiliation.

Just as tensions were rising, a Taoist appeared out of thin air. He was none other than the benevolent incarnation of the Taoist Zhunti, the Patriarch Bodhi.

Bodhi Patriarch bowed to Zhenyuan Daxian and Di Xin, and then said, "Why should you two fellow Daoists get upset over such a trivial matter?"

"The journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is a destiny ordained by Heaven. Various forces need to send people to create difficulties on the journey. Only when all eighty-one tribulations are completed can Tang Sanzang obtain the true scriptures."

"If things always escalate to this point, who will send their disciples to help Tang Sanzang? Wouldn't the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures become a complete waste?"

Di Xin snorted and said, "The journey to the West is a matter for your Buddhist sect. What does it have to do with my human race? I almost said it, but in the end, we still have to listen to the person in charge. We just need to not interfere."

Sun Wukong scoffed upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "What a hypocrite, this emperor who tries to smooth things over. He says he doesn't care, but he's just dumping everything on me."

However, Sun Wukong didn't forget to cooperate with Di Xin, and instead raised his Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel) and addressed the crowd.

"I have no objection to making things difficult for the journey to the West. In fact, I will need your help to subdue the demons at critical moments."

"After all, they are all disciples of these seniors, so it wouldn't be right for me, Old Sun, to just kill them directly, would it?"

"But this scoundrel has resorted to framing and falsely accusing others. Unless it's just a simple matter of creating difficulties, there must be some other motive behind it."

"If he is not punished, disciples from all sides will follow suit when faced with difficulties. How can this Journey to the West possibly succeed?"

As he spoke, Sun Wukong glanced towards the East Sea. It was as if he were telling Bodhi Patriarch and Zhenyuan Daxian that if Qinglian Island did the same, they would be in deep trouble.

Although everyone understood the meaning behind Sun Wukong's final glance, they had no choice but to stop him, lest the consequences be disastrous.

Zhenyuan Daxian directly sent a secret message to Bodhi Patriarch, instructing him to find a way to delay Di Xin while he took the opportunity to snatch Manjushri Bodhisattva away.

Although Patriarch Bodhi did not want to fight Di Xin, there was no other way at this point. Otherwise, Buddhism would truly lose face.

But at this critical moment, a Buddhist decree suddenly appeared in the heavens, and the Buddha of Guidance also appeared in mid-air.

"Guanyin, Sun Wukong, I, the Buddha, command you to escort this fiend to the Great Thunderclap Temple. I, the Buddha, will personally interrogate this fiend and give Guanyin an explanation. At the same time, I also want to warn all forces that while it is permissible to create difficulties for the Journey to the West, they must not harbor any other intentions."

At the same time, the Buddha of Guidance secretly transmitted a message to Zhen Yuanzi and Bodhi Patriarch, telling them that he had arranged everything and that they had nothing to worry about.

Upon seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi sighed and bowed to the Buddha of Guidance, saying, "Since that's the case, then this humble Taoist will no longer participate in this matter."

"However, if this matter is not handled properly, then you should not come to my Chan Sect again for any future difficulties related to the Journey to the West. My Chan Sect will no longer concern itself with matters related to the Journey to the West."

After saying that, he went straight back to Longevity Mountain. He didn't pay any more attention to the Manjushri Bodhisattva statue that he was gazing at.

Bodhi Patriarch bid farewell to the Guide and headed towards Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. As for Emperor Xin, he immediately ordered the tour to continue. Then, he led the civil and military officials of the Shang Dynasty away in a grand procession.

This scene was naturally displayed completely in the sky by the Kunlun Mirror, allowing all primordial beings to see it clearly.

Di Xin's appearance drew cheers and jubilation from countless humans. Some even knelt down and paid their respects with great devotion.

In an instant, the entire prehistoric world was abuzz with excitement. After all, today's events were enough to demonstrate the human race's right to speak in the prehistoric world.

As the three departed, the Buddha himself led the way. Together with Sun Wukong and Guanyin Bodhisattva, he escorted the ashen-faced Manjushri towards the Western Paradise.

……

Inside the Great Thunderclap Temple, the Buddha gazed at the scene reflected in the water mirror, his fingertips twitching slightly, remaining silent. The Bodhisattvas and Arhats on either side held their breath, knowing that this calamity facing Buddhism today was likely to be difficult to overcome.

Before long, Sun Wukong, carrying Manjushri Bodhisattva, entered the Great Thunderclap Temple. He symbolically bowed to the Buddha, then slammed Manjushri Bodhisattva heavily to the ground.

“Buddha, the old monk Sanzang and I have traveled a long way to the Great Thunderclap Temple to obtain the scriptures. Yet you have invited such wicked people to make things difficult for the old monk.”

"If it weren't for me seeing through his wicked scheme, not only would the precious Buddhist robe be lost, but even Guanyin Bodhisattva would probably be framed because of it."

"So if you don't give me an explanation today, I'll take the old monk Sanzang back to the Tang Dynasty tomorrow. Let whoever wants to take the scriptures take them; we're not doing this anymore."

As he spoke, Sun Wukong sat down on the steps, throwing a tantrum. Even the Buddha could only shake his head and sigh helplessly.

He immediately said, "I am already aware of this matter, and I have already devised a solution that will definitely satisfy you."

“This scoundrel harbors wicked intentions. Although he is a disciple of the Chan Sect, he lacks the magnanimity of an immortal. Today, he will be cast into the Nine Netherworld for reincarnation, so that he may be reborn and start anew.”

This was the plan devised by the Buddha Tathagata and the Buddha of Amitabha. On the surface, it was to allow Manjushri Bodhisattva to reincarnate and cultivate again, but in reality, it was to conceal his identity and pull off a clever deception.

They can just find someone to take the blame in the netherworld, and Manjushri Bodhisattva will be exonerated. Buddhism won't lose too much face.

But Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "That sounds nice, reincarnation and cultivation. It's just a matter of a few decades."

"Then the Chan Sect can just give him some kind of elixir, and he'll regain his memories and cultivation. Will he suffer any real punishment?"

Sun Wukong paused for a moment, then said, "I won't make things difficult for you. Let him go to the eighteenth level of hell and suffer all the punishments for ten thousand years. Then he can be reincarnated and start over."

Sun Wukong naturally understood that everything had to be done in moderation. Moreover, his goal was not to get an explanation from the Buddha.

The Buddha sighed and said, "Ten thousand years is too long. Let him be punished in the eighteenth level of hell for a thousand years."

Sun Wukong frowned upon hearing this, but finally nodded and said, "In that case, let me do it for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Wukong swung his golden cudgel. Before anyone could react, Manjushri Bodhisattva's skull was smashed open. (End of Chapter)