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

But it was too late to stop Bodhisattva Akasagarbha. Helpless, he could only sigh and use a secret method to inform Daoist Zhunti of the matter.

The Bodhisattva Akasagarbha had no idea how reckless he had been. At that moment, he was riding on auspicious clouds, heading towards Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

The Bodhisattva Akasagarbha had a solemn expression, but in his heart he was secretly calculating that if he could ask Patriarch Bodhi to take action, not only could he resolve this crisis, but he could also demonstrate the strength of the Western Sect.

Before long, they arrived outside the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. The Bodhisattva Akasagarbha straightened his clothes and stepped onto the bluestone steps.

Upon arriving at the cave entrance, they found two boys already waiting there. They bowed and said, "The Patriarch already knows the Bodhisattva's purpose and has specially ordered us to welcome him here."

Bodhisattva Akasagarbha dared not be negligent and followed the boy into the cave. There, they found a different world inside. Bodhi Patriarch sat upright on a cloud bed, with a halo appearing behind his head, illuminating the entire cave.

"Disciple Akasagarbha pays respects to Master." Bodhisattva Akasagarbha bowed respectfully, after all, this Bodhi Patriarch was the benevolent incarnation of the Daoist Zhunti.

Bodhi Patriarch slowly opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly reflecting a galaxy, and said calmly, "Do you know how reckless you have been? You have already fallen into the trap of the Chan Sect?"

A cold sweat broke out on the Bodhisattva Akasagarbha's forehead. He hurriedly said, "Master, the Chan Sect is clearly trying to make things difficult for our Buddhist sect."

"Or let those people from the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect handle this matter. The status of my Western Sect within Buddhism will be completely suppressed."

"Therefore, in my humble opinion, only by asking the Patriarch to step forward can this calamity be resolved, so that our Western Sect can regain its voice in Buddhism."

Patriarch Bodhi sighed and said, "Even if you hadn't said anything, I would have taken action myself. Even I, the Venerable One, would not have stood idly by."

"Because the ambitions of the Chan Sect are far greater than you imagine. Zheng Yuan simply wants to use the pilgrimage team to bring back all the disciples scattered in the Heavenly Court and our Buddhist sect."

"While taking it back, we must also take away the fortune of the Heavenly Court and Buddhism. In this way, we can bring about a new great prosperity for the Chan Sect."

Upon hearing this, Bodhisattva Akasagarbha trembled. After all, his perspective was limited to Buddhism; he had never imagined that someone had devised such a grand scheme.

In that instant, he finally realized how reckless he had been. He was also glad that he had sought out Patriarch Bodhi; if he had rashly gone directly to Longevity Mountain, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

He then bowed to the Bodhi Patriarch once more and said, "Master, things have come to this, what should this disciple do?"

The meaning of Bodhisattva Akasagarbha is very simple: "Since I've come all this way, I can't just go back to Mount Sumeru without doing anything. If I did that, wouldn't I be utterly humiliated?"

Patriarch Bodhi sighed and said, "What Zhen Yuanzi wants is for Huoyun Cave or Qinglian Island to go to Wanshou Mountain to ask for the person."

"Then he could use this as a pretext, under the guise of protecting the lineage of the Chan Sect, to recall his disciples scattered throughout the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist community."

"Then we will use these disciples to share the fortunes of the Heavenly Court and Buddhism, and pass on a new lineage to the human race."

"So if you go to Longevity Mountain now, you will definitely be detained by the disciples of the Chan Sect. In the end, you will be the one who makes a fool of yourself."

The Bodhisattva Akasagarbha spoke with resentment, "Could it be that even if Master goes there personally, it will be of no use?"

Bodhi Patriarch shook his head, "Even if the Buddha were to accompany me, it wouldn't change the current situation."

"Because the benevolent incarnation of the Old Ancestor Hongyun will soon be heading to Longevity Mountain to join forces with Zhenyuan Daxian to complete this plan."

This time, Bodhisattva Akasagarbha finally panicked, as he was now faced with an insurmountable predicament. In the end, he could only helplessly say, "Since that's the case, then this disciple can only return to Mount Sumeru first, and then make further plans."

At this point, Bodhisattva Akasagarbha could no longer care about saving face. After all, going to Longevity Mountain would likely be even more humiliating.

However, Patriarch Bodhi shook his head and said, "Since we have already taken on this task, we cannot start strong but finish weak."

"Go to Longevity Mountain alone and do not fight with the Chan Sect. Just persuade them to let the pilgrimage team set off."

"If the Chan Sect does not agree, then you should return directly to Mount Ling. Let Tathagata handle the rest."

Although the Bodhisattva Akasagarbha was unwilling, he still bid farewell to Patriarch Bodhi and returned to the foot of Mount Ling with a dejected look on his face.

He first sent all the people he had chosen back. Then he headed towards Longevity Mountain to carry out the instructions given by Patriarch Bodhi.

The outcome, of course, was a fruitless return, and they entered the Great Thunderclap Temple dejectedly. They then informed the Buddha of the result of their trip.

The Buddha knew that it must have been Zhenyuan Daxian who secretly instructed the Bodhisattva Akasagarbha. Therefore, he did not hold the Bodhisattva Akasagarbha accountable for this matter.

He simply turned to look at Guanyin Bodhisattva and said, "Venerable Guanyin, we still need you to make this trip."

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded and left Daleiyin Temple directly, heading towards Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.

Even Bodhisattva Akasagarbha knew that one couldn't directly confront the Chan Sect. How could Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara possibly turn against the Chan Sect directly?

Upon seeing Zhenyuan Daxian, he immediately said, "Zhenyuan Daxian, what would it take for you to let the pilgrimage team continue their journey?"

Zhenyuan Daxian snorted coldly and said, "First, compensate me for the ginseng fruit tree and make the pilgrimage team receive the punishment they deserve. At the same time, agree to the previous demands of the Chan Sect."

"Don't worry, I will never take their lives. At most, I will give each of them three hundred lashes. Then I will make them go west again."

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded, "Then please allow this humble monk to see Tang Sanzang, Zhenyuan Daxian."

Zhenyuan Daxian nodded, then pointed at the sky, causing the Heavenly Dao to make way for Guanyin Bodhisattva, who arrived before the golden bridge formed by the Taiji diagram.

Upon seeing Guanyin Bodhisattva arrive, Tang Sanzang hurriedly bowed and said, "Bodhisattva, you have finally come. If you hadn't come, my master and I would have been trapped and died on Longevity Mountain."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said expressionlessly, "It wasn't your monkey that caused this trouble. Quickly return the ginseng fruit tree, and this humble monk will beg Zhenyuan Daxian to let you go on your way."

Sun Wukong immediately said, "Bodhisattva, you can't wrong me. The one I knocked down was just a fake ginseng fruit tree; I didn't see the real one."

Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Sun Wukong and then said, "Since that's the case, you shall come with me to see Zhenyuan Daxian. As long as what you say is true, I will naturally not let anyone wrong you."

Sun Wukong nodded without hesitation, then handed over control of the Taiji Diagram to Zhu Bajie, and in a flash appeared beside Guanyin Bodhisattva.

First, they bowed to Guanyin Bodhisattva, then went together to Wuzhuang Temple to argue with Zhenyuan Daxian. (End of Chapter)