Primordial Era: Refusing Hongjun's path to sainthood, I attained the Dao of Hunyuan.

Chapter 182 The Great Flourishing of Buddhism

Moreover, it wasn't just disciples of the Chan Sect who converted to Buddhism; in addition, many independent practitioners throughout the Three Realms joined Buddhism.

For example, Lu Ya, the son of the Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Clan, also converted to Buddhism and was given the title of Great Sun Tathagata Buddha.

Besides that, what was rather unexpected was that Hongyun appeared once again, taking Wuliang Daoren with him on their journey to the West.

Hongyun also entered the Buddhist order and transformed into the third Buddha of Buddhism, whose status was equal to that of Amitabha Buddha and Cundi Buddha Mother. He was the Worldly King of Freedom Buddha.

Wuliang Daoren, who had always followed Hongyun, also entered Buddhism and became a Buddha, but he became the Buddha of Infinite Life and Light.

Hongyun was the Buddha of Freedom in the world, and received one-third of the fortune of Buddhism as offerings. At that time, he said to the two saints, "When Buddhism flourishes, that will be the day I attain enlightenment."

The two Western Saints were more pleased than saddened by Hongyun's joining them. Although the West had a great opportunity to prosper, they also had many rivals.

With Hongyun joining, they not only gained an equally powerful ally, but also had allies like Xuanhuang, Zhenyuanzi, and Kongxuan behind him.

Even if the Three Pure Ones want to cause them trouble, they will no longer have the advantage in terms of strength.

As for tactics, how could they possibly lose to others?

Therefore, although Hongyun became the Buddha of Freedom in the world and took away a share of the fortune, both saints were happy with it.

After the Western religion was converted into Buddhism, many powerful figures joined it, and it began to flourish.

What's even more remarkable is that while the two Western saints reformed the religion, they also changed its doctrines. The doctrines of Buddhism, compared to those of the Western religion, were superior and laid a more solid foundation for its great prosperity.

However, Buddhism's immense power angered the Sage Taiqing. Soon after, the Sage Taiqing sent his avatar to the mortal realm again, bringing with him Duobao Daoren, the chief disciple of the Jie Sect who had been captured in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.

When the Sage Taiqing passed through Hangu Pass, he wrote the Tao Te Ching. Then he converted the barbarians into Buddhists, and made Duobao Daoren enter Buddhism, becoming Duobao Tathagata Buddha, thus establishing Mahayana Buddhism.

This was used to divide the fortunes of Buddhism.

Lao Tzu hadn't expected that, firstly, the two Western Saints were inherently intelligent, and secondly, Duobao harbored even greater resentment towards Taiqing than the two Western Saints.

Therefore, not long after, Duobao was once again recruited by the two Western Saints, and Mahayana Buddhism was also swallowed up by the Buddhist community.

This also brought the Buddhist doctrines to complete perfection, much to the delight of the two Western Saints. Originally, with their wisdom, they could not have perfected the Buddhist doctrines, but with the help of the Supreme Saint, the foremost of the saints, the Buddhist doctrines had gained an invincible power that could dominate the world.

Because the ultimate Buddhist teachings are about guiding people towards goodness, which can help oneself and all sentient beings.

However, the two Western Saints did not come without a price in order to recruit Duobao; they directly relinquished their positions as the current leaders of Buddhism to Duobao.

Duobao also benefited greatly. Not only did he gain nearly half of the Buddhist fortune, but he also absorbed the essence of the three religions of Jie, Ren, and Buddhism. As a result, his Taoist cultivation increased day by day, making him a top-level existence in the Three Realms.

In an era when no saints appeared, even many veteran quasi-saints probably wouldn't dare say they completely surpassed him.

After Duobao ascended to the position, he did not waste the sacrifice of the two Western Saints. He spread the teachings extensively, not only among the human race but also among thousands of other races. He followed the teachings of the Jie Sect, which was inclusive and accessible to all living beings.

The influence of Buddhism gradually extended its reach to all parts of the primordial world, both in the heavens and on the earth.

One of the most notable instances was when Buddhism attempted to spread its teachings in the underworld, resulting in a conflict with the River Styx.

In that battle, Duobao demonstrated his profound mastery of the three teachings for the first time in front of everyone.

Despite Styx Daoist's superior cultivation, he was no match for Duobao. In the end, after Duobao retrieved the Saint's artifact, Styx Daoist could only swallow his pride and retreat back into the Netherworld Blood Sea.

Duobao dared not go too far, after all, the Styx River was protected by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Venerable. Therefore, Duobao only sent a woman to transform into a Bodhisattva in the Netherworld, named Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who declared, "I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty."

This vow is indeed too grand, to the point that he may never become a Buddha in his lifetime. However, such a great ambition has greatly enhanced his strength. Although he is not a Buddha, his strength is no less than that of many Buddhas.

In addition, Duobao converted another group of Asuras back to Buddhism, adding to the existing seven groups: Devas, Nagas, Yakshas, ​​Gandharvas, Garudas, Kinnaras, and Mahoragas.

This is how the Eight Legions of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils came to be.

As time passed, Buddhism grew increasingly powerful, and during this period, as the Five Saints took turns opening up chaos and expanding the void of the universe in that remote corner of the cosmos, the innate spiritual energy between heaven and earth gradually increased.

The cultivation of sentient beings has gradually become easier than before, and many have attained enlightenment.

One day, on Mount Sumeru in the west, which is now also called Mount Ling, there is an Eight Treasures Merit Pool and a temple called the Great Thunder Temple.

On this day, the Buddha Prabhutaratna was teaching the Dharma when he suddenly stopped and turned to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and others, saying, "The day when Buddhism will flourish is finally approaching."

Upon hearing this, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas present immediately inquired about the reason.

The Tathagata of Many Treasures then briefly explained the reason, which startled all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and other Buddhist disciples present.

"Without a great calamity, how can there be a great flourishing? This is ordained by Heaven, which is why Buddhism is destined to prosper during this great calamity. Do not doubt it!"

The Tathagata of Many Treasures then gave instructions to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to carry out the plan he had long ago.

At the same time, the great calamity was approaching, and the heavenly secrets were stirred. The saints living outside the Thirty-Three Heavens, as well as the Primordial Golden Immortals, naturally all sensed it.

In the Xuanhuang Heaven, Xuanhuang and Kong Xuan exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh, "Six Ears (Senior Brother) is ready to attain enlightenment."

……

Now, in the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory, there was the country of Aolai, a small and insignificant country of the human race.

Beyond Aolai lies the sea, and not far from the sea stands a famous mountain called Huaguo Mountain.

This mountain is the ancestral vein of the ten continents and the source of the three islands, a place of exceptional beauty and spiritual energy. On that mountain lies a celestial stone, long since conceived, a leftover piece from when Nuwa mended the sky. She casually tossed it down and it fell into this place, where it lay dormant for countless years.

This immortal stone was several feet tall and had formed nine orifices and eight holes, arranged according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams. There were no trees or flowers around it, indicating that all the spiritual energy had been absorbed into the immortal stone.

This immortal stone, after a long period of gestation, was about to be born. It was born in accordance with destiny and in accordance with calamity, and was destined to be the protagonist of this great calamity.

On this day, the weather was fine and sunny, but suddenly, the celestial stone cracked open, revealing a celestial embryo inside. After bursting open, a stone monkey was born, complete with facial features and limbs.

This stone monkey was precisely the last missing piece: the Spiritual Stone Monkey. The Spiritual Stone Monkey was capable of transformation, understood the seasons, knew the advantages of the land, and could move stars and change constellations.

This stone monkey was born with a pair of divine eyes that could see through illusions. As soon as it was born, two golden beams of light shot out from its eyes, piercing the heavens.

Looking up at the heavens and down at the underworld, it instantly attracted the attention of countless people.

However, this stone monkey was born extraordinary. Not only was it blessed with powerful fortune, but almost any expert who knew a little about the art of observing qi could see it with the naked eye. Moreover, in addition to its powerful fortune, it was also accompanied by a calamity.

Coupled with the current signs of a great calamity, anyone who saw this stone monkey couldn't help but gasp in shock.

(End of this chapter)