Journey to the West: Great Saint Equal to Heaven

Sandalwood Merit Buddha was stunned, kneeling there, at a loss what to do.

He thought he had persuaded Sun Wukong, but that was merely what he believed.

Only when the Jingu Bang pressed upon his shoulders did Sandalwood Merit Buddha realize that what Sun Wukong had said that day was not said in jest.

He had never imagined that he would one day kneel before the other.

Feeling the pressure transmitted from the Jingu Bang, along with the increasingly intense murderous intent emanating from Sun Wukong.

Sandalwood Merit Buddha compromised, preparing to call out "Great Sage Equalling Heaven."

Just at this moment, Altar Cleanser stepped forward.

He stared at Sun Wukong and said, "Monkey, you've gone too far. A teacher for a day is like a father for a lifetime, how can you make your teacher kneel before you?"

Boom.

That was the sound of the staff whipping through the air.

Sun Wukong swung his staff directly toward Altar Cleanser.

Altar Cleanser had not expected that the monkey would strike as soon as he spoke.

He could only manage to call out his Nine-Toothed Rake just in time to shield himself.

Clang.

A loud noise echoed as Altar Cleanser was sent flying like a cannonball.

"Second Junior Brother."

Six-Eared Macaque exclaimed in shock, his face showing anger as he stared at Sun Wukong and roared, "Rascal Monkey, you dare to injure my second junior brother, I will take your life."

As he spoke, Golden Arhat and Little White Dragon also stepped forward.

They surrounded Sun Wukong.

Altar Cleanser flew back from afar, his expression fierce as he smashed his Nine-Toothed Rake directly at Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong casually blocked the attack.

Then he couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

"How deep the bond between teacher and disciples is, haha."

His tone was indescribably mocking, leaving all the gods, immortals, and demons present speechless.

Sandalwood Merit Buddha had a complex expression, but at this moment, his gaze at Sun Wukong was filled with more resentment than ever.

He could never forgive this rascal monkey for causing him such a great embarrassment.

Sandalwood Merit Buddha's expression turned cold, and he stood up and said indifferently, "Wukong, it is you who have disregarded the bond between us, not this humble monk who refused to reconcile with you. Since this is the case, don't blame us for not being courteous. Disciples, seize this rascal monkey for me, destroy his physical body, and cast his primordial spirit into the Nine Netherworlds, never to be reborn."

"Yes, following the teacher's commands."

Together, Six-Eared Macaque and the others echoed in unison.

Originally, Six-Eared Macaque alone facing Sun Wukong, he had no confidence,

but now, with the support of Eight Precepts and the other two, he instantly felt emboldened.

He had once fought Sun Wukong to a standstill; even if that wasn't Sun Wukong's true strength, he believed he wasn't far off from Sun Wukong.

Especially after becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha, his powers had advanced to an extremely high level.

Even if he alone was no match for Sun Wukong, with the other three, it surely wouldn't be a problem.

Everyone watching this scene felt a sense of irony.

Sun Wukong's expression remained unchanged; he knew better than anyone what kind of person Sandalwood Merit Buddha was.

Cowardly and timid, quick to absolve himself from any trouble that arose.

To expect such a man to be capable of deep feelings was out of the question.

The reaction of Sandalwood Merit Buddha was entirely within his expectations.

He couldn't be bothered to waste words and pressed his staff downward.

And so, the battle began.

But it ended quickly.

Sun Wukong alone, with a staff, sent Zhu Bajie and the others flying, then faced Six-Eared Macaque alone.

The Victorious Fighting Buddha of the legends, under his hand, was as if made of paper.

With just two strikes, he ended his life.

Until his death, the Six-Eared Macaque couldn't believe the gap between himself and Sun Wukong was so vast.

"Worthless."

Spitting out saliva, Sun Wukong laughed heartily.

The Sandalwood Merit Buddha's legs trembled, his face pale, nearly fainting.

His four disciples were so incapable, unable to withstand even a single assault from that monkey.

At this moment, within Mount Ling, aside from those Gods, Immortals, and Demons who had just pledged their allegiance, he was the only one left.

If Sun Wukong were to take action, he wouldn't even have the power to resist.

Although he held a Buddha seat and possessed mana, he was not versed in combat and certainly couldn't block even one strike from Sun Wukong's staff.

Seeing Sun Wukong's gaze falling upon him.

The Sandalwood Merit Buddha's legs went soft, and he knelt directly on the ground.

"Grandpa Sun, please spare my life."

Sun Wukong shook his head, expressing with some lament, "How could Old Sun ever recognize you, a despicable person, as my master? It is simply the disgrace of my life."

He turned and left, ultimately not lifting a finger against him.

Yet the Sandalwood Merit Buddha seemed as if he had not heard Sun Wukong's words.

Seeing Sun Wukong depart, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and revealed a smile of having survived a calamity, finally escaping a disaster.

The Altar Cleanser and the others had just come back and witnessed this scene.

He said with some annoyance, "Master, how could you do such a thing? Where is there a master who kneels before his own disciple? If word spreads, it would tarnish our reputations for no reason."

The Sandalwood Merit Buddha didn't care in the slightest, placing his hands together in prayer, his countenance dignified as he chanted, "All merits and demerits, honor, and disgrace are to me like fleeting clouds passing by the eyes; they do not linger in the heart, why should we care? Eight Precepts, you are being too attached."

After saying this, his eyes shone brightly as he exclaimed, "Today, this monk has gained a thorough understanding of these truths, and my Buddhist law has greatly advanced. In the future, I will surely reach greater heights, and not let down the Buddha."

Everyone twitched at the corners of their mouths, wanting to ask the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, where was his shame?

The Six-Eared Macaque was dead, and all the Gods, Immortals, and Demons were about to disperse.

They had originally come for the Six-Eared Macaque, hoping to rely on the name of the Victorious Fighting Buddha to survive in this chaotic world.

Now that the Victorious Fighting Buddha had perished, there was naturally no need for them to stay any longer.

"Everyone, please wait."

A gentle voice arose.

All of the Ten Directions World was shaken.

The faces of the Sandalwood Merit Buddha and others changed.

There was only one person in the Buddhist Sect with such authority.

The Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, the Right Attendant of the Amitabha Buddha from the Pure Land.

With immense might, each movement shook the entire Ten Directions World.

He, along with the Supreme Honored Buddha Amitabha Buddha and the Left Attendant, The Bodhisattva Guanyin, was known as one of the three saints of the west.

"What brings the Bodhisattva from the Pure Land to our Mount Ling?"

The Altar Cleanser spoke, his eyes cold.

Since the Tathagata had entered Nirvana, many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Mount Ling had left.

Earlier, with the Victorious Fighting Buddha in charge, they could still maintain the facade.

Now, with the Victorious Fighting Buddha slain, his master, the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, was the only one left with a Buddha seat.

But, with the character of the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, could he really support Mount Ling?

The Altar Cleanser had never doubted his master before.

Because the Sandalwood Merit Buddha certainly couldn't hold it together.

Now that the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva had come, although he was called a Bodhisattva, he was known as one of the three saints of the west; his real might and status were even higher than that of the Sandalwood Merit Buddha.

The status of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva was only second to that of The Bodhisattva Guanyin, with Manjusri, Samantabhadra, and Ksitigarbha all ranking behind him.

He even had the title of the third Buddha.

"Since Tathagata Buddha has entered Nirvana, now our Pure Land shall take charge of Mount Ling and command the Buddhist Realm," said the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.

His gaze swept over the Gods, Immortals, and Demons present and asked, "Are you willing to take refuge in our Pure Land?"