Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

For Eastern Temple, the personal descent of Tathagata is a very rare occurrence.

After all, there is always a certain rivalry between Tathagata and Maitreya Buddha, so for Tathagata's sudden appearance at Eastern Temple, countless monks secretly speculated.

What is the purpose of Tathagata's actions?

However, no one knew the reason, because after entering Eastern Temple, Tathagata and Medicine Buddha entered the main hall of Eastern Temple, and all the usual idlers were dismissed.

Only Tathagata, Medicine Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, and Yuanling remained.

Clearly, Tathagata's visit involved very confidential matters for discussion, thus not allowing others nearby.

Tathagata and Maitreya Buddha quietly sat on the Lotus Platform, naturally his gaze fell on Yuanling.

He indicated that he had very important matters to discuss, yet Maitreya Buddha left such a child by his side?

"May I ask Maitreya Buddha, who is this child? Quite talented, at such a young age, he has already attained Bodhi..."

Understanding that Tathagata must be astonished, Medicine Buddha promptly inquired on behalf of Tathagata.

"This child is named Yuanling, originally the boy under Guanyin, accidentally seen by me and greatly liked, possessing remarkable aptitude, so I've kept him by my side and accepted him as my disciple!" Hearing Medicine Buddha's inquiry, Maitreya Buddha replied.

Well, Maitreya Buddha is willing to keep him by his side, which is enough to show that he is trustworthy.

Moreover, now he is Maitreya Buddha's disciple, having followed Guanyin previously, which indeed makes him trustworthy.

"Yes, you have good insight, this child's aptitude is indeed extraordinary!" Tathagata spoke, glancing at Yuanling with praise.

"Naturally! This child appears to be the reincarnation of the Ancient Great God Hongyun!" Hearing Tathagata's praise, Maitreya Buddha smiled slightly, somewhat boastfully.

"Great God Hongyun!?" Hearing this, even Tathagata's expression changed.

Who is Great God Hongyun? He was, apart from the Six Sages, the only one who received the Hongmeng Purple Qi!

Although due to Hongmeng Purple Qi, Hongyun ultimately perished, as a listener at Zixiao Palace who once held Hongmeng Purple Qi, his identity and status naturally cannot be underestimated.

More significantly, Hongyun's identity holds entirely different significance for the Buddhist Sect.

At first, at Zixiao Palace lectures, Great God Hongyun voluntarily stood up and ceded a position to Sect Master Jieyin, enabling him to achieve sainthood!

The causal connection is immense!

Though with the demise of Great God Hongyun, that karma disappeared.

However, if this young man is truly the reincarnation of Great God Hongyun, then the entire Buddhist Sect owes him great karma, right!?

"Amida Buddha, may I ask, is this true?" Regarding the Great God Hongyun matter, Tathagata dared not take it lightly, and after a moment, he collected his stunned expression and inquired of Maitreya Buddha.

"Off by eight or nine out of ten!" Maitreya Buddha replied.

Nodding slightly, Tathagata naturally trusted these words.

If not certain, surely Maitreya Buddha would not joke about such times.

"May I ask, Buddha, what brings you here today?" After revealing Yuanling's identity, having shown off a bit, Maitreya Buddha asked Tathagata.

"Today, I've come to discuss the Journey to the West for Scriptures with you!" Hearing Maitreya Buddha's words, Tathagata collected himself momentarily and steered the topic to its primary matter, speaking directly.

"The Journey to the West for Scriptures? Discuss what!?" Upon hearing this, Maitreya Buddha's brow raised slightly.

Though the Journey to the West for Scriptures was hellishly difficult in his view, he was still its coordinator, right?

Suddenly, Tathagata wants to discuss it? Is he preparing to seize power?

"Naturally, we will discuss the Journey to the West Team!"

Tathagata said: "The current strength of the Journey to the West Team has shaken the Three Realms and Six Paths, even the mysterious figures cannot prevail, presumably the tribulations on the Journey to the West are increasingly difficult, right?"

"What Buddha said is indeed correct, however, entrusted by the sect leaders, as the coordinator of this Journey to the West task, I will undoubtedly strive with utmost diligence!" Maitreya Buddha did not deny Tathagata's words but also expressed his determination.

What does Maitreya Buddha mean by this? Tathagata was no fool and naturally understood.

His subconscious message was clear: The coordination work for the Journey to the West was entrusted to me by the sect leaders, the Lord and the Teacher. No matter the hardship, I will persevere. You need not worry about this.

"Alas..." Understanding the hidden meaning in Maitreya Buddha's words, Tathagata sighed softly in his heart.

My purpose in coming here is for the Journey to the West work, for the entire Buddhist Sect, and I have no intention of competing with you.

However, it seems Maitreya Buddha is afraid that I will seize power!

"You seem to have misunderstood. Today, I am here because I am impressed by the recent strength surge of the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team. I have assessed that creating calamities is now increasingly difficult, so I wanted to inquire if there's anything I can assist with?" Tathagata said to Maitreya Buddha.

"Just to ask if I need help?" Maitreya Buddha looked at Tathagata in surprise and asked.

Of course, there's a part left unsaid: aren't you in charge of the Journey to the West for Scriptures?

"Yes! If there's anything that needs help, this scripture-seeking matter is the concern of the whole Buddhist Sect. I naturally have no intention of standing by idly. Of course, if you can truly handle it yourself, then I just made this trip for nothing today!" Tathagata nodded, his expression appearing sincere.

Serious eyes focused on Tathagata, observing his expression; indeed, it seemed purely to help, not to seize power.

After pondering for a moment, Maitreya Buddha slightly nodded and said, "As Buddha said, the strength of the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team has indeed grown tremendously. Creating calamities is truly difficult. Do you have any thoughts, Buddha?"

"Regarding this point, I have indeed thought about it carefully!" Tathagata nodded upon hearing the words.

"I am eager to hear the details!" Maitreya Buddha asked after Tathagata spoke.

"At the beginning of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, Xuanzang's cultivation level was low, so creating calamities was very simple. It just required targeting Xuanzang, capturing him alive or secretly, and it would count as successfully creating a calamity!" Tathagata explained, outlining the first half of the Journey to the West for Scriptures.

"Indeed, that's quite true!" Maitreya Buddha nodded in agreement.

Not interrupting further, he continued watching Tathagata, clearly more concerned about the present situation than the past one: what should be done now?

"Now, with the significant improvement in Xuanzang and others' cultivation levels, creating calamities through force is a suboptimal strategy. Therefore, we should use wisdom!" Tathagata continued, stating.

"Use wisdom? Given that logic, it does make sense. But this strategy of using wisdom, do you have a plan?" Maitreya Buddha asked after nodding slightly.

After speaking, Maitreya Buddha discussed the situation of the Four Celestial Emperors in detail.

Using wisdom? Among the Four Celestial Emperors, besides Emperor Zhenwu, others also used wisdom. What was the outcome?

Therefore, relying solely on wisdom and scheming in the background, Xuanzang's group might still overcome challenges and trace back to the mastermind, eventually taking decisive action against them, right?

"Indeed, using wisdom is certainly risky!" Tathagata nodded in agreement.

Force doesn't work, and using wisdom is dangerous. Empress Qinghua and the Emperor of Longevity serve as lessons, especially the Emperor of Longevity, who was directly confronted by Xuanzang's group in the Great Hall.

"However, have you noticed one point? Even in plans like those of the Emperor of Longevity and others where agents were directed to act behind the scenes, those agents knew they were being directed. Thus, once captured by Xuanzang, they'd reveal the masterminds, enabling Xuanzang to trace back."

"But what if those directed are unaware they're being used?" Tathagata countered.

"Eh!?"

There's no denying that Tathagata's words made Maitreya Buddha's eyes brighten slightly.

Indeed, sending someone to trouble the Journey to the West Team in secret is dangerous if they are captured and expose the mastermind.

Empress Qinghua, the Emperor of Longevity, even Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, weren't they similar in this regard?

But if those sent out were unaware of the manipulation?

For instance, the Green Lion Demon under Manjushri wasn't given any specific task, but it was secretly allowed to leave.

The Green Lion Demon thought it successfully escaped, and then encountered Xuanzang's group on the Journey to the West, possibly even engaging in conflict...

Even if subdued, it wouldn't reveal anything about itself, right?

After Tathagata and Maitreya Buddha discussed the details carefully, a plan soon became clearer.

"From here on, I'll leave it to you!" After offering valuable insights, Tathagata rose to leave without any intention of personally intervening.

This demonstrated no desire to interfere in everything, merely showing a will to help.

"Farewell, Buddha!" This action of Tathagata made Maitreya Buddha understand his intentions, putting his mind more at ease. He personally escorted Tathagata out of the Eastern Temple.

滴滴滴!

Walking on the Journey to the West for Scriptures, Jiang Liu suddenly heard the sound of a message coming through.

Looking at it, a message from Yuanling had been sent to him.