Chapter 683 - 3: Converting Buddhism to Taoism, Leiyin Temple Is No More

Chapter 683: Chapter 3: Converting Buddhism to Taoism, Leiyin Temple Is No More

[In the thirtieth millennium of the Dao Dynasty, National Preceptor Lin Lingsu journeyed to the Western Buddha Land to spread the Dao and bring salvation to all Buddhas.]

[In the thirtieth millennium of the Dao Dynasty, demonic energy erupted from a Divine Mountain, gathering Great Saints from all around.]

[In the thirtieth millennium of the Dao Dynasty, the Daoist Lord rode the Emperor Chariot to survey the Three Realms. Myriad beasts galloped in his wake, myriad trees bent their trunks, and myriad spirits prostrated in worship.]

...

"Lin Lingsu has already gone to the Buddha Land to spread the Dao. With his strength, a single Ancient One will be no match for him."

On the Emperor Chariot, Lu Xuan, with his eyes slightly closed, spoke softly:

"Besides, the Buddha Mother might not even intervene. Regardless of whether she has submitted sincerely, at this moment, she will not do anything against my will."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan let out a slow breath, his expression momentarily distant.

There was a time when the Maitreya Buddha Mother, before she had achieved her Dao Fruit, had once pushed him to the brink of desperation. If not for the Qing Ping Sword in his hand at that time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

And now?

’That same Maitreya Buddha Mother, a magnificent Dao Fruit, an Ancient One who has witnessed all of history, must now act according to my will...’

Lu Xuan smiled faintly.

Beside him, the green-robed young woman also seated on the Emperor Chariot seemed lost in thought:

"No wonder you had Sakyamuni Buddha temporarily leave Spirit Mountain to visit Houtu. That gives him a perfectly legitimate reason not to interfere..."

"That’s right."

Lu Xuan gazed out at the vast and beautiful lands of his domain, at the bustling mortal world, and said softly:

"This way, my Shakyamuni incarnation can not only avoid the risk of exposure, but I can also probe Fu Xi’s incarnation of Houtu and, while I’m at it, see if there’s a chance to rescue Xiaonian..."

As he spoke, a sharp light flashed in his eyes. Although Xiaonian was a symbol of being immortal, unending, and incorruptible, she had been under Fu Xi’s control this whole time, which was somewhat risky.

Lu Xuan wasn’t certain if Fu Xi could manage to supplant Xiaonian as well...

The green-robed young woman frowned slightly:

"Speaking of which, why haven’t you told Supreme and the others about Xiaonian?"

Lately, as Lu Xuan gradually absorbed the Goddess’s Transcendence Origin, she found herself less and less able to perceive everything about him.

That pair of nearly omniscient eyes had lost their effect on Lu Xuan.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Xuan said softly:

"Master may seem to practice Non-action, but he is in fact extremely protective. I worry that if he finds out, he’ll fly into a rage and act recklessly..."

The green-robed young woman glanced sideways, her gaze fixed on Lu Xuan:

"And what about you? Xiaonian is your daughter, after all."

"That’s why I’ve been keeping a close watch on Houtu, to make sure no accidents happen. If Fu Xi really loses his mind and tries to supplant Xiaonian, then I’ll have no choice but to flip this chessboard. No one gets to play anymore."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose and coughed twice involuntarily. ’The Path of All Living Beings is growing heavier and heavier...’

He was growing stronger, and at the same time, weaker.

"Little Phoenix."

After a long moment, Lu Xuan opened his eyes and commanded:

"Head towards Huaguo Mountain. The saints are all gathering there. That little rascal is about to rebel against Heaven. I suppose I should go take a look."

"Yes!"

The True Phoenix bowed its head in acknowledgment and, pulling the Emperor Chariot, sped towards Huaguo Mountain. Wherever it passed, purple energy surged, auspicious omens abounded, Qingyun rose and fell, and heaven and earth sang praises.

...

「The Buddha Land, Spirit Mountain.」

"I have come from the Dao Dynasty, journeying to the Western Celestial Realm to seek the Buddha and inquire about the Dao."

Lin Lingsu, the incarnation of the Buddha, smiled as he stepped into the Great Leiyin Temple, entering this domain with which he was intimately familiar.

The Buddhas glanced sideways, and countless Bodhisattvas watched like tigers eyeing their prey. On the high seat, the future Maitreya Buddha Mother frowned slightly, while the newly appointed Past Buddha, the Jade Pool Non-Birth Golden Buddha Ancestor, had her expression darken suddenly.

"’Seek the Buddha and inquire about the Dao...’"

The former Immortal Mother, now Spirit Mountain’s Past Buddha, questioned condescendingly from her high position:

"Since you are here to seek the Buddha and inquire about the Dao, now that you see me, why do you not bow?"

Lin Lingsu walked calmly through the Great Leiyin Temple, a lotus blooming with his every step, his brilliant golden Daoist robes fluttering in the wind. He strolled to the very center of the hall, clasped his hands behind his back, and raised his head slightly:

"When you look upon me, you should see the Buddha. The Buddha Land is barren, the Buddhist Path is in decline, and the Buddhas have no compassion..."

He paused.

Lin Lingsu glanced at Ah Nan and Kasyapa, then continued:

"In terms of the Source, Buddhism arose from the Dao, but the Dao does not end with Buddhism. The Buddha I seek is the Daoist Buddha."

The Jade Pool Buddha narrowed her eyes. ’There’s something wrong with this National Preceptor from the Dao Dynasty. I can’t see through him, can’t get a clear read on him...’

She asked again, her voice cold:

"A Daoist Buddha? Who is the Daoist Buddha?"

"I was once a Buddha, and now I have entered the Dao. I am the Daoist Buddha."

Lin Lingsu said with a wide smile:

"Therefore, the Buddha I seek is myself. The Buddha you should all worship is also myself. The fortune of Buddhism has run out, while the power of the Dao prospers. Everyone..."

"Why not convert?"

As his words fell, the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain glared in fury:

"Insolence!"

The hot-tempered Fearless Vajra Buddha strode forward, his Eighteen-foot Golden Form beginning to glow. He emanated a ferocious aura, took on a wrathful visage, and attacked without hesitation!

Eighteen Great Arhats formed the Ancient Third Killing Array, completely surrounding Lin Lingsu, watching him like tigers with killing intent surging!

The Past Jade Pool Buddha rose in fury, glaring at the Daoist, her face like frost, her Buddhist light shimmering:

"A mere Daoist dares to violate the sanctity of my Spirit Mountain? Seize him!"

The Fearless Vajra Buddha unleashed a Great Fist Seal. The killing array of the eighteen Great Arhats pulsed with a sky-rending holy light, and accompanied by the shouts of Buddhas from all realms, they moved in for the kill!

A look of sorrow appeared on Lin Lingsu’s face. He lowered his head, then raised it again with a brilliant smile:

"Only today do I know that I am I..."

"All Buddhas are in the Sea of Suffering. I am the fifth Dao of ancient times, and also the third Buddha of all ages. The Daoist Buddha is me, the Tathagata is me. Worship me, worship me..."

He brought his palms together, his face serene. Without any visible movement, the sound of kowtowing, like a heavy rain striking the ground, could be heard.

One looked again.

In the Great Leiyin Temple, all the Buddhas were prostrating themselves. Only the Buddha Mother remained seated, but she too shot to her feet in shock, her expression one of utter horror:

"Dao Fruit..."

"Who are you??"

Lin Lingsu sauntered over, stepped onto what was originally Sakyamuni Buddha’s high seat, and constructed a heavenly throne above the seats of the Three Historical Buddhas, where he slowly sat.

He looked down, gazing at the prostrating Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats, then glanced sideways at the only one still standing, the Maitreya Buddha Mother, and said with a smile:

"The Daoist Buddha, Lin Lingsu."

The Buddha Mother retreated three steps, her expression filled with shock and suspicion. ’Is this another one of Lu Xuan’s schemes?’

’But...’

’Why does something feel... wrong?’

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, but she ultimately chose to remain silent, resolving to simply observe. Although she didn’t know which Fellow Daoist this Lin Lingsu truly was, he had come from the Dao Dynasty. Therefore, she could not—and should not—interfere.

At the same time,

Lin Lingsu sat quietly in meditation, gazing at the legion of Buddhas and speaking with a smile:

"From this day forward, within the Buddha Land, Buddhas shall be known as Celestial Venerables, Bodhisattvas shall become Mahasattvas, and Arhats shall be called Venerables. There will be no more Buddhas in the Buddha Land; all shall be converted to the Dao."

He pointed a finger, and the Past Jade Pool Buddha transformed into the Past Jade Pool Celestial Venerable, the Fearless Vajra Buddha transformed into the Fearless Vajra Celestial Venerable, the Moonlight Bodhisattva became Mahasattva Moonlight, and the Great Arhat Kasyapa became Venerable Kasyapa...

A breath later, there were no Buddhas left in the Great Leiyin Temple.

Another breath, and all traces of Buddhas vanished from the Buddha Land.

By the third breath, the fortune of the Buddhist Sect had plummeted. Above the river of Years, the Ancient Bodhi Buddha’s eyes snapped open in shock and rage. And within the Great Leiyin Temple,

Lin Lingsu held his palms together. He appeared as solemn as a Buddha yet possessed the transcendent bearing of an immortal Daoist. Brilliant Buddhist light shone from him, yet he was also suffused with a rich Dao Rhyme.

He chuckled lightly:

"Not quite a Buddha, not quite a Daoist. The Dao and the Buddha are one. I am the Daoist Buddha..."

As his words faded,

Under the Buddha Mother’s grave stare, Lin Lingsu asked faintly:

"Right here, right now, at this very moment, do you know who is to be revered as supreme?"

The Celestial Venerables, Mahasattvas, and Venerables, all forced to bow, gritted their teeth in silence.

After a long moment,

Venerable Kasyapa looked up and said coldly:

"The Lord of the Dao Dynasty?"

"Wrong."

As the Buddha Mother watched in horror, the radiance of a Dao Fruit slowly emerged from Lin Lingsu’s body. He said softly:

"You shall revere me as supreme."

The Buddha Mother’s expression changed, and she attacked without hesitation.

"Who in the world are you?!"

"I told you. I am the Daoist Buddha."

The Daoist Buddha glanced sideways as their attacks clashed. He remained motionless, but the Buddha Mother was forced back nine steps, each step traversing an infinite distance.

After nine infinite steps, the Buddha Mother had retreated all the way to the edge of Chaos and fallen into the Great Abyss. Then, a massive hand that seemed to prop up the heavens descended, pinning her in place, rendering her completely immobile.

"The heavens are about to change..."

The suppressed Buddha Mother muttered to herself, yet her expression grew calm.

"The heavens really are about to change..."

...

"Insolence! Utter insolence!"

Above the river of Years, within the Great Chaos, the Ancient Bodhi Buddha’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.

"Good. Excellent. What a move, Lu Xuan. Pulling the rug out from under me..."

He looked down upon the world. The original Buddha Land had already been extinguished, transforming into a Daoist Land. Its Buddhas had become Celestial Venerables, its Bodhisattvas had become Mahasattvas, its Arhats had become Venerables...

And the plaque on Leiyin Temple had been swapped at some unknown time, now reading "Shenxiao Thunder Sound Mansion." The scene within was hazy and indistinct, impossible to see clearly.

He could only vaguely make out a Dao Fruit seated within, but not who it was.

The Demon Ancestor also frowned and said softly:

"The Journey to the West is imminent, but Spirit Mountain has fallen. This is troublesome..."

Beside them, Fu Xi frowned slightly, giving the meditating Taiyi a suspicious glance before speaking softly:

"The situation doesn’t seem to be so simple. The Buddha Mother has already defected, but just now, I saw her being suppressed by the unidentified Dao Fruit in Spirit Mountain..."

"Hm?"

The Demon Ancestor glanced over and asked gravely:

"Do you mean, Brother, that the unknown Dao Fruit in Spirit Mountain who took the form of Lin Lingsu might not be on the same side as Lu Xuan?"

"Most likely." It was Bodhi who spoke. He seemed to have calmed down by now, but traces of fury still lingered on his face.

After a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth and said:

"I just observed that the fortune of the Dao Dynasty has not increased by a single iota... The submission of Spirit Mountain should have caused the Dao Dynasty’s fortune to skyrocket."

He paused, and Bodhi’s eyes narrowed.

"This means that the one who took over Spirit Mountain and converted Buddhism to the Dao is not allied with Fellow Daoist Lu. They are not on the same side. Therefore, it’s absolutely impossible that this is an incarnation of Lu Xuan, Supreme, Haotian, or the others... Who in the world is he?"

Hearing this, Fu Xi suddenly glanced sideways, his gaze fixed on Taiyi.

"Fellow Daoist Taiyi, what are your thoughts?"

"Me?"

Taiyi yawned and gave a silent chuckle.

"What other way is there to see it? Just set up a new Spirit Mountain, establish a new Buddhist Sect, and deal with the Journey to the West first. The monkey is about to wreak havoc in the Celestial Palace, after all..."

He spoke as he walked deeper into Chaos, still yawning.

"Since Lu Xuan hasn’t shown his hand, I won’t either. Just let me know when it’s all over."

As his voice faded, Taiyi’s figure vanished completely, leaving the three Supreme Beings staring at each other in dismay.

After a long silence,

The Ancient Bodhi Buddha took a few deep breaths and lowered his gaze.

"Taiyi may be odd, but he’s not wrong. We must first re-establish the Buddhist Sect... Thankfully, Sakyamuni Buddha left Spirit Mountain this time and was not caught in the calamity. However, he alone is probably not enough..."

After a moment of contemplation, the Ancient Bodhi Buddha rose to his feet and said decisively:

"I will go find Fellow Daoist Purple Cloud and ask him to come out of seclusion!"