Primordial World: Big shots are all my friends-Chapter 903 - 826: The Demon Tribulation Approaches
Randeng Buddha smiled and said: "Now Buddhism has become a dominant force, with countless believers in the mortal world, leading the momentum of the Primordial World.
The Heavenly Court has also helped Buddhism convert many Arhat Bodhisattvas who have abandoned evil ways. Now, they can only express their anger and reluctance through such means, but it’s merely a futile struggle.
If the Dragon Slayer Arhat is gone, then so be it. Coincidentally, an ox demon has just joined my sect, let him take the position of the Dragon Slayer."
Maitreya Buddha immediately said: "The ox demon doesn’t quite fit as the Dragon Slayer Arhat. My sect has just converted a Jiao Long Demon, whose abilities are no less than those of the Dragon Slayer, and may take the position of the Eighteen Arhats."
Medicine Buddha immediately sternly reprimanded: "They have just joined and have not made any contributions. What ability do they have to take the position of the Eighteen Arhats? The words of the two Buddhas are too absurd."
Looking at the main seat’s Tathagata, he instantly changed his expression to a smile and said: "My sect has an Arhat, who is a spiritual being of Heaven and Earth, has cultivated in Buddhism for ten thousand years, has rendered meritorious deeds, and can be one of the Eighteen Arhats."
Tathagata expressionlessly proclaimed, his grand voice echoed: "The Dragon Slayer Arhat was destined to face this tribulation, but this calamity is also a turning point. After reincarnation, if he can understand his true heart, someday he may become the Dragon Subduing Venerable, walking the earth for Buddhism, promoting Buddhist principles."
Maitreya Buddha, Randeng Buddha, and Medicine Buddha all instinctively frowned, surprised at yet another twist, then their expressions relaxed, and they said nothing more; by now they had lost the capital to oppose Tathagata.
The Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy immediately cried out: "Buddha, the Heavenly Court has slain our Buddhist Arhat. Should we not retaliate, lest we appear afraid of the Heavenly Court?"
"The Demon Tribulation is approaching, do not provoke unnecessary disputes; let’s just let it go."
"What? The Demon Tribulation is coming."
"It’s finally coming."
"Is the responder to the calamity the Heavenly Court or Buddhism?"
"In what form will the Demon Tribulation appear?"
...
All the Buddha Bodhisattvas exclaimed in shock. When the obtaining the scriptures had just concluded, all the Buddhas maintained a high alert, ready to face the incoming Demon Tribulation.
However, hundreds of years after obtaining the scriptures, the Demon Tribulation still had not descended, and the Buddhas of Spiritual Mountain all relaxed their vigilance, enjoying the glory of prosperity. But now, suddenly the Buddha announced that the Demon Tribulation was coming, catching all the Buddhas by surprise.
Randeng Buddha quickly asked: "Buddha, how should this calamity be overcome?"
Tathagata looked around at all the Buddhas, his grand voice echoed between Heaven and Earth: "The other day, I visited the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The Buddha Mother sent me a message, saying that the Demon Tribulation is imminent, but did not mention any Tribulation Crossing Method."
"Then how should we make amends?"
"Should we fight against the Demon Realm? It’s not fear of the Demon Realm, but fearing that fighting with the Demon Realm will greatly diminish the strength of Buddhism, allowing the Heavenly Court to rise up."
"The Demon Tribulation is a grand scheme of Heaven and Earth in the Demon Realm, and fighting with the Demon Realm with Heaven and Earth’s grand scheme supporting them, we Buddhists have little chance of victory."
"Alas, what should be done?"
...
Many Buddha Bodhisattvas began to discuss anxiously. Even the Buddha Mother had no solution. Must it come to the collapse of Spiritual Mountain and endless suffering lives?
Maitreya Buddha asked the most crucial question: "Buddha, has the protagonist of the Calamity returned to his place?"
The hall instantly quieted down, as the key to surviving the tribulation rests with the protagonist of the Calamity, every Buddha and Bodhisattva looked to Tathagata.
Tathagata’s grand voice resonated: "The Buddha Demon Tribulation, the Buddha Tribulation has passed, the Demon Tribulation is about to rise, and the protagonist of the Calamity remains Tang Sanzang and his disciples, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing all are in the Heavenly Court, but Tang Sanzang’s whereabouts remain unknown."
Maitreya Buddha muttered: "Strange, strange, with Buddhism flourishing, who would deliberately make things difficult for Tang Sanzang? To evade the ears of the Buddha, there are only a handful in the Three Realms, who could it be? Is it Zhen Yuanzi, Kunpeng Demon Master, or the Heavenly Emperor, Hao Tian?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said pointedly: "The last place Tang Sanzang went was the Daughter Country."
The hall instantly fell silent, Maitreya Buddha’s mouth slightly twitched. The Daughter Country, isn’t that Nuwa Niangniang’s territory? Was Jin Chanzi insane to dare to go there and cause mischief?
Randeng Buddha frowned and said; "That Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing have no allegiance to Buddhism, Sun Wukong lingers in the Judicial Temple, can they really help Buddhism confront the calamity?"
Tathagata’s grand voice resonated: "No need to worry, once the calamity begins, Qi fortune will entangle them, and they will naturally return to their positions."
Randeng Buddha asked again: "Is there an exact time for this Calamity?"
"At any time, it could come!"
Ma Yuan Venerate King Buddha worriedly said: "What should we do?"
Maitreya Buddha solemnly asked: "Please, Buddha, bestow the Tribulation Crossing Method."
Tathagata’s grand voice echoed: "I have a Tribulation Crossing Method. Calling you here now is for laying the Reincarnation Array to respond to the Calamity."
Randeng Buddha confusedly asked: "Buddha, the Reincarnation Array is a protective array for Buddhist Great Powers reincarnating for retraining, mainly for protection, and not having any destructive power, how can it be used to confront the Demon Tribulation?"
The Taoist Rulai smiled: "I have my own arrangements. I ask all the Buddha Bodhisattvas to work together to set up such an array in the Great Leiyin Temple to face the Demon Tribulation."
The Buddha Mother has already foretold, with the Demon Tribulation arising, demons will dominate Heaven and Earth, and the Demon Clan will grasp the Spiritual Mountain Heavenly Court Thirty-three Heavens--this is the fixed fate of the Demon Tribulation. What is fixed fate? Unchangeable fate is fixed fate.
Should I resist the Demon Tribulation at Spiritual Mountain, with Jin Naluo’s enmity towards me, it would undoubtedly humiliate me, and by then the dignity of the Buddha would be devastated, an act unbefitting a wise sage.
It might be better to reincarnate and temporarily evade the edge of the Demon Clan, calmly observing changes in the Three Realms from an outsider’s perspective. After thirty-three days, return prominently amidst the welcoming of all Gods and Buddhas of the Three Realms, suppress the Demon Clan with a mere wave of my hand, creating a profoundly mysterious impression on the divine and sacred beings of the Three Realms.
This is the plan by Tathagata for crossing the Demon Tribulation. Although it’s a Demon Tribulation, the grandeur of the Buddha remains undiminished. The revived self gains the orbit of all divine beings of the Three Realms, while observing the choices of the Buddhist Buddhas, achieving many objectives with one strategic move.
Yet, within the Great Leiyin Temple, the awaiting Buddhas could not comprehend Tathagata’s intentions. Why set up the Reincarnation Array within the Great Leiyin Temple? What benefit is it for the Demon Tribulation? No one anticipated the Buddha’s decision to evade battle.
All Buddha Bodhisattvas glanced at each other; perhaps we are too dim-witted, unable to understand the reason for Buddha arranging this great array. Together, they folded their hands and recited: "We follow the Buddha’s decree!"
All Buddha Bodhisattvas simultaneously extended their hands, releasing golden Buddha light that quickly interconnected, forming a large array. At the array’s nodes, illusory small Buddhas sat, sacred and solemn. This array might be the strongest Reincarnation Array of Buddhism, an array laid by Buddhist Quasi-Saint mighty figures in collaboration, one even Tathagata finds hard to rival.
Buzz~ The array integrated into the Great Leiyin Temple, with Tathagata smiling peacefully, it’s done; I can safely pass through this tribulation.
