The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 63 - 0 Splendid Article Defeats Bodhisattva

Daoist Equal to Heaven sneered, and from deep within the Imperial Palace, a piece of brocade rose into the air. This brocade, golden in color and embroidered with dragon patterns, turned out to be the state governance strategies and writings left by the great Confucian Dong Zhongshu, a relic of Emperor Wu’s era of the Han! It was unexpected that after the Western Han faded, and into the Eastern Han, these relics were still extant, having been brought into Luoyang City.

“Those are Dong Zhongshu’s writings and strategies for governance? Drawn out by these four characters,” gasped a scholar, recognizing the relic.

Dong Zhongshu was a great Confucian during the era of Emperor Wu of Han, who had proposed the initiative to dismiss the Hundred Schools and exalt only Confucianism!

Within such writings, there was a “spirit” that great Confucians unconsciously infused as they penned their works. This piece of writing, imbued with the spirit of Dong Zhongshu, though he had long passed away, appeared due to the “Brocade Rivers and Mountains” written by Daoist Equal to Heaven.

This was a spiritual inheritance, where the four characters penned by Daoist Equal to Heaven resonated with the spirit of Dong Zhongshu.

“Alas, so distant and profound. When will the time come, and quickly it departs. To conform to others reluctantly, sad is my clan. Rectifying oneself waiting for timing, soon to be wooden. Together through the ages, unable to comprehend. The sorrow in one’s heart, not expecting profit. Restlessly unsettled, only increasing shame. Making efforts to touch the extremes, merely breaking horns. Not stepping outside the threshold, hopefully without faults,” the article rang out on its own, containing Dong Zhongshu’s strategies for governance and his writings, specifically the “Shi Bu Yu Fu.”

Daoist Equal to Heaven felt his spirits greatly uplifted, and the doctrines of Confucianism in the Unity of the Three Teachings surged instantly, feeling his understanding advancing further!

The superb article left by Dong Zhongshu, pulled by the characters written by Daoist Equal to Heaven, saw each character written as if dragons and snakes were flying, densely arranged in the air, visible to everyone who looked up at the luminous text.

Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed heartily, “Heaven aids me indeed! Who would have thought my doctrine could resonate with a great Confucian! King Bodhisattva, you should meet your fate!”

Seeing the tide turn against him, King Bodhisattva hurriedly retracted the Sharira and intended to withdraw his Primordial Spirit into his body, but Daoist Equal to Heaven then raised the article, sending it flying towards King Bodhisattva.

The Buddhist ideology inherently conflicts with Confucianism, and the spirit left by Dong Zhongshu naturally did not wish to see Buddhism spread into the Eastern Land. Hundreds of words poured down, trapping King Bodhisattva within, making it impossible for him to escape. King Bodhisattva’s physical body underneath was in desperate straits, but there was nothing he could do, as most of his spirit was in the Primordial Spirit, with only a little left in his body to control, now trapped by Dong Zhongshu’s writings, leaving him utterly without a resort.

Shemoteng and Zhufalan were also taken aback, greatly surprised that Daoist Equal to Heaven could resonate with the spirit of a great Confucian and summon his writings.

Daoist Equal to Heaven sneered, “King Bodhisattva, where can you go?”

King Bodhisattva, trapped by the writings of Dong Zhongshu, desperately tried to use his Divine Skills to break free, but the spirit of the great Confucian was immensely powerful. How could King Bodhisattva escape on his own? Dong Zhongshu alone was this formidable; one could imagine if the “Spring and Autumn” and “Poetry” edited personally by Confucius were involved, what sort of power they would wield? Confucian writings are not to be used by those outside the teachings for magic combat, but King Bodhisattva and Daoist Equal to Heaven were engaged in a battle of Primordial Spirits and spirits, allowing the writings to intervene. Dong Zhongshu’s spirit, unwilling to see the Buddhist Law introduced, had thus ensnared King Bodhisattva.

King Bodhisattva howled in distress, while the Sharira aggressively but futilely rammed into the text written with the firmness of silver hooks and iron strokes.

Yang Jian also hadn’t expected the tide of battle to turn so swiftly. What started as an advantage for King Bodhisattva was suddenly overturned by Daoist Equal to Heaven.

Daoist Equal to Heaven summoned the power of the True Martial Demon-Subduing Divine Fist and, with a roar, charged toward King Bodhisattva!

“Boom!”

The characters automatically parted ways as the Daoist Equal to Heaven punched King Bodhisattva’s Primordial Spirit, immediately sending him flying backward. The light on his Primordial Spirit dimmed considerably, which, if it had been a sun before, was now just a half moon.

King Bodhisattva cried out, “Daoist friend, please show some mercy!”

Daoist Equal to Heaven had no intention of showing mercy, intent on kicking an enemy while he was down.

“My fate is sealed!”

At that moment, another flash of golden light erupted, and a scripture book thunderously descended, suppressing the great Confucian’s text. Daoist Equal to Heaven was taken aback, and King Bodhisattva’s Primordial Spirit hurriedly returned to his body. However, he was severely injured and as soon as he returned, he felt dizzy and began vomiting blood continuously, his monk’s robe completely soaked with blood.

Daoist Equal to Heaven focused his gaze and saw that the scripture was the “Mahaprajnaparamita Heart Sutra,” where Sanskrit and Dong Zhongshu’s writings entangled and fought each other. This was a clash of doctrines, a duel of origins, a conflict arising between the spirits of Buddhism and Confucianism! After all, Dong Zhongshu was no match for the Buddha Ancestor of the Buddhist sect. Finally, the splendid text faded away, the characters returning to the brocade, and flew back deep into the Imperial Palace.

“Five Directions Kaide!” Daoist Equal to Heaven saw five monks descending from the sky, clearly the ones who had summoned the scripture that had driven back Dong Zhongshu’s text.

These Five Directions Kaide were Jinguang Jiedi, Mahasatya, Yintou-jiedi, Paramartha-satya, and Poluo-seng-jiedi, protectors of tremendous strength in Buddhism.

Emperor Ming of Han, surprised by the arrival of five more distinguished monks, said, “Who are these esteemed figures?”

“We are Jinguang Jiedi, Mahasatya, Yintou-jiedi, Paramartha-satya, and Poluo-seng-jiedi from the Western Religion, the Five Directions protectors of great strength. We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Eastern Land,” the five Kaide greeted Liu Zhuang with a bow.

Liu Zhuang said, “Ah, esteemed monks from the Buddhist sect again, no need for such formalities.”

Daoist Equal to Heaven cursed under his breath, “I’m competing with King Bodhisattva, and yet you interfere. What is the meaning of this?”

Jinguang Jiedi laughed and said, “Daoist Equal to Heaven, where possible, one should let things slide. You are not a match for the Bodhisattva, yet you cunningly summoned Dong Zhongshu’s splendid text to help. King Bodhisattva has already lost, why push him to the brink? It’s always better to leave room for maneuver, lest the Karmic Forces deepen, turning thousands of years of cultivation into a futile chase for a painted cake, which really wouldn’t be worth it.”

Daoist Equal to Heaven was so angry that the Three Corpses Deity within him jumped in fury, truly a turmoil of Five Qi in his chest, rootless Three Flowers atop his head, and his Samadhi fiercely burning his throat.

Yang Jian spoke with a solemn face, “Regardless, this was a competition between King Bodhisattva and Daoist Equal to Heaven. It was not appropriate for you to intervene!”

Jinguang Jiedi simply laughed, “We did not intervene; it was the high and profound Buddhist Law of the Bodhisattva that attracted the Buddha Ancestor’s scripture.”

Since the “Mahaprajnaparamita Heart Sutra” was created by the Buddha Ancestor, their claim left Daoist Equal to Heaven and Yang Jian with no rebuttal. If they were to seriously dispute, and the others adamantly denied involvement, there was truly no recourse.

Unable to hold back, Daoist Equal to Heaven burst into a cold laugh and cursed, “Very well, very well! Since that’s how you put it, I, Daoist Equal to Heaven, will accept it. But tell me, did you lose this round or win?”

King Bodhisattva brought his hands together and said, “Namo Amitabha Buddha! Daoist Equal to Heaven, your Mana is outstanding, and you are even proficient in the doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, having summoned Dong Zhongshu’s text to assist. I admit my inferiority. I have lost this round!”

While the words sounded pleasant, the underlying message was that if not for Dong Zhongshu’s text, Daoist Equal to Heaven would have been defeated long ago.

However, regardless, the victor in battle falls to the Daoist Equal to Heaven, who won this round ultimately.

Daoist Equal to Heaven snorted and didn’t bother to respond to King Bodhisattva’s words, instead sitting down cross-legged to the side.

The courtiers enjoyed the spectacle, and Emperor Ming of Han then said, “Since both parties are still not satisfied, let’s continue the competition to further feast our eyes! Haha!”

Just as Yang Jian was about to prepare for the second round, Liu Cang said, “Your Majesty, here is another accomplished figure who seeks an audience with you.”

Hearing this, both Yang Jian and Wukong were taken aback.

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Liu Zhuang smiled and said, “Oh? Please bring him quickly.”

Who could this person be?

As for who the visitor is, please listen to the next chapter to find out.