The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS-Chapter 1144 - 169: The Demon Buddha’s Thoughts

"Daoist Master, what do you think is Buddha?"

After a moment of silence, Demon Buddha suddenly asked.

"In the eyes of the people, Buddha is a symbol of compassion and a hope for liberation and salvation." Qing Yu did not explicitly state his viewpoint, instead articulating the general perception people have of Buddha.

"However, liberation and salvation are ultimately mere fantasies. I observe that the Buddhist disciples in this world do nothing productive and gain without labor. It's truly sad that people place their hope for salvation on them." Demon Buddha said.

"The Buddhist Scriptures say: During the final dharma age, Papiyan will dress his devil's offspring and grandson in monk's robes, performing demonic acts in the name of Buddha. Are not these disciples who gain without labor the devil's descendants?" Qing Yu said with a faint smile.

It's indeed strange for Demon Buddha to talk about exterminating the devil's offspring and grandson.

"What is the Buddhist Scripture? It's the word of Buddha. As Demon Buddha, why should I care about the words of the Tathagata," said Demon Buddha, "Everything good and bad in the world is dictated by the Buddhist order. Doing good is their Buddhist merit, and doing evil is branded as demon followers infiltrating the Buddhist order. Why can't it be that the Buddhist order harbors evil itself? I think exterminating the Buddhist order and its Buddhist law is the proper way to eradicate evil."

At this point, Demon Buddha is being straightforward with his goal to destroy Buddhism.

Yet, one must admit that Demon Buddha's words do contain some truth; if his reasoning held no truth, it would be mere sophistry. Sophistry without any semblance of justification is just empty delusion, and trying to destroy Buddhist law through hollow arguments would be like a fool's dream.

According to Demon Buddha's argument, the Buddhist order shifts the blame of depravity onto so-called demon followers, by which they position themselves on the side of righteousness.

The Buddhist order associates the name of Buddha with positivity, hope, and light, elevating the term Buddha to represent all things positive.

The world originally had no gods; the early people revered incomprehensible powers as divine. Similarly, there was no original Buddha; when Buddha came, so did Buddhism, intertwining Buddha with all worldly virtues.

It's hard to judge whether Buddha's virtues earned reverence or were revered because they were seen as virtuous.

Perhaps, in ancient times, Buddha received people's tribute by practicing all that is good, ascending to divine status. But now, it is more because people believe in Buddha, hence it is deemed virtuous, earning others' admiration.

What Demon Buddha wants to annihilate isn't literally Buddhist law, nor the Buddhist texts and teachings, but rather the Buddha representing positive meanings.

No matter how many Buddhist classics and teachings are destroyed, the words of the Buddha can always create countless more.

However, if the word Buddha is separated from connotations of light, liberation, and positivity, no matter how extensive the teachings, they cannot save the decaying Buddhism.

Thus, Demon Buddha's idea of destroying Buddhism is the true uprooting of Buddhism, removing Buddha from the world wholly, like taking drastic action from the source.

Compared to numerous rulers throughout history, whose so-called destruction of Buddhism only addresses symptoms, not causes.

It's not surprising such a thought earns him the title of Buddha's enemy.

"Does Demon Buddha intend to collaborate with me?" Qing Yu asked.

If Qing Yu still hadn't understood Demon Buddha's intentions by now, he would indeed be foolish.

"The Northern Zhou currently controls the largest territory in the Central Plains, and to destroy Buddhism, one cannot bypass the Northern Zhou."

"But currently, there is no place for the Buddhist order in Northern Zhou; Demon Buddha should be aware of my contradiction with the Buddhist order."

Qing Yu once again referred to himself as "this Daoist," reminding Demon Buddha of his identity.

The conflict with the Buddhist order, especially with that bald thief Xinyuan, had long reached an irreconcilable state. The Buddhist order dreaming of promoting their teachings in Northern Zhou is naïve. Do they still hope for peace after offending a Daoist Master? They're dreaming.

"Daoist Master should understand my meaning. I want to completely eradicate Buddhism." Demon Buddha replied.

What's the use of stopping teachings if the name of Buddha continues to circulate in the world? Demon Buddha's goal can't be achieved.

"This is not an endeavor accomplished overnight," Qing Yu returned.

After all, Buddhism has existed in the world for thousands of years. When it first entered the Central Plains, it didn't collapse; now it's deeply rooted in people's minds in the Central Plains, making its collapse even more impossible.

"I have a Moluo Scripture Pillar, which can assist Daoist Master,"

"And then all Buddhist followers become followers of Demon Buddha, right?"

Qing Yu rolled his eyes privately.

The so-called Moluo Scripture Pillar of Demon Buddha refers to that which Fantian used to emit Buddha Light while touring Shu Province. Once illuminated by that Buddha Light, one undergoes repeated brainwashing, transforming into devoted followers of Demon Buddha. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

'However, the Confucian Haqi River is about to achieve Great Success, which could dilute the Buddhist influence with this Confucian treasure,' Qing Yu thought secretly.

In Northern Zhou's former territories, including Yan Province and Yun Province, as well as the once peripheral Meng Province, things were manageable. However, the newly acquired Hong Province was deeply influenced by the Buddhist order. After all, the Great Zen Temple was near the borders of Hong Province.

Last year, when Qing Yu subdued Buddhist voices into silence, causing Buddhist factions to retreat and shrink, capturing Hong Province wasn't as daunting.

"Demon Buddha doesn't just want to eradicate Buddhist law; you also wish to place yourself on Buddha's seat. Eventually, you will become a new great threat." Qing Yu tapped the armrest of his throne lightly, speaking calmly.

The heart of Demon Buddha is to replace Buddha himself; he isn't one who will retire into seclusion after dismantling Buddhism. Observing the current situations in Xuanzhou and Shu Province reveals Demon Buddha's ambition.

In today's Xuanzhou and Shu Province, few normal people remain, most being followers of Demon Buddha. Whoever occupies these provinces later must purge these followers first.

"If I am to become a great threat, it will be in the future," Demon Buddha's usually calm face showed a slight smile, "For now, Daoist Master and I should focus on dealing with the Buddhist order first."

"Then······" Qing Yu slowly raised his hand, "Pleasure to collaborate!"

"Pleasure to collaborate!" Demon Buddha raised his hand as well.

Both parties pledged an oath by clapping hands in the air, a golden-red and a dark-green hand of True Qi clapping three times in the distance.

After the third clap, Qing Yu, seated at the throne, gradually faded into void, and the throne turned to dust blowing away with the wind.

'It seems Demon Buddha slightly prevailed.' Asura thought to himself upon witnessing this.

The clapping of True Qi hands seemed calm, without even a breeze stirred, but Asura, standing beside Demon Buddha, could feel the intense pressure emanating from him.

Evidently, these three claps were not just ceremonial but also served to gauge each other's strength.

Qing Yu's throne disintegrating into dust naturally demonstrated Demon Buddha's power of palm force.

'In one clap, superiority and inferiority are clear.' Asura's fear of Qing Yu did not vanish entirely, but significantly lessened.

As that thought concluded, a deep handprint appeared on the Black Lotus under Demon Buddha's seat.