Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 530 - 524: Candidate for Obtaining Scriptures [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Chapter 530: Chapter 524: Candidate for Obtaining Scriptures [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Saint Zhunti looked from side to side, a thoughtful silence descending upon him.

The assembly of Buddhas also remained silent, for they knew why Saint Zhunti had emerged from the World of Ultimate Bliss.

It was certainly not out of longing; he purely could no longer sit idly by.

At that moment, Saint Zhunti’s expression was quite unnatural, his gaze somewhat gloomy.

Although he was a Saint, and rumor had it that Saints should show no outward signs of joy or anger, in reality, Saints were far more free-spirited and spontaneous.

Thus, Saints often acted on their impulses, sometimes even more capricious than young children.

To many, Saints seemed to lack any shrewdness or calculation.

But in reality, Saints had reached such a pinnacle of power that they disdained the need to employ such shrewdness against others.

Before absolute strength, all schemes, intrigues, and calculations were insignificant and utterly unnecessary.

Shrewdness was a tool for dealing with those in high positions; against those vastly inferior in strength, there was no need to employ such tactics.

They merely needed to speak, and their words would become law, compelling others to act.

Such was Saint Zhunti. In Lingjiu Mountain, he spoke with finality, his words becoming law. Naturally, he didn’t need to maintain an unruffled composure; instead, he let his emotions show.

Such spontaneity, in fact, better suited his true temperament.

BANG.

Saint Zhunti kicked over the tea table before him, reprimanding, "A mere Great General for Folding the Curtain has pushed you all to this state!?"

"Has the trivial Flowing Sand River become a forbidden zone for you, a place you cannot set foot in, a barrier you cannot cross?"

The Buddhas bowed their heads, feeling a deep sense of shame.

Tathagata continued to sit composedly, as if he had heard nothing.

Ran Deng Buddha was in even deeper meditation, like an old monk lost in concentration, oblivious to the outside world and wholly focused on silently reciting Buddhist scriptures.

Saint Zhunti’s anger was directed at the other Buddhas, but he showed ample respect to these two primary leaders of Buddhism.

He was like a Supreme Emperor, with Tathagata as the current Emperor and Ran Deng Buddha as the Prince Regent.

The Supreme Emperor had appeared now only because a matter required his personal intervention; other affairs of Buddhism were still to be handled by Tathagata.

Therefore, Tathagata’s majesty and sanctity were inviolable; even Saint Zhunti had to afford him sufficient respect and dignity.

Saint Zhunti glanced at the assembly of Buddhas and asked, "Who can tell me what exactly is going on with that Great General for Folding the Curtain?"

The Buddhas exchanged glances, and then The Goddness of Mercy, who had been the first to make contact with Sha Chen, stepped forward.

"Reporting to the Saint," she said, her palms pressed together. "The Great General for Folding the Curtain, Sha Chen, was a personal guard of the Heavenly Emperor Jade Emperor. He transgressed the celestial laws and was banished to the mortal realm, where he endures suffering in the Flowing Sand River. We attempted to guide and convert him to become a candidate for the Journey to the West, but we have repeatedly faced his obstruction."

Saint Zhunti, though he knew he had also helped set the Journey to the West tribulation in motion, considered it a minor tribulation. In his view, Tathagata and the others were more than capable of handling it.

For this reason, neither he nor Saint Jieyin had paid much attention to it.

He only knew that the chosen pilgrims for the Journey to the West were Jin Chanzi and Sun Wukong. As for the others, including Tianpeng and Ao Lie, he neither cared about nor was he aware of them.

After all, while Tianpeng possessed talent and some ancient bloodline, that was the extent of it.

As for Ao Lie, he was merely a candidate chosen by Buddhism to control the Dragon Clan. Within the entire Dragon Clan, many other candidates were suitable, and the most fitting was actually Crown Prince Ao Moang.

Ao Moang, hailed as the most monstrously talented genius of the Dragon Clan, was Buddhism’s first choice.

Thus, Ao Lie was essentially dispensable. It was only later, after much deliberation within Buddhism, that Tathagata decided to choose Ao Lie.

This was because Ao Lie was unruly and, when he fell into disgrace, became utterly wretched and weak, making him relatively easy to control.

Ao Moang, on the other hand, had long since achieved fame and success. He was powerful, possessed deep cunning, and great ability—qualities that made him a figure of pride and hope for Buddhism.

The difficulty in converting him was immense.

If Saint Zhunti didn’t even know Tianpeng and Ao Lie, how could he possibly know of a mere, insignificant Great General for Folding the Curtain?

He frowned and asked, "Why was this person included in the Journey to the West tribulation?"

The expressions of the Buddhas became somewhat awkward.

The Goddness of Mercy continued, "This Disciple and others initially thought the Jade Emperor was trying to fool our Buddhist faith. But now it seems the Jade Emperor genuinely wishes to be on good terms with our Buddhist faith. However, none of us anticipated Sha Chen would grow so quickly."

Saint Zhunti nodded. "Haotian is indeed in a difficult position currently. After all, the Chan Sect and the Sect of Interpretation control the Heavenly Court. If those two Saints were to speak out, they could easily sideline him."

"As an emperor, he naturally desires balance. The best method for achieving this balance is to bring people from our Buddhism into the Heavenly Court, to counterbalance the Chan Sect and the Sect of Interpretation."

The Buddhas nodded. This was a principle they all understood well.

Grand strategies have always been like this, throughout history.

This was an overt scheme known to everyone, yet everyone had to play along because there were benefits to be gained.

If Buddhism could enter the Heavenly Court and control some interests, it was naturally something they must pursue.

In reality, even if the Jade Emperor hadn’t actively shown goodwill, Buddhism would have sought to join. They couldn’t just watch the Chan Sect and the Sect of Interpretation grow stronger and larger.

This was especially true for the Sect of Interpretation. After the events of the God-Sealing Platform, it had disintegrated, but now it was showing signs of resurgence.

This must be stopped.

Saint Zhunti continued, "Joining the Heavenly Court is indeed necessary. But this person Haotian provided—are you certain he has value?"

He was a Saint and should have been able to divine everything. But he had only emerged now, and the Heavenly Dao was already obscured. Moreover, the Flowing Sand River was even more heavily shielded, making everything about Sha Chen blurry. His divinations weren’t clear enough. That was why he asked.

The Goddness of Mercy said, "Reporting to the Saint, initially, we also felt he was of no value. We didn’t understand the Great General for Folding the Curtain well, and frankly, we didn’t even care. Later, we discovered he was very strong, with high growth potential and great promise. Only then did we slowly try to engage with him, but we found we could no longer keep up with his progress."

The Buddhas lowered their heads, deeply ashamed.

Even Tathagata’s gaze flickered for a moment. It was truly too difficult.

The Goddness of Mercy continued, "Sha Chen is a very talented individual. Moreover, he is extremely cautious and careful, never stepping even half a foot outside the Flowing Sand River. And we, too, cannot step even half a foot into it."

The Buddhas nodded, all deeply concurring.

Saint Zhunti stated, "Such a person is indeed a talent. Furthermore, he has slain Maitreya; this feud is irreconcilable."

The Buddhas drew sharp breaths.

Some were already whispering among themselves, utterly shocked.

Not all of them knew that Maitreya Buddha had died at Sha Chen’s hands. Hearing it now, they were naturally astounded and horrified.

Many who had some previous contact with Sha Chen, such as the Eighteen Arhats, and also Kassapa and Ananda, were utterly astounded.

They were horrified. They truly hadn’t expected Sha Chen to have become so powerful as to even kill Maitreya Buddha! How terrifyingly strong!

Although The Goddness of Mercy already knew, she was still shocked at this moment and confirmed, "Saint, was it truly Sha Chen’s doing?"

Saint Zhunti said, "I don’t know the specific details. The Heavenly Dao is obscured, so I cannot divine it. We’ll have to wait until Maitreya is reincarnated and ask then."

Who knew how long it would take for Maitreya to return from reincarnation?

The hearts of all the Buddhas felt heavy.

The Goddness of Mercy asked, "Saint, the great tribulation of the Journey to the West is about to begin. Can we still afford to wait?"

Saint Zhunti snorted coldly. "Naturally, we cannot wait. Besides, I just divined something else. We cannot easily let that anomaly off."

Everyone was taken aback, not knowing what Saint Zhunti had divined.

It was Tathagata who spoke up. "Saint, are you referring to the fall of Honorable Xianglong?"

HISSS!

The assembled Buddhas gasped, horrified and terrified.

Honorable Xianglong has fallen!? How is that possible?

Many were stunned. Xianglong Arhat’s power was heaven-penetrating and earth-spanning; he was already a Quasi-Saint before descending to the mortal realm. How could he possibly have fallen!?

Could it be?

Saint Zhunti nodded. "Xianglong has fallen. Although I don’t know the exact details of how he was defeated, he went to the Flowing Sand River before he died."