Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 315 - 91: Shadow of Mount Ling

It wasn’t just the Taoist Immortals who were astonished, even the residents of Mount Ling stared in disbelief at the Arhat who dared to speak such bold words. This was an Imperial Decree from the origins, before which even Tathagata would respectfully yield. Yet, this mere Arhat dared to speak so recklessly.

White Crane Boy glanced lightly at the ignorant Arhat and gently shook the Imperial Decree in his hand. A burst of light immediately shone upon the Arhat, who began to visibly shrink at a pace visible to the naked eye. It seemed as though time was flowing backward on his body, and in a short while, he transformed back into a crying infant.

The crowd watched this scene in amazement. It was not just a simple rejuvenation; time itself had reversed for the Arhat, who was now completely transformed into a child. The personality forged through his later years had completely vanished. In a sense, the Arhat of the past was now dead, replaced by a naive and ignorant toddler.

The sight left the onlookers with mixed feelings. The Arhat had practiced for many years to reach his current state, yet a single Imperial Decree from the Heavenly Venerable reduced it all to nothing, transforming a Mount Ling Arhat into a child, stripping him of all his power and memories.

This method was far more terrifying than death itself because it surpassed their own imaginations; the gap in their realms brought utter despair.

Thus, everyone soon calmed down. Yun Zhongzi took the opportunity to withdraw his Divine Skills. The clouds dispersed, and the sun and moon reappeared. The grand scenery of Mount Ling was also spared from slaughter.

Dipamkara and others heaved a sigh of relief. If Buddhism and the Taoist Sect had gone to war, it would have been another calamitous conflict sweeping across the three realms, potentially dragging several Saints into the fray. Now, with the presence of the original Imperial Decree, the conflict was quelled, and there was no greater relief than this.

However, they also sensed that something was amiss from this incident. The monk mentioned by Yun Zhongzi, who appeared out of nowhere, was very strange, and the bell sounds on Mount Ling were equally mysterious. It seemed as if an invisible hand was maneuvering everything, aiming to stir up the dispute between Buddhism and the Taoist Sect.

The group subtly speculated but did not expose their thoughts, yet this crisis also highlighted a weakness within Buddhism.

After all, Buddhism had emerged relatively recently and had expanded rapidly in a short time, leading to mixed quality among the current residents of Mount Ling, including people like that Arhat who were ignorant of the broader context. They were determined to use this opportunity to thoroughly reorganize Buddhism internally.

The Taoist Immortals returned to their sects, and Sage Yu Ding still spoke with some resentment, "This act of Buddhism is too much, not saying anything and just letting this slide."

"This incident is strange and doesn’t seem like the work of Buddhism, rather, it seems like someone deliberately framed and trapped us, trying to provoke a conflict between the two sects," Guang Chengzi said, slightly furrowing his brow. Though fierce and diligent, he was an exceptionally clever man who keenly sensed something was off.

"Regardless, this matter cannot be separated from Buddhism. The people behind this clearly have deep infiltration into Buddhism, otherwise, they couldn’t have managed such an arrangement without speaking out," he said.

"Haha, the undercurrents in Buddhism are turbulent, they naturally don’t dare say much. Over the years, in an effort to strengthen their forces, Buddhism absorbed many newcomers whose foundations and characters are unstable, creating numerous embarrassments," Guang Chengzi laughed heartily.

Yu Ding grew interested upon hearing this, he was someone who typically lived reclusively deep in the mountains, rarely interacting with others. His friends were few, including just Yun Zhongzi and a handful of others, and he was generally out of touch with news.

"Please enlighten your junior brother, Guang Cheng!"

Guang Chengzi smiled slightly and began, "Buddhism inherently has shallow roots. Initially, those two Saints, though possessing heaven-reaching mana, weren’t adept at management and couldn’t unify thoughts through teachings and concepts, thus Western Sect remained riddled with factions."

"It was only when Buddha emerged that he unified the Western Sect under the banner of Buddhism, hence renaming it Buddhism, but due to historical legacy issues, there are still several factions in modern Buddhism."

"The first includes Tathagata’s direct disciples, such as the Four Great Bodhisattvas, Anan, and Kashyapa, who are truly in charge of Mount Ling. The second is led by Dipamkara, the Ancient Buddha faction. Most of them joined the Western Sect during Ancient Times and are plotting individually. After the establishment of Buddhism, they band together to stay warm but no longer truly lead the direction of Buddhism. The third faction is led by Maitreya, the Future Buddha group, known for being more radical and believing they represent the future direction of Buddhism."

"This faction also constitutes the majority of the current members of Buddhism, but due to excessively rapid expansion, the quality is mixed, leading to much of the trouble Buddhism faces today."

As Guang Chengzi explained the factions within Buddhism, Yu Ding came to a realization.

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No wonder during their visit to Mount Ling, Dipamkara didn’t appear, but rather Anan and Kashyapa received them. When the situation escalated, Dipamkara stepped forward trying to defuse the crisis, and later when all the Buddha arrived, most were from the Maitreya faction.

"With such chaos, it’s no wonder there’s an opportunity for exploitation. Truly, I am at a loss for words," Yu Ding gloated.

"Yu Ding, let’s put an end to this matter. Since our master intervened, he will surely grant us justice; let’s not stir up more trouble, lest it be exploited and create a bigger disaster," Guang Chengzi said sternly.

"Don’t worry, brother, I understand the critical relations," Yu Ding reassured.

Just as everyone dispersed, a shadow suddenly emerged at the foot of Mount Ling, almost blending with the mountain’s shadow.

"Why could the origin issue an Imperial Decree? Aren’t the Three Pure Ones too busy with transcendence to free themselves? Plus, their quick action prevented me from further escalating the conflict, truly wasting a perfect opportunity," the shadow sighed in secrecy.

He lifted his head, gazing at the majestic Mount Ling for a long while, then let out a deep chuckle, slowly fading away at the foot of the mountain.

Yet among the dispersing crowd of Mount Ling, someone spoke resentfully, "Our Buddhism also has Saints; how could we sit idly by while the Heavenly Venerable bullies us this way."

"Silence! The might of the Saints is beyond our imagination; don’t think they haven’t already heard your words."

"Our Buddhism Saints inherently lack in certain aspects, already lagging behind the Taoist Three Pure Ones. Now is the critical time for transcendence, they’re secretly preparing for it, likely unable to lend a hand," he explained.

"Moreover, the way this Arhat acted was very peculiar. Even if he was audacious, he should not have dared to challenge the might of the Saints. There’s something fishy about this incident; he must have been trapped."

Upon hearing this, the other person shuddered instantly. He looked around, feeling as though someone was watching them in secret. He then spoke, "Let’s not talk about this anymore. With your words, I feel like there’s a shadow lurking around us. I’ve decided to retreat for cultivation once I return and not get involved in such matters anymore!"