Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 478 - 251: Severing the Fruit of Tao

Atop Mount Ling, Maitreya Buddha, witnessing this scene, revealed a joyful expression. With such a protector of Buddhism, even if all saints transcended later, Buddhism could still maintain its prestigious reputation.

"Truly a saint, with profound strategies, we are no match," he exclaimed uncontrollably.

As soon as his words fell, a radiant light burst forth atop Mount Ling, resembling a slow-rising sun. A Buddha hovered in midair, seated atop a lotus flower, his appearance majestic. Behind his head, a sun of merit radiated endless brilliance. Chants echoed throughout Mount Ling, with heavenly maidens scattering flowers and earth sprouting golden lotuses—it was the Tathagata of Western Heaven.

"All Bodhisattvas and Arhats, follow me to Lion Camel City to subdue the demon," Tathagata's commanding voice echoed across Mount Ling.

Countless Bodhisattvas and Arhats rose from Mount Ling on clouds, closely following Tathagata. So many Buddhist monks together emitted a golden light that illuminated the world of Western Heaven, a truly magnificent sight.

Those who had wished to mock Buddhism, seeing such a scene, also withdrew the schadenfreude smiles from their faces. In this moment, Buddhism displayed its strength, clarifying the disparity to those with malicious intentions. The vast number of Arhats and Bodhisattvas indeed imposed a heavy pressure on them.

In just a short while, Tathagata had led the assembly from Mount Ling to Lion Camel City, where the dazzling light of Buddhism shone amidst the ruins of the city.

Countless wronged souls were liberated; at this moment, the assembly from Mount Ling chanted Buddhist Scriptures, with a brilliance of merit shining behind them. The entirety of Lion Camel City was bathed in a golden glow.

The wronged souls buried within Lion Camel City slowly ascended, their lingering resentment purified by Buddhism, and their fierce expressions returned to peace. They looked around bewildered, seemingly unaccepting of their own deaths.

After a long time, they seemed to understand their predicament, sadness displayed on their faces. They gave a final, longing look at the heavily damaged Lion Camel City, their birthplace that had nurtured them, then slowly faded into the heavens and the earth.

At this moment, Monk Monk had not stopped his actions due to Tathagata's arrival. His incarnation as the Giant Ape, wielding the power of the Five Qi towards the Primordial, struck down towards Dapeng, who lay dying in Lion Camel City.

"Wukong, hold your hand!" At this critical moment, Tathagata spoke to stop Monk Monk's actions.

Monk Monk, surprised, looked up at the solemn Tathagata and asked in confusion, "Buddha Ancestor, this villain is steeped in sin and has now fallen completely into the Demonic Path. Do we not end his life?"

Tathagata whispered, "Amitabha, he and I share a karmic bond, and thus you must not kill him."

Monk Monk, hearing this, showed a hint of a mocking smile: "I've heard people say, are you related to him?"

"There is some connection, but it's not kinship, merely a bond formed in the early days of seeking the Fruit of Tao, which has affected him," Tathagata softly said.

Monk Monk then frowned, for the bond formed in the quest for the Fruit of Tao was no small matter. Buddhist monks hold karma in high regard; such a significant karmic debt from the past could imply that Tathagata might bend the rules for personal reasons and spare this grievous sinner.

However, Monk Monk was clearly overthinking it, as Buddhism might have chosen to handle it quietly, maintaining its reputation if the situation hadn't escalated to public knowledge. But now that the matter had caught the world's attention,

especially with the Emperor stepping forward to demand justice, Buddhism, despite its power, was not yet at a stage where it could act with impunity. If it indeed bent the rules, not only would Human Sages not rest until justice was served, but it would also lead to serious internal discord within Mount Ling.

"How does the Buddha Ancestor intend to deal with him?" the Monkey asked, perplexed.

Tathagata slightly lifted his eyes, not looking at the Monkey in front of him, but rather at the distant East. He knew someone was waiting for his answer there, and if the answer was unsatisfactory, a great disaster might be imminent.

"Dapeng has devoured countless humans and even farmed the human race for food. By rights, his soul should be relegated to the Nine Serenities below, never to rise again. However, since he and I have great karma together, I am willing to sever my own Fruit of Tao to repay for Dapeng's sins, preserving his soul and spirit for reincarnation," Tathagata said softly.

But when these words reached the ears of those at Mount Ling, it struck like a bolt out of the blue. Severing one's Fruit of Tao was no trivial matter, as it was a realm many in the Three Realms dreamt of achieving, yet only a handful of people had reached this step thus far.

It is well known how difficult it is to attain the Fruit of Tao, a realization shared by many mighty beings. For Buddhism, having three saints simultaneously was their proudest achievement, yet now Tathagata was willing to sever his Fruit of Tao.

If looks could kill, Dapeng, currently lying in Lion Camel City on the brink of death, would have been slashed a thousand times by the assembly at Mount Ling.

"Buddha Ancestor, you mustn't do this!" Anan Kashyapa hurriedly intervened.

"If I do not enter hell, who will?" Tathagata spoke softly, his unchangeable will swallowing up any further words Anan Kashyapa might have had.

A spectral Fruit of Tao appeared above Tathagata's head. Suddenly, the entire world seemed like the Capital of Buddha, with countless ethereal chants echoing throughout the Three Realms. Even ordinary people could hear them clearly.

"Heavens, what is happening?" numerous people exclaimed in terror.

For the devout followers of Buddhism, hearing these chants made them unable to resist bowing in worship. It was the sound of Buddha, liberating all beings and embedding the Buddhist intent deeply into their hearts.

The strength of the Fruit of Tao was universally acknowledged, and no one had been able to sever it so far; even the Zhu Xian Sword of the Tongtian Sect Leader was unable to do so. Yet now, Tathagata was about to sever his Fruit of Tao.

My heart aches like a knife cut. Tathagata's will was like a sharp disciplinary knife, fiercely slicing into the nearly ripe Fruit of Tao. A crisp sound echoed in the ears of beings across the Three Realms, and suddenly, a blood rain began to fall from the sky, a lamentation of the cosmos for the fallen Fruit of Tao.

At that moment, the heavens dimmed and the earth darkened; the sun and moon lost their light, and amidst the drifting blood rain, there were faint cries and howls, marking the first time since Pangu created the heavens and the earth that someone had severed their own Fruit of Tao.

The Buddha Tathagata severed his Fruit of Tao, stunning everyone in the Three Realms.

"This is the Fruit of Tao; he just severed it," someone couldn't help but sigh deeply, thinking if they themselves attained that realm, they would not sever the Fruit of Tao, even at the cost of losing face and being ridiculed by the Three Realms.

"Tathagata, Tathagata," Master Zhenyuan of Wuzhuang Temple muttered to himself as he watched this scene, his words filled with admiration and respect.

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In the Eastern Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor watched Tathagata sever his Fruit of Tao, silent and lost in thought, while beside him the Queen Mother couldn't help but utter a sigh, "He really severed his Fruit of Tao."

At that moment, the mighties of the Three Realms were all dumbstruck, completely losing their usual sagely demeanor.