Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi-Chapter 972 - 970: Debate on the Dao at Spirit Mountain, Maitreya Renounces Buddhism! [Second Update]

Chapter 972: Chapter 970: Debate on the Dao at Spirit Mountain, Maitreya Renounces Buddhism! [Second Update]

Buddhist monks also engage in Zen debates with each other.

However, Zen debates are merely a relatively peaceful exchange, where each party expounds on their understanding of the Buddhist Law without distinction of superior or inferior.

But...

A battle of Zen is entirely different.

When it comes to a battle of Zen in the way of Buddha, it’s a fight to the death.

This is like the past conflicts between the Supreme Shakya of the Shaolin Temple and the Prajna Supreme and others like them, rooted in fundamentally different beliefs and the paths they upheld.

It’s an essential struggle.

Maitreya Supreme was also infuriated by a remark from Xiao Yi, seeing Xiao Yi’s disrespect for the Buddhist Law and irreverence for the Buddhist way as a great act of treason.

Moreover, with Xiao Yi having slain both the Dongfang Supreme and the Western Province Supreme, revealing his overwhelming strength, even the Maitreya Supreme felt wary.

Not completely confident in defeating Xiao Yi.

And...

Should a great battle ensue, as a clash at the level of supreme venerables, it could potentially cause immense damage to Spirit Mountain.

At least, of the supreme powers present, perhaps not even one in ten would survive.

That’s exactly why.

In the end, Maitreya Supreme chose to challenge Xiao Yi to a battle of Zen!

The remaining few Buddha Supremes all heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing this: "Maitreya Supreme is a high monk of our sanctuary, his understanding of the Buddhist Law second only to the Buddha and the Buddha Mother. Xiao Yi dares to challenge him in a battle of Zen? He’s truly overestimating himself!"

"It’s not just overestimating; it’s practically seeking his own death!"

"After today, our Spirit Mountain Reflecting Cliff will have one more Evil Demon!"

Among the supremes.

Only Withering Glory Supreme slightly furrowed his brow; he had immense respect for Maitreya Supreme’s understanding of the Buddhist Law. If it were anyone else challenging him in a battle of Zen,

Maitreya Supreme would definitely have the upper hand.

Even if the past Buddha or the future Buddha Mother were here, Maitreya Supreme’s comprehension of the Buddhist Law could contend with them.

But...

Today his opponent was Xiao Yi. After witnessing Xiao Yi effortlessly manifest the Withering Glory Divine Skill, which overturned his many centuries of conviction,

he faintly felt that the outcome of this Zen battle might surprise everyone. After much hesitation, he finally advised, "Maitreya, be extra careful!"

"Hm?"

Maitreya Supreme paused, his normally cheerful face now bore a hint of impatience, "What? Do you think I would lose?"

The Southern Supreme sneered: "Withering Glory, it’s one thing for you to be too scared to take action because you fear death. Maitreya Supreme is about to teach this Evil Demon a lesson. Why bother raising others’ morale and undermining your own people’s authority?"

Seeing the doubt in the eyes of those looking at him, Withering Glory Supreme could only laugh bitterly and said, "You misunderstand, I simply feel that this battle of Zen..."

"You’re not about to say that Xiao Yi’s understanding of the Buddhist Law surpasses Maitreya Supreme, are you?"

"That’s utterly laughable. In the vast Western Province, aside from the Buddha Mother and Buddha himself, whose Buddhist Law can compare to that of Maitreya Supreme?"

"How could he possibly lose to an outsider Evil Demon?"

"If Xiao Yi wins this battle of Zen, I’m willing to give up my Buddha title and streak naked across Spirit Mountain..."

"I would do the same!"

"And I, as well..."

For a moment.

There were five or six people swearing solemnly.

Seeing this, Withering Glory Supreme could only fall silent, slowly closing his eyes: "I hope my premonition is wrong! Amen..."

He wasn’t defeated in argument.

But...

Withering Glory Supreme was very aware that anything he said at this moment would be wrong; no one would believe him.

Just as you can’t wake a person who is pretending to sleep.

The confidence in Maitreya Supreme, combined with the firm belief that Xiao Yi was ignorant of Buddhist Law, precluded them from listening to anything Withering Glory Supreme had to say.

Meanwhile.

Golden light began rising from beneath the feet of both Xiao Yi and Maitreya Supreme. Amidst the dazzling golden glow, their bodies gently ascended, floating mid-air, supported by the golden light beneath their feet.

Xiao Yi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his black war robe rustling, his black hair moving without wind.

Maitreya Supreme pressed his palms together, turned his five hearts towards heaven, with the Buddhist halo behind his head flickering, appearing dignified and inviolable.

Xiao eyed Maitreya evenly: "What is Buddha?"

"The Buddha signifies awakened nature, not a person; everyone possesses awakened nature, but that doesn’t mean awakened nature is Buddha," Maitreya Supreme said.

Xiao Yi then asked: "Buddhism teaches that all living beings are equal, so if all monks can become Buddha, every living being should be able to become Buddha. Why then does the Buddhist hierarchy place enlightened status so out of reach, with limited quotas, making it unattainable for the multitude?"

How many powerful beings have strived for a life for the status of a Buddha and failed?

Consider those ordinary supremes in the sanctuary, aren’t they here just for a chance at a Buddha’s position?

"Buddhism says all beings are equal, meaning all are born equal as living beings. Yet, they are also unequal because life involves past and present lives, cause, and effect, and reincarnation. With unresolved karma from past lives and unending ties to the mortal world, how can one become Buddha? Hence, our sanctuary speaks of cultivating Buddhahood, cultivating the Buddhist Law, and more so the cause and effect of past and present lives!"

There was a hint of scorn in Maitreya Supreme’s eyes. Were these questions meant to trouble him? He said casually, "The Buddhist Law is boundless as is the unquantifiable pursuit of awakening—neither complete nor incomplete, neither full nor empty, nor the ultimate perfection. Its purpose is to lead people towards goodness. Good and evil both naturally bear the marks of personhood, of selfhood, of sentient beings... Here on Spirit Mountain, only those with great resolve, great opportunity, who cut off karma and have a steadfast Buddha mind, can attain one of the eighteen Buddha statuses. As long as all beings maintain firm faith, harbor Buddha in their hearts, resolve their karma, sever worldly ties, naturally the conditions for Buddhahood will descend upon them. This is what is meant by all beings being equal. Master Xiao, what do you think?"

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow; Maitreya Supreme truly deserved to be ranked just below the Buddha and the Buddha Mother.

His comprehension of the Buddha’s way and insight into the Buddhist Law indeed possessed unique depth.

Excitement appeared on the faces of everyone around: "See? I told you, challenging Maitreya Supreme in a battle of Zen is seeking his own death!"

"Maitreya Supreme is bound to win!"

At this moment.

Xiao Yi spoke again: "Maitreya Supreme Venerable, indeed you possess some capability. But I wonder, have you ever entered the secular world? Have you ever traveled among the common folk?"

"Not ever!"

Maitreya Supreme Venerable slightly furrowed his brow, not understanding Xiao Yi’s intention, "Ever since I became a Buddha, I have been comprehending the true essence of Buddhist Law before Buddha, never entering the secular world!"

"If you have not entered the secular world, how could you know the suffering of the people?" Xiao Yi’s voice boomed, echoing like a great bell, resonating powerfully.

The smile on Maitreya Supreme Venerable’s face faded as he gravely responded: "Amitabha, Xiao benefactor, where is this coming from? All beings in the Western Province have Buddha in their hearts, bathe in Buddha’s light, and enjoy Buddha’s grace. Even if some are not living as they wish, it is merely them repaying past lives’ karma and settling their present deeds. Once karma vanishes completely, they shall receive Buddha’s grace and have the chance to attain Buddhahood. Where is there suffering to speak of?"

"What a good repaying of karma and settling of deeds..."

Xiao Yi sneered repeatedly and with a wave of his hand, a mirror of converging spiritual light appeared before him, mirroring events in the world like flowers in the mirror or the moon’s reflection in water, "Maitreya, you watch..."

Maitreya Supreme Venerable was startled and looked towards the mirror.

Inside the mirror was a dilapidated old house.

An old blind man and a lame elderly woman depended on each other for survival, Xiao Yi’s voice gradually transmitted: "These two were born into a Buddhist family, devout for generations, but due to an accident during worship where offerings were knocked over, they were punished by the Buddhist community, stripped of their property, their family fell apart and they died, the couple left to depend on each other, living their days in misery... You say that having Buddha in their hearts, venerating Buddha, Buddha knows all and will bestow grace. Where is their grace?"

"This..."

Maitreya Supreme Venerable’s complexion turned somewhat unsightly, "It is because these two have not yet fully repaid the karma planted in their previous lives..."

Xiao Yi did not counter-argue, and the scene atop the mirror changed yet again.

This time, it astonishingly was within the holy land.

A young man with shifty eyes, arrogantly acting high and mighty with the support of a Supreme Buddha ancestor from his family, indulging in debauchery in the dark, well-known by everyone. Yet, due to the power of his family background, the people would dare to be angry but not speak out.

And yet such a man, though committing endless wrongs, was still able to bathe in Buddha’s light. Now he has become a disciple of Spirit Mountain.

Xiao Yi scoffed coldly: "Then what about him? Don’t even mention the karma of his previous lives; he has been doing evil all his life. Why does Buddha’s light look after him? Just because his ancestors belonged to the noble Spirit Mountain’s Southern Supreme Venerable?"

"This, this..."

Maitreya Supreme Venerable was at a loss for words and glared fiercely at the Southern Supreme Venerable.

The Southern Supreme Venerable’s forehead was streaming with cold sweat. He had long been aware of his descendant’s actions, but this person frequently offered precious treasures to him, winning his affection, so he turned a blind eye to it.

With a wave of Xiao Yi’s palm, the mirror split into two, two into four, turning into countless mirrors surrounding Maitreya Supreme Venerable.

There was human suffering, the hell of the human world, and even the Immortal Realm of the human world...

All the ugliness of the world, all the darkness, was laid bare before his eyes.

Some devoted their lives to kindness yet met tragic ends, others committed boundless evils yet had fortunate deaths, some abused men and women yet enjoyed full households of descendants, others were honest and kind yet ended alone and desolate...

Each and every scene before him was like a firm slap striking Maitreya Supreme Venerable’s face.

And it also struck his firm belief in the Buddhist heart. freewёbnoνel.com

Maitreya Supreme Venerable looked lost.

Xiao Yi pressed the attack: "Is this really the path you steadfastly uphold? The Buddha you firmly believe in? Maitreya, what kind of Buddha are you truly cultivating?"

Each word resonated, clear and piercing.

Every single word echoing like profound truth, resonating powerfully, causing Maitreya Supreme Venerable to retreat several steps continuously, his complexion turning deathly pale.

Between shifting expressions.

Maitreya Supreme Venerable spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his vitality instantly diminished, the smile on his face no longer there, replaced by a visage of suffering: "I was wrong, the path I’ve been cultivating has been wrong all along."

"Maitreya..."

"Maitreya Supreme Venerable, what’s wrong with you..." The crowd’s faces changed dramatically.

Amitabha!

Maitreya Supreme Venerable brought his palms together, faced towards the summit of Spirit Mountain, bowing deeply. The Kasaya robes on his body receded layer by layer, and the Buddha’s light he was emitting quietly vanished. He voluntarily stripped away his Buddha fruit status.

The crowd inhaled sharply, watching Maitreya Supreme Venerable in disbelief. This was tantamount to severing his own Buddhist path!

Maitreya Supreme Venerable respectfully bowed to Xiao Yi and said: "Thank you, Xiao Buddha King, for pointing the way out of the maze. From now on, I, Maitreya, will not cultivate for the fruit status of Buddha but will cultivate for the sake of all sentient beings!"

"Heaven and Earth as my witness, I, Maitreya, shall walk the human world, determined to comprehend the Buddhist Law that can save all sentient beings. If there is suffering in the world, I vow not to become Buddha!"

Boom—A thunderous sound shook the heavens, and a ray of spiritual light descended upon Maitreya Supreme Venerable.

The severe injury he suffered due to voluntarily dispersing his Buddha fruit status was instantly healed.

And moreover...

His cultivation even rose to a higher level, just one step away from the realm of a Holy Venerable!

"Maitreya, you have found your own path... As long as he fulfills his grand vow, the Holy Buddha status is within easy reach!" Withering Glory Supreme Venerable said enviously.

The other Supreme Venerables also wore shocked expressions.

Everyone’s gaze simultaneously fell on Xiao Yi, the instigator of all these changes!

Thinking of Xiao Yi showing the true essence of the Withering Glory Divine Skill at first, and now with just a few words, he not only stripped away the Supreme Buddha status from the top Buddha of Spirit Mountain but also pointed out the right path, freeing Maitreya Supreme Venerable from the shackles and helping him find his true Buddha way.

It was nothing short of a miracle!

"Xiao Buddha King, for such immense kindness, no words of thanks are enough. If there is a place for Maitreya in the future, just say the word; through fire and across knives, Maitreya will not hesitate!" Maitreya Supreme Venerable respectfully saluted Xiao Yi and then ascended to the sky, leaving Spirit Mountain.

This Chan debate was a complete victory for Xiao Yi!

Not only did he solve a troublesome opponent, but he also severed the Buddhist mother’s left and right arms!

However...

The Chan debate was not yet over!

Xiao Yi’s gaze slightly shifted and fell upon the Southern Supreme Venerable and others, with a smile that was not quite a smile, he said: "Who just said that if I win this debate, you’d discard your Buddha fruit status and streak through Spirit Mountain?"

Upon hearing this.

A group of Buddha Supreme Venerables’ complexions turned ashen...