Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1423 - 663: Life and Death Reincarnation, All Is Illusion

Chen Shi and Zhong Wuwang were filled with suspicion. They clearly saw from high above that the World of Wu Fang was shrouded in darkness, felt the decay and resentment permeating the world, and observed the entanglement of tribulation, which was difficult to unravel.

There must be something fishy here; it cannot possibly be the rumors mentioned by Monk Zheng Nian and the Heavenly Inference Arhat.

Zhong Wuwang thought to himself, "Moreover, this place is a training ground for the Buddhist sect. Many experts from the sect come here every year. If it were just rumors, there wouldn't be so many people coming."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Arhat, monk, may we also attend the ceremony?"

The Heavenly Inference Arhat and Monk Zheng Nian hesitated.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Rest assured, establishing a Buddha Country is your achievement. We won't steal it from you; we only wish to observe the ceremony."

Monk Zheng Nian laughed and said, "It's not that we fear you'll take credit, but my master and I have been preparing for a long time to transform Wotuo Country into a Buddha Country. We've been running around encouraging people to embrace goodness and believe in Buddhism. Only with years of planning do we have this merit of establishing a Buddha Country. This merit may not seem much, but sharing it with you would diminish it."

The Old Monk turned hostile and seemed murderous, but Zhong Wuwang quickly pulled him back, laughing, "You two can rest assured, we are just here to observe, just to observe!"

Zheng Nian and the Heavenly Inference Arhat exchanged a glance and discussed quietly, "What should we do?"

"They come from Ling Mountain, where Tathagata is the current Buddha Master, not to be offended. Moreover, the Old Monk appears unfriendly; could he be Tathagata's uncle? I've heard Tathagata's origins are questionable, born of a demon. His uncle isn't a good man either. Perhaps we should let them observe the ceremony?"

"The status of the Medicine Buddha in the Western Heaven is not as lofty as Tathagata, so let's yield to them."

Their minds made up, Monk Zheng Nian smiled and said, "Very well. Please, the three of you, follow us."

The two walked out of the town, soared into the sky using the art of 'A Thousand Miles in a Single Step,' with thousands of rivers and mountains rushing by beneath their feet at a rapid pace.

They intended to make things difficult for the three, but upon turning back, saw the three were right behind them, realizing then that the three had extraordinary abilities.

Chen Shi asked quietly, "Er Niu, aren't these two monks from the same Ling Mountain as you?"

Zhong Wuwang shook his head and said, "In the Western Heaven, there are different Buddhas, each with its own jurisdiction. They come from the Medicine Buddha, whereas I come from Tathagata, each belonging to a different jurisdiction. There are thousands of such jurisdictions, collectively forming the Western Heaven."

Chen Shi was shocked; is the Western Heaven so immense?

This kind of scale is the largest force outside the Heavenly Court!

"How does the Western Heaven convince the Great Heavenly Venerate that they would absolutely never rebel?" Chen Shi thought to himself.

"Indeed, the Great Heavenly Venerate has never believed them." He thought again.

"Do you think these two monks are strange?" Chen Shi asked.

Zhong Wuwang shook his head and said, "I can't tell. Even if there is something strange, it doesn't matter; my master is with us and ensures our safety."

The Old Monk said, "These two monks seem normal. They speak of the four great elements as empty, yet still worry about others taking advantage of them. They are indeed monks from our Western Heaven."

Chen Shi said, "Earlier when we were in the sky, I saw the Buddhist light extinguishing. It seems that the monks who came here were not proficient in the Buddhist Law and were devoured by the resentment here. It's evident that this place is particularly dangerous. But once we arrived, everything appeared normal as in the mortal world. Isn't that odd?"

Zhong Wuwang, hearing this, soared into the sky again and observed from above, seeing the World of Wu Fang with green mountains and waters, without any place exceedingly heavy with resentment.

"Strange, really strange!"

Though well-versed in Buddhist practices, Zhong Wuwang invoked Buddhist light to shine upon the land, yet found nothing extraordinary, leaving him secretly puzzled.

Before long, they arrived at the Imperial City of Wotuo Country, landing directly before the morning assembly.

The Wotuo Country Lord, already leading the civil and military officials in waiting, bowed and said, "Greetings to the two virtuous ones."

Monk Zheng Nian said, "Country Lord, greetings. Earlier, this humble monk had an agreement with the Country Lord that once three thousand merits were fulfilled, Wotuo Country would become a Buddha Country. Now, after thirteen years, the three thousand merits are perfect, and I hope the Country Lord will keep his promise."

The Wotuo Country Lord, delighted, said, "It is truly admirable that you two have completed three thousand merits. Wotuo Country is also true to its word. From today onwards, all other temples and Daoist temples in Wotuo Country will be abolished, the Three Pure Ones will not be believed, nor the Jade Emperor revered, nor any of the numerous other gods worshipped! From today, Buddhist temples will be widely constructed, Buddhist Law widely preached, and virtuous deeds widely accumulated!"

Monk Zheng Nian and the Heavenly Inference Arhat were overjoyed. The Heavenly Inference Arhat said, "We still need to hold a grand ceremony of the Dharma Realm Holy and Mortal Water and Land Universal Salvation Banquet, to save the Six Paths and transcend all spirits of the Three Realms."

The Wotuo Country Lord, seeking guidance, asked, "How do we arrange this Dharma Realm Holy and Mortal Water and Land Universal Salvation Banquet?"

The Heavenly Inference Arhat said, "We need forty-eight high monks of great virtue to set up seven major altar entrances including inner altar, grand altar, and Huayan altar, cleanse and purify the surroundings, hang the Three Realms Soul Summoning Banner, and summon all spirits to the assembly. Also, food must be provided, offerings of vegetarian meals that are not for people, but for ghosts. Once the ghosts and monsters are satiated, they will be transcended into the Six Paths of Reincarnation."

The Wotuo Country Lord rejoiced, laughing, "This is a blessing for our country! I shall immediately send people to invite high monks of great virtue to arrange the various altars! Please await my good news, both of you!"

He ordered the civil and military officials to prepare quickly and instructed people to search for high monks of great virtue throughout the country to jointly undertake this grand event.

Soon, everyone in Wotuo Country had heard about this Water and Land Daoist Field and heard that the Country Lord intended to make Wotuo Country a Buddha Country, with the entire nation believing in Buddhism. For a time, some were joyful while others were worried.

The officials of Wotuo Country also went about demolishing temples and Daoist temples everywhere and crusaded against other faiths. Anyone who believed in other divine beings saw their temples smashed, golden statues melted, and all items hanging on walls or enshrined in shrines destroyed.