Rebirth in Journey to the West: Sun Wukong-Chapter 518: Usable, But Not Trustworthy (Fourth Update!)

While Sun Wukong was cultivating on the platform of the World Tree, the Jade Emperor received the sound transmission jade slip sent by Guanyin Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

"Tathagata has invited me to Spiritual Mountain to discuss important matters?"

The Jade Emperor frowned. This was not the first time the Tathagata Buddha had sent him an invitation. He had invited him to preach at past Ullambana Festivals as well, but it had always been through the day's officiating secretary, never deploying a powerful figure like a Bodhisattva. Moreover, it was Guanyin and Samantabhadra visiting simultaneously—this matter seemed far from simple!

"I am already aware of the Ancestral Buddha's intentions. Both of you Bodhisattvas have traveled far and must be weary. Please, go to the side hall and rest a while."

"Your Majesty is too polite. We were commanded to deliver this message, and now that it has been delivered, we should return and report back. We shall take our leave now!"

After bowing to the Jade Emperor with a Buddhist salutation, Guanyin Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva bid farewell and left the Heavenly Court.

As soon as they left the Southern Heavenly Gate, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's expression darkened, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes. He spoke softly, "Tathagata has indeed become wary of us. It was merely an invitation for the Jade Emperor to visit Spiritual Mountain, nothing else was communicated, yet he purposefully sent us on this errand just to test if we would secretly peek at the jade slip! His scheming is too deep!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva's lips curled slightly, and she did not reply. She had anticipated this situation long ago. The words of the Jade Emperor were merely a confirmation of her suspicions. However, a hint of disappointment still flickered in her heart.

Since joining the Western Cult, Guanyin had always looked to the Tathagata Buddha as her leader. Together with the Tathagata Buddha, they had wrested control of the Buddhist Sect from Amitabha Buddha. Initially, it was Guanyin who exerted a great deal of effort to successfully overthrow and seal Amitabha. But what of it?

Because she showed appreciation for Sun Wukong and the Demon Race of Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Ancient Buddha, Ran Deng, consistently suppressed her. The Tathagata Buddha, who clearly saw everything, did nothing but turn a blind eye, chilling Guanyin's heart time and again.

Now, the Tathagata Buddha was directly testing her in such a manner, and even included Samantabhadra Bodhisattva among those he suspected. This revealed the extent of Tathagata Buddha's mistrust!

This Buddhist Sect was no longer what it used to be; continuing to stay was pointless.

In her heart, Guanyin Bodhisattva had already made a decision. Once she clarified Tathagata Buddha's intentions for summoning the Jade Emperor, she would truly separate from the Buddhist Sect and go to Flower-Fruit Mountain. The destined path had already altered; the future of the Three Realms would no longer belong to just Buddhism and Daoism. It was time for her to make other plans!

As for Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, well, Guanyin gave him a glance and secretly scoffed within. This fellow had previously harbored such hatred for Flower-Fruit Mountain, repeatedly seeking to annihilate it and forming significant enmities with numerous demons there. Now he wanted to switch alliances? Did he really think the skilled demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain were fools, so easily accepting him?

He even hoped to have her vouch for him, aiding his transition to Flower-Fruit Mountain, without considering the times he had schemed against her in the past!

"Be careful, walls have ears! Let us return and report back first," she reminded Samantabhadra lightly, quickening the pace of her cloud riding. Samantabhadra, feeling snubbed, could only grit his teeth and follow. He had already resolved to change allegiances, but before doing so, he needed to clarify the plan between the Tathagata Buddha and the Jade Emperor. Then, Flower-Fruit Mountain would have no reason to reject him!

Guanyin Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva had not privately examined the contents of the sound transmission jade slip, which somewhat surprised Tathagata Buddha. Perhaps he had been overthinking; maybe they did not harbor disloyalty after all?

Half in doubt, Tathagata Buddha maintained a neutral expression and waved for them to leave. Watching their departing figures, he sank into deep thought.

"Ran Deng Buddha, do you think these two individuals can be trusted?"

After a moment, Tathagata Buddha's gaze slightly narrowed, thoughtfully, he softly asked the Ran Deng Ancient Buddha sitting to his left.

"Useful, but not trustworthy!"

A strange light flashed in the eyes of Ran Deng Ancient Buddha as he spoke gravely. He had always looked unfavorably on Guanyin Bodhisattva, although his relationship with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva was relatively good. Now that he had proved the Tao and become a Heavenly Dao Saint, he no longer needed to curry favor with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

For those subordinates far less powerful than himself, they could be used but not trusted!

"Useful but not trustworthy?"

Tathagata Buddha murmured, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, casting a chill through the Treasure Hall of the Great Thunder Sound Temple, suddenly filling the air with an oppressive gloom...

The Jade Emperor had accepted Tathagata Buddha's invitation to come to Western Heaven Spiritual Mountain to discuss important matters. However, he did not come alone; Primordial Heavenly Venerable was with him.

Though Tathagata Buddha's Sound Transmission Jade Slip did not specify, the Jade Emperor could think of no other matters between the Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court to discuss except those pertaining to the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult.

Perhaps there were also discussions about the interests of both the Buddha Dao and Western Cult in this third boundless calamity. Regardless, it was a significant matter, and the Jade Emperor, feeling somewhat isolated and powerless, had deliberated and then called upon Primordial Heavenly Venerable. In the presence of both Tathagata Buddha and Ran Deng Buddha, two Heavenly Dao Saints, he would feel more confident.

Great Thunder Sound Temple, within the Treasure Hall.

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Only Tathagata Buddha, Ran Deng Ancient Buddha, Primordial Heavenly Venerable, and the Jade Emperor were present in the entire hall. All other Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and functionaries had been dismissed by Tathagata Buddha as the matters they were about to discuss were of great significance and not to be overheard by a fifth person.

"Your Majesty the Jade Emperor, Primordial Heavenly Venerable, the matters I asked you both to discuss pertain to how we can protect the interests of our Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court in this third immeasurable calamity. I presume you have both prepared for this?"

Without any idle talk, Tathagata Buddha got right to the point, looking directly at the Jade Emperor and Primordial Heavenly Venerable as he spoke.

"I am eager to hear the esteemed Buddha's views,"

the Jade Emperor replied with a spark of eagerness in his eyes, "But one thing, to preserve our interests, we must first curb the expansion of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult; we cannot let them continue to expand unchecked as they are now!"

While the Western Heavenly Buddhist Sect, far away in Western Cattle Gift State, had not been greatly affected for the time being, the influence of Heavenly Court, primarily based in East Victorious Divine Continent, was at stake. The rapid expansion of Flower-Fruit Mountain in recent years had significantly impacted the interests of the Taoist Sect, and the power of faith received by Heavenly Court had significantly declined compared to the past. The Jade Emperor was very anxious, and he was indeed eager to know if Tathagata Buddha had any effective strategies to contain the growth of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"There is no other way but the Journey to the West to Seek Scriptures!"