Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

Li Xiuyuan didn't answer, but looked at Little Vajra and Red Boy, and said, "I have to go to Mount Ling for some business. Why don't you two go to Wuzhuang Temple and keep Grandpa Zhenyuanzi company? The old immortal must be living a lonely life. You two going there would be a good way to relieve his boredom. What do you say?"

Little King Kong was naturally delighted and agreed, "Thank you, Master. I'm willing to go to Wuzhuang Temple to play with the old man. It would be even more fun to go with Red Boy."

Upon hearing this, Red Boy also spoke up, "Buddha, this disciple is willing to go to Wuzhuang Temple with Little Vajra. I have been bored for a long time, and if Little Vajra leaves, I really don't know where to go."

Li Xiuyuan nodded, then looked at Zhen Yuanzi and said, "Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi, please take good care of my two precious disciples. Li Xiuyuan thanks you in advance."

Zhen Yuanzi stroked his beard and smiled, "The Buddha is willing to entrust his disciple to me, which shows how much he values ​​me, Zhen Yuanzi. There's no need for thanks." Having experienced many things, Zhen Yuanzi understood this even better.

This was Li Xiuyuan's way of clearly showing his goodwill, using these two children as a medium to bring the two of them closer.

Although Zhen Yuanzi's cultivation level has not yet reached the quasi-saint level and is not comparable to an ordinary Buddha, he should not be underestimated. As far as Li Xiuyuan knows, Zhen Yuanzi is the ancestor of earth immortals and has excellent qualifications.

The Taoist sects Jiejiao, Chanjiao, and Renjiao, as well as the major esoteric sects of Buddhism, all treated him with respect, except for the Three Pure Ones and the Goddess Nuwa, including the Sage Jieyin, the Sage Zhunti, the Jade Emperor, and the Buddha of the Western Paradise. After all, their seniority was evident, and they could not tolerate such treatment.

Furthermore, Zhen Yuanzi also possesses a formidable weapon. It is said to be a treasure left behind by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun on the Treasure Dividing Rock during the primordial era, before the separation of heaven and earth. Although it is not as powerful as the Eastern Emperor Bell obtained by Donghuang Taiyi, nor as majestic as the pagoda of the Three Pure Ones, it is still not to be underestimated. If activated, even ordinary quasi-saints would not gain any advantage.

Then, Li Xiuyuan gestured, and Red Boy and Little Vajra flew down from the lotus platform and landed beside Zhen Yuanzi. The two children stood obediently beside Zhen Yuanzi, who looked them over with great pleasure.

After Li Xiuyuan finished speaking, he said, "Alright, you two must diligently cultivate in the future and not be lazy. You must also listen to the teachings of the Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi and not rebel against them. If you do not listen, you two will surely suffer the consequences in the future."

Both children replied, "We will follow your teachings." Zhen Yuanzi then smiled and said, "Buddha, rest assured, I will definitely discipline these two children diligently in the future, and of course, I will never let them suffer any injustice."

Li Xiuyuan nodded upon hearing this and said, "With the Great Immortal's words, I am relieved. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now." He then turned around and headed west.

Zhen Yuanzi then shouted aloud, "Respectfully seeing off the Buddha!" ​​The two boxes of children also bowed in farewell.

Seeing Li Xiuyuan depart into the distance, Zhen Yuanzi, holding the two children's hands, laughed and said, "Alright, Buddha has gone west. You two come with me to Wuzhuang Temple to play."

However, inside the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor had a premonition that Li Xiuyuan was the one who orchestrated this scheme. But he never expected that Li Xiuyuan would be able to pull off such a feat.

The Jade Emperor understood that although he was the ruler of the Three Realms and had countless celestial officials and soldiers at his command, this calamity was far beyond his control. Even Zhen Yuanzi, who had previously been his equal, was a formidable opponent.

Not to mention those three extremely terrifying demon kings. And then there's Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang, who have now become quasi-saints.

The numerous immortals below were already in an uproar, discussing incessantly. Although they knew of Li Xiuyuan's prowess, they had always assumed he was a lone wolf. But today, his identity had been revealed—he was the very player who had taken the stage in this game. The scale of his power was astonishing; it was clear that Li Xiuyuan had grown quite formidable. Even the Buddha of the Western Paradise might not be able to suppress him.

Speaking of Li Xiuyuan, they had already arrived at Mount Ling. Today, Bodhidharma was guarding the gate of Mount Ling. In fact, as the leader of the Eighteen Arhats and in charge of the Arhat Formation, Bodhidharma always took the lead and shouldered responsibility. This is why he was able to play a pivotal role among the Eighteen Arhats.

Upon seeing Li Xiuyuan arrive, Bodhidharma immediately led many Arhats in paying their respects. However, this was no ordinary matter.

In the past, the Eighteen Arhats held a special status; only the Buddha, the ruler of the Western Paradise, could command their utmost respect. One could only receive their salutations by approaching the Buddha or Bodhisattva and speaking to them.

However, Li Xiuyuan was Bodhidharma's teacher, so Bodhidharma was Li Xiuyuan's Buddhist disciple. Furthermore, Bodhidharma was the leader among the Eighteen Arhats. Therefore, the Eighteen Arhats always regarded Bodhidharma as their leader, and they did whatever Bodhidharma did.

Li Xiuyuan was quite satisfied with this, nodded in acknowledgment, and then entered the mountain gate. However, this scene caused a great uproar among the many Bodhisattvas and Buddhas present. What did this signify? Could it be the decree of the Sage that the master of the Buddhist position on Western Paradise Mountain was about to change?

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Chapter 607 The Buddhas' Council

The Buddha knew everything that had happened at the mountain gate, and he was furious. He cursed, "Li Xiuyuan, you really have a lot of face. I might as well give up my Buddha position and give it to you."

Being both Buddhists and near-saints, how could Li Xiuyuan not hear the Buddha's words clearly? Most of the other Buddhas also heard them clearly. Li Xiuyuan shook his head, gave a wry smile, and continued walking forward without saying a word.

The Buddha's words were a way of venting his own frustration, and also a way of reminding Li Xiuyuan not to push him too far.

At the same time, we must tell all the Buddhas not to be too hasty in queuing. Before things are over, no one can know who the winner will be. Back then, each Buddha came with great momentum, but in the end, they were all demoted by the Tathagata Buddha. First, there was Maitreya Buddha, who, relying on the Jade Emperor as his backer, arrived full of righteous indignation, ready to constantly challenge us, relying on his status as the future Buddha.

It turns out that it was Dipankara Buddha, a Buddha of the past, who always opposed him. After being severely injured by Li Xiuyuan, he was thoroughly punished by Li Xiuyuan, and now the Buddhist community is practically lifeless.

And then there was Ling Chanzi, an unparalleled Buddhist genius. He too was defeated by him. But now Li Xiuyuan has arrived, and he's truly coming with overwhelming force.

I must first say something to boost my own prestige and prevent these Buddhas from acting rashly.

Li Xiuyuan, however, was completely unconcerned. This Lingshan Buddhist sect contained three thousand Buddhist kingdoms, corresponding to the three thousand Buddhas within it. Its vastness and majesty were created by the two sages after Laozi converted the barbarians and then embraced Buddhism, forming the Western Paradise. It was unknown whether it possessed the grandeur and magnificence of the Lingxiao Palace, but its vastness and mystery were in no way inferior to the Heavenly Realm.

Li Xiuyuan was heading to the Golden Hall of Buddhism, the place where the Buddha preached daily and where all the Buddhas discussed scriptures and deliberated. Although he and the Buddha could sense each other's conversations, they were separated by a great distance, probably more than ten thousand miles. After all, the Three Thousand Buddha Kingdoms were no small matter.

What Li Xiuyuan had to do was go to the Golden Hall, ring the golden bell, and summon all the Buddhas to a meeting. This was a Buddhist custom, but for important matters, the golden bell was rung to convene all the Buddhas from the three thousand Buddha kingdoms for a meeting.

Li Xiuyuan walked a few more steps forward and saw the Golden Hall. The Golden Hall was a magnificent structure, entirely made of gold, and looked very imposing. However, this was not ordinary gold, but Buddhist gold. Originally, this place was indeed made of gold, but countless years had passed.

Every day, countless Buddhas gather here to preach and chant. Bathed in countless rays of Buddha's light, this golden hall has become a true Buddhist temple. If an ordinary practitioner had not yet attained enlightenment, they would likely abandon their spiritual path and embrace Buddhism after only a short time in this golden hall.

Li Xiuyuan surveyed the scene and saw that the golden hall consisted of three levels, one after another, layer upon layer, appearing very imposing. Numerous Buddha images were carved upon it, with the most prominent being those of the Sage Cundi and the Sage Amitabha, and of course, there were also carvings of the Tathagata.

On the third floor of the Golden Hall hung a golden bell, which looked extremely exquisite, yet gave Li Xiuyuan and his entourage a grand feeling.

Li Xiuyuan stepped forward and soared into the air, arriving atop the golden hall. Looking at the golden bell before him, Li Xiuyuan smiled and began to strike it.

Li Xiuyuan swung his fist and gently tapped the bell. Instantly, the golden bell emitted a soft Buddhist chant, and the rising smoke created a wondrous atmosphere that Li Xiuyuan found quite remarkable. The bell's sound continued to expand outwards without weakening in the slightest.

Just as Li Xiuyuan heard the sound, the sound was not lost in the slightest and spread to every corner of the Three Thousand Buddha Kingdoms in the blink of an eye.

Without hesitation, Li Xiuyuan raised his hand and struck again, this time with a louder and more forceful blow.

Li Xiuyuan listened for a moment, took a deep breath, and then struck the door hard again. A deafening Buddhist chant resounded, echoing throughout the three thousand Buddhist kingdoms. The sound Li Xiuyuan produced was actually that of a Buddha, uttering four words: "Golden Hall Council!"

Li Xiuyuan gazed at the golden bell before him and sighed inwardly: "The dragon fears this golden bell; it must have a significant origin. I must observe it carefully in the future; if things go wrong, it might turn out to be a great treasure."

After thinking it over, Li Xiuyuan withdrew. He had already made a mental note of this matter and would definitely investigate it further when he had the time.

After descending from the Golden Bell, Li Xiuyuan entered the Golden Hall. He had first come to this hall to see the Buddha, who had been quite angry then, seeing that he, like himself, practiced the Dharma of the Great Sun Tathagata, and had even belittled him. Now, the memory was still vivid.

The second time, it was Maitreya Buddha who proposed to become the Buddha, asking Tathagata Buddha to bestow a Buddha position upon him. On that occasion, the two saints also appeared in disguise and were very welcoming to him.

At that time, they already had a vague sense that they could rival the Buddha. However, this time, it seems that the Buddha will be forced to endure it.

Afterwards, Li Xiuyuan found his Buddha seat and sat down. Then, many Buddhas appeared, one by one, to show their goodwill to Li Xiuyuan. However, having been ruled and suppressed by the Tathagata Buddha for many days, they dared not go too far and only offered token gestures.

However, those who had made an alliance with Li Xiuyuan didn't care about such things. They were all very close to Li Xiuyuan, so in the end, they all chose the Buddhist seats next to him and sat down beside him.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, almost all the Buddhas had arrived.

However, among the Buddhas of the heavens, only Tathagata Buddha and Dipankara Buddha did not come. Li Xiuyuan cursed inwardly: It seems these two still have to put on airs.

Chapter 608 The Struggle for the Buddhist Throne

The crowd looked at the two empty Buddha seats in front of them and began to murmur amongst themselves. They wondered who had rung the bell to announce the proceedings.

The golden bell atop this golden palace can only be rung by the Buddha, and specifically by a Buddha who has been conferred the title of Buddha. So it must not be a baseless rumor.

Li Xiuyuan remained silent, waiting for Dipankara Buddha and Tathagata Buddha to arrive. These two were probably plotting something. Although the two had always been at odds, Dipankara Buddha was being relentlessly suppressed by Tathagata Buddha today.

However, now that Li Xiuyuan has arrived, it's not impossible for the two to join forces against a common enemy. Although Tathagata is suppressing Dipankara Buddha, the reason is that Li Xiuyuan stole his twelve Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, leaving him without any means to counter them, which is why Tathagata is suppressing him.

The Buddha has already identified Li Xiuyuan as his number one enemy, and with Li Xiuyuan's growing activity, his position is on the verge of being overthrown. If no measures are taken, something terrible may happen.

Just then, the two Buddhas finally arrived, unhurriedly. In the past, it was always the Tathagata Buddha who arrived first, and the Dipankara Buddha who arrived last. But now, the two of them had come together.

Upon seeing the arrival of these two, all the Buddhas ceased their discussions, and their demeanor quieted down. The Tathagata Buddha and Dipankara Buddha ascended their seats and began their discussion. The Tathagata Buddha remained silent; it was Dipankara Buddha who spoke first, asking, "Who will ring the bell?"

Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "I will ring the bell."

This time, Dipankara Buddha remained silent, but Tathagata asked, "What is the matter?"

Seeing the two working in unison, everyone understood the situation. It seemed that Li Xiuyuan was gaining too much influence, and the Ancient Buddha Dipankara and the Buddha Tathagata were now banding together for mutual support. The two who used to be hostile to each other were now united against a common enemy. The Buddhas couldn't help but feel some worry for Li Xiuyuan.

Li Xiuyuan spoke again, saying, "The Tang Monk and his disciples have endured a long and arduous journey to the Western Paradise. Now that they are about to arrive, it is best to prepare rewards in advance. Otherwise, if they wait until they arrive to make decisions, they will be in a panic and become a laughing stock in the Three Realms."

Before Li Xiuyuan could finish speaking, the Buddha said, "It's just a journey to the West. Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang have already gained a great deal. What more reward do they need?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan said in a deep voice, "That's an exaggeration! Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong only increased their cultivation by going through life and death and almost perishing."

Tang Sanzang even committed suicide at Lion Camel Ridge, chanting, "If I'd rather go to hell, who will?" He perished in the flames, and then became a Buddha. Both of them possessed the power of a Buddha; it would be inappropriate not to bestow upon them Buddhahood.

The Ancient Buddha of the Burning Lamp suddenly raised his voice, confronting Li Xiuyuan, and said, "Heavenly Dragon Buddha, do you think we don't know? The battle at Lion Camel Ridge was clearly a scheme you orchestrated to promote Tang Sanzang and Li Xiuyuan. Now that you are also a Buddha, promoting those two means you have promoted them on behalf of Buddhism. What rewards do you expect from Buddhism?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan burst into laughter, saying, "What Dipankara Buddha said means that I can represent Buddhism. If that's the case, then I can be the one to bestow rewards upon Tang Sanzang and his disciples on behalf of Buddhism?"

Dipankara Buddha was speechless for a moment, having been outmaneuvered by Li Xiuyuan. However, Tathagata Buddha said in a deep voice, "Heavenly Dragon Buddha, I would like to know, on behalf of Buddhism, how will you reward Tang Sanzang and his disciples?"

Looking at the Buddha before him, Li Xiuyuan couldn't help but curse inwardly: "He's really cunning and treacherous. He's taken the ball back to me again. If I don't play well, he can find something to provoke me."

However, Li Xiuyuan thought to himself, "Since you've passed the buck to me, I'll kick it right back at you and make you go crazy with pain!" Then, everyone heard Li Xiuyuan say calmly, "Alright. Since Buddha Tathagata is going along with me, then I'll say what I have to say."

Since their journey to the West began, Tang Sanzang and his disciples have endured many hardships and suffered greatly. They have also accumulated a great deal of merit.

Once they obtain the true scriptures, they will surely spread them to the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, as well as to the surrounding major states, and our Buddhist community will flourish greatly. This is an unparalleled merit, and should be bestowed upon Tang Sanzang, who came to retrieve the scriptures. Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the White Dragon Horse—five people—should be given the position of Buddha. Only in this way can the Buddha's compassion be truly manifest.”

Dipankara Buddha understood that Li Xiuyuan wanted to turn Tang Sanzang and his disciples into Buddhas, which would be five Buddha positions.

In the past, the position of an Arhat would be the subject of much debate. Even becoming a Celestial or a Vajra required considerable effort. And the position of a Bodhisattva would be decided after a fierce struggle.

But now, Li Xiuyuan spoke of five Buddha positions. This truly shocked Dipankara Buddha and Tathagata. They hadn't expected Li Xiuyuan to actually dare to say it, offering five Buddha positions at once; it was truly unbelievable to them.

The Buddha felt as if Li Xiuyuan had slapped him hard across the face. All the Buddhas present were dumbfounded, never expecting Li Xiuyuan, the Great Sun Dragon Buddha, to be so magnanimous. Everyone in the Buddhist community knew that Tang Sanzang and his disciples were all Li Xiuyuan's men.

To put it bluntly, this meeting was about Li Xiuyuan asking for rewards from the Buddha for the sake of his disciples. Who knew that Li Xiuyuan would make such an outrageous demand, asking for five Buddha positions in one go?

After a long while, everyone finally emerged from this awkward situation. Li Xiuyuan sat quietly and then spoke again: "So, what do the three Buddhas think?"

He was naturally asking about the three Buddhas sitting side by side at the front, from left to right: the Buddha of the past, also known as Dipankara Buddha; the Buddha of the present, also known as Tathagata Buddha; and the Buddha of the future, naturally, Maitreya Buddha.

Both the Buddha Tathagata and the Ancient Buddha Dipankara remained silent, their faces ashen. Maitreya Buddha, however, chuckled, clutching his belly, "Hehe, I think what the Heavenly Dragon Buddha said makes a lot of sense. Five Buddha positions are not impossible."

Everyone knew that having five Buddha positions was unrealistic, and that the Buddhas Tathagata and Dipankara would certainly not agree to it.

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Chapter 609 Two Buddha Positions

However, Maitreya Buddha still spoke up, but it was purely a joke, a sarcastic jab at the two Buddhas, Tathagata and Dipankara.

Many of the Buddhas in the arena wanted to laugh, but they all held it in. Only Li Xiuyuan chuckled heartily, completely disregarding the dignity of the two Buddhas. Subsequently, Dingguang Huanxi Buddha and several other Buddhas who had made alliances with Li Xiuyuan, led by him, also began to laugh.

Then, the laughter spread like wildfire, resounding throughout the entire Golden Hall. There's a reason for this: the law doesn't punish the masses; no matter how powerful Tathagata and Dipankara were, they couldn't simultaneously contend with all the Buddhas in the hall.