Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Chapter 75, "The Decree Descends Upon the Netherworld, the Buddha's Palm Traps the Immortal (First Update)," contains a surprise. Click to unlock now.

The figure was bathed in Buddhist light and surrounded by auspicious clouds.

He wore a Vairocana crown, a kasaya, held a tin staff, and had a rosary around his neck.

His face was compassionate, his eyes were deep, as if he could see through the past and the future, and understand the depths of people's hearts.

He walked into the hall, and with each step he took, a golden lotus flower bloomed beneath his feet.

The lotus blossomed, then transformed into specks of golden light, dissipating into the void.

When the Ten Kings of Hell saw him, they all bowed.

"Greetings to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded slightly, but his gaze fell on Li Yan.

A gentle smile flickered in those deep eyes.

"Young friend Li, this humble monk greets you."

Li Yan felt that gaze fell on him, and his entire aura seemed to be seen through.

He was horrified, but showed no sign of it on his face, only bowing slightly.

"This humble Taoist priest, Li Yan, greets Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded and said slowly:

"Young friend Li, there's no need for such formalities."

"This humble monk has come on the Buddha's orders to invite young friend Li to Mount Ling to hear the Mahayana Buddhist teachings."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall paled.

The ten Kings of Hell looked at each other, their eyes filled with horror.

Venus's eyes flashed, and the whisk in his hand trembled slightly.

Li Yan was deeply shocked.

By the decree of the World-Honored One?

Invite him to Lingshan to listen to Mahayana Buddhism.

Is this... to take him away?

His mind raced, and all sorts of guesses came to mind.

But now is not the time to delve into it.

He said slowly:

"I am deeply grateful for the Bodhisattva's kindness."

However, my cultivation is shallow and my Taoist practice is meager. How dare I go to Mount Ling to listen to the Dharma?

We implore the Bodhisattva to rescind this decree.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva shook his head.

"Young friend Li, there's no need to be modest."

Although your cultivation is still in its early stages, you have probably already attained the Lesser Thousand Realms of the Cave Heaven.

Such attainments are rarely seen even on Mount Ling.

The Buddha's teachings must not be disobeyed.

Young friend Li, you should accompany this humble monk on this journey.

Li Yan's heart sank.

This Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was clearly targeting him.

He didn't have time to think much, but he still maintained a calm demeanor.

"Bodhisattva, I dare to ask why the World-Honored One wishes to see me?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva smiled slightly.

"Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. Young friend Li will know once he arrives."

Li Yan pondered for a moment and then slowly said:

"In that case, I will accompany the Bodhisattva on this journey."

However, I still have a few worldly matters to attend to and need to return to Flower Fruit Mountain to explain them to King Sun.

Please grant me a few more days, Bodhisattva.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva shook his head.

"Young friend Li, please don't engage in cryptic banter with this humble monk."

I, this humble monk, already know everything about the affairs of Flower Fruit Mountain.

The Monkey King was on his way back to the Underworld.

"But the journey is too long, I'm afraid it won't be in time."

Li Yan was startled and couldn't help but stare at Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

A monkey can travel 108,000 li in a single somersault, how could it be too late?

Could it be?

Those compassionate eyes now revealed an unyielding majesty.

Li Yan used the power of his inner cave to dispel the restrictions around his body.

At the same time, his mind raced, devising countermeasures.

Among the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang, there is a supernatural power called "Taihua Yixing" (胎化易形), which can transform into all things and conceal one's aura.

If this technique is combined with the [Golden Light Across the Earth], it might be possible to escape this Netherworld.

However, given the immense power of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, it remains to be seen whether he can escape his discerning eyes.

Just now.

Yama, the King of Hell, stepped forward and bowed to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, saying:

"Bodhisattva, this Taoist priest Li is a distinguished guest of my underworld."

He recently gave me guidance on matters of the underworld and gifted me the "Twelve Methods of the Evolution of the Grotto Heaven" from the Ten Courts of Hell, for which he has shown us great kindness.

"Now that the Bodhisattva is taking him away, may he be allowed to meet with Immortal Sun and exchange a few words?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Yama, the King of Hell.

King Yama felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him, and he almost had to kneel down.

But he persevered and did not collapse.

Seeing this, the other nine kings also stepped forward and cried out in unison, "Please, Bodhisattva, have mercy!"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva looked at them, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

He was about to speak.

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

"Bodhisattva, please wait."

As everyone looked over, they saw Venus slowly rise and bow slightly to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

"This old man is Venus, and greets the Bodhisattva."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded slightly.

"No need for such formalities, Venus."

Venus said, "Bodhisattva, this Taoist priest Li is a fellow Taoist I just met."

He possesses profound spiritual cultivation and a pure heart; he is a rare talent in Taoist practice.

"I had intended to invite him to visit the Heavenly Court, but the Bodhisattva arrived first."

"But, if the Bodhisattva wants to take him to Mount Ling, there must be an explanation, right?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Is Venus questioning me?"

Venus shook his head and said, "I dare not."

"I am merely curious, what is so special about this Taoist priest Li that the World-Honored One personally issued a decree, ordering the Bodhisattva to come and invite him?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This is a heavenly secret and cannot be revealed."

Venus smiled slightly.

"In that case, I will not ask any further questions."

But this Taoist priest Li has a karmic connection with my Heavenly Court. If the Bodhisattva wants to take him to Mount Ling, shouldn't we at least inform the Jade Emperor first?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva looked at Venus, and a glint of light flashed in his compassionate eyes.

"Is Venus trying to intimidate me by using the title of 'Great Celestial Venerable'?"

"In the Three Realms, there is a distinction between immortals and mortals, and an order between humans and gods."

The Heavenly Court governs Heaven, the Underworld governs Earth, and Mount Ling governs the Western Paradise.

"This Taoist priest Li is a cultivator from the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory, and is not under the jurisdiction of Mount Ling."

"If the Bodhisattva wants to take him to Mount Ling, she must inform the Jade Emperor first."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva remained silent.

There was a dead silence in the hall.

Even the Ten Kings of Hell dared not utter a sound.

Li Yan stood there, lost in thought.

Venus, the planet of Venus, would actually speak up for him?

As he pondered, the restrictions around him were about to break.

The transformation of fetuses and the golden light of the earth are already prepared in secret.

Once the restriction is broken, it will soar into the sky and disappear.

Suddenly, a compassionate smile appeared on the face of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"As expected of a close advisor to the Jade Emperor, Venus is well-versed in the rules of Heaven. However..."

"This humble monk has come not to contend with the Heavenly Court for anything, but simply to carry out the Buddha's decree to invite this young friend Li to Mount Ling."

"If the Jade Emperor has any doubts, this humble monk can personally go to the Heavenly Court to explain."

But today, this young friend Li must accompany this humble monk.

Having said that, he raised his hand and reached out to grab Li Yan.

That grab, seemingly casual, actually contained the supreme Buddhist teachings.

Within the palm of one's hand, the three thousand worlds seem to flow and countless Buddhas chant.

Li Yan felt as if the void around him was completely enveloped by this grasp, leaving him with no way to avoid it or escape.

Just then, the restriction was broken, and he immediately activated his magic power.

The Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang, [Golden Light Across the Earth]!

In an instant, his figure transformed into a golden light and soared into the sky.

But the golden light had only flown about ten feet when it was stopped by a large hand.

That large hand was none other than the hand of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Five fingers, like mountains, suppress the void.

Li Yan was trapped in the palm of the hand and could not move.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva shook his head slightly.

"Young friend Li, do not struggle. This Buddha Kingdom in my palm is so vast that even a Taiyi Golden Immortal would find it difficult to escape."

Li Yan was trapped in the palm of the hand, and he felt that the surrounding void was shrouded in Buddhist light.

Within that Buddha's light, there were Buddhas chanting, Bodhisattvas reciting scriptures, and Arhats protecting the Dharma.

Li Yan's mind raced like lightning.

If the "Golden Light Across the Ground" method fails, try another one.

Thirty-six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang, [The Great Escape of the Five Elements]!

With a thought, the magical power within his body transformed into the power of the five elements, and he was about to escape into the void.