Chapter 478: Chapter 350: Tang Xuanzang and his companions arrive at Ling Mountain! _2

“So it goes… one misstep leads to another. Tang Xuanzang has now reached Ling Mountain, but there are still two hardships to endure!”

After speaking…

Guanyin looked somewhat disheartened.

Despite being one of the top martial artists in all the Three Realms, the attainment of the merits of Quasi-sage by Guanyin was only obstructed by the Quantity Tribulation of the Journey to the West.

Ironically, just when she was about to clear the last hurdle, Daoist Xuanqing appeared, feeling like her destined nemesis, and dwarfed her from the beginning to the end.

In face of this situation, she was utterly helpless. If she had not acted decisively, she would’ve inevitably suffered a disaster.

At this moment.

Tathagata Buddha, as well as all the Buddha and Bodhisattvas in the main hall, seemed lost in thought after listening to Guanyin’s account.

Two hardships…Only after surviving two more tribulations, can they achieve the Eighty-one hardships.

Only after completing the Eighty-one hardships, can the mission be completed and handed over to the ‘Heavenly Path’ to be verified.

A moment of silence lingered in the main hall.

An idea sparked in Guanyin’s mind, and she quickly spoke of the makeshift solution she had come up with:

“I believe, one of the remaining two hardships can be directly placed on Ling Mountain!”

“How so?”

The potbellied Maitreya, who had been silent all this while, suddenly asked with a cheeky grin.

“We could do this… and this… then this…”

Guanyin, with a small smile touching her lips, said softly to Maitreya.

Of course.

She neither blocked Tathagata Buddha’s ability to hear, nor did she have the power to do so. Therefore, Tathagata and the other Buddha and Bodhisattvas in the hall also heard her words.

Upon hearing this.

Whether it was Maitreya, Tathagata, or the other Buddha and Bodhisattvas in the hall, all nodded in agreement.

Although such a course of action might make the Buddhism from Shimon appear small-minded, the important thing was that it would help make up for the tribulation.

“Well then, we’ll proceed with your plan!”

“However, how do you plan to deal with the last hardship?” Tathagata asked with a playful smile.

After seeing all this.

Guanyin hesitated a moment before realizing what was going on.

Looking at the expression on her superior’s face, it was obvious that he had a plan in mind; he just wanted her to say it out loud.

With this in mind.

She then said: “As for the remaining hardship, I am at a loss over how to proceed. I hope the Tathagata Buddha could guide me a little.”

Upon hearing this.

A satisfied smile appeared on Tathagata’s face.

When a leader gives a speech, subordinates should coordinate well. In this way, the leader’s wisdom can be better manifested.

“I heard that Tang Xuanzang once served as a county magistrate in the Black Wind Country. Why not let the final tribulation take place in the Peacock Dynasty?” Tathagata said indifferently.

“Tathagata Buddha, do you mean…?”

Guanyin, feeling a sense of revelation, asked hesitantly.

Upon hearing her question.

Tathagata smiled gently and said: “Considering that Tang Xuanzang served as county magistrate in the Black Wind Country, why not let him serve as State Preceptor in the Peacock Dynasty?”

“The saying goes: ‘A minor hideaway is in the wild, a medium is in the city, and a grand one is in the court.’ Only after surviving this worldly court tribulation can one attain the Merit Buddha.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

All the Buddha and Bodhisattvas in the main hall nodded in approval.

Even Guanyin herself was quite amazed by her leader’s idea.

As the one responsible for the Eighty-one hardships, she knew all too well that the more difficult the problem, the more merit one could accrue by overcoming it.

The circumstances within the Peacock Dynasty of their jurisdiction were quite complicated; surely, this would prove a highly challenging trial indeed.

As long as Tang Xuanzang could overcome this tribulation, the merit he could accumulate should be enough to make up for the damage done by Daoist Xuanqing.

“The Buddha is wise!”

Guanyin bowed respectfully to Tathagata.

At this moment.

At the foot of Ling Mountain.

Tang Xuanzang led the way, his nine-ringed tin rod in hand. Behind him, Monkey King bounded along with exuberant energy, and Zhu Bajie led the White Dragon Horse, his eyes roving everywhere. Lastly, the honest Monk Sha, bearing the load, followed in the rear.

“Heh heh- This Ling Mountain is impressively developed, quite frankly, it could match up to the Lingxiao Bao Hall of Heaven itself-”

Scratching his chest, Monkey King remarked in jest.

“Senior brother, look at this pillar- It appears to be made of gold, not sure if it’s pure gold though. I’d like to take a nibble on behalf of Old Pig.”

Zhu Bajie said, his eyes gleaming.

Said and done, the oaf put down the reins of the Bai Longma, made a move towards biting the golden pillar next to him.

Seeing this unfold.

Tang Xuanzang rolled his eyes, chided irritably, “You lout, be cautious of your conduct. We are at the foot of the Buddha, you cannot behave this way!” At the side.

Monkey King also laughed heartily, pointed at Pig Eight and joked, “You really are a numbskull with no ambition, what do we, outsiders, need these worldly and material possessions for?”

“Hrnph-”

Zhu Bajie snorted, indifferent to Tang Xuanzang and Monkey King, and bit into the pillar without a care.

A few distinct tooth marks… were clearly visible on the golden pillar. It seemed that this colossal construct… was genuinely made out of gold.

“What would you guys know, when this journey to fetch the scriptures is over, we’re going to share the merits. At the very least, this old pig could become an envoy.”

Zhu Bajie smacked his lips, counted on his fingers, muttered, “Building a temple later would rely entirely on these yellow and white things (coinage). Plus… Second Sister’s dowry also needs money…”

Just as the group was bickering.

Suddenly.

Hurrying footsteps from not far off caught their attention, they saw two monks in cassocks approaching briskly.

“Hey hey hey, pig-faced creature, who do you belong to? How dare you nibble on this pillar?” Maha Kajia reprimanded furiously.

The other monk, Ananda, examined the pillar and gasped in horror at the sight of the tooth marks; he was so angry, smoke could practically billow out of his ears.

“Hey, you left bite marks on our pillar, you damned beast!” trembling with fury, Ananda pointed at the offender.

The situation instantaneously became awkward.

Monkey King stifled his laughter, Monk Sha remained silent, the Bai Longma sneezed. Zhu Bajie, however, had a nonchalant expression.

“Amitabha!”

Tang Xuanzang sighed deeply. He stepped forward, recited the name of Buddha, and then explained:

“Venerable elders, this humble monk hails from the Eastern Great Tang. We have travelled here to pay our respects to the Buddha, seek the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism and fetch the scriptures to dispel our doubts.”

Upon hearing this.

The two monks exchanged glances.

Ananda’s eyes darted around, instantly dropping his rage for a jovial smile.

“Hehehe, so you are the venerable Tang Monk from the Eastern Great Tang. Please…you all are most welcome-” Ananda bowed slightly, gesturing them to walk in.

“Ah… thank you.”

Tang Xuanzang was taken aback, puzzled over why the other party had suddenly changed his attitude. He could only return the courtesy with a polite smile, then led his disciples into the inner hall.

Once they entered one of the guest rooms.

Both Ananda and Maha Kajia welcomed the travelers, and the latter fetched some vegetarian pastries.

“Esteemed ciders, please enjoy.” Maha Kajia said.

“This… Thank you!”

Tang Xuanzang hesitated slightly, eventually reaching out to take a small taste, so as not to reject the other’s kindness.

However.

The very next moment, he heard a flabbergasting remark from this monk.

This Ananda with a smile on his face, his thumb and index fingers rubbed together as he said insensitively:

“I heard that the Great Tang Empire is incredibly affluent, it’s the celestial dynasty on earth. I wonder if the esteemed Tang Monk, coming to Ling Mountain to fetch the scriptures, has brought any….”

Upon seeing this.

Tang Xuanzang froze in his movements, he hurriedly put down the pastry in his hand and chanting the Buddha’s name with his palms together said: “Amitabha, the Great Tang Empire might be prosperous, but this humble monk is an ascetic, I don’t carry any treasures with me.”

No treasures?

Ananda’s face darkened, but he held his temper in check. Instead, he asked again, “What about ordinary items of material value, like gold and silver?”

In their view, a monk representing the Tang Empire in the secular world to fetch scriptures must hold a high position in the Empire.

Meaning… these worldly gold and silver possessions are as trivial to him as the hill of beans, just like them on Ling Mountain where even a single pillar is made of pure gold.

Upon hearing this.

Tang Xuanzang almost laughed himself to breathlessness.

Is this what monks on Ling Mountain are like?