Chapter 788 — Treading the Fragrant Path on a Donkey's Back
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 5
" Emperor Yanfeng wiped the sweat from his face and looked at him: "What insight does the Great Venerable offer?
" "I have no insight, but the Chiming Divine Son does," Banggongcuo said with a smile. "The Divine Son has descended in projection upon the South Sea, and asks you all to come and discuss matters. " The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping cast a glance his way: "Does the Chiming Divine Son mean to plunder while the fire burns? If he meant to plunder while the fire burns, then he would not come in projection, but in his true body.
" Banggongcuo laughed heartily, "Jingping is now split in four and shattered in five.
Only by attaching itself to the Chiming divine race can it preserve itself in these troubled times. This is not plundering while the fire burns; it is guiding matters along the grain of circumstance. " "If the Chiming Divine Son wishes to talk, I will go and talk with him. " Suddenly a heavy voice came from the sky.
The crowd looked up and saw an old ox bearing an old farmer descending from the heavens.
The Woodcutter Sage was both startled and delighted, and was about to speak, when the old farmer shot him a glance and clenched his fist.
The Woodcutter Sage hastily shut his mouth.
The old farmer glanced at the Great Venerable and said, "Come, let us go to Hainan and meet this Chiming Divine Son! " Banggongcuo smiled, "Old man, are you in a position to decide?
" The old farmer was enraged. Rumbling explosions rang out, and behind the old man the divine storehouses unfurled one after another, Spirit Embryo, Five Luminaries, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Heaven and Man, Life and Death, all but the Divine Bridge storehouse.
And above the six divine storehouses a heavenly palace leapt forth, and a road ran through the Southern Heavenly Gate, past the Jade Terrace, through the Jade Sea, across the God-Slaying Terrace, through the Jade Capital City, and came to the Lingxiao Hall.
The doors of the Hall of Lingxiao flew open. A primordial spirit rose abruptly from the imperial throne, and heavenly majesty flooded everywhere as it roared, "Do you say I am in a position to decide?
" Banggongcuo shuddered with cold dread, and with a bang turned into a wisp of black smoke and scattered, hiding outside the capital.
Only after a good while did he tremble his way back, bow, and say, "Senior, after you!
" At the Great Thunderpeal Monastery, on the golden summit of Mount Sumeru, Ma Tathagata sat upright with the assembled monks, then suddenly rose and said, "A Buddha Lord has come.
Follow me to welcome him.
" The monks hurried down the mountain and saw a youthful Buddha Lord coming barefoot. Ma Tathagata saluted and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Deva King Buddha.
" The monks bowed in greeting one after another: "Buddha Lord! " "Within the gates of Buddhism there is no need for such ceremony.
In those years I too was the Tathagata of the Great Thunderpeal Monastery; you may simply call me Senior Brother. " Deva King Buddha ascended Mount Sumeru and looked up.
The Twenty Heavens of Buddhism were built leaning against Mount Sumeru, and now Mount Sumeru was immeasurably tall, each heaven high and exalted, still separated by the barriers of worlds, not yet fully joined with the Primordial Realm. "The Old Buddha still will not let the Buddhist realm enter the mundane world.
A pity. The Heavenly Court will not tolerate him any longer.
" Deva King Buddha said, "The world is about to fall into chaos.
Does the Tathagata have a plan?
" Ma Tathagata said, "If I can beat them, I fight.
If I cannot beat them, I run.
" "That is precisely the way of it! " Deva King Buddha clapped his hands and laughed. "I was afraid you meant to burn jade and stone together.
Hearing you speak thus, I am reassured.
" Even as he spoke, light swirled among the Twenty Heavens of the Buddhist realm, and a man like a black pagoda and another little monk descended from the sky.