"Abbot, we're in trouble!"
In the Great Luo Temple, as Master Puhui was still conversing with Jiang Liu, suddenly, a flurry of footsteps sounded, and swiftly, a young monk ca sprinting to the presence of Master Puhui.
"Amitabha, what happened? To be so flustered, what kind of decorum is this?" Watching the young monk who had run over, Master Puhui softly chanted a Buddha's na and chided quietly.
"No, Abbot, it's serious, a big disaster has occurred!" the young monk hurriedly explained upon reaching Master Puhui.
"The Buddha statue of the Tiger Conquering Arhat we worship has shattered!"
"What!? The Buddha statue shattered? Clarify, did it just shatter, or crack?" Hearing this from the young monk, Master Puhui's expression slightly changed and imdiately, he asked with a grave look.
"It has shattered!" The young monk nodded emphatically and confird.
...
In the east, Shengshenzhou Continent, a temple, sparse in attendance and lacking incense offerings, housed various Bodhisattvas and Arhats' Buddha statues. A few old monks lived there, abiding by vegetarianism and reading scriptures with a Muyu instrunt, leading rather leisurely lives.
One day, an old monk sat in front of a Buddha statue, tapping the Muyu and holding a string of chant beads he had carved himself, quietly reciting scriptures.
Suddenly, a strange cracking noise erupted as if sothing had split.
The old monk, who had been reciting scriptures in front of the Buddha statue, opened his eyes and looked toward the sound, only to find the Buddha statue of the Tiger Conquering Arhat next to him had started to crack.
Moreover, the crack rapidly spread until, at last, it suddenly collapsed into countless pieces.
"Amitabha..." Seeing the Buddha statue of the Tiger Conquering Arhat shatter, the old monk wore a look of shock, silently chanted a Buddha's na, continued to move his chant beads, and softly recited the texts.
In the south, Shanbu Continent.
A magnificent temple that enshrined the Tathagata, various Bodhisattvas, and the eighteen Arhats glistened with every statue ornately adorned.
The monks, dressed impressively as the temple filled with swirling incense smoke, attracted nurous believers.
However, at that mont, a cry of alarm rang out. A pilgrim pointed at the altar, screaming, "The Buddha statue of the Tiger Conquering Arhat has shattered!"
Following the cry, indeed, the ticulously decorated Buddha statue of the Tiger Conquering Arhat had completely disintegrated.
Such a scene sent waves of shock through the crowd, and the surrounding monks also turned ashen, shouting in dismay.
The originally bustling temple instantly beca chaotic.
In the west, Niuhe State.
Among the four great continents, the region where Buddhism flourished the most, owing to its roots in Western Religion, was Niuhe State with its myriad of large and small temples.
In these temples, naturally, many enshrined the Buddha statues of the eighteen Arhats and, at the sa ti, nearly all the Buddha statues of the Tiger Conquering Arhat had crumbled into pieces.
This event sent innurable monks from nurous temples into a state of panic, bewildered by what had occurred.
The atmosphere at the Great Thunder Monastery was also quite solemn.
The Journey to the West for Scriptures was an imnse tribulation; anyone knowledgeable would understand the terrifying nature of this Imasurable Kalpa.
Yet, the Journey to the West had reached this point, and the Tiger Conquering Arhat had t his demise, shocking the entire Great Thunder Monastery.
Although the Tiger Conquering Arhat only held the rank of an Arhat, he was still a renowned figure among them, as prominent as the four great Bodhisattvas within their respective ranks.
It was unexpected that today the Tiger Conquering Arhat would et his fate in such a tribulation. Perhaps he was the first from the Buddhist sect to et such a destiny?
While Envoy Muzha under Guanyin's command had t his fate, he was rely an emissary of Bodhisattva Guanyin and not considered an official mber of the entire Buddhist Sect.
Only those who had officially received the title and rank of Buddha, Bodhisattva, or Arhat could be considered formal mbers of the Buddhist Sect.
Regarding the Tiger Conquering Arhat dying at the hands of Jiang Liu, many Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and even Buddhas had gathered at the Great Thunder Monastery.
The first Arhat to et their fate in this imnse tribulation caught the highest attention within the Buddhist Sect.
"Amitabha, I report to the Tathagata that the Tiger Conquering Arhat was a prominent figure among our eighteen Arhats, yet today he has perished at the hands of Xuanzang. We implore the Tathagata to dispense justice for us," among the Arhats, naturally, most felt outraged and desired Tathagata to sternly punish Jiang Liu.
"Indeed, although Tiger Conquering Arhat held only the rank of an Arhat, his abilities were sufficient to assu the position of a Bodhisattva. Yet, he fell by the hand of Xuanzang. This matter cannot be tolerated; otherwise, wouldn't our Buddhist Sect see even more brethren perish at his hands?" Following one Arhat's statent, several Bodhisattvas consecutively voiced their agreent.
Today, it was Tiger Conquering Arhat who died; next ti, could it not be these very Bodhisattvas themselves?
Considering this, the Bodhisattvas all felt a sense of crisis, naturally wishing Tathagata would properly restrain Xuanzang, thus significantly increasing their own safety, right?
Within the Great Thunder Monastery, nurous Arhats and Bodhisattvas spoke one after another; it seed that, superficially, they were united in their desire to properly punish Jiang Liu.
However, Tathagata remained expressionless and did not speak.
He neither agreed nor refused, rely listening calmly.
After a long while, once all who wished to speak had done so, and their words had ceased one after another,
Tathagata glanced around at everyone present and spoke: "It seems now that most here agree on punishing Xuanzang. So, does anyone hold a different opinion?"
"Amitabha..." Following Tathagata's question, the Bodhisattva Guanyin spoke, "Your Holiness, as I oversee the Journey to the West, I admit Xuanzang erred in killing Tiger Conquering Arhat, but there were excusable circumstances..."
The words of Bodhisattva Guanyin caused the Bodhisattvas and Arhats who had just voiced their desire to punish Jiang Liu to furrow their brows.
Tiger Conquering Arhat was killed; was this a mistake? This was a sin!
However, Bodhisattva Guanyin held a revered position, and even the Buddha had to give her so face; hence, no one interrupted her and waited quietly for her response.
"Oh? Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, please elaborate further!" Tathagata asked calmly, his expression unchanged.
"Firstly, the reincarnation of Dragon Subduing Arhat, known as Daoji, now three years old, was taken in by Great Luo Monastery under the arrangent of Tiger Conquering Arhat. When Xuanzang and his party passed by Great Luo Monastery, they recognized his identity!"
"However, without the knowledge of Xuanzang's party, Tiger's protector beast abducted Daoji. May I ask, how did Xuanzang handle this?" Guanyin directed her final question towards those Bodhisattvas and Arhats who had been most vocally opposed.
Guanyin's words left these individuals speechless for a mont, unable to reply.
"Amitabha, Xuanzang gathered demons, Immortals, and even Mortals from the Mortal World, entered the Underworld seeking help from Ksitigarbha, begging shalessly to stay..."
"Although he did not receive help from Ksitigarbha, his loyalty to our Buddhism is evident!"
"Later, when Xuanzang found Daoji's whereabouts, common sense dictated that both Tiger's protector beast, and even Tiger Conquering Arhat himself, were Evil Demons. How could this be considered a sin!? It can only be said that Tiger Conquering Arhat's Spirit Platform was clouded, eting his destined calamity!"
"Originally, within the borders of Great Tang, everyone is sowhat aware of the past conflict between Dragon Subduing and Xuanzang. If Dragon Subduing Arhat, with whom he had a feud, received such a devoted rescue effort from Xuanzang, how could he intentionally kill an unseen Tiger Conquering Arhat? This does not add up!"
"Amitabha, we agree with what Bodhisattva Guanyin has stated…" Guanyin's logical and well-founded argunts prompted many to nod in agreent; soon, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Lingji Bodhisattva, and others voiced their support one after another.
Tathagata remained seated on the Lotus Platform, his expression still calm, but his lips could not help but curve slightly upwards.
It must be said, Guanyin's words resonated deeply with Tathagata.
Furthermore, who is Xuanzang? He is the reincarnation of my second disciple, Master Golden Cicada. If he were to be punished, as his master, would I not be disgraced as well?
"Amitabha..." Just then, a chant echoed.
An old monk, wearing a Kasaya, bowed slightly to Tathagata, saying: "As Bodhisattva Guanyin stated, Xuanzang indeed is not guilty, rely mistaken. However, no matter how minor the error, should it not be punished?"
"I suggest confining him in the Illusionary Demon Cave for a year to reflect!"
"What dicine Buddha said makes sense!" Many Arhats and Bodhisattvas, previously speechless from Guanyin's rebuttal, imdiately responded as if they had found their backbone.
dicine Buddha holds a high status among the Buddhas; his words naturally carry weight.
"What dicine Buddha said indeed makes sense, but Xuanzang shoulders the critical mission of the Journey to the West for Scriptures! If he is confined for a year, wouldn't that disrupt the great cause of the scripture-seeking mission? In my view, we should simply record this as a fault, and after he reaches Western Spirit Mountain, we can settle it all together. How about we notify him of this decision?" No sooner had dicine Buddha spoken than another person chid in.
This person was none other than Maitreya Buddha!
Hearing Maitreya Buddha personally speak, everyone around naturally fell silent.
In the past, Xuanzang had expressed his utmost respect for him; Maitreya Buddha felt it right to lend him a hand, thereby tying a thread of good karma.
With Maitreya Buddha speaking, Tathagata's gaze swept over him subtly.
After pondering for a mont and seeing that no one else intended to speak, Tathagata nodded slightly, saying: "Amitabha, Maitreya Buddha speaks sensibly! So be it! Let's send an emissary to inform Xuanzang, consider it a verbal admonishnt!"
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