For Jiang Liu, the events that unfolded in Pansi Spider Cave were but a minor episode.
He was not in any danger himself, rely frad and wronged, which left him feeling quite disgruntled.
However, if he could actually swindle Maitreya Buddha out of a Green Lotus Treasured Flag, that would indeed be revenge!
What did it matter if he was one of the Three-World Buddhas or a Quasi-Saint?
To fra him, they must pay a price, right?
His pace was neither fast nor slow, and after traveling about thirty miles, night began to fall, so naturally, Jiang Liu took out his Exquisite Immortal Mansion.
After a good dinner with his disciples, each of them rested.
By the ti Jiang Liu returned to his room and sat cross-legged, it was completely dark. He practiced the cultivation technique from the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture and pondered today's dungeon experience in his heart.
The speed of clearing the dungeon had increased, which seed to be a cause for celebration.
But the final boss of the dungeon was only a bit over level 60, which had beco rather insignificant to him.
This made Jiang Liu feel a sense of helplessness in his heart.
Was there a way to quickly improve Sun Wukong's cultivation level? Only with his increased cultivation would the difficulty of the dungeon increase.
Or perhaps, should he find another excuse to make a mistake and volunteer to enter the Illusionary Demon Cave?
He was already skillful in practicing the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture. As it operated automatically, his thoughts were completely absorbed; before he knew it, his mind beca blurry.
Feeling half-asleep and half-awake, he suddenly heard a Buddhist chant, "Amitabha Buddha!"
The sound of the chant, like the drum of dusk and bell of dawn, startled Jiang Liu awake.
Looking up, he found himself on a high platform, not knowing when he had arrived there.
Atop the platform, he could see a plump Buddha with a bare belly, wearing a rry expression on his face.
"Disciple Xuanzang, greets the Maitreya Buddha!" Seeing the figure, Jiang Liu quickly straightened his Buddha's Robe and perford a respectful bow, speaking out.
"Amitabha Buddha, well said, well said..."
Maitreya Buddha, looking down from on high, revealed a pleased expression and said admiringly, "Xuanzang, you truly are a good disciple of Buddhism!"
Maitreya Buddha expressed his appreciation, praising Jiang Liu, but his words sohow felt a bit off.
"Buddha, have I... have I done sothing wrong?" Jiang Liu, sensing sothing amiss in Maitreya Buddha's words, asked confusedly.
"You still don't know where you went wrong!? Trading a Brocade Kasaya for the soul of a re Spider Demoness and still thinking you're in the right?" Maitreya Buddha nearly exploded in anger at Jiang Liu's puzzled look, the smile on his face becoming rather stiff.
"Xuanzang, I am aware of the recent events you've been involved in!" Maitreya Buddha took a deep breath, suppressing the tumult within him, and spoke.
Upon saying this, he paused slightly, striving to keep his voice calm, and continued, "I understand that you traded the Brocade Kasaya for the soul of the Spider Demoness, but..."
"But, the Brocade Kasaya was a treasured gift from Guanyin Bodhisattva for your Journey to the West. Was it worth trading it for the soul of a Spider Demoness?"
Indeed, was it worth it?
Although Maitreya Buddha spoke calmly, he seed to want to point directly at Jiang Liu's nose and demand an answer.
"Amitabha Buddha..."
Hearing Maitreya Buddha's words, Jiang Liu's expression grew solemn as he spoke with fervor, "Even if the Brocade Kasaya is a great treasure, it is ultimately an inanimate object, whereas the Spider Demoness is a living being. To trade an inanimate object for a life, in this disciple's view, is not a loss!"
Upon saying this, Jiang Liu paused briefly and added, "Besides! Since the soul of the Spider Demoness was able to reach Ksitigarbha Cave, it's clear that she has shed her demon form and beco one of the Immortals and Buddhas."
"Amitabha Buddha, well done, Xuanzang. You have such a compassionate heart; I am... I am genuinely comforted..."
Maitreya Buddha's expression was sowhat strained, and although he struggled to appear pleased, his words were almost squeezed out between clenched teeth.
"All that this disciple does, follows the guidance of the Buddhist Scriptures, never daring to forget even the slightest detail!" Jiang Liu humbly bowed his head, showing a deanor that he had only done what was expected of him.
Taking a deep breath, Maitreya Buddha suppressed the many thoughts in his mind, recalling the purpose of his visit, and said, "The Brocade Kasaya was a protective treasure given to you by Guanyin Bodhisattva. However, since Guanyin has fallen to demon possession and gone to the Demon Realm, it's indeed inappropriate for you to keep her Kasaya. It is good that it was exchanged for a life!"
"I will bestow you another treasure to replace the Brocade Kasaya as your protective talisman!"
As they talked, the hand of Maitreya Buddha rose, and imdiately, a cyan kasaya flew out, landing in front of Jiang Liu.
"This is..."
During the conversation with Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, he had guessed that Maitreya Buddha would give him the Green Lotus Treasured Flag, so now that Maitreya Buddha had also given him a kasaya, Jiang Liu was naturally delighted.
His gaze rested on the cyan kasaya, and soon the corresponding attribute information appeared before Jiang Liu.
Green Lotus Buddha Robe (Divine Level) (Semi-Sealed): No level requirent, upon use, defense 5 million, never wears out.
"As expected..." Viewing the attribute information of the Green Lotus Buddha Robe, Jiang Liu was overjoyed.
Divine Level proved the extraordinariness of the Green Lotus Buddha Robe. Although it was also in a semi-sealed state, a re 5 million in defense was nothing compared to the original defense value of about 1 billion of the Green Lotus Treasured Flag, but for Jiang Liu at that mont, the 5 million defense value was incredibly formidable.
"What a treasure! With this Green Lotus Buddha Robe, I won't need to change into any other clothing equipnt, right?" Without further ado, Jiang Liu took off the Bodhi Robe he was wearing and put on the Green Lotus Buddha Robe.
Wearing the cyan kasaya, he appeared to have an ethereal and transcendent aura.
Hmm, the Green Lotus Buddha Robe and the Green Lotus Treasured Flag seed to match well with the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture he was practicing?
"Amitabha, many thanks to Maitreya Buddha!" A smile appeared on Jiang Liu's face as he thanked Maitreya Buddha.
"Yes, very good!" Inwardly bleeding, Maitreya Buddha forced himself to put on a satisfied expression while watching Jiang Liu draped in his Green Lotus Treasured Flag.
"By the way..." Just then, sothing occurred to Jiang Liu, and he said to Maitreya Buddha, "A Brocade Kasaya was a fair exchange for the soul of the Spider Demoness, and it was worth it, especially since it was a gift from Guanyin. With Guanyin now demon-possessed, wearing the Brocade Kasaya indeed doesn't suit !"
Jiang Liu repeated the words Maitreya Buddha had just said.
After a slight pause, he continued, "Originally, along with the Brocade Kasaya, Guanyin also gave a Nine-Ring Monk's Staff. So, by the sa logic, if wearing the Brocade Kasaya is inappropriate, holding the Nine-Ring Monk's Staff is also inappropriate, right?"
"When I next have the chance, should I use it to exchange soone else with Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha? After all, when I left the Underworld, Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha loudly proclaid that my Nine-Ring Monk's Staff could be used to exchange for a person!"
"Impossible!"
Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, Maitreya Buddha's face changed dramatically, and he urgently exclaid.
You must be joking? If he was considering exchanging the Brocade Kasaya, that was one thing, but he actually wanted to trade the Nine-Ring Monk's Staff as well?
If Maitreya had to compensate again, what kind of treasure would he have to offer to make up for a Nine-Ring Monk's Staff?
"Impossible? Bodhisattva, why not?"
Seeing the distressed, almost tearful expression on Maitreya Buddha's face, Jiang Liu inwardly laughed, but his face showed an innocent look as he questioned Maitreya Buddha.
"Amitabha, although Guanyin has been possessed by a demon, she did take good care of you in the past. You should keep the Nine-Ring Monk's Staff as a reminder of her," Maitreya Buddha hesitated slightly before replying to Jiang Liu's questioning gaze.
"Keep it as a reminder? Being a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, if I keep thinking about Guanyin, wouldn't that be..." Jiang Liu looked troubled and hesitant as he spoke.
"Rest assured, we in the Buddhist Sect are reasonable people; we will not slander you for harboring thoughts of the Demon Clan!" Seeing Jiang Liu's troubled expression, Maitreya Buddha quickly comforted him.
"Amitabha, if that's the case, then I shall follow Maitreya Buddha's guidance!" With palms pressed together, Jiang Liu nodded and agreed.
"Alright, it's getting late. Xuanzang, you should go now!" Maitreya Buddha waved his hand, implying he had nothing more to say.
Every glance at the Green Lotus Buddha Robe on Jiang Liu made Maitreya Buddha feel a great pain in his heart.
"I respectfully see Buddha off!" Jiang Liu bowed his head respectfully and spoke.
As the sound of his voice faded, a feeling of half-sleepiness and half-awakeness ca over him, and when Jiang Liu ca to his senses, he found himself still sitting in his room, having never left.
But the Bodhi Robe he wore had already turned into the Green Lotus Buddha Robe.
"Indeed, the Green Lotus Treasured Flag is mine!" Looking at the entirely new Green Lotus Buddha Robe on his body, Jiang Liu's face showed great joy, feeling very satisfied.
…
anwhile, in the Demon Realm.
Guanyin, now demon-possessed, sat on a dark lotus platform. Suddenly, she pressed her palms together, softly chanted a Buddha's na, and her mouth curved into a slight smile.
"Amitabha, has Maitreya Buddha finally tasted what it was like for back then? Hahaha..."
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