Chapter 39

Jiandu Zhenren, having obtained the power of the Golden Bull, shook his head, and his eyes shone like bright stars, with his two horns sharp as blades. He charged angrily at the tailbone of the Giant Vulture Mingwang.

Xuankong and Shenhuizhen Zhenren both drew in a sharp breath and said, "How vicious, how vicious."

Xuankong had previously seen Jiandu Zhenren's humble demeanor and greatly admired him as a man of virtue. He never expected that a man of virtue could be so ruthless when it came to a fight. Now it seemed that Shenhuizhen Zhenren's temperament was indeed passed down from the twelve true sages of the Jingming Dao.

The Golden-eyed Vulture Mingwang transformed into his true form and was being attacked by eleven demon kings. Unprepared, he was suddenly pierced by Jiandu Zhenren's sharp horns. Instantly, he felt a tightness in his nether regions and let out a mournful cry, striking back with his golden wings. With a single blow, he shattered the Golden Bull's avatar into pieces.

Jiandu Zhenren's spirit was attached to the Golden Bull's body. As he saw the heavy wings of the Golden-eyed Vulture about to strike, he tried to pull back, but a powerful and righteous force suddenly came from behind.

He turned around and swung his拂尘 (fly whisk) to block, but the attack was too swift.

There was a crisp "snap," and his fly whisk was broken by the tin staff.

"Amitabha, put down the butcher's knife and instantly become a Buddha!" Xuankong was startled. Wasn't this the catchphrase of the centipede spirit in the movie "Cihang Pudu"? He didn't know when, but Cihang Pudu was already standing inside the Twelve Celestial Constellations Formation, wearing a colorful golden kasaya and a Vairocana hat.

"Who are you?" Dadao Zhenjun quickly moved to shield Jiandu Zhenren and shouted.

Cihang Pudu, who had injured Jiandu Zhenren, did not answer. Instead, the sound of string and wind instruments faintly rose from the clouds, and a group of monks marched in formation, riding auspicious clouds and slowly flying over. Amidst the noisy music, the chanting of Buddhist scriptures could be heard, which was quite pleasant to the ear.

Xuankong's heart sank. He thought, "Oh no, this is the centipede spirit's life-taking Buddhist chant. It cannot be underestimated."

Shenhuizhen Zhenren's vital energy was injured, and his ears buzzed. Gradually, he could no longer hear Dadao Zhenjun's words, only the chanting of Cihang Pudu. His eyes were vacant, his hair disheveled, and he muttered:

"The sea of suffering is boundless, but there is a shore to turn back to; the sea of suffering is boundless, but there is a shore to turn back to..."

Seeing Shenhuizhen Zhenren act like a madman, ignoring his fellow disciples' calls, he walked aimlessly toward Cihang Pudu, saying, "The sea of suffering is boundless, Master, save me, save me from the sea of suffering..."

Dadao Zhenjun had never seen such a strange spell. The Jingming Dao did not have such mind-controlling sound attacks.

With each step, Shenhuizhen Zhenren's facial muscles sank. By the time he reached Cihang Pudu, his face was withered, his hair fallen out, and he knelt before the monk, bowing repeatedly. Hejing Zhenren, who was responsible for spreading the Dao in the capital, whispered to Dadao Zhenjun:

"Big Brother, this golden-robed monk is none other than the Dharma Master 'Cihang Pudu' of the Song Dynasty, who oversees all the rituals and ceremonies of the Song court. Even the decision on the heir to the throne is made only after consulting him. If he nods, the crown prince is appointed."

Dadao Zhenjun was greatly surprised: "Is Cihang Pudu really so influential?"

Cultivating to the level of the Twelve True Sages, one should not care about the rulers of the secular world. However, the land, methods, companions, and wealth needed for cultivation, as well as the disciples required to continue the Dao, all come from the secular world.

Since the division of the Dao and Buddhism in ancient times, they have been competing for dominance and neither is willing to give up the advantage of spreading their teachings in the human world.

It was unknown when Cihang Pudu had gained such immense power in the Song court. Among the four continents, the Northern Continent of Kuru was the ancient battlefield of the witch and demon races, filled with malevolent energy that had not dissipated for millions of years; the Eastern Continent of Shengshen was the home of the Daoist immortals, where the people revered the Dao.

The Western Continent of Niuhu was dominated by countless demon kings and was not a good place for spreading the Dao.

Only the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa, the birthplace of humanity created by Nüwa, had the most humans. The Song Dynasty, located in the center of Jambudvipa, was the legitimate human capital, yet it had been infiltrated by Buddhist forces without a sound.

Who was supporting Cihang Pudu?

This question made Dadao Zhenjun break out in a cold sweat.

The group of monks approached, stopping outside the Twelve Celestial Constellations Formation. Their chanting now filled the air: "Aa Xia Sha Ma Ha, Ma Bei Dang Ma, Ha Gang Ga Xia La. Sha Dian Dang Ma Da Li, Ga Ha Na A Li Da, Ha Ma Sa Xia Ge You..."

Jiandu Zhenren laughed, "What nonsense are they saying?"

Dadao Zhenjun's face was serious, and he coldly said, "This is not nonsense, but the Mahayana Ling Mountain 'Hearing Liberation Buddha Spell.'"

Xuankong, who was already sitting cross-legged on the jade dragon's head, maintaining a state of tranquility, hesitantly asked, "What is the 'Hearing Liberation Buddha Spell'?"

Dadao Zhenjun frowned and said, "The 'Hearing Liberation Buddha Spell' means that just by hearing these mantras, ordinary people can gain great wisdom and liberation!"

Xuankong thought this was quite convenient, as it could save the effort of cultivation, and one could achieve liberation just by listening to the Buddha's teachings. Jiandu Zhenren was alarmed, "If the Buddhist sect has such a technique, how can we compete with them?"

Dadao Zhenjun shook his head and said disdainfully, "This mantra was originally a true word spoken by the great demon king Mara when the Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment, intended to stir the Buddha's laziness and sloth, preventing him from making further progress."

"Later, after Shakyamuni transcended the mundane world and understood the principle of non-duality, he modified the mantra and used it as the fundamental method of Mahayana Buddhism to guide people to the Western Paradise."

Xuankong understood. It was the true word spoken by Mara when he transformed into the Buddha, which Cihang Pudu used to evolve the life-taking Buddhist chant, truly putting it to good use. Jiandu Zhenren's face changed again, "Then isn't this true word just a facade used by the Buddhist sect to deceive the world?"

Dadao Zhenjun sensed the danger and recited the Yellow Court to protect his spirit. He said, "Since ancient times, the heavens have been fair, and one reaps what one sows. 'Put down the butcher's knife and instantly become a Buddha'? Humph, if that were true, wouldn't all butchers in the world become Buddhas in the Western Paradise? The Buddhist sect often speaks of the Eightfold Path, aiming to convert all people to their Western Paradise."

Xuankong spat and laughed, "What kind of heavenly beings? They are still rolling in the three realms and five elements, unable to escape the cycle of birth and death, and will eventually face the five signs of decay. We, the cultivators, refine our essence and will eventually transcend the six paths, enjoying eternal bliss."

The true words and mantras penetrated their ears, even stirring Xuankong's inner desires.

Words he usually dared not say were all blurted out. Cihang Pudu, hearing Xuankong's words, moved his gaze to Xuankong, involuntarily swallowing his saliva. Why? Originally, Cihang Pudu's true form was a ten-thousand-year-old centipede, just one step away from shedding its mortal shell and transforming into a celestial dragon.

Xuankong, born with the power of thunder, was a naturally formed primordial spirit, and by chance, he had integrated the true dragon power of the third prince of the Western Sea, Xiaolong, Ao Lie. His flesh was a supreme delicacy in Cihang Pudu's eyes, making his mouth water.