The Taoist had his own aura flowing about him, as if the concept of the human world and the destiny of humanity were converging on his left and right. In an instant, there was a strong impression that "I am in the middle stream" and where I am is the center of the human world. This struck Guanyin Bodhisattva's heart and made his expression slightly frozen.

But that kind of mysterious aura dissipated in just a moment, mixed into the wind, and no longer existed. The Taoist walked down the steps of the storage room with a calm expression and clean temperament, like a young man who can be seen everywhere in this world.

He stretched out his hand and rubbed the little Taoist boy's head, praised him, then reached into his bosom, took out some copper coins and placed them in the little Taoist boy's palm, smiling and told him to go buy some candied haws.

The little Taoist boy cheered, stretched out his hands and hugged the young Taoist tightly.

Then I went happily.

The old blue ox scratched his head, sighed, looked at Qi Wuhuo and Guanshiyin, laughed a few times, and said meaningfully: "The little guy doesn't know the way. I was afraid that he would be kidnapped, so I followed him to protect him. Besides, I also have some things to buy, so I bought them on the way, haha."

After Old Green Ox left, only Qi Wuhuo and Guanyin were left here.

The Taoist invited Guanyin to come in for a chat. The latter looked deeply at the storage room and stepped inside. Qi Wuhuo poured him a cup of tea and asked, "Does Guanyin Bodhisattva come to me to ask you something?"

Guanyin remained silent for a long time, sighed, and said: "Master..."

He recalled what had happened during this period of time. He could already smell the bloody storm coming towards him, which made his mind feel extremely oppressed. He almost felt like he was about to suffocate. With Guanyin's ability to sense cause and effect, he had a sense of something in the dark -

Just now, the fate of all living things changed.

If this Taoist came out at this moment and immediately had a decisive battle with the Buddhas outside the pass, it could be considered that the conflict broke out in advance and he resolved it in advance. Although the Buddhas would be injured, their Buddha meridians would not be completely damaged. Although Guanyin did not like the current behavior of the Buddhas, he was a Buddhist after all, and hoped that Buddhism would be vast and compassionate.

He was determined to get Buddhism back on track, thinking that it would be okay to pay the price and pain of the nirvana of one or two Buddhas. However, when the Great Emperor Zhenwu sent the little Taoist boy to force the Buddhas to retreat, he also said that it was too early.

It is to transfer the current conflict to sixty years later.

It can be said that the momentum has been accumulated for sixty years!

Sixty years ago, he had already displayed some of the great charm, possessed the mysterious means of making a single word the law of the world, and was able to force back all the Buddhas. After accumulating strength for sixty years, this Zhenwu **Demon Emperor came out of seclusion, took advantage of the situation, and traveled 30,000 miles straight out of the seclusion. What kind of bloody storm would he stir up?

The conflict that breaks out by then will surely be ten or a hundred times greater than it is now. Before this sixty-year period even begins, Guanyin's heart is already trembling, and he is faintly unable to keep his composure. He remained silent for a long time, but finally asked sincerely:

"I wonder what the real person wants to do?"

"Do you want to [kill] all the Buddhas as well?"

The Taoist did not answer directly, but asked: "Does Avalokitesvara know what happened in that Nalanda Temple?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva was stunned.

Qi Wuhuo slightly opened his five fingers and grasped a trace of cause and effect. Then, he used these causes and effects to convey to Guanyin the many scenes he had seen and known before. Among them were bone instruments, Buddhas in the flesh, and an old monk who died protecting the people. As the scenes flashed by, the expression on Guanyin's face slowly solidified and finally turned into silence.

Tai Shang Xuan Wei asked, "Can such Buddhist teachings be erased?"

"Can."

"The Buddhas have invaded the human world. Can the human world fight back?"

Guanyin looked sad, but she answered without any hesitation:

"Can."

"Then, after sixty years, if the Buddhas do not come, I will definitely not go to the Western Heaven Buddha Kingdom to stop them; but after sixty years, if they still come, is it reasonable for me to fight back?"

Guanyin said: "It is natural and reasonable."

Taishang Xuanwei Zhenren was sitting there, and a pitch-black snake coiled over, stretched its head out from behind, and rubbed the Taoist's shoulder affectionately. Its pair of golden eyes looked at the monk in front of it curiously. Qi Wuhuo thought for a moment and replied, "Then, this is my explanation."

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva clasped his hands together but did not answer. Qi Wuhuo saw that there was still sadness on his face - Avalokitesvara had been in the Buddhist country for a long time, so he knew the Buddhas' thirst for the vast Buddhist teachings, and knew how persistent the Buddhas would be when faced with this unprecedented opportunity for the prosperity of the human world.

During these several kalpas, many Buddhist practitioners were like drowning in an endless ocean and could only struggle hard.

The Buddhist kingdoms of the Seventeen Buddha Lineages are like huge boats, eager to cross the boundless sea of ​​suffering. The practitioners either stand on the boats or can only lie on the edge of the boats with their hands, exposed to the wind, rain, and storms. Their bodies are like floating wafts, ups and downs, and they cannot find peace for a long time.

At this time, a complete continent appeared in front of them, with countless foods, vast land and houses that could shelter from wind and rain. How could people who had been beaten by wind and rain for several kalpas let go of such an opportunity?

For the Buddha lineages, this is an opportunity that they have not encountered in several kalpas.

So he knew that the Buddha lineage would not give up.

For the human race created by Queen Nuwa, this is an opportunity that they have not encountered in several eons, an opportunity for the human race to grow stronger and for Queen Nuwa to return.

The human race, knowing all this, will never allow Buddhism to encroach on the fortune of the human world.

This is a huge contradiction that neither side will turn back from.

The Taoist stood up, the sleeves of his robe dropped down, holding the scroll in his hand, and said, "The sixty years I mentioned is inferred through cause and effect and destiny, but it is actually just a cover. If they come, there will be a big battle; if they don't come, will I still fight my way to the Western Paradise of Buddha?"

The Taoist held out his hand and said, "The human world is to avoid obstacles."

"The sea of ​​suffering is endless, turn back and you will find the shore."

The sea of ​​suffering is endless, turn back now...

Guanyin remained silent for a long time, then finally sighed, clasped his hands together, and said:

"I will return to the Western Paradise to warn the Buddhas, hoping that they can really turn back."

Qi Wuhuo suddenly felt a revival of Qi, which was exactly the breath of Randeng. He was a little surprised. Guanyin also sensed this breath after a few breaths. The Taoist said:

"Speaking of which, I have an old friend here, who I also found in Nalanda Monastery. It was the Supreme Pure Land Master who sent him here. He took the elixir and rested for a few days. He woke up today. Bodhisattva, why don't you come and see him together?"

Guanyin nodded.

Qi Wuhuo brought Guanyin to the inner room. When he pushed open the door, he saw that Randeng had opened his eyes. His body was wrapped in cloth strips soaked in medicine. He was holding on to the wall with his palms, veins bulging on his arms. He tried hard to stand up, his body shaking constantly, and he looked very weak.

Guanyin subconsciously exclaimed: "It is you, Senior Randeng?!"

This low cry startled his mind. Ran Deng's energy dissipated and his body swayed, and he sat back on the bed. The action of getting up seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He knelt on the bed, gasping for breath. His face, which had been darkened by the sun after walking through mountains and seas, now turned pale and large drops of cold sweat oozed from his forehead.

"It's Guanyin, and... heh... is it Fellow Daoist Wuhuo?"

Randeng recognized the person coming and relaxed his vigilance. He put his hands together and said:

"You saved me?"

Guanyin replied: "It's not me, it's..."

Qi Wuhuo did not respond, but appeared beside Randeng, stretched out his hand and gently pressed on the monk's shoulder. A mellow Qi flowed into Randeng's body and quickly sank into his body to warm his body. Qi Wuhuo said: "Master Randeng, your foundation is seriously damaged. Don't force yourself now, you should rest well."

"Ahem... It's fine with me, but there's something wrong with Nalanda Monastery!"

Ran Deng reached out and grabbed Qi Wuhuo's arm, lowered his voice, and said in a hurried and forceful tone:

"You must immediately go to the Western Paradise to find the Buddha and suppress the Nalanda Monastery. All the Bodhisattvas inside have gone astray and have become more extreme in their practice. Ahem, there are 3,764 people trapped in the Nalanda Monastery. You must rescue them."

Qi Wuhuo fell silent.

Guanyin looked visibly in pain.

Randeng seemed to understand something and murmured, "Buddha, is there a problem too?"

Qi Wuhuo replied, "The actions of the Nalanda Monastery were intended to gain the good fortune of the human world. Many of its actions were approved by the Buddhas. When my fellow Taoist came forward, a Buddha even fought with me from a distance in order to save the evil Bodhisattvas of the Nalanda Monastery."

The Buddhas acquiesced.

Buddha provided protection.

Randeng had a complex expression of pain, his eyes were blank and hollow, and he asked, "Landara Monastery, what's going on now?"

Qi Wuhuo said: "It was trampled by a friend of mine."

"All the people inside have been rescued."

Hearing this, a glimmer of light rekindled in Randeng's eyes, with a look of expectation, even pleading. He stepped forward and asked softly, "People, how many are left?"

Qi Wuhuo said: "More than 700 people."

"More than seven hundred people..."

This number pierced into Randeng's heart like a sharp knife, causing his body to sway. It seemed as if he had lost all his strength in an instant. The hand holding Qi Wuhuo's sleeve loosened and then fell down. His face turned pale, and his straight back collapsed all of a sudden. He closed his eyes, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes, and murmured:

"How could this be so?"

Qi Wuhuo could sense a deep sadness from the monk in front of him. Randeng's foundation had been shattered by the torture. At this moment, he was extremely sad, his mind was a little scattered, and his vitality was in chaos. The Taoist put one hand on his shoulder and said, "Master Randeng, what on earth have you encountered?"

It was a question, but also a hope that Randeng could divert his thoughts.

The monk closed his eyes and replied, "After the separation from the demon world, I returned to the Buddha Kingdom for a short time. Then I noticed that in the thousand years since I left, a radical and persistent practice method seemed to be gradually flourishing in the Buddha Kingdom. I was worried that such practice would gradually lead them astray, so I went all the way to investigate..."

As Randang told his story, Qi Wuhuo and Guanyin seemed to see his experience, seeing him discover clues, gradually following the clues, and finally discovering the Nalanda Monastery, only to find that the friend who had helped him along the way and practiced with him for eight thousand years had also fallen into this evil way.

When Randeng risked his life to save the people, he was also in a desperate situation.

He was then betrayed by a fellow Taoist whom he absolutely trusted, and was pierced through the back by a filthy magical weapon.

In the end, after a struggle, Ran Deng was defeated because the wounds of the demon country had not yet healed; a group of Buddhist practitioners from the Nalanda Monastery captured Ran Deng, and they could neither kill him nor let him go - after all, Ran Deng was a powerful figure, and whether they killed him or let him go, it would bring many troubles.

Deciding to go all out, he found thirteen blood-piercing nails and drove them through the Dharma meridians in Randeng's body, destroying his foundation.

Then he will also be made into a [Buddha in the Flesh]!

He was sealed in the largest, most majestic and graceful Buddha statue in the entire Nalanda Monastery, and the strong Buddhist aura of Dipankara was suppressed by the core of the great seal of the Garbha-dhatu Mandala. If it weren't for the monk's persistence in his heart to inform the outside world and rescue the people here, he would have been killed long ago.

Now that he knew that there was Buddha behind the Nalanda Monastery and that the people had died, Rāhāng's mind became dim for a moment. His roots were basically shattered. Originally, he had been able to control himself with his powerful thoughts, but now, because his heart was dead, his energy meridians were chaotic and scattered, and countless Buddha lights emanated from his body.

Guanyin looked anxious and said:

“Senior Randeng, please calm your mind first, otherwise your cultivation will…”

Randeng did not restrain his escaping energy, but just let it dissipate. He said, "Guanyin, you entered Buddhism at a young age. I watched you enter the Buddha's kingdom. What is the purpose of your practicing Buddhism?"

What is the purpose of practicing Buddhism?

For the vast Buddhist Dharma?

Or is it for the salvation of all living beings?

Guanyin didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Dipankara sat cross-legged, making the Fearless Seal and the Giving Seal, with compassion and gentleness, and spoke softly:

"Before the Buddha disappeared, he once asked me a question, [Where is the end of spiritual practice?]"

"I pondered for eighteen days, but I didn't know how to answer him. When I woke up from my contemplation, he had already passed away. I didn't answer him, and I didn't know what his answer was."

"I practiced Buddhism only to find an answer. I originally thought that when I reached the same state as him, I would be able to answer his question. However, in such a long time, I practiced all 17 branches of Buddhism, but still never reached his side."

Guanyin saw that his primordial energy was dissipating and the light of his soul was dimming, so she hurriedly comforted him:

"The Dharma is boundless. If you keep practicing, you will definitely find the answer!"

"Answer? Maybe..."

“I used to think so too.”

Randeng said: "Now I understand that all the seventeen primordial Buddhas will condone the actions of the Nalanda Monastery."

"Perhaps not all of them acquiesced, but at least some of them did not object. This kind of practice has already deviated from the Buddha's Dharma. I practice their 17-lineage Dharma, so how can I walk up to him and answer his questions?"

The old monk, who had spent 17,000 years practicing the Seventeen Meridians of Buddhism and had destroyed the foundation of his own Seventeen Meridians, sighed.

It was as if I had put down something heavy that I had been holding for a long time, and I felt a sense of relief and enlightenment.

He said:

"I don't want to practice Buddhism anymore!"

No more Buddhist practice!

There seemed to be a kind of great determination in these four words. Guanyin and Qi Wuhuo both felt the indignation and determination in them, so they knew that they could no longer comfort him. They could only watch as the foundation of this monk who was said to have accompanied the original Buddha disappeared, like a lamp about to be extinguished.

But at this moment, a little head popped out from the windowsill.

She was as delicate as a piece of jade, and she was chewing a hawthorn covered in syrup in her mouth with big mouthfuls.

Xiao Yaoling, who had bought the candied haws, had just returned and heard those words.

He is not like Qi Wuhuo or Guanyin. He does not see as much as them, nor does he see as clearly as them.

So there was not a speck of dust in my heart, I just smiled innocently and said:

"You don't want to practice Buddhism anymore? Then do you want to join us?"

"We don't practice Buddhism, we——"

"Practice Taoism!"