Ever since the Golden Lion betrayed the Buddha and joined the Great Sage, the Buddha began to become suspicious.
Even his most loyal mount could betray him, and for a time, the Buddha saw everyone as a traitor.
After all, the Buddha was a supreme being in a high position, and there were many competitors both inside and outside the Buddhist community. There was no one in the Buddha's heart whom he could completely trust.
The Buddha had been aware of what was happening in the Golden Lion's territory. Although he had some doubts, given the Buddha's decisive and ruthless nature, he would rather kill the innocent than let one go.
Even if the Golden Lion clan is innocent, this serves as a warning to those treacherous individuals who might betray their cause, showing them the consequences of their rebellion.
Upon seeing the Buddha Golden Boy proclaim the Dharma decree, the Golden Lion Clan Chief felt a chill in his heart.
He knew better than anyone what the Punishment Temple meant; no one could come out alive from there. It was a hellish place, suppressing all of Buddhism's enemies.
Most of them were captured by his Golden Lion clan.
However, the Golden Lion Clan Chief still harbored a glimmer of hope, and looked at the Golden Boy, his voice trembling as he said:
"My Golden Lion clan has been framed! Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly."
"My Golden Lion clan could never betray Buddhism!"
"Hmph! The evidence is irrefutable, yet you still cry foul. Take the initiative to lead all your clansmen to the Punishment Temple, and you'll suffer less!"
A great Buddhist master said sternly.
The Golden Lion Clan Chief ignored the Buddhist master and looked at the Golden Boy, still not believing that the Buddha would distrust him.
He himself was the Buddha's most faithful follower, and had made numerous contributions to the expansion of Buddhism's territory over the years.
Even if they colluded with the Taoists, they shouldn't be driven to extermination in consideration of past merits.
However, Jin Tong's face was extremely cold, and his eyes were filled with deep disgust, the kind of disgust one would show towards a rebel.
The golden lion understood everything; the golden boy's actions reflected the Buddha's will.
"Heh..." the Golden Lion laughed bitterly.
"My Golden Lion clan almost offended all the heavens and myriad realms for the sake of Buddhism, but in the end we became the rebels."
They didn't even give me a chance to explain. Is this the Buddha I'm loyal to, the Buddhist sect I'd protect with my life?
"Insolence!" the Buddhist master roared, pointing at the Golden Lion Clan Chief's nose.
"You dare to offend Buddha and the Buddhist community? Your Golden Lion clan has indeed rebelled!"
Hmph! Bodhisattva Maoling is right, your Golden Lion clan and that Golden Lion are birds of a feather.
He's a traitor, a double agent! Everyone has the right to kill him!
"You're the one who's being insolent!" the Golden Lion Clan Chief retorted angrily.
"When my Golden Lion Clan was at its peak, you all fawned over it. Now you're kicking me when I'm down. You just want to seize this auspicious land after my clan is destroyed!"
"Heh... My Golden Lion Clan is far more upright than yours!"
"A traitor who dares to call himself upright and honorable, what a joke!" The Buddhist master looked at the golden boy.
"Lord Golden Boy, I suggest we execute the Golden Lion clan on the spot; they are utterly rotten!"
Jin Tong glanced at the decree, on which a single word appeared:
Okay~
Immediately, the golden boy said in a deep voice:
"As Buddha said, the Golden Lion clan is now in your hands to deal with!"
After speaking, the golden boy left with the imperial decree.
If the Golden Lion Clan Chief had previously harbored a sliver of hope, now he was utterly disheartened.
"Heaven is unjust!"
The Golden Lion Clan Chief looked up at the sky in fury.
"Unfair? When you sided with Taoism, did you not consider this outcome?"
The Buddhist master mocked, then spoke sharply:
"The Golden Lion Clan's collusion with the Taoists is an unforgivable crime; the entire clan must be exterminated!"
The next moment!
Countless Buddhist monks surrounded them from all directions, intending to exterminate their clan.
"Buddha, what have we done wrong? Can't you see that we have been wronged?"
"We, the Golden Lion clan, have made great contributions to Buddhism, why are we being treated like this? We are not reconciled!"
"Why do you want us to die, Chieftain and Buddha? We are so loyal!"
"..."
The Golden Lion Clan looked up to the sky and wept, not out of fear but out of sorrow.
Seeing this, Ling Yun knew the time had come, and immediately the Great Sage transmitted a message:
"Chieftain, do you still believe in your Buddha?"
Look at your people, who are about to be slaughtered by your Buddha.
Do you want the Golden Lion clan to be wiped out forever?
Still don't believe the clear path I've shown you?
The Golden Lion Clan Chief remained silent; only a true rebellion could save his people's lives.
The Golden Lion Clan was abandoned by the Buddha.
The Great Sage shouted sternly:
"Lion! They've rebelled!"
The next moment!
The Golden Lion Clan Chief no longer hesitated and roared:
"At this moment, my Golden Lion clan has broken away from Buddhism and seen through its true nature!"
"My Golden Lion clan has rebelled!"
"Roar~"
Millions of golden lions within the territory roared in unison, their roar shaking the heavens and the earth.
Then, Ling Yun used the Ancient Immortal Bottle to instantly take away all the golden lions.
Immediately, he left the Buddhist universe at lightning speed.
Everything happened so fast that the Buddhist master hadn't even had time to react before all the lions in his territory were gone.
"They did indeed rebel, but it's all for the best; this auspicious land remains intact!"
"Everyone who sees it gets a share; we'll divide it equally in the treasure vault later!"
"Excellent, excellent~ The Golden Lion Clan has been the vanguard all these years, they must have a lot of treasures!"
"..."
A group of Buddhist masters excitedly arrived at the treasure vault, only to find it had been turned into a bare shell.
...
Three days later, Lingyun, Qiongqi, and the Great Sage returned to the Great Wall of the Starry Sky in the Tang Domain.
Three days ago, Golden Lion had already brought Huang Ling'er back.
At this moment, all the powerful figures of the Tang Domain came to the Starry Sky Great Wall to welcome the Golden Lion Clan.
Upon seeing the three return, the Golden Lion asked anxiously:
"How are you, brother?"
Ling Yun and the other two nodded with smiles.
Immediately, Ling Yun released the Golden Lion Clan.
"Grandpa! Father!"
Huang Ling'er rushed over excitedly.
Seeing that Huang Ling'er was safe and sound, the clan leader immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon seeing the Great Sage manifest his true form, the Golden Lion Clan Chief was instantly enraged.
He rushed over, grabbed the Great Sage by the collar, and said angrily:
"It was all your doing! My Golden Lion clan has been terribly harmed by you!"
"Senior, it was all my idea, it has nothing to do with the Great Sage!"
Golden Lion hurriedly said.
The clan chief glanced at him and said sarcastically:
"I know you too well. You're a complete idiot and don't have the brains for this."
Sun Wukong was always cunning and slippery; even the Buddha couldn't do anything with him!
Golden Lion's face stiffened. So this was the image he had always had in the chief's eyes?
The Great Sage waved his hand and laughed:
"You can't say that in the lion's language. It may seem like I'm plotting against you, but in reality, I'm saving you."
Now you should see Buddhism for what it truly is. The Buddha was harsh and ungrateful; Buddhist practitioners have no brotherhood or camaraderie among themselves, only strife.
Upon hearing this, the Golden Lion Clan Chief let out a long sigh and slowly released his grip.
At this moment, he didn't hate the Great Sage at all; on the contrary, he was very grateful to the Great Sage. The sooner the Golden Lion Clan saw the true face of Buddhism, the sooner they could be liberated.
"Sigh~ But I'm still not reconciled. Why are they treating my Golden Lion clan like this? They didn't even investigate before accusing us of rebellion!"
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