Faced with the questioning from the Buddha Tathāgata, Tang Sanzang was at a loss for words. What could he say? What should he say?
Truthfully, Tang Sanzang wasn't a fool. He understood very well what the Buddha meant by saying all that—it was nothing short of coercion. Even if he didn't want to comply, he wouldn't be given a choice. The Buddha would resort to the might of the Buddhist sect to force his submission.
Just as Tang Sanzang was about to give up, Ye Tian suddenly arrived on the scene.
Golden light gleamed, and the sky looked as if it had been stained crimson by blood-red sunlight. Today, Ye Tian had returned—and upon his return, he addressed the Buddha Tathāgata directly:
"Hm, do you know who's in charge here right now?"
"That's right—it's me, Ye Tian!"
"You're far too arrogant. Arrogance leads to disaster!"
"I'm standing up for Tang Sanzang. So even if you're here, it doesn't matter. He will appear on the Golden List Livestream, and when he does, he'll rank above you. That's why you're afraid. But let me tell you this—you can't do anything to him now, and I'll continue to stand by his side."
"Don't think that just because you're here, I can't act. Tang Sanzang, are you going to choose to stand with me, or with Ye Tian? Ye Tian is not a righteous man—if you side with him, you will be walking down a path of heresy!"
In the past, Tang Sanzang had been able to endure such things. But now, he could no longer hold back. Both Guanyin and the Buddha Tathāgata always flew the banner of Buddhism, yet often did things utterly unbefitting of true Buddhists!
All he wanted was to participate in the Golden List Livestream—to take a bit of time to improve himself. What was so wrong with that?
Yet the Buddha Tathāgata had actually come in person to stop him. Clearly, he was truly afraid of what Tang Sanzang might achieve during the livestream!
Jealousy among those of the same sect? With a cold chuckle, Tang Sanzang declared, "This time, I'm standing with Ye Tian."
The Buddha Tathāgata thought he must have misheard. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Tang Sanzang, are you sure you want to side with him? You're not going to change your mind?"
"No. At least not this time—I won't."
"Very well. Very well indeed!"
The Buddha Tathāgata had assumed that since Tang Sanzang was the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, he would surely obey him. After all, the Golden Cicada had always belonged to the Buddhist sect. But Tang Sanzang's words completely infuriated him.
Since Tang Sanzang refused to take his side, there was no reason to show any mercy.
If he couldn't win people over with virtue, then he would resort to power!
"Boundless is the Dharma—repent and be saved!"
He began chanting sutras, and one wave of immense power after another took on tangible form, appearing in the air and surging toward Ye Tian at breakneck speed!
"You want to fight me? That's far too easy."
Ye Tian instantly unleashed his Ten Thousand Character Golden Light Mantra. The Buddha Tathāgata felt an overwhelming force rush straight toward him!
"What—how could this be?!"
He had never imagined something would happen. His opponent's strength was absurdly high. If the fight went on, he knew he'd have no advantage.
If their power levels were so far apart, the Buddha Tathāgata realized his odds of victory were slim. If he were to be defeated here, he would completely lose face in front of Tang Sanzang.
Even though Tang Sanzang was being somewhat defiant right now, the Buddhist sect still relied on the Journey to the West to gather incense and spiritual fortune. That meant the journey couldn't go on without Tang Sanzang. So whether he could bear it or not, he had to swallow his pride today.
No matter what—he had to choke down this bitter pill!
Just as he was thinking that, a tremendous force tore open the void. Ye Tian reached out and grabbed at the Buddha Tathāgata. The latter tried to flee—but it was too late. Ye Tian had already seized him.
"Buddha Tathāgata, today you'll get a taste of my power!"
Ye Tian's grip on him felt as though it could split heaven and earth—immeasurably mighty!
It was more imposing, more powerful, even than the Buddha's own Divine Palm!
"Ye Tian, let me go—now!"
"I won't. Not unless you apologize."
"You want me to apologize to you? That's absolutely impossible! I've done nothing wrong—why should I apologize to you?!"
"You misunderstood me. You're not apologizing to me—you're apologizing to Tang Sanzang. After all, you tried to stop him from joining the Golden List Livestream and hindered him from improving his own strength. Don't you think that deserves an apology?"
"But everything I've done was for their own good! Going to the West to retrieve the scriptures is the most important task. How could other things be worth delaying that for? Tang Sanzang—do you really think what you're doing is right?"
"Everyone has their own path. If he believes he's doing the right thing, then it is right. And you—are you really so sure that everything you do is right? Deep down, I doubt even you believe that."
"You—You'll be the death of me!"
At that moment, the Buddha Tathāgata nearly fainted from fury. He was gasping for breath and only regained his composure after a long while. He realized that there was a substantial gap in their power. If he kept pushing this, he'd suffer a heavy loss.
So he said, "It seems… I won't gain anything from staying here today. Very well, Tang Sanzang, I won't do anything to you today. Ye Tian, let go—I'll leave. Let's just drop the matter."
Ye Tian burst into loud laughter. He said it was over, and that was supposed to be the end of it? As if he could come and go as he pleased?
So what if he was the Buddha Tathāgata? Ye Tian had no intention of showing him any respect today!
Tang Sanzang, standing off to the side, really couldn't bear to watch anymore. Looking between Ye Tian and the Buddha, he sighed and said, "This endless bickering is unseemly. Let the Buddha go—he's still the leader of the Buddhist sect, after all."
"Fine. Just this once—for Tang Sanzang's sake. I'll give you one chance. Leave, now!"
"Ye Tian, I don't know how your power has reached such levels, but the Buddhist sect will flourish again someday. And when that day comes, you will no longer be my match. You'll regret letting me go today!"
"Regret? I'll never regret it."
Even if he gave the Buddha Tathāgata ten thousand years, he still might not surpass Ye Tian. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel✶fire.net
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