133: Chapter 132: Can’t Win 133: Chapter 132: Can’t Win Li Ling held back, but he always felt that something was off today.
Upon returning to the Li Family, Li Ling said he was feeling unwell and needed to rest.
When Li Ling’s parents learned of his encounter, they were all shocked and quickly summoned a group of Taoists to perform a ritual to exorcise the evil spirits from Li Ling.
They were also worried that Li Ling had been bewitched and had truly become a monk, which could lead to the end of the Li Family’s lineage.
This made Li Ling even more troubled.
No wonder the Daoist Sect didn’t worry about the Buddhist Realm’s influence.
In the Eastern Continent, there simply wasn’t any foothold for the Buddhist Realm.
The deeply ingrained misunderstanding alone was something they couldn’t explain.
Fortunately, he had anticipated this and made arrangements accordingly.
Only by doing so could he ensure absolute safety.
By the time everyone had left, it was already the middle of the night.
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha appeared in Li Ling’s room, having returned to his original form.
Li Ling looked at him and asked, “What is the matter?”
Only then did the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha speak, “Ananda has been killed by Sun Wukong.”
Li Ling was shaken to the core, and a towering rage flashed in his eyes as he stared at the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha and said coldly, “What are you doing?
How could you let something happen?”
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha remained silent and did not speak.
He knew full well that once something had happened, no explanation would be entertained in the presence of the Tathagata.
What he needed was not an explanation, but results.
After a long while, Li Ling finally spoke, “Is it because I made a move against Sun Wukong?”
“Yes,” the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha nodded.
Li Ling took a deep breath and continued to ask, “What else did Sun Wukong say?”
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha answered, “Sun Wukong also said that now that we have provoked him, he will not let things go easily.
Whatever the Buddha intends to do, he will oppose the Buddha, ensuring that you fail.
Furthermore, if you attack him again, he will go to Mount Ling to slay, again and again, until you are afraid to make a move.”
Li Ling’s pupils flickered continuously.
This was a blatant threat from Sun Wukong, yet he had no choice but to accept it.
He couldn’t make a move personally now, and even if he did, facing Sun Wukong who had become a Heavenly Venerate, it would require a tremendous cost to subdue him.
Under the current circumstances where he didn’t make a move, there really wasn’t anyone in Mount Ling capable of restraining Sun Wukong.
Thinking this, he took a deep breath and said, “I understand.”
Seeing that Li Ling accepted the situation without flying into a rage, the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha sighed in relief.
He prepared to bid farewell to Li Ling.
“Wait, what was going on with you during the day?”
Li Ling suddenly asked.
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha also showed confusion, frowning as he said, “I don’t know either, I just felt that my strength was bound by a powerful force.
If I dared to use my mana to block those mortals’ attacks, that force would have killed me.”
Li Ling drew a sharp breath.
Who possessed the strength to kill the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha?
Only the most supreme Great Heavenly Venerates had such power.
“The Three Pure Ones,” Li Ling’s gaze turned toward the Vault of Heaven, having guessed the identity of the other party.
“Would the Three Pure Ones be so idle as to use mortals to mock me?”
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha was taken aback.
He was well-acquainted with the Three Pure Ones and genuinely did not believe they would do such a thing.
Such acts were too beneath their status.
He found it somewhat unimaginable.
Glancing at the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha, Li Ling said indifferently, “In other’s eyes, we are still Buddha, but have we done any less wicked things?”
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha: “This…”
He was at a loss for words.
The Buddha was exposing their own dark side, what could the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha say?
Li Ling pointed to the sky, a cold smile on his face, and said, “Don’t think too highly of the Three Pure Ones, their hearts are dark.
They can do anything.
Detached and above it all?
Which of the deities who have come from ancient times is a white lotus?
Expecting them to act with integrity is like expecting a pig to climb a tree.”
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha: “…”
He understood these truths.
But he had always held a position too high, coupled with the constant talk of benevolence, righteousness, and morality deluding himself, so much so that he ended up believing those words himself.
Now that the Buddha had spoken so bluntly, he immediately realized he had indeed been too presumptuous.
They often didn’t act with integrity, so how could they expect others to be any different?
Li Ling continued, “Alright, I’m aware of Ananda’s situation.
You should return now.
And don’t worry too much about Sun Wukong, I will handle it,” he concluded after a moment’s thought.
After all, he was a person of firm determination, and Ananda was merely his cousin.
Given the Tathagata’s character, it was hard to say whether he cared about his cousin’s life or death.
It’s quite possible that his anger stemmed from the loss of a powerful figure in the Buddhist Realm.
Ananda had the potential to ascend to the Heavenly Venerate Realm.
“Yes,” the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha departed.
A fierce light flickered in Li Ling’s eyes as he said coldly, “Sun Wukong.”
Just then, the door was pushed open.
Bi Lian happened to walk in and was surprised to see Li Ling had not slept.
Hearing Li Ling mutter the name Sun Wukong, Bi Lian said excitedly, “Ling’er, we really are on the same wavelength.
How did you know I wanted to visit the Great Sage Temple to pay homage to the Great Sage?
You must feel the same, right?
Let’s go together to the Great Sage Temple tomorrow.”
The corners of Li Ling’s mouth twitched slightly.
He, pay homage to that monkey?
If it got out, he would likely be mocked by all the strong in the Three Realms.
Li Ling shook his head and said faintly, “The Great Sage Temple?
It’s just a demon, what’s there to pay homage to?”
Bi Lian frowned with concern, looking at Li Ling and saying, “It seems you have not yet recovered.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t say such things.
I will go find a Taoist to come back and perform a ritual to remove the influence of that Demon Monk on you.”