dmims Chapter 999 A Calamity for All Living Beings?
Chapter 999 A Calamity for All Living Beings?
A biting wind swept across the ruins of Lion Camel Ridge. The three demon kings stood there, looking in the direction where Sun Wukong had disappeared, and a chill they had never felt before rose in their hearts.
If this unruly monkey really goes on a rampage at Mount Wutai, Mount Emei, or even the Great Thunder Temple, the consequences would probably be a hundred times worse than if they ate Tang Sanzang!
A golden meteor streaked across the sky as Sun Wukong pushed his somersault cloud to its limit. The sea of clouds on either side, like white waves cleaved by a giant axe, receded wildly. The wind howled sharply in his ears.
Having flown only a few hundred miles, the golden light in Sun Wukong's fiery eyes suddenly flickered. He abruptly stepped on his somersault cloud in mid-air, the immense inertia propelling him forward for dozens of feet, creating a visible white shockwave in the void.
"Something's not right..." Sun Wukong frowned, his golden cudgel spinning irritably in his hand, sending sparks flying through the air. "If I, Old Sun, am to go like this, and that old monk Manjushri tries to play games with me, spouting nonsense about destiny and calamities, how can my mouth possibly win against their convoluted Buddhist doctrines? If he gets angry and attacks, all those Arhats and Vajras on the mountain will come at me. Even if I can shatter their golden bodies, it will still delay the time to save my master."
He lowered his head and touched the cold recording stone in his arms, the image of Chu Yang's strategic planning and sharp words flashing through his mind.
"This kid may be a mortal, but he's quick-witted and his tongue is sharper than my old Sun's golden cudgel. To deal with those bodhisattvas who spout empty platitudes of benevolence and morality, you need his kind of incisive arguments! Besides, I left them in that broken hole. Although they're protected by a few feathers, that roc is incredibly cunning. If he finds a weakness, Master and my brother will be finished!"
Sun Wukong grew increasingly uneasy, then suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted, "Fine! Sharpening the axe won't delay the work of chopping wood. Let's take my brothers with us to cause trouble; that way we'll be more confident!"
With that, he flicked his toes on the Somersault Cloud, which instantly made an incredible sharp turn in the air, accompanied by a thunderous roar, and sped back towards Lion Camel Ridge at an even faster speed than it had come.
Beneath the sheer cliffs of Lion Camel Ridge, outside a hidden cave.
The area outside the cave was now a scene of utter devastation. Huge ancient trees had been uprooted and lay sprawled on the ground. The ground was covered with decaying leaves and soil, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of earth and eerie energy.
"Brother, that golden shield left by the monkey is really hard! My trunk is numb from all the twitching, but I still can't break it!" The yellow-toothed old elephant monster panted heavily, its massive body standing less than ten feet from the cave entrance. The scorch marks left by Chu Yang's Heaven-Burning True Fire still clung to its trunk, which was now convulsing in pain.
The blue-haired lion monster, wielding a nine-ringed broadsword, stared grimly at the dazzling golden light emanating from the protective barrier. Inside, Tang Sanzang lay with his eyes closed, his lips trembling wildly, clearly terrified out of his wits. Chu Yang, meanwhile, leaned against the stone wall, his face ashen, eyes tightly shut, his fate unknown.
"Hmph! That impudent monkey must have gone to fetch reinforcements, setting up this trap before he left!" The green-haired lion monster spat angrily on the ground. "Second brother, let's attack together! I refuse to believe that with our combined magic, we brothers can't break even a single hair of his magic trick!"
Just as the two demons were about to join forces to bombard the light barrier, a thunderous roar that seemed to shatter the clouds and split rocks suddenly came from the heavens above:
"You two old bastards! Who dares to touch my master and brothers!"
With that roar, a massive, golden iron rod, as thick as a water vat, crashed down from the sky with terrifying pressure, like Mount Tai pressing down. The air was compressed to its limit by this immense force, producing a deafening sonic boom.
"Oh no! That monkey is back!" The green-haired lion monster was shocked and hurriedly raised his nine-ringed broadsword to meet him.
"Clang—Boom!"
The golden cudgel slammed solidly into the nine-ringed broadsword. A visible circular shockwave instantly rippled outwards, uprooting all the massive trees within a radius of dozens of feet and pulverizing them. The green-haired lion monster felt as if its arms were about to break, spitting out a mouthful of blood as its enormous body was smashed into the ground, leaving behind only a bottomless black hole.
The yellow-toothed elephant monster was so frightened that it lost its soul and dared not continue the fight. It turned around and tried to run away.
Sun Wukong somersaulted steadily to the cave entrance, his golden eyes coldly sweeping over the old elephant monster, but he didn't give chase. His priority now was to take Chu Yang away.
"Retract!" Sun Wukong reached out and beckoned, and the golden light barrier at the cave entrance instantly transformed into a single hair, flying back into his hand.
"Wukong! You...you're back again? Didn't you go...go to find the Buddha?" Tang Sanzang was so excited to see Sun Wukong appear like a god descending to earth that tears welled up in his eyes, and he rushed over to him.
Sun Wukong steadied Tang Sanzang, having no time for further explanation, and turned to look at Chu Yang, who was leaning against the stone wall. Chu Yang was now in a semi-conscious state, his breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible.
"Brother, wake up!" Sun Wukong forcibly transferred a stream of pure true energy into Chu Yang's body.
Chu Yang's body trembled violently. He slowly opened his eyes, saw Sun Wukong's face, and forced a weak, bitter smile: "Brother Monkey... why... are you back again? Did you lose and... run away?"
"Pah! Pah! Pah! I, Old Sun, am not afraid of those few feathered beasts!" Sun Wukong glared at him irritably. "I've been thinking, you're full of bad ideas, no, full of schemes. If I go to Manjushri Bodhisattva's temple and he's unreasonable, I'm afraid I'll suffer because I'm bad with words. You come with me; you'll be in charge of the verbal battle, and I'll be in charge of the fighting!"
Upon hearing this, a bright light flashed in Chu Yang's eyes. He suppressed the sharp pain in his chest and struggled to say, "Good idea...dealing with those monks certainly requires...unconventional methods. Cough cough..."
"Wukong! Young Hero Chu is so badly injured, where are you going to take him?" Tang Sanzang stamped his feet anxiously beside him, "If you take him, what if he...
"Master, don't worry, with me here, neither the Black and White Impermanence can take him away!" Sun Wukong interrupted Tang Sanzang. "You stay here and stay put. I'll conjure up an even stronger shield for you. I'll go to Mount Wutai and have the Bodhisattva come to apologize to you personally!"
Having said that, Sun Wukong plucked three more hairs and blew a breath of immortal energy. The three hairs transformed into three golden-armored generals, surrounding Tang Sanzang and forming an indestructible defensive formation.
"Go!" Sun Wukong hoisted Chu Yang onto his shoulder, and his somersault cloud instantly materialized beneath his feet. With a "whoosh," it transformed into golden light once more and soared into the sky.
The wind in the sky was bitterly cold. Sun Wukong deliberately condensed a layer of true energy shield at the front of his somersault cloud to block the knife-like gale, so as to prevent Chu Yang's broken body from suffering further torment.
"Brother, hang in there. When we get to Mount Wutai, even if I have to steal, I'll snatch a few life-saving pills from Manjushri!" Sun Wukong said, turning back to look at Chu Yang, whose face was as pale as paper, as he urged his somersault cloud.
Chu Yang barely opened his eyes, looking at the rapidly receding sea of clouds around him, and said in a hoarse voice, "Brother Monkey... when we get there, don't rush to attack. The Bodhisattva values face above all else; if we attack directly, they'll have an excuse. We should... first be courteous, then use force. Let them be in the wrong first, so they have nothing to say, and then... give them a good beating!"
"Hehe, I, Old Sun, love hearing your sly tune!" Sun Wukong grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Whatever you say, I, Old Sun, will do!"
In less than half an hour, ten thousand golden rays suddenly burst forth from the sea of clouds ahead. A majestic mountain range came into view, its peaks piercing the sky. Amidst the swirling mist, countless temples with golden roofs and red walls could be vaguely seen, scattered in a well-organized manner on the mountainside and summit.
The air was no longer filled with the nauseating stench of blood and decay typical of Lion Camel Ridge, but instead carried a rich sandalwood fragrance. Faint chanting accompanied the melodious echoes of morning bells and evening drums, reverberating between heaven and earth, bringing a sense of tranquility to all who heard it.
This is Wutai Mountain, a sacred Buddhist site.
"What a peaceful Buddhist sanctuary!" Chu Yang, perched on Sun Wukong's back, looked down at the magnificent and solemn temple below, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. "These golden bricks and green tiles covering the mountain, I wonder how many mortals' flesh and blood were used to build them."
"Let's go! We'll head straight to Qingliang Temple on the main peak! Manjushri is right there!" A fierce glint flashed in Sun Wukong's eyes as he descended from the clouds and charged straight down towards the highest peak.
In front of the white marble gate of Qingliang Temple, two rows of Vajra protectors, each several meters tall and with glaring eyes, stand majestically holding vajras.
Seeing a golden light suddenly descend from the sky, the leading Vajra of Wide Vision stepped forward, holding his thick Vajra pestle horizontally in front of his chest, and shouted loudly, "What kind of demon immortal dares to trespass on the sacred site of Manjushri Bodhisattva at Mount Wutai! Quickly descend from the clouds and pay homage on foot!"
"Go to hell with your worship!" Sun Wukong was already seething with anger, and upon hearing this, he could no longer hold back. Without even leaving his cloud, he pulled his golden cudgel directly from his ear.
The golden cudgel grew longer in the wind, instantly transforming into a colossal pillar tens of feet long and as thick as a water vat, sweeping directly toward the indestructible white marble mountain gate with a devastating gale.
"Boom—!"
A deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth. The mountain gate, carved with countless intricate scriptures and touted as invincible, was instantly shattered into a shower of rubble under the terrifying force of the golden cudgel, as if it were made of paper. The two rows of arrogant Vajra protectors didn't even have time to scream before they were sent flying by the violent force, crashing heavily into the stone wall behind them, spitting blood and cracking their golden bodies.
"You impudent monkey! How dare you cause trouble in the Bodhisattva's sacred ground!" An angry voice came from inside the temple.
Sun Wukong retrieved his golden cudgel, reducing it to its normal size and holding it in his hand. He sneered, hoisted Chu Yang onto his back, and swaggered into the square of Qingliang Temple, stepping over the scattered pieces of white marble.
"Manjushri! Your maternal grandfather has come to pay his respects! Why don't you come out and greet him!" Sun Wukong shouted, his penetrating voice instantly spreading to every corner of Mount Wutai, even making the ancient hanging bells vibrate.
Around the square, countless Arhats, Bhikkhus, and Jiedi surged out like a tide, holding precept knives, staffs, and alms bowls, surrounding Sun Wukong and Chu Yang. However, facing the fierce god who had just smashed the mountain gate with a single blow, not one of them dared to be the first to rush forward.
"Amitabha--"
Just as tensions were about to rise, a long and ethereal Buddhist chant resounded from the depths of the hall. This chant seemed to possess a calming power, instantly soothing the panic in the hearts of the surrounding Buddhist disciples.
Inside the main hall directly in front of the square, a giant seven-colored lotus flower slowly floated out. On the lotus throne sat a dignified bodhisattva, draped in a brocade robe. He wore a compassionate smile, his eyes were slightly closed, and a halo of brilliant light above his head illuminated the surroundings as if it were daytime.
It was Manjushri Bodhisattva.
Manjushri Bodhisattva slowly opened his eyes, his gaze peacefully falling on Sun Wukong. He then glanced at Chu Yang, who was being supported by Sun Wukong and was covered in blood, and sighed softly: "Wukong, you are protecting Tang Xuanzang on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures. You should be cultivating your mind and character. Why are you so irritable today, smashing the gate of my Qingliang Temple and injuring my guardian Vajra?"
"Cultivating one's mind and character?" Sun Wukong slammed his golden cudgel heavily on the ground, causing the blue bricks in the square to shatter inch by inch. "I, Old Sun, will never cultivate your grandma's legs! I, Old Sun, risked my life to protect Master, and you bodhisattvas were setting dogs on us from behind! And you still have the nerve to ask me why I, Old Sun, am so irritable?"
The Arhats and disciples around were outraged when they heard that Sun Wukong dared to insult the Bodhisattva in public.
"How dare you be so disrespectful to the Bodhisattva!"
"The monkey's nature is hard to change; he shall suffer the torments of the deepest hell!"
Manjushri Bodhisattva raised a hand, silencing the commotion among his disciples. He maintained his compassionate expression and spoke calmly, "Wukong, a monk does not lie. Have you encountered some insurmountable tribulation on your journey to the West? The eighty-one tribulations on the journey are all preordained. You only need to focus on subduing the demons; the Buddha will surely protect you."
"A predetermined fate? What a wonderful predetermined fate!"
Before Sun Wukong could speak, Chu Yang, who had been leaning on him and looked extremely weak, suddenly let out a low, cold laugh.
Chu Yang, leaning on Sun Wukong's shoulders, struggled to stand up straight. Although he was covered in blood and his face was deathly pale, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like two sharp swords capable of piercing through all falsehood, staring intently at Manjushri Bodhisattva, who sat regally on the lotus platform.
"This must be the wise and virtuous Manjushri Bodhisattva, right?" Chu Yang gasped for breath, his voice not loud, but clearly audible in the quiet square. "The Bodhisattva keeps talking about 'destiny' and 'calamities.' Then may I ask the Bodhisattva, is this calamity just Tang Sanzang's calamity, or is it the calamity of all living beings in the world?" (End of Chapter)