Chapter 468: Chapter 468

Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk couldn’t help but bring their hands together in prayer, listening to the words of Ancestor Buddha Tathagata.

Only Sun Wukong and Xuanzang felt unease in their hearts, uncertain of how Buddhism would proceed.

Originally, Xuanzang had thought that after arriving here, something special would happen, and even wondered if he would be asked about his views on Buddhist Law; however, nothing of the sort occurred. The feeling Tathagata gave him was that of someone too eager to finish some matters.

Without concerning themselves with whether their loyalty to Buddhism was genuine or not.

Thus, Xuanzang naturally did not specifically resist anything.

Sun Wukong also slightly squinted his eyes, and with the words of his elder brother, he also followed the course of nature.

Ancestor Buddha Tathagata then spoke up, "Venerable Ananda and Kasyapa, lead these four individuals to the base of Zhen Tower, open the Treasure Pavilion, and select a few scrolls from each of the thirty-five sections of my Tripitaka Sutras for him, teach them to be transmitted to the Eastern Land to forever bear great gratitude!"

In front of Tathagata, Venerable Ananda and Kasyapa bowed slightly and responded, "We shall diligently follow the Order of Law from Tathagata!"

Xuanzang then bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you, Ancestor Buddha, for bestowing the scriptures!"

Afterward, Ananda and Kasyapa led Xuanzang and his companions to the Treasure Pavilion behind the hall of Mount Meru, where the bookshelves, tall as mountains, reached straight into the heavens, filled with scrolls emitting Buddha’s light.

"Holy Monk, having come from the Eastern Land, may I ask if there is anything personal you need to let go of?"

At this moment, Kasyapa stood before the bookshelves, asking Xuanzang with a kind face.

Xuanzang, upon hearing Kasyapa’s words, showed a puzzled expression on his face.

On the other hand, Sun Wukong’s face suddenly changed, and he looked coldly at Kasyapa.

"Master, how could this holy land of Western Mount Wutai be different from any other place? It seems that it’s just like those petty mortal kingdoms, adept at taking and demanding in all things!"

Sun Wukong hadn’t spoken yet when Zhu Bajie opened his mouth with a wide grin, speaking cheerfully.

Sand Monk, too, expressed indignation, "This is the Western Paradise Buddha Country; how could such things occur here!"

At this time, Xuanzang gently raised his hand, signaling them to be calm and not irritable.

Then, looking at Ananda and Kasyapa, Xuanzang shook his head gently, "Why must the Venerable Ones do this? Having long served under Tathagata’s guidance, I do not believe that the Venerable Ones would covet such trivial mortal possessions!"

"Even if I were to gift gold and silver to you both, what use would it be to the Venerable Ones? Could it really be used for indulgence in this sacred land of Mount Meru?"

"Speaking of personal matters, I indeed have two treasures at hand! This is the nine-ringed staff, which protects its bearer from poison, and I also have a Kasaya on my body—a Brocaded Kasaya—that guards against falling back into rebirth or descending into Hell!"

"Once Guanyin Bodhisattva told Emperor of Tang that the Kasaya was worth five thousand taels and the staff was worth three thousand taels. Together, they could be exchanged for eight thousand taels. Why don’t I use these two items to offset any worldly concerns for you both?"

As Xuanzang spoke, he had already taken the Kasaya from his body, and along with the nine-ringed staff, he placed them in front of Ananda and Kasyapa.

Ananda and Kasyapa looked at the Buddha’s Treasures before them, their expressions slightly changing; these treasures had been delivered to Guanyin by their hands on Tathagata’s orders.

"Holy Monk, you are indeed generous. However, to my knowledge, these Buddha’s Treasures were bestowed upon you by Guanyin Bodhisattva. If you were to give them away, would it not be a pity?"

Ananda said to Xuanzang with a somewhat insincere tone.

"If it helps to retrieve the True Scriptures for the countless descendants of Great Tang, what loss are mere Buddha’s Treasures!"

Xuanzang naturally said.

Although by now he had his own profound understanding of Buddhist Law, he still needed to draw nourishment from it, and the True Scriptures were exactly that.

If he could obtain the True Scriptures and study them, his understanding of Buddhist Law would reach a higher level, and his vision of spreading his Buddhist teachings to enable everyone to attain Buddhahood might also be fulfilled.

At this moment, Ananda and Kasyapa looked at each other, nodded, and then waved their hands, taking up the Brocaded Kasaya and the nine-ringed staff.

"Since the Holy Monk is straightforward, we shall be too. Today’s scriptures, my brother and I shall pass on to you!"

Then, with a gentle wave of their hands, scrolls of scriptures descended from the high bookshelves above, landing in front of the master and disciples.

Xuanzang walked forward calmly, picking up a scroll

and gently opened it, revealing the Buddhist texts inside.

At this moment, Ananda brought his hands together in prayer, uttering a chant, and then handed the nine-ringed staff and the Brocaded Kasaya

"Junior brother, do not blame us, the True Scriptures should not be transmitted lightly. Our test here was merely to examine your final resolve!"

Venerable Ananda said peacefully to Xuanzang, his face now devoid of his prior worldly demeanor.

Kasyapa also nodded in agreement, "We did not expect the junior brother to be so insightful, seemingly having seen through our test!"

Just as Xuanzang had said, could people who served closely with Tathagata truly be those petty individuals driven by greed for wealth?

Xuanzang may have deemed some in Buddhism to be disingenuous, but he also believed it wouldn’t easily be made apparent; their behavior was clearly a test.

"If you, junior brother, had been unwilling to part with them, the scriptures we would have given you today would have been blank scrolls. But since you have seen through it, what we have passed on to you is indeed the True Scriptures!

"The True Scriptures have been passed, now follow me to the great hall to hear the proclamation!"

Kasyapa then said slowly to Xuanzang.

Afterward, Ananda and Kasyapa led them to the great hall of Mount Meru.

Above the grand hall, Tathagata looked approvingly at Xuanzang, having observed everything that had just happened.

"Xuanzang, do you understand?"

Above in the grand hall, Tathagata looked at Xuanzang and asked lightly.

Tang Sanzang smiled softly, "Disciple understands!"

"If that is so, then why haven’t you offered your personal affairs yet?"