Chapter 481: Chapter 481

Why has it appeared again now?

The Multi-Treasure Taoist appeared, but without saying a word,

he just clung to the side of Tathagata. In that moment, the Supreme Celestial Daoist Method was enacted, and instantly, a white light manifested around him.

That halo of light was a display of the Multi-Treasure Taoist’s inner strength.

At first, it was just the Immortal Light of the Great Luo Golden Immortal level, but then it started to climb step by step!

Peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal!

Quasi-Saint Initial Stage!

Quasi-Saint Middle Stage!

Late Stage of Quasi-Saint!

Quasi-Saint Pinnacle!

And even as his aura reached the pinnacle of quasi-saint, the Multi-Treasure Taoist’s presence continued to grow stronger, like Tathagata beside him, still increasing and trying to surpass the quasi-saint pinnacle.

Immediately afterwards, from within Tathagata, appeared a man clad in a white monk’s robe.

No, to be more precise, a shami; the shami with clear brows and handsome features, seemed just like a little monk without any cultivation level.

As he stood to Tathagata’s right and also released his aura, the saints realized.

This little novice monk was actually Tathagata’s Evil Corpse, but what they hadn’t expected was that Tathagata would have his Evil Corpse cultivate the Buddhist Law, to transform the evil nature of the corpse with Buddhism.

What’s more crucial is that, judging from the facial features of this little novice monk today, it seemed Tathagata had succeeded!

When the auras of Multi-Treasure, the novice monk, and Tathagata reached the limit of the quasi-saint pinnacle simultaneously and slowly fused into one, in that moment, Tathagata, who was sitting on the Lotus Platform, suddenly opened his eyes.

The next moment, both Multi-Treasure Taoist and the novice monk vanished in an instant!

Seeing Tathagata suddenly retract his good and evil corpses, faces of the quasi-saints from Buddhism all showed an expectant look.

The fusion of the Three Corpses, it’s likely that what comes next is the transformation of the Self into the Dao!

Compared to the anticipation of the other quasi-saints, Saints Jieyin and Zhunti were slightly frowning.

As saints, they could see more clearly; Tathagata wasn’t gathering strength for a breakthrough when he retracted his good and evil corpses, on the contrary, he was pulling back his mana, halting the breakthrough!

Indeed, amidst the expectant gazes of the saints, Tathagata calmly withdrew his mana and then calmly looked towards all Buddhas.

Feeling Tathagata withdraw his mana, Manjushri Samantabhadra and the others were all astonished, and soon Manjushri Bodhisattva couldn’t help asking curiously.

Tathagata first bowed slightly to Saints Jieyin and Zhunti and spoke, "Many thanks to the two Buddha Ancestors for protecting the law!"

"No trouble. But, Venerable Tathagata, why do you now hesitate at this crucial juncture and not advance further?"

Zhunti was honestly curious, too.

Not understanding why Tathagata, clearly ready to surge forward, had suddenly lost momentum!

Tathagata smiled faintly and serenely said, "Nothing special, I originally intended to use the merit of the Journey to the West to make a breakthrough in one fell swoop. Yet, upon reaching the threshold, I discovered my true heart was not yet perfected and needed to retreat for a contemplation and silent realization of the Dao for transcendence!"

"As today all Buddhas are present, I take this opportunity to announce that this poor monk will be in retreat for thirty-three years to understand the Dao. After thirty-three years, upon exiting the retreat, I should be able to take a step further and transform for transcendence!"

"For these thirty-three years, I must trouble all Buddhas to guard Mount Meru!"

In the end, Tathagata bowed to the Buddhas present, who, though surprised, could only hastily return the courtesy.

"Enough, let the Buddha Ancestors return for now!"

Zhunti turned his head to glance at Ancient Buddha Ran Deng and others, whispering to them.

"Let Manjushri Samantabhadra Avalokitesvara, the three Mahasattva, stay behind with the two Buddha Ancestors. I will need their assistance during this retreat,"

The Ancestor Buddha Tathagata then said softly.

Jieyin and Zhunti nodded, and as Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and Guanyin Bodhisattva, who were already heading out, stopped in their tracks and turned back.

Once all the Buddhas had left the great hall, Tathagata gently waved his hand, and a golden bowl flew out from it and suddenly turned into a light cover, enclosing the area.

Seeing the Tathagata’s actions, Guanyin Bodhisattva looked puzzled at Tathagata.

Tathagata took a deep breath, turned to Saint Jieyin and Saint Zhunti, and said softly, "Venerated Buddhas, the words spoken just now in front of all Buddhas about my retreat were merely an excuse!"

"If my guess is correct, you currently have incomplete Three Corpses, right?"

Saint Jieyin looked at Tathagata and calmly said.

Hearing Saint Jieyin’s words, Tathagata helplessly nodded, "Saint Jieyin speaks the truth, the issue with me now is indeed the incompleteness of the Three Corpses!"

"Incomplete Three Corpses? Saint, as far as we are aware, Tathagata, the World-Honored One, has already severed his Good Corpse, Evil Corpse, and True Self. How can they be incomplete?"

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva asked confusedly.

Saint Jieyin did not answer, instead, he turned his gaze to Tathagata, clearly expecting Tathagata to answer this question himself.

Tathagata nodded and said in a deep voice, "Venerable Samantabhadra, what the Saint mentioned about incomplete Three Corpses does not mean that my Three Corpses are insufficient. Accurately speaking, my True Self lacks one of the Great Daos!"

"Lacking one of the Great Daos?"

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, still somewhat bewildered, heard Tathagata’s explanation.

Tathagata didn’t mind and continued to explain, "This will become clear to you in time. My True Self is now missing the Human Path!"

"I now wish to transcend the Quasi-Saints, to merge with the Dao of Heaven and Earth, and given that the Human Race acts as the protagonist between Heaven and Earth, thus, the Dao of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity comprises the Three Great Daos."

"My Dao of Heaven and Dao of Earth have already reached Perfection. After all, we are Innate Beings naturally close to Heaven and Earth, but Humanity, although I have once incarnated, I left posthaste, not reaching Perfection!"

"Therefore, before transcending, I discovered that my Great Dao is lacking in the Human Path, so I decided to halt my progress and calm down temporarily!"

"The Human Path is lacking?"

Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Guanshiyin Bodhisattva exchanged glances at this moment.

They were all at a loss for words, not understanding the reasoning.

With a slight smile, Tathagata explained, "To put it simply, although I was once born a human, that was solely for the purpose of attaining Buddhahood. I have not experienced a complete human life! The joys and sorrows, the grievances and partiality, love and desire, various emotions—I have not personally experienced them all in full."

"When I spoke of retreating just now, it was a statement that was both true and false! Indeed, my retreat should take thirty-three years, but during these thirty-three years, I will leave Mount Meru, be reincarnated as a human, and endure hardships among the Human Race, refining suffering, emotions, love, and greed. Only by experiencing the various emotions and hardships of human life can I complete my Dao of Humanity!"

"At that time, I will be able to unite the Three Corpses, merge with Heaven and Earth, and transcend, becoming Buddha!"

"Venerable One, do you require protectors for your path? Shall we send the three Mahasattvas out of Mount Meru to protect your path?"

Saint Zhunti, at this, glanced at Manjushri Samantabhadra Avalokitesvara and then asked Tathagata in a faint voice.

Tathagata Buddha gently shook his head with a smile and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Saint, but for this reincarnation, I aim to undergo all kinds of mortal trials. Hence, no protectors are needed; to live is fate, to die is also fate!"

"However, I have a significant task for the three Mahasattva left behind. This reincarnation of mine is meant to achieve transcendence. Thus, at the moment of transcendence, I require the Find your next favorite novel on NovelHub today! They understood what Tathagata meant.

Tathagata wanted them to wander the Human World during these thirty-three years, revealing their True Bodies to strengthen his influence of Mahayana Buddhism, to solidify his followers and merit. This would ensure sufficient faith to bolster him when he attempts his breakthrough in the future.

The reason Tathagata asked for their help is that within his Mahayana teachings, the Four Great Bodhisattvas actually play a very significant role.

Manjushri Bodhisattva represents wisdom, Guanyin Bodhisattva represents compassion, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva signifies action, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva embodies the Force of Will.

The concept of Tathagata’s Mahayana Buddhism has, in fact, become personified within these Four Great Bodhisattvas.

With Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva presiding over Hell, the remaining three Bodhisattvas traversing the Human World are essentially spreading the radiance of Tathagata’s Mahayana Dharma.

So essentially, this also lays the groundwork for Tathagata’s breakthrough.

It is also the preparation for him to safely overcome this calamity—a calamity of Buddhism.

He did indeed have a protector, that being Sun Wukong, but unfortunately, Sun Wukong did not heed the plan, and now we can only proceed as such.

Nevertheless, it’s believed that once he overcomes this calamity, Buddhism will surely thrive for countless years to come.