Chapter 672
Noble Bloodline
However, although the dragon race is strong, of noble blood, invincible in physical form, and possesses great supernatural powers, it is not particularly adept at certain matters involving the laws of the Great Dao, especially the subtle and profound aspects of time tracking and causal exploration.
They can sense the fall of bloodline descendants and the general cause-and-effect relationships, but unlike some powerful beings who specialize in this field or those who possess special treasures, they cannot clearly trace back the specific words, actions, and hidden thoughts of a particular person at a specific point in time.
Looking across the Three Realms, there are very few magical artifacts or supernatural powers that can ignore most restrictions and concealments and directly reveal fragments of a being's past. Deep within the Lingxiao Palace of the Heavenly Court, the Haotian Mirror, a primordial spiritual treasure that hangs high and carries part of the Heavenly Dao's supervisory authority, is one such example.
It can monitor all living beings in all realms, theoretically including Lin Zhu, but this requires a price and the Jade Emperor's permission. Then there is the Supreme Dao Ancestor, who resides deep within the Tushita Palace outside the Thirty-Three Heavens, almost in harmony with the Heavenly Dao, and can, through his supreme merit and understanding of the Great Dao, perform a certain degree of retrospection.
These are precisely the things that the dragon race finds difficult to attain or is unwilling to easily touch. The dragon race itself does not possess the heaven-defying supernatural power to forcibly peek into the past of an anomaly like Lin Zhu.
Amitabha Buddha clearly grasped this point precisely.
He cleverly combined Lin Zhu's "weakness" as an "anomaly" whose past was difficult to trace by ordinary means with the fact that the Dragon Clan lacked a strong ability to trace time. Then, through words and one-sided evidence, he forcefully pinned the catastrophic crisis of Ao Lie's death, which was originally enough to overturn the Western Paradise, on Lin Zhu's head!
The purpose is self-evident—to use the Dragon Clan, a sharp and furious "knife," to kill Lin Zhu, a major threat, while the Western Heaven itself can eliminate the powerful enemy without directly taking action and partially appease the Dragon Clan's anger, achieving two goals at once!
Such methods are undeniably ingenious, akin to killing without shedding blood.
Lin Zhu felt a chill run down her spine, becoming even more wary of the depth of Amitabha Buddha's schemes and the subtle yet firm nature of his methods.
This old monk is far more difficult to deal with than the Buddha, who wears his heart on his sleeve.
Seeing that Lin Zhu faced such a desperate accusation without showing the slightest fear or panic, remaining calm and composed, the Buddha couldn't help but sneer even more, thinking that he was just putting on a brave face.
He stepped forward, his face contorted with sarcasm and a sense of superiority that suggested he was in control, and said sternly.
"Lin Zhu, the God of Hell! The facts are undeniable, how long do you intend to keep denying it? The moment you forced and lured Ao Lie, the White Dragon, onto the battlefield, you should have known this day would come! Before everyone's eyes, the cause and effect are clear, you cannot escape!"
He then changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint that seemed to offer "guidance" but actually contained a deeper meaning.
"However, the Buddha is ultimately compassionate. If you sincerely repent at this moment, are willing to lay down your butcher's knife, enter my Buddhist order, recite scriptures and worship the Buddha before the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, and make a grand vow to spread the Dharma and save all sentient beings life after life... then perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope for you to survive."
This sounds like a way out for Lin Zhu, but the vow to "spread Buddhism life after life" is nothing short of complete spiritual enslavement. The deeper implication lies in the fact that the Buddha explicitly stated the condition of "reciting scriptures and paying homage to the Buddha."
Why can chanting scriptures and worshiping Buddha relieve one's distress? Because once Lin Zhu is willing to "take refuge," he has, to some extent, "accepted" the rules of Buddhism and relaxed some of his mental defenses.
At that time, Amitabha Buddha, being a saint, might be able to indirectly see past events by touching Lin Zhu, this "conversion" anomaly, through the means of a saint, to "verify" his "innocence" or "guilt".
Of course, the initiative for this so-called "verification" is entirely in the hands of the other party.
This is not a way out at all, but a trap that puts you in the other party's judgment.
Amitabha Buddha, at the opportune moment, recited a long chant of the Buddha's name.
“Amitabha Buddha… Well done, well done.”
His gaze toward Lin Zhu was compassionate yet profoundly insightful, as if he had already seen through everything.
“Lord of the Prison God, your destiny is extraordinary, an anomaly of heaven and earth. The past cannot be retrieved, and the future is unpredictable. This humble monk… has been watching you for a long time. I still remember, five hundred years ago, on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, in front of Xieyue Sanxing Cave, you once spoke to Patriarch Bodhi… Ah, never mind, let bygones be bygones.”
He casually mentioned the story of Lin Zhu cursing Bodhi Patriarch five hundred years ago, which not only made it clear that his understanding of Lin Zhu did not begin today, but also subtly put pressure on him - you dared to curse even the incarnation of a saint, now that you have fallen into my hands, what is there to struggle for?
"The situation today," Amitabha Buddha said in a calm tone, yet with an air of complete control.
"What seems like a dead end has actually opened a door for you. Whether you take refuge in the Buddha and attain great freedom and liberation, or remain stubbornly deluded and seek your own death... it all depends on your one thought. The Buddha is compassionate and cannot bear to see such a talented person perish, so he gives you the opportunity to choose. I hope you... will not make a mistake for yourself."
These words completely exposed Amitabha Buddha's true intentions.
He wanted to drive Lin Zhu into a corner, either to subdue this uncontrollable anomaly and make him his own, or to take advantage of the Dragon Clan's overwhelming wrath today to completely eliminate this potential future threat! Either way, it would be the removal of a scourge for the Western Heaven!
Upon hearing this, many of the three thousand Buddhas couldn't help but show expressions of ecstatic joy! They seemed to already see the arrogant and domineering Prison God Lin Zhu, who had repeatedly humiliated the Western Paradise, being forced to lower his proud head, kneel before the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, and chant sutras and worship Buddha day after day and year after year, until he became faceless, obedient, and numb!
What a delightful and cathartic scene that must have been! Some Buddhas even couldn't help but smile slightly, their eyes filled with anticipation.
The nine true dragons of the Dragon Clan also focused their scrutinizing gazes on Lin Zhu once again.
Their eyes held a complex mix of emotions: lingering anger and murderous intent, a cold indifference towards Amitabha Buddha's schemes, and above all, a condescending and arrogant critical gaze.
While they certainly wanted to avenge Ao Lie and find the true culprit, seeing Lin Zhu being so pressured by Xitian and seemingly facing certain death, they felt little satisfaction. The dragon race revered strength and respected integrity; even enemies, if they were men of integrity and responsibility, would be held in high regard.
Conversely, those who wag their tails and beg for mercy just to survive, no matter how high their status, are despised from the bottom of their hearts. At this moment, in their eyes, Lin Zhu is already at his wit's end, and they want to see what choice this notorious prison god will make.
Amitabha Buddha, high above, like a judge holding the Book of Life and Death, spoke slowly for the last time in a compassionate tone that carried the implication of an ultimatum, his voice resounding throughout the entire Vulture Peak.
"Lin Zhu, the God of Hell, the road ahead is clear, and the consequences are self-evident. Convert to the fold, or... seek your own death. The choice is yours."
As his words fell, the gazes of all the powerful figures present—the nine true dragons radiating killing intent, the three thousand Buddhas with varying expressions, and the various Indian Buddhist powerhouses who had been transferred here with their own thoughts—were all fixed on the white-clad figure in the center of the arena like invisible spotlights! The pressure was palpable; the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating! Everyone in the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison held their breath, Nezha clenched his teeth, and the Golden Turtle of the Abyss trembled all over. Everyone was waiting for Lin Zhu's response.
However, under the spotlight of thousands of eyes, Lin Zhu's face showed no fear, struggle, or compromise. Instead, a cold, mocking sneer slowly and clearly appeared on his face!
He raised his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, meeting Amitabha Buddha's compassionate gaze without hesitation, sweeping over the Buddha's smug face, and then over the nine scrutinizing dragon eyes. His voice was clear and resolute, each word like the clang of metal striking the heart of every living being present.
"Reciting scriptures and worshipping Buddha? Taking refuge in your Buddha? Hahaha..."
Lin Zhu seemed to have heard the most ridiculous joke in the world, and his laughter was full of disdain and arrogance.
"I'm sorry, but I... refuse!"
He paused, his tone carrying a playful, teasing tone.
"As for why I refused? Because I have a professional team to handle trouble like yours, so there's no need for me to get myself involved in chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha."
These words startled everyone.
"Professional team"? What kind of team?
Before they could think it through, Lin Zhu abruptly changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming sharp and arrogant. He stared directly at Amitabha Buddha as if he were looking at a clown.
"As for you, Amitabha, and your entire Western Paradise... Stop pretending to be compassionate and save all sentient beings! Five hundred years ago, Patriarch Bodhi promised me the benefit of becoming a Buddha and a Patriarch, and I spit on it! Today, you promise me to recite scriptures and worship Buddha to survive, and I spit on that too!"
He took a sudden step forward, and an indescribable aura of righteousness and grandeur began to rise from his body. His voice was like a thunderclap, each word piercing the heart.
"You people of the Western Paradise have holiness but no humanity! You know about merit but not morality! You talk about compassion all the time, but you're actually scheming! You keep talking about the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, but inside you are full of heretics, traitors, and ungrateful bastards! Do you even deserve to talk about salvation? Do you even deserve to talk about compassion?"
"I, Lin Zhu, uphold the laws of the Three Realms and safeguard the righteous spirit within my heart! I walk the righteous path and hold an upright heart! How could I possibly collude with hypocritical, scheming, and two-faced people like you?!"
"You want me to convert? You—are you even worthy?!"
Lin Zhu practically roared out the last three words! His voice shook the heavens!
With each angry shout, the previously restrained aura around him suddenly erupted! A vast, powerful, and pure "righteous energy," seemingly originating from the righteous path of heaven and earth and the hearts of all things, burst forth from his body like a volcano suppressed for millennia, soaring straight into the sky!
This righteous spirit is neither Taoism nor Buddhism, neither demon nor monster; it is an invisible force condensed from upholding one's original heart, adhering to the righteous path, and being indomitable. It is extremely yang and strong, and can overcome evil spirits and falsehoods!
"boom--!!!"
A towering pillar of righteous energy poured down, colliding violently with the boundless, gentle, and peaceful Buddhist light above Mount Ling!
There was no violent explosion, but the vast Buddhist light was like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun, being diluted and forced back by this pure and righteous energy! Above the Great Thunderclap Temple, it was as if a hole had been torn open, revealing the sky behind it, which was filled with dragon might and righteous energy, slightly clearer but even more oppressive!
Lin Zhu stood tall amidst the pillar of righteous light, his white robes fluttering, his black hair dancing wildly, his face as resolute as a rock, his eyes as bright as stars. He seemed to transform into a beam of light, a beam of supreme strength and righteousness that pierced through all hypocrisy and darkness!
This sudden and magnificent scene stunned everyone!
The joy and anticipation on the faces of the three thousand Buddhas froze instantly, then collapsed like shattered masks, replaced by astonishment, disbelief, and a surge of shame, anger, and murderous intent!
They couldn't accept that Lin Zhu not only refused, but also dared to so openly and fiercely insult the Western Paradise and Amitabha Buddha! This was blasphemy! It was rebellion!
"You audacious scoundrel! How dare you slander Buddha and the Western Paradise like this?!"
"The Buddha is merciful, saving millions of people from suffering; his merits are immeasurable! How dare you slander him!!"
"Fellow Daoists of the Dragon Clan! This child is stubborn and unrepentant, uttering foul language that insults even saints. He deserves to die a thousand deaths! We urge you to take action and annihilate this fiend to atone for Prince Ao Lie's sins and rid the Three Realms of a scourge!!"
The Buddha was so angry that he trembled all over, and he shouted angrily, eager to use the dragon clan to get rid of Lin Zhu.
The gazes of the nine true dragons of the Dragon Clan towards Lin Zhu underwent a subtle shift. Although the suspicion surrounding Ao Lie's death had not yet been cleared, and Lin Zhu remained a "possible" culprit, witnessing him face the terrifying pressure from two Buddhist giants, the nine Dragon Emperors, and three thousand Buddhas, and instead of kneeling and begging for mercy, he stood tall and proud, angrily denouncing the hypocrisy of the Western Paradise, unleashing such pure and fierce righteous energy…
This courage, this pride, this spirit of "I will go even if there are thousands of people against me" made these ancient dragons, who admired strength and integrity, feel a sense of... appreciation for talent.
The Purple-Gold Dragon Emperor and the Platinum Dragon Emperor exchanged a glance, both seeing complex emotions in each other's eyes. This young man… he's quite a man! If he isn't the real culprit who killed Ao Lie, then perhaps he's worth befriending, or even…recruiting?
However, if he really is the mastermind behind it all, no matter how much we admire his integrity, for the sake of the dragon race's dignity and bloodline, we absolutely cannot let him live!
The Buddha looked at Lin Zhu, who was surrounded by righteous energy and seemed like a god. His face was so gloomy that it was almost dripping with water. He did not expect Lin Zhu to be so tough, nor did he expect that he could attract such pure righteous energy. This made his killing intent even stronger.
He sneered repeatedly, his voice as cold as ice.
"Stubborn to the end, you're courting your own destruction! Lin Zhu, do you think you can wash away your sins with this bit of righteousness? Do you think you can change your inevitable fate? Dream on!"
He looked around, his gaze lingering especially on the powerful dragons, his tone resolute.
"Today, unless the Jade Emperor himself comes with the Haotian Mirror from the Lingxiao Palace to let you see the past and prove your innocence, no matter how eloquent you are or how righteous you are, you cannot change the 'fact' that Ao Lie died because of you!"
And what are the exact conditions for activating the Haotian Mirror? Would the Jade Emperor so easily use a celestial treasure and get involved in this mess for a mere regional deity like you?
A cruel yet confident smile appeared on Tathagata's face.
"So, Lin Zhu, you... are doomed! No one can save you!"
His words completely blocked Lin Zhu's last theoretical "way out," pushing him to the very edge of the precipice.
Upon hearing this, the three thousand Buddhas regained their confidence, looking at Lin Zhu as if he were a dead man. The powerful dragon clan members also remained silent, seemingly acquiescing to the Buddha's words. The atmosphere in the arena once again froze to its extreme, the killing intent almost tangible. (End of Chapter)