Chapter 738
Tang Sanzang Physically Cuts 6 Roots, Going Mad
He became more and more excited as he spoke, and a faint yet real golden Buddhist light emanated from his body! Although there seemed to be a trace of imperceptible coldness and sharpness mixed in with that Buddhist light, it was indeed the aura of the true Dharma of Buddhism!
This sudden "enlightenment" and the appearance of Buddha's light surprised even himself. He was overjoyed and believed it to be clear proof of his "progress in Buddhism"!
Sun Wukong was dumbfounded, scratching his head and feeling that his master's words... seemed to make a lot of sense out of the ordinary? Interpreting the bandits' killing as a form of "severing the six senses" in cultivation? This perspective was too unique! But looking at his master's aura of Buddha, and recalling Lin Zhu's previous "guidance", he subconsciously nodded.
"What Master said... seems... to make some sense? Then how should we 'sever' these six senses?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the "compassion" on Tang Sanzang's face instantly transformed into a ferocious expression that was a mixture of fanaticism and determination! He stopped explaining and suddenly let out a roar that was as loud as thunder, yet strangely carried the sound of Buddhist chants.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha!!!"
Amidst the chanting of Buddhist prayers, he moved with lightning speed, the broadsword in his hand slicing out a chilling light—no longer the blunt strike of a staff, but a truly sharp and incomparable slash! His target was none other than "Nose-Sniffing Love," who was closest to him and still shouting "Leave the horses!"
"stop!!!"
Above the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva, who witnessed all of this, finally awoke from her extreme shock and disorientation at the "complete loss of control of the plot," and let out a scream that was so terrified it was almost distorted!
However, it was all too late.
"Pfft—!"
A sickeningly sharp sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out! The broadsword cleaved into "Nose Lover's" neck without any resistance, and then slashed downwards, almost splitting him in two diagonally! Blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering all over Tang Sanzang's head and face!
The "Sniff Love" could only let out a half-scream. Its body swayed, the last bit of light in its eyes disappeared, and then its entire body, like a dream bubble, began to ripple slightly and become transparent. Finally, with a soft "poof," it turned into specks of pale golden light and dust, slowly dissipating into the air—the magical illusion was "killed," returning to its most primal magical energy.
There were no spilled entrails, no corpses lying on the ground, but the bloody hacking scenes and the instantaneous deaths were real!
Guanyin Bodhisattva felt her heart sink suddenly, as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face was filled with despair and disbelief.
Her original plan was to use these "six thieves" to test Sun Wukong, preferably to entice or provoke him into killing. Then she could use the excuse of "indiscriminate killing of living beings and impure mind" to take out the golden headband and put it on Sun Wukong in a legitimate way to restrain him.
But now? Sun Wukong is watching the show from the sidelines, looking completely "learned," while the one who actually kills the "thief" is none other than Tang Sanzang, the virtuous monk who has cultivated for ten lifetimes and was supposed to be the one being protected! This plot can't even be described as outrageous; it's downright absurd!
However, after personally "killing" a "thief," Tang Sanzang, who was in the field, showed no fear, guilt, or discomfort. Instead, he stood there for a moment, then suddenly looked up at the sky and burst into laughter!
"Hahahaha! I see! I see!"
His laughter was hearty, even tinged with a kind of manic joy, and the Buddha-light surrounding him suddenly brightened a bit at that moment, although it still contained a hint of sharpness.
"Sever one! This humble monk has just severed one of the 'six roots'! This method is indeed profound! My body and mind feel light and clear! Even Guanyin Bodhisattva might not have thought of this method, right? Without destruction, there is no construction; constant practice brings constant renewal!"
This method of 'physically severing the six senses and instantly purifying oneself' is truly the fastest and most direct path to Buddhist practice! The Dharma is indeed useful! Extremely useful!"
He excitedly turned to look at Sun Wukong, his face still covered with the faint golden dust that had not yet dissipated, but his smile was strangely bright.
"My disciple! Do you see it? This is the supreme and wondrous method that I have come to understand! Cut off the six thieves and purify the six senses!"
Looking at his master's face covered in "blood" yet dancing with excitement like a child, Sun Wukong subconsciously swallowed, feeling increasingly strange. But he still habitually gave him a thumbs up and dryly praised him.
"Master...awesome! The Dharma...advanced! This disciple...has learned a great deal!"
When Tang Sanzang committed the first killing, he felt surprisingly calm. Perhaps it was because the effects of the Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill lingered, and his malevolent aura had not dissipated; perhaps it was because deep down he did not regard these "six thieves" as real beings; or perhaps it was because his "underworld Buddhism" had completely distorted his perception, making him feel that "severing the six senses" was a matter of course and a meritorious "cultivation."
At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of "elevation" and "clarity," as if he had broken some invisible shackles, and his understanding of "Buddhism" had deepened.
"In practicing Buddhism, one must indeed destroy before one can establish!"
He gripped the still-dripping blood-stained broadsword tightly, his eyes burning with an even stronger killing intent... no, a determination to sever all ties with the world! His gaze swept across the remaining five "bandits" like lightning.
The remaining five thieves, though magically transformed and lacking in intelligence, still possessed basic instincts of fear and survival. Witnessing their companion being cleaved in two by the mad monk's blade, their mechanical commands were instantly overwhelmed by primal terror.
"I...I see happy," she stammered, turning to run away, pleading incoherently.
"Please...please spare us, Grandpa Monk! We...we just have weird names, it's not a capital offense! We...we'll leave now! We'll never block your way again!"
"Hearing anger," "tasting thought," "opinion desire," and "body worry" all dropped their "weapons" and scrambled to get into the forest.
"Want to leave? You haven't severed your six senses yet, and your worldly ties are not yet severed. How can you just leave like that? All of you, stay here, this poor monk!"
Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang roared angrily, his voice like thunder! He moved again, even faster than before! The broadsword in his hand transformed into a deadly arc of light, sweeping out horizontally!
"Pfft! Pfft!"
The last two, "Tongue Tastes" and "Opinion Desire," felt a chill at their waists, and their upper and lower bodies separated, turning into dust and dissipating!
Without pausing, Tang Sanzang swung his sword backhand, the blade flashing like a bolt of lightning, precisely slicing across "Ears of Anger"'s neck. A "head" flew up with a look of astonishment before vanishing.
In the blink of an eye, three more "thieves" were executed and "disappeared"!
The remaining two, "Yan Kan happy" and "Shen Ben You," were terrified and collapsed to the ground, defecating and urinating uncontrollably. They couldn't even beg for mercy and were just trembling like lambs to the slaughter.
Guanyin Bodhisattva in the clouds was powerless to stop it at this moment, and was even too lazy to look at it anymore.
She turned her back, her heart filled with a chill and a mix of emotions.
Watching helplessly as the "test" she had been given was "answered" and "destroyed" by the pilgrims in such an absurd, bloody, and "justified" manner, she felt only a deep sense of powerlessness and absurdity.
'Physically severing worldly ties? Purifying the six senses?' Guanyin cried out silently in her heart, filled with incomprehension and a hint of horror, 'This Tang Sanzang…from which heretical sect did he learn this method of cultivation?! This isn't just deviant, this is simply…the demonic path! The demonic path cloaked in Buddhist light!'
Lin Zhu, who had been watching the show from a higher vantage point in the clouds, was now marveling at it, clapping his hands and sighing softly. "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! This Tang Sanzang's comprehension is truly astonishing! I merely gave him a slight hint, suggesting that the names of the six thieves were related to the six senses, and he was able to 'comprehend' such a simple, direct, and 'core' method of 'purification' on his own!"
"Tsk tsk, severing the six senses, instantly achieving purity... Although the method is a bit unorthodox, you can't say it's ineffective, right? It seems that choosing him to preside over the Water and Land Ceremony back then was no accident; this way of thinking is truly unique."
Almost at the same time he was feeling sentimental, a cheerful notification sound rang out in his mind.
[Ding! Significant changes to key causal points in Journey to the West have been detected in the host's behavior, helping Tang Sanzang break through the 'killing' boundary, comprehend 'unique' Buddhist teachings, and propel the plot in an unknown direction.]
[Reward. 50,000 Merit Waters have been distributed.]
"Hey, another 50,000 in hand."
Lin Zhu's mood became increasingly pleasant. Looking at the ten thousand merit gourd that he had just received from Guanyin, which he hadn't even warmed up yet, and thinking about the system reward that had just been deposited into his account, he felt refreshed and invigorated.
"Helping others brings joy, and you get rewarded on both fronts—where else can you find such a good thing? Indeed, good deeds are rewarded."
He glanced at the desolate figure of Guanyin beside him, radiating despair and madness, and felt he should "comfort" this poor "organizer." So he coughed lightly and spoke in a "sincere" tone, using a telepathic connection that only the two of them could hear.
"Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, don't be too discouraged. Look, isn't Elder Tang 'cultivating Buddhism'? It's just that his way of cultivating Buddhism... well, it's a little unique, and it may be a little different from the standard answer in your Western Paradise. But in essence, he is still pursuing purity and transcendence, isn't he? It's not a big problem, it's not a big problem."
"No problem?!"
Guanyin suddenly turned around. Her originally dignified and holy face was now distorted by extreme anger, frustration and collapse. She no longer cared about the demeanor of a Bodhisattva. She grabbed Lin Zhu's shoulder, who was close at hand, and shook him violently, her voice sharp.
"He just went a little astray in his Buddhist practice?! Lin Zhu! Open your eyes and look! Although those six were illusions, if they were really six living, breathing mortal bandits, he would already be responsible for six deaths!"
Even outlaws and notorious bandits aren't as bloodthirsty as him! What did you say to him?! What kind of spell did you cast on him to make him like this?!
Lin Zhu's robes swayed as she shook him, but he remained calm and composed, even squinting his eyes contentedly as if he were enjoying a massage.
He said slowly.
“Great Master, mind your image. What could I say? I merely saw his confusion and offered a little guidance, pointing out that the names of the six thieves were related to the six senses. The rest, he figured out himself.”
This shows that Elder Tang is exceptionally gifted and deeply insightful! Instead of wasting your time messing with me, you should think carefully about how to discuss the next steps of your journey to the West with this 'profoundly Buddhist' and 'decisive in killing' Elder Tang. After all, arguing with me won't solve any real problems on your journey, will it?"
Guanyin was so enraged by his outrageous words that her vision blurred. She released her grip on his shoulder, then grabbed his collar instead, her beautiful eyes wide open, burning with fury.
"Lin Zhu! You...you've got guts!"
Lin Zhu was being grabbed by the collar by her, so close that she could even smell the slightly disordered sandalwood scent on her body due to her anger. Her face flushed slightly, a rare occurrence, and she turned her head away, whispering.
"Hey, Venerable One, mind your manners! What kind of behavior is this, pulling and tugging like that? If someone sees this, they'll think I have some kind of affair with you. Don't make a fuss, don't make a fuss."
"You...you're shameless!"
Guanyin was so enraged by his shameless act of turning the tables that she almost exploded. She abruptly released her grip, as if she had touched something filthy, and took several steps back, her chest heaving violently. She pointed at Lin Zhu and stammered "you!" for a long time before finally stomping her foot and transforming into a streak of light, rushing furiously towards the arena below! She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would really fight this scoundrel to the death!
Lin Zhu straightened his disheveled collar, watched Guanyin's departing figure, and shrugged helplessly.
"Alas, it's hard to be a good person. I have indeed spent a lot of energy on my 'treasure hunt' in the Western Paradise recently. Now that my days are finally becoming more leisurely, I only need to guide Tang Sanzang and his disciples occasionally to maintain this 'healthy and positive' state."
And by incidentally creating some problems and troubles for Guanyin Bodhisattva that she desperately needs to solve, one can easily gain a great deal of merit... In this world, there is probably no better job than this.
He touched his chin, feeling that he was truly kind.
"I am happy to help others and am willing to help Guanyin solve her problems. I have not even asked for much reward. I am truly a model and moral standard in the Three Realms."
Below the field.
Having just severed his fifth and sixth senses, Tang Sanzang felt increasingly clear-headed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and his faith in Buddhism had become unwavering.
He stood holding a knife, his body shimmering with a sharp Buddhist light, truly exuding an aura of "wrathful Vajra" and "slaying demons and monsters" who had attained great freedom.
Sun Wukong stood aside, watching the last speck of light on the ground gradually dissipate, then looked at his master's "enlightened monk" appearance, his monkey face twitched, unsure of what to say.
He felt something was off, but his master's words seemed to make sense, and his master's strength truly impressed him.
Just then, a stream of light, carrying suppressed anger to the extreme, descended from the sky and landed not far from the master and disciple, revealing the majestic yet serene Dharma body of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Sun Wukong reacted extremely quickly, gripping his golden cudgel almost instantly. His fiery eyes flashed with golden light as he warily looked at Guanyin and shouted loudly.
"What kind of demon are you?! How dare you approach my master!"
This was a habitual way for him to shout, and also a way to give the suddenly appearing Guanyin a warning, to show that he, as a "protector of the Dharma," was not someone to be trifled with.
Having just experienced a thoroughly exhilarating "root-severing cultivation," and still feeling excited and exhilarated, Tang Sanzang suddenly shuddered upon hearing Sun Wukong's shout of "What kind of demon are you!" (End of Chapter)