Chapter 83: Treasure-seizing In Lotus Cave
Now, Tathagata used his wisdom eye to gaze upon Golden Horn Great King and Silver Horn Great King, discerning the origins of these two.
These two were boy servants in Lao Jun’s palace.
At Guanyin’s repeated requests, she had asked Lao Jun for these two boys, allowing them to reincarnate into the mortal realm, transform into demons on Flat-Top Mountain, and test Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
Since they were invited by Guanyin, they should naturally be resolved by Guanyin.
Even though he was Buddha Ancestor, he could not intervene.
Therefore, he sent Wukong to the South Sea to find Guanyin Bodhisattva.
After hearing this, Wukong said, “Buddha Ancestor, Guanyin Bodhisattva cannot come.”
Tathagata said, “Why?”
Wukong said, “This disciple went to invite the Bodhisattva first. The Bodhisattva used a scheme, transforming her Nine-Ranked Lotus Platform to subdue that demon dragon, but unexpectedly, the demon dragon saw through it and used a Purple Gold Red Gourd to trap the Bodhisattva inside. Only then did they come to Spirit Mountain to beg Buddha Ancestor to act.”
Upon hearing it was the Purple Gold Red Gourd, Tathagata dared not act without authorization and pondered:
“Wukong, I cannot assist you. You go to Heaven for a visit.”
Hearing this, Wukong bowed and said:
“Thank you, Buddha Ancestor, for your guidance. Old Sun is going to Heaven.”
Wukong did a somersault and leaped to Heaven.
While Wukong was seeking aid from Spirit Mountain and the Heavenly Court, Ao Tu on the ground had already spent more than ten days.
This day, Ao Tu sat on the Precious Lotus Platform, comprehending that Precious Pearl.
This Precious Pearl was also an innate treasure, but it had been enlightened by Candlemas Buddha, evolving twenty-four heavenly realms, so the Precious Pearl was filled with Candlemas Buddha’s principles.
Ao Tu comprehended the Precious Pearl not to study Candlemas’s principles, but to use Candlemas’s principles to verify his own.
In his embrace, the Purple Gold Red Gourd trembled lightly, and Guanyin Bodhisattva called from inside, “Wretch, release me!”
Ao Tu picked up the Purple Gold Red Gourd and peered inside through the laws. It had been over ten days, yet Guanyin Bodhisattva showed no sign of melting; only her magic power had weakened considerably.
Ao Tu held the gourd and shook it up and down, shaking it ten thousand times in an instant, after which no sound came from Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Ao Tu continued to comprehend the Precious Pearl.
Another five or six days passed, and Guanyin Bodhisattva’s voice came from inside the gourd again, this time somewhat anxious. She said, “Demon dragon, release me! Otherwise, I will fight you to the death!”
Ao Tu ignored her.
Guanyin Bodhisattva called out for about half an hour, and seeing Ao Tu ignore her, she stopped calling.
Another two or three days passed.
This time, Guanyin Bodhisattva seemed truly anxious for some reason.
The Purple Gold Red Gourd kept shaking in Ao Tu’s embrace, and Guanyin Bodhisattva’s voice continuously came from inside, interrupting Ao Tu’s comprehension.
Ao Tu took out the gourd and peered through the laws, seeing Guanyin waiting fine inside the gourd, with nothing wrong.
Ao Tu said, “Guanyin, disturb my cultivation no more, or I will shake this gourd ten million times!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Ao Tu, release me! My magic power cannot hold out much longer!”
Ao Tu sneered, “Guanyin, what are you pretending for? Do I not know you have long achieved a golden body? Even without magic power, how could this gourd melt you?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva anxiously said, “When I came, I was in a hurry and did not wear my monastic robe.”
Ao Tu was stunned and understood, laughing, “What does it have to do with me if you did not wear your monastic robe? Even if your clothes melt away, or even if you yourself melt, it is none of my business!”
“Ao Tu!” Guanyin Bodhisattva was truly anxious, and the gourd shook violently.
Ao Tu laughed, “I can release you, but stop with these empty words. What benefits do I get?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Release me, and I will plead for you before Buddha Ancestor, forgiving all past matters. I will recommend you as Golden Dragon Venerable.”
Ao Tu laughed, “No good! No good! A friend told me that positions on Spirit Mountain require great wisdom, great compassion, great perseverance, and great vow power to achieve fruition. My cultivation is insufficient; I cannot yet be a venerable on Spirit Mountain.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Then I will recommend you for an official position in Heaven, with any immortal rank you choose.”
Ao Tu laughed, “No good! No good! I cannot stand Heaven’s Demon-Reflecting Mirror, nor Heaven’s dragon slaying platform.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Then I will take you as my direct disciple. That should work!”
Ao Tu laughed, “You this Bodhisattva are quite amusing. Others state conditions starting with the worse ones and moving to the better; you start with the best and leave the worst for last. What is the reason?”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva angrily kicked the Purple Gold Gourd, causing it to shake outside.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “What exactly do you want?”
Ao Tu laughed, “I do not want you to do anything. Just remember that from now on, you owe me a favor.”
A favor seemed simple but was actually the most expensive condition.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was silent for a long time, then said:
“I agree. Release me!”
Ao Tu said, “You must also guarantee that during this time after release, you will not act against me or escape. I know ordinary means cannot bind you, so you must swear an oath.”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva swore an oath.
Only then did Ao Tu open the stopper and release Guanyin Bodhisattva.
As soon as Guanyin Bodhisattva emerged from the Purple Gold Red Gourd, her magic power instantly recovered. She condensed a plain blue robe with her magic power and draped it over herself. Her bright eyes glared at Ao Tu.
Ao Tu laughed, “Why glare at me? You are ugly; do not go out casually, lest you frighten the children in my cave. Just wait in this room. Wukong has probably gone to fetch reinforcements.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “How are you sitting on my lotus platform?”
Ao Tu laughed, “This lotus platform was seized by me. Why can I not sit on it? Sitting on the lotus platform to cultivate doubles the results with half the effort.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “This is a treasure of Buddhism. If you forcibly sit on it, you may enter qi deviation without knowing it!”
Ao Tu laughed, “How do you know I do not understand Buddhist Dharma?”
Ao Tu sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, comprehending the Precious Pearl, and faint Buddha’s Light actually appeared on his body.
Seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva exclaimed in surprise, “Where did you learn this? You actually have such Buddhist Dharma cultivation!”
Ao Tu said, “I killed Ananda and searched three thousand volumes of Mahayana sutras from his corpse. Thus, my Buddhist Dharma has improved daily.”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva did not believe it in her heart.
But Ananda did indeed manage the sutra pavilion on Spirit Mountain…
Ao Tu continued cultivating. Since Guanyin had sworn a dao oath, he was not afraid of her attacking him.
Guanyin Bodhisattva watched Ao Tu cultivate from the side.
Ao Tu sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, observing the Precious Pearl and the gourd—two innate treasures—introspecting his own body and directing the unrefined Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood within toward his flesh and blood.
During this period of cultivation, besides comprehending some laws, Ao Tu had discovered one thing: the Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood in his body had only transformed his dragon bones and dragon scales.
On his body, only the dragon bones and dragon scales contained imprints of innate laws; other parts did not.
Whether the Precious Pearl or the gourd, the innate laws inside were perfectly unified without any flaws.
Ao Tu did not know why this situation occurred; perhaps because there was too little Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood?
Ao Tu still had some unrefined Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood left in his body, and he planned to direct this essence blood to actively transform his own flesh.
Ao Tu was very cautious. The first time, he only mobilized a trace of Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood power, merging it into his right index finger.
“Bang!” The index finger exploded.
Ao Tu opened his eyes and looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva.
He felt someone had just laughed.
And in the room, there were only he and Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked coldly at Ao Tu, holy and stern, not smiling.
Ao Tu closed his eyes, and the injury on his index finger healed in an instant.
He thought that perhaps he had mobilized too much power, and he needed to control the innate laws contained in the essence blood, fusing them bit by bit.
He tried again.
“Bang!” The index finger exploded.
Guanyin Bodhisattva could not help but purse her lips.
Ao Tu said, “Turn your back; do not disturb my cultivation.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva turned her back.
This day, Ao Tu’s right index finger exploded four thousand twenty-seven times.
Little demons delivered fruits and melons and meals.
Ao Tu picked up a fruit to eat, to relieve boredom.
Guanyin Bodhisattva also took one and said, “Demon dragon, do you know why your cultivation failed?”
Hearing this, Ao Tu hurriedly asked, “Why?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said nothing.
Ao Tu cupped his hands, respectfully bowed, and said, “Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, please do not hesitate to instruct me on the wondrous principles of cultivation. I will be endlessly grateful.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “If you agree to be my disciple, I will instruct you.”
Ao Tu snatched the fruit and said, “Do not eat it. If you want to eat, tell Mu Cha to pick some for you.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at the fruit and said:
“You this demon dragon truly do not know how to appreciate favors! In the Three Realms, those who wish to enter my sect number more than trillions!”
Ao Tu said nothing, finished eating the fruit, and continued cultivating.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Like this: you tell me one thing first, and I will tell you.”
Ao Tu said, “What matter?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “How did you see through my Transformation Technique before?”
Ao Tu said, “I could not see through your Transformation Technique; it was just a frown between your brows, and I recognized you.”
Guanyin was slightly stunned. So that was it.
Ao Tu asked, “Why did my cultivation fail?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “I do not know what cultivation method you are practicing, but I can see that your cultivation lacks in fleshly body and divine soul, both of which need to be supplemented.”
Ao Tu said, “How to supplement them?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “I have Buddhist golden body and three vehicles wondrous scriptures, which can supplement fleshly body and divine soul. Become my disciple, and I will impart them to you.”
Ao Tu shook his head and said, “Bodhisattva, I am a layperson who indulges in pleasure and desire; in this life, I cannot enter the monastic gate.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed slightly. Ao Tu had rejected her three times in a row, even using indulgence in pleasure and desire as an excuse. She knew in her heart that Ao Tu was unwilling to take her as master and said no more.
In the following time, Ao Tu cultivated daily and rarely went out.
He sought ways to supplement his fleshly body and divine soul. For the fleshly body, if he could obtain Ancestral Witch Essence Blood, it should suffice, but he did not know how to resolve the divine soul.
At that time, Wukong in the Heavenly Court had already reported the matter of Flat-Top Mountain to the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor issued a decree again, ordering divine officials to investigate the Heavenly Realm. After a thorough check, no divine generals or star constellations had descended to the mortal realm.
Seeing that the investigation yielded nothing, Wukong grew somewhat anxious.
Lao Jun held his fly whisk and stood among the immortals, his expression unchanged.
Wukong saw Nezha and pulled him, saying:
“Third Prince, come down to the mortal realm with Old Sun!”
Nezha said, “What do you want me for? Even the Bodhisattva was captured. How could I be a match for that monster?”
Wukong said, “Third Prince, you are well-informed. This time, no need for you to act. Old Sun will go down to challenge to battle. You just stand in the clouds and identify the origins of those treasures for Old Sun, so Old Sun can find their owner. How about it?”
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