Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything-Chapter 757 - Jieyin and Zhunti

757: Chapter 757: Jieyin and Zhunti

757 -757: Jieyin and Zhunti

Thump…

A distant bell rang, echoing throughout the heavens and earth.

At the same time, a beam of brilliant Buddhist Light appeared from the void, landing directly in front of Randeng Buddha and Tathagata.

Observing the Buddhist Light that emerged from the void, Randeng Buddha and Tathagata both bore a solemn expression, then stepped directly into the light and soon disappeared within the Netherworld.

Randeng and Tathagata walked forward in the brilliant Buddhist Light, as if treading through a golden corridor.

After a while, the scene suddenly opened up before them.

They saw an altar with two meditation cushions on it.

The meditation cushions were originally for those of the Taoist Sect, yet two men dressed in the Buddhist Sect were quietly sitting on them.

One of the men was thin, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties, with a somewhat stern expression.

The other had a balanced physique, also in his fifties or sixties, his face marked with a look of hardship.

“We pay our respects to both Sect Hierarchs!” Upon seeing the two men, both Randeng Buddha and Tathagata promptly bowed in salutation.

“Hmm, there’s no need for excessive formalities!” Jieyin, wearing an expression of hardship, gently waved his hand and spoke.

Since the Deification War, after Sect Master Tongtian set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, it had been explicitly decreed that Saints may no longer step within the Three Realms and the Six Paths.

However, this did not mean that others could not leave the Three Realms and the Six Paths to meet the Saints in the Void Realm.

“You need not say more; my junior and I are already aware of Maitreya’s situation,” Jieyin interrupted Tathagata, who looked like he was about to speak, with a wave of his hand.

Tathagata, who had opened his mouth to speak, said nothing further.

Since the Sage Sect Master already knew, naturally, there was no need for him to say more.

After exchanging greetings with Randeng and Tathagata, Jieyin and Zhunti then turned their attention to Maitreya’s lost soul.

The sight of Maitreya’s soul deepened the look of hardship on Jieyin’s face.

“Maitreya!”

With a wave of his hand, a stream of Buddhist Light entered Maitreya’s soul, and then Jieyin addressed Maitreya.

As the Buddhist Light entered his body, Maitreya’s previously ethereal form solidified considerably.

Yet, his eyes carried a confused look as he turned to Jieyin, “The Maitreya you speak of, is that me?”

“The Soul-Cleansing Pool, has it washed away all his memories?

He doesn’t even remember his own identity?” Jieyin murmured softly to himself, observing Maitreya’s soul’s reaction.

“Maitreya, do you remember who attacked you?” Zhunti, who seemed to be more impulsive, couldn’t hold back and directly asked Maitreya.

“What are you talking about?

And who are you?” With a still puzzled face, Maitreya responded with a question of his own.

Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other, then shook their heads resignedly.

Alright, no need to ask anything further.

This reaction made it clear.

Maitreya now had no memories left, akin to a newborn baby.

That he still remembered how to speak was quite remarkable.

Jieyin and Zhunti remained silent.

Randeng Buddha, quietly standing aside, also felt a chill in his heart.

The Saints don’t even know who killed Maitreya?

Could the perpetrator’s identity also be that of a Saint?

Usually, only a Saint could block another Saint’s calculations.

Of course, that is unless the secrets of heaven were obscured.

“Alright, you two, you may return for now!” After a moment of silence, Jieyin spoke to Randeng and Tathagata.

As he spoke, Jieyin raised his hand, and a gray light appeared, landing in front of Randeng, “This object, as compensation for your Ancient Lamp.”

Randeng Buddha extended his hands to catch the gray light, and after examining the treasure in his hands, a flicker of joy flashed in his eyes, “Thank you, Sect Hierarch!”

“Now, you may leave.

The great cause of the Journey to the West for Scriptures still requires your united efforts, and Maitreya shall be resurrected and return soon,” Zhunti also spoke.

After these words, Randeng and Tathagata left the supreme Void Realm and returned to the Three Realms.

“Elder brother, Maitreya’s memories have been completely cleansed by the Soul-Cleansing Pool.

Is there any way to restore them?” Only after the two had left did Zhunti speak to Jieyin.

“Impossible!”

Upon hearing this, Jieyin shook his head, “The Soul-Cleansing Pool wasn’t originally a part of the world; it was formed by the Heavenly Dao to complete the cycle of reincarnation, congregated from countless rules, created from nothing to cleanse the memories of reincarnating lost souls!”

“Meng Po Soup, diluted countless times, might coincidentally allow the recovery of past life memories under the right circumstances.

But if a soul is completely immersed in the Soul-Cleansing Pool, the cleansed memories are impossible to restore, unless…” At this point, Jieyin paused slightly.

“Unless what?” Zhunti asked, following up.

“Unless the Teacher himself takes action!” Jieyin answered.

Teacher?

Who is the teacher?

That would undoubtedly be the Hongjun Ancestor!

Being one with the Heavenly Dao, the Hongjun Ancestor, to a certain extent, could represent the will of the entire Heavenly Dao.

His recovery was not surprising.

However, could one possibly ask the teacher to make a move?

Just thinking about it, Zhunti shook his head, knowing it to be an impossible matter.

After all, who had attacked Maitreya?

To investigate this matter clearly was certainly not an easy task.

However, both Zhunti and Jieyin harbored suspicions in their hearts.

Could it be another of the Saints?

There were only three possibilities who could kill Maitreya and remain undetected by them!

First, the team on the Journey to the West for Scriptures.

They were now at the center of the Immeasurable Kalpa and predicting their every move, even for a Saint, was nearly impossible.

However, this possibility was not feasible.

Not to mention that the team from the Journey to the West for Scriptures were members of the Buddhist Sect themselves.

They had absolutely no motive to attack Maitreya, and even if they did, they surely lacked the capability, right?

Second, it must be the Saints, only the whereabouts of a Saint could elude the calculations of other Saints!

But there are only a few Saints, besides us two, there are only Laozi, Yuanshi Heavenly Venerable, Sect Master Tongtian, and Nvwa.

It seems, they also had no motive at all, did they?

Last, it could only be the Hongjun Ancestor.

If he made a move, it would be even more impossible for us to find out, but again, this possibility was not feasible.

“Difficult, difficult, difficult…” After much thought, both Jieyin and Zhunti had no clear suspects to consider and thus, also secretly shook their heads.

The Immeasurable Kalpa was a game played among Saints for superficial conflicts, a match of mutual scheming.

The last great Deification battle saw the Buddhist Sect greatly benefiting, observing the internal strife within the Mysterious Sect and converted countless masters from the Sect of Intercepting and the Interpretation Sect into Buddhism.

This time, the great calamity of the Journey to the West was meant to greatly enhance the Buddhist Sect, yet an unforeseen event occurred that even they could not understand?

…

If even two Saints could not deduce who had killed Maitreya Buddha, naturally, those within the Three Realms and Six Paths would be even less likely to make a correct guess.

Having returned to the Three Realms and Six Paths, Randeng Buddha slightly bowed to Tathagata, saying, “With this matter concluded, this old monk bids farewell to the Buddha!”

“This young monk dares not!” Seeing Randeng Buddha bow to him, Tathagata slightly turned aside, stepping back, not daring to accept Randeng Buddha’s bow.

However, as he watched Randeng Buddha about to say goodbye and leave, Tathagata suddenly spoke to retain him, “Randeng Buddha, please stay a moment!”

Randeng’s gaze turned to Tathagata, obviously waiting for what Tathagata was about to say next.

“The fall of Maitreya Buddha is of paramount importance, but who the perpetrator was, I wonder if Randeng Buddha has any thoughts?” Tathagata initiated the inquiry.

“Buddha holds this old monk in too high regard!”

Hearing Tathagata’s question, Randeng simply shook his head and said, “If even two Sagely Sect Masters can’t deduce who made the move, how could I possibly have that ability?”

Tathagata nodded slightly, finding nothing surprising about Randeng’s answer.

After all, the two Sagely Sect Masters had not known either; Tathagata himself had seen it unfold, and his posing the question was just to provoke further thought; he did not expect Randeng to really be able to provide a definite answer.

“Moreover, as Randeng Buddha is widely experienced and far-sighted, far beyond me, now that Maitreya Buddha has perished, and his physical body destroyed, can the two Sagely Sect Masters bring him back to life completely?” Tathagata then asked Randeng another question.

This question was what Tathagata currently most wanted to ask.

“Difficult…” Upon hearing Tathagata’s inquiry, Randeng fell into contemplation for a brief moment before shaking his head and said.

“What makes it difficult!?” Tathagata pressed, with a look of genuine inquiry.

“The importance of a physical body, surely the Buddha understands well!

For instance, even the Supreme Elder Lord’s Soul-Returning Pill requires the preservation of a complete physical body to resurrect the target!”

“During the great battle of Deification, the Spiritual Pearl Boy under Nvwa’s charge reincarnated as Nezha, stripped bones to return to his father, and cut flesh to return to his mother.

With the physical body destroyed, even though Nvwa possessed the power of Creation and Transformation, capable of creating the Human Clan, she was still unable to bring him back to life completely, resulting in Nezha’s inability to break through to the Great Luo Realm for many years…”

“Thus, the two Sagely Sect Masters could certainly resurrect Maitreya, however, a complete resurrection is far too difficult!”

Laying out the facts and reasoning, Randeng’s words garnered a nod of agreement from Tathagata.

Indeed, if only the soul needed to be retrieved, resurrection might not be difficult, but without a physical body, it would be exceedingly tough.

After discussing the situation of Maitreya Buddha’s resurrection, Tathagata and Randeng Buddha casually talked about a few more matters concerning Buddhism before bidding each other farewell.

After departing, Randeng Buddha flew high in the sky, reached into his robe, and pulled out a treasure.

A grey inkstone.

This was precisely the treasure Sect Master Jieyin had given him as a compensation for his ancient lamp.