Chương 177: Ksitigarbha's Inquiry into the Sutra

The quality of different methods of deliverance is inherently difficult to distinguish, as different methods are used for different evil spirits. However, genuine endorsement is far more convincing.

Even the underground world acknowledged Fang Yang's method of deliverance and bestowed merit upon him, proving that the authority of Fang Yang's method of deliverance is beyond doubt!

After silently saying "I'm sorry" to the guiding saint in his heart, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva withdrew the divine light around him and gave up the salvation.

The Western Christian disciples looked over in surprise, as if asking, "Why did the ritual stop when it was going well?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva clasped his hands together and bowed to his fellow disciples: "Fellow disciples, you continue to perform the rituals to deliver the evil spirits. I need to go and verify some things."

Having said that, a seven-petaled golden lotus appeared beneath his feet, lifting him into the sky. The seven-petaled golden lotus scattered thousands upon thousands of petals, and together with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, disappeared into the void.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was the backbone of this group of Western Sect disciples. With him in charge, the Western Sect members were still helpless against the evil spirits of hell. With Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva gone, the morale of the Western Sect members instantly plummeted.

With morale dampened, the chanting of the Western Sect followers instantly subsided, and the Buddha light that filled the Prajna Hell became thinner.

"Hahaha, is this all the great religion of the sages can do?"

"Hehehe, we are the most excellent demons in hell, and no one can save us."

"You little brats from the Western Sect, cultivate for another kalpa before you come and help me pass on!"

Sensing the weakening of the salvation power, the evil spirits erupted in a frenzy of revelry, while the Western Sect disciples became the targets of their mockery. Various sarcastic voices emanated from the Prajna Hell, the voices of the evil spirits even drowning out the chanting.

The more demons there are, the greater their power. The voices of nine hundred trillion evil spirits intertwined, mixed with all sorts of foul language, directly shattering the swastika in the void and impacting the minds of the Western Sect disciples.

The Western Sect disciples had never encountered anything like this before. Their faces turned pale, their minds were shaken by the foul language, and the divine light around them flickered and almost went out.

Hariti Mother had just been enlightened by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and her mind was stabilized. Not long after, she was stimulated by evil spirits again, and the ghost infant in her womb began to stir once more.

When Pilanpo saw these disappointing junior brothers and sisters, her face instantly turned extremely ugly. These fellow disciples, their hearts wavering amidst the howling ghosts, where was even a trace of the demeanor of a Western Sect disciple?

"Cluck cluck!"

Even though Pilanpo was extremely disappointed in Pilanpo, he had no choice but to let out a rooster crow.

This rooster's crow seemed like the cry of the ancestral gods at the beginning of time, awakening all the heavens and myriad realms and sweeping away all demons and evil spirits. The disciples of the Western Sect were enlightened as if struck by a thunderbolt.

They are disciples of saints; they must never yield to evil spirits!

At this moment, the Western followers rallied their forces and unleashed their magical power once more to suppress the evil spirits.

Although many of the outer disciples of the Western Sect reacted quickly, in Pilanpo's mind, they had already been labeled "unqualified." From now on, if the Two Saints of the West assign her any tasks, she will absolutely not bring this group of disciples out to grind dungeons again.

At this moment, Ksitigarbha Daojun had already arrived in front of Fang Yang.

He clasped his hands together, stepped on golden lotuses, and walked step by step to the top of the mountain. Then, like the other ghost cultivators who came to listen to the teachings, he sat opposite Fang Yang and waited patiently.

He was eager to know how Fang Yang had managed it. Therefore, he was very patient.

Fang Yang naturally knew of Ksitigarbha's arrival. However, he had more important things to do and didn't have time to deal with Ksitigarbha.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's attitude was quite proper; he sat opposite Fang Yang for thirty-three years. During this time, he didn't make the slightest sound, for fear of disturbing Fang Yang's sermon.

Thirty-three years later, Fang Yang's sermon finally came to an end. After the ghost cultivators departed, Ksitigarbha Daojun couldn't wait to raise his questions.

"Fellow Daoist Fang Yang, the doctrine of the Jie Sect is to cut off a sliver of life for all beings. These evil spirits in hell are also part of all beings. You used the Water of Oblivion to wash away the accumulated memories of countless evil spirits, like the sands of the Ganges, effectively severing their life force. Why then are you able to gain the recognition of the Daoist?"

It's no wonder that Daoist Duobao has a connection with Buddhism. Daoist Duobao's understanding of "seizing a glimmer of hope for all beings" is the same as that understood by the disciples of the Western Paradise.

The Jiejiao doctrines as understood by Daoist Duobao and Daoist Dizang are essentially the same as the Western religion's "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot; the sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore," only expressed differently.

Fang Yang did not answer immediately; he had no obligation to answer Ksitigarbha Daojun. He glanced at Ksitigarbha Daojun, his tone utterly indifferent: "Fellow Daoist already possesses the wondrous methods of the West; surely you cannot resolve the doubts in your heart?"

He wasn't treating Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as an enemy; he was simply treating him as a complete stranger with whom he had no connection.

He's not someone who will answer every question that just pops up in front of him. He's neither the Bean Bun Ancestor nor the Thousand Questions Celestial Venerable.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva did not give up. He bowed deeply to Fangyang and promised, "If you can answer my questions, I will do three things for you that will not violate the Heavenly Rules or morality."

Fang Yang frowned slightly; Ksitigarbha Daojun's sincerity was evident.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is a direct disciple of the Western Paradise sect and holds a pivotal position within it. Utilizing these three conditions effectively can have a significant impact.

However, he still couldn't accept these three conditions.

Looking across the entire Western Sect, only the Two Sages of the West are beyond his control. He can deal with the other disciples however he wants. He can't very well ask Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to betray the Two Sages of the West, can he?

Fang Yang thought about it and decided to give them a break. The two Western Saints had no ill intentions towards him and had even taught him the Great Dao Attainment Technique in Dreams, so he would consider this his way of repaying them.

"Fellow Daoist, listen carefully. Heaven and Earth do not care whether evil spirits repent or not; they only care whether souls can be recycled and whether Yin and Yang can cycle in an orderly manner."

"I did erase the evil spirits' memories, but I did not destroy their souls. Their reincarnation after being saved is essentially no different from their reincarnation after having their memories erased."

Upon hearing this, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was struck dumb.

The principles Fang Yang spoke of had been explained to him by the two Western Sages before. However, the two Western Sages emphasized that Heaven and Earth are impartial and without emotion, and that everything is done according to the rules.

Fang Yang's answer seems completely unrelated to the two Western saints' explanations, but in fact, the two explanations are interconnected.

Fang Yang had seen through the underlying code of how the world works and acted in accordance with the rules of heaven and earth. His seemingly unorthodox behavior actually aligned perfectly with the great principles of heaven and earth.