Netherworld Underworld, Ksitigarbha’s Dojo

Since Wuji had promised Nüwa that he would protect that monkey, he naturally could not let Sun Wukong truly be schemed against and crippled.

However, the monkey was violent and unruly by nature. Letting him suffer a little would do no harm; it might help rid him of his crude habits.

"Oh? He actually dared to cause trouble in the Underworld. That is Sage Houtu’s territory, so the monkey will probably suffer! Wuji, he will be all right, won’t he?"

Nüwa’s heart stirred, and she spoke with some concern as she looked at Wuji.

She knew that Houtu, who lived in the Underworld, was Wuji’s beloved.

Back when the Wu and Yao stood opposed, her relationship with Houtu had already been strained. Now, because of Wuji, things had become even more awkward between them.

Moreover, they were both immortal and indestructible Sages. If they did not resolve their hostility toward one another, Wuji would be caught in the middle and have a difficult time.

Thinking of this, Wuji felt that the matter needed to be resolved urgently.

"Nüwa, stay in the city for a few days. I will make a trip to the Underworld.

"Besides dealing with that monkey, there is another matter that should be settled as well!"

"Mm, Wuji, are you referring to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva of Western Buddhism?"

"That’s right. I have a share in the Underworld as well. Western Buddhism has quite some nerve, daring to offend me.

"This time, I will make them understand the consequences! If they want to meddle in Underworld affairs, they must pay a heavy price!"

Thinking of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Wuji remembered that he had not had the time to deal with him since returning to the Primordial Wilderness. Now, he could conveniently drive this Bodhisattva away during his trip to the Underworld.

"Fine, I’ll stay in the city.

"Perfect. I also want to experience the ordinary life of a mortal woman!"

Nüwa replied readily.

…The Underworld of Reincarnation.

"Demon monkey, get out of the Underworld!"

After causing havoc in the East Sea, Sun Wukong came to wreak havoc in the Underworld as well.

He killed ghost officials and seized the Book of Life and Death. He was utterly lawless.

In the end, one of the Great Witches of the Underworld could no longer endure it and slapped the monkey straight out of the Underworld.

The monkey was greatly alarmed. Without giving it another thought, he immediately flew out of the nether realm and fled toward Flower Fruit Mountain.

After what happened in the Underworld, Sun Wukong finally realized that there were beings there whom he could not afford to provoke.

Uneasy, he instinctively began to regard the Underworld as a place not to be trifled with lightly.

The hall was in ruins. The ghost soldiers around it were all seriously injured, every one of them wounded by Sun Wukong.

"Greetings, King Yama!"

When King Yama arrived and saw the scene around him, his face darkened. He wished he could immediately eliminate that demon monkey.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared.

"Greetings, Lord Ancestral Witch Houtu!"

Seeing Houtu appear, King Yama was greatly startled and hurriedly bowed.

"No need for formalities."

Houtu swept her gaze over the surrounding scene, her brows furrowing slightly. Then she sighed softly and waved her hand, restoring the entire hall to its original state.

Even the Book of Life and Death that Sun Wukong had torn apart was restored intact.

"King Yama, keep these Books of Life and Death safe. Do not allow them to be damaged again!"

Houtu handed the restored Book of Life and Death to King Yama.

Sun Wukong was merely a Golden Immortal. How could he possibly have torn apart the Book of Life and Death? It had all been an illusion secretly arranged by Houtu.

"Lord Ancestral Witch, that demon monkey is only a Golden Immortal. Why did we not simply kill him?

"He acted so wildly in the Underworld that the killing intent in my heart cannot be quelled!"

As one of the few remaining Great Witches of the Witch Race, King Yama had accumulated considerable merit after becoming King Yama.

If he truly made a move, Sun Wukong would not even count as an ant in his eyes.

"I have my own considerations in this matter.

"This monkey is crucial to the future prosperity of Western Buddhism. The Two Sages of the West will never allow anything to happen to Sun Wukong.

"Furthermore, this monkey will one day become a weapon for Buddhism to fight the Demonic Beasts of the Three Realms. That will bring the Witch Race nothing but benefits.

"As for Sun Wukong, you need not ask further questions. Simply fulfill your own duties."

After saying that, Houtu vanished before everyone.

Elsewhere, on the far side of Yin Mountain, within Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s dojo.

Wuji’s figure suddenly appeared in midair.

Of Wuji’s arrival, only Houtu within the Underworld noticed anything. No one else sensed it at all.

Looking down at the dojo below, Wuji saw Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva wearing a benevolent expression as he continuously delivered wicked ghosts and sent them into reincarnation with his spells.

Every wicked ghost he delivered bore a trace of Buddha aura.

It seemed that in their next lives, they would all form ties with Western Buddhism.

If Western Buddhism could keep Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the Underworld indefinitely, it would be able to continuously absorb new strength.

Its future influence would surely grow, perhaps even surpassing the Mystic Gate of the East.

Wuji looked coldly at Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and waved his hand, releasing a streak of dim light that instantly pierced the man’s brow.

With Wuji’s strength, a Golden Immortal of Grand Da Luo like Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva could not possibly detect him.

Within the Netherworld Underworld, Ksitigarbha was delivering wicked ghosts when his expression suddenly changed drastically. A flash of joy appeared in his eyes.

Since entering the Underworld, his cultivation had soared without pause, from Golden Immortal to Grand Yi Golden Immortal, then to Golden Immortal of Grand Da Luo.

He had nearly reached the level of a Quasi-Saint.

Yet at the critical moment when he was about to break through, a powerful force stopped his progress, causing all his efforts to come to nothing.

Essence blood spurted from his mouth. Ksitigarbha’s face turned deathly pale, his mind suffered a grievous blow, and his aura weakened.

Ksitigarbha completely ignored the pain of his injuries, his eyes filled with confusion.

The aura within his body suddenly fluctuated violently and became extremely unstable.

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

Again and again, he tried, only to encounter obstruction each time he neared a breakthrough.

The Quasi-Saint Realm was right before him. He needed only take one step to reach its peak, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not cross that seemingly insignificant barrier.

"Why is this happening?!"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s eyes were full of bewilderment.

Suddenly, even he could scarcely believe it. A pure black light shone from his brow, then madly assaulted his mind.

At such a critical juncture, how could this demonic aura fail to invade Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva? As his mind wavered, it gave the demonic aura an opening.

In an instant, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sank deeply into his inner demons.

Ksitigarbha had originally come from the Asura Race and had been born with dense demonic aura.

Now, under Wuji’s secret control, the demonic aura within his bloodline was completely awakened.

Years of suppression erupted at this moment, its power impossible to measure.

Even Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, burdened with immense merit, could not escape it.

"Why can’t I advance to the Quasi-Saint Realm? How could this happen? What exactly went wrong?!"

"Utter fool, Ksitigarbha! You already made your vow: until Hell is empty, you will not become a Buddha.

"The wicked ghosts have not yet all been delivered. How could you possibly become a Quasi-Saint?"

"Haha, you dull-witted fool. You are still only at the peak of the Golden Immortal of Grand Da Luo!"

"Impossible! The two Sages of Buddhism said that as long as I entered the Underworld and completed the task of delivering wicked ghosts, I would certainly advance to the Quasi-Saint Realm with the immense merit I accumulated!"

"Absurd! You actually believe the words of Receiver and Cundi, those cunning and treacherous men?"

"That’s right. They are clearly using you!"

"You are nothing more than a pawn in their hands!"

"How could those two Sages possibly think highly of someone like you, who betrayed his own race?"

"Besides, if you were ever fortunate enough to advance one day, then betrayed Buddhism as well, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

"Idiot! From the moment you betrayed the Asura Race and led Buddhism in attacking it, you were destined never to earn Western Buddhism’s trust!"

All kinds of demonic thoughts flooded Ksitigarbha’s mind.

Ksitigarbha’s mind was constantly disturbed by some force, causing the demonic aura to grow ever denser.

Given Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s importance within Western Buddhism, Receiver and Cundi would have immediately noticed if he fell into the demonic path.

Yet Wuji quietly concealed everything.

Wuji effortlessly sealed off the aura around Ksitigarbha’s dojo. With Receiver and Cundi’s strength, they naturally could not detect Ksitigarbha’s transformation.

Watching Ksitigarbha become shrouded in demonic aura, a smug smile appeared on Wuji’s lips.

"Wuji, how do you intend to deal with Ksitigarbha?"

At some unknown moment, Houtu had arrived beside Wuji. She looked at him with puzzlement as she asked.

"Since he is about to fall to demonic corruption, why not send him to the demon realm?

"Moro, who once served under the Two Sages of the West, has now become Ancestor Wutian. In the future, he will become a great hidden danger to Western Buddhism.

"Let Ksitigarbha join Ancestor Wutian’s ranks and add a few more tribulations. That would not be a bad thing."

Wuji’s words brimmed with malice.

Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed through Houtu’s eyes. She then silently calculated with her fingers.

Before long, she had completely grasped Ancestor Wutian’s origins.

Ancestor Wutian had once been Moro, a disciple of Receiver and Cundi, and his talent was exceptional.

Had he continued cultivating, he would have reached at least the Late Quasi-Saint stage, perhaps even Quasi-Saint completion.

However, during a mission to spread the teachings in the lower realm, he developed a profound conflict in his understanding of the Buddhist path and the demonic path.

Coupled with the trials of love that plagued him, he ultimately fell completely into demonhood.

The moment he entered the demonic path, he attained the realm of a Quasi-Saint powerhouse. In a short time, he reached Quasi-Saint completion and changed his name to Ancestor Wutian.

Now, he lived in seclusion within the Abyss of Darkness, in the gap between the Three Realms. It was the true nest of the demon race.

Other than Sages, even few Quasi-Saint powerhouses knew of it.

Even if Receiver and Cundi did not act, Shakyamuni would be helpless against him.

In the future, Ancestor Wutian would surely become Western Buddhism’s greatest threat.

Sending the corrupted Ksitigarbha to Western Buddhism would undoubtedly add a powerful force to Ancestor Wutian’s side. Though it would bring trouble to Buddhism, Wuji did not care.

As for whether Ancestor Wutian might turn against him, that was nothing but an unnecessary concern.

Netherworld Underworld, Ksitigarbha’s dojo.

Time passed swiftly. Under the influence of the demonic thoughts within him, Ksitigarbha’s body began to undergo violent changes.

The Buddha Light that had once frequently flickered around him was now completely enveloped in sinister demonic aura and would soon be consumed.

At times, his face showed benevolence; at times, it revealed viciousness. One moment he smiled, the next his killing intent surged… Perhaps Ksitigarbha himself had sensed his abnormality and tried to resist the demonic aura’s erosion, but under Wuji’s control, all such efforts were doomed to fail.

Whenever Ksitigarbha tried to break free from the control of his demonic thoughts, Wuji would intensify the demonic aura and completely suppress Ksitigarbha’s reason.

Terrifying peals of wild laughter rang from Ksitigarbha’s mouth.

As expected, Ksitigarbha ultimately failed to escape Wuji’s control and fell completely into demonhood.

High in the sky outside Ksitigarbha’s dojo, Houtu watched the scene below with a complicated expression.

"Sigh, setting aside our positions, I actually admire this young fellow.

"Born in a bloodthirsty place like the Asura Race, yet able to preserve a kind heart—it is truly rare.

"If not for the obsession in his heart, and if Receiver, Cundi, and Shakyamuni had not schemed against him time and again, his future might have been limitless.

"What a pity. He happened to cross Wuji’s bottom line. Once he falls into demonhood, there will be no turning back!" As Houtu spoke, she could not help shooting Wuji an annoyed glance.

What Ksitigarbha had done had disrupted the order of the Underworld.

The Underworld was meant to be a place of fairness in the Three Realms, yet he had used the pretext of delivering wicked ghosts to send those with affinity to Western Buddhism.

In Houtu’s eyes, this was an unforgivable offense.

Had she not understood that Ksitigarbha was merely a pawn, Houtu would have acted long ago.

Wuji shook his head after hearing this. He believed that even if Ksitigarbha had originally been kind-hearted, after entering the Buddhist Sect, he would have become hypocritical under Receiver and Cundi’s influence.

Even Taiqing and Yuanshi had to fear the Netherworld Underworld, yet Receiver and Cundi repeatedly tested its limits. Naturally, Wuji had to teach them a profound lesson.

As for Ksitigarbha, he had brought it upon himself.