Journey to the West: The Great Sage's Guide

Chapter 63 The Structure of the Buddhist Sect at Mount Ling

After the sermon ended, Zhong Xuan intended to dismiss the crowd, but the handsome young man did not leave. Instead, he walked straight up to them.

This person is none other than Nezha, the Third Prince, in disguise.

Nezha cut to the chase, claiming that Zhong Xuan was in big trouble and asking if he wanted to know.

Zhong Xuan remained expressionless and asked in return, "What trouble is it? And why today of all days?"

Sun Wukong, who had been unable to contain himself any longer, jumped up and down, asking, "What's wrong? Is someone coming to cause trouble? Tell me quickly, I'll go beat him up!"

Nezha glanced at the impetuous monkey and sneered, "You little monkey, you do have some guts."

He turned to Zhong Xuan and said solemnly, "Lu Qian, the patrol envoy of Xiniu Hezhou, has now been detained and is under investigation. The heavens are currently investigating the origins of your Cuiyun Mountain deities."

"How can a living person be deified? Your divine position was probably obtained through a dubious and improper means."

Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions.

Zhong Xuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping over Li Gongcao, who was cowering not far away. He beckoned him closer and asked, "Have you heard any rumors about this? Is it plausible and believable?"

Li Gongcao, his face filled with fear, said in a trembling voice, "Master, it is indeed possible... it is indeed possible! Your position was probably originally a dead-end job, prepared by Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain for his father."

"But back then, those two were both old men, with an air of otherworldly wisdom. In order to go through the process and save money, the authorities only mentioned some physical characteristics in the approval document and did not impose any strict restrictions, which is why you were able to take advantage of the loophole."

"Now that this old matter has been brought up again, I'm afraid... I'm afraid things are really going to get bad!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions grew even more grim.

The gray monkey spirit, Feng Lisheng, rolled its eyes, and before anyone noticed, it had quietly disappeared.

Wukong grew anxious and grabbed Nezha, asking, "How many powerful figures does the Heavenly Court have? If they come to capture Brother Nezha, I will absolutely not allow it!"

Nezha said smugly, "A mere monkey demon, yet you speak so arrogantly. Heaven only needs to send down a few heavenly soldiers, and that will be enough to take you down! The Heavenly Court has a million heavenly soldiers and generals, each with a divine body and extraordinary martial arts."

The tiger demon, who had been listening nearby, looked worried and turned to Zhong Xuan's mountain god avatar, saying, "Master, why don't we escape? I remember a saying clearly: 'Where there's gold, there's firewood.'"

Zhong Xuan chuckled, "The saying goes 'green mountains,' but 'golden mountains' would also work; it sounds more auspicious."

As he spoke, he reached out and touched Wukong's fluffy head, but his mind was already thinking about the future.

This monkey of mine will one day be able to kill countless heavenly soldiers and generals with a single blow. Even if a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers besieged Flower Fruit Mountain, they might not be able to defeat him.

However, at this point in time, Wukong has only just begun his cultivation. If a few heavenly soldiers come down, it will probably be a real battle with no clear winner.

and……

Zhong Xuan glanced at the group of demons present.

Besides Li Gongcao, he was surrounded by more demons than monsters.

But now, this Cuiyun Mountain is his foundation.

The Tai Xuan Dao lineage will also begin to be passed down discreetly here, so how could it run away?

Zhong Xuan collected his thoughts and said calmly, "Let's not even talk about whether we should be afraid or thinking about running away for our lives."

"I'm quite interested in the background of this matter. The Celestial Master's Mansion creating a radish pit might not be considered an overt violation, but it wouldn't make sense for them to conduct a public trial."

"It's still unclear what attitude the Heavenly Court will take towards this matter. Fellow Daoist Nezha, you might as well reveal more information to help me make a judgment."

Nezha looked up at the sky, then lowered his head again, his gaze falling on the lush tree not far away, and said slowly:

"These things are so complicated, how can I possibly explain them clearly?"

"However, there are methods."

"Look at that big tree, lush and green, sheltering us from the wind and rain."

What do you think?

The words were spoken cryptically, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Li Gongcao was already terrified.

He was originally a member of the Heavenly Court system, and in his eyes, the Heavenly Court was heaven, earth, and the supreme authority.

The mental strength he had honed by Zhong Xuan over the past few days seemed to have been knocked back to its original form by a single blow.

He couldn't help but interject, "Master, Master! Why don't we ask this Third Prince which powerful figure is backing him? We should go and pay our respects to him as soon as possible; maybe we can find a powerful backer before the heavenly soldiers come to arrest him!"

Wukong's eyes darted around, and he was about to say, "We have a powerful backer, the formidable Patriarch Bodhi," when Zhong Xuan stopped him with a look.

Zhong Xuan, seizing the opportunity, asked, "Fellow Daoist Nezha, could you perhaps offer a hint? To avert this potential disaster, who should we turn to for help?"

Nezha shook his head and said, "Since you are already not far from the foot of Mount Ling, why bother trying to catch fish by climbing a tree? If you can't even understand this, you might as well not be here."

After saying that, he laughed heartily, waved his hand, and clouds rose from beneath his feet as he drifted away.

……

Nezha had just left, and before everyone had a chance to discuss things in detail, the pretty woman stepped forward.

She no longer concealed her identity, reached up and wiped her head, and after sweeping her sleeve over, a pair of rugged and adorable deer antlers were revealed.

"I am but a mere dragon maiden," she introduced herself casually.

The Dragon Girl continued, "If you truly wish to find refuge and protection, your current shabby appearance is insufficient. You must dress more elegantly, prepare a gift, and head to the South Sea. Once you reach the seashore, you will naturally be guided. As for which path to choose, you must carefully consider your options and act accordingly."

After speaking, the dragon girl leaped into the air, surrounded by clouds and a gentle breeze, and disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Wukong withdrew his gaze and immediately hopped over to Zhong Xuan, his face full of confusion: "Brother, what exactly is going on? My head is throbbing from listening, but I don't quite understand anything."

Zhong Xuan didn't rush to explain and turned to walk towards the mountain god temple.

The mountain god temple is no longer as shabby as it once was. In the center is the main hall of the mountain god, with a side room and a rear hall added to the back and left and right sides. Although it is not magnificent, it has begun to take shape.

The group followed him into the living room on the left, only to find that Feng Lisheng was already sitting at the table, leisurely eating fruit.

Seeing everyone come in, Feng Lisheng was the first to plead for mercy: "I didn't hide on purpose!"

"I just didn't expect that the Mountain God was such a big shot that he could attract the Third Prince Nezha of the Li family in heaven to act as his persuader, and the Dragon Girl of the South Sea to come and give directions."

"This scene really terrifies me; I dare not show my face."

Feng Lisheng said this, but he didn't seem very afraid.

On the contrary, they seemed to want to avoid trouble.

The tiger demon sneered, "It's rare to see someone as slippery as you. You're clearly very strong, yet you always like to hide."

Feng Lisheng didn't take it seriously, shaking his head and saying, "On the path to immortality, there are many tribulations. If you just tough it out when you encounter tribulations, even if you have a head of copper and arms of iron, how many trials can you withstand?"

"They will still suffer greatly. This physical body and spirit are like a candle wick, burning out long before dawn."

Wukong interjected, "That does make some sense... Feng Lisheng, you always say this, but I find it very unpleasant! If you keep cowering and running away like this, one day you won't be able to escape, will you?"

Feng Lisheng wasn't annoyed and casually tossed a peach over.

Seeing that Wukong caught it steadily, he laughed and said, "If that day really comes, then let it come. I've been hiding and dodging for so long, maybe it's all to get through that ordeal."

Wukong took a bite of the peach, shook his head, and felt that something was wrong with what he was saying; it didn't seem like a good way to achieve immortality and avoid disaster.

But for a moment he couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so he turned to look at Zhong Xuan.

Li Gongcao sighed and said, "The Third Prince Nezha is probably referring to the Buddha, a very important figure in Mount Ling now. Who would have thought we even have the qualifications to seek refuge with him?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhong Xuan.

Upon hearing this, Rabbit Xiaoyu and Fox Xiaohong looked surprised and asked one after another:

"Does this mean everyone's going to seek refuge with those monks? Does that mean we two have to shave our heads too?"

Tao Yaoyao touched her little head, looking confused.

Are those few branches and tender leaves on her head to be shaved off as well?

Zhong Xuan noticed this detail, picked up the little guy, and gently tapped the little devil's head with his finger: "Your hair is getting longer and longer the more you shave it."

Looking at the heartwarming scene of the mountain god and his dependents in the hall, Feng Lisheng sighed inwardly, feeling that peace and tranquility were hard to come by.

He then suppressed his smile and his expression became serious: "Lord Mountain God, you must have a clear plan for this matter! If you wait until the Heavenly Court has a result before making arrangements, not only will it be too late, but you also have to be careful that someone doesn't try to extort money from you and you end up having to sign a contract of servitude to escape this predicament."

Zhong Xuan nodded: "I understand... but what exactly is Ling Mountain all about? Who are the people there, what are the factions, what is its structure? I've heard about these things, but not in detail, and I'm worried about making the wrong judgment."

Feng Lisheng blinked, dipped his finger in the tea, and started drawing on the table.

"To be honest, Mount Ling is indeed complex and unique. I will try my best to explain it clearly so that you can understand."

"Then Nezha, the Third Prince, wasn't talking nonsense. If they really join forces with them, there's still a good chance they can survive this calamity."

Memories arise in the wind, and I will recount them one by one in detail.

Zhong Xuan listened intently.

He had long suspected that this gray monkey spirit was most likely the Six-Eared Macaque.

But whether it is true or not, this great demon who has reached the realm of immortals is highly skilled and well-informed, which matches his cultivation path of "seeking peace and tranquility".

If one cannot be well-informed and know more, how can one talk about peace and refuge?

……

Feng Lisheng dipped his fingertips in tea and began to trace patterns on the table.

"The Lingshan Group has a clear hierarchy, roughly divided into four main levels."

As Zhong Xuan listened, he quickly analyzed and sorted through the information in his mind.

With the added experience and knowledge from his previous life spanning a hundred years, the entire landscape of Mount Ling quickly became clear, and from the perspective of that corporate group:

At the very top, naturally, are the Buddhas.

These are further divided into three major schools based on time, known as the "Three Buddhas".

Firstly, there is the elder faction of the past Buddhas, centered around Dipankara Buddha, who was the prophesied teacher of the Tathagata Buddha and the most senior member of the Vulture Peak Group. Although he has retired behind the scenes, he still holds a transcendent position, like an emperor emeritus.

Secondly, there is the current ruling Buddhist faction, with the Buddha Tathagata at its core. As the helmsman of the Lingshan Group, he is the highest leader—his disciple Jin Chanzi, as well as Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, three of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, are all in his camp.

Thirdly, there is the Future Buddha faction, with Maitreya Buddha at its core. He is the recognized successor of the Lingshan Group, with a status similar to that of a prince in the mortal world. His subordinates include the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monster, but it seems that he has not won over enough bodhisattvas in Lingshan to support him.

Below the Buddha are the Bodhisattvas.

Even among Bodhisattvas, there are distinctions of rank. At the very top are the Four Great Bodhisattvas.

Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Ksitigarbha, who guards the underworld.

Below the Four Great Bodhisattvas, there are some Bodhisattvas who have attained "great enlightenment" and are called "Buddha's children," meaning those who will become Buddhas in the future.

Further down are some miscellaneous bodhisattvas, not worth mentioning.

Below the Bodhisattva are the Arhats. Below the Arhats are the Jiedi (Gatekeepers).

Zhong Xuan heard this, and then suddenly stopped hearing.

He looked up and saw that Feng Lisheng had stopped speaking at this point, and his gaze turned to the doorway.

There seemed to be some movement outside the door.

"Oh?"

Zhong Xuan discerned the change in the energy flow, smiled immediately, and flicked his finger.

A nut flew through the air and landed precisely on a head as black as charcoal.

The black bear spirit, who was eavesdropping outside the door, cried out in surprise and was about to turn around and run away when Zhong Xuan called out to him.

"You black bear, you've heard so much, yet you try to run away without saying a word. That won't do."

Zhong Xuan's voice carried a hint of amusement, "Let me ask you, what do you think of Mount Ling? How does the Heavenly Court view such a meticulously structured place?"

The black bear spirit tried to run, but felt a gaze fixed on him from behind. Helpless, he turned around, scratching his head and saying, "Mountain God, I'm just a little black bear spirit. How would I know about these important figures? I'm just a carefree little demon in Xiniu Hezhou, but what you're talking about are all things of the heavens..."

Zhong Xuan smiled, not angry at all.

He already knew the answer when he asked the question.

The Journey to the West has not yet begun, and Wukong has just become an apprentice.

By a twist of fate, he agreed to Bodhi Patriarch's request to become the guide for the future Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

At this time, the Buddhist community on Mount Ling was far less prosperous than it had been after the pilgrimage.

Unlike then, the Ling Mountain forces are now just a local opposition faction within the vast Heavenly Court system, and they are currently in a critical period of power transition.

The Buddha Tathagata had only recently taken over power from the ancient Buddha Dipankara and was about to embark on a grand plan and actively expand his territory.

The Heavenly Court is the central hub of heaven and earth.

Below the Jade Emperor, who rules over all the realms, are the core deities such as the Three Pure Ones and the Four Emperors.

Below that are the Five Elders of the Five Directions.

The current leader of Mount Ling, the Buddha, has the official title of "Western Buddha Elder" among the Five Elders of the Five Directions in the Heavenly Court.

Interestingly, Guanyin Bodhisattva was once a Buddha, but due to her great vow to save all sentient beings, she lowered her status to Bodhisattva. Even so, she is still one of the Five Elders of the Five Directions, a truly great figure and a great venerable one in the Three Realms, with a status essentially the same as that of the Tathagata Buddha.

Moreover, in Zhong Xuan's view, this is exactly the time when the flourishing Ling Mountain in Xiniu Hezhou was first established.

The timeframe is roughly seven or eight hundred years before Journey to the West.

At this time, the important figures of Lingshan still had a distinct Taoist influence.

For example, Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, three of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, were originally powerful figures in Taoism before joining the Western Paradise.

This is like jumping ship from a branch on one continent to a new department in a new continent or a new great power within a super multinational corporation called the Three Realms Heavenly Court.

Overall, however, Mount Ling remains firmly within the larger organization of the Heavenly Court.

"Speaking of which, Lord Mountain God."

Feng Lisheng suddenly asked curiously, "Have you guessed it yet? Which side does that dragon girl represent?"

Zhong Xuan was about to answer when his expression suddenly changed.

The seventh-grade mountain god seal in the bosom of his mountain god avatar suddenly shook and emitted a low hum.