CHAPTER 795: CHAPTER 723, MEET THE TATHAGATA FACE TO FACE.

Sun Wukong grinned and pointed to the side, chuckling, "Little monk, what do you see there?"

Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the others all turned their heads in the direction of Sun Wukong’s finger, only to see a log bridge spanning the river not far away.

The group hurriedly walked over, and at the start of the bridge, they saw a stone tablet standing tall with the words ’Lingyun Crossing’ inscribed on it.

In the middle of the river, an old monk was rowing a boat, his figure hidden and his face adorned with a kind, amiable smile. He thought to himself that he should make a move soon. Hearing that Tang Sanzang and his disciples had made a fair amount of money during their journey westward, they would likely be wealthy, and it was about time for him to earn a bit. The more impatient they became, the more they would be willing to pay for the boat ride.

Zhu Bajie called out, "Brother Monkey, we can cross this log bridge, but how will Master manage it?"

Tang Sanzang stepped onto the log bridge just to try, and immediately slipped, almost falling to the ground as if the bridge had been greased.

Sun Wukong chuckled, "Little monk, how do you plan to cross the river?"

Sha Wujing glanced around and said, "Master, I’ll go find you a ferry."

In the river, the ferry-riding Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha nodded slightly, exactly so, adjusting his robe, then straightened up and beamed a friendly smile, ready to appear at any moment.

Beside the log bridge, Tang Sanzang said with a confident smile, "A mere river cannot possibly hold back your teacher."

He walked directly next to the log bridge, under the watchful eyes of Sun Wukong and the others, stepped into the river, and, with his first step on the river’s surface, stood firm, his robe and shoes unsoaked. Above his shoes, two Divine Dragons came vividly to life, mist curling around them.

Sun Wukong laughed heartily, "What a Magic Treasure, what shoes!" He leaped onto the log bridge, bouncing and running forward.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing also got onto the log bridge, wobbling along and laughing as they ran towards the opposite side.

The White Dragon Horse, pulling a floating carriage, stepped onto the river’s surface beside Tang Sanzang, creating no ripples as it stepped on the waves.

On the river’s surface, the Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha was completely dumbfounded. How could he walk on the river’s surface? His gaze fixated on Tang Sanzang’s feet, where the illusory forms of two Divine Dragons seemed to be carrying Tang Sanzang forward. The corners of his mouth twitched, astonished that these belonged to the Dragon Clan’s Spiritual Treasure, wondering how Tang Sanzang could possibly possess it.

The Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha hurriedly made his appearance, steering a small boat towards Tang Sanzang.

Transforming into an old monk, the Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha rowed towards him, waving and calling out, "Elder, Elder, I’ve come to pick you up!"

Tang Sanzang looked at the rowing old monk and smiled, saying, "Thank you, elder, but there’s no need, this monk can cross the river."

"Ah, Elder! I am but a leisurely person from the Western Heaven, tasked with guiding travelers. Just because I was reading scriptures until late last night, I delayed the hour and thus arrived late. Please don’t blame me, elder, step into my boat."

"No blame, no blame, but as you can see, we are nearly ashore, so stepping aboard is unnecessary.

If the elder is unoccupied, perhaps you could accompany this poor monk and talk about the matters of the Spiritual Mountain."

Seeing Tang Sanzang determined not to board, the Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha sighed silently in his heart, resigned to the situation, and cursed the meddling Dragon Clan under his breath. He rowed alongside saying, "Spiritual Mountain is one of the most sacred places in the Primordial World, inhabited by thousands of compassionate Buddhas and World-saving Bodhisattvas, possessing infinite mighty powers..."

As the Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha spoke, Tang Sanzang listened, walking on the river’s path.

A moment later, as they reached the middle of the river, several dead bodies suddenly appeared beneath them, floating down the river.

"Ah!" Tang Sanzang screamed in fright, leaping to the side, splashing water everywhere. Upon closer inspection, he realized those bodies included his own and those of his disciples.

"Elder, what is this?" Tang Sanzang asked in astonishment and confusion.

The Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha smiled and said, "Being rid of the body of flesh, united in love, that is the Primordial Spirit."

Today, upon completing the journey, enlightenment is attained, washing away the enduring dust of the past.

This truly epitomizes the profound wisdom, the method of reaching the ultimate shore without limits.

What has been shed are your mortal forms and the venomous heart of attachment."

Tang Sanzang then sighed in relief, realizing it was Buddhism’s sleight of hand, a mere formality, and praised, "The Buddha truly possesses marvelous Divine Skills!"

After reaching shore, bidding farewell to Namo Treasure Tower Light King Buddha and heading towards the Great Leiyin Temple, he encountered not a single soul along the way.

Soon after, they all arrived in front of the Great Leiyin Temple, radiating with Buddha Light, and met the guardians, the Four Great Vajra.

The Four Great Vajra shouted in unison: "The Sutra Taker has arrived~"

Inside, one layer after another, the call was passed along: "The Sutra Taker has arrived~"

"The Sutra Taker has arrived～"

"The Sutra Taker has arrived～"

The atmosphere was majestic, solemn, and dignified.

Tang Sanzang solemnly adjusted his robes and walked inside, his aura shining brightly, a Buddha Wheel floating behind his head—rivaling even the All Arhat Bodhisattvas, perhaps even surpassing them.

Inside the Great Leiyin Temple, all Buddha Bodhisattvas turned their gaze towards Tang Sanzang and his disciples, somewhat surprised by the wealth of the Sutra Taker—each item on him was a Spiritual Treasure.

Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Sun Wukong were also dressed impressively, enough to make the Buddhas envious!

Tang Sanzang and his companions reached the center of the Great Leiyin Temple, and looked at the many Buddha Bodhisattvas with a calm demeanor, not showing much respect—after all, they once nearly killed our daughter.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples bowed with hands clasped together and said in unison: "Greetings to the Buddha!"

The Buddha’s majestic voice echoed Between Heaven and Earth: "Who is the next visitor?"

"Disciple Xuanzang, by the decree of the Emperor of Eastern Tang, has traveled afar to Treasure Mountain, seeking the True Scriptures to benefit all beings. May the Buddha bless us and grant us the return to our country soon."

Anan Venerable stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Please have the Mage present the passport."

"Here, here, the passport is with me, Old Pig," Zhu Bajie stretched out his hand, and the passport appeared in his palm, handed over to Anan.

Anan Venerable took the passport, walked forward, and respectfully presented it to the Buddha.

The Buddha looked at the passport, then spoke with a voice of compassion, his heart radiating with mercy, addressing Sanzang: "Your Eastern Land is in the Southern Continent, where the heavens are vast and the earth thick, and where excessive greed, killing, deceit, and treachery abound; not following Buddhism, nor cherishing good causes, nor honoring the Three Lights, nor valuing the Five Grains; disloyal, unfilial, unjust, unkind, deceiving oneself, unfair measures, harming life, killing beings.

Creating boundless sin, full of evil, thus befalling the disaster of Hell, thus eternally falling into the Netherworld, enduring endless torment, transformed into animals.

...

I now possess the Tripitaka, which can free you from suffering and absolve disasters.

Tripitaka: one Treasure of methods discusses Heaven; one Treasure of discussions speaks of Earth; one Treasure of sutras liberates spirits. Altogether thirty-five sections, totaling fifteen thousand one hundred forty-four scrolls.

...

You have come from afar, awaiting to be fully entrusted to take back, however, the people of that place are foolish, stubbornly strong, slander the true words, unaware of the profound intentions of our Sramana."