Chapter 587: Chapter 586: Mencius Visits, Saint Kong’s Bargain [Major Chapter]

The fate of the Buddha Country blossomed like a giant lotus flower.

It shook the entire world.

At the same time, throughout the Western Heaven Buddha Country, an obscure Brahma Sound resounded.

Led by the Nine Great Buddhas, followed by the Bodhisattvas, a hundred thousand Arhats assembled in Lingshan, chanting the name of our Buddha Tathagata.

Then, the Great Leiyin Temple shone upon the world.

Indicating that the Present Buddha Tathagata had returned to his place.

This news, without a doubt, shook the Grand Thousand Upper Realm.

Stirring up a wave of excitement across the world.

"The contemporary Buddha has actually returned?"

"This is truly the pillar of the Buddha Country!"

"It is said that the once-prosperous Ancient Celestial Court crumbled due to the schemes of this very Tathagata Buddha!"

"Even the decline of Daoism is closely related to the World Honored One of the Buddha Country, but after the pattern of the world was reset following the Journey to the West Calamity, the World Honored One withdrew from worldly affairs."

"Who would have thought that now, he would reappear in the world?"

"Could this have something to do with the disappearance of the Future Buddha? Is he going to once again preside over the Buddha Country?"

Countless Immortals speculated, with conjectures flying everywhere, and the fame of Tathagata Buddha in the world surpassed even that of the Past Buddha Saint Luminous.

He is truly the pillar ancestor of the Buddha Country!

His reappearance in the world is as shocking as the appearance of the Heaven-Reaching Sect Leader.

"Lady Nuwa, Luminous Buddha, Heaven-Reaching Sect Leader, Venerable Emperor Chong’en, and now Tathagata has manifested again."

"Why does it feel like we’ve returned to the era of the Divine Enthronement, when the Saints descended to intervene in the world?"

"This is not a good sign, a calamity that will engulf the world seems to be silently beginning..."

"We must quickly plan an escape route..."

Ancient strong ones, who have witnessed numerous prosperities and declines, and have experienced the tribulations in ancient history.

The current signs.

Are remarkably similar to the omens of a chaotic world in ancient history.

...

The people of the world were in a state of panic.

The Daoist Celestial Court was also enveloped in a tense atmosphere.

The grudges between Buddhism and Daoism need not be elaborated.

The return of Saint Tathagata to the Buddha Country is naturally a dangerous signal for the Daoist Celestial Court.

Especially with the presence of Saint Chong’en.

The last time when the Daoist Lord repelled Saint Chong’en, it was indeed infinitely glorious, but if Tathagata Buddha were to join forces with Saint Chong’en and come, the situation would likely be far from optimistic.

However, it was amidst this panic.

A highly respected Quasi-Saint in the world arrived at the Celestial Court to visit Lin Heng.

"Meng Ke of the Confucian School, meets Taixu Celestial Venerable."

In Taixu Palace, located within the Thirty-Three Heavens Domain.

After the Ascension Court, this Forbidden Palace was designed by Shen Gongbao and created by the Immortals for Lin Heng.

No one can set foot here without permission.

The ocean of fate churned here, amidst the clouds and misty Immortal Light, a middle-aged man in a long robe was paying respects to Lin Heng.

"I wonder why Master Meng visits today?"

Lin Heng was radiant with Purple Gold Immortal Light entwining his body, resembling a Celestial Dragon in protection.

He was quite surprised.

For Mencius, a Sub-Saint of the Confucian School, who had no interactions with the Dao Court, to actually come for a visit.

Lin Heng had a good impression of Master Meng.

During the first round of Saint seats, when he was attacked by dozens of Quasi-Saints in the Demon Realm, Master Meng, although he participated, advised kindly for a long time and only reluctantly took action in the end.

Moreover, Lin Heng could sense that Master Meng had held back on that day and did not intend to take his life.

Otherwise, under the circumstances at that time, with the comprehensive release of the rules in the Saint’s Book.

No matter how capable he was, he couldn’t have held out until the Heaven-Barking Dog came with the Treasure Lotus Lamp.

"To be honest with the Celestial Venerable, Meng Ke came today without any major concern, just to bring a message from Confucius."

"Oh?"

Lin Heng was slightly surprised: "Confucius has something to say to me?"

This was quite unexpected for him.

Though the name of Saint Kong from the Confucian School is widely known to all.

But like other Saints, he rarely concerns himself with worldly affairs, and during Lin Heng’s rise to fame, they had never met, let alone communicated.

He didn’t expect that Confucius would have a message for him.

"What does Saint Kong want to say to this humble Daoist?" Lin Heng asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Mencius got straight to the point: "Confucius once received guidance from the embodiment of Daoist Taiqing Saint, Laozi, and is therefore committed to helping Daoism by delaying Saint Tathagata for a hundred years."

"During this hundred years, Saint Tathagata will not act against Daoism."

"Oh?" Lin Heng was slightly astonished, murmuring: "There are rumors that Confucius once met with Laozi, the Ancestral Master of our Dao during his early years of exploration. I never thought..."

Lin Heng paused for a moment, then suddenly asked: "I wonder if Master Meng has heard from Confucius about whether our Ancestral Master Taiqing is well?"

Mencius shook his head: "It cannot be asked, inquire as we might, there can be no answer. I, too, am curious."

He pondered for a moment and then said: "However, perhaps in the legendary Qingqiu, some secrets might be known."

"Qingqiu?"

Lin Heng raised an eyebrow slightly: "The legendary ancestral land of the Fox Race?"

"That’s right."

"However, Qingqiu is not visible to the world. In earlier times, perhaps some knew its location, but after the Journey to the West, there has been no word of the Fox Race emerging from the ancestral land of Qingqiu."

"In the world today, if anyone still knows the whereabouts of Qingqiu, Mencius believes..."

He paused for a moment and said, "It should be only your Celestial Court’s Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, the Ox Demon King."

Upon hearing this, Lin Heng’s gaze slightly sharpened.

He still remembered.

It seems that back then, Tuo Ta Celestial King had confined the Ox Demon King within the Exquisite Pagoda for hundreds of thousands of years, with the intent to force the location of Qingqiu out of him...

"Master Meng, are you hinting to me to search for Qingqiu?"

"Or perhaps, you too wish to find Qingqiu?"

Lin Heng asked, staring straight into Mencius’s eyes.

Mencius’s face was honest as he truthfully said, "Qingqiu holds great secrets, and all parties are curious about its whereabouts. Meng Ke is no exception."

Lin Heng’s eyes narrowed slightly, observing Mencius for a long time before saying, "Even if I had the intention to search, I’m afraid I couldn’t leave the territory of the Celestial Court."

"Is the Celestial Venerable worried about Emperor Chong’en?"

"That’s right."

Lin Heng smiled, "Of course, if Confucius could help block the two Saints, then I would have no worries."

Mencius was silent, looking directly at Lin Heng and said, "Celestial Venerable, you jest. Even if Confucius could block the two Saints, would the Celestial Venerable dare to gamble on it?"

Lin Heng’s eyes narrowed, "No, I wouldn’t."

Since the last encounter with Emperor Chong’en, Lin Heng had resolved that until he had the power to truly contend with Saints, he would never step out of the Celestial Court’s territory!

Truly, he was very curious and concerned about the current state of the last remaining Ancestral Master Taiqing among the three Daoist ancestors. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But Lin Heng could never, merely for the sake of gathering information, take the risk of searching for Qingqiu.

Because now, he bears the fate of the entire Daoism!

Should anything happen to him, the outcome for the Celestial Court would be unbearable to imagine!

"It brings comfort to see the Celestial Venerable acting cautiously," Mencius said.

"To be frank, Meng Ke has another matter on this trip."

Mencius suddenly said.

Lin Heng’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Master Meng, please speak frankly."

Mencius gestured, and the Saint’s Book landed in his palm.

As Lin Heng was puzzled, Mencius spoke, "Mencius wishes to preach Confucius’s teachings in your Celestial Court for a hundred years."

"After a hundred years, if the Celestial Venerable can fend off Buddhism’s suppression, that would be best."

"If not, Confucius will protect the scholars of the world."

With these words, the atmosphere slightly solidified.

"So, is this Confucius’s condition promised to my Ancestral Master Taiqing to block Tathagata for a hundred years?" Lin Heng asked, his eyes sharp.

"It is not," Mencius replied. "Even if the Celestial Venerable refuses, Confucius will still block Tathagata for a hundred years."

"Oh?" Lin Heng’s eyes took on a complex look.

Mencius continued frankly, "There is also disparity among Saints. Confucius became a Saint through study, and his words and laws follow, which sounds fearsome, but human strength is ultimately limited."

"Now, Confucius’s path is nearing its end."

"Therefore, he wishes to involve himself in the incense paths of Buddhist Dao as well."

"In these hundred years, Meng Ke will use the Saint’s Book to educate the citizens of the Celestial Court, hoping Confucius will become a master for all ages, forever entitled to worship!"

"That is Confucius’s goal."

"Certainly, the citizens taught by the Saint’s Book will gain divine insight, and the strength of the Celestial Court will undoubtedly be greatly enhanced."

"Thus, this is not a condition between Confucius and the Taiqing Saint, but rather should be seen as a collaboration with the Celestial Venerable."

Mencius elaborated on the pros and cons without any concealment, remaining upright and candid.

Lin Heng pondered for a long time before speaking:

"In ancient times, the Celestial Court also collaborated with the Western Buddha Country for the Journey to the West, preaching to the East."

"But the final outcome, Master Meng, should be clear."

Mencius, hearing this, calmly replied, "Meng Ke understands the Celestial Venerable’s concerns. Thus, there is another crucial aspect in this Saint’s Book."

"What is it?" Lin Heng asked.

"It is the principles of heaven, earth, sovereign, kin, and teacher!"

Lin Heng’s eyes narrowed, and Mencius said, "The Daoist Celestial Court has developed rapidly, and the majority of beings lack faith in the Celestial Venerable."

"Meng Ke’s century-long teachings will instill the principles of monarchy in the world."

"This is different from the teaching spread during the Journey to the West."

"Confucius aims to be a teacher for all generations, not to contend for temporary faith."

"Conversely, Confucius knows the difficulty of garnering incense faith for Daoism. With the Three Pristine Ancestors above, even if the Celestial Venerable shoulders Daoism, faith and incense remain challenging to elevate."

"Therefore, Confucius will use this to exchange for the condition to preach!"

"Additionally, there is one more important point."

Mencius took a deep breath, "Like the Celestial Venerable, he cannot bear to see all living beings suffer, and Confucius also wishes to give warmth to the scholars of the world."

"Yet as a Saint, Confucius cannot easily intervene in worldly matters, unless it is for his students."

"So, after a century, should the Celestial Venerable face difficulties, Confucius will have the reason to protect the beings of the Celestial Court."

"I hope the Celestial Venerable considers this matter seriously."

Mencius spoke with sincerity, his expression extremely solemn.

Lin Heng replied, "Ten years. I will first give Master Meng ten years, hoping to see a significant increase in faith!"

"Master Meng, can this be achieved?"