141: Mahasthamaprapta

His voice was resonant, like a Buddhist lion's roar, deafening yet invigorating!

But the voice carried a hint of childishness, like that of a young child.

Tang Ku turned his head and saw a small monk, dressed in a monastic robe, who looked about ten years old, standing before him, his face filled with compassion.

Releasing his grip, he pressed his palms together in a salute to the child and said, "Greetings, Dao brother! May I ask if you are a fellow disciple's Reincarnation?"

That's right, from this aura, it was clearly the unborn child from the Zhang family... no, or rather, the newborn child.

Growing up in a flash, like Nezha?

Even if he had taken a strength-enhancing pill, he wouldn't grow to this extent! Even with innate wisdom, he would still need to grow step by step to become a Buddha or Bodhisattva again.

"Poor Monk is Mahasthamaprapta!"

The child smiled slightly, his tender face seeming to bear the weight of ages, an incongruity that was striking, yet it also felt perfectly harmonious and normal.

This was a complete contradiction!

"Haha, so it's you. I wondered why I felt a sense of familiarity!"

Tang Ku glanced at the Buddha treasure still shining brightly on the pagoda and suddenly understood why he had grown so quickly. He nodded and said, "So that's it... So the Buddhist Realm had plans long ago, which is why this thing exists in the Mortal Realm, is that right?"

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva had a good relationship with Golden Cicada in the Western Heaven, being one of his few friends.

The reason being, this Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva didn't have many ulterior motives; he hadn't done much else in this life besides upholding good thoughts.

According to the "Contemplation Sutra," Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva illuminates all sentient beings in the world with his unique light of wisdom, enabling them to escape the calamities of bloodshed and war, and attain supreme power, earning him the title of 'Foremost in Bright Wisdom'!

Or, to put it simply, he was a pure and kind Bodhisattva!

That's why he appeared immediately and asked Tang Ku to release Aspros, because in his principles, killing was not a task a Buddha should undertake.

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva did not directly answer Tang Ku's question. Instead, he frowned slightly and said, "You seem... unwilling? Why do I feel that the Buddha Power on you is different from before? The Buddha once conferred upon you the title of Chandana Karma, could it be that you... abandoned this Buddha title?"

"Haha, Bodhisattva sees clearly. Now I am the True Buddha of Vast Salvation, and this Buddha title is one I took for the common people of the world!" Tang Ku said with a soft laugh, still clutching the nearly unconscious Aspros.

"Hmm, I sense a trace of power on you similar to that of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a mighty power that only comes from a grand vow!" Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva nodded, "It seems your Buddha title is also related to this?"

"Precisely!"

Tang Ku said, "Bodhisattva, there's no need for us to exchange so many pleasantries. I just have one question for you: Did the Buddhist Realm know long ago that these people would invade? Did they foresee this calamity?"

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva sighed, saying helplessly, "This matter should have been told to you, but you are the key to the entire calamity plan, so..."

"So it's better not to let me know, is that right?" Tang Ku released his hand, letting Aspros plummet towards the ground.

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva's brow furrowed. He gently pointed his right index finger, and Aspros's body floated in mid-air, slowly drifting to his side.

In his impression, neither Tang Sanzang nor Golden Cicada would ever just throw someone down from the sky like that.

He understood that this was Golden Cicada's fallback plan for himself, meaning that the memories of one of his Reincarnations had influenced him.

"I never said that..." Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva shook his head and said, "I once told the Buddha that informing you of the cause of this matter would allow you to better cope with the calamity. But alas, neither the Buddha nor the various Bodhisattvas, and even the great powers of the Heavenly Court, intended to let you know about this. Therefore, I cannot break the rules!"

"Bodhisattva, you are an honest person!"

Tang Ku said in a deep voice, "I believe what you say is true. However, treating the entire Mortal Realm as a chessboard is truly going too far! Which of the Mortals isn't raised by their parents? The people of the Heavenly Court actually chose to directly possess Mortals. You must know that they too have lives, they too are living beings. For their own selfish desires, must they occupy others' bodies and leave their souls without a vessel?"

"This matter is not my wish either!"

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva shook his head and said, "The method set by the people of the Immortal Realm cannot be interfered with by the Buddhist Realm. We can only manage ourselves, at least not occupying others' bodies, but descending to the Mortal Realm through Reincarnation."

"But by doing so, you also seized the Opportunities of those who were supposed to be reborn!"

Tang Ku frowned and said, "They suffer in the Underworld, and after much difficulty, they get a chance to be reborn, but you forcibly snatch it away. Do you, with your great compassion, think this is fair?"

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva's breathing hitched, and then he said with a bitter smile, "This is not what I wanted to do either... If this calamity can be overcome, I will compensate them!"

"It is *you* who will compensate them, not 'they' who will compensate them!" Tang Ku sneered, "You are compassionate, but others in the Buddhist Realm may not have that awareness. Don't forget, I also foresaw this outcome, which is why I Reincarnated into other worlds. However, I traveled through the Reincarnation passage to various worlds, which was a legal procedure, and I did not snatch any ghost's Opportunity! I see it very clearly: whether it's Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, those as selfless as you are truly rare!"

"..." Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva was almost stunned by the question. After a long while, he said with a bitter smile, "I've long heard that the Reincarnated Golden Cicada is eloquent, and I've witnessed it today... Hmm, I can only tell you that the forces you will have to contend with in the future are not just the demons from beyond the domain, but also those who descended from the Immortal Realm. Among them are countless powerful individuals, and they also hide some trump cards. You must be extremely careful! As for the Buddhist Realm, I promise that we will absolutely not become your enemies!"

"Is that true?"

Tang Ku finally got the answer he wanted, his eyes lighting up.

"An ascetic does not speak falsehoods; you should know this!" Mahasthamaprapta said, "Today was merely a coincidence. If you hadn't helped me block this warrior from beyond the domain, I probably wouldn't even have had the chance to be born. You could say you indirectly saved my life, so, as repayment, I'm telling you this... Also..."

He gestured, and a golden bead suddenly appeared in his hand—it was precisely the so-called "Buddha treasure."

"Don't you know the Kunpeng Mystic Skill? I'll release the Buddha Power of this Buddha treasure, and you can use this to restore your depleted power!" Mahasthamaprapta said.

"If I use it, what will you use?" Tang Ku asked curiously.

"Don't worry, this thing is more than enough even to revive all the Bodhisattvas, True Buddhas, and Arhats of the Buddhist Realm. For just one person like you, it won't use much at all!"