16: The real monk reincarnation

Nezha was utterly bewildered, and even Yang Jian showed an expression of disbelief, then nodded, looking as if he had suddenly understood.

"The person you're talking about, is that Ksitigarbha?" Nezha asked, shocked. "But, how did he turn into this appearance?"

"So, Great God of the Three Altars and Seas and True Lord are also here. Haha, please forgive Poor Monk for being unable to bow as my body is locked. Please do not blame me!"

Nezha's breath hitched, and he said anxiously, "Could it be that Ksitigarbha is trapped in this body? I'll come rescue you right now!"

With that, Little Nezha was about to charge forward.

Yang Jian stopped him, then cupped his fists towards the Vicious Beast Qiongqi and said, "Ksitigarbha, Holy Monk and I have searched the Three Realms, but we haven't found you. How is it that you are in this Avici Hell?"

"This matter is a long story. I've been in this Avici Hell for a full eight hundred years! And I'm not trapped here; rather, I was forced to escape here myself!"

The voice came from Qiongqi's throat, but Qiongqi's body remained completely still. It seemed that this body was already frozen stiff and utterly unable to move.

"Eight hundred years?! In this place?"

Nezha couldn't help but click his tongue, "Although I knew that the flow of time is different in some holy realms, I didn't expect the difference here to be so vast compared to the outside world. This Avici Hell truly lives up to its name, it's ruthless!"

Tang Ku slowly stepped forward, his hands clasped, and touched the cold body, saying, "Ksitigarbha, I think I've roughly guessed what happened. The enemy has some understanding of Hell, but they don't know about the existence of Avici Hell, which is why you were able to escape, right?"

"Exactly!"

Ksitigarbha's voice was steady and powerful, with an effect that inexplicably put people at ease. He continued, "Sanzang, since you have arrived, it means that the tribulation has already begun. I think, at this moment, the Western Buddhist Realm and the Immortal Realm must have completely perished, just like the Netherworld!"

The three fell silent, but then the voice said, "The reason for this matter cannot be deeply investigated. When the karmic affinity arrives, you will naturally understand, especially you... Sanzang, since you have become a Buddha, your strength should have improved. The tribulation and suffering all fall upon you!"

"Even you couldn't bear it..."

Tang Ku immediately understood the hidden meaning in Ksitigarbha's words and said in a deep voice, "With such a heavy burden, how can you be sure that I can shoulder it?"

"Of course you can shoulder it!"

Ksitigarbha's voice held a hint of relief, "Just like my current state, I am both Ksitigarbha and not Ksitigarbha; my soul and Qiongqi are interdependent, inseparable. Your situation is roughly similar, and I think you know it best! You are now both Sanzang and not Sanzang. Only in this way can you break free from restraints, jump out of this circle, and, with the perspective of an outsider, resolve this situation!"

Tang Ku was stunned. He rubbed his nose and smiled bitterly, "So you saw through it long ago?"

"Swish!"

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade suddenly rested against Tang Ku's neck, and Erlang Shen's cold voice came from behind him: "I knew you had a problem! Tell me, are you really Tang Sanzang? The Tang Sanzang I know would never throw punches at others like you. Although his character is resilient, he is very cowardly, but your character is far too erratic. I shouldn't have trusted you from the beginning!"

The blade flashed with a glimmer of light, clearly ready to decapitate him if there was any disagreement.

Tang Ku didn't explain, because Ksitigarbha was there to explain for him.

"True Lord is mistaken!"

Ksitigarbha sighed, "You also know that Tang Sanzang's previous life was Golden Cicada, one of the Buddha's Disciples. He underwent ten Reincarnations before becoming the current Tang Sanzang. And his current soul is the product of one of those Reincarnations combined with the Sanzang who has already become a Buddha. Therefore, I said that he is both Tang Sanzang and not Tang Sanzang!"

Yang Jian hadn't spoken yet, but Tang Ku was a bit bewildered. He quickly reached out to stop him, saying, "Wait, wait, please stop. I... I feel so awkward about this. I think you should be able to see through my soul. I Transmigrated from... well, another world, a future world. How could I be Tang Seng's Reincarnation? I don't acknowledge that cowardly monk!"

"Who said Reincarnation must occur in this world? Or that it must follow the timeline?"

Ksitigarbha's voice was very benevolent as he said, "Golden Cicada's first nine lives, his places of Reincarnation were all different worlds. Only your current life is in the Great Tang!"

"That's not right either!"

Tang Ku immediately thought of a loophole and said in a deep voice, "Then those nine people who died in Liusha River, those nine who were eaten by my third Disciple, who were they?"

"Those were Divided Souls, Puppets, the Buddha's three thousand Incarnations!" Ksitigarbha smiled calmly, "They were Golden Cicada's world coordinates, established based on his own being! And your ultimate return here is also because these nine coordinates are gathered around you!"

Tang Ku fell silent instantly, because he really couldn't connect himself with that good-for-nothing Tang Seng. He had always only believed that he was the fated child who had Transmigrated, but he never expected that he was actually Tang Seng's Reincarnation!

"Why do I feel like I'm listening to a very mysterious historical novel?"

Nezha was stunned, muttering to himself.

Yang Jian, however, slowly withdrew his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade and said helplessly, "Buddhism says there are three thousand great worlds, and even a legend of 'a flower, a world; a leaf, a Bodhi.' Indeed, these words are not false!"

Tang Ku looked back at him and said with a bitter smile, "You're such a straightforward person. I myself am a little disbelieving!"

"Sanzang, listen!"

Ksitigarbha's voice once again pulled his attention back. He heard the voice say, "Now, among the Three Realms, only you can face this tribulation. When the time is ripe, you will lead the team through the Three Realms, traversing the Journey to the West once more. And this time, you must return the scriptures bestowed by the Buddha to Spirit Mountain!"

"You mean, restart the Journey to the West?" Tang Ku's eyes lit up. "Then what does this have to do with the current tribulation? Are those scriptures very important?"

...These are not for you to know yet!" Ksitigarbha said in a deep voice, "You only need to remember that when the time comes for you to undertake the Journey to the West, you just need to do it...

This current tribulation has not officially begun yet. When the Human Realm starts to suffer calamities, that will be the true tribulation. And if those evil demons succeed, the entire world will collapse, turning into dust in the Universe, and all living beings will be destroyed. That is the most serious consequence.

However, I do not wish to bind you with so-called Buddha Dharma or the future. You only need to follow your true heart, and you will see the result you wish to see!"

"Then how... how do we rescue you?"

Tang Ku thought for a moment, then asked the question he most wanted to ask.

Ksitigarbha fell silent, then sighed, "Unless my vow comes true!"