Perhaps sensing Gu Qingfeng's current foul mood, Da Xing the Mad Monk said no more.
"Since you don't want to listen, I won't ramble on. Let's get down to business."
He shook his head, sighed, re-hung the wine gourd at his waist. The playful look on his old face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression. "I believe you already know this is the Mind Buddha World. This place is easy to enter, but hard to leave. Others might not know, but you should understand that deeply."
He paused, then continued, "Of course, your capabilities are vast. A mere Mind Buddha World probably can't trap you. So, My Buddha specially invited a great Buddha's Wrath Incarnation—and the one with the greatest power, the most ferocious one at that. It's called the Great Sun Tathagata's Wrath Incarnation. You heard right, it's the fiercest, most savage, most berserk of the Five Great Wisdom Kings."
Hearing 'Great Sun Tathagata's Wrath Incarnation', Gu Qingfeng's brow couldn't help but twitch slightly.
He knew every Buddha had Wrath Incarnations, with the Wisdom Kings being the most famous: the Immovable Wisdom King, the Trailokyavijaya Wisdom King, the Yamantaka Wisdom King, the Vajrayaksa Wisdom King. Each Wisdom King is a great Buddha's Wrath Incarnation, hailed as the Buddha's Wrath Image, with boundless dharma power, specializing in annihilating demons and monsters. Countless ancient demons and monsters across heaven and earth have been destroyed by these Wisdom Kings, including great sages of the demonic path and even demonic sovereigns.
"This must be your first time seeing the Great Sun Tathagata's Wrath Incarnation. As for how capable it is, you've probably heard rumors."
Da Xing the Mad Monk spoke slowly and deliberately. "Since you once ascended to become the Nine Nethers Emperor, you absolutely must know how the previous Nine Nethers Emperor was utterly annihilated, right?"
He knew.
Gu Qingfeng had ascended to become the Nine Nethers Emperor, obtained the Nine Nethers Origin, refined the Nine Nethers Flame, inherited the Nine Nethers legacy. How could he not know the previous Nine Nethers Emperor was destroyed by the Buddha? And the one who struck was precisely the Great Sun Tathagata's Wrath Incarnation.
"I'm not trying to scare you—and I know I can't scare you anyway. You fear neither heaven nor earth, so naturally you wouldn't fear My Buddha's Great Sun Tathagata Wrath Incarnation. Never mind just a Wrath Incarnation; even if the Great Sun Tathagata himself came in his true form, you wouldn't be afraid."
"Inviting the Great Sun Tathagata's Wrath Incarnation is just to let you know My Buddha takes this matter very seriously and cautiously, even to the point of being very..." Da Xing the Mad Monk didn't continue. He knew Gu Qingfeng would understand his meaning.
Indeed.
Gu Qingfeng understood perfectly.
This time, the Buddhist Sect inviting the Great Sun Tathagata's Wrath Incarnation wasn't just serious and cautious—it was a warning, a threat, something indisputable, something irresistible.
"I know you've never had much goodwill towards My Buddha, so I won't spout that nonsense about compassion and saving all sentient beings. But there's one point you should be clear about: My Buddha's attitude towards you has always been tolerant. We've rarely meddled in your affairs. Back when you threw the Heavenly Realm into chaos, nearly burning down the Nine Heavens, the Nine Heavens Sovereign asked My Buddha to intervene and erase you. My Buddha didn't even bother to respond."
"Your little grudge with Old Man Heaven also turned the world upside down. My Buddha has an ancient covenant with Old Man Heaven, yet even then, we didn't intervene."
"When the Great Calamity occurred, all the various Great Daos took the opportunity to kick you while you were down, descending judgment trying to erase you. Only My Buddha didn't, right?"
"Don't forget, back then you not only offended My Buddha, you even killed one of My Buddha's holy monks! Even so, My Buddha still didn't intervene. Oh, right! We did intervene, but in the end, we didn't do anything to you, did we? Of course, it's not because My Buddha fears you, nor because we can't handle you. Speaking a bit disrespectfully, it's also not because My Buddha is truly compassionate. No matter how compassionate, we can't tolerate you causing such havoc!"
"In the end, it boils down to one sentence: you are a person of affinity with My Buddha."
"This affinity, first, is because of Great Freedom. Speaking of Great Freedom, it's really quite ironic. My Buddha has countless disciples. Since ancient times, no one has ever comprehended Great Freedom. From the supreme Buddha Lords down to the lowliest novice monks, not a single one has managed it—including yours truly."
"What a carefree person I am! I sought Great Freedom for a long, long time—so long I almost forgot my own father's face—yet still failed to comprehend it. Who would have thought you'd be the one to grasp it in the end?"
"You're not a follower of My Buddha. The absurd thing is, you not only don't believe in Buddha, you don't even fucking respect him! Yet My Buddha's supreme Great Freedom state of mind was comprehended by you of all people. Where's the justice in that? Ironic, isn't it?"
As he said this, Da Xing the Mad Monk's tone was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment, his words dripping with sourness. "It's a good thing no outsiders know about this. If people found out you comprehended Great Freedom, My Buddha's face would be lost to Grandmother home."
"Great Freedom is just the first reason. The second is that Bone Jade of Annihilation hanging around your neck."
Da Xing the Mad Monk looked at the Bone Jade of Annihilation on Gu Qingfeng's neck. "This thing belongs to My Buddha, and it's no ordinary item. Although the Buddha Lord won't tell me what it is..." As he spoke, he reached out to touch the Bone Jade of Annihilation, but his wrist was caught by Gu Qingfeng the moment he extended his hand.
"Heh! Kid, I don't mean anything by it. Just pure curiosity."
Da Xing the Mad Monk's smile was quite ugly, especially with that mouthful of crooked, uneven teeth—as ugly as could be. He scratched his head, grinning. "Kid, do you know this thing is a taboo of My Buddha?"
"What if I know? What if I don't?"
"If you know, just tell me. I really want to know what this thing's origins are. Kid, do you know? To figure out what taboo this thing is, I asked quite a few great Buddhas. But whenever the Bone Jade of Annihilation was mentioned, those great Buddhas all clammed up, looking as if they'd seen a tiger."
Gu Qingfeng remained silent. He knew Da Xing the Mad Monk was never serious and couldn't be bothered with his nonsense. "Continue stating the purpose of your visit."
"I say, kid, when did you become so serious? Is it because being judged into a mortal body by the various Great Daos has you feeling sour? We're friends, after all. If you're willing, I can have you achieve Buddhahood instantly. Just nod, and I'll have the Buddha Lord arrange a Golden Body Arhat for you. Then you can seek revenge on whoever you want. How about it? Just say the word."
"Kid, I'm not joking. I'm very serious. And I guarantee, as long as you embrace My Buddha, all those deeds you committed before, all the sins you accumulated, can all be wiped clean with one stroke."
At this point, Da Xing the Mad Monk walked over, leaning close to whisper, "Don't doubt it. Our Buddha Lord can absolutely do it. And he's done this kind of thing before. What Original Sin or not, that's all just fooling outsiders. So-called Original Sin is just My Buddha's karma of evil. With one word from My Buddha, if we say you're guilty, you're guilty—even if you're not, you are. If we say you're not guilty, even if you are, you're not..." Having said that, Da Xing the Mad Monk patted Gu Qingfeng's shoulder. "So, what do you think? Consider it?"