795: Chapter 271: Instigate_6 795: Chapter 271: Instigate_6 Hearing his words, Lingji Bodhisattva lightly furrowed his brow.
He hadn’t expected the other party to ask such a question.
Indeed, even Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha probably couldn’t answer it.
But after the question was asked, Lingji Bodhisattva still had to reply, and reply beautifully at that, making anyone who heard reconsider.
He pondered for a moment, but then a surge of boldness welled up from within.
He smiled and said, “What is the Heavenly Court in comparison?
After my Buddha Tathagata ascended to Supreme status, he naturally should be the Supreme of the Three Realms.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire assembly was shocked.
Everyone looked at Lingji Bodhisattva with eyes filled with astonishment.
No one had expected Lingji Bodhisattva to say such a thing.
Tathagata Buddha desired to be the Supreme of the Three Realms.
The moment this thought emerged, everyone’s countenance turned to shock.
Lingji Bodhisattva’s complexion also turned pale.
What had he just said?
The words he had just uttered were not his true thoughts at all.
Realizing this, another impulse surged through his heart.
No, that was indeed his true belief.
Why should Great Emperor Ziwei be the Supreme of the Three Realms and not Tathagata Buddha?
In Lingji Bodhisattva’s view, his own Buddha was more qualified to be the Supreme of the Three Realms.
With that thought, Lingji Bodhisattva spoke up and said, “My Buddha Tathagata is already the true Supreme, while the Great Emperor Ziwei of the Heavenly Court is but a Sub-Paramount.
If I were Great Emperor Ziwei, I would have already abdicated in favor of someone more worthy.
The weakest Heavenly Emperor in history, now not even a Supreme; how does he have the face to sit in that position?”
The Immortal from the Western Continent turned pale, sensing a catastrophe looming.
At the same time, he felt some remorse for posing such a question out of the blue.
Now it had backfired, with Lingji Bodhisattva talking nonsense, and he too would suffer the consequences.
However, a thought arose in his heart; perhaps it wasn’t that Lingji Bodhisattva was speaking nonsense, but that Tathagata Buddha truly held such views.
If that were indeed the case, then matters were grave.
Mount Ling in conflict with the Heavenly Court, as well as disputes among some of the Primordials, chaos would ensue.
What a spectacle that would be.
The Immortal from the Western Continent managed a forced smile and then hurriedly said, “Lingji Bodhisattva has had too much to drink, he’s speaking drunkenly, let’s not take it to heart.”
“Right, right, Lingji Bodhisattva must be drunk.”
“Yes, the Immortal Wine today is really strong, even we can’t withstand it.
We’re a bit drunk, starting to speak nonsense.”
The Immortals quickly echoed, trying to smooth things over.
They felt that even if Lingji Bodhisattva was drunk, by now he ought to have sobered up.
Hearing his peers come to his aid, he should take the correct course of action.
After speaking those words, Lingji Bodhisattva felt an overwhelming sense of relief coursing through him.
He smiled and said, “My fellow Daoists, do not spout nonsense.
I am not too drunk at all.
What I’ve said is the truth.
My Lord Tathagata is the best candidate for Supreme of the Three Realms, not Great Emperor Ziwei, who has not even reached the Supreme Realm, nothing but a Sub-Paramount.”
It was over.
All the Immortals present felt like calamity was upon them.
Some Immortals reacted immediately, promptly bidding farewell to the host.
In a moment, the place emptied out.
The Immortal from the Western Continent looked as white as a sheet.
He watched Lingji Bodhisattva with a steely visage.
Why on earth did I invite such a Plague God home?
After drinking just a little bit, he started spouting nonsense without any restraint.
Even if all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at Mount Ling think that way, there’s no need to express it in front of me.
With that thought, the Immortal looked at Lingji Bodhisattva with eyes filled with rage.
In his view, Lingji Bodhisattva had come to set him up on purpose.
Otherwise, why would he say such things here?
“Lingji Bodhisattva, please leave.
We do not plot with those whose paths differ from ours,”
the Immortal said coldly, with an unfriendly tone.
He really was angry, infuriated by Lingji Bodhisattva.
He had intended to curry favor with Mount Ling, but now he not only failed to secure their support, but also ended up in an uncomfortable situation.
If the Heavenly Court were to come asking for accountability, he would really be at the height of injustice, and even in death, he would not be resigned.
At this moment, Lingji Bodhisattva also realized what he had done; his face turned pale as he became aware of what he had said.
He was close to madness, wondering why he had uttered such words.
Was it really because he was drunk that he let his true feelings slip out?
Lingji Bodhisattva was extremely annoyed, but seeing the Immortal who had just been flattering and amiable now turning angry and trying to drive him away, a surge of fury suddenly rose in his heart.
“You wait and see.
Once Buddha ascends to power, I will certainly settle accounts with you,”
Lingji Bodhisattva said before turning and walking away.
The face of that Immortal from the Western Continent was clouded with uncertainty.
After Lingji Bodhisattva had left, he began to panic.
Seeing the other’s behavior, he realized that he probably could not stay here any longer.
The Western Continent was territory of the Buddhist Realm, and Mount Ling wielded enormous influence there.
Now that Tathagata Buddha had become the Supreme, even Amitabha Buddha, the Lord of the Buddhist Realm, would likely struggle to restrain Tathagata Buddha.
With this in mind, the Immortal gritted his teeth and made a decision.
If he was to do it, he might as well go all out and take the initiative to expose the situation.
He would tell the Heavenly Court everything Lingji Bodhisattva had said and simultaneously request the court’s protection.
He believed that with the protection of the Heavenly Court, the powerful beings of Mount Ling should not be able to harm him.
As for whether Mount Ling could overturn the Heavenly Court, the Immortal did not believe they had such an opportunity.
How strong was the Heavenly Court?
It was not something Mount Ling could compare with.
Great Emperor Ziwei might not be the Supreme, but there were two Supremes in the Heavenly Court, not to mention Suiren, who could jump out to help at any time.
Even if Tathagata Buddha became a Supreme, he would still be unable to support it all by himself.
With this in mind, the Immortal immediately packed up his belongings and rushed to the Heavenly Court.
In the shadows, Baize’s mouth revealed a hint of a smile—his plan had succeeded.
However, to make the situation appear more authentic, he interfered with another expert from the Buddhist Sect.
Tiger-Subduing Arhat walked with a mournful face, following Lingji Bodhisattva back to Mount Ling not long after the latter’s return.
His face was pale; he too had attended the banquet, but he ended up saying things he should not have, out of his own control.
Baize withdrew; the following developments were no longer his concern to manage.