Chapter 038: The Sutra Library

Do not think that because the Buddha Without Heaven is an ancient man, he does not know what the universe is. The wisdom of the ancients is beyond imagination; they already had a clear understanding of the universe.

The four directions and up and down are called space; the past and present are called time.

This is the universe in the eyes of the ancients.

Let alone a Buddha like the Buddha Without Heaven; his understanding of the universe is probably still above that of ordinary scientists. So Wang Bo knew that the other could understand his meaning.

Although the Buddha Without Heaven had heard the term 'multiverse' for the first time, he quickly grasped its meaning. 'What the benefactor says is true. Since coming to this world, I have already realized that this is not my homeland. I have also tried to return to my homeland, but how difficult it is to reach the heaven beyond heavens.'

The Buddha Without Heaven sighed and continued, 'I originally thought I could not return, but unexpectedly I encountered the benefactor. How fortunate I am.'

Wang Bo said, 'So, the Buddha wishes to return.'

The Buddha Without Heaven said, 'I ask the benefactor to lend me a hand.'

Wang Bo naturally would not refuse. This was also a good thing for him. 'Come, stretch out your hand, take mine, and I will send you back.'

The Buddha Without Heaven did not immediately reach out, but instead said, 'Benefactor, wait a moment.'

With that, he returned to the Great Thunderclap Monastery.

In just a few breaths, the Buddha Without Heaven returned, but now held several items in his hand, which he gave to Wang Bo. 'The benefactor not only helped me escape but also sent me back to my homeland. I have nothing to repay you. I offer these things to you as a gift.'

Wang Bo nodded, accepted the items, and extended his right hand.

The Buddha Without Heaven took Wang Bo's hand without hesitation.

'Farewell, Buddha Without Heaven.'

'Farewell, benefactor.'

The next second, the Buddha Without Heaven vanished before Wang Bo's eyes and returned to his own world.

After sending off the Buddha Without Heaven, Wang Bo took out the items he had given him and examined them. He found them quite familiar.

One of them, a lotus-like object, should be the Twelve-Pin Lotus Throne of the Tathagata Buddha.

Another was a vase, likely Guanyin's Pure Vase of Suet and Jade. This item contained its own space and could hold the waters of the five lakes and four seas. Its water could revive withered trees, making it a fine treasure.

As for the remaining items, although Wang Bo did not recognize them, they should all be good treasures, or else the Buddha Without Heaven would not have given them to him.

But compared to these treasures, Wang Bo desired the Buddhist cultivation methods more.

So Wang Bo rose and went to the Great Thunderclap Monastery.

Entering the Great Thunderclap Monastery, Wang Bo saw arhats and bhikshus lying all over the ground. At first glance, he thought they had been killed by the Buddha Without Heaven.

But upon closer inspection, he realized they were not dead. Their magical power had been drained, their aura was withered, and they had fallen into a coma, breathing intermittently. That had caused Wang Bo's misunderstanding.

But looking more carefully, one could see they were still alive.

Wang Bo continued forward, entering the inner hall, where he saw a group of bodhisattvas and buddhas sitting cross-legged.

Inside the Great Thunderclap Monastery, besides bodhisattvas, there were also buddhas. But these buddhas did not refer to the Tathagata Buddha, but other buddhas.

There were many buddhas on Mount Meru. For example, after the Journey to the West ended, Sun Wukong was called the Buddha of Victorious Strife.

Among the Buddhist buddhas were the Five Directional Buddhas: the central Vairocana Buddha, the eastern Akshobhya Buddha, the western Amitabha Buddha, the southern Ratnasambhava Buddha, and the northern Amoghasiddhi Buddha.

Besides these, there were also the Buddha of the Past, the Buddha of the Future, the Buddha of the Present, the Medicine Buddha, the Radiant Light Buddha, the Unconfused Buddha, the Jewel Moon Buddha, the Stainless Buddha, the Defilement-Free Buddha, the Valiant Giving Buddha, the Pure Buddha, the Pure Giving Buddha, and so on.

And besides the buddhas, there were many bodhisattvas. Apart from Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, there were also Mahasthamaprapta, Ratnakuta, Vajra Bandhu, Vajra Pasha, Nagarjuna, Shantideva, and others.

But every single one of these bodhisattvas and buddhas had entered a state of cessation.

This cessation did not mean they were dead, but that they had entered a state of neither arising nor ceasing, neither alive nor dead.

This state was somewhat like Schrödinger's cat in quantum mechanics.

At this time, if external force intervened, they might revive or might directly die and be reborn elsewhere.

Wang Bo did not act rashly but continued forward.

Soon, Wang Bo saw the master of the Great Thunderclap Monastery, the current leader of Buddhism.

The Tathagata Buddha.

Unlike the others, this Buddha had not entered cessation. Although his aura was very weak, he was alive. His magical power circulated and was recovering.

Radiant golden light emanated from his body. Wang Bo estimated that within a few years, the Tathagata Buddha would fully recover, and Mount Meru would still be glorious.

Seeing Wang Bo enter, the Tathagata Buddha nodded slightly. 'Thank you, benefactor.'

Wang Bo was astonished. 'What are you thanking me for?'

The Tathagata Buddha smiled slightly and said, 'Thank you for saving my unworthy disciple, and for sending away the Buddha Without Heaven.'

Wang Bo was even more astonished. Since the Tathagata Buddha had not ceased, it was not difficult for him to know that Wang Bo had sent away the Buddha Without Heaven. But how did he know that Wang Bo had once saved Chen Xuanzang?

After all, Mount Meru had been sealed off for decades.

He did not expect that the Tathagata Buddha still knew about the outside world. This Tathagata Buddha could not be underestimated.

Wang Bo did not delve into how the other knew this, but instead said frankly, 'I want to use the Buddhist mind methods to perfect my Solar Divine Art. What do you think, Buddha?'

The Tathagata Buddha said, 'The benefactor may go to the Sutra Library. No one will stop you.'

'Understood.'

Wang Bo nodded, turned, and left the hall, heading for the Sutra Library.

This was Wang Bo's greatest gain from entering the world of Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons. The Sutra Library of the Great Thunderclap Monastery contained everything, with countless Buddhist scriptures, including many powerful techniques.

Wang Bo spent a full month digesting the contents of these scriptures.

As for when he would integrate the essence of these scriptures into his Solar Divine Art, that would take some time. But Wang Bo believed that when he succeeded, his Solar Divine Art would surely rise several levels.

At that time, even compared to the Mahavairocana Heart Sutra, it would be superior.

A month later, Wang Bo walked out of the Sutra Library and found that on Mount Meru, many arhats and bodhisattvas had revived. Although none had returned to their peak, that was only a matter of time.

Within a few years, Mount Meru would still be Mount Meru.

But the shadow left by the Buddha Without Heaven might not disappear in a short time.