96: Chapter 96: From Now On, There Is Only Ksitigarbha in the World 96: Chapter 96: From Now On, There Is Only Ksitigarbha in the World Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva thought for a moment before speaking, “I’ll take action.”

He was actually going to step forward to meet Maitreya Buddha.

However, Sun Wukong stopped him, saying indifferently, “No need, I’ll go myself.

Maitreya Buddha and the rest are really getting increasingly confident, daring to really attack us directly.”

His face was filled with a cold smile, carrying a thick intent to kill.

Sun Wukong left Huaguo Mountain and came to confront Maitreya Buddha.

At this moment, Maitreya Buddha’s face was full of murderous intent, devoid of any trace of a smile.

He stared at Sun Wukong and said coldly, “Sun Wukong, you finally dare to show up.

Today, I shall crush you into dust and ashes to avenge the Buddhist disciples who died at the hands of your sect.”

Sun Wukong coldly stared back at him, not uttering a word.

Seeing that he had no reaction, Maitreya Buddha furrowed his brow, suddenly feeling a bit apprehensive, and couldn’t help but glance around.

As a result, Maitreya Buddha didn’t discover anything amiss.

He let out a slight sigh of relief before his expression darkened, and he continued, “Sun Wukong, prepare to die.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he was about to take action.

Just then, Lu Dongbin and the others walked out from Huaguo Mountain.

Maitreya Buddha’s expression stiffened.

When he saw the last person, he felt an even greater shock in his heart.

“Ksitigarbha.”

Maitreya Buddha exclaimed in surprise.

He found it hard to believe.

Wasn’t Ksitigarbha slain by demons?

It didn’t take long for him to understand, Ksitigarbha, just like the Buddha, had feigned death.

His expression darkened as he said coldly, “Ksitigarbha, I didn’t expect you too had faked death to escape.

I’ve truly underestimated you.”

Ksitigarbha brought his hands together and said coldly, “Maitreya Buddha, the actions you are taking now, how are they the least bit like those of a Buddhist disciple?”

He was utterly disappointed with the Buddhist Sect as it was now, and with the Buddha in front of him.

Looking at the spiteful expression on Maitreya Buddha’s face, where was there any semblance of a Buddha?

Even demons did not possess such a strong killing intent as his.

“Haha.”

Maitreya Buddha laughed aloud, his face filled with disdain.

“Ksitigarbha, it’s not your place to lecture me.

You released Sun Wukong from the nineteenth level of hell and then faked your own death to escape.

You have already betrayed the Buddhist Sect, betrayed the Buddha.

Today, I will kill you as well, and purge the sect of a traitor like you.”

Ksitigarbha shook his head, gazing at Maitreya Buddha, and said deliberately, “Maitreya, you’ve succumbed to demonic influences.

Look clearly, do you think you can kill all of us on your own?”

Only then did Maitreya Buddha come to his senses.

A sudden realization struck him.

Just dealing with Sun Wukong alone, he didn’t have complete confidence that he could prevail.

Not to mention the addition of Ksitigarbha, who like Guanyin, had entered the ranks of top-tier powers as a Heavenly Venerate.

Lu Dongbin and He Xiangu were also among the top figures within the Celestial Immortals.

The weakest were probably Bai Yu and Fahai, but even they were already Celestial Immortals.

For Maitreya Buddha alone to overcome them was nothing but a fool’s dream.

Just being able to leave alive today would already be considered fortunate.

A sense of horror filled Maitreya Buddha’s heart, as he realized unwittingly, so many masters of the Three Realms had already gathered around Sun Wukong.

Without Sun Wukong saying a word, everyone surrounded Maitreya Buddha.

All of them had cold gazes, unsettling Maitreya Buddha.

“Ksitigarbha, do you really intend to betray the Buddhist Sect?

If you strike at me, you better think carefully about what the consequences will be,” said Maitreya Buddha harshly.

Then, his expression softened as he said, “If you help me take down Sun Wukong and the rest, I will confer upon you the title of Ksitigarbha Buddha, ranking you just below the three Buddhas of Mount Ling.”

The past, present, and future Buddhas of Mount Ling are Lamp-Burning, Tathagata, and Maitreya.

On Mount Ling, only three people hold a higher status than his, which is quite esteemed.

Even within the entire Buddhist Sect, he could be ranked within the top ten.

However, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva merely laughed.

He shook his head with a face full of disappointment and said, “Even Buddhas behave in such a way, preoccupied with seniority and hierarchy.

What meaning is there left when the Buddhist Sect still speaks of ‘all is void’?

Heh, I was somewhat hesitant before, but now I am even more resolute.

From this day forth, I break away from the Buddhist Sect.

I am still Ksitigarbha, but no longer a Bodhisattva.”

As he finished speaking, the kasaya on his body automatically fell off, replaced by clothes of blue.

From then on, there was only Ksitigarbha, without the title of Bodhisattva.

Everyone sighed inwardly, which clearly showed how disappointed Ksitigarbha was with the Buddhist Realm.

Fahai opened his mouth, also wanting to show off.

But he found that he was not a Bodhisattva, although his cultivation level was even higher than many junior Bodhisattvas.

Yet in the eyes of others, he was just a wild monk.

So the urge to show off was immediately stifled.

Maitreya Buddha laughed in rage, glaring at Ksitigarbha and shouted angrily, “Ha-ha, what a Ksitigarbha!

Today it is you who choose to leave the Buddhist Sect, not under coercion from anyone else.

Today, I will rid the Buddhist Sect of you, a traitor.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Sun Wukong and the others, and he loudly said, “This is an internal matter of the Buddhist Sect and has nothing to do with you all.

I hope you do not interfere.”

Sun Wukong and his companions had strange expressions on their faces.

This Maitreya Buddha was utterly shameless.

He clearly couldn’t defeat them united, yet used Ksitigarbha’s departure to prevent others from taking action, which was incredibly shameless.

Sun Wukong sneered and said, “Do you take us for fools or madmen, Maitreya?

Today, you dare to come to Huaguo Mountain, so don’t expect to leave unscathed.

Brothers, attack!”

He Xiangu gave Sun Wukong an annoyed look; she wasn’t any brother.

Nonetheless, she was the first to charge out.

The lotus in her hands shimmered with dazzling light, vast mana spilling from it as she went on the offensive against Maitreya Buddha.

Maitreya Buddha raised his hand and shattered that Dao Magic with a smack.

Before he could counterattack against He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin’s attack struck.

Pure Yang Sword Qi, blazing hot, filled with the righteous energy of heaven and earth, like the majesty of the heavens, beheaded him from above.

Maitreya Buddha did not fear.

His hand turned golden, wielding the power of his Golden Body, and he smacked his palm down.

Boom.

The Pure Yang Sword Qi was blocked, and his body shook lightly, showing it wasn’t as effortless as it seemed on the surface.

“Mighty Heavenly Dragon, Flying Dragon in the Sky.”

Fahai joined the battle as well.

A fierce and majestic Heavenly Dragon flew out from him, charging at Maitreya Buddha.

Before today, Fahai had never thought that he would raise a hand against a Buddha.

He was excited and tense, but above all thrilled.

“Such minor tricks, and you dare to show off in the artist’s own hall,” Maitreya Buddha hummed coldly, reached out to grab, and directly caught the Heavenly Dragon in his hand.

Fahai was stunned; he felt annoyed.

Was this guy stealing his lines?

Before he could react, Maitreya Buddha exerted force in his hand.

“Puff.”

The Heavenly Dragon was crushed.

Fahai shuddered, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

“The sea of suffering is boundless, yet turning back is the shore,” Ksitigarbha said with folded hands, shouting at Maitreya Buddha.

Maitreya Buddha almost lost himself, his mind began to haze, his eyes became confused, and he subconsciously began to kneel.