Chapter 990: See Maudgalyayana again

Li Qi gave many instructions, not just to Bailu, but also to the tens of millions of 'good people,' those who could restrain the demonic thoughtss in their hearts.

The World Honored One Tathagata had disappeared, Buddhism had been destroyed, and even the remaining Buddhist forces had mostly become scattered individuals, dispersed to various places, forming various small sects and Dao Orthodoxy.

And all Buddhist scriptures had become human Dao possessions.

Human Dao accepted almost all Buddhist scriptures and techniques, sending people to compile the Da Zhengzang to categorize this knowledge.

It was divided into twelve sections: Agama, Jataka, Prajnaparamita, Maharatnakuta, Nirvana, Mahasamnipata, Sutra Collection, Vinaya, Abhidharma, Various Schools, and Historical Biographies.

No single Buddhist branch could inherit so much of the Buddhist Dao Orthodoxy; it was no exaggeration to say that human Dao had completely devoured Buddhism.

In addition, the various Buddhist sects also split, even dividing into different Dao Orthodoxy, such as Zen, Huayan, Yogacara, Madhyamaka, Vinaya, Tiantai, Pure Land, and Esoteric Buddhism, all engaging in endless debates.

Zen Buddhism almost completely submitted to human Dao, while Esoteric Buddhism was not accepted by human Dao and retreated to outside the realms as a small Dao Orthodoxy, with other sects also facing their own consequences.

The remaining four Buddhas completely ignored this, seemingly pondering the questions left by the World Honored One Tathagata, while the great Bodhisattvas each made different choices.

The Buddhist disciples also had various fates: Sariputra followed the World Honored One into Nirvana, Kasyapa painstakingly organized the remaining manuscripts of the World Honored One Tathagata, and Ananda began recording the events before and after the Buddha's Nirvana.

Maudgalyāyana continued his path of demon eradication, while Rahula went mad after the Buddha's Nirvana, becoming a star that disturbed the heavens, and so on.

But no matter what, Buddhism, as one of the Nine Lands Under Heaven, had disappeared, so the Demonic Dao no longer had any shackles.

Li Qi wanted to become this shackle, existing as a second-rank 'demon enemy.'

So, he did just that.

After receiving the Golden Monkey's assurance and then establishing the Qi Palace, Li Qi's second goal was to visit the many great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism.

Buddhism had existing great Bodhisattvas who could be utilized.

Therefore, after arranging the many screened individuals in the Qi Palace, Li Qi decisively sought out Maudgalyāyana.

Maudgalyāyana was still a fourth-rank, but it seemed his Dao Heart was unhindered; the Buddha's Nirvana had become a valuable experience for him. Having endured such immense trauma, with both his Master and Senior Brother entering Nirvana, he had instead strengthened his resolve to save the world with Divine Ability.

In a 'City of Dreams' within the Void Realm.

The Demonic Dao had far more than one City of Dreams; the one in the Nine Lands Under Heaven wasn't even the largest.

The largest should be the Desire Realm, but now the Desire Realm was in Shamansan's hands.

The Desire Realm was a second-rank existence; it possessed copyright and was unique, so it truly couldn't be recreated. The Demonic Dao had indeed lost its largest 'City of Dreams.'

But they could create more.

Without the Buddhist encirclement, places like City of Dreams proliferated like mushrooms after rain throughout the Universe, and Maudgalyāyana was a diligent gardener, needing to destroy one every day before he could sleep.

Li Qi could now observe all unobscured parts of the entire Universe, so he easily found him.

“Maudgalyāyana.” Li Qi took a step and arrived beside Maudgalyāyana.

“Oh? Li Qi, it’s truly been a long time.” Maudgalyāyana put his palms together and performed a Buddhist salute to Li Qi.

Although there were no Buddhas left, the habit hadn't changed.

And, at the moment his palms came together, behind him, a planet split in half, its core flowing.

The small planet, tiny yet violent, its thin outer atmosphere, thin surface oceans, and trembling thin life zone, shattered at this moment, flickering and changing lights in the Universe, flashing and emitting rumbling sounds.

But there was no need to worry; the life within had long been moved away by great Divine Ability.

“It has been a long time, Maudgalyāyana. It seems you are not far from third-rank,” Li Qi said.

“It's still early, but… I've recently been helping Kasyapa organize the World Honored One's manuscripts. When they are completed, that should be when my Dao is complete. What about you, Li Qi? Now that you are a noble second-rank, you can't have come to me just for idle chat, can you?” Maudgalyāyana chuckled.

He looked at Li Qi, a strange light flickering in his eyes.

Maudgalyāyana was a clever man; he could guess some of Li Qi's thoughts.

“Indeed, I am here because I want to ask you to introduce me to the various great Bodhisattvas,” Li Qi said. “I think… eradicating demons requires the help of the former great Bodhisattvas.”

“The great Bodhisattvas were attendants to the Buddhas. Now that the Buddhas are in reclusion, they must have their own plans. I cannot guarantee they will agree to you, after all… eradicating demons, as it seems today, might not be so necessary anymore,” Maudgalyāyana sighed and said.

“If it’s not so necessary, then why do you still insist on eradicating demons?” Li Qi asked.

Maudgalyāyana smiled without answering.

There was truly no need to say more on this question.

“By the way, what about the people you saved?” Li Qi asked again. “Planets constructed like City of Dreams contain a large population. Where did you send them all? I saw just now that many people seemed to have died inside.” Li Qi observed the gradually collapsing planet behind them, feeling a bit curious.

He could actually directly observe what had happened in the past, but Li Qi would not easily do so.

Maudgalyāyana replied, “I gave them a way to leave, and that is ‘Mahayana.’”

The world is like an boundless sea of suffering; “Mahayana” refers to “carrying,” the method that can carry people across the sea of suffering is ‘Mahayana.’

Correspondingly, the method of only allowing oneself to cross the sea of suffering is called ‘Hinayana,’ and the method of allowing all sentient beings to cross the sea of suffering is called ‘Mahayana.’

Sentient beings do not need Bodhisattvas to ferry them; sentient beings ferry themselves.

Mahayana Buddhism, in essence, seeks… for all sentient beings to become Buddhas.

If all sentient beings are Buddhas, then why do they need others to ferry them?

Therefore, Maudgalyāyana did not save them with Divine Ability but instead gave them methods of self-salvation. As long as they acted, they could escape City of Dreams.

If they were unwilling to leave, unwilling to save themselves, then Maudgalyāyana would bury them along with City of Dreams.

Clearly, after the Buddha's Nirvana, Maudgalyāyana's methods became much more brutal, but also exceptionally satisfying.

Buddhas do not save people; sentient beings save themselves.

All methods have been given to you; if you are still unwilling to act, then saving you would be meaningless.

“However, in that case, you won’t become a good person; they won’t be grateful to you,” Li Qi said.

This sentence seemed to touch a nerve in Maudgalyāyana, making him suddenly stop smiling and say solemnly, “They have never been grateful.”

Then, he made a judgment: “Being grateful to an individual requires effort, while thanking ‘Buddha’ only requires moving one’s lips.”

“Besides, when one is powerless, stupidity becomes the last line of defense. Stupidity can prevent one from collapsing, which is also a kind of ‘primitive instinct.’ It is painful to remain awake at all times, and awakening ultimately requires courage.”

“Many people are unwilling to awaken, not because they are foolish, but because they are timid and unwilling to lower their defenses.”

“So, why bother to fret?” Maudgalyāyana said.

Hearing Maudgalyāyana’s words, Li Qi examined him carefully.

After the Buddha's Nirvana, this 'foremost in Divine Ability' had changed greatly.

Li Qi remained noncommittal about this idea, neither agreeing nor denying it, merely saying, “It’s good that you have no burden. So, what about the introduction?”

“Do you want to rebuild Buddhism?” Maudgalyāyana asked.

“Of course not, there’s no need for that. I just want to eradicate demons, at least to prevent the Demonic Dao from being so arrogant. This requires extremely powerful forces to support it. If possible, I hope to get help from the former Buddhist sect.”

“That’s a good thing. All right, I will introduce you, but it will take some time. I will contact the attendant Bodhisattvas of the Buddhas and try my best to get them all to come.” Maudgalyāyana nodded.

Li Qi didn't expect Maudgalyāyana to be so proactive, so he cupped his hands and said, “Then I’ll trouble you.”

Attendant Bodhisattvas, meaning the most supreme great Bodhisattvas.

The attendant Bodhisattvas of Medicine Master Buddha are Suryaprabha Bodhisattva and Candraprabha Bodhisattva.

The attendant Bodhisattvas of the World Honored One Tathagata are Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom, and Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Great Conduct.

And the attendant Bodhisattvas of Amitabha are Mahasthamaprapta, the Bodhisattva of Great Courage, and Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion.

Undoubtedly, these great Bodhisattvas were all top-tier second-rank, and if he could get their assistance, it would definitely allow Li Qi's plan to take a big step forward.

“I cannot guarantee it, but I will do my best,” Maudgalyāyana said, then disappeared from the spot, presumably to attend to the matter.

Li Qi watched him leave.

While waiting for news, he might as well start his own plan. He couldn't just sit idly by, right?

Li Qi began his actions, but another question also started to linger in his mind.

What was the actual situation regarding the relationship between human Dao and Dao of Reason, human Dao and current Buddhism, and human Dao and Dao Orthodoxy the Manifested Daoist Faction?

Especially human Dao and Dao of Reason.

Li Qi had already learned that Dao of Reason and Dao Orthodoxy intended to achieve their ultimate goal through human Dao.

That is to say, after human Dao replaced the heavens, human Dao would be created as the 'First Cause,' and then the question would be asked: how was the First Cause born?

The reason for the First Cause's birth was that it was created by Dao of Reason and Dao Orthodoxy the Manifested Daoist Faction.

So, who created Dao of Reason and Dao Orthodoxy?

Of course, it was the First Cause, which is human Dao, that created them.

It was as if… mythology had become reality.

When the world was first born, humans wrote the first myths.

Humans, in the process of myth-making, created gods.

Then, when the myths became true, in the mythological legends, gods created humans.

So, gods created humans, but humans also created gods.

Then did humans create gods, or did gods create humans?

Did Dao of Reason and the Manifested Daoist Faction create human Dao after it replaced the heavens, or did human Dao create Dao of Reason, and then they created themselves?

They are causes and effects of each other, mutually becoming the reason for each other's existence, thus mutually determining each other's existence.

Perhaps… Li Qi’s current structure could also explain it?

For example, Li Qi's current state is actually very contradictory.

If one simply understands Li Qi at this moment by splitting him into a 'group' composed of many individuals, then perhaps Li Qi's state can be briefly understood.

However, this dichotomy is too simplistic and distorts the 'truth.'

There are clearly many contradictions in Li Qi. Using 'categories' to separate the composition of Li Qi's many fragments to explain these contradictions, while easy to understand, is wrong.

Because, for Li Qi, at every moment of his current life, in every action, every feeling, it is impossible to determine what proportion each fragment occupies, or what proportion reason and emotion occupy.

If one tries to separate his fragments, one will immediately fall into a predicament, because he cannot be interpreted so simply. His composition is extraordinarily complex, and to simply divide him into fragments and main body is an incredibly foolish act.

Li Qi's essence is far from being composed of only two factors, but hundreds of millions, even billions of factors. His life swings between hundreds of billions of pairs, between countless extremes.

If Li Qi can achieve this mystical state, then it is not impossible for human Dao to perform such an operation.

The reason is simple: Li Qi's state is a chaotic mathematical pool that cannot be understood by logical thinking.

Different solutions arise due to undecidable assumptions, because no logical System can contain enough concise arithmetic axioms to be complete, so statements that can neither be proven nor disproven can always be derived from axioms. This is Li Qi's current state.

Due to the inherent incompleteness of logic, Li Qi can construct many completely different logical Systems. His main body is no longer a metaphysical existence, but a huge and ever-increasing collection of contradictory logic.

If contradictions can exist in Li Qi, in the Universe, in Taiyi, then there is no reason why they cannot exist in human Dao.

After all… the law of non-contradiction is a limitation of the internal structure of the human brain, not an unbreakable iron rule.

One can imagine those optical illusion diagrams, where the human brain's visual System finds them valid, while the thinking System finds them invalid.

As shown in the figure, a staircase that is both climbing up and going down.

If one's capacity is sufficient, this does not seem to be an unachievable feat.

But those are all matters for later.

Li Qi's thoughts on human Dao stopped there.

He should still consider the matters of the Demonic Dao; human Dao is no longer the primary enemy.

To be precise, Li Qi doesn't even have much of a Dao dispute with human Dao.

Currently, Li Qi is closer to the 'Heavenly God' side, and his relationship with Shaman Dao is also quite subtle.

After all, Li Qi denied the supreme status of the 'Ultimate Dao,' denying the existence of something above all things, which also means… Li Qi was unwilling to acknowledge the existence of 'natural' as an ultimate great power.

However, Li Qi still acknowledged the existence of natural, just no longer accepted that natural could control everything, so he was still considered a branch of the Shaman.

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Just after Li Qi left, an operation targeting the Demonic Dao began in the Universe.