That's right.
The first reincarnation of Golden Cicada.
In fact, long before the beginning of the Journey to the West, Tang Xuanzang, who was a sutra seeker, had experienced ten reincarnations. Every generation was a monk, and every generation embarked on the path of sutra seeker. However, it was not until the tenth generation that Golden Cicada had accumulated enough luck. The time for the battle between Buddhism and Taoism had reached a certain level. With the protection of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and the others, Golden Cicada's path to the West became smooth.
In fact, every reincarnation of the Golden Cicada Master had died at the hands of the Sand Monk, who had been sent to the mortal world. Otherwise, the Sand Monk would not have said that he had killed a total of nine sutra seekers in the past few hundred years. Those nine sutra seekers were actually the Golden Cicada Master himself.
Of course, Ao Qing guessed that the reason why Golden Cicada succeeded in obtaining the sutra in his tenth reincarnation had something to do with Buddha and Guanyin paving the way for Golden Cicada. They had roped in all the immortals who went to the Heavenly Court along the way as their own.
Therefore, Ao Qing actually sympathized with Golden Cicada.
The reason for his sympathy was very simple. Whether he was willing or not, he was directly led to reincarnation. Not to mention that he had experienced ten reincarnations, it was not easy for him to finally obtain the sutra in the West and become a righteous Buddha. However, he was only the Buddha of Merit and Virtue, the last of the many Buddhas.
In the beginning, Golden Cicada was the eldest disciple of Gautama Buddha, the designated successor of Gautama Buddha.
Therefore, in this Journey to the West, on the surface, Golden Cicada had obtained the final result of his cultivation. However, in fact, he was not much different from being dismissed and demoted. He was similar to so many chess pieces who had failed in the internal strife.
Of course, after the Great Tribulation of Heavenless, Buddha ruled the Three Realms and was defeated by the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong, and the others. After regaining control of the Three Realms, Tang Xuanzang's Buddha position was only promoted by a few places. He was even inferior to Sun Wukong and became an ancient Buddha.
One could imagine that in the eyes of the Western monks and Buddhas, Golden Cicada was not that important at all. He was just a chess piece for the Buddhist dharma to the East.
The more he thought about it, the more Ao Qing grinned.
In his opinion, the more talented he was, the more important he should be. Since the Western Sect did not think that Jin Chanzi was important, he might as well take him in as his follower.
While Ao Qing was deep in thought, Jin Chanzi, who was in a daze, was still preaching and promoting the various doctrines of the Western Sect.
"Life is too bitter. Only by cultivating hard in this life and not creating any killing karma can you go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in your next life," the Golden Cicada said to an old man in his first life.
Who knew that when the old man heard this, he would say with disdain, "Hmph, work hard to cultivate in this life?
The cultivation you're referring to is abstaining from meat and reciting Buddhist scriptures, right?
What's the difference between that and hiding from the world? I think Little Brother shouldn't waste any more time. Join the Heavenly Dragon Divine Religion with me. The first doctrine of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Religion is that everyone is like a dragon, everyone can rely on themselves. Actively enter the world and change everything.
As for the afterlife?
Just continue to work hard in your next life! "
"Look at me, I joined the Western Sect before, but I didn't learn anything other than passive treatment from them. But once I joined the Heavenly Dragon Divine Religion, my life suddenly became clear. I know how to actively strive for everything. See, I started cultivating a few years ago. Although my realm is trash, my body is still very strong … If I were still in the Western Sect, I'm afraid I would've died long ago."
"Uh, sorry to disturb you …"
Jin Chanzi had prepared other excuses, but when he saw that the old man was even more talkative than him, he could not refute him. He turned and left, moving on to the next target.
But the pitiful thing was that no matter how many people Jin Chanzi replaced, none of them listened to his teachings. Instead, they used the Heavenly Dragon Divine Religion's doctrines to refute him …
In the end, Jin Chanzi only managed to recruit one follower of the Western Sect because that follower was a beggar. After joining the Western Sect, he could openly beg for alms and pray for food …
"Sigh, why won't people listen to me?" Jin Chanzi sighed helplessly as he leaned against a wall, his face weary.
Today's preaching was considered good. The Golden Cicada Master had persisted on such a day for several years.
To the Golden Cicada Master, being able to deliver all living beings from torment and let the people live a little better in this world filled with pain would give his life meaning and the value of his existence.
"The Western Sect's doctrines are wrong to begin with, so of course they won't listen to you," Ao Qing's voice rang out as Jin Chanzi revealed a defeated expression.
"Who is it?!" Jin Chanzi immediately went on alert and looked nervously at the newcomer.
When he saw the newcomer's face, Jin Chanzi's expression changed slightly. He hadn't expected to run into Ao Qing, the leader of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Religion.
Jin Chanzi subconsciously wanted to run away, but found that he couldn't break free with his strength. He could only stand there and let Ao Qing walk over slowly.
"What, what is wrong with the Western Sect's doctrines?!" Jin Chanzi asked the question that had been bothering him for the past few days.
"Let this Dao Ancestor ask you, in your heart, is the Western Sect a good medicine that can save all living beings and help all living beings escape the sea of suffering?!" Ao Qing suddenly asked.
Jin Chanzi was taken aback, then nodded heavily. "Of course it is." Jin Chanzi had bet his entire life in order to deliver all living beings from their misery.
"However, since it's such a good medicine, why do I see cowards who shrink back in the face of difficulties and seek self-preservation?
Pitiful people who don't work hard to cultivate and fight against fate, but instead hide from the world and let fate play with them?! "
"This is like someone killing your entire family. You should avenge them, but the Western Sect tells you that your entire family was killed in vain. Everything is fake. Everything is a test for you. You should cultivate the Western Sect's doctrines so that you can be reincarnated into a good body in your next life … Then, the cowardly you let the murderer get away with it. Instead, you shave your hair and become a monk, saying that everything has nothing to do with you …"
"Is this to deliver all living beings from their misery?"
Ao Qing asked calmly. Jin Chanzi was speechless. His eyes flickered with shock as he stood rooted to the ground like a block of wood.
He had been cultivating the Western Sect's doctrines all his life and had always thought that they were a good medicine to deliver all living beings from their misery. But now, as he listened … he felt that his worldview was collapsing and his worldview was crumbling …