Only at the Mahayana Stage Does the Reversal System Appear - Chapter 370

Chapter 370 Two Big Liars

“Let’s see how much you can fool   people. What’s the difference between the inside and the outside of the cabin

?” “I’m not as good as you, and you’ve filled the cabin with lies.” The two communicated telepathically, each   believing the other was deceiving. Xiangxiang Bodhisattva didn’t object to Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu’s approach. If Yuan Wuxing was taking a different approach, then these two were simply stepping outside the box, looking at things from a completely different perspective.   Buddhism advocates this way of thinking.   Although Xiangxiang Bodhisattva was so deceived by Jiang Li that he wanted to curse,   ”Would you two like to join our Buddhist sect?”   Xiangxiang Bodhisattva felt that these two Spiritual Transformation cultivators possessed wisdom and Buddha nature. If they could enter Buddhism, they could at least become Bodhisattvas and Arhats.   Both had transformed their appearances and concealed their cultivation, appearing to outsiders to be just two ordinary Spiritual Transformation cultivators.   Jiang Li waved his hand, “Forget it.”   Before he became the Human Emperor, Xumi Buddha recognized Jiang Li’s profound Buddha nature and repeatedly invited him to join the Buddhist sect, considering him the next Buddha.   However, Jiang Li politely declined, much to Xumi Buddha’s regret.   ”I want to give it a try,” Bai Hongtu eagerly awaited. He’d long since grown weary of being the leader of the Daoist sect and felt it was time for a change of pace, to showcase his talents in the Buddhist sect.   Jiang Li, fearing that the Immortal Changcun would break Bai Hongtu’s legs, pulled him aside and refused on his behalf.   ”This man   has evil intentions and might disturb the Buddhist order’s peace. Forget it,” said Fragrant Elephant Bodhisattva, unimpressed. She doubted Bai Hongtu had the ability to disrupt the Buddhist order, but seeing Jiang Li’s determination, she gave up.   The first test yielded the Diamond Sutra to many, but they remained steadfast, believing they might be able to demonstrate their abilities in the second stage and attract the lineage’s interest.   Fragrant Elephant Bodhisattva scattered bodhi leaves, and the group returned to a separate, smaller space.   They found themselves cultivating in the woods, with an eagle demon chasing a pigeon in the sky. The pigeon, cornered, spotted the monk and flew into his sleeve, hoping to escape.   ”Now begins the second test. Protect the pigeon from being eaten by the eagle demon.”   …   A cultivator, noting the eagle demon’s low level of cultivation, scoffed.   ”How dare a Foundation Establishment stage   eagle demon be so arrogant?” He then attempted to kill the eagle demon to protect the pigeon.   A copy of the Avatamsaka Sutra appeared in his hand, saving the eagle demon.   Seeing the cultivator’s confusion, Fragrant Elephant Bodhisattva intervened, explaining, “Killing a soul to save one is contrary to Buddhist ideals.”   Both the eagle demon and the pigeon were creatures nurtured by Buddhism, not imaginary beings.   …   Yuan Wuxing protected the pigeon, but he also knew he couldn’t harm the eagle demon.   ”Heaven is merciful. Why can’t you let this pigeon go?”   the eagle demon retorted. “If I release this pigeon, it will live, but I will starve to death. Does Heaven only favor the pigeon and not me?”   Yuan Wuxing gritted his teeth and said, “I’m willing to trade an equal weight of flesh for the pigeon’s life.”   ”That’s fine.” The eagle demon produced a scale, placed the pigeon on the other side, and signaled Yuan Wuxing to begin cutting the flesh.   Yuan Wuxing took out a knife and slowly cut.   For unknown reasons, Yuan Wuxing, even at the Spiritual Transformation stage, could not shut out the pain. He endured the agony of the knife and cut an equal amount of flesh for the eagle demon.   Furthermore, his wounds could not heal.   The scale continued to tilt towards the pigeon. The eagle demon said expressionlessly, “You didn’t cut enough flesh.”   Yuan Wuxing had no choice but to continue cutting, enduring the pain. He kept cutting, but found the scale always tilted towards the pigeon.   Yuan Wuxing understood that Buddhism advocates equality for all beings. Exchanging a portion of his flesh for the life of a pigeon was clearly unequal. Only by sacrificing his own life could the balance be balanced.   Yuan Wuxing apologized, “I can’t sacrifice my life for the pigeon’s. I’m giving up this trial.”   But Yuan Wuxing waited for a long time, but the secret realm offered him no consolation prize.   The eagle demon smiled and explained, “Although you didn’t sacrifice your life, your ability to comprehend the mysteries of this realm is truly remarkable.”   The eagle demon brought Yuan Wuxing back to the secret realm of all living beings, where his wounds healed rapidly.   …   ”How dare you steal my food!” Bai Hongtu kicked the eagle demon away, sending it reeling and dazed. Even   after regaining its balance, the eagle demon’s head spun, its mind still spinning. It refused to let itself recover and charged at Bai Hongtu.   ”What are you doing?” the eagle demon stared at Bai Hongtu in horror. He had actually built a fire and started roasting pigeons. Was there any humanity left?   ”Of course I’m eating the pigeons. If not the pigeons, would I eat you?” Bai Hongtu replied matter-of-factly.   The eagle demon couldn’t understand Bai Hongtu’s logic. Didn’t he want to pass the test?   Both the pigeon and the eagle demon were raised by the Buddhist sect. They were close brothers, and the eagle demon couldn’t bear to see his friend being eaten.   ”Then eat me!” the eagle demon said fiercely.   Bai Hongtu thought for a moment and said, “Fine, but I won’t eat all of it. I’ll eat as much of your flesh as the pigeon has.”   The eagle demon took out a scale and took the initiative to cut his flesh, grimacing in pain.   Bai Hongtu remained expressionless, saying, “Not enough. The scale still tips in favor of the pigeon   .” The eagle demon endured the pain and cut his flesh repeatedly, while Bai Hongtu continued to remind him, “Not enough.”   Finally, the eagle demon had to jump onto the scale itself, finally balancing it.   Seeing the eagle demon’s fearless attitude, Bai Hongtu smiled and said comfortingly, “How could I really eat you? It’s rare that you can understand the equality of all beings. Go now.” The   eagle demon thanked Bai Hongtu, but halfway through, it suddenly wondered if its and Bai Hongtu’s positions had been reversed.   …

“Why do you want to eat pigeons? Can’t you just not eat them?” Jiang Li asked the eagle demon curiously.

The eagle demon, annoyed by Jiang Li’s questions, pulled out a scale and said, “If I don’t eat it, I’ll eat you. You choose.”

Jiang Li thought for a moment and continued, “If you eat me, will you guarantee you won’t eat pigeons?”

“Of course I can.”

“How can you guarantee that? You’re such a murderous eagle demon. You insist on eating meat. I don’t believe you.”

“I can guarantee it.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I swear.”

“I won’t believe you even if you swear.”

The eagle demon was helpless: “Then what do you say?”

“Here’s how, write a letter of guarantee saying you’ll never eat pigeons again, and I’ll believe you.”

Jiang Li took out a pen and paper, wrote the letter, and had the eagle demon press his claws.

The eagle demon didn’t want to deal with Jiang Li’s sticky candy anymore, and wanted to quickly press his claws to end the test.

“I’ve pressed it. Can I eat you now?”

Jiang Li put the letter of guarantee away. “Of course not. I want to live.”

“Then I’ll eat the pigeon!” the eagle demon threatened. Did this guy still want to pass the test?

Jiang Li showed the letter of guarantee: “You promised not to eat pigeons again.”

The eagle demon glared: “That’s only if I eat you!”

“That’s not written in the letter of guarantee.”

The eagle demon then realized he had been deceived.

…

Fragrant Elephant Bodhisattva folded his hands and said with relief: “Thank goodness I didn’t let these two people into my Buddhist sect.”

(End of this chapter)