Journey to the West: Man in heaven, working nine to five

#1515 - Tang Sanzang: I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty

When Tang Sanzang and his companions set foot in this Avici Hell, they were also frightened by the terrifying scene.

All that could be heard within this Avici Hell was the howling of fierce winds, the thick, dismal fog, cries of sorrow echoing everywhere, and blood splattered all around!

This Avici Hell lacked the order and vitality of the Underworld; instead, it was a horrifying scene of constant screams and paths paved with blood.

Years ago, King Tang had visited the real Underworld and witnessed many things, which he made public knowledge, and Tang Sanzang had heard about them.

However, the Underworld that King Tang described was an orderly and well-regulated place, even with some rather enjoyable entertainment, such as Guanyin Bodhisattva performing the Pure Land dance…

Of course, besides that, at Chu Hao's request back then, the entire Underworld underwent a major urban cleanup, purifying the streets and filling them with flowers, making the ghosts feel refreshed.

Yet, what Tang Sanzang saw at this moment was a place covered in blood and filled with mournful cries.

"Is this the Underworld?" Tang Sanzang looked around, a hint of doubt in his expression.

Guanyin Bodhisattva glanced at him with disdain.

"This place is Avici Hell, the hell where the Western Paradise punishes insincere souls; it is not the Underworld controlled by the Heavenly Court."

"In my Avici Hell, suffering is continuous, without a moment's rest, eternal suffering, hence the name Avici Hell. All those who disrespect Heaven and Buddha will suffer the torments of Avici Hell."

"Tang Sanzang, if you dare to disrespect Heaven and Buddha in the future, you will also descend into hell after death! Don't be like your Sun Wukong, courting your own doom!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva deliberately mentioned Sun Wukong to flaunt the Western Paradise's complete victory.

However, upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was filled with murderous intent, for it was this hell that was currently imprisoning his eldest disciple, Sun Wukong!

Sun Wukong was suffering endless torment in this Avici Hell because of him!

Seeing Tang Sanzang so enraged, Zhu Bajie quickly stepped forward to hold him back, fearing that Tang Sanzang would lose control here.

"Master, please bear with it for now, for the sake of Senior Brother…"

Sha Wujing also grabbed Tang Sanzang's hand, "Master, please don't be impulsive; Senior Brother is still here."

Tang Sanzang's expression changed drastically, demonic energy surging in his eyes, but in the end, he took a deep breath and calmed down.

To allow Sun Wukong to escape this hell, Tang Sanzang had even pointed at a deer and called it a horse in the Heavenly Court, so he didn't care about this little bit of anger.

Meanwhile, the Six-Eared Macaque was still smiling obsequiously.

"With this Avici Hell to punish evildoers, I believe there will be no more nonsense and slanderers of Buddha in the world. Amitabha, well done, well done. Avici Hell is truly a blessing for the world!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva laughed loudly, "Let's go, let's continue to look at this hell. As long as you hold reverence in your hearts, do not slander Buddha, and respect the Buddhist Dharma, you will naturally not enter this Avici Hell."

Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Six-Eared Macaque walked ahead, full of triumph and the composure of victors.

As for Tang Sanzang and his two disciples, they endured again and again, barely managing to calm themselves down.

"Let's go; I want to see what this Avici Hell is really like," Tang Sanzang said in a low voice, his eyes filled with icy intent.

"Senior Brother is suffering here; we… hmm… I understand!" Zhu Bajie suddenly glanced at Tang Sanzang, seeming to instantly understand something.

Zhu Bajie is actually very clever; in fact, he should be the most intelligent pig in this entire Journey to the West team.

He had followed Chu Hao and done many things with him.

At this moment, Zhu Bajie already understood many things, but it was just a guess, so he didn't say much.

The Western Paradise's operation of bringing Tang Sanzang and others to Avici Hell to identify the authenticity of the Six-Eared Macaque was not surprising.

Back then, the Western Paradise had also brought King Tang directly into the Underworld, but at that time, it was the Underworld under the Heavenly Court, because the dignified King Tang was not qualified to be brought to Avici Hell by the Western Paradise.

The Underworld and Avici Hell did not have any extradition clauses.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang and his companions, under the leadership of Guanyin Bodhisattva, witnessed every inch of terror in Avici Hell.

Although Avici Hell also imitated the Underworld by setting up the Ten Halls of Yama, they were all just for show, because this place was just a series of private torture hells, with no need for so many Yamas and Fengdu Emperors.

Moreover, from where Tang Sanzang stood, he could see a distant, downward-spreading realm, like an abyss.

Tang Sanzang leaned over and saw the tip of the iceberg of the Western Paradise's Avici Hell.

The Eighteen Levels of Hell descended in order, although the depths differed, one could still see the terrifying scenes in each hell.

The Eighteen Levels of Hell are: Hell of Tongue-Ripping, Hell of Scissors, Hell of Iron Trees, Hell of the Mirror of Retribution, Hell of the Steaming Cage, Hell of the Copper Pillar, Hell of the Mountain of Knives, Hell of the Ice Mountain, Hell of the Oil Cauldron…

Tang Sanzang was familiar with this hell, having read Buddhist scriptures, so he had heard of it and knew that it contained countless wandering souls.

Moreover, each level of hell was arranged according to the length of suffering and the severity of the crime. Each hell was twenty times more painful and doubled in lifespan compared to the previous hell.

This was originally a torture hell directly imitated from the Underworld by the Western Paradise, but the Western Paradise was particularly good at torturing people, so these Eighteen Levels of Hell were built to surpass the original!

After all, there was no distinction between truth and falsehood, no recognition of right and wrong; the only criterion for judgment in Avici Hell was loyalty to the Western Paradise.

Even the most heinous and evil person, as long as they were loyal to the Western Paradise, could naturally lay down their butcher knife and become a Buddha on the spot.

Conversely, anyone who slandered Buddha, even if they had saved tens of thousands of lives in their lifetime, would suffer endless torture here for countless eons.

Tang Sanzang walked through Avici Hell, and the scenes he saw made him tremble with fear:

Each level of hell was cruel and terrifying, with endless wailing.

Tang Sanzang gnashed his teeth and said angrily:

"The Buddha is compassionate, and all beings are equal. In the Buddhist Dharma, we always talk about treating life with kindness! Strictly observe the precepts and vow not to kill!"

Why create such a hell and torture so many people! And use such cruel punishments! Why treat them like this!?

However, Guanyin Bodhisattva said lightly:

"My Buddha is naturally compassionate, but if one slanders the Buddhist Dharma or the Three Jewels, they will surely fall into hell. Well, disrespecting Heaven and Buddha deserves such a fate."

Tang Sanzang stood there, his eyes flashing with shock and anger.

Tang Sanzang's Buddhist Dharma has always been advanced Buddhist Dharma, the truth of the twenty-four characters. Seeing such cruel punishments, he only felt unbearable pain in his heart.

After a long time, Tang Sanzang raised his head and suddenly recited, "If hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha. Only by saving all sentient beings can I attain Bodhi!"