Su Qing although didn't know much about Buddhism.
But she was very clear about Maitreya's status within Buddhism...
So it wasn't surprising that Su Qing was shocked; it was simply because the identity of the person who had come was far too extraordinary.
At the same time, Su Qing couldn't help but wonder about the identities of the other two.
Since they traveled with Maitreya, their identities were clearly not simple either.
At most, they could be the remaining two of the Three Buddhas.
And at least... they were definitely existences she couldn't afford to provoke.
However, as shocked as Su Qing was, she quickly adjusted her emotions.
After a brief thought, Su Qing handed the Cold Fragrance Sword to Maitreya.
"Leng Xiang, wait for me outside," Su Qing said to Leng Xiang.
Leng Xiang also signaled her agreement; she understood the situation well.
The opponent was Maitreya, even if her master was unwilling to send her out, there was nothing she could do.
After Maitreya took the Cold Fragrance Sword from Su Qing's hand, he directly sent her out of this space.
Just like being pulled in earlier, Leng Xiang only felt a blur before her eyes, and she was already back in her original position.
She turned her head to look around and found that the surroundings were the same as when she had left.
And Leng Xiang likewise could not sense the existence of that space...
Clearly, with her current realm, she was unable to perceive it.
Helplessly, Leng Xiang could only sit back in her original spot and wait for Su Qing to emerge.
Leng Xiang departed.
Now, by the lotus pond, naturally only the three seniors and Su Qing remained.
The old monk looked at Su Qing's current performance and couldn't help but nod slightly.
For Su Qing to maintain such composure was truly rare... especially after knowing the fat monk was Maitreya, a junior who could still remain calm was extremely uncommon.
It wasn't that they were boasting; it was simply the truth.
Su Qing didn't know what these seniors were thinking.
She just looked at Maitreya and couldn't help but ask:
"Since this senior is Senior Maitreya, then the other two seniors are..."
The old monk smiled faintly upon hearing this, chanted a Buddhist name, and said:
"The world calls me Randeng... Little friend may also call me Randeng."
Hearing this, although Su Qing was somewhat surprised, it was indeed within her expectations.
As for the remaining monk, even if he didn't introduce himself, Su Qing could guess his identity.
It was almost one hundred percent Sakyamuni, the Rulai.
"Little friend may call me Sakyamuni, or Rulai; little friend may choose as you please," Rulai said with a slight shake of his head, speaking casually.
After the Three Buddhas informed Su Qing of their identities, they chanted a Buddhist name together.
In an instant, Su Qing, standing not far from the Three Buddhas, seemed to see three golden giant Buddhas that blotted out the sky.
Truly so holy, so majestic.
Before those mountain-like Buddha statues, she felt incomparably tiny.
It made one feel a heartfelt sense of reverence.
"..." Su Qing looked at the Buddha statues, speechless for a moment.
She couldn't help but ask:
"Seniors, this junior has one thing I do not understand. Your three identities are lofty and noble; why did you specifically invite an obscure little demon like me?"
Randeng, Rulai, Maitreya—these three were truly extraordinary, their statuses within Buddhism were incomparably noble and lofty.
One was the teacher of the Buddha, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Randeng Ancient Buddha.
One was the current head of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Rulai, Sakyamuni.
And that Maitreya was also the Future Buddha who would eventually succeed Rulai.
Even if Su Qing didn't understand Buddhism, she knew their nobility; their status and power could well be imagined...
So, how could she not be confused? Just how much capability did she have to make three seniors come together to see her?
It couldn't possibly be just to simply see a junior, right?
If that were truly the case, then she, as a junior, was certainly being held in high regard.
Maitreya couldn't help but laugh heartily upon hearing this, saying:
"Identity is just an identity. Stripping away that layer of identity, we are but one of the many living beings. Just a few old things, a few old men; where does 'lofty' come from?"
Su Qing was speechless... It was fine for the senior to say such things himself.
It was better for her not to respond...
She had suffered plenty of such losses in her previous life.
Su Qing remained silent, only looking at Maitreya with doubt.
Maitreya smiled and continued:
"Inviting little friend over this time is simply because there are a few matters that require little friend's help, and these few matters, only little friend can help with."
"Among them, a few are small matters, and one is a major matter."
"Little friend, do not be anxious; let us speak of them one by one."
Hearing this, the corner of Su Qing's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
She felt that the "small matters" in Maitreya's mouth were probably not truly small matters.
Or rather, they were only small matters to them...
As for whether they were small matters to her... that was a bit hard to say.
However, Su Qing couldn't exactly just run away, so she could only form a Daoist seal and say:
"Seniors, please just speak. If this junior can help, I will certainly do my best."
Su Qing didn't dare to speak too boldly; she had to leave herself some room... to avoid leaving herself no way out.
The Three Buddhas also chuckled upon hearing this, feeling that Su Qing's words were truly cautious.
But the Three Buddhas saw through it without pointing it out, simply chanting a Buddhist name and continuing: "The first matter among them concerns little friend's cultivation..."
Maitreya said with a smile:
"I see that little friend has a very deep Buddhist affinity... You will surely achieve something in the future. So if little friend is willing, you may join my Buddhist sect. At that time, the three of us will jointly teach you the Dharma and help you achieve the True Fruit. How about it?"
Hearing this, Su Qing was stunned...
This time she was truly stunned for a good while.
She had never expected that the first matter would actually be an invitation to join the Buddhist order...
It truly matched what the Old Mother had said.
Of course, what she found even more unexpected was... that the three seniors were actually willing to personally teach her, teaching her the Dharma, cultivation...
The status and identity of these three were naturally self-evident.
To receive personal instruction from these three was a good thing for any demon, and an even more incomparably rare occurrence.
If it were any other demon hearing these words, they would probably already be bowing in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and following along eagerly.
But Su Qing was different; she was not a demon without a cultivation method or a good master...
So she didn't feel that joining the Buddhist sect was a good thing for her.
It might even be that the disadvantages outweighed the advantages!
Moreover, Su Qing also felt that she couldn't stand the rules of the Buddhist sect.
The Buddhist precepts and regulations were numerous, not something a little demon who liked to be free and easy like her could endure.
After a long time, Su Qing shook her head and said:
"I am truly sorry, but this junior has no intention of joining the Buddhist sect... Compared to joining the Buddhist sect, I prefer to be free and easy. Furthermore, this junior also has a master, so I am truly sorry, but I cannot join the Buddhist sect."
Su Qing didn't say more, simply rejecting the seniors.
The three great Buddhas were not annoyed upon hearing this, only nodding slightly, their smiles remaining.
That Su Qing would not join the Buddhist sect was something the three had already anticipated.
This inquiry was simply a casual question; they didn't expect her to actually join.
After all, she was Bodhi's disciple... and had a very deep connection with the East.
Although Su Qing's temperament was indeed suitable for the Buddhist sect, and her talent was indeed extremely high... they indeed appreciated and liked her.
But they also knew very well that even if Su Qing were willing to join the Buddhist sect, that group of people from the East would never let go of this child and allow her to join.
"No matter, no matter. Whether or not you join our Buddhist sect is entirely up to little friend's own will. If one day you have such a desire, you are welcome to enter my Spirit Mountain at any time."
Rulai chanted a Buddhist name and chuckled:
"The gates of the Great Thunder Monastery on Spirit Mountain are always open for little friend."
Seeing that the seniors were so easy to talk to, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She was truly afraid that after she refused, the seniors would directly give her a golden hoop.
And then force her to join the Buddhist sect like they did with Red Boy...
Fortunately, it was all her overthinking.
The seniors were all quite easy to talk to.
Actually, thinking about it, she hadn't done anything evil or caused trouble...
They didn't need to use that kind of method to deal with her.
"Since little friend is unwilling to join the Buddhist sect, then let us speak of other matters," Randeng said with a smile. "Does little friend know of future events?"
Hearing this, Su Qing naturally shook her head and said:
"How could I know of future events? The future is unpredictable; how could a mere minor cultivator like me guess it?"
"Little friend has misunderstood; let me put it another way!" Randeng shook his head and said, "Would little friend be willing to perform in a play with us old things?"
Hearing this, Su Qing was stunned for a moment...
For a while, she couldn't figure out what Randeng was saying.
How did changing the wording turn it into a completely different matter?
After thinking for a moment, Su Qing suddenly had an epiphany and couldn't help but guess: "Could this be saying they want me to be a tribulation on the Journey to the West?"
After all, when speaking of future events and "performing in a play"... what Su Qing could think of was the Journey to the West.
"Could senior tell this junior exactly what kind of play it is?" Su Qing wasn't sure and prepared to ask first.
"Naturally, it is a good play... However, the specific content of the play is not yet convenient to tell little friend. When the time is right, little friend will naturally know," Randeng said with a smile.
Su Qing: "..."
Su Qing felt helpless in her heart; what was this...
According to this explanation, Su Qing could basically be certain.
What Randeng was talking about was the Journey to the West, and she would inevitably have to perform in a tribulation.
It was just that in this way, it was a bit of a headache.
Should she just not agree?
"Haha, little friend, rest assured, this play will not have little friend play a villain," Maitreya saw the hesitation in Su Qing's heart and spoke again.
Su Qing sighed in her heart; she had already refused to join the Buddhist sect... if she didn't agree to this, it would be a bit inappropriate.
Moreover, Maitreya had said it wasn't playing a villain.
It was also a way of telling Su Qing that this wasn't making her one of the trials among the eighty-one tribulations, but rather someone responsible for solving problems...
So it was fine to agree.
Anyway, as long as it wasn't making her go and get beaten.
She couldn't afford to lose that face...
"Then this junior accepts... When the time comes, I will do my best to accompany seniors in finishing that play," Su Qing nodded and said.
Seeing this, the Three Buddhas also nodded and then smiled.
But soon, the Three Buddhas also put away their smiles, showing serious expressions, and said:
"Next, there is one most important matter! It is also the main reason we invited you here."
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