Chapter 233 - 222: Enlightened One and True Person Gather Together
It is said that Yin Xi and Xuandu Grand Master, upon receiving the decree from Laozi, established a Taoist temple on Louguan Mountain in the Guanlong region of the Southern Toad Continent.
Soon, they commanded the Great Strength Demon God to construct the temple, which was indeed built magnificently. Around it, they laid out formations, and on a small mountain next to a side peak, they built another temple for mortals to worship, while the grand temple was used to propagate the Way of the Dao and welcome those of the Immortal Path.
The grand temple was built too grandly and domineeringly. If the emperors of the mortal world were to see it, they might feel discontent, hence it needed to be concealed by formations to avoid destruction by the human path.
Laozi had already chosen an auspicious day, and invitations were sent to the hands of all Daoist True Men. Today, he had the child send out many invitations to Mount Meru, requesting all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to come and observe the ceremony.
The founding of Louguan Sect was openly led by Yin Xi, while secretly it was Xuandu Grand Master. It was clear to the discerning that Laozi was ready to contend with Buddhism. Otherwise, he would not have made such a grand display in founding Louguan Sect, nor would he have sent invitations to the West. It was obviously to demonstrate the divine skills of the Daoist path and to earnestly compete with Buddhism.
It seems that Laozi could no longer hold back, feeling that Buddhism was truly bothersome, and a confrontation was necessary. Of course, this confrontation had to be of a high standard and within control of both parties, so he used the founding of the sect as an opportunity to issue a challenge. Laozi’s establishment of the sect served a dual purpose: it allowed a comparison with Buddhism and also secured a strategically advantageous location in the Southern Toad Continent for the future development of the Daoist path.
Laozi’s great wisdom was not something everyone could comprehend; otherwise, he would not be the author of the "Tao Te Ching."
Yin Xi said, "In three days, my Louguan Sect will hold the founding ceremony, when masters from the Four Seas will come, and all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from the West will also attend to observe."
Xuandu Grand Master nodded slightly and said, "Of course, we cannot let down the prestige of our Daoist path, which has been transmitted since the creation of heaven and earth. How can we let the Buddhists, this upstart group, overpower us? After three days, we will surely teach Tathagata a lesson he will not forget, and no Buddha from the West will be pleased."