Outside the grand gates, Guanyin Bodhisattva, dressed in a white robe, walked in from the outside and stepped into the resplendent Divine Palace, her slender figure appearing especially tiny in the spacious hall.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva, what brings you here?" The majestic Heavenly Sound echoed through the Divine Palace. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novｅlfire.net
Guanyin Bodhisattva came to a halt at her feet, looked up at the authoritative Great Emperor seated in the principal seat, and felt a pang of nostalgia for the past when he was just an Outer Disciple. Could it be that he now possessed such majesty?
Guanyin Bodhisattva clasped her hands together, bowed respectfully, and said, "The Buddha has issued a Dharma Decree. The 500-year term in the Earth Immortal Realm has come to an end, and Sun Wukong is to go to Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures. Please, Emperor, allow Sun Wukong to leave the mountain."
Bai Jin’s expression flickered slightly, feeling a surge of emotion. Five hundred years had passed, and the day had finally arrived.
Bai Jin spoke with authority, "I am already aware. When Golden Cicada arrives at Lianhua Mountain, it will be the time for Sun Wukong to escape his binds."
"Thank you, Emperor!"
Guanyin hesitated before speaking, "There is another matter I wish to consult the Emperor on!"
"The Emperor has recently launched a Magic Treasure called the Three Realms Mall, which has now covered the Southern Nan Zhanbu Continent and the Eastern East Victory Divine Continent and is gaining a formidable influence across the Primordial World that has astonished all gods."
Bai Jin laughed heartily and said, "It is merely an Acquired Spiritual Treasure. Could it be that Buddhism too has taken an interest in the Three Realms Mall and wishes to introduce it? I wouldn’t mind the Three Realms Mall benefiting the Western Continent."
Guanyin Bodhisattva respectfully said, "Whether to introduce the Three Realms Mall is for the Buddha to decide with a single word, it is beyond my authority.
In the Magic Treasure leasing section of the Three Realms Mall, I saw the Suet Jade Flask that I once lost. Could the Great Emperor please explain this?"
Bai Jin laughed and said, "Let’s not mention that the Suet Jade Flask wasn’t snatched from you by me. It was obtained by the Jie Sect Master after he vanquished the Lord of Gods and Demons.
Even if I had snatched it from you, what then? This Spiritual Treasure belongs to the Chan Sect, and now that you are no longer the Ci Hang Daoist of the Chan Sect but the Buddhism’s Guanyin Bodhisattva, what right do you have to demand a Chan Sect’s Treasure from me?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva spoke calmly, "Leaving the Chan Sect was not of my own volition, all I seek is the Tao."
Bai Jin leaned forward, a formidable aura emanating from his body like a divine might descending, stifling this expanse of heaven and Earth.
Guanyin Bodhisattva’s complexion instantly changed, unable to resist taking a step back. This Bai Jin had grown stronger; just his aura alone suppressed her, and in a direct confrontation, she was bound to be defeated without a doubt.
Bai Jin scoffed coldly, "Seeking the Tao? Within the Mysterious Sect, are none of the Three Thousand Great Dao what you need?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva clasped her hands together, bowed her head and chanted, "Namo Amitabha Buddha, what this humble monk seeks is to universally ferry the masses."
"The path of compassion, too, is one of the Three Thousand Great Dao.
Well! I will not argue with you. I will not return the Suet Jade Flask to you, but if you wish to lease it, as your fellow disciple, I will not be cruel—just pay the required fee."
Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed with resignation and said, "I understand. Thank you, fellow disciple!"
"Take care, no need to see you out!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva turned and walked outside, and after stepping out of the Bird’s Nest, her figure disappeared amidst a burst of Buddha Light.
Gu Liang came out from a nearby orchard, her clothing’s small pockets filled to the brim, still munching on a Big Apple.
Bai Jin walked out from the Divine Palace and asked, "Gu Liang, have you heard of the Jing River Dragon King?"
Gu Liang nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, I’ve heard! It’s said that he violated the Heavenly Rules and was beheaded at the Dragon Beheading Platform!"
Bai Jin murmured softly, "Has it really already begun?"
"Fellow disciple, what has started?"
"You go fetch Shi Ji, no, rather fetch Yang Jian!"
"Alright!" Gu Liang nodded and turned to walk outside.
On Lianhua Mountain in the Lower Realm, a Taoist Temple looms, with heavy snow cloaking the entire mountain in a silvery garment.
Before the Taoist Temple, there is a pond where water ripples, and carps swim without the water freezing, instead emitting wisps of heat, while the lotuses thrive as usual.
In the center of the pond, a small boat is moored with a middle-aged Taoist seated cross-legged atop it.
Inside the mountain belly, Sun Wukong is sprawled lazily on a stone pillar, looking up at the sky and leisurely speaking, "Little Taoist, I’ve finished copying all the scriptures you punished me to write. Go ask Emperor Gouchen when will he let my old self out!"
Xuanyu Zi helplessly said, "Great Saint, you’ve asked many times already. Without a decree from the Heavenly Court, we dare not let you out.
If you are feeling bored, why not copy some more scriptures?"
"No more copying, no more copying. If they won’t let my old self leave, then my old master absolutely won’t copy anymore."
"Sun Wukong–" A majestic voice suddenly echoed between Heaven and Earth.
Sun Wukong immediately sat up from the stone pillar, scratching his head and ears as he looked up into the sky.
Xuanyu Zi also looked up towards the sky, rising solemnly to speak, "Which Fellow Daoist graces Lianhua Mountain, kindly reveal yourself."
On Lianhua Mountain, a ray of Buddha Light blossomed, and within the Buddha Light, Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared, accompanied by Mu Zha.
Xuanyu Zi bowed in greeting, saying, "It turns out to be Guanyin Bodhisattva. Xuanyu Zi of Three Pure Ones Temple has seen Guanyin Bodhisattva."
Guanyin Bodhisattva slightly nodded, and her mighty voice resounded between Heaven and Earth, "Sun Wukong, in the past you disrespected the Heavenly Rules, causing chaos in the Heavenly Court. Having committed offenses in the court, now suppressed under this Lianhua Mountain by Emperor Gouchen, do you acknowledge your crimes?"
"I acknowledge, I acknowledge, my old self has long acknowledged."
"Now Buddhism is to flourish, and I, a humble monk, have received the Dharma Decree to seek the Sutra Taker in the Eastern Land.
Would you be willing to become his disciple and travel to the Western Heaven to atone for your crimes and rescue yourself from this calamity?"
Sun Wukong’s eyes lit up, and he shouted loudly, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, I’ve heard of your name, but are your words reliable?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva’s mighty voice sounded, "The words of a humble monk naturally hold true!"
"Can you really override Emperor Gouchen then?"
"I have no authority over Emperor Gouchen, but Emperor Gouchen has already agreed to this matter."
Sun Wukong was instantly overjoyed, excitedly giggling, "Very well~ my old self agrees, quickly let my old self out."
"Once the Sutra Taker arrives, you will be freed. Later, ensure you well protect the Sutra Taker on his journey to the Western Continent, and you too can achieve True Fruits of enlightenment." The auspicious cloud carried Guanyin Bodhisattva and Mu Zha off towards the Western direction.
Inside the cave, Sun Wukong laughed heartily with excitement, "I can get out, my old self can finally get out, haha~ It’s been five hundred years, my old self has copied scriptures for five hundred years and finally can leave."
At the cave entrance, Xuanyu Zi smiled and said, "Congratulations, Great Saint!"
Above the clouds, Mu Zha puzzledly asked, "Bodhisattva, aren’t we supposed to go to the Great Tang? Where are we headed now?"
Fire flared within Guanyin’s eyes and she said, "We are first going to find the reincarnation of Tianpeng."