Shen Gongbao laughed heartily and said, "No worries! The Yuqing Decree isn’t something only he can forge, I can do it too!
Great Saint, leave this Jiang Ziya to you, you must punish him properly, and certainly not let him off lightly. It would be best to strip him of his cultivation.
Now I will leave first."
As the words fell, bang~ Shen Gongbao self-detonated, exploding into a cloud of dust and bone fragments.
Hm~ Sun Wukong involuntarily let out a cry of surprise, jumping back a step. This divine being is quite staunch, I, Old Sun, like it.
Tang Sanzang rose to his feet, laughing heartily he called out, "Evildoer, you’ve finally fallen into the hands of this poor monk. Although poor monk does not possess vast mana, with a steadfast Buddhist heart, I too can suppress demons."
Zhu Bajie flattered from the side, calling out, "Master is powerful, Master is domineering, Master is truly a Saint Monk~"
Sun Wukong hopped over and looked Jiang Ziya up and down, asking, "Little monk, where did you get this immobilization talisman?"
Tang Sanzang’s smile stiffened, if the poor monk said he’s now in debt for ten thousand Merit Coins, would this wild monkey eradicate me on the ground of moral righteousness? Shifting the topic with a smile he said, "Wukong, this man runs an underhanded inn, robs people on the road, cooks people in a cauldron, who knows how many massacres he’s caused, how much merit do you think he’s worth?"
"How much merit he’s worth, you only know after you’ve beaten and killed him." Saying so, Sun Wukong raised his Golden Hoop staff, his eyes shining with a fierce light.
Buzz~ Suddenly, a Buddha Light bloomed in mid-air, Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared within the light, hands holding the Suet Jade Flask, compassionately delivering salvation. The source of thɪs content is 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Tang Sanzang hurriedly bowed in greeting and said, "Disciple Tang Sanzang pays respects to Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
Sun Wukong also performed a bow and with a hehe, laughed, "Greetings to Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
Zhu Bajie quietly shrank his neck, silent, "You can’t see me, you can’t see me, you can’t see me."
Guanyin Bodhisattva’s vast voice sounded: "Tang Sanzang~ Jiang Ziya is a saint of the Human Clan from the Shang and Zhou Period, carrying the destiny of the Human Clan. Although he made a misstep, you must not harm his life. A minor punishment will suffice."
Tang Sanzang respectfully replied, "Your disciple understands!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva turned to Jiang Ziya and said, "Jiang Ziya, you are a human saint, why do you carry out deeds befitting demons?
I hope you will cultivate your character henceforth and not tarnish the prestige of the Great Sect." Her figure disappeared into a burst of Buddha Light.
Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong stood up.
Sun Wukong hehe grimly laughed and said, "This Guanyin Bodhisattva and Jiang Ziya really do have a profound sibling bond. Just as Old Sun caught Jiang Ziya, Guanyin Bodhisattva immediately came to the rescue. Such an attentive Bodhisattva is truly rare to see."
Tang Sanzang turned to look at Zhu Bajie, speaking earnestly, "Bajie, in the future, you must pay more attention to Guanyin Bodhisattva; your love rival may have appeared already."
Zhu Bajie immediately started hopping and shouted, "Master, please don’t talk nonsense, what love rival? My relationship with the Bodhisattva is utterly pure."
"Pure, your master understands, it’s because you two are still pure that I’m telling you to take extra care of Guanyin Bodhisattva."
Zhu Bajie was speechless, always feeling like you monk have an ulterior motive in your words, it’s over, the little monk has changed too much.
"Wukong, the Bodhisattva does not allow us to harm this person’s life, how should we deal with him then?"
"That’s simple! Bajie, you first take the little monk back, Old Sun will press this person to the Heavenly Court Judicial Temple, let the Heavenly Court punish him severely."
Zhu Bajie immediately volunteered, shouting, "Eldest Brother, you can rest assured with Master in my care, go ahead!"
Sun Wukong lifted Jiang Ziya and, with a somersault, soared into the sky, transforming into a shooting star that vanished on the horizon.
Elsewhere, within the Great Leiyin Temple, The Buddha sat in the highest seat, while numerous Buddha Bodhisattvas sat or stood below him. Two Demon Saints, Feilian Demon Saint and Shangyang Demon Saint, were also seated at his side.
A white lotus opened up to the lower left, from which Guanyin Bodhisattva slowly rose, standing atop the lotus.
Guanyin Bodhisattva brought her palms together and said respectfully, "I report to The Buddha, Sun Wukong has taken Jiang Ziya to the Heavenly Court."
Long-eared Ding Guangxian chuckled below and said, "While Jiang Ziya’s sudden intervention in the Westward journey was unexpected, it now provides us with an opportunity to severely thwart Bai Jin, putting him in a predicament."
Lingji Bodhisattva also smiled and said, "Whatever choice he makes will be wrong. Let’s see how he extricates himself this time."
Beside them, Universal Virtue Bodhisattva stared at the Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy with a sneer and said, "Thwart Bai Jin? It seems to me that you’d rather see Bai Jin grow stronger and better!"
The Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy replied discontentedly, "Universal Virtue Bodhisattva, what do you mean by that?"
"Ever since The Buddha reclaimed his position, it seems you have never ceased to devise schemes against Bai Jin. Yet, have you ever succeeded? Each time, our Buddhism suffers while Bai Jin’s reputation soars."
"That’s because Bai Jin is excessively cunning and crafty!"
"Cunning and crafty? Bai Jin’s reputation for his pure kindness resonates throughout the Primordial World, honored as the conscience of the Primordial World. I suspect there are those within Buddhism who secretly collaborate with him, boosting his divine might."
The Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy bellowed in anger, "Universal Virtue Bodhisattva, are you implying that I am conniving?"
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva glanced coldly at the Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy, "Unlike some who speak out of both sides of their mouth, I act openly and aboveboard without engaging in defamation. Why should a Buddha be flustered? Once is a coincidence, twice is a coincidence, but always failing... is the Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy stumbling upon coincidences, or is it complicity?"
"You—" The Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy flushed with anger. To call Bai Jin pure and kind, what gall you have.
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva met his gaze without backing down.
Inside the Great Leiyin Temple, all the Buddha Bodhisattvas wore smiles, refraining from taking sides.
Feilian Demon Saint and Shangyang Demon Saint watched their debate with interest. The outside world spoke of the great virtue, wisdom, and beauty of Buddhism’s Buddha Bodhisattvas, possessing immense Divine Skills capable of piercing through worldly illusions, but it seemed this was not quite the case.
The resonant voice of The Buddha echoed, "Universal Virtue, one who does not recognize their own faults will never walk the path of Saints; one who dwells on the faults of others will harm the harmony of Heaven and Earth."
Universal Virtue Bodhisattva joined palms and said respectfully, "Your disciple heeds your teachings."
The Buddha turned towards the Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy, His resonant voice sounding again, "Plant such seeds, reap such fruits, all is created by the mind."
The complexion of the Buddha of Tranquil Light and Joy went through several changes, and he joined palms reverently and said, "Your disciple has learned his lesson."
The Buddha nodded slightly and looked at the seated Buddhas, saying, "All phenomena are impermanent, nothing is absolute; do your best. Match the crafty with craftiness, and the purely good with pure goodness."
All Buddhas brought their palms together, bowed respectfully and said, "We thank you for your teachings, World Venerable."
The Buddha then turned to Feilian Demon Saint and Shangyang Demon Saint, "Without false thoughts, the mind is the Buddha Country. With false thoughts, the mind is the Netherworld. The Demon Court should not entertain thoughts that arise without cause."
Shangyang Demon Saint replied calmly, "The Buddha, I am not sure of your meaning."
As he spoke, all the Buddha Bodhisattvas within the Great Leiyin Temple turned to look, a palpable pressure descending upon the two Demon Saints.