If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1257 A Feast for the Big Shots
If it were Buddha who spoke up, saying he wanted a share of the spoils.

The old immortals of the Chan Sect, such as Taiyi Zhenren and Guangchengzi, would definitely retort and firmly refuse.

But the one who spoke was Julusunfo, one of their "own people".
Taiyi Zhenren fell silent, and the old immortals such as Guangchengzi also looked hesitant.

Doumu Yuanjun said calmly, "Hengshan is one of the Five Sacred Mountains of China, what does it have to do with the Western Spirit Mountain?"
You rushed to Nuwa's Palace in such a hurry, wanting to help mend the heavens of the Nine Provinces; anyone who didn't know better would think our Xuanmen sect had no one left!

She was the leading figure of the "contemporary Jie Sect," a "leader of the Jie Sect" in name and in reality.

Well, the Tongtian Sect Leader is no longer in the Pangu World. Before leaving, he passed on his "great position" to his only remaining chief disciple.

Although there are many disciples of the Jie Sect in the Western Spirit Mountain, those disciples were either forcibly abducted, subdued and became the "divine beasts" guarding the mountain, or traitors like Chang Er Ding Guang Xian.

For the Jie Sect, they were all an indelible disgrace.

"Orthodox disciples of the Jie Sect" would not like the Western Paradise.

Besides past grievances, the Jie Sect and Buddhism also had a "battle over the Great Way".

To put it bluntly, the Chan Sect only accepts elites, while the Jie Sect is just a "heretical sect within the Xuanmen" that collects scraps.

The Jiejiao and Chanjiao are actually highly complementary.

There is no core interest dispute between the two sides; they simply have different positions and reasons.

Buddhism is now seen by practitioners as a "heretical path outside the true path," a "ragtag group" that doesn't care about background or origin, as long as one is devout to Buddha, one can enter the Buddhist order.

Even flour sellers can't stand lime sellers, let alone two companies that are both junk sellers.

Doumu Yuanjun spoke, but Julusun stopped talking and only looked at the Buddha: "I'll handle the old immortal of the Chan Sect; now the old immortal of the Jie Sect has spoken, Duobao, it's your turn."

Without hesitation, Buddha chanted a Buddhist prayer and sighed, "Junior sister, times have changed."

You know how many of my Western Spiritual Mountain's Great Dao rules are now contained within the 'Heavenly Heart'.

Without the participation of Mount Ling, besides the Dao Ancestor, who among you is confident in 'perfectly mending the heavens'?
"Without penetrating the core of 'Heaven's Heart,' even if the celestial hole is blocked, it only obstructs the flow of the Milky Way; it cannot truly restore the original state."

Even if there's a big hole in the wall of a brick house, it's not enough to just dig up a lump of mud and plug the hole.

If the hole also includes a load-bearing wall, there are steel bars and cement blocks inside, then brick walls, an insulation layer on the outside of the brick walls, and fire-retardant paint on the outside of the insulation layer.
The "steel bars" inside the Heavenly Cave are the laws of the Great Dao.

Therefore, it is necessary to delve into the heart of the universe and reconnect the broken "steel bars".

The great laws of the universe are then connected to cover the hole in the sky, and then "cement" is poured into it. After that, brick walls are built on the outside, insulation layers are applied, and fire-retardant paint is applied.

Cement, bricks, insulation, fire-retardant paint, etc., do not need to be prepared separately; the Sky-Mending Stone is enough.

This is also why it takes a Great Luo Golden Immortal to mend the heavens.

Only by merging with the Dao and mastering all the great laws of heaven and earth can one reconnect the severed great laws.

It's a very simple principle: if you haven't even grasped the fundamental laws, how can you continue?
At this time, the Buddha believed that many of the laws of the Three Thousand Great Paths originated from the Western Vulture Peak, so it was necessary to share a portion of the Vulture Peak's resources.

This is true.

When Mount Buzhou collapsed, the West was barren and desolate, inhabited only by a handful of cats and kittens. The Way of the Pangu World was almost entirely the "Primordial Way" that existed from the very beginning of creation.

Humanity is developing, immortality is developing, deities are developing, and Buddhism is also developing rapidly. Nowadays, many of the three thousand great paths have been incorporated into the Western religion.

For example, the cycle of reincarnation and the law of cause and effect.

Who can escape the cycle of reincarnation and the karmic retribution for good and evil?

Doumu Yuanjun laughed upon hearing this, and said, "Buddha, just you wait and see if I can perfectly mend the sky without you monks!"

With a confident and disdainful look, she said arrogantly, "The great immortal of the Chan Sect has neither the ability nor the confidence to mend the sky without the help of a monk."

I am different from you; all the great principles reside within my heart. My heart is the heart of Heaven, and the heart of Heaven is my heart.

I'll put it this way: if I can't perfectly mend the sky, may God strike me down with lightning.

To put it simply: I'm an all-rounder; no matter how many "core technologies" Buddhism has created, I've mastered them all.

This is also true.

She disliked both Buddhism and Chan Buddhism.

She greatly admired all the fundamental principles and laws created by the Chan School and Buddhism.

This "Senior Sister of the Intercepting Sect" possesses first-rate talent, having thoroughly studied all the Great Daos.

"Ahem, Yuanjun is joking. Each of us brothers individually is probably not as skilled as Yuanjun."

"But now that we're all here, if we work together to mend the sky, we can do it perfectly," Guang Chengzi said immediately.

Whether or not we should give Juliusun face and let Buddhism participate in mending the sky is something we can discuss.

But to ask them to admit their incompetence and that they couldn't perfectly mend the sky without Buddhism's help is absolutely unacceptable!

The Buddha sighed and said, "Junior sister, everything must be based on cause and effect; one cannot rely solely on one's spiritual cultivation and supernatural powers."

Since the Heavenly Heart bears numerous imprints left by Buddhism, all major world affairs cannot avoid the Vulture Peak.

Everything should be based on cause and effect. Don't rely on your cultivation to show off your strength. Isn't this just a version of what the Chan Sect used to say about their Jie Sect disciples being "reckless and aggressive, and not knowing the will of Heaven"?
—You good-for-nothing Duobao, now that you've become the leader of Buddhism, you've completely forgotten your roots!
Doumu Yuanjun said angrily, "When the world collapses in the West one day, your Buddhism will be responsible."

I won't be like you are now, eagerly approaching and shamelessly saying, "Heaven has the mark of my Jie Sect, so I must participate."

The disaster is currently affecting Hengshan, and has absolutely nothing to do with your Lingshan. You should just stay put on the sidelines.

If there's a real need, then lend a hand. Otherwise, just watch and don't say a word!

I don't want to hear what you're saying!

The Buddha's face turned red with anger, and he was too angry to speak.

Ju Liusun, Guang Chengzi, and others also looked rather grim.

Doumu Yuanjun, however, completely disregarded their feelings and reactions.

She turned her head and pulled Zhen Yuanzi, Bixia Yuanjun, and several other Xuanmen bigwigs to discuss how to mend the sky.

Julusun Buddha glanced at the composed Dipankara Buddha and said in a low voice, "Why is the teacher not saying a word? In any case, you are her elder, and your words carry more weight than ours."

—Are you out of your mind? You can't remember what I did to the disciples of the Jie Sect during the Investiture of the Gods period?

The old Buddha thought to himself, but said calmly on the surface: "All things arise from causes and conditions, and cannot be forced. Attachment only brings suffering."

Ju Liusun was anxious. "Teacher, it is Mount Heng, one of the Five Sacred Mountains, that collapsed! A top scholar may only have this one chance. We Buddhists would rather forgo the merits of heaven and earth than not participate."

The old Buddha remained calm and said, "Who can mend the sky is a matter of destiny. How can it be decided by a few people arguing in private? As for who will receive the mandate of heaven, we will know when Goddess Nuwa comes out."

If destiny is in my hands, I will accept it; if destiny is not in my hands, I will still accept it.

Ju Liusun softened his expression and nodded, saying, "Only those destined by Heaven can obtain the Heaven-Mending Stone. Arguing about it now is indeed meaningless."

Even so, he still whispered among the old immortals of the Chan Sect.

Doumu Yuanjun then chatted openly with the bigwigs from both outside the Chan Sect and within the Xuanmen Sect, without any concealment or avoidance. Nezha listened for a while, feeling quite bored, and whispered, "Master, and all my fellow uncles, the Milky Way is currently overflowing and flooding the human world, and Hengshan is now a vast swamp."

Since we've decided to do disaster relief and earn good karma, let's take action immediately.

He first descended to the mortal realm to use his great supernatural powers to quell the floods in Hengshan County.

Once the Goddess Nuwa has refined the Sky-Mending Stone, if she is destined by Heaven, she will participate in mending the sky; if not, she will continue to relieve disasters.

In any case, I've done a good deed for all sentient beings in the three realms, so this trip wasn't in vain.

"How many people can be saved and how much merit can be earned in disaster relief?" Taiyi Tianzun waved his hand. "I know you're impatient and can't stand being alone. If you want to have fun, go ahead and have fun! Don't disturb our discussion on the grand plan to mend the heavens."

Nezha said unhappily, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm talking to you about serious matters. At most a day and a half, the land of China will be submerged! If you take action, you can at least delay it for a few more days."

Chi Jingzi said, "If we really drag this out until the Divine Continent is submerged and the Heaven-Mending Stone still hasn't been refined, we will definitely take action. Now."

He reached out and calculated for a moment, then said, "There are probably three more hours until Goddess Nuwa emerges from seclusion!"

Let ordinary immortals earn some heavenly merit first, so that they can easily overcome the three calamities and five tribulations in the future.

If we step in, they won't even get a sip of soup; instead, they'll be the ones getting scolded.

"This kid's impatient nature will never change in hundreds of thousands of years, just ignore him," Taiyi Tianzun muttered, reaching out to pull Nezha away.

After another hour, everyone fell silent, holding their breath and waiting for the Goddess Nuwa to emerge from seclusion.

Another half hour passed, and the Heavenly Emperor dispatched three special envoys, Venus, Water, and Marshal Tianpeng, to come to Nuwa's Palace.

The old man laughed and said, "The Jade Emperor has decreed that all the star lords of the Heavenly Court are fully prepared and can set up the Zhou Tian Star Array at any time to seal the crack in the sky."

"We have no need of your Heavenly Court, go back!" A group of immortals, regardless of whether they were Taoist or Buddhist, waved their hands to drive them away with smug faces.

Taibai was somewhat embarrassed.

Tianpeng stood there grinning foolishly, neither speaking nor moving.

Water Deity said, "Back then, when Mount Buzhou collapsed, my divine court had not yet been established."

Now that the Heavenly Court rules the Three Realms, how can it stand idly by when the Divine Land is in peril?

Even the Heavenly Emperor and the Queen Mother had taken off their imperial robes and donned the 'Haotian Battle Armor,' ready to step onto the battlefield to mend the heavens at any moment.

The bigwigs were disgusted.

Nezha said, "Mount Heng is currently experiencing a severe flood. Instead of arguing about mending the sky, we should immediately do something practical for the human world."

Taibai nodded and said, "That's a very good idea! Great immortals, why don't you go down to the mortal realm first to stop the flood? Hengshan County is in a very bad state!"

Yu Fengxian alone probably can't hold on for long.

Yes, my Heavenly Court's Water Department and the Heavenly River Navy have also begun their operations.

"Set up a celestial array in the Milky Way to delay the flow of its waters into the mortal realm as much as possible."

The immortals ignored them, turning their heads away and paying them no heed.

Taibai sighed, stopped talking nonsense, and stood with the two Heavenly Emperor envoys at the main entrance of the rear hall to wait.

Time passed quietly, and soon another hour or so had gone by.

"Creak~~" The back hall door finally opened, and a tired-looking Yang Jian was the first to walk out.

Before the immortals could ask, he said directly, "The Heaven-Mending Stone has been refined, and the Qiankun Cauldron is currently extinguishing the fire. The Empress will be out soon."

Seeing the fierce looks in the eyes of the old immortals, Yang Erlang quickly added, "I am just a fan boy, and I will obey the orders of the goddess."

"Brother, you were just fanning the fire for the Empress? How did you end up like this while fanning the fire?"

"It looks like you've been fighting someone for ten days and ten nights," Nezha said curiously, squeezing next to his second brother.

“Don’t you know about the Qiankun Cauldron? I heard that you once refined yourself in the Qiankun Cauldron in your previous life,” said Yang Erge.

"Really?" Nezha asked, looking at his master.

Taiyi Tianzun laughed and said, "The Qiankun Cauldron is the number one divine furnace in the Three Realms. It is the most supreme innate treasure, capable of reversing the innate nature of acquired things."

"In your past life, you were a spirit pearl, and you were indeed refined once in the Qiankun Cauldron."

Guang Chengzi looked at Yang Jian and said, "Goddess Nuwa only asked you to fan the fire? To make such a top-tier innate treasure work, and to reverse the innate nature to forge the five-colored stone, is no easy task."

The Qiankun Cauldron can reverse the innate nature of acquired things, making it one of the most powerful and useful spiritual treasures in the Three Realms.

The three Dao Ancestors borrowed the Empress's Qiankun Cauldron more than once to "recycle" acquired items.

However, the Spirit Pearl was originally a primordial spiritual treasure. It was only after being refined in the Qiankun Cauldron that it was enhanced to strengthen its "primordial origin".

It can be said that Goddess Nuwa played a significant role in the birth of Nezha.

He had a karmic connection with the Nuwa Palace from a very early age.

Yang Jian said, "That divine cauldron is absorbing my immortal energy every moment, which is indeed very difficult to endure."

If my martial uncle hadn't given me a bottle of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, I probably wouldn't have been able to persevere.

However, the Empress was only trying to help me.

This catastrophe is somewhat related to me; I am tainted with a lot of sins.

Now, without the Empress's help, I forged the Sky-Mending Stone entirely by fanning the fire, and my sins have been cleansed.

Guang Chengzi nodded slightly and smiled, "This is also why we want you to follow the Empress in refining stones."

"Mending the Heavens, you're not skilled enough; don't try to be a hero. Being able to refine the five-colored stone is already an immense merit."

Yang Jian nodded and said, "With all of you senior uncles here, why should I, your disciple, need to take any risks to mend the heavens?"

These words displeased several powerful figures outside of the Chan Sect.

However, the Heaven-Mending Stone has been forged, and the Goddess Nuwa is about to appear. They wouldn't lack even this much self-restraint and patience.

"The Jade Emperor has arrived! The Queen Mother of the West has arrived!" Taibai Xingjun suddenly shouted towards the outside of the courtyard.

The powerful figures turned around and saw that the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother had indeed taken off their elaborate and gorgeous robes and skirts, and put on golden and silver armor.

The Jade Emperor had a sword hanging at his waist and wore a golden helmet with cloud patterns on his head. He was truly majestic and imposing.

Even without weapons, the Queen Mother of the West was still capable and valiant, displaying the demeanor of a female general.

However, they still travel with a magnificent ceremonial procession.

Before the Jade Emperor and his wife even entered the palace, several fairies carrying incense burners and holding jade ruyi scepters came in and lined up to respectfully welcome the arrival of the Lords of Heaven.

All the immortals pursed their lips slightly, their expressions showing disapproval.

(End of this chapter)