Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 286: Holy Mother Divine Emperor, Immortality Is Hard to Find

Huabiao Zhenren and his group followed Jin Chanzi into the palace, intending to see the reincarnation of Ziwei Emperor, but when they entered the palace, soldiers led them into the palace. They looked at the scenery along the way, and saw "the phoenix palace shrouded in smoke, the dragon tower filled with fragrance, the light swaying the red curtains, and the clouds brushing the green and beautiful flow", and also saw "the lamps of the servants and the fans of the palace maids, both reflecting the colors. The peacock screen and the Qilin Hall are full of light". The scenery of the palace is unparalleled in the world, and few can compare with it except the heaven.

The soldiers brought the immortal and others to a palace, left some words, and only said "Wait here, the Holy Mother Divine Emperor will be here soon", and then left.

The Immortal and his entourage entered the palace and saw many people in strange costumes. He went to a quiet place and did not speak to anyone.

Zhu Bajie shouted, "Master, the Queen Mother who is in power is so arrogant that she calls herself the Holy Mother and Divine Emperor. Is she trying to usurp the throne?"

Jiang Yuan smiled but said nothing and did not answer Zhu Bajie.

Jin Chanzi clasped his hands together and said, "I don't know this either, but in the past when he was curing illnesses and saving lives everywhere, I heard him call himself the 'Queen of Heaven', but in recent days, he has been calling himself the 'Holy Mother Divine Emperor'."

Zhu Bajie smiled and said, "I said he wanted to usurp the throne. If that's true, calling himself the Holy Mother and Divine Emperor is enough to show what he's thinking."

The Bull Demon King said, "Zhu Bajie, you only need to know it in your heart, and you don't need to speak it out. If you speak it out, others will know it, and it may cause disaster."

Zhu Bajie said: "How can such a disaster happen? How can his human army defeat an old pig?"

The Bull Demon King said, "That's not what you said, Zhu Bajie. If you say that, if there is a person who practices cultivation and the soldiers and horses of the human world cannot do anything to him, then he can do whatever he wants. You must know that many disasters are caused by small things, so we must be on guard."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie stopped talking, knowing that he had said something wrong.

Qingniu laughed and said, "Zhu Bajie, you have made some progress."

Zhu Bajie was somewhat pleased and asked, "Is there really improvement?"

Qingniu said, "You have made progress. If I had told you something in the past, you would have talked back, but now it is different. You have been scolded and learned to be careful with your words. This is progress."

Zhu Bajie was unhappy and said, "How can I improve so much?"

Jiang Yuan said: "Don't say too much, just wait for the Holy Mother Divine Emperor to arrive."

After hearing this, Zhu Bajie and the others stopped talking.

Everyone was just looking for a place to sit cross-legged.

Suddenly, a Taoist priest came forward and saluted, saying, "Where are you from? Maybe I can get to know you?"

The immortal looked back and said with a smile: "We came from the west, and we are cultivators. If you are willing to make our acquaintance, we will certainly do so."

The Taoist priest said, "From the West? It is rare to see Western monks enter the East. However, those who are invited to enter the palace by the Holy Mother Divine Emperor must be people with magical powers. I don't know which sect you are from. Can you tell me so that I can get to know you?"

Upon hearing this, the Immortal had no intention of hiding anything, and said with a smile: "Most of us are disciples of the Xieyue Sanxing Cave on Fangcun Mountain in Lingtai, Xiniu Hezhou."

The Taoist priest asked, "What sect is this Xieyue Sanxing Cave from? What lineage is it? I have never heard of it. Is it a small lineage?"

The real person shook his head and said, "It's not very famous, so you haven't heard of it."

The Taoist priest said, "It's not very famous, it's just a small lineage."

The real person heard his words and smiled without saying anything.

Seeing this, the Taoist priest said, "But if you are from a minor lineage, when the Holy Mother Goddess asks, you can say that you are from my lineage. This will make the Holy Mother Goddess look at you with a higher regard."

The real person said, “There is no need to do that.”

The Taoist said: "You don't know the way to be an official. It would be beneficial for you to borrow the help of a famous and famous lineage."

The real man is silent.

The Bull Demon King stepped forward and said, "If it is as you said, your lineage is famous?"

The Taoist priest smiled and said, "Somewhat famous, somewhat famous. I am a disciple of Yunze Temple in Yunmeng Mountain. You must have heard of the name of Yunze Temple."

Niu Mowang and others pondered for a long time, as they did not know the name of Yunze Temple.

The Taoist priest said, "You are from the west, so it is normal that you do not know the name of my Yunze Temple, but my Yunze Temple is quite famous in the Central Plains."

The Bull Demon King asked: "Who do you worship as the master in your Yunze Temple?"

The Taoist priest smiled and said, "I worship the Emperor Xuantian in Yunze Temple."

The Bull Demon King smiled and almost said that his master and the Emperor Xuantian were good friends, but when he saw the Emperor shaking his head, he stopped talking.

Seeing that no one paid any attention to him, the Taoist priest asked the Immortal again whether he was willing to become his disciple and meet the Holy Mother and Divine Emperor.

The real person smiled and declined.

The alchemist had no choice but to give up and leave.

Zhu Bajie asked, "Master, Master, why does he keep saying that we should join his lineage and see the Holy Mother together? Is there any use for this?"

The real person said: "He is just a trickster."

Zhu Bajie was a little confused.

The Bull Demon King said: "If the Holy Mother Emperor sees that many people from his lineage can enter the temple, she will naturally look up to him. This way, he will be valued and appreciated more."

Zhu Bajie shouted, "These people are here to practice cultivation, why don't they think about how to practice cultivation? On the contrary, there are many who are taking shortcuts."

The Bull Demon King said: "This is the norm in the human world. Most of these people do not practice cultivation, but only have empty names, for money and power. But how come this is also a place to worship the Xuan Emperor? How come there are so many places to worship the Xuan Emperor in the human world?"

Qing Niu said: "The Emperor Xuan once exterminated the demons in Northern Juluzhou. Now he sits in the Taihe Palace of Wudang Mountain. He originally intended to intimidate the demons in Northern Juluzhou and protect the human world. However, if there are demons in Northern Juluzhou that want to invade the human world, they will be met with the wrath of Emperor Xuan. Therefore, Northern Juluzhou dare not invade, and many people in the human world know this."

After they had been talking in low voices for a while, a eunuch suddenly came to report that the Holy Mother Divine Emperor had arrived.

Everyone in the hall heard this and all bowed to the newcomer. But when Empress Wu entered the hall, she exempted herself from the formalities and said, "I have heard that if one wishes to live forever, one must practice cultivation. Is this a way to escape from life and death?"

Many alchemists came forward to greet him, saying, "Yes, yes."

When Empress Wu heard this, she smiled happily, and her old age faded a little. She said, "I have been entrusted with the care of the orphan by Emperor Gaozong, and I have obtained the divine weapon. However, I am getting old and no longer the same as before. The emperor is not yet mature. If I am gone, the country will be in chaos and the people will be in danger. Therefore, I have heard of the way to longevity, and I know that you are all famous practitioners. Therefore, I invite you to come to the palace to teach me the way to longevity. I hope you will not be stingy in teaching me, and do not keep your own ideas. This is for the benefit of the people of the world."

Many alchemists heard his words, greed flashed in their eyes, and said: "There is a way, there is a way."

Empress Wu said: "I have heard that each family has its own views on the way to longevity, but they are different. I will not make it difficult for you. I will allow you to enter the side hall in order and discuss the method of longevity with me."

Everyone obeyed the order.

Empress Wu was then escorted into the side hall by a group of eunuchs. Another eunuch came out and called out the names of the Taoists one by one, asking them to enter the side hall to meet her and talk about the secret of immortality.

The Immortal and his companions were at the end of the line, and saw the scene in the side hall. The Bull Demon King said, "My Lord, the Queen Mother's intentions are really known to everyone. She even called herself 'I', a name that Taizong rarely used. She deserves death."

The real person shook his head and said, "It has its own destiny, no need to say more."

The Bull Demon King asked, "Master, but I have a question."

The Immortal said: "If you have any doubts, please tell me and I will help you solve them."

The Bull Demon King hesitated for a long time and asked, "Master, but I don't know. The current dynasty in the human world is ruled by the Queen Mother, and the Li family no longer has any authority. The Queen Mother's intention to usurp the throne is known to everyone, even the tea seller in the city knows it. And now that the Purple Star Emperor has reincarnated as a descendant of the Li family, can he really obtain the throne of the human world? If the Queen Mother is thinking this way, she must want to change the dynasty. How can the Purple Star Emperor still ascend to the throne of the human world then?"

Jiang Yuan heard this and smiled, "It's all fate, just be at ease."

The Green Ox sat nearby, eating oranges, and said, "What the Immortal said makes sense, but you, the Bull Demon King, are ignorant. It's all fate. Who knows, maybe the Queen Mother will die soon, or maybe she will change the dynasty and eventually return power to the Purple Star Emperor. It's all uncertain."

When the Bull Demon King heard this, he felt that it was unlikely. He saw that the Queen Mother was in good spirits and did not seem like someone with a short life, so he was afraid that she would not die soon. Moreover, what she said about changing dynasties and returning power to others made people feel that it was true.

Jiang Yuan said, "No need to say more. When the host calls us over, we will have a good chance to pay respect to the Emperor of Purple Star."

Everyone obeyed the order.

Jin Chanzi looked at the immortal with some admiration.

Zhu Bajie asked: "Master, why are you looking at me like that?"

Jin Chanzi sighed, "When I first met the Immortal in the past, he did not have the magical power he has now, but now his magical power is extremely profound, which makes me admire him."

Zhu Bajie smiled and said, "It is natural for a Taoist to have such magical powers as he has been cultivating his mind without changing."

Jin Chanzi nodded in agreement.

After waiting for a long time, a eunuch finally came. Xuan Zhenren and others went in to meet Empress Wu.

Walking into the side hall, Empress Wu saw so many people with the Immortals and was puzzled. She asked, "Why are there so many people?"

Jin Chanzi stepped forward, clasped his hands together and said, "Holy Mother Divine Emperor, I came here at your invitation, but when I passed by here, I met all my friends. All of my friends have supernatural powers, so I invite them to come and meet the Holy Mother Divine Emperor. I hope you will forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Empress Wu laughed and said, "Since you are a person with supernatural powers, I will not punish you. I wonder what abilities you have and what methods you have used to achieve immortality?"

Jin Chanzi said, "I dare not deceive the Holy Mother God Emperor. As for the method of immortality, there is none. But as for the method of prolonging life, there is. I can teach the Holy Mother God Emperor a set of body movements, combined with magic spells, which can strengthen the body and nourish the qi and return to the origin."

Empress Wu heard this and said, "You know, many people who came in before told me about the way to longevity, mostly using medicinal herbs and stones to make elixirs, and citing allusions from books, and even saying that one can be included in the ranks of immortals. How come you are saying that there is no way to longevity now?"

Jin Chanzi bowed and said, "The Holy Mother God Emperor holds the divine weapon. It is easiest for the Holy Mother God Emperor to tell the truth from the false. Does the Holy Mother God Emperor think that there is really such an easy way to achieve immortality in the world?"

Empress Wu looked unhappy and very angry. Just as she was about to say something, an old eunuch beside her suddenly shouted in surprise.

Empress Wu looked over and asked what was the matter.

An old eunuch pointed at Jin Chanzi and said, "Holy Mother Divine Emperor, this person is the former Master Xuanzang, but his appearance is exactly the same as before. I have seen him before, but I have not seen him for many years, so I did not recognize him at the time."

Empress Wu exclaimed, "Master Xuanzang was a man from decades ago when Emperor Taizong was still alive. Did you really not admit your mistake?"

The old eunuch said, "I have never admitted my mistake. I have never admitted my mistake. The appearance of Master Xuanzang has not changed. How could I have made a mistake?"

Empress Wu looked at Jin Chanzi with a questioning look in her eyes.

Jin Chanzi put his hands together and said, "I was indeed Xuanzang in the past, but I am no longer Xuanzang now."

Empress Wu said, "But I wonder how old the master is now? How can he live to this age?"

Jin Chanzi smiled and said, "In the past, I followed the order of His Majesty Taizong and traveled west to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I traveled through mountains and rivers, and finally completed my mission. After returning from obtaining the scriptures, I achieved Buddhahood, so my life span is longer."

When Empress Wu heard that Jin Chanzi was a Buddha, she was shocked and said hurriedly, "Go and get a seat, and sit down with the Living Buddha."

Jin Chanzi said: "No need, I know about the grace of the Holy Mother, but I must not be disrespectful."

When Empress Wu heard what Jin Chanzi said, he refused to sit down. She did not dare to force him, so she looked at the group of immortals. She heard Jin Chanzi say that they were all his friends, so she was afraid that they were all true practitioners. Only true practitioners could be Jin Chanzi's friends.

Empress Wu said, "The Living Buddha is in front of you. I wonder who you are. Could you please introduce them to me one by one?"

Jin Chanzi smiled and said, "They are all true practitioners, and most of them have met His Majesty Taizong before."

When Empress Wu heard this, she was convinced that they were all true practitioners. She became a little excited and said, "They are all true practitioners. Besides, there is a living Buddha in front of me. I hope you can give me the method of longevity and teach me how to save my country from danger."

Jin Chanzi said: "There really is no way to achieve immortality."

Empress Wu asked, "Gentlemen, are you all successful?"

Bull Demon King and others remained silent.

The Immortal stepped forward and said, "The method of longevity does exist, but the method of longevity cannot be given lightly, so it cannot be given to the Holy Mother Divine Emperor."

Empress Wu smiled happily when she heard this and said, "But if you need anything, please tell me clearly, sir. Whether it's gold, silver, jewels, or a marquisate or a throne, I can give it to you, but please teach me the secret of immortality."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "It doesn't have to be like this."

Empress Wu asked: "If it is not this, then what is required for the Immortal Master to give me the secret of immortality?"

Jiang Yuan said: "Please give up everything, Holy Mother and Divine Emperor, and follow me into the mountains to practice. This way you can achieve immortality and no longer suffer from the pain of life and death."

Empress Wu was greatly surprised and asked, "Give up all your power?"

Jiang Yuan said: "That's right."

Empress Wu asked again: "Is it necessary to do this?"

The real person nodded and said, "It is necessary."

Empress Wu pondered for a long time and said, "How long will it take to achieve immortality?"

The Immortal said: "Just go into the mountains to practice, and the affairs of the world will have nothing to do with you anymore."

After hearing this, Empress Wu actually flinched. Why was there still a desire for immortality in her eyes? He said, "Does the way to immortality in the world have to be like this? Is there another way to immortality?"

Jiang Yuan said: "But if you want to achieve immortality, this is necessary."

(End of this chapter)