I start by accepting Sun Wukong as my disciple and reshape the Journey to the West

Chapter 154 The Decisive Move

We earnestly request the Western Paradise to descend and guide us, so as to prove the true name of our Buddha.

The voices of the monks here seemed to be the only existence in the world. Their chanting was just like the prayers that everyone at Flower Fruit Mountain used to pray for Sun Wukong. The resounding sound reached the highest heavens.

On the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor seemed to have noticed something and immediately ordered Shunfeng'er and Qianliyan to investigate downwards.

"Your Majesty, in the southern continent of Jambudvipa, the Tang emperor is holding a grand Buddhist and Taoist ceremony that lasts for forty-nine days. A monk named Tang Sanzang is traveling westward by imperial decree and is earnestly requesting guidance from Mount Ling in the Western Paradise to widely verify the true meaning of Buddhism and the wondrous Dharma of the Buddha."

The two messengers, with their keen hearing and far-seeing eyes, returned shortly afterward and reported back.

"Oh? How did the Western Paradise react?" Venus spoke up at the opportune moment.

The Thousand-Mile Eye said, "Reporting to the Star Lord, a golden bell suddenly rang in the Western Heaven, a total of eighty-one times, but that's all."

"But it landed in the territory of the Tang Dynasty?" Li Tianwang asked again.

"Reporting to the Heavenly King, the sound of the bell only echoes in Xiniuhezhou and cannot reach Nanzhanbuzhou to reveal its divine power," Shunfeng'er respectfully reported.

Upon hearing this, all the immortals and gods present were stunned. Logically speaking, the importance of the journey to the West to the Western Paradise was self-evident. At this time, guided by the fortune of the Tang Dynasty and with the pilgrims praying for blessings, the Western Paradise should have shown miracles. Why was there only the sound of bells? Nothing else?
The Jade Emperor gently tapped the armrest and looked at the Queen Mother to one side.

"What does the Queen Mother of the West think?"

The Queen Mother was completely bewildered. Had the Western Paradise abandoned its mission? Why wasn't it displaying its divine power before mortals, but instead showing off its might in its own territory for such a momentous event?
"This matter is somewhat strange. Logically speaking, Guanyin Bodhisattva has already entered the mortal world. The Tang Dynasty is now holding a 49-day Water and Land Ceremony, which can be said to be giving face to the Western Paradise. Now that the chosen one of destiny is praying for blessings, Guanyin should also show miracles. The Great Thunder Temple is doing this, which is disrespectful to the Heavenly Way!"

The Queen Mother of the West threw a huge hat at Mount Ling, and all the gods present lowered their heads upon hearing this.

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment before finally speaking: "What the Queen Mother says makes sense. With eyes that can see a thousand miles and ears that can hear the wind, you can use the method of transmitting sound and images a thousand miles away to make the Great Thunder Temple of Mount Ling in the Western Paradise descend the Reception Bridge and manifest a miracle in the Tang Dynasty territory of the Southern Continent. Otherwise, you will be punished for the crime of defying the Heavenly Way."

The gods lowered their heads slightly. The crime of defying the will of Heaven was indeed far too serious. If this crime were proven true, the Heavenly Court could immediately send troops to the Western Paradise.

"Follow the law!"

The two immediately went out of the South Heavenly Gate to deliver the imperial decree.

Meanwhile, at the Great Thunderclap Temple, Maitreya Buddha was fully controlling the illusory images of ten thousand Buddhas to fight against the Arhats, monks, and nuns present.

Beside him, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Lu Ya and others all had somewhat weakened auras, clearly indicating that they had suffered serious injuries.

As for Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and other Bodhisattvas, their whereabouts are unknown. The biggest change is that the human seed bag at Maitreya Buddha's waist is now bulging, and muffled sounds come from inside from time to time, as if something is trying to break free from its restraints.

At this moment, on the lotus platform of the Buddha, fine cracks appeared and disappeared in the void, and the blood river on the lotus platform was constantly being torn apart by more white bones against the cracks that appeared in the void.

“Buddha of the East, if no one opens the passage soon, you will all be trapped here to die. Xuan Tian’s restraint on Ancestor Styx has been taken over by the power of this place. At most, Ancestor Styx will return in half an hour. At that time, you will be unable to break free because you are burdened with Buddhist aura.” Lu Ya felt the realism of the void rift and couldn’t help but feel anxious.

"Didn't Fellow Daoist Xuantian tell you how to open the passage?" Maitreya Buddha frowned. He thought that Ye Xuantian's move would be a sure thing, but judging from Lu Ya Daoist's words, even Lu Ya didn't know how to open the passage?

Lu Ya: "How would I know? He said he wanted to come and try out the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Paradise, so I came! Besides, Mount Ling will only push us out, it won't keep us. I'm worried about you guys!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Ya seemed to remember something and couldn't help but look at Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Guanyin Bodhisattva: "Really? He didn't tell you how to escape either?"

"Having come to save my fellow disciples, I naturally wouldn't hesitate, so I didn't ask." Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva clasped his hands together, his expression solemn.

"I lost my first contest with the Sage Xuantian. It was a bet between us, and I came here to save my fellow disciples. Naturally, I didn't want to ask so many questions. The more I know, the more constrained I will be," Guanyin Bodhisattva said calmly.

"He appeared directly at Lingjiu Peak where I was confined, without having time to ask about the details of the arrangements. After all, I could sense that even though he possessed Buddhist aura, he couldn't stay on Mount Ling for long," Maitreya Buddha said with a wry smile.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ya immediately facepalmed: "So, without knowing the way out, you inexplicably boarded his pirate ship?"

“The methods of the Sage Xuantian are no less than those of the Heavenly Dao without spirit. Moreover, I have seen Fellow Daoist Xuantian’s arrangements several times. His plans are always thorough and can be considered a pirate ship. After all, it is for the sake of Buddhism. We should trust him more.”

Seeing Lu Ya criticize Ye Xuantian like this, Guanyin Bodhisattva couldn't help but defend him.

“That’s true, but we’ve already bound several Bodhisattvas. If no passage descends, it will all be in vain. Besides, the Styx Ancestor is really about to break free.”

As if in response to Lu Ya Dao Ren's words, a crisp cracking sound suddenly came from the void above the Buddha.

A clear spatial rift appeared, and the auras of the Styx Ancestor and Ye Xuantian were clearly sensed by the group.

Inside the barrier, the Styx Ancestor smirked: "Although I suffered a slight loss in two consecutive moves today, it's alright. I didn't continue to act foolishly. I can sense the aura outside. No external force has descended and cannot break through the barrier of my Spirit Mountain. This time you have lost completely. Profound, Heavenly, Saint, Human, ha, you are nothing more than this!"

Hearing the Styx Ancestor's sarcastic remarks, Ye Xuantian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately, two consecutive moves made you wary. Otherwise, given the inherent aversion of Mount Ling to me, if the Ancestor had made another move, I wouldn't have been able to stall until now. Fortunately, Maitreya Buddha and the others have good methods and have bound the key Bodhisattvas. They are just waiting for the passage to descend. The Ancestor has lost this round!"

Ye Xuantian's words made the Styx Ancestor burst into laughter: "Fellow Daoist Xuantian, your stubbornness makes me look down on you! You say I lost? I didn't sense any external force breaking through the Great Thunderclap Temple's barrier. Do you really think you can break the deadlock with this last bit of time?"

"Of course, they've come!"

Upon hearing this, the Styx Ancestor closed his eyes tightly and released all his senses; his expression changed drastically.

"How is that possible? How could you possibly get the Heavenly Court to cooperate with you?"

Ye Xuantian's smile widened: "The Heavenly Court will naturally not cooperate with me. After all, under this great calamity, everyone is a competitor. They are not cooperating with me, but with the general trend. Ancestor, I have told you before, the general trend cannot be defied!"

At this moment, outside Mount Ling, the projection of the Southern Heavenly Gate slowly appeared. The Thousand-Mile Eye and the Wind-Following Ear, holding the imperial edict, loudly proclaimed: "By the decree of the Jade Emperor, Tang Sanzang, a pilgrim from the Great Tang region of the Southern Continent, is hereby ordered to travel west to the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Continent to obtain the true scriptures." "The Jade Emperor, moved by his sincere heart, hereby commands the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Continent to immediately manifest divine power, bestowing miracles upon the Great Tang region, and descending a bridge of guidance to solidify his resolve. Otherwise, he will be punished for defying the Heavenly Way! So be it!"

The two, Thousand-Mile Eyes and Wind-Following Ears, threw out the imperial edict, and a vast golden light appeared. The edict landed at the Great Thunder Temple in the Western Paradise.

Logically speaking, the Jade Emperor would never issue such a formal imperial edict to the Western Paradise, since they are not in the same system, and Mount Ling is indeed special because it has two saints.

However, today's imperial edict is somewhat different, because of the last sentence: "the crime of defying the will of Heaven."

In other words, this imperial edict was not issued in accordance with the Jade Emperor's own will, but in the name of Heaven.

Since the beginning of time, the supreme nature of the Heavenly Dao has been a common understanding in the Three Realms. Even saints cannot escape the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, even if the Buddha Tathagata himself were present, along with the Sages Jieyin and Zhunti, they could not resist this imperial edict.

Huge golden characters appeared one by one in the void, their sacred light making Dongfang Shuo want to kneel down.

Seeing that Bangni beside him did not make any move, Dongfang Shuo forcibly suppressed the agitation in his heart, looked away from the imperial edict, and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother, aren't you going to kneel?"

Did Sun Wukong kneel down when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace?

"No!" As someone who had experienced it firsthand, Dongfang Shuo naturally knew that even when Sun Wukong was chopped by swords and axes or struck by lightning, he never knelt down.

Moreover, Sun Wukong said something that he still remembers vividly: "Those under the Xuantian Sect will not submit to us!"
The moment the thought crossed his mind, Dongfang Shuo immediately straightened his back.

"Hehe, senior brother won't laugh at me, will he?"

“You’ve done very well! If it were me, I would have knelt down already.”

"Wasn't it because my senior brother helped me resist the pressure of the imperial decree? Otherwise, I would have knelt down too," Dongfang Shuo said with a fawning expression.

"There's a reason why you've been able to stay by your master's side all this time." Bangni glanced at Dongfang Shuo and finally shook his head helplessly.

If he were to reach the level of Dongfang Shuo, it's not impossible, but it would be very strenuous and thankless.

"But he didn't start as early as Senior Brother. Senior Brother has been by Master's side for a long time, which is enough to show that Senior Brother is more powerful than Senior Brother Wukong. After all, I have heard Master say that the person with true destiny in this great calamity is Senior Brother Wukong. But even so, Senior Brother Wukong is not ahead of you. Doesn't that explain the problem?"

Dongfang Shuo rattled off a whole bunch of things, and Bangni couldn't help but glance at Dongfang Shuo again.

"There's a reason why you were able to get the Queen Mother to adopt you as her son. I'm not envious of you at all now!"

"Hehe!" Dongfang Shuo couldn't help but scratch his head.

In Dongfang Shuo's heart, he was actually very curious about the help of the mud. After all, according to Ye Xuantian, Sun Wukong was the root of this great calamity of the westward journey, so why didn't Sun Wukong become the first person?

As if knowing what Dongfang Shuo was thinking, Bangni finally spoke up: "I carry mud for the sage Nuwa, so that the sage can create humans more easily. When the sky was leaking, I helped the primordial human race escape danger. When the human race was ignorant, I entered the world on the orders of my master. In this way, I determined the four seasons, developed the eight trigrams, and achieved the names of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors."

As if he had thought of something, Bangni sighed deeply: "Even Lu Ya Daoist was ordered to enter the world and establish the order of the Investiture of the Gods, but he inexplicably gained the reputation of the ancestor of rogue cultivators."

"Even now, many people think that Master is only trying to gain merit from the journey to the West, but they don't know that since the beginning of time, the Sage has been paving the way for the human race. It's just that the general trend prevents Master from showing himself and he has been planning behind the scenes. Wukong is indeed good, but he only has greater potential under the great calamity. As for me, the reason I was able to catch Master's eye is simply because I live a little longer and can do more for the human race."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Shuo felt a surge of inexplicable respect.

Bangni spoke lightly, but when the word "general trend" came up, all of Bangni's eyes fell on the imperial edict.

Heaven!

The concept of Heaven has always been an unavoidable one since the beginning of time.

"Is Master's entry into this great calamity also part of the grand trend?" Dongfang Shuo couldn't help but ask.

“I once asked my master, and he replied that it was his mission, and the timing was just right. There are three major trends, and he has two of them. He also has the right timing, the right place, and the right people. All the major trends only need to be gently manipulated to form a line, and he has no choice but to get involved.”

"Just like now, the Styx Ancestor always thought that no one could break through the barrier of the Great Thunderclap Temple in an instant, and that Maitreya Buddha and the others would have no chance to escape. But he never thought that when Mosquito Taoist had not completely possessed Master Xuanzang, he had already lost here."

At this moment, the imperial edict at the Great Thunderclap Temple finally revealed its last word, but even so, no one inside the temple responded, because no one could come out.

Inside the barrier, the Styx Ancestor laughed heartily: "Even the crime of disobedience requires someone to accept this imperial decree! Now that you have brought everyone here, who can accept the decree? Who is qualified to accept it? If I step aside, this imperial decree will not fall."

Ye Xuantian's lips curled up slightly: "Has the Ancestor always been so arrogant?"

"Hmph, if the Jade Emperor truly intended to intervene, he wouldn't have sent these two people to deliver the decree. So the Jade Emperor is merely grateful for the fortune of the pilgrims and wants me to help the Great Tribulation evolve further. But the problem is, I'm currently trapped here by you, so it doesn't count as disobeying you!"

"What I'm saying is, who said that no one outside of Mount Ling is qualified to accept this imperial decree?"

The Styx Ancestor frowned slightly, calculating with his fingers: "The person destined for this place is currently a hundred and eight thousand miles away. Unless the one chosen by Heaven to retrieve the scriptures is chosen, even Maitreya Buddha cannot accept this imperial decree for me!"

Click!

The crack in the barrier widened further, and the Styx Ancestor laughed loudly: "Ye Xuantian, you've lost!"

Just then, a voice rang out from outside Mount Ling.

"Sun Wukong, a direct disciple of the Bodhi Patriarch, in gratitude for the immeasurable might of Heaven, accepts this imperial decree on behalf of the Western Paradise!"

(End of this chapter)