Daily Intelligence: From Water Snake to Jinghe Dragon King

When faced with a situation, even a fool knows to weigh the pros and cons.

Not to mention Guang Chengzi, the cunning old strategist who attained enlightenment in the primordial era and ruled the Chan Sect for countless eons.

The Jade Emperor and the Buddha, as the supreme rulers of the two major powers in the Three Realms, asked him to stop and seek an alliance.

This matter naturally requires Guang Chengzi to weigh the pros and cons.

As the acting leader of the Chan Sect, Guang Chengzi considered the advantages and disadvantages of this matter from both the Chan Sect's and his own perspective.

If they were to join forces with Buddhism and the Heavenly Court to deal with the Jie Sect, the downside would be that they would lose their moral compass, and the bond between the two sects would be irreconcilable, thus preventing them from resolving their karmic ties. Fortunately, this would only incur even greater hatred from the disciples of the Jie Sect.

The advantage lies in joining forces with the Buddhist Heavenly Court, which would allow them to soon suppress and kill the Jiejiao Heavenly Gods who had just broken free from the Investiture of the Gods. Once all of them are killed, the karma incurred during the Investiture of the Gods will naturally disappear.

Furthermore, after the killing of the Jie Sect immortals, Liu Qing, who was being protected by them and was currently evolving his true dragon form in the Wanlong Hall, could also be captured, thus completely eliminating any future troubles, extinguishing the flames of the Jie Sect's revival, and causing the Jie Sect's eastward journey to be cut short.

At the same time, the various spiritual treasures that Liu Qing possesses, as well as the accumulated cultivation resources, and even himself, are all a huge fortune.

Most importantly, after Liu Qing was captured, the Jie Sect's journey to the East was aborted. Then, Buddhism, the Heavenly Court, and the Chan Sect could join forces to restart the Journey to the West. After the Journey to the West was successful, the three parties would share the fortune. With the fortune, the revival of the Chan Sect and further progress on one's own path would become possible.

After weighing the pros and cons, Guang Chengzi's mind slowly tipped in favor of joining forces with Buddhism and the Heavenly Court.

But Guang Chengzi didn't agree immediately; he needed to confirm something else.

That is to say, has the Daoist Yu Yu truly perished?

Guang Chengzi instantly released all of his vast divine sense, which was at the half-step Hunyuan Dao Fruit level, covering almost the entire lower realm and searching it carefully.

Afterwards, still feeling uneasy, Guang Chengzi searched the Heavenly Realm, the Earthly Realm, and the Human Realm. After failing to sense Yu Yu Dao Ren's aura within the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, Guang Chengzi finally felt relieved.

No wonder Guang Chengzi was so cautious; that Yu Yu Daoist was simply too terrifying.

"Since the Great Celestial Venerable and the Tathagata Buddha have extended an invitation, how could this humble Taoist refuse?"

"I have helped the Jie Sect many times before, but the leader of the Jie Sect, Liu Qing, has ignored my good intentions time and time again. First, he killed Nezha, a third-generation disciple of my Chan Sect. Then he humiliated my junior brother Taiyi and even stole Taiyi's protective spiritual treasure, the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover. It is simply outrageous!"

Guang Chengzi slowly spoke, and with immense supernatural power, told the Jade Emperor and the Buddha about his decision.

Although the two despised Guang Chengzi, they were overjoyed to join forces, disregarding his character and only considering the benefits.

"Amitabha! I will never forget the kindness of Brother Guangchengzi in helping me today!"

"Excellent! Let us three parties form an alliance, and from now on, the three realms shall be divided among us!"

The Buddha and the Jade Emperor responded with delight. Guang Chengzi glanced at the corner of his mouth and said, "This matter concerns my Chan Sect, not just me. I request that you two join me in making a Heavenly Oath!"

The Buddha and the Jade Emperor looked at each other in bewilderment. Originally, both of them had the idea of ​​using the Chan Sect and then abandoning it, but it seems that this is no longer possible. They are both foxes who have been around for ten thousand years, so why bother with the tales of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?

Left with no other choice, the Buddha and the Jade Emperor had to make a heavenly oath with Guang Chengzi.

Guang Chengzi was relieved and looked at the ancient Buddha Dipankara, who was anxiously waiting for news, and nodded.

Dipankara Buddha was overjoyed and proclaimed a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha Buddha, fellow Daoist Guangchengzi, shall we go together to that Grand Canal of the human world?"

"Boundless Dao Venerable, let's go together, let's go together."

Soon, Guang Chengzi and Dipankara Buddha arrived together above Jiangdu City on the Grand Canal.

The sudden appearance of the two instantly alerted the immortals of the Jie Sect. The four, namely, Jinling Shengmu, Wudang Shengmu, Zhao Gongming, and Yunxiao Niangniang, immediately became distracted and slowed down their attacks, which greatly reduced the pressure on Haotian Shangdi and Tathagata Buddha.

With the second-generation leader Liu Qing absent, all the immortals of the Jie Sect present, except for the four powerful figures who participated in the siege of the Jade Emperor and the Buddha, were looking at Wen Zhong.

Wen Zhong, as the first disciple of the third generation of the Jie Sect, possessed the cultivation of the early stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal. In his lifetime, he was the Grand Tutor of the Shang Dynasty, and after his death, he became the Heavenly Venerable of the Thunder Department. Among all the immortals of the Jie Sect, he had the greatest prestige.

Wen Zhong stepped forward, blocking the path between Dipankara Buddha and Guang Chengzi. Behind him, the immortals of the Jie Sect also stepped forward in unison. "Uncle-Master Guang Chengzi, Dipankara Buddha, what brings you two here?"

Dipankara Buddha did not reply, but said to Guang Chengzi, "Brother Guang Chengzi, this humble monk will go to assist Tathagata and Haotian first. It's up to you here."

Guang Chengzi nodded slightly.

He immediately summoned the Soul-Sinking Bell and hung it above his head to protect himself. Holding the Heaven-Turning Seal in his hand, he looked around at Wen Zhong and the immortals of the Jie Sect: "You Jie Sect are inherently unruly and vicious. You have disregarded the relationship between our two sects, killed my Chan Sect's third-generation disciple Nezha, and seized my junior brother Taiyi's protective spiritual treasure, the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover. Today, I will settle accounts with you on behalf of my junior brother and nephew."

Wen Zhong's heart sank, and he immediately sensed something was wrong. Guang Chengzi had actually betrayed him and was preparing to stab the Jie Sect in the back!

Behind him, Luo Xuan, Lü Yue, the Four Saints of Nine Dragons Island, the Ten Heavenly Lords of Golden Turtle Island, and other immortals of the Intercepting Sect were all filled with resentment and clamor, cursing Guang Chengzi for being shameless. They said that he had no scruples after seeing his teacher, Daoist Yu Yu, perish, and that's why he went back on his word and betrayed his ally.

Guang Chengzi, an old demon, remained unmoved by the curses from the disciples of the Jie Sect. Instead, he sneered repeatedly and secretly communicated with the immortals of the Chan Sect, explaining the situation and summoning them to come quickly.

Previously, when Yu Yu Dao was there, Liu Qing was chasing the dragon, and the Chan Sect came to help. Guang Chengzi went to entangle the Ancient Buddha of Burning Lamp, while the Chan Sect Golden Immortals such as Chi Jingzi, Huanglong Zhenren, and Yu Ding Zhenren blocked the Buddhist Vajra Indestructible Buddha, Julusun Buddha, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Akasagarbha, and escaped into the void to fight in the chaos.

Dipankara Buddha arrived at the battle circle of Tathagata Buddha, Jade Emperor, Golden Spirit Mother, Zhao Gongming, and others. He tossed the top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the coffin, in his hand. The bronze coffin lid opened, and several chains carrying strong death energy extended from it, wrapping around Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao Niangniang, and Wudang Mother, intending to suppress the three Great Luo Golden Immortals into the coffin.

Zhao Gongming tossed the Golden Dragon Scissors in his hand, which transformed into two dragons with their tails connected. With a swift, sharp cut, they severed a chain of death energy.

The Holy Mother of Wudang also severed a chain of death energy with a single sword strike. Lady Yunxiao held up the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, and with a flash of golden light, she not only took away a chain of death energy but also attempted to take the Ancient Buddha of Burning Lamp into the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron.

The Hunyuan Golden Cauldron is a supreme innate spiritual treasure, the first treasure in the primordial world to enable the five grains to cycle. If the Ancient Buddha of Burning Lamp were to be taken into the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, he would inevitably suffer the misfortune of having his three flowers and five qi destroyed.

Having attained enlightenment in the primordial era, how could the Ancient Buddha Dipankara not know the terrifying power of the Primordial Golden Cauldron? He could no longer afford to conceal his abilities. With a tap on his fontanelle, twenty-four heavens instantly appeared above his head, radiating vast heavenly power that shook the Primordial Golden Cauldron away.

Upon seeing Dipankara Buddha summon the Twenty-Four Devas, Zhao Gongming's eyes turned red, and he shouted fiercely, "You old bald donkey, return my treasure!"

The twenty-four heavens of Dipankara Buddha were transformed from the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls that Zhao Gongming seized as his protective spiritual treasures. They were both a world of authority that aligned with the Dao and a trump card for saving one's life.

The twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls were originally top-grade innate spiritual treasures. When combined with the authority of the half-step Primordial Dao Fruit of the Dipankara Buddha, their power directly rivaled that of innate supreme treasures.

In a single blow, Lady Yunxiao's Hunyuan Golden Cauldron was sent flying, and the golden dragon scissors and twin whips that Zhao Gongming threw in a fit of rage were also easily repelled.

"Amitabha--"

Dipankara Buddha chanted a Buddhist mantra, his voice tinged with a hint of self-satisfaction. With just one move, he had relieved the siege of Tathagata Buddha. Tathagata Buddha leaped away from the combined attack of Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao Niangniang, and Wudang Shengmu, and casually threw out the Six Pure Bamboos, which knocked away Jinling Shengmu's Dragon-Tiger Jade Ruyi, thus also relieving the predicament of Haotian Shangdi.

The Buddha and the Jade Emperor were brought back by the Ancient Buddha Dipankara. They stood in a row with Guang Chengzi, quickly regulating their disordered energy from the previous battle in preparation for the next fight.

At this moment, through Guang Chengzi's telepathic message, the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect who had gone to entangle the great Buddhist power returned to their respective places.

Chi Jingzi, Yu Ding Zhenren, Huang Long Zhenren, Tai Yi Zhenren, Dao Xing Tian Zun, Ling Bao Da Fa Shi, Qing Xu Dao De Zhen Jun.

The Bodhisattvas and Buddhas who were entangled in Buddhism also returned one by one, including Vajrapani Buddha, Kṣāṭra Buddha, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Akasagarbha Bodhisattva.

Jinling Shengmu and Zhao Gongming were rather reckless. Although they had realized that the Chan Sect had betrayed the Jie Sect and joined forces with the Heavenly Court and Buddhism to deal with their own Jie Sect, they were not afraid. Their faces were filled with intense hatred and killing intent, and they wanted to take up their magical treasures and fight again.

Wen Zhong hurriedly used telepathy to stop him: "Teacher, Uncle-Master Zhao Gongming, wait!"

"Before leaving, the sect leader instructed us not to act rashly, to try to buy him time, and to wait until he came out before making any decisions."

"Please, teacher, and senior uncle, follow the instructions of the sect leader, senior uncle."

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit always valued the opinions of her disciple. Seeing Wen Zhong obstructing her, she angrily stopped. Zhao Gongming, not daring to disobey Liu Qing's orders as the sect leader, also retreated.

Back then, Zhao Gongming was personally taught by Daoist Duobao. Although he was called a junior brother, he was practically a disciple. Now that Liu Qing is the reincarnation of Daoist Duobao, even though Zhao Gongming has always been arrogant, he dares not disobey him in the slightest.

At this moment, the four top experts of the Jie Sect—Golden Spirit Mother, Zhao Gongming, Wudang Mother, and Yunxiao Lady—stood at the front, withstanding the pressure from Buddhism, the Heavenly Court, and the immortals of the Chan Sect.

Wen Zhong, Lü Yue, Luo Xuan, the Four Saints of Nine Dragons Island, the Ten Heavenly Lords of Golden Turtle Island, as well as Immortal Ma Yuan, Lady Shiji, and the newly returned Immortal Pilu, stood guard on both sides of the Jie Sect immortals, remaining vigilant and on high alert. (End of Chapter)