Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Chapter 179: Plotting to steal two peaches, making Wukong take the blame!
Yin Ziyu naturally had no way of getting involved in the affairs of Zixiao Palace.

Meanwhile, a silent struggle was taking place within the Zixiao Palace, unknown to outsiders.

Yin Ziyu and Haotian Yaochi finalized a plan to deal with Sun Wukong.

The original Journey to the West was discussed between Buddha and Jade Emperor, but the immortals of the Chan Sect completed the havoc in Heaven without participating.

This time, during the Ullambana Festival, Yaochi's assistance to Yin Ziyu made Tathagata realize that he could not possibly bring Haotian Yaochi into the fold as an ally.

They also needed to form a deeper alliance with the Renjiao and Chanjiao sects, which is why they did not seek cooperation with Haotian.

So the plan to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace will not happen. However, we have now caused some minor disturbances in the Dragon Palace and the Underworld. After all, the Dragon Palace is easy to manipulate, and the Underworld is controlled by Taiyi Zhenren.

As for the Heavenly Court, King Qin Guang and the Dragon King of the East Sea have already submitted their memorials; now it's up to Haotian to decide how to respond.

As for Sun Wukong, the one destined to face calamity, Haotian cannot do anything to him.

After Yin Ziyu finished speaking, Haotian asked, "Fellow Daoist, now that the memorial has arrived, how should we deal with this monkey?"

After hearing this, Yin Ziyu said calmly, "In that case, let's arrange for Nezha to go and wipe them out. Since the Chan Sect is in charge of the Heavenly Court, this matter of annihilation should be completely handed over to the Chan Sect. Under the rules of the Heavenly Court, no matter what happens, the responsibility will not fall on the Great Heavenly Venerable. Since they set the rules, let's deal with it according to their Heavenly Rules! In any case, the Great Heavenly Venerable must seek revenge without getting entangled in karma! Let's try to make the responsibility fall entirely on the Chan Sect."

Staying out of the mess means avoiding blame.

After listening, Haotian pondered for a moment and nodded: "What you say is very true, fellow Daoist. This monkey may become a key person to break the order!"

Yin Ziyu said with a half-smile, "It's not just about disrupting the order; we can also make the monkey take the blame. After all, he's the one appointed by Heaven to take the calamity. I've heard that the Great Heavenly Venerable's peaches are about to ripen?"

Yaochi nodded after hearing this: "Indeed, they are almost ripe. I wonder if you would like some peaches?"

Yin Ziyu nodded: "The peaches of immortality are useless to me. I've heard that the Great Celestial Venerable has peaches of immortality made from the water of Ren?"

Yaochi, unaware of Yin Ziyu's plans, nodded in agreement: "Indeed, there are Renshui Peaches of Immortality, with only nine appearing every 100,000 years!"

Yin Ziyu knew about this matter. Although there were nine thousand peach trees in Yaochi, some three thousand years old, some six thousand years old, and some nine thousand years old, these were nothing special. These were the outer branches of the Ren Water Peach Tree. There were only nine true Ren Water Peach Trees every hundred thousand years, which were the original source of the Ren Water element of the Five Elements spiritual root.

Its preciousness is beyond description!
Due to the fragmentation of the primordial world, the efficacy of the earth vein spiritual root ginseng fruit has been greatly reduced among the five great spiritual roots of the primordial world.

The Ren Water Peaches have always been in the Heavenly Court, so they are naturally unharmed. The Yellow Plums are with the Queen Mother of the West, and only nine of them mature every 100,000 years.

The Fusang tree, located in Tang Valley of Yingzhou in the East Sea, was controlled by the Jie Sect. The Bodhi tree transformed into Zhunti, which was the greatest achievement.

In fact, Jieyin was also transformed from an innate spiritual root, namely Kuzhu. He was born with the perfect law of suffering and sorrow, and sought ultimate bliss through suffering. This was the source of this path. Hongyun was moved upon first meeting him and gave up his holy position.

Yin Ziyu then asked, "Could you take out two?"

Yaochi asked in surprise, "Two? Could it be that you have another plan?"

After all, Yin Ziyu used two fruits as a medium to plan several major events in the Three Realms. From the two ginseng fruits at the beginning to the two nine-thousand-year-old peaches used to kill Dingguang Xian at the Ullambana Festival, it can be said to be a brilliant scheme that has shaken the Three Realms.

Yin Ziyu nodded: "Indeed, there is another plan. This plan requires going with the flow, pushing Sun Wukong to his limit, and then using this to seize this fortune. However, does Fellow Daoist agree to worship the Dao Ancestor in Heaven?"

Haotian and Yaochi seemed to understand what Yin Ziyu was going to do, and immediately said, "We two were appointed as Heavenly Emperors by the Dao Ancestor, so naturally we must worship the Dao Ancestor in the Heavenly Court!"

Yin Ziyu nodded: "That's excellent!"

"Could it be that you intend to use the Dao Ancestor to trigger cause and effect? ​​Is this appropriate?"

Yin Ziyu looked at Haotian Yaochi and said, "It's alright. Perhaps the two Great Celestial Venerables need to understand what the Dao Ancestor needs. Why did I agree to the two Great Celestial Venerables' plan to revise the Conferring of Gods? Some things are things I have personally experienced, and I cannot say more about them. However, I will handle this matter personally!"

Yaochi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but immediately said, "Good. The matter has been accomplished in secrecy. In that case, I will trouble you with everything, fellow Daoist!"

There are some things that can be done, but not said; they must be natural and flawless.

Yin Ziyu was fully aware that several sages were currently discussing matters in the Zixiao Palace.

When Nuwa went to Zixiao Palace, she had already told Yin Ziyu that the purpose of this meeting at Zixiao Palace was to compete for the title of God.

Since revising the Investiture of the Gods no longer allows opposition to Hongjun, the question then becomes: who will be appointed to lead key departments once the Heavenly Court becomes powerful?

Yin Ziyu was unaware of the discussions taking place in Zixiao Palace, but he had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

It is likely that the four sages, led by Laozi, represent the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun in demanding some distribution, which will involve a covert struggle.

Laozi and the others would naturally not have any conflict with Hongjun, but there would definitely be some covert competition, just like the squabbles between ministers and emperors.

Yin Ziyu basically believed that Laozi and the other three definitely represented the Dao of Heaven. This could be seen from the Dao of the Four Sages, as well as from the great calamities that have gone through the Lich Wars and the present day.

Fundamentally, since one is a sage of the Heavenly Way, one must be loyal to the Heavenly Way; to defy the Heavenly Way is not to be a sage of the Heavenly Way.

And what is Hongjun?
When Laozi asked Hongjun about the Dao, Hongjun clearly answered that Hongjun was the Dao, but the Dao was not Hongjun. This was what Hongjun told everyone when he merged with the Dao.

This means that Hongjun is part of the Heavenly Dao and can represent the Heavenly Dao, but the Heavenly Dao does not belong to Hongjun.

From this, Yin Ziyu realized that Laozi, not Hongjun, represented the interests of the Heavenly Dao. This conclusion also explains why, after the Investiture of the Gods ended, Hongjun punished all three Pure Ones equally, forcing them to consume the Fallen Saint Pill.

This is why, during the final battle of the Investiture of the Gods, Lao Tzu remained calm and indifferent to the opinions of the masses regarding right and wrong, and to the legitimacy of what Yin Ziyu had done.

This is also the reason why Yin Ziyu's shipwreck plan failed.

Now that all the capable ones are in Zixiao Palace, at this critical juncture, Yin Ziyu's schemes can be seen through by anyone but a sage.

We must seize this opportunity.

The news of the revised Investiture of the Gods was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves throughout the Heavenly Court.

Those who had been deified and held high positions but lacked virtue and spiritual cultivation were all in danger, filled with fear and unease. Among them, Empress Jiang was particularly panicked, as if the end of the world was about to come.

Like Jiang Shi, Chong Heihu and Boyi Kao were even more distraught, as if they had lost their parents, as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Jiang Shi paced back and forth in her palace, her expression flustered, her eyes revealing endless worry.

Just as Empress Jiang was filled with anxiety, the True Man Taiyi quietly appeared.

Taiyi Zhenren, dressed in a Taoist robe, with an air of otherworldly grace, looked calmly at Empress Jiang and slowly said, "Jiang, now that the Investiture of the Gods has been revised, with your current virtue and fortune, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to remain in the Heavenly Court."

Upon hearing this, Empress Jiang's face turned deathly pale, like a frightened bird. She hurriedly stepped forward and said anxiously, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty. I am willing to listen to your teachings. No matter what, I want to stay in the Heavenly Court!"

Taiyi Zhenren's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile. He said, "It's not entirely impossible to keep you in the Heavenly Court, but you need to prove your importance. When Haotian summons his ministers for a meeting, you can propose to offer amnesty to that stone monkey. This monkey is currently causing trouble in the Underworld and the Dragon Palace. If we can bring him back to the Heavenly Court, it will surely be a great achievement."

Upon hearing this, Empress Jiang felt as if she had grasped the last straw in the darkness. A glimmer of hope ignited in her eyes, and without hesitation, she immediately nodded in agreement.

Its importance lies in proving that the Heavenly Court cannot function without it.

At this time, the Purple Cloud Palace is discussing the conferment of gods, and the True Man Taiyi has given a glimmer of hope.

Not long after, at the court assembly, the memorials from the Dragon King of the East Sea and the King of Hell were presented to the Emperor.

Haotian's expression was solemn. He immediately summoned his ministers, glanced at them, and then asked first, "The demon monkey is causing havoc in the underworld and the Dragon Palace is acting recklessly. What do you, my esteemed ministers, think should be done about such behavior?"

At this moment, Doumu Yuanjun Jiang Shi hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, it would be better to offer him a state amnesty. This monkey is very powerful. If we can get him to serve in the Heavenly Court, it would be a good use of his talents and would add some assistance to the Heavenly Court."

Upon hearing this, Haotian turned his gaze to the members of the Chan Sect. He saw that Boyi Kao, Chong Heihu, and others stepped forward without hesitation and said, "We second that proposal!"

Haotian nodded slightly and then asked, "Since we are going to offer amnesty, what position should this monkey be given?"

Empress Jiang was prepared and quickly said, "We can grant him the position of Bi Ma Wen, who will be in charge of all matters of the Heavenly Court's Imperial Horse Administration. Although this position is not high, it will give that demon monkey something to do and allow him to make use of his abilities."

Haotian pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Alright, let Doumu Yuanjun deliver the decree on my behalf!"

That's right. According to Yin Ziyu's arrangement, Haotian will not bear any responsibility or cause and effect. In the future, if this monkey drags down a big one, Haotian can also exist as the aggrieved party.

Doumu Yuanjun immediately found the messenger and rushed to Huaguo Mountain.

At this time, the monkeys in Flower Fruit Mountain were frolicking and having a great time.

Upon hearing that an envoy from Heaven had arrived, Sun Wukong was overjoyed and somersaulted to the envoy's side. When he learned that the envoy was to serve as an official in Heaven, he was even more delighted, feeling that he had finally found an opportunity to realize his great ambitions. Without hesitation, he immediately set off with the envoy.

Before long, Sun Wukong arrived at the Heavenly Court.

Soon after learning that the official position he had been given was merely that of a stable boy named Bi Ma Wen, the Monkey King was instantly enraged. His fiery eyes glared like copper bells as he roared, "How dare you underestimate me, Old Sun!"

He immediately flung his official hat away and somersaulted straight back to Flower Fruit Mountain.

After returning to Flower Fruit Mountain, Sun Wukong once again raised the banner of the Demon King and continued to live a carefree life.

When the news spread, demon kings from all directions came to visit. Sun Wukong met with the demon kings, and after a hearty drinking and conversation, they immediately decided to become sworn brothers.

The group was full of high spirits and each called themselves the Great Sage.

Sun Wukong, brimming with pride, proclaimed himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and, with a wave of his hand, demanded that all other demon kings address him as the Great Sage.

Of course, the demon kings had no reason not to respond. So the Bull Demon King called himself the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, the Flood Dragon Demon King called himself the Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas, the Roc Demon King called himself the Great Sage Who Confounds Heaven, the Lion Camel King called himself the Great Sage Who Moves Mountains, the Macaque King called himself the Great Sage Who Knows All, and the Yu Rong King called himself the Great Sage Who Drives Away Gods.

After several rounds of drinks, the demon kings were in high spirits and wanted to compete to determine their seating order.

Suddenly, the weather on Flower Fruit Mountain changed color, and the demon kings each displayed their supernatural powers.

The Bull Demon King possessed immense strength, wielding his iron cudgel as if he could shatter the universe. The Flood Dragon Demon King unleashed his water-controlling powers, churning up rivers and seas, and unleashing a roaring water dragon. The Roc Demon King spread his wings and soared high, blotting out the sky and the sun, his sharp claws tearing through the void.

Sun Wukong also roused his spirits and wielded his golden cudgel with impenetrable skill, but after a round of competition, he found that he was ranked the lowest.

But the Monkey King was broad-minded by nature, and laughed heartily, saying, "What does ranking matter? With us brothers united, what is there to fear in this world!"

Haotian sat solemnly atop the Lingxiao Palace, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the assembled officials below. He asked in a loud voice, “My beloved ministers, Sun Wukong has openly proclaimed himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. This is an act of blasphemy against Heaven. Who is willing to lead an army to subdue him and uphold the majesty of Heaven?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Doumu Yuanjun Jiang Shi hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I think it would be better to offer him amnesty again. That Sun Wukong is just a wild monkey demon. If we bestow upon him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven, perhaps we can quell this conflict."

Upon hearing this, Haotian was immediately enraged. He slammed his fist on his imperial desk and shouted, "Absurd! How can a mere monkey demon be worthy of such a revered title as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? This is surely disrupting the order of the Heavenly Court!"

Jiang did not back down and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the title of Great Sage Equaling Heaven is ultimately just an empty name. Your Majesty only needs to assign him a minor position so that he can be subject to some authority. This will not only demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence but also eliminate disputes. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

As soon as Jiang finished speaking, the gods of the Chan Sect understood immediately and stepped forward to submit memorials in support of Jiang's words.

After hearing this, Haotian fell into deep thought. The hall fell silent as everyone held their breath, waiting for Haotian's decision.

After a moment, Haotian slowly said, "Very well, since that's the case, then bestow upon him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Hmm... let him guard the Peach Garden."

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, truly not expecting Haotian to make such an arrangement, sending a monkey to guard the Peach Garden.

However, upon closer examination, although the peaches in the Peach Garden are precious, for those lesser immortals, eating just one might significantly improve their cultivation.

However, for the great immortals, it is not indispensable and is of little importance.

This arrangement is a compromise.

At that moment, everyone came to their senses and immediately shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"

The way the monkey was treated this time was as arranged by Yin Ziyu, going with the flow, and Haotian basically bore no responsibility. Of course, there would be no Peach Banquet this time.

On this day, the Dao Ancestor's birthday arrived, and Yaochi and Haotian prepared to offer the Dao Ancestor peaches made of Ren water.

The Jade Pool of Heaven has always held sacrifices to the Dao Ancestor, with the day of his enlightenment being considered his birthday. However, since the Jade Pool of Heaven does not hold power, it is not a major festival of the Heavenly Court.

(End of this chapter)