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

The current state of the Three Realms is like the setting sun, with spiritual energy declining at an unstoppable pace.

After Mount Buzhou was destroyed, the innate spiritual energy that originally filled the world disappeared slowly, like the receding tide, leaving behind a mixed and chaotic spiritual energy.

These top-tier masters, by virtue of occupying the spiritual veins of the immortal mountains, are still able to maintain their cultivation in this predicament of scarce spiritual energy.

However, these sacred mountains and spiritual veins, like the few remaining isolated islands in the Three Realms, continuously release thin but vital spiritual energy to nourish these great gods.

However, the situation is not so optimistic for other immortals.

Without the nourishment of sufficient spiritual energy, the immortal body gradually decayed, and the signs of the five signs of decay of a celestial being became more and more obvious.

Without sufficient spiritual energy, the arrival of the Five Signs of Decay of Heaven and Man becomes even more rapid and cruel; this is the heart of all living beings.

It can be said that the collapse of Mount Buzhou during the Lich Wars led to a decline in spiritual energy, which gave rise to the Journey to the West phenomenon.

In other words, both the Investiture of the Gods and the Transformation of the Barbarians were designed to serve the Journey to the West and to change the ecology of the Three Realms.

This means replacing the increasingly depleted spiritual energy with the power of faith, and unfortunately, Yin Ziyu found himself on the opposite side of the trend.

If one tries to resist the prevailing trend without finding an alternative, one will inevitably be crushed by it.

In other words, no matter how much of an advantage Yin Ziyu held, if there was no alternative, he would inevitably fail. Yin Ziyu naturally understood this, but he did not show it during the discussion at Wuzhuang Temple.

This primordial world only has meaning because of the existence of all living beings. Whoever can solve the path of progress for all living beings will win the future.

The original Journey to the West went so smoothly because of the prevailing trend. The reason why the Supreme Lord Laozi helped promote the original Journey to the West was also because of the prevailing trend.

Faith must replace spirituality; this is the inevitable trend.

The method of deducing the secret realm was originally feasible, but it was not Yin Ziyu's own way, so it could only be used as a means to prove his own path, but could not be used for that purpose.

Yin Ziyu's goal, however, is to promote the path of progress he has opened up for all living beings.

Now that the Journey to the West has begun, the opportunity for success in the Mind Realm has arrived. Yin Ziyu's current goal is to attain enlightenment for himself, and the normal state of the Primordial World should return to the tranquility of the ancient times. However, to achieve this ideal, the first requirement is to reach the Primordial Chaos Realm!

Therefore, perfecting the realm of mind and winning the hearts of all beings is the path to primordial chaos. When the realm of mind is perfected in the future, it can break away from the primordial world and become a separate realm. The realm of mind and the material world can depend on each other but are not subordinate to each other.

However, the change in this primordial world is to clarify countless causes and effects, prove the Dao of Hunyuan, and at the same time complete the great reckoning since the beginning of the primordial world, pushing the end of Dharma to the ancient era. This is to complete the great cause and effect of all living beings, this is the great vow, and this is also the Dao of the Jie Sect.

While Yin Ziyu and Luo Shen were setting things up here, all parties in the Three Realms were paying attention to this first trial of the Journey to the West.

Sun Wukong was struck by the Demon Saint Ji Meng's attack. The immense force sent Sun Wukong flying backwards, like a meteor crashing to the ground, collapsing several towering mountains in succession.

Rocks crumbled, and billowing dust blotted out the sky.

Finally, after traveling countless miles, Sun Wukong crashed into a mountain with a loud "boom," instantly shattering the surrounding rocks into dust.

At this moment, Sun Wukong was covered in dust and dirt, looking utterly disheveled, with his tiger-skin skirt tattered and torn.

Sun Wukong's physical body was extremely strong. Although he was not injured, the shock in his heart was like a raging storm, and he was filled with indescribable astonishment and confusion.

Sun Wukong couldn't understand who this White Lady who appeared out of nowhere was, or why the phantom that appeared when she casually waved a banner possessed such terrifying power.

I am the mighty Monkey King, who has fought countless battles and fears neither heaven nor earth. When have I ever been defeated so easily?

In Sun Wukong's mind, although he was not invincible among the three realms' fighting forces, he was at least in the top ten. However, he felt so powerless now. All sorts of questions tangled and intertwined in Sun Wukong's mind, causing him to be confused for a moment.

At the same time, he was greatly shocked. Suddenly, Sun Wukong realized that it must be the power of the treasure.

Then he remembered that his master had been captured by that monster and his fate was unknown.

Anxious and distraught, Sun Wukong didn't bother to tidy up his disheveled appearance. With a somersault, he headed straight for Mount Luojia.

In the blink of an eye, Sun Wukong arrived at Mount Luojia.

Auspicious clouds and radiant light filled the mountains, accompanied by melodious music.

Sun Wukong frantically searched everywhere for Guanyin Bodhisattva, shouting loudly, "Bodhisattva!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva seemed to have been waiting there all along. She slowly emerged from a celestial mist, her face compassionate, and softly asked, "Wukong, why are you here on Mount Luojia instead of protecting your master on his journey to the West?"

Sun Wukong rushed forward and said urgently, "Bodhisattva, I, Old Sun, was passing through the Kingdom of Wuji when I encountered a demon who called herself Lady White Snake. That demon was truly despicable, actually driving out all the monks in the entire kingdom. How could I, Old Sun, tolerate such rampage? I immediately prepared to kill this demon. But for some reason, Lady White Snake produced a gourd from somewhere and actually blocked my golden cudgel. Then, a flag flew out of the gourd, and when the flag unfurled, a monster with a dragon's head and a human body appeared. Before I, Old Sun, could react, I was struck and sent flying, crashing into several mountains! Bodhisattva, since I wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, apart from Buddha and Zhenyuanzi, I have never suffered such a crushing defeat. What kind of treasure is this? I, Old Sun, have only ever felt this powerless before Buddha and Zhenyuanzi!"

Guanyin was also troubled at this moment, having to cover it up with lies again, but as the journey to the West progressed, Sun Wukong would surely gradually learn some of the truths about the Three Realms.

Now that Yin Ziyu has made his move, Guanyin is extremely cautious, because the Investiture of the Gods has been revised. Although it seems like a minor difficulty, if she dies, she will truly be granted the title of a god.

Unexpectedly, the first thing they did was use the Demon-Summoning Banner. Even Sun Wukong, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, would be no match for someone with the Demon-Summoning Banner.

After all, Sun Wukong, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, was promoted by taking medicine and did not have the understanding of laws and the accumulation of Dao fruits. He was a large-scale Taiyi Golden Immortal and indeed could not compete with Bai Suzhen, who was holding the top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Demon-Summoning Banner.

Both being early-stage Great Luo Golden Immortals, Mi Fei could easily defeat Bai Suzhen, who was wielding a demon-summoning banner, even with her bare hands. Despite being at the same early stage of Great Luo, their abilities were worlds apart.

Guanyin understood that the upheaval in Wuji Kingdom was the first tribulation that had begun after the Daoist discussion at Wuzhuang Temple, and it was of great importance, so she had to deal with it with utmost care.

At present, this White Lady is only at the Golden Immortal level. If our side rashly sends a more powerful figure to take action, the opponent will also upgrade the tribulation. For a moment, Guanyin was secretly troubled.

After all, dealing with a great calamity is a complex process. If the opponent sends out a Golden Immortal and your side sends out a Quasi-Saint, then the opponent will inevitably also send out a Quasi-Saint, ultimately escalating the Journey to the West into a battle of Quasi-Saints right at the beginning. Since neither side is weak, if the invited level is too high, it will immediately escalate to a final battle, which is not good for either side.

The Buddhist side's aim is to increase the difficulty of Yin Ziyu's journey to the West and gain more merit, while Yin Ziyu's side is to complete their plan step by step. It won't do for both sides to use their ultimate moves with just a basic attack.

Guanyin couldn't help but ponder the key issue at hand.

Sun Wukong asked anxiously, and Guanyin closed her eyes slightly, pinched her jade fingers lightly, and muttered incantations. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes and explained, "Wukong, this person's cultivation is actually far inferior to yours, but the treasure in her hand is truly powerful, a top-grade innate spiritual treasure."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong scratched his head and asked with a puzzled look, "Bodhisattva, what is a top-grade innate spiritual treasure? I, Old Sun, have never heard of such a term before!"

Guanyin, with a gentle expression, patiently explained, "Wukong, do you know that the Buddha's lotus platform and the Earth Book offered by the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi are both spiritual treasures of this level? They are the most powerful and top-tier spiritual treasures in the Three Realms, possessing immense power to destroy the heavens and the earth and reverse the course of destiny."

Sun Wukong suddenly realized, slapped his forehead and said, "No wonder! I thought this monster's cultivation was inferior to mine, yet he managed to block my golden cudgel. It turns out it's the most powerful treasure in the Three Realms! But even with my fiery eyes, I couldn't tell what kind of monster this person was!"

Guanyin smiled slightly and said, "This person is a white snake demon. However, she has never eaten humans, nor has she ever been tainted by any other blood. Her cultivation method is not evil, so there is no demonic aura on her body. It is normal that you cannot tell."

Sun Wukong was taken aback at first, then clicked his tongue and said, "The White Snake, so she's a snake spirit! Could it be that she took over this Wuji Kingdom just to gain the faith of its people?"

Guanyin nodded gently and replied, "That's exactly right."

Sun Wukong scratched his head again, looking troubled, and said, "Bodhisattva, this white snake demon has kidnapped my master. What should I do? Her treasure is extremely powerful, and I, Old Sun, really can't do anything about it!"

After some thought, Guanyin made up her mind and said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, you should follow this humble monk to see the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha!"

Sun Wukong, filled with curiosity, scratched his head and asked, "Bodhisattva, who is this Great Sun Tathagata Buddha? I've never heard of him before."

Guanyin, with a solemn and dignified expression, explained: "The Great Sun Tathagata Buddha is the most revered Buddha in our Buddhist sect, second only to the Tathagata Buddha. His cultivation is unfathomable, and his Buddhist teachings are boundless."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong exclaimed in surprise, "The Buddhist sect is truly formidable! They have Bodhisattvas, Buddha Tathagata, Dipankara Buddha, and I never imagined they would have this Great Sun Tathagata Buddha! I wonder how many other masters they have."

However, Guanyin did not offer any further explanation and led Sun Wukong straight towards Wuchao.

Upon arriving at Wuchao, Sun Wukong looked up and was immediately filled with surprise, exclaiming, "Bodhisattva, why does this place look like a bird's nest?"

Guanyin's face darkened, and she immediately rebuked him, "Wukong, don't talk nonsense! This is a sacred place, don't spout nonsense."

Sun Wukong was immediately alarmed and quickly shut his mouth.

The two continued on their way and soon arrived at the nest of crows.

The crow's nest truly resembled an enormous bird's nest, surrounded by a powerful and majestic solar energy. The intense heat emanating from it seemed capable of melting everything in the world.

During the brief period when the Chan Sect occupied Yingzhou, Lu Ya cut down some branches of the Fusang tree, and the nest was built with branches of the Fusang tree. However, after the Jie Sect reclaimed Yingzhou, the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha could never take back the Fusang tree in Tang Valley.

The heat was truly astonishing, making Sun Wukong feel extremely uncomfortable all over, and he retreated repeatedly, not daring to approach easily.

Guanyin, with a respectful expression, bowed slightly and said in a clear voice, "This humble monk pays respects to the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a monk slowly opened his eyes inside the bird's nest.

In an instant, a dazzling light shone forth, and behind it, a three-legged golden crow seemed to be flapping its wings, ready to take flight.

The monk slowly spoke: "So it is the Bodhisattva Guanyin who has arrived!"

Guanyin bowed slightly and introduced, "The Great Sun Tathagata Buddha, this is Wukong."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong quickly bowed and respectfully said, "Sun Wukong greets the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha!"

The Great Sun Buddha nodded slightly, looking at Sun Wukong with gentle eyes, and said, "So it's Wukong. Guanyin Bodhisattva brought Wukong here. What brings you here?"

Guanyin looked worried and sighed, saying, "This time, Wukong encountered a predicament in Wuji Kingdom. The White Snake Demon actually used the Demon-Summoning Banner to defeat Wukong. This matter is of great importance and must be brought to the attention of the Buddha."

Upon hearing this, the Buddha's expression instantly turned solemn, and a gloomy look appeared on his originally peaceful face.

Then, her expression gradually darkened, and her brows furrowed tightly, while Guanyin quietly watched as the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha made his decision.

Sun Wukong, filled with curiosity, could not contain himself and approached Guanyin, lowering his voice to ask, "Bodhisattva, what's wrong with the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha? Why does he suddenly look like this?"

Guanyin glanced sideways, her eyes carrying a hint of warning, and said softly, "Wukong, do not ask any more questions. Let us hear how the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha will decide."

At this moment, the Great Sun Buddha slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing, and looked at Guanyin, asking, "Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, in your opinion, how should this matter be viewed?"

Guanyin's expression was solemn. She sighed again and said, "This is the cause and effect of the Buddha, and this humble monk dares not comment. However, in this humble monk's opinion, the Demon-Summoning Banner is a supreme spiritual treasure formed by gathering the essence of many demon saints from the innate gourd. And this white snake, who can wield this treasure, may be the future emperor."

Guanyin's words struck the heart of Vairocana Buddha like a heavy hammer.

This caused the Great Sun Buddha's expression to instantly become extremely serious, his face shifting between solemn and worried.

Sun Wukong was puzzled. He looked at the Great Sun Buddha with suspicion, then at Guanyin, not understanding why the Bodhisattva's words made the Great Sun Buddha react in this way.

Guanyin naturally considered the cause and effect of this, and the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha was also in great danger.

This Demon-Summoning Banner was created after the Lich War, when Nuwa collected the wills of countless fallen demon saints and the wills of the demon race and fused them into a gourd she obtained from Buzhou Mountain, thus becoming this top-grade innate spiritual treasure.

Whoever wields the Demon-Summoning Banner possesses the will of the ancient demon race, a supreme treasure comparable to the demon race's Emperor Sword, the Kongtong Seal, and belonging exclusively to the Demon Emperor. (End of Chapter)