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

Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang and their disciples embarked on their journey to the West again. The Buddha's words temporarily solidified Sun Wukong's trust in Buddhism.

However, Sun Wukong was still filled with doubts, especially about the thrilling conflict between the real and fake Monkey Kings. He truly felt that he was in a desperate situation with no way out.

This question lingered in Sun Wukong's mind like a shadow, refusing to leave.

As they continued their westward journey, the group of master and disciples traveled in silence. Tang Sanzang still harbored doubts about the events in Chechi Kingdom and couldn't help but ask Sun Wukong, "Wukong, according to you, are all the troubles that happened in Chechi Kingdom really the fault of the monks?"

Sun Wukong, recalling the chaos in Chechi Kingdom, was filled with rage and said fiercely, "Those monks from Wuji Kingdom are truly despicable! No wonder they were driven out of Wuji Kingdom and fled to Chechi Kingdom, where they committed such heinous acts as raising bandits, causing Chechi Kingdom to be rife with thieves and the people to live in misery!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang felt a pang of sorrow and couldn't help but sigh, "How could this be? Monks should be compassionate, why are these monks like this!"

At this moment, Pigsy chuckled and said nonchalantly, "Master, there are so many monks in the world, it's inevitable that there will be places that tarnish the reputation of Buddhism. Although such things are not common, it's normal for them to happen occasionally."

Tang Sanzang shook his head slightly after hearing Zhu Bajie's words, his expression somber: "Bajie, even one instance is enough to cause countless people to misunderstand our Buddhist sect. We bear the heavy responsibility of obtaining the scriptures, which is to promote Buddhism and enable all beings to understand the right path. We must not allow such evil deeds to proliferate unchecked."

The calamity in Chechi Kingdom still had a significant impact. Not long ago, the fortune of Mount Ling collapsed. It should be noted that the perfection of Mount Ling's fortune came from the conversion of the barbarians, which opened up the path from the Saha world to the Pure Land, established Mahayana Buddhism, and, with the help of the great power of faith, brought the fortune of the West to its perfect state. Countless people on Mount Ling even broke through to the Quasi-Saint level in their cultivation.

This is how powerful this fortune is.

However, due to the delay, the masses believed that this path of faith was nothing more than drinking poison to quench thirst, just as Yin Ziyu had predicted.

Furthermore, the Mind Realm, which is the opposite of Mount Ling, was born, which divided the uniqueness of Mount Ling and ultimately led to the failure of replacing Sun Wukong, causing Sun Wukong to lose his restraint and resort to deception with lies.

All beings in the Three Realms could see through it. Deception may last for a time, but it will eventually be exposed. With the beings no longer accepting it, the perfect fortune of Mount Ling finally dissipated from Mount Ling outwards.

It can be said that the Three Realms originally had no fortune, but the first to benefit from the dissipation of fortune from Mount Ling were the beings of Xiniu Hezhou. The rise and fall of the Three Realms all depend on the flow of fortune.

The spiritual mountain cannot recover the scattered fortune. It is similar to a delisted company that is about to be eliminated. If you want it to be revived, it needs to have more advanced products that are recognized by all living beings.

It can be said that after the Lich King, when the world was no longer able to sustain all living beings, all living beings became the ladder for advancement for everything.

To succeed, one must have something that can be accepted by all beings. In the struggle between the seductive world of Samsara and the idealistic mind of beings, faith has clearly lost ground.

If Lingshan wants to reabsorb the scattered fortune, it must truly offend the source. But can Lingshan do that?
The fundamental principle of the Ling Mountain's power originates from the ruthless Dao. No matter how innovative new ideas are developed, they cannot transcend the fundamental principle of the ruthless Dao.

It can be said that since Mount Ling could not restore the scattered fortune, this immense fortune dissipated among all living beings.

Although the fortune of Mount Ling was maintained by the Supreme Lord Laozi borrowing the fortune of Heaven, it was ultimately only barely maintained.

This immense fortune, like a surging tide, began at the center of Xiniuhezhou and spread wildly outwards with overwhelming force.

In an instant, the entire Xiniu Hezhou seemed to be swept into an invisible storm, affecting all living beings.

Amidst this fluctuation in fortune, countless people in Xiniu Hezhou broke through their bottlenecks and achieved higher levels of cultivation.

If one has good fortune, any cultivation method will be greatly enhanced. If spiritual energy is insufficient, one can refine the body, absorb the essence of blood and flesh, or even cultivate demonic arts, and so on.

The immense fortune of Xiniu Hezhou spread out, causing all beings in the Three Realms to sense it and come to Xiniu Hezhou in search of opportunities.

This immense fortune quickly merged with the calamity energy and began to sweep across the Three Realms, starting from Mount Ling. The first place to be impacted was the Lion Camel Kingdom.

Meanwhile, in the gloomy land of Lion Camel Kingdom, tens of thousands of demons, stimulated by the torrent of fortune, also gained an increase in their cultivation by devouring flesh and blood.

The Lion Camel Kingdom is like a hell standing on earth. It has existed for hundreds of years, and no one can or dares to interfere.

From afar, the city looked eerie and terrifying, with countless white bones hanging on the walls, making a chilling sound in the wind.

A thick stench of blood permeated the city, like a tangible blood mist, shrouding the entire city in deathly silence and terror.

Upon entering Lion Camel City, the streets are littered with severed limbs, and internal organs and bits of flesh are scattered everywhere, resembling a hellish arena on earth.

The houses were dilapidated, many still burning with embers that flickered in the blood mist, adding to the eeriness. The rivers within the city no longer flowed with clear water, but with inky red blood, emitting a nauseating stench.

Demons and monsters roam freely in the streets and alleys.

The ferocious werewolves were devouring the corpses, blood dripping from their sharp fangs; the serpent demon twisted its enormous body, its tongue flicking out and releasing suffocating poison.

And then there was the bear demon, whose body was as large as a mountain. With each step it took, the ground trembled, and everything in its path was crushed into dust.

The palace in Lion Camel City was even more terrifying. The beams and pillars of the palace were made of human spines, and the decorations inside were all made of human skin. Countless terrified eyes were embedded in the blood-red walls, as if telling the tragic stories of their lives.

At this moment, under the influence of the calamity's aura, the Roc of Lion Camel City, with an excitement bordering on madness, gazed at the immense fortune that permeated the heavens and earth due to the collapse of Mount Ling's fortune, and laughed loudly: "Hahahaha, Mount Ling's fortune has collapsed, what immense fortune! So be it. Even if Mount Ling perishes, I, the Great King, cannot sit idly by and wait for death. I must create an earth-shattering achievement! Hmph, my elder brother, renowned throughout the world, looks down on me, but I, the Great King, will also use this fortune to achieve something great. Such a massive fortune must be seized!"

The Golden-Winged Roc curled a cruel smile at the corner of its mouth and immediately decided: "Since the spiritual energy is insufficient, the little demon must cultivate with its flesh and blood essence!"

At that moment, the Great Roc spread its wings, creating a fierce wind. With its supreme demonic power, it summoned all the lesser demons and roared, "My children! Follow me, your great king, to conquer all directions, seize more flesh and blood, and strengthen our power!"

In an instant, the demons responded, surging out of Lion Camel City like a black tide, sweeping in all directions. The entire Western Continent of Hezhou was plunged into utter chaos at this moment.

At this time, the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West seemed to be nothing major compared to the previous Great Tribulations, and would not affect sentient beings. However, after the fortune of Mount Ling collapsed, the entire Great Tribulation began to explode.

The Lion Camel Kingdom, having suffered a collapse of its fortune, became the source of the great calamity. Like a malignant tumor, it continued to expand amidst the chaos, releasing an evil aura that spread rapidly like a surging undercurrent.

The aura of the great calamity, as if drawn by this evil force, began to condense frantically, centered on the Lion Camel Kingdom.

This immense calamity energy carries a terrifying power that affects the minds of all living beings; wherever it passes, space is distorted and spiritual energy is disordered.

Its inherent chaotic and destructive will rapidly spread outwards from the Lion Camel Kingdom at the foot of Mount Ling. This calamity energy contains the dissipated fortune of Mount Ling. Anyone seeking advancement will inevitably enter the calamity, and countless beings in the Three Realms will be affected by it.

Under the corrosive influence of the Great Calamity, the beings of Xiniu Hezhou fell into mental confusion and began to kill each other.

Stimulated by this aura, the demon race became even more ferocious and bloodthirsty.

Led by the Roc, the demons of the Lion Camel Kingdom surged forth like a black tide, attacking all directions with even greater frenzy. Wherever they went, life was ravaged and death reigned.

The collapse of the Buddhist community's fortune and the triggering of a great calamity were naturally seen by all parties, and all parties reacted accordingly.

Zhen Yuanzi stood in front of the Wuzhuang Temple, his gaze fixed solemnly on the surging, ink-black aura of calamity.

The calamities of the Lich King and the Investiture of the Gods were just as intense, ultimately resulting in the collapse of Mount Buzhou and the shattering of the primordial land.

Now, this immense calamity, which has been accumulating since the beginning of the Journey to the West, is finally beginning to coalesce.

The condensation of the calamity's energy in this great calamity can be described as follows: the Buddha lost his power and could not control it, so the world chased after it, and thus the energy of the great calamity gathered.

This aura was like a huge gloom, rapidly devouring the peace of the world.

Zhen Yuanzi shook his head slightly, holding the Investiture of the Gods, and couldn't help but sigh: "The Great Tribulation has finally begun. All living beings are killing each other, and this is the beginning of the Great Tribulation. The decisive battle between the East and the West will probably be the end of all this."

Zhen Yuanzi's voice was deep and resonant, as if filled with endless emotion. Having witnessed all the great calamities of the primordial world, Zhen Yuanzi was also solemn at this moment, wondering how many people had died because of these calamities.

Upon hearing this, the Daoist Qiongtian, standing nearby, also sighed with a somber expression, "The collapse of Buddhism's fortune is the cause of this calamity. Who could have imagined that this collapsing fortune would mix with the energy of the Great Calamity, and then sweep across the Three Realms like a raging torrent? Originally, it was just a contest between the Jie Sect and Buddhism over the Journey to the West, but no one expected it would trigger such a tremendous change. It seems that in the future, the East and the West will inevitably face that final battle."

Zhen Yuanzi shook his head helplessly and said slowly, "In the past, during the Investiture of the Gods, the Chan Sect failed to completely annihilate the Jie Sect and the Yin Shang Dynasty, which sowed the seeds of karma. Now it seems that the great calamity battle triggered by the Journey to the West is ultimately unavoidable. This struggle for the Great Dao will eventually be resolved in this great calamity. However, I wonder who will emerge victorious and who will be defeated in this upcoming fierce great calamity battle."

Yes, everything else is fake. In the end, it is still a struggle over the Great Dao. Whether it is the Dao of the Heart or a glimmer of hope, it is a Great Dao. And whether it is the Human Teaching, the Chan Teaching, or Buddhism, it is a Great Dao.

The original Journey to the West calamity was simply about spreading the Dao, while the current calamity is a continuation of the Great Dao struggle in the Investiture of the Gods.

Since the outcome is a struggle over the Great Dao, it is inevitable that the calamity energy will eventually converge and reach its peak, so there is no need to worry about how the fuse is lit.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Qiongtian sighed, "Brother Dao, you are a ruler of the world, why sigh so much about this matter? After the Great Tribulation, with your cultivation and prestige, you will preside over the Investiture of the Gods, enjoying immense prestige. Such a situation is truly enviable!"

The increase in the aura of the Great Calamity is being discussed throughout the Three Realms, but for the great gods who have experienced it several times, they are all observing and waiting, as this is only the initial evolution of the Great Calamity.

As the aura of the Great Calamity swept through, Luo Shen's expression turned solemn. She took out the brocade pouch left by Yin Ziyu and said with a distraction, "Ziyu, now the fortune of Mount Ling is collapsing and merging with the aura of the Great Calamity. Chaos is imminent in Xiniu Hezhou. The demons of the Lion Camel Kingdom have been entrenched for five hundred years and are now beginning to slaughter all directions."

Upon hearing this, Yin Ziyu remained calm and immediately said, "Since the aura of the great calamity has already gathered, let Bai Suzhen raise the flag to summon demons at the Bull Demon King's place!"

Golden Spirit Mother raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze sharp and discerning, seeing through Yin Ziyu's thoughts. She asked, "Ziyu, are you planning to use the demon race led by Bai Suzhen as a weapon, while we provide support from behind, helping them achieve their great cause?"

Yin Ziyu nodded slightly and said, "The demon race has been lying low for a long time, and it will eventually have to raise its own banner. Now, the Lion Camel Kingdom has become the source of the great calamity, wreaking havoc on the Three Realms. If Bai Suzhen can lead the demon race to attack the Lion Camel Kingdom, not only can the crisis in Xiniu Hezhou be resolved, but the demon race can also take advantage of this opportunity to rise. And the Buddhist sect will not allow the Lion Camel Kingdom to be destroyed."

A hint of approval flashed in Luo Shen's eyes. She made a quick decision and said, "Good! There's no time to lose, I'll go and make the arrangements now."

Yin Ziyu's gaze was deep, and he continued, "Let Yang Chan go to Tongtian River to patrol again! Tongtian River is currently turbulent, and we must be on guard. Yang Chan has the Lotus Lantern to protect her and can ensure the peace of the area."

Following Yin Ziyu's instructions, everyone quickly began to implement the measures to deal with the great calamity. At this moment, the atmosphere on Mount Jiju was solemn and dignified.

The Bull Demon King, dressed in a black robe and with a respectful expression, was quietly waiting for someone with many powerful demons.

Before long, Bai Suzhen arrived gracefully, holding a demon-summoning banner.

In an instant, the Bull Demon King and the other five Great Sages bowed and paid their respects.

Bai Suzhen's gaze swept over the assembled demons, and she said solemnly, "Since the decisive battle between the Lich King and the Demon King, our demon race has been in decline ever since. Now, countless demons are wantonly devouring flesh and blood, deepening the hatred between humans and demons. The Lion Camel Kingdom in the west is nothing but a den of demons, yet it commits atrocities under the banner of the demon race. If we do not take action, the demon race will surely be dragged into an abyss of no return. Today, I have come here with the Demon-Summoning Banner to gather the demon race and jointly punish this den of demons, the Lion Camel Kingdom!"

The Bull Demon King stepped forward first, his voice booming like thunder: "Since Fairy Bai has come here with the Lady's Demon-Summoning Banner, I, the Bull Demon King, will certainly give my full support to Fairy Bai! For the future of the demon race, I, the Bull Demon King, will not hesitate to die a thousand deaths!"

The Great Sage of Chaos immediately shouted, "The Lion Camel Kingdom of the West, this is not a demon at all, this is a monster! This Golden-Winged Roc is said to be Kong Xuan's younger brother, and for hundreds of years no one has dared to interfere with him!"

After hearing this, Bai Suzhen asked, "In the past few hundred years, the Buddhist sect has not launched any attacks?"

"The Heavenly Court once launched a campaign against them, but the entire army was wiped out. I believe that the very existence of the Lion Camel Kingdom is an attempt to exterminate my demon race and confuse demons, thus making the word 'demon' a synonym for evil in the Three Realms!"

Bai Suzhen nodded in agreement: "What the Great Sage Hun Tian says is quite right. That's what I thought too. The Lion Camel Kingdom has existed for five hundred years to destroy the fortune of the demon race. Now that the fortune of Mount Ling has collapsed, it has benefited from it and is attacking all sides. If the demon race wants to gather its fortune again and stand between heaven and earth, it must destroy the Lion Camel Kingdom!" The Bull Demon King pondered: "Fairy Bai, what exactly is the connection between the Golden-Winged Roc and Buddhism?"

After hearing this, Bai Suzhen said, "Although Kong Xuan is her brother, he is not a member of the demon race. So, they are related, yet not related!"

The Bull Demon King sighed, "These green lions and white elephants were once the Qiu Shou Xian and Ling Ya Xian of the Jie Sect. Now that they have arrived at Lion Camel Ridge, I fear this will be a blow to the remaining members of the Jie Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Suzhen took a deep breath: "What a brilliant plan! By making Kong Xuan's younger brother king and the disciples of the Jie Sect kings, we can destroy the demon race's fortune and damage the Jie Sect's reputation. This will allow them to abandon their allegiance cleanly. In any case, we must immediately gather demons in the mountains and annihilate Lion Camel Ridge!"

The other Great Sages also responded one after another, expressing their full support in unison, and their impassioned voices echoed through the valley.

Now that the Great Tribulation has arrived, and the Lion Camel Kingdom has swept across the land, it is the perfect opportunity to vindicate the demon race. This time, Goddess Nuwa is also actively planning for the affairs of the Three Realms. In the past, Goddess Nuwa did not plan ahead and thus lost the initiative step by step.

At this time, Goddess Nuwa sent two people down to the mortal realm. One was Bai Suzhen, the left and right protectors, whose main task was to unite the demon race. The other was Yang Chan, a personal disciple who was also a half-human, half-god, representing Nuwa in matters concerning the human race.

Now that the root cause of the slaughter of all living beings in the Three Realms has appeared, the gathering of demons in the mountains, which is on the side of good, is also a major event that will shake the Three Realms.

Bai Suzhen stood atop Mount Jiju, her demon-summoning banner fluttering in the wind. The great maxims on the banner flickered, and the spirit of an ancient demon resounded in all directions, conveying a summons to all demons in the Three Realms.

In an instant, the world changed dramatically, and from all directions, countless demonic figures began to converge on Accumulation Mountain.

The ancient Bifang clan came from the extremely yang land in the south. This clan resembles a red-crowned crane, but their bodies are engulfed in blue flames. These flames are not ordinary fire, but the Bifang Divine Fire, which contains the purest and most yang power between heaven and earth.

Chief Bifang led his clan's elites in a high-flying flight, flames dancing like a cloak, distorting the void wherever they passed.

The Nine-Headed Serpent Clan also arrived in Beiju Luzhou. The patriarch of the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan inherited the strange form of his ancestors. His nine heads either spewed flames or sprayed ice. The interplay of ice and fire demonstrated his control over the primordial power of heaven and earth. His enormous body was winding and twisting, like a moving mountain range. Wherever he passed, vegetation was destroyed and rivers changed course, demonstrating the awe-inspiring ferocity of the ancient demon race.

The ancient demon race gathered at Jicheng Mountain, forming two opposing camps with the Lion Camel Kingdom not far away. This also served to tell the Three Realms that the demon race is the demon race, and those who cultivate by consuming human essence are demons, and cannot be compared with each other.

The gathering of demons by the demon race is indeed alarming to the Buddhist sect, because if the demon race successfully wipes out the Lion Camel Kingdom, the entire Xiniu Hezhou will likely fall into the hands of the demon race.

The current collapse of fortune has first thrown the West into chaos, while the demons of Jiji Mountain have become a force for justice, which is something that Buddhism fears.

This immense calamity, combined with the surrounding fortune, swept across Xiniu Hezhou, affecting all living beings. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Tongtian River, a goldfish spirit laughed loudly, "Hahahaha! I never imagined that absorbing the blood and essence of young boys and girls would actually improve my cultivation! It's truly wondrous!" A mandarin fish spirit beside him quickly flattered, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! In that case, the simple Chen Family Village is probably no longer enough for Your Majesty to further improve your cultivation. Perhaps we should search along the Tongtian River for more villages and towns; only then can Your Majesty's cultivation improve even faster."

Upon hearing this, the goldfish spirit frowned and snorted, "This great king is here waiting for the pilgrims. Eating a few children is merely a trivial matter. But if, as you say, I'm searching for villages and towns everywhere, that won't do, absolutely not!"

The mandarin fish spirit, however, was not giving up and continued to persuade, "Your Majesty, these mortals are nothing more than food for us to enjoy. Why be so concerned? I have heard that five hundred years ago, the Lion Camel Kingdom in the west was turned upside down by three great demons, and all the people of the kingdom were devoured."

Upon hearing the words of the mandarin fish spirit, a sinister and greedy glint flashed in the carp spirit's eyes. After a moment's thought, it slammed its hand on the table and shouted, "This is an opportunity not to be missed! Men, convey my order: capture 10,000 boys and girls along the Tongtian River, and make them all be presented to me by the fifteenth of July!"

Having devoured people for ten years, the carp spirit had become incredibly audacious. Its voice, like a booming bell, echoed through the cave at the bottom of the Tongtian River, exuding an undeniable ruthlessness.

Upon hearing this, the old woman quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

After speaking, the old woman with the mandarin ducks flashed away and hurriedly went to carry out the order.

Countless lesser demons immediately obeyed the order and began collecting young boys and girls along the banks of the Tongtian River.

It is important to understand that the influence of the Lion Camel Kingdom is enormous. A demon king has countless lesser demons under his command. When the king stops acting, the lesser demons will seek out other kings, because ambition is an innate quality of all living beings.

The influence of the Great Calamity is now intensifying, and the incident in Lion Camel Kingdom is no longer an isolated case, but a widespread phenomenon.

In an instant, the entire Tongtian River seemed to be stirred up by an invisible and terrifying force, and immediately began to boil.

A colossal wave rose in the Tongtian River, its crest reaching tens of feet high, resembling a pack of ferocious beasts, crashing madly towards both banks.

The land along the river, from the once peaceful and tranquil Chenjiazhuang all the way to the villages and towns along the Tongtian River, was shrouded in this sudden change.

The monsters swarmed out, transforming into streaks of black shadows that darted through the streets and alleys along the riverbank.

Wherever they went, chaos ensued, and the terrified cries of the people instantly echoed through the sky.

The villagers kept their doors and windows tightly shut, but they couldn't stop the monsters from wreaking havoc.

Those poor boys and girls were forcibly abducted from their homes by monsters. Their parents cried out in despair, but they could not stop this human tragedy from happening.

The entire Tongtian River basin was plunged into chaos and fear.

Every household was terrified by the monster demanding young boys and girls, and despair and helplessness were written all over people's faces.

Meanwhile, the monsters ran rampant in the chaos, waiting for the fifteenth of July to offer these ten thousand boys and girls as sacrifices to the carp spirit who occupied the Tongtian River God's Palace.

Although this journey to the West has undergone great changes, with various monsters along the way changing, there are still some things that remain the same.

Wuji Kingdom planned for thirty years in advance, Chechi Kingdom for twenty years, Tongtian River for ten years, while Shituo Kingdom planned for five or six hundred years.

Everything else has changed dramatically, and Yin Ziyu won't make many arrangements for places that are not of great significance. The only places he will make arrangements for are a few important ones.

After the goddess Luo arranged for Bai Suzhen to go to Jicheng Mountain to exorcise the demon, she came to Tongtian River with Yang Chan.

As soon as Yang Chan and Luo Shen arrived, they were shocked by the tragic scene at the Tongtian River.

Yang Chan's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Goddess of the Luo River, why is it so tragic! Mortals are powerless to fight back, and this demon is fearless in eating people."

The Goddess of the Luo River looked somber and sighed softly, saying, "The Three Realms are in such a state now, not just the Tongtian River. The overwhelming force is like a stone falling into an abyss, which is why such a great calamity has been caused."

Yang Chan was taken aback, her eyes filled with doubt, and asked, "Goddess Luo, what exactly does 'the force of the falling is like a stone falling into an abyss' mean?"

Luo Shen's gaze was profound as she slowly explained, "The Chan Sect has always despised beings whose origins are acquired. The Chan Sect's own way inevitably leads to a dog-eat-dog world, where the strong dominate the weak. The authority of those in power accumulates day by day, while the lower beings accumulate endless resentment. The innate beings despise the acquired beings, and the immortals, high above, despise mortals. This is like a boulder falling into an abyss; once this trend begins, it is unstoppable!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Chan was suddenly struck by a jolt, muttering to herself, "Is this the hidden danger that followed the Investiture of the Gods? How can we avert it?"

The goddess sighed but did not answer, for to salvage the situation, one must change one's attitude towards all living beings from the very beginning.

The Tongtian River was in even greater turmoil than before. Why would the Buddhist sect, knowing that Yin Ziyu would participate in the Journey to the West, still allow some people who trample on mortals to exist? Weren't they afraid that Yin Ziyu would use this to his advantage?

This is what happened after the Investiture of the Gods; the order changed, and the status of mortals had plummeted to rock bottom.

It should be understood that the importance lies not in the deaths of a few mortals, but in the overall significance, since the mortals' views on good and evil differ from those of the great gods, and also from those of the Heavenly Way.

In fact, whether it's Wuji Kingdom or Chechi Kingdom, it doesn't mean much. The Buddha only wanted to appease Sun Wukong and let Ananda and Kasyapa be on the list after such a terrible Buddhist disaster in Chechi Kingdom.

This is not an explanation to all living beings, but only an explanation to Sun Wukong.

No matter how many mortals die, it doesn't matter much. So the difficulty set up by Buddhism is not stupid. Yin Ziyu's response is to pull it to a higher level of negation.

The deities of the Three Realms have now developed a deep-seated contempt for all living beings, a contempt that has been ingrained in their very bones since the Investiture of the Gods. It is safe to say that if Yin Ziyu were to use this as a pretext, even the most naive deities of the Three Realms would be astonished.

Mortals are already at the bottom of the food chain. Even if they are eaten or killed, it will not cause any surprise to any high-level cultivators. This is the cruelest part, because it has become a consensus among the immortals and gods of the Three Realms.

Simply standing up for ordinary people will inevitably be ridiculed; it requires a higher level of meaning to do so.

how so?

Even in the eyes of the lowest immortals, mortals are nothing more than the most lowly beings in the world.

Immortals can look down upon the mortal world with their extraordinary and otherworldly demeanor, and what mortals carry are things that immortals find utterly detestable.

In the eyes of immortals, mortals possess six kinds of yin substances: saliva, mucus, semen, qi, blood, and fluids. Among them, excrement, urine, and farts emit a nauseating stench, while turbid fluids and foreign objects contain indescribable foulness. Karmic obstacles are like a thick haze, shrouding the soul of mortals.

The various stench emanating from mortals is like rotten grease, permeating the air with a pungent aroma. The fishy smell is as if it has just been pulled from a pool of blood, carrying a bloody stench. That stench is a filthy stench that penetrates to the bone marrow, mixed with the most unbearable smells in the world.

The turbid air is like a haze before chaos is cleared, suffocating people, while the evil air is the condensation of evil and sin, inspiring fear.

As for cause and effect, in the eyes of immortals, mortals are troubled by trivial matters throughout their lives, struggling in love, hate, fame and fortune, creating countless causes and effects. These causes and effects are like a tangled mess of hemp, causing mortals to be trapped in the sea of ​​suffering of reincarnation, becoming more and more turbid and unbearable.

Immortals hold only deep contempt for the life and death of mortals.

In the eyes of immortals, the lives of mortals are as fragile and worthless as ants.

The struggles of mortals in the face of illness and disaster are nothing but a pointless farce, and the life and death separations of mortals are nothing but insignificant dust rising and falling in the mortal world.

The immortals watched coldly, regarding the lives and deaths of mortals as worthless, believing that mortals were all guilty of their own making in this turbid world, and that it could not stir any emotion in their hearts.

This is why, no matter how many unbelievable things happen on the journey to the West, whether it's the Lion Camel Kingdom or the Phoenix Fairy County, no one will take responsibility for them, and no one will show them any pity. It's just like stepping on an anthill.

No matter how many lives or deaths of mortals are incurred, they will not elicit any pity from the immortals. They would even consider it dirty to speak on their behalf. This is the order of the Investiture of the Gods.

Despite the countless unbelievable events in Journey to the West, they are actually insignificant. Even those in power consider the deaths of ten thousand or a hundred thousand people to be just numbers, let alone immortals!

While the immortals and gods of the Three Realms are like this, Yin Ziyu cannot be like this, nor can the Jie Sect. Yin Ziyu holds the order of the Yin Shang Dynasty, the correctness and justice of the Yin Shang Dynasty, and also represents the order of equality between immortals and mortals under the rule of the human emperor during the Great Shang Dynasty. Why is it that mortals are like this now, while mortals in the Great Shang Dynasty can live together with immortals?
Immortals look down on mortals, considering them unclean, but don't mortals want to become immortals? Who is responsible for this outcome?
Yin Ziyu's mind does not have such a distinction between immortals and mortals; rather, it is a realm where all things are determined by the mind, and an old farmer in the realm of the mind can fight against the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

The Jie Sect represents the Dao of equality for all beings. Immortals look down on mortals and despise them for being dirty. How is this any different from the Chan Sect's disdain for acquired origins?
Therefore, what is displayed in Journey to the West is the Investiture of the Gods order, which is the Tao of the Chan Sect. It looks down on the acquired from the innate, and the acquired looks down on the even lower mortals, forming a series of oppressive orders.

Therefore, under the order of the Investiture of the Gods, it was inevitable that mortals would be reduced to the same level as cattle and sheep, and mortals would have to continue to bully weaker beings. This is the order of the Investiture of the Gods.

However, Yin Ziyu could not do that. Even in the Journey to the West, he had to maintain the compassion of the people he had before the Investiture of the Gods when dealing with the affairs of the Journey to the West.

Facing the Tongtian River, Yang Chan asked, "Luoshen, they have captured so many children. How should we deal with this?"

Luo Shen pondered for a moment and said, "Don't rush. These demons have gathered the children together. Intervening now will not be of any use. Let them gather their strength before rescuing them. For now, let them remain safely in the Heavenly Realm. You, Yang Chan, take care of this matter!"

Meanwhile, the pilgrims finally reached the Tongtian River. (End of Chapter)