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

Chapter 208 Investigating the Tongtian River, Wukong Learns the Truth.

When Sun Wukong captured the goldfish demon, he discovered that the imprisoned children had disappeared, and his anger instantly burned like a raging inferno.

Now that the goldfish demon had no idea where the children had gone, Sun Wukong was furious: "More than ten thousand children have gone missing! You monster, I don't care whose goldfish you are, I will kill you!"

Although Sun Wukong had temporarily quelled the chaos in the Tongtian River, the fact that the Bodhisattva was involved behind the scenes made Sun Wukong even more suspicious and more eager to investigate.

The original Sun Wukong was actually out of control of the Tongtian River. During the Tongtian River calamity, Sun Wukong went to find the Bodhisattva, only to find the Bodhisattva wearing pajamas and hurriedly following Wukong to collect the goldfish. This caused Wukong to have many doubts.

Another issue was the collapse of his inner convictions. He couldn't understand why the Bodhisattva's goldfish had been eating children for ten years, which caused all of Sun Wukong's confusion. He, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, was no match for even the Bodhisattva's goldfish.

Ever since he arrived in Tongtian, Sun Wukong had been filled with doubts. As a result, after arriving in the Women's Kingdom, he became increasingly irritable and uncontrollable, and went on a killing spree upon entering the Women's Kingdom.

Now, after the Kingdom of Chechi, Sun Wukong has naturally reached the point of losing control. Since this goldfish belongs to the Bodhisattva, why not take this opportunity to ask the Bodhisattva for clarification?
Enraged, Sun Wukong disregarded everything else and with a wave of his hand, his golden cudgel, imbued with immense power, instantly killed the goldfish demon.

Now that Sun Wukong has obtained the essence of the Six-Eared Macaque, it can be said that even with countless cover-ups, nothing can stop Sun Wukong from becoming enlightened. Furthermore, listening to the Three Realms has given Sun Wukong the ability to analyze.

Then, Sun Wukong picked up the already dead goldfish spirit and somersaulted straight to Mount Luojia.

Now that the child had disappeared, Sun Wukong had to thoroughly investigate the matter, ask the owner behind the goldfish what had happened, and resolve his doubts.

Before long, Sun Wukong arrived at Mount Luojia.

Luojia Mountain is serene and tranquil, shrouded in mist, exuding an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

However, at this moment, Sun Wukong, filled with rage, had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the fairyland. He strode towards where the Bodhisattva was. More than 10,000 children had been captured, and might even have been eaten. His anger was uncontrollable.

After all, it was the Great Tribulation period. Even though Sun Wukong had recovered part of his original essence, he still couldn't find it, especially since he had already entered the realm of the mind.

Therefore, the likelihood of these people being eaten is very high.

Upon arriving before the Bodhisattva, Sun Wukong unceremoniously threw the dead fish in his hand and loudly demanded, "Bodhisattva, what exactly happened to this goldfish?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva's face remained compassionate and serene. She looked at Sun Wukong, frowned slightly, and asked, "You monkey, so reckless! Instead of protecting your master on his journey to the West, why have you come here to this humble monk?"

Sun Wukong's eyes widened, and he pointed at the goldfish demon on the ground again, saying fiercely, "Isn't this the Bodhisattva's goldfish? This goldfish said it came from Mount Luojia. I, Old Sun, don't believe that the Bodhisattva really knew nothing about this monster's evil deeds here. Today, you must give me, Old Sun, an explanation!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned slightly after hearing this, and after calculating for a moment, said, "Wukong, this goldfish did indeed come from my Luojia Mountain. It escaped after I attained enlightenment. But I don't know why you've made such a fuss, Wukong?"

At this moment, Guanyin Bodhisattva was also extremely troubled. Sun Wukong was now very difficult to deal with. Without replacing Sun Wukong, he would take everything to heart.

However, Sun Wukong did not understand the concept of the Three Realms and asked some naive questions. But as the one who was destined to face the tribulation, he still had to answer and explain them.

We are now in a time of great calamity, and all beings in the three realms are experiencing turmoil as a result. Death is all too normal for living beings. Furthermore, there is reincarnation, and we are subject to the cycle of birth and death based on our own karma and merits. This is also the order of the heavens.

Wukong, however, wouldn't let it go, truly a case of a scholar encountering a soldier—reasoning was useless.

But the more explanations I give, the more suspicious Wukong becomes, and that's the troublesome part.

The gods and Buddhas are naturally aware of the tragic events on the journey to the West, but they will not impose any karmic consequences on themselves. The order of heaven and earth is not just a simple saying, but a series of orders that govern the life and death of all living beings.

Even a great deity like Guanyin Bodhisattva, whose goldfish eat people, would not be subject to any karmic consequences, as it is in accordance with the workings of the natural order. The cycle of cause and effect is the current order.

The cycle of cause and effect means that even if you are eaten, you will be reincarnated, compensated, or otherwise, and your life will be complete.

Even though the Lion Camel Kingdom suffered a terrible tragedy, the cause and effect and karma will not affect the gods and Buddhas at all. This is inevitable. The gods and Buddhas, with their powerful wisdom, will naturally handle these problems perfectly.

This is fundamentally in conflict with Yin Ziyu's Dao. This is the self. If you don't have the memories of this life in the next life, then am I still me?

Why should my self-identity, emotions, and experiences in this life be erased and made up for in the next life?
The conflict between these two paths is the destruction of one's true nature by the order, while Yin Ziyu's path is about respecting the importance of one's true self in this life.

The current calamity has evolved into a conflict between emphasizing the ego and downplaying the ego, as well as a conflict between the power of faith and the power of the mind.

Those with spiritual cultivation can be reincarnated after death and awaken their past selves, but this also involves the karma of this life. However, for 99% of living beings, once this life ends, they are reborn as new people and cannot experience the events of this life.

Even if this self is almost completely annihilated, this is still the order erasing the self. This applies to everyone from mortals to quasi-saints who have attained enlightenment.

Of course, under this order, it is impossible to accuse the gods and Buddhas of wrongdoing. If Yin Ziyu were to use this as a pretext to attack, he would be attacking the entire order, as they are all intertwined.

But now Wukong is finding fault from the Bodhisattva's perspective of compassion, which is what's giving the Bodhisattva a headache.

Sometimes, ignorance can be a powerful weapon.

Sun Wukong, his face flushed with rage, said angrily, "Bodhisattva! I, Old Sun, was passing by the Tongtian River when I heard that this monster has been entrenched there for ten whole years! Every year he eats a pair of young boys and girls, it's utterly depraved! Now he's gone even further, capturing over ten thousand children at once. Since I've stumbled upon him, how can I ignore it! This monster himself claims to be from the Bodhisattva's realm, but now I can't find those children. Where else can I go but to find the Bodhisattva? Could it be that the Bodhisattva can bear to watch these innocent children suffer such a terrible fate and just stand by and do nothing?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed softly and said, "You monkey, you are still so reckless. Very well, since these goldfish came from Luojia Mountain, this humble monk will find these children for you. But in the future, you must not act so impulsively again."

Upon hearing the Bodhisattva's words, Sun Wukong immediately cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I will trouble the Bodhisattva."

Guanyin Bodhisattva quickly calculated and knew the child's whereabouts. She immediately reassured Sun Wukong, "Wukong, I have found the child. He has been rescued. You can rest assured!"

Sun Wukong was taken aback: "She was rescued? Really?"

Guanyin nodded: "This humble monk will take you there."

Today, Xiniu Hezhou has become a purgatory overrun by demons.

Amidst the ruins, eerie shadows flickered, the stench of blood permeated every inch of air, and the cries of mortals echoed endlessly.

In the depths of the abyss of calamity, Yang Chan, holding the Lotus Lantern, descended upon the mortal world like a holy ray of dawn.

After saving more than 10,000 children, Yang Chan carried out the mission arranged by Yin Ziyu, freeing mortals from their status as livestock.

Others would be ridiculed by immortals for doing this, but Yang Chan had to do it for the sake of her origins and her path, so even immortals couldn't mock her.

The supreme innate spiritual baby lotus lantern emitted a soft yet dazzling divine light, which rippled outwards like water, purifying demons wherever it went.

After all, it is a lamp of humanity, and its light itself has the power to purify all evil in the world, gradually dispelling the heavy demonic aura.

Yang Chan moved gracefully, her expression solemn and compassionate. Wherever her gaze swept, there was devastation. Since the Tongtian River, she had been sending countless children to the Heart Realm for resettlement.

These children will become the foundation for Yang Chan's future.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor, upon hearing of Yang Chan's righteous act, immediately issued an imperial decree bestowing upon her a title.

After all, she was his niece, and with Yin Ziyu's support, the Jade Emperor understood that the overall situation of the Three Realms was interconnected. Although he didn't like Yang Tianyou, he still had to support his niece.

Venus, acting on the Jade Emperor's orders, arrived before Yang Chan with an imperial edict.

Venus, with his white hair and youthful face, and a kind smile, proclaimed: "Today, Yang Chan holds the precious lotus lamp, purifies the world, and saves all people from suffering. Her virtues are both excellent and virtuous, which greatly pleases me. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon Yang Chan the title of the Third Holy Mother, hoping that she will continue to protect all living beings and live up to my expectations."

Haotian now controls a portion of the destiny, so his imperial decrees are highly valuable, and those who receive them can enjoy the benefits of that destiny.

Yang Chan received the imperial decree of destiny, and the things she was going to do with the Lotus Lantern were naturally known to the Chan Sect.

After all, Yang Chan is the direct disciple of the Goddess Nuwa. Given her background, if she were to gain power, she would become a divine sword that could disrupt the order of the Three Realms.

The Chan Sect quickly responded by sending Yang Jian to see Yang Chan in an attempt to persuade her.

Not long after, Yang Jian found Yang Chan. Dressed in silver armor, Yang Jian looked at Yang Chan with a solemn expression and a complicated gaze, and slowly said, "Sister, do you really want to go against the order of the Three Realms? Have you thought about the consequences?"

With guidance from Luo Shen and Yin Ziyu, Yang Chan now has a clear understanding of her future path.

In response to Yang Jian's words, Yang Chan asked in return, "Is the order of the Three Realms that you speak of, brother, the same order defined by the Chan Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian frowned deeply, a hint of conflict flashing across his face.

Although he had a thousand words in his heart, trying to persuade his sister to turn back, the words turned into a helpless sigh when they reached his lips.

"This... Sister, the final battle of the Great Tribulation is not far off. Turn back before it's too late. This path is a dead end. You and I, brother and sister, must not come to blows!"

Yang Chan had already understood her true nature, and in response to these words, she said calmly, "Brother, when our father and brother died, you became a disciple of the Chan Sect, while I became a disciple of the Goddess Nuwa. Now that we have come to this point, regardless of whether the great calamity succeeds or fails, we have already gone our separate ways."

Yang Chan's voice, though soft, struck Yang Jian's heart like a heavy hammer.

Yang Jian looked at Yang Chan, a hint of worry in his eyes: "Sister, no matter what, the Chan Sect follows the Heavenly Order, while the Jie Sect and the Yin Shang Sect have clearly opposed the Heavenly Order. When the Great Tribulation Battle comes, they will inevitably offend the Heavenly Order. Do you have any way out, sister?"

After hearing this, Yang Chan asked Yang Jian in return, "Brother, Father is a mortal. If the status of ordinary people continues to decline, how should we conduct ourselves? Brother, you are in the Chan Sect. How far can you go by choosing to deny the fundamentals and be loyal to the Chan Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian was immediately stumped and fell silent for a moment. He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. This question was like a dead end, and being in the Chan Sect made it impossible for Yang Jian to face it.

Yang Chan continued, “Brother, given our identities, the struggle between the realm of the mind and the Saha world in this Journey to the West calamity is already underway. I now understand that so-called faith is nothing more than enslaving sentient beings to create faith. If this path is achieved, we will be born as lowly mortals. How will we live then? Only the realm of the mind can help us achieve our path. I hope you understand, brother. The power of faith is born from betraying oneself, while the power of the source of the mind is born from loyalty to oneself.”

Faith arises from the desire to betray oneself, while the power of the heart arises from the desire to be loyal to oneself; this is a struggle between two sources of motivation.

Yang Chan's words pinpointed the essence of the conflict between the two sides, leaving Yang Jian speechless and only able to let out a sigh.

Guanyin Bodhisattva quickly realized that it was Yang Chan's doing after a little divination, and immediately took Sun Wukong to search for her. Otherwise, she would have been driven crazy by this monkey.

The two arrived at Yang Chan's location in an instant, while Yang Jian had not yet left.

Sun Wukong glanced over and saw Yang Jian there as well. He was immediately surprised and blurted out, "Three-Eyed, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Yang Jian turned to look at Sun Wukong, and was equally taken aback. He then exclaimed, "Great Sage, what brings you here!"

After Yang Jian finished speaking, he quickly bowed and respectfully said, "Greetings, Bodhisattva!"

Regardless of anything else, the Bodhisattva is a top deity in the Three Realms, and was once his uncle-master, so Yang Jian naturally treated him with utmost respect.

Yang Chan was slightly taken aback when she saw Guanyin Bodhisattva appear. She quickly bowed gracefully and said respectfully, "Greetings, Bodhisattva!"

Yang Chan is a disciple personally taught by the Goddess Nuwa, a very prestigious status. She is of the same generation as Guanyin Bodhisattva, so a slight greeting is sufficient.

Even facing Nuwa's last disciple, Guanyin Bodhisattva dared not be presumptuous, and raised her hand to say, "Third Holy Mother, there's no need for such formalities. Wukong, those children have already been rescued by the Third Holy Mother; you can inquire about them yourself."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong quickly turned his gaze to Yang Chan and eagerly asked, "Did you rescue those more than ten thousand children from the Tongtian River?"

Yang Chan nodded gently and said calmly, "That's right. Those children were about to be eaten by the Gui Po when I arrived just in time and saved them." Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lifted from his heart. He quickly asked, "Thank goodness you saved them. What about the other children?"

Yang Chan calmly replied, "It has now been sent into the realm of the heart."

Sun Wukong was taken aback and asked in confusion, "The Realm of the Mind? Is that the Realm of the Mind in Wuji Kingdom?"

Yang Chan nodded again: "That's right, everything has already been arranged. Otherwise, those children would probably all be dead by now."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong seemed to suddenly realize something and immediately turned to look at Guanyin Bodhisattva, asking sharply, "Bodhisattva, it's fortunate that this fairy saved them, otherwise all those children would have perished in the fish's belly. Bodhisattva, this goldfish belongs to you, and it has been eating young boys and girls here for ten years. Don't you have any explanation?"

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he stared intently at Guanyin Bodhisattva, his expression full of questioning, while Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned deeply.

Guanyin immediately said, "Wukong, there is no need to worry. The goldfish is dead, and these dead children will be reincarnated and will have their own blessings in the next life."

Sun Wukong remained noncommittal after hearing this, then looked at Yang Chan and asked, "May I ask, Fairy, what do you mean by saying that the power of faith is born from betraying oneself, while the power of the heart is born from loyalty to oneself?"

At this time, after merging with the essence of the Six-Eared Macaque, Sun Wukong's personality began to change. He was no longer rude and impulsive. When he encountered something he didn't understand, he would immediately ask Yang Chan out of curiosity.

After all, Sun Wukong already had the ability to hear the Three Realms. When he arrived, he also heard Yang Chan and Yang Jian's conversation. In addition, now that he was on the Journey to the West, Sun Wukong basically understood that the Journey to the West was to spread the scriptures to the East and make people believe in the Buddha.

This has fueled Sun Wukong's thirst for knowledge to an unprecedented level, and his understanding of the Dao has begun to make breakthroughs.

Upon hearing Sun Wukong's question, Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned.

Guanyin wanted to stop him, but knowing that doing so would only arouse more suspicion from Sun Wukong, she decided not to.

Seeing this, Yang Chan calmly explained, "The Three Realms are currently in the midst of a great calamity, and these two are the root of this calamity."

Sun Wukong's eyes flashed with curiosity, and he immediately asked, "I have always heard of the concept of a great calamity, but why would there be such a calamity?"

Yang Chan explained in detail: "As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gradually declines, all beings in the Three Realms urgently need a new way of cultivation, which led to the Journey to the West. Its purpose is to make all beings believe in immortals and gods, thus generating the power of faith. In contrast, there is the power of the mind generated by the obsessions of all beings."

Sun Wukong scratched his head, looking puzzled: "Fairy, what exactly is the difference between these two powers?"

Yang Chan patiently explained: "The source of faith power requires all beings to turn away from themselves and turn to believe in immortals and Buddhas, while the source of heart power is that all beings are true to their own original heart."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was taken aback, as if he had remembered something, and said, "So, that's why I, Old Sun, was no match for an old farmer when I was in the Mind Realm?"

Yang Chan nodded slightly and said, "In the realm of the mind, the power of the mind is prevalent, and all beings can use the power of the mind to exert their strength. The Great Sage is naturally incomparable to it."

Sun Wukong's eyes gleamed with contemplation, as if he had gained some insight. He looked up and stared directly at Guanyin Bodhisattva, asking, "So, you're saying that all the hardships and dangers I endured on my journey to obtain the scriptures were so that all the people of the Three Realms would devoutly worship the immortals and Buddhas? Bodhisattva, is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned deeply and looked displeased. She said, "Wukong, don't be so suspicious. The journey to the West is for the purpose of saving all sentient beings, spreading the Dharma, and helping them escape from suffering. It is not as narrow-minded as you think."

The Bodhisattva's voice remained calm, yet it carried a subtle air of authority, attempting to quell Sun Wukong's doubts.

Sun Wukong, however, did not seem to be completely convinced by the Bodhisattva's words. He scratched his head and continued, "Now I understand what happened at Wuzhuang Temple. What you were arguing about was which method of cultivation was better, faith or mental power! And that man and woman at Wuzhuang Temple attracted the attention of the ancient Buddhas, so they must be enemies of Buddhism, right?"

Sun Wukong's relentless pursuit left Guanyin in a dilemma.

Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed inwardly, "So be it, this day was bound to come eventually, and it could not be concealed after all!"

After Chechi Kingdom failed to successfully replace Sun Wukong as the ultimate solution, Sun Wukong's loss of control was inevitable; in fact, he could lose control at any moment.

Since the birth of Sun Wukong, too many things have obscured him, making it impossible to fully connect the dots in the present Sun Wukong's story, despite all the events he has experienced. All the information is fragmented and cannot form a coherent thread.

However, every event he encounters prompts Sun Wukong to think new things. After all, the current Sun Wukong is essentially a combination of the Spiritual Stone Monkey and the Six-Eared Macaque, so his intelligence needs no further explanation.

It can be said that of the four mischievous monkeys, these two are the smartest. Now that they have become one, Sun Wukong naturally understands the events he has encountered along the way from Yang Chan's words and connects them together.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression turned solemn, and she said frankly, "Wukong, you are indeed an enemy of Buddhism. Now that you have joined the Buddhist sect, you should naturally be wholeheartedly committed to completing the great journey to the West and making Buddhism flourish. After the journey to the West is completed, you will become a Buddha and enjoy the devout offerings of countless believers."

Sun Wukong suddenly turned his gaze sharp and asked, "Are you worshipping like the people of Chechi Kingdom? Or are you like Chen Cheng of Chen Family Village, who has been a devout Buddhist for many years but couldn't even protect his own child, who was instead caught by the Bodhisattva's goldfish?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin's face instantly darkened, and she immediately rebuked him sternly, "Wukong, how dare you be so insolent!"

Sun Wukong did not back down, and continued stubbornly, "Wuji Kingdom is a Buddhist country, Chechi Kingdom is also a Buddhist country, and Chen Family Village is even more devout. Now I, Old Sun, understand the profound meaning of those words from that day. Even though Bodhisattvas enjoy countless faiths, their divinity has been tarnished. Must we let this Journey to the West continue, so that all living beings become like these places?"

By observing a part, one can understand the whole picture. The things that might have happened when Yin Ziyu discussed Taoism at Wuzhuang Temple have all come to pass when we reached Tongtian River, which means we've traveled halfway through our journey to the West.

Upon hearing this, Guanyin was furious and rebuked, "Wukong, if you dare to spout nonsense again, this humble monk will recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra!"

At this point, Sun Wukong has not fully grasped all the key points, and countless doubts linger in his heart that he cannot resolve.

Sun Wukong was feeling incredibly frustrated, and now Guanyin Bodhisattva was threatening him to recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra, just like Tang Sanzang. Sun Wukong, who was naturally stubborn, immediately exploded.

When Guanyin Bodhisattva was about to recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra, Sun Wukong suddenly said, "Wasn't the Six-Eared Macaque sent by Buddha to replace me? I never understood why the Six-Eared Macaque was so bold as to go to the Western Paradise. Now I understand. It's because I would hinder the journey to the West. Now that I am like this, I wonder who else Bodhisattva can send to replace me?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva was greatly alarmed. Sun Wukong was now knowing more and more, and it was clear that he could no longer conceal his abilities.

Guanyin immediately shouted, "Wukong, this is your tribulation in the Journey to the West. The two of you are bound by a great karmic connection, destined to fight to the death. Killing this monkey will naturally greatly increase your cultivation!"

Sun Wukong suddenly asked, "What if I, Old Sun, am defeated? Bodhisattva, now that I, Old Sun, can listen to the Three Realms and have heard many voices, there is no need for you to hide anything from me. I just wanted to find the answer myself, but now I have to say why so many immortals and gods in the Three Realms regard me as a joke?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva was stunned upon hearing this, never expecting that Sun Wukong had become so shrewd and understood so many things so quickly.

Sun Wukong looked at Yang Jian and said, "Three-eyed, where do you rank in terms of strength in the Three Realms?"

Yang Jian was taken aback, not expecting Sun Wukong to ask him this question.

Sun Wukong immediately said, "Three-eyed, tell me the truth, where do you rank?"

Seeing that Yang Jian did not answer, Sun Wukong continued to press for an answer.

Sun Wukong looked intently at Yang Jian, his expression full of inquiry, and asked directly, "Yang Jian, tell me the truth, in this Three Realms, if we're talking about supernatural powers, where do you think you rank?"

Yang Jian was slightly taken aback, a complex expression flashing across his face. After hesitating for a moment, he finally sighed helplessly and slowly said, "In terms of fighting skills, I am really insignificant in the Three Realms. There are countless people more powerful than me."

Even if Yang Jian wanted to hide it, he couldn't now. This matter was too simple. Sun Wukong could now hear the voices of the Three Realms, having just merged with the origin back in Chechi Kingdom.

From the capital of Chechi Kingdom to the Tongtian River, along the way, with the fusion of his origins and the restoration of his supernatural talents, Sun Wukong naturally wanted to use his ability to listen to the Three Realms to explore the secrets of the Three Realms.

Yang Jian could only make a fool of himself if he tried to hide it any longer, so he had no choice but to tell the truth.

Now everyone understands that after the calamity in Chechi Kingdom, when the backup Six-Eared Macaque was killed by Sun Wukong, it was only a matter of time before Sun Wukong knew everything.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes flashed, and he immediately asked, "Then tell me, with your supernatural powers, are you capable of causing havoc in the East Sea?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian's expression turned solemn, and he said without hesitation, "There are people with unfathomable cultivation hidden in the East Sea. It is truly difficult for me to do so with my strength."

Even though the dragon race has declined, there are still those who live in seclusion, something Yang Jian is well aware of.

Sun Wukong persisted, then posed another question: "What about the underworld? How many people in the underworld are more powerful than you?"

Yang Jian fell into deep thought, and after a moment, he slowly said, "There are countless powerful people in the underworld."

Then Sun Wukong asked, "Three eyes, if that's the case, what realm is above the Great Luo Golden Immortal?"

Yang Jian knew that Sun Wukong had come to ask him with an answer, so he could only say, "Now we are both Great Luo Golden Immortals, and there are countless people at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Above the Great Luo Golden Immortals are Quasi-Saints, and there are more than a hundred Quasi-Saints in the entire Three Realms!"

After hearing this, Sun Wukong looked at Yang Jian with burning eyes: "Since there are Quasi-Saints, are there any cultivators above Quasi-Saints? What are their realms, and how many are there?"

Yang Jian truthfully replied, "Naturally, they are sages, and there are six sages: the Three Pure Ones of the East, the Goddess Nuwa, and the Two Sages of the West!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong muttered to himself, "Sage, so Laozi is a sage, even Buddha and the Jade Emperor are not sages, but the Three Pure Ones are actually sages... Three eyes, what exactly is a sage?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian gave a wry smile and said with a troubled expression, "Great Sage Sun, the realm of a sage is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. We should not presume to discuss sages."

Sun Wukong was not about to give up and immediately pressed on, asking, "Then is Laozi of Heaven a sage? Is he one of the Three Pure Ones?"

Yang Jian, pressed relentlessly by Sun Wukong, was utterly helpless and hurriedly said, "Great Sage Sun, I dare not speak of matters concerning sages. My younger sister is a disciple of a sage, so why don't you let her answer for you?"

Yang Jian, being a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect, was indeed extremely nervous. Yang Chan, being Nuwa's closed-door disciple, had a better answer to this matter and instead passed the buck to Nuwa.

It wasn't about harming his sister. Yang Jian knew that Yang Chan would decide what to answer, and with the Sage Nuwa backing her up, there wouldn't be any problems.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately turned his eager gaze to Yang Chan. Sun Wukong was currently absorbing fragmented information and urgently needed to gather it all together.

Seeing this, Yang Chan nodded slightly and slowly explained, "Taishang Laojun is an avatar left in the Three Realms by a sage. The true sage does not personally come to the Three Realms. They all reside in the chaos above the Thirty-Three Heavens, transcending the Three Realms and the Five Elements."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes flashed, and he immediately asked, "Then how does the Buddha compare to the sages?"

It should be noted that the Buddha was originally Sun Wukong's yardstick for measuring combat power. Now, by directly comparing himself to the Buddha, Sun Wukong can make a judgment.

Upon hearing this, Yang Chan replied without hesitation: "If we compare the Buddha to a sage, the Buddha is like an ant!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was instantly stunned. His mouth gaped open, his face filled with disbelief, and he exclaimed, "What! Is this true!"

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he turned to look at Guanyin and asked for confirmation, "Bodhisattva, is this true?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed helplessly and said solemnly, "Of course it's true."

This brief answer, like a heavy hammer, struck Sun Wukong's dream, giving him a more shocking understanding of the enormous hidden gap between the three realms.

At this moment, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, because it could no longer be concealed.

Sun Wukong was completely overwhelmed by the insurmountable gap between the saint and the Buddha, and for a moment, the atmosphere was so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

When the topic of sages comes up, it is known to the sages themselves. At this moment, all the sages from all directions of the Three Realms are looking at Sun Wukong.

After hearing this, Sun Wukong was slightly taken aback, then threw his head back and burst into laughter. His laughter echoed around him, carrying a hint of self-mockery, yet also seemingly mixed with endless resentment.

(End of this chapter)