They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 143 Error
Chen Guangrui and Yuan Shoucheng, holding the two jade plates given to them by Zhen Yuanzi, walked silently along the mountain path leaving Wuzhuang Temple, their hearts heavy as if weighed down by lead.

Chen Guangrui kept looking back at Guanyu, who was getting further and further away, her face full of resentment.

Upon arriving at the Tushita Palace, the first task assigned by Laozi failed miserably. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but unexpectedly, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse, and there was no way to remedy the situation.

It seems that when Guanyin does act, it's a decisive move.

Just then, in this oppressive atmosphere, two auspicious clouds suddenly descended from the woods ahead. Chen Guangrui looked up alertly and saw that it was Silver Furnace Boy and Kui Wood Wolf.

The Silver Furnace Boy spotted Chen Guangrui, and his little face immediately lit up with a smile. He landed with a bouncy, skipping gait, his voice filled with the joy of surviving a close call.
"Oh, I've finally found you, Lord Kui. See, I told you they were nearby."

As he spoke, he didn't forget to show off his "foresight" to Kui Mulang.

Kui Mulang landed on a cloud, his face slightly relaxed, and nodded to Chen Guangrui.
“Mr. Chen, it’s good that you are all safe and sound. We came from Yalong Mountain and were just about to look for you.”

Chen Guangrui frowned slightly and asked directly, "How is the situation? Has Laozi issued a decree from the Tushita Palace?"

His mind was still preoccupied with whether there was any plan to turn the tide in the Tushita Palace.

Before Kui Mulang could speak, the joy on Yinlu Tongzi's face vanished completely, and his little mouth pursed.

Kui Mulang gently patted Yinlu's shoulder to comfort him, then shook his head and sighed at Chen Guangrui, his tone full of helplessness.
"We were still a step too late."

He paused, his gaze towards Chen Guangrui carrying a hint of heaviness.
"The Heavenly Court already knows that the Buddha of the West has a great vow to spread the Tripitaka in Jambudvipa and enlighten all beings. This grand plan to obtain the scriptures from the West can no longer be changed."

Even if we are unwilling, we still have to maintain appearances.

He glanced at the dejected face of the Silver Furnace Boy and continued...

"That Pigsy was originally one of the chosen candidates, the reincarnation of Marshal Tianpeng, burdened with a karmic destiny. Now that the pilgrimage team has been decided and the journey is imminent, recalling him to Heaven for a new post is extremely difficult. Although Buddhism and Taoism have their differences, the greater good must be prioritized, and I'm afraid..."

Although Chen Guangrui had a premonition, hearing with his own ears that the "Journey to the West" plan had not only started ahead of schedule but had also progressed to such an extent, a strong sense of powerlessness instantly gripped him.

His time travel changed Chen Guangrui's ultimate fate in Journey to the West. Wouldn't other things also change?
The fact that Buddhism's pilgrimage to the West has been brought forward by more than a decade is the best proof of this.

He had spent these past few days racking his brains, hoping to have some influence and delay the eastward expansion of Buddhism, but he never expected that in the face of the overwhelming trend, he would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and all his efforts would seem to be in vain.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Who exactly is this pilgrim? And why has he already set off?"

This is the core of the most crucial issue.

After all, Chen Guangrui didn't die, and Tang Sanzang wasn't born. Where did they get the pilgrim from?

Kui Mulang explained, "I heard that the Buddha used his great supernatural powers to gather the scattered true spirit of his eldest disciple, Jin Chanzi, and recreate the Buddha's golden body, giving him the Dharma name Xuanzang."

"Guanyin Bodhisattva had laid the seeds of karma in Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty even earlier, causing the Tang Emperor to hold a grand water and land ceremony to deliver the souls of the dead, and also to make Xuanzang famous. Now, Xuanzang has received the Tang Emperor's order, and as the Emperor's younger brother, he is carrying the travel permit and is forging ahead through thorns and brambles to leave Chang'an."

“Xuanzang, the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, has already left Chang’an…” Chen Guangrui repeated in a low voice, the last bit of hope in his heart receding like the tide.

He felt an unprecedented fatigue.

His self-righteous "variables" were ultimately just small ripples on the edge of this grand plan.

With Donghua Dijun and Zhen Yuanzi being won over by Buddhism, their alliance was already a foregone conclusion. His previous antics at Wuzhuang Temple had actually given them a push.

Just then, the Silver Furnace Boy couldn't hold back any longer and interjected, "By the way, Mr. Chen, Daoist Yuan, have you found my brother? Jin Lu... he hasn't been released by that old thief Ling Ji yet?"

Her little face was full of concern and worry.

Chen Guangrui frowned slightly. "Golden Furnace Boy? By the time we left Yellow Wind Ridge, things were almost over. If the Great Sage Yellow Wind isn't stupid, he will definitely ask Lingji for the person. Golden Furnace, he hasn't been released yet?"

The silver furnace boy grew impatient and stomped his little foot on the ground.
"Kui Xingguan and I just came out of Yalong Mountain. We searched all the nearby mountains, but we didn't see a trace of him! My godmother also said that he didn't go back to Yalong Mountain!"

Kui Mulang looked puzzled. "What does the matter of the Golden Furnace Immortal Child have to do with Huangfeng Ridge? I went to Lingji through the Western Maitreya Buddha a few days ago to plead for him, and he said that the matter is almost certain."

"Maitreya Buddha?" Chen Guangrui's expression changed. "What Maitreya Buddha? You also went to Maitreya Buddha to plead for them?"

The silver furnace boy quickly explained,

“A few days ago, Mr. Chen, you went to Huangfeng Cave intending to use force. Your godmother was worried that you were outnumbered and might make a mistake, so she urged me to go to the Heavenly Court to find reinforcements. On the way, I met Kui Xingguan, who kindly gave me advice, saying that it would be safest and most effective to ask Maitreya Buddha to intercede with Lingji Bodhisattva.”

"When I came back, I ran into you at the entrance of Wuzhuang Temple. You said everything was going very smoothly. I thought that since everything was going well on both sides, my brother must be alright, so I didn't have time to talk about it in detail..."

His voice trailed off, probably realizing he had messed things up.

There was dead silence.

Chen Guangrui, Kui Mulang, and the other two all turned extremely pale instantly. They knew that things had probably taken an unexpected turn.

Yuan Shoucheng was slightly taken aback. This time he understood what the ominous sign in the divination he had made before meant. Thinking of this, he gained more confidence in his divination skills.

Chen Guangrui was probably the person who knew the ins and outs of this matter best. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"Although there has been a mistake, it is not yet the worst situation. You should go to Mount Sumeru now and use the name of Tushita Palace to ask him to release the people. I think that no matter what the situation is, Bodhisattva Lingji will not refuse to give face to Tushita Palace."

His tone turned worried again, "If the Golden Furnace is not on Mount Sumeru, you must go to Yellow Wind Cave immediately to demand his return. If you are too late, something terrible may happen!"

His gaze was fixed on Kui Mulang and Yinlu Tongzi. "Remember, be quick, not a moment can be wasted!"

Kui Mulang, being a celestial being, reacted swiftly and was well aware of the dangers involved. He grabbed the arm of the still-dazed Silver Furnace Boy and shouted in a deep voice, "Go!" Starlight surged around him as he prepared to flee.

"Wait!" Kui Mulang stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Chen Guangrui. "Mr. Chen, you are the one here who knows the most about this matter. Aren't you coming with us?"

Yuan Shoucheng also looked at Chen Guangrui, not understanding why he stayed.

Chen Guangrui's eyes were deep as he looked toward the Wuzhuang Temple in the distance, where clouds and mist swirled, as if a storm was brewing.

"I have something more important to confirm."

His voice was deep and resolute, carrying an undeniable determination.
"You all go to Huangfeng Cave and Lingji's place first, split up and do your own thing, hurry up!"

He waved his hand forcefully, urging them to set off immediately.

Without further hesitation, Kui Mulang's body flashed with starlight, and he swept up the Silver Furnace Boy, transforming into a shooting star that shot straight toward the direction of Little Sumeru Mountain.

(End of this chapter)