Journey to the West: I am the fiercest bird under Bodhi's seat

The monkey was getting restless. Things were going completely off course, and he secretly touched his ear, ready to pull out his golden cudgel and cause a ruckus at any moment.

On the contrary, Ye Feng appeared calm and composed, with his eyes slightly closed, as if he were wandering in the void.

In the silence, a deep Buddhist chant sounded in his ear:

"The situation in Heaven is unpredictable, and the Jade Emperor's attitude is unclear. If the Thai King is interested, why not come to my Western Paradise? This humble monk offers you the position of the Medicine Buddha of the East, the King of Lapis Lazuli, who will govern the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World. Your status will be no less than mine. What do you say?"

Ye Feng slightly raised his eyelids and glanced at Tathagata indifferently—he knew it was a telepathic transmission.

He gave a soft snort, his attitude crystal clear.

The terms are indeed very generous, and the sincerity is evident.

Unfortunately, I have an ironclad rule in my life: I will never shave my head and become a monk.

The Buddha remained unmoved, seemingly oblivious to the rejection, and continued to stand calmly in the hall.

The silence in the Lingxiao Palace lasted for about half an hour before the Jade Emperor finally spoke again:

"All of you may withdraw for now. Buddha, King of Thailand, Sun Wukong, please remain."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

Zhang Tianshi abruptly stood up and stepped out of the ranks: "Your Majesty! The Golden Crow and the Monkey King are traitors who defy Heaven; how can they be allowed to remain by Your Majesty's side? I beg Your Majesty to rescind your order!"

Before he finished speaking, more than ten celestial officials followed suit and knelt down in unison:

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

The Jade Emperor slowly rose from his throne.

In an instant, an invisible pressure poured down from the heavens, freezing space and causing the laws to tremble.

All the celestial officials felt as if they had been struck by a mountain, and cold sweat poured down their backs.

Zhang Tianshi's forehead veins bulged, his legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud.

Before he fell, a group of people had already knelt down behind him.

Not only the civil officials, but also all the martial gods in the palace, regardless of their cultivation level, were forced to prostrate themselves on the ground, unable to move.

Even the monkey broke out in a cold sweat. Under that overwhelming pressure, his legs bent uncontrollably, little by little. He gritted his teeth, trying to straighten his spine, but found that he couldn't even muster the slightest strength to lift himself up.

With a muffled thud, he slammed one knee into the ground, bracing himself with his hands, veins bulging on his forehead, struggling with all his might to keep both knees from collapsing.

At this point, only Ye Feng, the True Martial Emperor, and the Buddha Tathagata remained standing in the center of the Lingxiao Palace.

The Buddha sat serenely on his lotus throne, his expression unchanged, as calm as a still well, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a gentle breeze.

Although Zhenwu and Ye Feng had their eyes slightly lowered and their postures were upright, a closer look revealed that their bodies trembled slightly and their muscles were taut under their sleeves—signs of extreme confrontation. Yet, their knees remained straight.

The next instant, the world relaxed, and the oppressive atmosphere vanished.

"Do you think I will perish, or Buddha will fall? Step aside."

The Jade Emperor's voice was cold and emotionless, yet it was like a double-edged sword being drawn from its sheath.

Zhang Tianshi and the others dared not utter another word, bowed their heads in respect, and hurriedly left the Lingxiao Palace.

Countless immortals and gods were soaked with sweat, their robes drenched in cold sweat, as if they had crawled back from the gates of hell.

As soon as the pressure dissipated, the monkey suddenly stood up, exhaled a long breath, and stared intently at the Jade Emperor, his eyes filled with astonishment and doubt.

This old man... is he really that strong?

How come I didn't notice anything before?

The immortals filed out, with the True Martial Emperor bringing up the rear. He bowed slightly to the Jade Emperor, then turned and walked towards Ye Feng.

As he passed by, a slight smile played on his lips, and he murmured, "If the King of Thailand has the time, he might as well come to Jambudvipa and have a drink with this humble Taoist."

Ye Feng's eyes flashed, and he turned his head without making a sound, only to see Zhenwu's figure disappear outside the palace gate.

The people left, and the palace was empty.

Only four people remained inside the Lingxiao Palace.

As the Buddha softly chanted the Buddha's name, golden light surged behind him, and a magnificent radiance enveloped the entire hall, instantly sealing it within a protective barrier, isolating it from the outside world and cutting off all communication.

The monkey looked around the empty hall, then looked up and saw four giant pillars standing tall, supporting the sky-like roof.

He was the only one of the four who was completely clueless about the situation.

He glanced at Ye Feng, then at Tathagata, and finally his gaze settled on the Jade Emperor.

He wisely kept his mouth shut.

I dare not speak, much less ask.

"Amitabha Buddha, Great Heavenly Venerable, have you considered what this humble monk has said?"

The Buddha spoke first, his voice like a Buddhist bell.

The Jade Emperor, seated high on his dragon throne, chuckled, "When did you, monk, change your ways and start pleading for others?"

His gaze swept over Ye Feng: "The Thai Emperor committed a crime against Heaven, beheading one of the Four Emperors of my Heavenly Court, the Great Emperor Gouchen. If we pardon him as you suggest, what face will the Heavenly Court have left?"

Ye Feng smiled but didn't reply, his hands behind his back, but his eyes were clearly directed at Rulai: It's your turn, don't just stand there.

Upon seeing this, the Buddha's anger flared.

When has he, the Buddha, ever been schemed against like this?

But things have come to this point. This Golden Crow is as cunning as a fox, taking every step with meticulous care and a precise grasp of cause and effect. Now, he has been placed on a high platform and cannot get down.

Let's settle the debts and consequences of the bet first; we can settle them later.

He sneered inwardly, but smiled warmly on the surface: "Great Celestial Venerable, you are mistaken. The so-called rebellion against Heaven is nothing more than destroying the Southern Heavenly Gate. Now that the Demon King has been subdued, how can you lose face?"

"As soon as you open your mouth, the King of Thailand and the Great Sage will immediately bow their heads. Not only will you not lose your majesty, but you will also increase your divine authority. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Even so, with Gouchen dead, how can I explain this to the gods of Heaven?"

The Buddha did not answer, but slowly turned his gaze to Ye Feng.

Ye Feng understood immediately, coughed twice, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, you must speak with evidence. How can Gouchen be so sure that I was the one who killed him? I have never even seen what he looks like. Don't make baseless accusations."

He spoke frankly, looking directly into the Jade Emperor's eyes without flinching.

The Jade Emperor was stunned for a moment, seemingly speechless, as if shocked by this shamelessness.

Buddha immediately chimed in: "Indeed, indeed! The fall of Emperor Gouchen is a great tragedy, a loss of a great minister to Heaven. However, things can change. Perhaps he suffered a qi deviation during his cultivation and died by self-destruction."

Moreover, this humble monk observes that the King of Thailand possesses great supernatural powers, harbors a benevolent heart, and is utterly loyal to Your Majesty. He is the most suitable candidate to fill the position of one of the Four Royals. What is Your Majesty's opinion?

Ye Feng and Rulai worked together seamlessly, their collaboration was impeccable.

The monkey at the back listened until its eyes nearly popped out, but its mind remained a complete blank.

He was completely confused by the previous conversation.

How come in the blink of an eye, Buddha is going to promote his senior brother to be one of the Four Emperors?

This monk is being a little too attentive...

The Jade Emperor glanced at the two of them and suddenly laughed: "You two have quite the cunning plan."

He sat upright on the throne, his posture relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips: "The positions of the Four Emperors are the legitimate successors of Heaven and Earth, how can they be granted lightly? These are not mere honorary titles, but the real power of the Heavenly Emperor, which can only be established with the edicts of the Three Pure Ones, not with a single word from me."

Upon hearing this, Ye Feng raised the corner of his mouth, his smile faint yet profound.

The monkey was straightforward and didn't understand the Jade Emperor's words at all, completely baffled.

But who are Ye Feng and Tathagata? They are both cunning and shrewd, so how could they not realize that this was a prelude to discussing the division of spoils?

He gave a look, signaling for Buddha to speak.

The shrewd and calculating monk cooperated, his smile gentle yet his tone respectful and weighty: "The Great Celestial Venerable rules the Three Realms and commands all spirits; even the Three Pure Ones must show him deference. The mere position of one of the Four Emperors is naturally within Your Majesty's authority. Moreover, Gouchen governs the demon race, and Emperor Tai is of the Three-Legged Golden Crow bloodline, born into nobility. Currently, the lower realm is in turmoil, with demons running rampant. If Emperor Tai were to ascend the throne, he would be perfectly positioned to suppress the four directions and alleviate Your Majesty's burdens."

"This..." The Jade Emperor feigned hesitation, a hint of doubt in his expression.

Ye Feng, fully aware of the situation, immediately replied with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, I am not greedy for power. It is only because the demonic forces in the lower realms are overwhelming, and many powerful demons disrespect the Heavenly Court, readily slaughtering cities and destroying nations, bringing chaos to the people. Every time I hear of this, my heart aches, and I long to personally go and slay the demons, restoring peace to the Three Realms!"

He spoke with great passion, and bathed in the light of Buddha, his whole being seemed to be coated with a holy glow, making him incredibly solemn.

The monkey stood behind, its face frozen.

If I hadn't known his background, I would have almost been fooled by his savior-like appearance.

What made him even more uneasy was that the back-and-forth of these people's words were full of hidden meanings and witty remarks, and he only understood the surface of what they were saying.

But he finally understood the key point—Ye Feng and Tathagata were working together to ask the Jade Emperor for Gouchen's throne!

And the Jade Emperor was actually bargaining?

But something's not right! With the strength Ye Feng just displayed, even Buddha was overwhelmed. Why would the Jade Emperor be able to sit down and negotiate?

The monkey's brain is a complete mess.

The Jade Emperor laughed loudly: "It is rare for Emperor Tai to have the well-being of all living beings in his heart; this is truly a blessing for the Three Realms. In that case, I hereby issue a decree—Emperor Tai shall succeed to the throne of Gouchen Emperor and rule over all demons."

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject: "However, how do you plan to explain this? You can't really say that Gou Chen died from a qi deviation, can you?"

"Uh..." Tathagata was momentarily speechless, his gaze subconsciously turning to Ye Feng.

But then the golden crow lazily looked up at the dome of the Lingxiao Palace, its eyes darting around, almost as if it were about to whistle.

The Buddha smiled wryly, realizing he had no choice but to grit his teeth and think of a solution himself.

He had actually considered this matter long ago—but what level of cultivation did Gouchen possess? There were very few demon kings in the Three Realms capable of killing him, and even framing someone wouldn't yield a suitable candidate. The more complex the plan, the more flaws it would have, and with time running out, he simply decided not to set up a scheme at all.

Anyway, we're already dead.

Ye Feng then spoke slowly, his expression nonchalant: "So what if I've gone mad? The person is gone, the facts speak for themselves. As long as no one causes trouble, no one comes out to seek revenge, this matter will be an ironclad case. Besides—" He raised his eyes, glancing indifferently at the two of them, "to prevent anyone from using magical artifacts to trace the past, I urge Your Majesty and Buddha to intervene and cover up that part of the heavenly secret, and all will be well."

The Jade Emperor opened his mouth, and Buddha's palm trembled.

Good heavens, their skin is so thick they could use the South Heavenly Gate as a shield! Not only did they kill and seize power, but they also have to make these two clean up their messes?

Taking a deep breath, the Jade Emperor finally nodded slowly: "In that case, it shall be as you say. I will handle the aftermath of this matter."

The next few sentences were all in coded language that the monkey couldn't understand; every word was cryptic and every sentence was cryptic.

Ye Feng finally felt relieved after witnessing the Jade Emperor and Buddha join forces to seal that time and space.

From then on, within the Three Realms, unless a sage personally intervened, no one could glimpse the truth of that day.

As the Buddha withdrew his light, a jade edict resounded throughout the Heavenly Court—Emperor Ye Feng of Tai was to succeed as the God of Gouchen!

In an instant, the nine heavens churned and trembled, and the immortals and gods were in uproar.

When the monkey walked out of the Lingxiao Palace, it still looked completely bewildered.

He roughly understood what had happened—Ye Feng had obtained the position of Gouchen and become one of the four legitimate emperors.

But why is this happening? Why did the Jade Emperor agree? They clearly stormed the Heavenly Court and killed the Four Emperors. Logically, it should have ended in a bloodbath. Why is everyone happy instead, and even Buddha is endorsing them?

The plot was so absurd it gave him a headache.

Forget it, I don't want to.

It's not too late to ask the Golden Crow when we get back to Flower Fruit Mountain.

Moreover, he did not gain nothing—the title of "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" was no longer just an empty name, but a genuine certification from the Heavenly Court.

Thinking about this made me feel much better.

Outside the palace, countless immortals and gods looked up, their eyes burning as they stared intently at the majestic palace gate, as if trying to glean some secret from the wind.

They were genuinely curious about what the Jade Emperor and Buddha had discussed in secret in the Lingxiao Palace.

As for Ye Feng and the monkey? Most people didn't take them seriously at all.

In the eyes of those high and mighty gods, no matter how strong Ye Feng is or how much trouble the monkey causes, they are nothing more than pawns in front of such beings.

Soon after, Buddha, accompanied by Ye Feng and the monkey, slowly walked out of the Lingxiao Palace.

Several immortals who were close to Buddhism wanted to come forward and exchange a few pleasantries, but when they saw Ye Feng standing beside the Buddha, their expressions froze, they stopped in their tracks, and awkwardly retreated.

A storm raged in everyone's hearts: Could it be... that the Golden Crow has truly joined the Buddhist sect? Even Buddha himself has personally vouched for it?

The more I think about it, the more plausible it seems.

After all, this is the kind of thing that Buddhist sects love to do most—undermine their own members.

He can rattle off a set of rhetoric like "You are destined to be with Buddha" or "This item is destined to be with the West," and he specializes in recruiting experts from all over the world.

He continued his journey until he reached the Western Heavenly Gate, where Ye Feng stopped with his hands clasped in respect.

He smiled and gave a slight bow: "Great monk, your karma with Wukong is settled, we are even."