Primordial Era: A God-Level Choice, Possessing Zhao Gongming at the Start.

Chapter 503 The Great Celestial Venerable personally visits Wuzhuang Temple!

That slap was incredibly painful, almost shattering the foundation of Bodhisattva Lingji. If he weren't a Great Luo Golden Immortal, possessing the characteristic of immortality, Bodhisattva Lingji even felt that he would perish under that slap from the monkey.

Even so, that slap damaged his foundation, and without ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, he would never be able to recover.

Otherwise, given the Buddhist tradition's thick-skinned and ruthless nature, losing a little face wouldn't have made Lingji Bodhisattva so pitiful.

On the lotus throne, the Medicine Master said with a grim expression, "I only asked you to fulfill the obligations that our Buddhist sect should perform during this great calamity. Who told you to attack that monkey?"

Lingji Bodhisattva cried out, "Buddha, it's not that I wanted to take action, but Jiang Liuer and his group went too far. They not only killed my disciple but also humiliated me. If I were to swallow my anger and remain silent, how could I be worthy of the Sage's cultivation? I simply couldn't bear it any longer, so I took action!"

The pharmacist said expressionlessly, "What does face matter? Luck is the most important thing. What does being humiliated a few times matter? This slap of yours has caused our Buddhist sect to lose at least 30% of its luck. If the sage finds out, how will we explain ourselves?"

After saying this, the pharmacist added earnestly, "Respect isn't given by others; it's earned. Although our Buddhist sect currently dominates Xiniu Hezhou, it's far too barren, inferior to Dongsheng Shenzhou. Therefore, suffering some humiliation is nothing; no one will care. Once we complete the great calamity and our Buddhist sect prospers, and we advance eastward to gradually erode its fortune, who among the myriad races of the prehistoric world, and throughout the entire Three Realms, would dare disrespect our Buddhist sect?"

Lingji Bodhisattva lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before finally composed himself, cupping his hands and saying, "It was my recklessness, and I am willing to take responsibility."

The pharmacist waved his hand, "Only when our Buddhist sect is united can we usher in great prosperity. You made great contributions in the battle of Huangfeng Ridge, and you should be rewarded."

Upon hearing this, Bodhisattva Lingji's eyes lit up. If there really was some reward that could make up for it, that would not be bad at all.

But the next moment, the pharmacist's face showed worry again. "But as you know, our Buddhist sect is poor and its resources are not as good as those in the East. The rewards will be distributed after the great calamity of the Journey to the West has ended."

Lingji Bodhisattva forced a smile. "No rush, no rush. If the Buddha has nothing else to say, I will take my leave."

"Step down."

The pharmacist waved his hand and closed his eyes again. The great calamity had only just begun, and he still had to devote even more energy to the entire journey to the west.

On the other side, after leaving Huangfengling, Jiang Liuer and his group traveled for another month and a half before arriving at the Tongtian River, which stretches for eight hundred li.

The calamity manifested, and everything proceeded according to plan. The little black dragon and Zhu Ganglie joined forces to subdue the Curtain-Rolling Heavenly General. Jiang Liuer went to retrieve the scriptures for them, and Sha Wujing joined in. Thus, the five-person team for the pilgrimage was officially formed.

In the Heavenly Court of the Thirty-Three Heavens, on the Lingxiao Palace, Haotian's eyes narrowed slightly. He recalled the words spoken by the Dao Ancestor at the beginning of the Great Tribulation of the Journey to the West: "If Buddhism wants to flourish, it must go through eighty-one tribulations before it can achieve perfect merit."

The eighty-one tribulations are all different, and the manifestations of the calamity energy are also different. Some they can control, but others they cannot. For example, the next calamity energy fell on Wuzhuang Temple and Longevity Mountain.

Haotian sighed. Joining forces with Buddhism is truly exhausting.

Zhen Yuanzi is an extremely senior and powerful figure. He is also a member of the Xuanmen (Taoist sect) and has a very ordinary, or even bad, relationship with the Buddhist sect.

If Buddhist monks went to Longevity Hill, they might not even be able to open the gate and would be driven away.

If the Western sages were still alive, there wouldn't be much of a problem. But the sages had already made a grave mistake by shattering the primordial world during the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods.

Therefore, he was ordered by the Dao Ancestor not to enter the Three Realms, and relying solely on the Buddhist monks was clearly insufficient, so only he, the Great Celestial Venerable, could step forward.

"Ugh!"

"It's tough!"

Haotian sighed, increasingly feeling that cooperating with Buddhism was extremely unreliable.

It's unknown how much benefit the Heavenly Court will gain after the westward expansion.

Haotian gave Yaochi some instructions, then took Tiannu, the chief steward of the Heavenly Court, concealed their presence, and quietly descended from the Thirty-Three Heavens, heading straight for Wuzhuang Temple.

Longevity Mountain and Wuzhuang Temple have stood firm since the Dragon-Han Calamity, remaining unchanged. Furthermore, protected by the Earth Book Array, their spiritual energy is exceptionally abundant, rarely seen in the Three Realms, and it is all pure innate spiritual energy.

Arriving at the foot of Longevity Hill, Haotian climbed the steps, preparing to ascend them one by one.

"Your Majesty, you are the supreme ruler of all realms, the Great Celestial Venerable of the Primordial World, and the ruler of the Three Realms. This is giving Wanshou Mountain far too much face."

From the foot of Longevity Mountain to its summit, there are thousands of steps. If you climb them one by one, it would take forever. Moreover, the person who climbs them is a Great Celestial Venerable. Looking across the entire Three Realms, who has such face?

"It's just a matter of walking a couple of steps. What we need is for Fellow Daoist Zhenyuan to lend us a hand. That's the purpose of our trip."

Haotian didn't care and walked step by step to the top of the mountain.

Once you reach the top of the mountain, you can see the Wuzhuang Temple right in the center.

The vermilion gate is grand and imposing, exuding a subtle sense of awe that compels one to bow down in reverence!

On both sides of the gate, exotic flowers and rare herbs, spiritual roots and immortal medicines are planted, exuding a rich and fragrant aroma. If you get closer and take a closer look, you will exclaim in amazement!

These elixirs and spiritual roots are all things that have disappeared from the Three Realms. Even if some have not disappeared, they are extremely rare and few in number.

"I have managed the Heavenly Court for so many years, but in terms of its foundation, it is probably not as good as Longevity Mountain."

Haotian sighed sincerely, for among the immortal herbs and great medicines he had planted were some that he had long coveted.

As for the steward, Tiannu, he had already gathered around the elixirs and was sniffing them greedily.

Even though you can't eat it, taking a few more breaths will still give you a good dose of the medicine, which will greatly benefit your cultivation.

Go knock on the door.

Haotian waved his hand, and Tiannu quickly responded and went to knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock!"

The crisp sound echoed continuously in the quiet space.

A moment later, the gate opened, and it was Mingyue and Qingfeng who opened it.

The two opened the door, cupped their hands in greeting to Haotian, and said, "We pay our respects to the Great Heavenly Venerable. Knowing that the Great Heavenly Venerable has come, Master, please invite the Great Heavenly Venerable in."

"This is troublesome."

Haotian nodded slightly and went inside, with Tiannu following closely behind.

In the main hall of Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi had already arrived, and soon after, Haotian also arrived. Zhen Yuanzi smiled and said, "Great Celestial Venerable, it's been a long time. What brings you to my humble abode today?"

"Fellow Daoist is the ancestor of Earth Immortals, possessing the Earth Book and controlling the power of the earth's veins. How can you call it a small place?"

"Have some tea."

Zhen Yuanzi picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, as did Haotian.

Zhen Yuanzi remained silent for a moment before calmly asking, "May I ask, Great Heavenly Venerable, what brings you to my Wuzhuang Temple and Longevity Mountain this time?"

(End of this chapter)