Transmigrating into Haotian, ruling the Three Pure Ones and pacifying the primordial world.

The sage Zhenyuan escorted Sun Wukong, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Buddha Tathagata to request an audience—what an obscure statement!

Haotian and Yaochi exchanged a glance. Wuzhuang Temple was indeed a difficult place, but why did Zhenyuanzi bring the two people behind him as well?

"Announce!"

"Your subject Zhen Yuanzi pays respects to the Great Heavenly Venerable. May Your Majesty and Empress enjoy eternal bliss and boundless longevity."

"Greetings, Your Majesty/Great Celestial Venerable." The three Buddhas bowed straight down, not because they didn't want to perform the proper ceremony, but because they were bound.

The rope wasn't some kind of magic weapon; Zhen Yuanzi simply grabbed a withered blade of grass from the ground and conjured it, making it impossible for them to break free. This was the power of a sage.

"Rise, why are you dressed like that?" Yaochi's voice was tinged with laughter, and the immortals couldn't help but scrutinize the three of them.

Zhen Yuanzi cupped his hands in greeting and pointed at Sun Wukong, saying, "Your Majesty, this monkey not only stole my ginseng fruit, but also knocked down the tree."

The immortals in the hall were in an uproar. The ginseng fruit tree was extremely precious. It was not only the companion spiritual root of the Sage Zhenyuan, but also the lifeblood of the Sage Shennong, the Earth Emperor.

Yaochi's eyes flickered. Could Sun Wukong, with his small frame, really knock down the ginseng fruit tree?

"It wasn't me, Old Sun, who did it!" Sun Wukong looked desperate. He had been instigated by Pigsy. When Tianpeng became a disciple of Tang Sanzang, the latter gave him a different name. The same was true for Rolling Curtain. Because he was subdued at the Flowing Sand River, he was called Sand Monk.

"Your Majesty, it really wasn't me, Old Sun, who pushed it down! I only picked three ginseng fruits, and just as I jumped down from the tree, it collapsed!"

Zhen Yuanzi sneered, "When it happened, you were the only monkey in the orchard, and my disciple caught you red-handed. After receiving the news, I returned from the underworld and questioned the local earth god in the orchard. They all said it was you who did it. Do you still dare to deny it?"

The immortals fell silent. "Earth God, what you said must be the truth!"

"Alright, Sun Wukong, I won't waste my breath on you." Zhen Yuanzi glanced at him disdainfully. What did a monkey who only knew how to fight and kill know?

He looked up and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I sent this monkey to find a way to cure the tree. He found Guanyin, and after three drops of the Three Lights Divine Water were added, the ginseng fruit tree's leaves began to wither and turn yellow. Does anyone know what she added to it?"

Zhen Yuanzi snorted coldly: "After all, my feud with Buddhism is not something that started overnight!"

"What about Shakyamuni?" Haotian looked down, feigning confusion.

Zhen Yuanzi let out a series of cold laughs: "He said I should go find this monkey's master for compensation, but Buddhism can't afford to pay!"

"Isn't this monkey going to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures? What use would it be for me to go to Bodhi?"

He glanced at the three of them with disdain. The immortals kept their eyes down and their minds at ease. Even Haotian Yaochi couldn't help but chuckle. Jieyin Bodhi had long been drained dry!

Shakyamuni was frowning. What could he do? This monkey wasn't even his disciple, yet he had caused so much trouble. The Buddhist community had a lot of complaints and wanted to pay compensation again. He felt that some people would secretly teach Sun Wukong a lesson.

It would be better to let Uncle Bodhi come; after all, they are saints and can have an equal dialogue!

"Then how does my subject wish me to make this decision?"

Zhen Yuanzi became serious and bowed deeply: "Either you help me save the ginseng fruit tree, or you compensate me with a top-grade innate spiritual root."

Shakyamuni and Guanyin frowned secretly. Even if the Three Lights Divine Water could not cure the fruit tree, its injury would not have worsened. Someone must have tampered with it.

However, saying this only adds another charge of slandering a saint.

"Top-grade spiritual roots are rare even in the Primordial Era, how could our Buddhist sect possibly produce one?" Duobao sighed repeatedly. He once had a bitter bamboo, but it's probably bearing bamboo fruit in the Peach Garden now!

Zhen Yuanzi glanced at him lightly: "Isn't there a Bodhi tree on Fangcun Mountain?"

Shakyamuni was speechless, and at the same time, he was shocked by the man's audacity. The immortals were astonished and could only remain silent.

Sun Wukong flew into a rage: "You..."

That was his master; how could he tolerate such an insult!

Zhen Yuanzi glanced at him disdainfully. "Even if the Bodhi and Jieyin join forces, I am not afraid. What can you, monkey, do even if you are angry?"

"Fellow Daoist, you must not speak nonsense. Fellow Daoist Bodhi is a sage of the Heavenly Dao." Yaochi reprimanded her lightly, after all, there were so many immortals and gods in front of them.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I misspoke." Zhen Yuanzi bowed.

Haotian shook his head: "I understand the whole story. Since Buddhism cannot provide an equivalent spiritual root, then help Zhen Yuanzi heal the tree!"

"This is the Emperor's decree; you must not disobey!"

"Your Majesty, I truly do not know how to save the ginseng fruit tree. Please enlighten me." Shakyamuni closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, and asked directly.

Whatever Zhenyuan Saint wants to do, just tell the truth.

Haotian frowned and looked at Zhen Yuanzi: "My dear minister, I don't know anything about the ginseng fruit tree. Tell me what you need?"

"Yes." Zhen Yuanzi stood in front of the three, his expression extremely serious. "I want you to know that the Ginseng Fruit Tree is a spiritual root born after the creation of the world, and it has been cultivated by me for many years. Now that it has been damaged, it cannot be healed by a few drops of Three Lights Divine Water."

"I have already investigated and found that I need ten grains of Nine Heavens Breath Soil, one hundred each of Azure Sun Spirit Dew and Immortal Resin, one thousand drops of Azure Cloud Wood Liquid, and one thousand each of Primordial Cloud Essence and Pure Harmony Moon Essence Ointment."

Shakyamuni's expression changed repeatedly as he listened. Zhen Yuanzi chuckled briefly, "Finally, a drop of Chaos Essence is needed to reawaken the ginseng fruit tree's vitality."

"This..." Shakyamuni gritted his teeth. Buddhism could offer other things, but the essence of chaos was something few in the primordial world possessed, except... the Heavenly Emperor!

Zhen Yuanzi stared at him intently, but his hand behind his back flipped around. Haotian raised an eyebrow. Was he going to split the score 50/50 with him?

"The sage forgives me, but the essence of chaos is something our Buddhism truly does not possess." Guanyin saw that her fellow disciple was too angry to speak, so she could only answer on his behalf.

"I have it in my Heavenly Court, would Buddha be willing to exchange it?" Yaochi had obviously also noticed Zhen Yuanzi's actions.

"Let's exchange," Shakyamuni said weakly. "What will the price be?"

"Just make sure it's equivalent to the spiritual objects that Fellow Daoist Zhenyuan mentioned," Haotian said with a smile.

Shakyamuni closed his eyes. There were two portions in total, and their value matched the 20% reduction that the Heavenly Emperor had cut off five hundred years ago.

Was this instructed by the Heavenly Emperor?

Unlike the Heavenly Emperor, who would not be so petty about such matters, it was Zhenyuan Saint who did it on purpose. He disliked his two uncles, Jieyin and Bodhi, and by extension, he disliked Buddhism and could not stand seeing them take advantage of others.

They deliberately took the case to the Heavenly Court so that His Majesty could also benefit from it.

He didn't know if the Chaos Essence was useful, but given Zhen Yuanzi's style of doing things, he would definitely share some of what he had obtained with the Heavenly Emperor afterward.

Shakyamuni looked helpless. Wuzhuang Temple was on the only way to the west, and there was no way to avoid it. What could he do?

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The two bowed, as they also had to thank the Heavenly Emperor for helping them resolve this thorny issue.

Zhen Yuanzi remained calm, and with a thought, the ropes binding the three of them transformed into straw ropes and disappeared.

"Jinpeng," Haotian whispered, "Give Fellow Daoist Zhenyuan a drop of Chaos Essence."