Heavenly Court, Hall of Celestial Supremacy

"Elder Brother truly defied fate and surpassed Hongjun!"

Purple Cloud Palace!

Tongtian's mind was shaken, and he could scarcely believe it.

Who could possibly accomplish something so earth-shattering?

Tongtian had never expected it, but that no longer mattered.

At this moment, a glimmer of hope arose in Tongtian's heart!

The Heavenly Dao was supreme and unmatched, but was Hongjun truly equivalent to the Heavenly Dao?

Although Hongjun was regarded as the Heavenly Dao, the Heavenly Dao was not entirely under his control.

The Heavenly Dao had its own laws of operation. Although Hongjun had reached the pinnacle of merging with the Dao and become one with the Heavenly Dao, in truth, it was the Heavenly Dao that restrained Hongjun, not Hongjun who controlled the Heavenly Dao.

Therefore, Hongjun had always sought to truly transcend the shackles of the Heavenly Dao!

Within Daluo Heaven of the Taiqing Realm, Taiqing Laozi wore a smile as he watched the Fortune Value on the System Panel rapidly increase, his mood excellent.

When he looked again toward Purple Cloud Palace, his mood became even more pleasant.

Hongjun sought to break free from the Heavenly Dao's restraints. To that end, he had schemed meticulously for countless ages, intending to steal the Heavenly Dao.

Thus, Hongjun had secretly suppressed the growth of the Primordial World.

The more the Primordial World developed, the blurrier the rules of the Heavenly Dao became, while its Origin Essence gradually weakened. Naturally, heaven and earth entered the Dharma Ending Age.

Therefore, Hongjun was truly a thief of the Dao.

Taiqing now knew everything and would never allow Hongjun to succeed.

The Heavenly Dao could grant Hongjun the authority of a Karmic Position, and it could grant such authority to others as well.

However, this was extremely difficult, because Hongjun was the only one in the Primordial Wilderness capable of influencing the Heavenly Dao.

But now, things were different.

Taiqing had already bound himself to the Primordial Origin and was also proficient in the laws of the Heavenly Dao. Aside from his Karmic Position and strength temporarily falling short of Hongjun's, he surpassed Hongjun in every other respect.

Therefore, helping Zhen Yuanzi gain the Heavenly Dao's recognition and obtain the authority of the Earthly Immortal Realm's Karmic Position was effortless.

As Fortune Value increased, the changes in the Primordial World became obvious.

The radiance of the Great Primordial World grew ever more dazzling!

Taiqing Laozi stared at the System Panel, his heart stirring slightly.

Perhaps after two more evolutions, the Primordial Wilderness could return to the ranks of high-grade Greater Chiliocosms.

At that moment, the system's voice rang out clearly:

The Primordial World has successfully upgraded!

Congratulations, Master, you have received rewards!

Xiantian Supreme Treasure: Godslaying Spear. Formed from the fusion of the Chaos Green Lotus's stem with boundless baleful qi, it is the Primordial Wilderness's foremost divine weapon of slaughter. Its power is extraordinary; whoever it pierces will surely die, and it can even wound Saints!

Top-Grade Primordial Treasure: Twelfth Grade Black Lotus of Destruction. Originating from a lotus seed of the Chaos Green Lotus, it contains Demonic Fiend Qi and possesses peerless defensive power!

Karma Law has reached perfection.

Artifact Dao Law has reached perfection.

Taiqing Laozi looked at these rewards, his heart filled with delight.

These rewards were truly astonishing.

The Godslaying Spear's power of slaughter could be called the greatest in the Primordial Wilderness. Even the Immortal Slaughtering Sword and Pangu Banner could not compare.

Back then, Rahula had wielded the Godslaying Spear and intimidated the entire Primordial Wilderness by himself. Even Hongjun had been no match for him, and in the end, Hongjun had needed to join forces with reincarnated Chaos Fiendgods such as Yang Mei and Yin Yang to subdue Rahula.

This showed just how incomparably powerful it was.

The Twelfth Grade Black Lotus of Destruction was likewise an immensely powerful Dharma treasure.

It had originally been Devil Ancestor Rahula's supreme treasure and was a perfect match for the Godslaying Spear!

One for offense and one for defense, they could shake the Primordial Wilderness!

Taiqing Laozi stored the Godslaying Spear and the Twelfth Grade Black Lotus of Destruction away.

He then received the rewards of two more perfected laws.

Karma Law ranked among the four supreme Great Daos. There was no need to say more; its power was obvious!

Artifact Dao Law was the Dao of refining artifacts, an exceptionally useful auxiliary law.

Taiqing was quite satisfied. The laws rewarded by the system only needed to be claimed for him to comprehend them perfectly, making things extremely convenient.

He had already perfected the Alchemy Dao Law. With these new rewards, he had now reached five perfected Daos.

Among them were four supreme Daos. In the future, he might even master the Three Thousand Great Daos.

What a powerful existence that would be. Even the Heavenly Dao might have to retreat before him.

At that moment, a voice echoed in his heart.

"Thank you, Taiqing Saint, for your aid. Zhen Yuanzi will remember this gratitude deeply."

"If you have any orders in the future, I will brave fire and water without hesitation."

Zhen Yuanzi conveyed his gratitude through divine transmission.

He knew full well that the karma between himself and Taiqing was profound.

Taiqing calmly replied that he would certainly inform Zhen Yuanzi if he needed anything in the future, and that for now, Zhen Yuanzi could cultivate in peace.

Taiqing's forthright attitude reassured Zhen Yuanzi. "I shall await the Saint's summons." He felt that the karma he owed surpassed even the debt the Two Sages of the West owed Hong Yun, and he did not know how he could repay it.

Yet Taiqing had clearly stated that he would call upon him when needed, which instead made it a good thing.

Zhen Yuanzi sighed inwardly. As expected, everything was under Taiqing's control.

Even when facing Dao Ancestor Hongjun, he had once despaired. He had never imagined that Taiqing could contend with him and even gain the upper hand.

Such an unimaginable scheme filled him with admiration.

Within Daluo Heaven.

Inside Eight Sceneries Palace, Taiqing Laozi sensed something and gazed toward East Sea Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"Sun Wukong is about to be born."

At the same time, Nüwa's voice sounded by his ear.

"Senior Taiqing, the Sky-Patching Stone is about to take form."

Taiqing Laozi smiled.

"It is time to prepare a great gift for Hongjun and the Buddhist Sect."

Chaos Beyond Heaven, Western Paradise, Mount Sumeru.

Receiver and Cundi looked at one another.

Neither had expected the situation to develop to such a point.

It was truly difficult to comprehend.

After a long while, Cundi asked, "Senior Brother, will Zhen Yuanzi interfere with the Calamity?"

Receiver gently shook his head. "Master has already made it clear that Zhen Yuanzi cannot interfere with Buddhist Dharma Eastward Transmission."

Cundi nodded. "That is good. Buddhist Dharma Eastward Transmission is of utmost importance. The Heaven-Ordained Scripture Seeker should already be prepared, right?"

Receiver said with a smile, "Exactly. Let us go make preparations."

"Good."

Primordial Land, Western Sacred Mountain.

The Spirit Mountain Deities and Buddhas were all discussing Zhen Yuanzi.

It was beyond expectation.

At that moment.

At the summit of Spirit Mountain.

A ray of golden light descended.

A supreme Buddha Ancestor appeared, one hand pointing to heaven and the other to earth.

"Above heaven and below earth, I alone am supreme."

Shakyamuni Buddha had descended!

The entire Buddhist Sect rejoiced.

A Saint's Good Corpse had appeared. Even Buddha Ancestors at the quasi-Saint level were delighted; the Buddhist Sect was about to usher in an age of flourishing prosperity.

Only Many Treasures Tathagata was filled with worry.

He had originally hoped to take control of the Buddhist Sect, perhaps allowing him to reverse the Interception Sect's predicament.

However, now that a Saint's Good Corpse had descended, he feared that his position would be hollowed out.

Sure enough.

Shakyamuni pressed his palms together, and Sanskrit chants echoed throughout Spirit Mountain.

"I, Shakyamuni, shall today become Tathagata Buddha and govern the Buddhist Sect."

Tathagata meant attaining true enlightenment through the true Dao. It also referred to a saint who grasped absolute truth and delivered all living beings. Thus, Tathagata, Buddha, and World-Honored One were all titles for every Buddha Ancestor.

But now that the Saint's Good Corpse, Shakyamuni, had become Tathagata Buddha, the other disciples of the Buddhist Sect could no longer be called Tathagata.

All the deities and Buddhas bowed to him.

"Greetings, Tathagata Buddha."

Tathagata Buddha nodded with a smile. His gaze swept over Many Treasures Tathagata, but did not linger.

"I shall head to the Heavenly Court to discuss important matters with the Heavenly Emperor. Joyful Buddha and Duobao may accompany me."

Fixed Light Joyful Buddha was overjoyed.

"Thank you, World-Honored One."

This was an excellent opportunity to share in merit!

Many Treasures Tathagata lowered his eyes.

"Thank you, World-Honored One."

Tathagata Buddha immediately rode a golden auspicious cloud toward the Heavenly Court, accompanied by Guanyin and Duobao.

In truth, this so-called discussion of important matters was merely negotiations between the Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Court regarding cooperation.

After all, the Journey to the West Calamity could not proceed without the Heavenly Court's involvement.

However, this cooperation was merely about using the Heavenly Court. In Receiver and Cundi's plan, the West's rise did not require the Heavenly Court's involvement.

Spirit Platform Mountain. An immortal-looking Daoist arrived there.

Holding a whisk and wearing a smile, he gave it a light wave.

A blessed grotto-heaven appeared upon the cliff platform, called Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.

This Daoist was Cundi's Good Corpse, Patriarch Bodhi.

Sun Wukong was about to be born, and Bodhi was in high spirits as he looked toward East Sea Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"That Lingming Stone Monkey possesses extraordinary foundations. He will surely become a vital instrument of the Buddhist Sect in the future. As expected, he is the destined fate behind the West's flourishing."

"He should be about to be born, right?!!"

Patriarch Bodhi suddenly widened his eyes.

He stared at Flower Fruit Mountain in disbelief.

That Sky-Patching Stone was gone!

What was going on?!

Bodhi could not help rubbing his eyes as he stared intently at that place!

This time, he was completely dumbfounded.

Where was my eldest disciple, Sun Wukong?

How had he suddenly disappeared?!

Patriarch Bodhi hurried to Flower Fruit Mountain to investigate.

Flower Fruit Mountain was completely empty. No matter how he deduced, he found nothing.

Bodhi panicked completely and could only send a message to his true body.

After the two Saints, Cundi and Receiver, learned of it, they too were stunned.

They looked at each other, both unable to believe it.

Why had Sun Wukong suddenly vanished?

That was absolutely impossible!

Sun Wukong was the Heaven-Ordained Scripture Seeker, the fated Calamity Protagonist.

Even his name had been bestowed by heaven.

How could such a person possibly deviate from the Heavenly Dao's trajectory?

The Two Sages of the West had originally been certain that nothing would go wrong, so they had been entirely at ease.

Who could have imagined that even the Heavenly Dao's trajectory might suffer an accident?

"Senior Brother, I searched the entire Primordial Wilderness, yet I could not find any trace of the Lingming Stone Monkey."

"It is as though he vanished into thin air!"

After Cundi Sage surveyed the entire Primordial Wilderness, he grew even more shocked.

Sun Wukong had a destined karmic connection with the Buddhist Sect. He should have been easy to calculate, yet the result was nothing at all!

"I cannot find the scripture seeker either."

Receiver Sage furrowed his brows, his expression growing even more troubled.

The two Saints looked at each other.

Suddenly, Cundi spoke:

"Senior Brother, could another Saint have interfered?"

As Cundi spoke, his gaze unconsciously turned toward Taiqing's Daluo Heaven.

"You mean Taiqing?"

Receiver also became suspicious upon hearing this and looked toward that heavenly domain!

Although Saints could perceive all things, they could also be disrupted by outside forces.

Only saints themselves could influence saints.

Even if the Two Sages of the West could find no clues, they could still infer that there must be something hidden behind this.

One had to know that, in the current Primordial Wilderness, saints were forbidden from setting foot in the mortal world.

Yet Taiqing had previously spread his teachings far and wide, exceeding everyone's expectations.

Therefore, Taiqing was highly suspect.

After a brief silence.

The two saints withdrew their gazes and looked at each other, yet neither spoke.

Because they truly could not understand.

Why did Taiqing know of Sun Wukong's existence?

With the Calamity approaching and heavenly secrets in disarray, Taiqing had no way to divine it.

Moreover, the Three Pure Ones had taken the Saintfall Pill. The Primordial Wilderness no longer had a place for them, and the Dao Ancestor would not tell them about the Calamity either.

"Senior Brother, Taiqing cannot possibly possess such ability. Could some hidden force be trying to meddle in the Calamity?"

"I do not know either. Let us look into it first. If that fails, we may have to ask the Dao Ancestor for help."

"Alright."

Primordial Land.

Heavenly Court, Hall of Celestial Supremacy.

When Zhao Gongming and the other Jie Sect Disciples saw the three Buddhists, their expressions turned unpleasant.

Especially Duobao—how could he, their Eldest Brother, join Buddhism?

Duobao lowered his head in silence.

Fixed Light Joyful Buddha, however, sneered as he looked over the Interception Sect immortals of the Heavenly Court.

"A bunch of useless fools too rigid to adapt. What a joke."

These words enraged Zhao Gongming, the Three Heavens Maidens, and the others.

"Fixed Light, you have gone too far!"

"If Master were here, would you dare act so arrogantly?"

If Fixed Light had not betrayed them and handed over the Six Souls Banner, then even if the Interception Sect had failed, they would still have had the strength to strike back!

They would not have been defeated so quickly!

Yet upon hearing Tongtian's name, Fixed Light Joyful Buddha not only felt no guilt, but became even more smug.

"So what if it is Tongtian? He is merely a dullard locked away in the Purple Cloud Palace!"

"If you have the ability, make him come out!"

As soon as Fixed Light spoke.

The Interception Sect members grew even more furious.

"This is too much!"

"This is utterly infuriating!"

Duobao's expression was complicated as he remained silently speechless.