Naturally Endowed with Extraordinary Wisdom

"Since you find it too harsh, then forget it."

With the saints' support, Haotian was full of confidence.

This instantly put the Buddhist Sect in a passive position.

In the end, Buddha Tathagata contacted Receiver's true body.

Receiver and Cundi were currently troubled by Sun Wukong's whereabouts. How could they spare any thought for such trivial matters?

Without Sun Wukong, Journey to the West would be meaningless!

What did Zhen Yuanzi amount to?

"With the Dao Ancestor here, Zhen Yuanzi cannot stir up any trouble. Agree to his terms."

Receiver replied to Buddha Tathagata.

"By the way, Senior Brother, we should go seek the Dao Ancestor. Perhaps he knows Sun Wukong's whereabouts."

Cundi spoke directly.

Receiver nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

The two saints immediately left Western Paradise and headed for the Chaos Purple Cloud Palace.

In the Heavenly Court's Hall of Celestial Supremacy, Buddha Tathagata pressed his palms together and said, "Excellent. The Buddhist Sect accepts the Heavenly Emperor's conditions." Haotian smiled upon hearing this, thinking that Taiqing Saint had been right. The Buddhist Sect truly could not refuse.

Haotian then suggested, "It is inconvenient for the Buddha Ancestor to travel back and forth to the Heavenly Court personally. Why not appoint a liaison? Let Duobao handle this matter."

The three from the Buddhist Sect were all greatly surprised. Buddha Tathagata and Fixed Light Joyful Buddha looked at Duobao, unable to understand when he had made some secret deal with Haotian.

Duobao was equally baffled. He had never had any contact with Haotian.

The Heavenly Investiture of the Gods List held many Jie Sect Disciples prisoner. He had no favorable impression of the Heavenly Court and could not understand why Haotian had specifically named him to remain behind.

After some thought, Buddha Tathagata said, "Since Your Majesty has requested it, Duobao shall remain."

Duobao could only nod in agreement. "Yes, World-Honored One."

Afterward, Buddha Tathagata and Fixed Light Joyful Buddha returned to the West, while Duobao temporarily remained in the Heavenly Court.

Duobao asked Haotian in confusion, "Why does Your Majesty want me to stay?"

Haotian said with a smile, "This was Supreme Lord Laozi's intention, but do not tell anyone about it."

Duobao was deeply shocked upon hearing this.

In Chaos Beyond Heaven, within the Purple Cloud Palace. "Master, Sun Wukong is the Heaven-Appointed Scripture Pilgrim, yet he has now vanished without a trace. How is this Calamity supposed to proceed? You absolutely cannot stand by and do nothing." Receiver and Cundi directly complained to Hongjun, their words carrying an undertone of command.

Hongjun frowned slightly after hearing them. It was not because he found the Two Sages of the West bothersome, but because his Dao Heart had been stirred. His Heavenly Dao Karmic Position encompassed every phenomenon of the Primordial Wilderness, yet it could not find any trace of Sun Wukong. Could it be a Variable? Hongjun's gaze darkened as he looked toward Daluo Heaven.

Heavenly Dao Hongjun remained expressionless as he mobilized Heavenly Dao Authority to investigate.

Yet within Daluo Heaven of the Taiqing Realm, the Heavenly Dao found nothing unusual.

At this moment, Taiqing was in seclusion, with no movement whatsoever. If it was not Taiqing, had he completely evaded the Heavenly Dao's detection? Hongjun shook his head, light flickering in his eyes. Impossible. No one can conceal the identity of a Calamity Protagonist from the Heavenly Dao. Taiqing certainly does not possess such ability. Supreme Heavenly Dao Power searched through every saint's abode and the entire Primordial Land, yet found nothing.

Hongjun's brows were tightly furrowed, his heart filled with confusion.

"Which Mysterious Existence is trying to interfere in this calamity?"

"Could it be those Hidden Chaos Demon Gods?"

Receiver and Cundi had no idea what was happening, their hearts filled with doubts.

Even the Dao Ancestor could not find Sun Wukong? What was going on? Just as the two prepared to ask, Hongjun said calmly, "You may withdraw first. I will resolve this matter myself." The moment he finished speaking, Hongjun had already vanished without a trace.

Though Sun Wukong had disappeared, Hongjun was not flustered.

The greater trend could not be changed, but the minor details could be adjusted.

It was not yet time for Journey to the West to officially begin.

The Two Sages of the West were utterly bewildered upon hearing this.

Did this not mean there had been no progress at all? Yet they did not dare question Hongjun and could only respectfully agree.

After Receiver and Cundi left the main hall, Tongtian sneered from the Side Hall. "What can such incompetent fools do besides complain?" Those two saints from the West had always loved to complain, and they had been no different during the Deification.

Originally, Tongtian had disdained their actions, but some of Dingguang Xian's behavior had enraged him.

Now that Receiver and Cundi had failed to achieve their goal, Tongtian was in a rare good mood and thus mocked them.

The Two Sages of the West were rather displeased by this.

Although Master Tongtian was confined within the Purple Cloud Palace, he still...

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, Tongtian still retained his freedom.

Although Heavenly Dao Hongjun controlled everything, he had not deliberately concealed Tongtian's circumstances.

Therefore, Tongtian clearly knew everything that had happened.

Seeing Tongtian's mocking attitude, Receiver could not help but sneer as well. "Has Master Tongtian been well recently?" He then added, "The Jie Sect Disciples seem to be living quite well in the Buddhist Sect."

Tongtian's expression instantly darkened. "Once I leave the Purple Cloud Palace, I will certainly challenge Mount Sumeru with my sword!"

Cundi laughed loudly in response. "Then we shall wait and see!"

Although Tongtian possessed the Immortal Slaughtering Sword, as long as he could not leave the Purple Cloud Palace, he was merely a toothless tiger. Even Dingguang Xian did not fear him, so why should they?

After a round of mocking exchanges, Receiver and Cundi finally left the Purple Cloud Palace.

Tongtian clenched his fists tightly, his expression extremely ugly.

If he ever had a chance to leave the Purple Cloud Palace, he would definitely destroy the Western Buddhist Sect. Dingguang Xian in particular would be torn into ten thousand pieces!

Yet Tongtian felt despair. "Is it truly possible to leave the Purple Cloud Palace?"

Although Tongtian was confined within the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun had placed no restrictions on him.

This was not good news. Instead, it meant Hongjun had no intention of letting him leave at all.

Moreover, with Hongjun's strength, he did not need to worry about Tongtian escaping the Purple Cloud Palace.

Tongtian himself understood this as well.

Suddenly, he thought of Taiqing Laozi—his former eldest brother.

His recent actions had been surprising. Perhaps he had changed?

Could Taiqing save him?

A thought flashed through Tongtian's heart.

But he immediately suppressed it.

After all, Taiqing and Yuanshi had once joined forces with the Two Sages of the West against the Interception Sect.

The Three Pure Ones had long since turned against one another, with no affection left between them.

Why would Taiqing save him?

Even if he had changed, he could never defy Hongjun!

Hongjun represented the Heavenly Dao!

He was an invincible existence in the Primordial Wilderness!

Everything had already been decided!

No one could rewrite it!

Tongtian could only sigh.

In Chaos Beyond Heaven.

Taiqing Realm, Daluo Heaven.

Within the Eight Sceneries Palace, Taiqing sat cross-legged and slowly opened his eyes.

The Celestial Compass before him shimmered with flowing light.

He knew everything that had happened in the Purple Cloud Palace.

Noticing the reactions of the Two Sages of the West, Taiqing smiled disdainfully.

If Tongtian had not left back then, the West should have been purged.

But that matter could be set aside for now.

What required attention now was Sun Wukong in Grand Simplicity Heaven!

Grand Simplicity Heaven, Wa Huang Palace.

The figure that emerged from the turbulent currents of the void appeared small and thin, yet he curiously examined his surroundings.

He was none other than the Lingming Stone Monkey!

"Senior Brother, it actually succeeded?"

Nüwa's beautiful eyes gleamed as she was deeply shaken.

Heavenly Dao Power had just swept through the abodes of every saint, and Grand Simplicity Heaven had naturally not been exempt.

Nüwa had thought that Hongjun had discovered her and Taiqing, but she had never expected even the Heavenly Dao to be deceived. Right under its very eyes, no one had noticed a thing.

Sun Wukong had truly been guided into Wa Huang Palace. How exactly had Taiqing accomplished this? Nüwa's gaze flickered, and her heart was filled with shock.

One had to know that the Lingming Stone Monkey was a crucial figure in the Calamity. Even if the other saints joined forces, they could not hide him from the Heavenly Dao, yet Taiqing had managed it.

Could he have surpassed the realm of saints?

If so, then when the Earthly Immortal Realm was unified, Zhen Yuanzi's confrontation with Hongjun had likely been planned by Taiqing as well.

Nüwa's thoughts churned, and she became increasingly astonished.

Taiqing's strength was unfathomable and impossible to gauge. How many more hidden arrangements did he have yet to reveal?

In truth, Taiqing could easily conceal the Heavenly Dao with the Chaos Pearl.

Following the natural course of events, he used the karmic connection between Nüwa and the Sky-Repairing Divine Stone to guide Sun Wukong to Grand Simplicity Heaven. It was entirely reasonable.

Not only did this conform to karma, it was merely an adjustment to a minor trend. There was no incongruity, so the Heavenly Dao naturally could not detect it.

Nüwa could originally have guided Sun Wukong herself, but Hongjun's obstruction had caused her to miss this great opportunity.

Within the calamities of the Primordial Wilderness, the greater trend could not be changed, but the minor trends could be adjusted.

As long as the overall situation was not affected, the Heavenly Dao had no need to interfere.

Of course it could.

The following is the revised content according to your requirements:

Yet in Taiqing Laozi's eyes, even the smallest change was enough to reverse the overall situation.

At that time, every trend would surge like a raging flood, impossible for anyone to stop!

At this moment, a wisp of Taiqing Laozi's Divine Sense manifested within Wa Huang Palace.

Faced with Nüwa's question, he merely smiled faintly and did not explain further.

"There is no need to dwell on this. What matters now is teaching Sun Wukong."

"He is crucial to our future plans."

Nüwa nodded slightly, her expression turning solemn.

That was indeed true.

Sun Wukong was the key!

At this moment, the Lingming Stone Monkey was full of curiosity toward the Grand Simplicity Heaven before him. Though he felt a trace of familiarity, what he felt more strongly was awe and fear.

This was the residence of saints!

Even the faintest trace of a saint's aura could instinctively make living beings afraid.

Just as the Lingming Stone Monkey warily observed his surroundings, two mysterious figures appeared.

They were the projections of Nüwa's and Taiqing's Divine Senses!

Taiqing's phantom took the form of a mysterious expert and smiled at the Lingming Stone Monkey.

"Little monkey, you and I are destined. How about I give you a name today?"

The Lingming Stone Monkey.

He was proficient in transformations, perceptive of celestial secrets, familiar with the land, and capable of shifting stars and changing constellations.

He was naturally endowed with extraordinary wisdom.

At this moment, merely seeing the aura of the expert before him told him that he was extraordinary. When he saw Nüwa's figure as well, he felt an immense sense of familiarity despite not knowing her.

The Lingming Stone Monkey said excitedly:

"Please bestow a name upon me, Senior. I am willing!"

Taiqing's Divine Sense phantom spoke with a smile.

Linglong

"From this day onward, your name shall be Sun Wukong."

"This is a name bestowed by Heaven, not by me."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong felt both delighted and puzzled. This Heaven-bestowed name made him wonder about his own identity.

Could he truly be some innate living being or a chosen one?

Each of the Four Primordial Divine Monkeys was extraordinary. The Lingming Stone Monkey took form the latest due to the Calamity and had remained in Chaos, unlike the Six-Eared Macaque and others, who knew of innate matters.

Sun Wukong had originally believed that he was merely a postnatal living being.

In the original Journey to the West, Sun Wukong was deeply grateful to Patriarch Bodhi, but Bodhi had merely bestowed a name on Heaven's behalf. Everything had been part of the Buddhist Sect's scheme, and Sun Wukong was nothing more than a pawn to be used.

Otherwise, with the Lingming Stone Monkey's innate aptitude and the fortune of a Calamity Protagonist, how could he possibly have stopped at merely becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha?

Sun Wukong was overjoyed and immediately knelt on the ground.

"I beg you, Senior, please accept me as your disciple!"

Taiqing Laozi smiled faintly but gave no clear response.

He would not casually accept a disciple. The karma between master and disciple was far too significant.

He did not need Sun Wukong to acknowledge the formal bond of master and disciple. It was enough for such a relationship to exist in practice.

Therefore, Taiqing would not conceal anything from Sun Wukong, nor would he deliberately hide his identity.

"I will impart the Great Dao to you. You must comprehend it with all your heart."

Taiqing lightly flicked his whisk, and a beam of immortal light entered Sun Wukong's brow.

Sun Wukong was overjoyed as he felt the immortal light enter his brow.

This technique contained one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred profound mysteries—it was clearly Tongtian's art!

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Overwhelmed with joy, Sun Wukong immediately sat cross-legged and began comprehending this supreme Dao technique.

But in the blink of an eye...

Boundless Dao essence radiated from Sun Wukong's body as he instantly comprehended the Great Dao.

Immediately afterward, his cultivation rapidly rose.

Seeing this, Nüwa was deeply moved.

"With such innate talent and foundation, he truly deserves the title of Calamity Protagonist."

Taiqing smiled faintly.

"He is indeed exceptional."

Nüwa added: