This Shocked Her Greatly!

Cundi was greatly startled upon hearing this.

The Journey to the West Calamity was about to begin, yet this monkey still hadn't achieved immortality?

How could this be?

However, after careful deduction by the two sages, they found that Patriarch Bodhi's words were entirely true.

What unsettled them even more was that they could detect nothing unusual about Sun Wukong.

The Two Sages of the West grew deeply anxious.

If Sun Wukong continued cultivating like this, what if it took him a thousand years just to become an immortal?

Would they have to delay the Journey to the West Calamity?

The key issue was that the Buddhist Sect couldn't make that call either.

Cundi frowned worriedly and said, "Elder Brother, what should we do?"

Receiver furrowed his brow as well. "Enough. Since his cultivation is slow, we'll assist him with external forces."

Cundi's eyes lit up.

That's right—use the Buddhist Sect's Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to nurture Sun Wukong!

Even if they had to pile them on, they'd force him to the Golden Immortal realm!

As long as he reached the Golden Immortal stage, they could barely kick off the Journey to the West Calamity.

Not long after, The Two Sages of the West issued their decree.

The Buddhist Sect's Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were swiftly sent to Square Inch Mountain.

Patriarch Bodhi personally guided Sun Wukong in refining these treasures and preached scriptures to him daily.

Bodhi could no longer afford to mind the rules—after all, the disciples of Square Inch Mountain were mere props. He had to ensure Sun Wukong gained enough strength as quickly as possible!

Although the Buddhist Sect hoped to limit Sun Wukong's cultivation, that was only to prevent his power from spiraling out of control.

If Sun Wukong's realm were too high, he could sweep through the Journey to the West alone.

The Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Court had arranged numerous helpers for this—how would they distribute the merit?

But for now, lofty concepts like the Daluo Fruit or Primordial Unity Golden Immortal were utterly irrelevant.

First, let him reach the Golden Immortal cultivation base. Otherwise, he wouldn't even grasp the opportunity of the Journey to the West.

The entire Buddhist Sect watched this with intense focus, hoping only that Sun Wukong would grow quickly so they could launch the Journey to the West Calamity.

Yet, faced with those Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Sun Wukong showed nothing but disdain.

These things were far inferior to what his master had given him.

But Sun Wukong was deep and calculating. He knew these were Buddhist Sect goods, and accepting them could do no harm.

Besides, this was a perfect chance to bleed the Buddhist Sect dry—a way to repay his master's kindness.

So, Sun Wukong unabashedly feasted at Square Inch Mountain, turning nothing away from the treasures delivered to his door.

He cultivated Taiqing's personally transmitted Dao methods, digesting these treasures at an astonishing speed.

With his true realm nearing the mid-stage of Daluo, masked by the Chaotic Secret Art, even a sage couldn't see through his real power.

Sun Wukong was quite pleased with this.

After all, getting something for nothing felt great.

This situation also brought relief to Bodhi and other Buddhist masters.

Truly, this Lingming Stone Monkey was no ordinary being. Among those Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were even Innate Spiritual Roots, yet he absorbed them without strain—a clear sign of extraordinary talent.

Thus, the Buddhist powerhouses watched Sun Wukong with eager anticipation, hoping to see him break through to a higher level with these treasures.

Cundi and Receiver felt a pang of pain seeing Sun Wukong nearly drain the Buddhist Sect's reserves.

This guy was a bottomless pit! But as long as he became a Golden Immortal and triggered the Journey to the West Calamity, the Buddhist Sect would come out ahead.

Therefore, the Two Sages of the West were full of hope for Sun Wukong's breakthrough.

Suddenly, Sun Wukong stood up, spiritual energy surging around him.

The Buddhist masters watching in secret all brightened, stirred with excitement.

The Calamity Protagonist was about to appear!

Patriarch Bodhi was especially thrilled, hoping only that Sun Wukong would reach the Golden Immortal realm and begin the Journey to the West.

Under the fervent gaze of the Buddhist deities, Sun Wukong stretched lazily. Immortal aura radiated everywhere, shaking Square Inch Mountain.

He shouted triumphantly, "Old Sun has become an immortal!"

It had indeed succeeded! With the aid of countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, he had stepped onto the path of immortality, becoming a Human Immortal.

Yet this outcome left Patriarch Bodhi, the divine buddhas of Spirit Mountain, and Receiver and Cundi utterly stunned into silence.

A Human Immortal? This result was far too unexpected!

Borrowing the power of Buddhism, with such an abundance of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and Innate Spiritual Roots, it had only produced a single Human Immortal?!

The entire Buddhist Sect was shaken.

This scene was also witnessed by Nüwa and Taiqing.

Nüwa couldn't help but laugh, radiant and captivating.

"This monkey really makes one both exasperated and amused."

A smile also appeared on Taiqing's face.

With Sun Wukong here swindling the Buddhist Sect, the Journey to the West Calamity wouldn't start so easily.

In the west, the Western Paradise.

Receiver and Cundi exchanged glances, doubt in their hearts.

Could this Sun Wukong be toying with our Buddhist Sect?

With so many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, even a wild mountain monkey should have cultivated to Celestial Immortal!

Receiver frowned and said, "This Sun Wukong is likely problematic. Who is scheming behind the scenes against our calamity?"

Cundi said coldly, "Elder brother, we can't delay any longer. Let's just have the Underworld drag away Sun Wukong's soul and see if he can stay so composed!"

Cundi planned to force Sun Wukong to advance the calamity's progress, forcibly initiating the Journey to the West.

Receiver's eyes lit up at this. "An excellent plan!"

Sun Wukong's havoc in the Underworld and his havoc in the Heavenly Court were originally a script jointly orchestrated by the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect.

In the Buddhist Sect's view, the Underworld was not a formidable force.

Although the Underworld had the sage Houtu stationed there, Houtu had long since withdrawn from the world.

And the Buddhist Sect still had Ksitigarbha as a pawn in the Underworld, making it easy to manipulate.

However, the Two Sages of the West were unaware.

The Underworld was no longer what it used to be!

Under the scheming of the Two Sages of the West, Sun Wukong's soul was swiftly drawn into the Underworld.

But at that very moment, within the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Houtu slowly opened her eyes after comprehending the Earth Dao Divine Seal.

Saintly Might radiated, enveloping the entire Underworld!

"The Buddhist Sect has quite the nerve, daring to show such contempt for the Underworld?"

Houtu snorted coldly.

At her current level of cultivation, a moment's thought was enough to deduce the matter of Sun Wukong, and she naturally saw through the Buddhist Sect's scheme!

The Two Sages of the West had truly gone too far.

Back then, the appearance of the ten suns in the Primordial Wilderness was a trick by Receiver and Cundi.

This matter had also triggered Houyi shooting down the suns, ultimately leading to the Witch-Demon War.

Once Houtu evolved the Earth Dao and awakened the Twelve Ancestral Witches, she would surely seek justice from the West.

Houtu gazed at Sun Wukong's soul but found herself unable to gauge his strength.

This shocked her greatly!

But soon, Houtu detected the aura of Taiqing within Sun Wukong.

"Even such a pivotal figure for the Buddhist Sect has been influenced by fellow Daoist Taiqing?"

At that moment, Taiqing's calm voice came through:

"No matter, just a small matter requiring your assistance, fellow Daoist."

Houtu sighed upon hearing this.

Even a sage could toy with the Buddhist Sect in the palm of their hand!

And you speak of it so lightly?

Truly too much!

Houtu understood that if Taiqing hadn't intentionally let her discover this trace of Taiqing Dao Essence, she would never have seen through it!

But since this was Taiqing's plan, Houtu would naturally lend a hand.

"Fengdu, bring Sun Wukong to Pingxin Palace."

"Yes, Lady!"

Grand Simplicity Heaven.

Wa Huang Palace.

Nüwa was also closely watching Sun Wukong.

He was considered half her disciple.

Then, Nüwa witnessed a shocking scene: Sun Wukong had directly entered Pingxin Palace!

Nüwa was instantly stunned.

Wasn't Houtu supposed to be detached from the world?

Why would she meet Sun Wukong?

Nüwa suddenly had a bold conjecture.

Could it be that Senior Taiqing and Houtu had also formed an alliance?

At this thought, Nüwa's heart trembled with shock!

She knew Houtu's situation was completely different from hers!

She was an existence bound by the Heavenly Dao!

Hongjun must have been constantly watching Houtu!

Taiqing had allied with Houtu without anyone noticing!

But Nüwa quickly realized one thing:

Why did Taiqing ally with her?

For the Human Path!

Then what was the purpose of allying with Houtu?

The Earth Path?

Could Taiqing be trying to establish the Human Path and the Earth Path?

At this thought, Nüwa's breath quickened, and she was utterly shaken.

She sensed an extremely terrifying possibility.

Was Grand Pure One Laozi planning to use the power of the Human and Earth Paths to defy fate and contend with Hongjun?!

This thought had just arisen.

Nüwa suddenly gained insight, as if seeing through Taiqing's true scheme!

Her entire body trembled—such a grand layout was truly staggering.

Yet even Nüwa could not fathom just how far-reaching Taiqing's plan was!

Human-Earth Rebellion Against Heaven? Just to oppose Hongjun?

For the current Taiqing, such a scope was far too narrow.

One day, even the Heavenly Dao would fall under Taiqing's control!

By then, the Unity of Three Teachings would form the Daoist Sect!

The Primordial World would evolve into the supreme Hongmeng, becoming the origin of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds!

And Taiqing would attain the supreme Dao.

All authority over All Heavens and Myriad Daos would belong to Taiqing!

As for Hongjun?

He was merely a solitary figure long since vanished!

Such a scene was unimaginable for Houtu, Nüwa, or even Yuanshi Tianzun!

In the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun watched the Underworld, his brow slightly furrowed.

Sun Wukong had appeared in Pingxin Palace—what was Houtu up to?

Was she trying to interfere with the Journey to the West Calamity?

Pingxin Palace was the core of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, containing the power of the Earth Path, which even Hongjun could not see through.

However, Hongjun soon wore an indifferent expression and paid it no further heed.

Houtu could never leave the Underworld; even if she wanted to meddle in the Journey to the West Calamity, she could not stir up much trouble.

Hongjun was unconcerned, as long as that Mysterious Existence did not intervene personally.

Yet Hongjun had no idea that the actions of Sun Wukong and Houtu were all part of Taiqing's plan.

Western Buddhist Sect.

Tathagata and the other buddhas were utterly baffled.

Wasn't he supposed to storm the Underworld and destroy the Book of Life and Death?!

Why was he directly conversing with a sage instead?

Receiver and Cundi also wore expressions of surprise.

Hadn't Houtu always stayed out of worldly affairs?

How did she get involved with Sun Wukong?

Could it be that Houtu was the one who had schemed against Sun Wukong from the start?

The Two Sages of the West furrowed their brows.

Meanwhile, in the Underworld.

Houtu gazed at Sun Wukong, a myriad of emotions swirling within her.

Sun Wukong found it strange as well. This Lady's aura was so formidable—could she be a legendary sage?

But he had never met a sage before.

Suddenly, it occurred to him that perhaps his master knew this sage.

His mysterious master possessed extraordinary power, so it wouldn't be surprising if he knew a few sages.

Sure enough, Houtu smiled and said:

"Lingming Stone Monkey Sun Wukong, your master asked me to relay a message to you."

Sun Wukong was overjoyed to hear this.

"Lady, please speak, speak!"

He never expected to receive word from his master, and he was ecstatic.

Houtu spoke with a gentle smile:

"Your master said that this incident was a trap set by the Buddhist Sect, aimed at forcing you into a Calamity to kickstart the Journey to the West."

"You need to lower your cultivation level now and then return to Square Inch Mountain."

"As long as your strength is insufficient and you stay on Square Inch Mountain, the Buddhist Sect will have no way to deal with you."

Upon learning that his descent into the Underworld was actually a scheme by the Buddhist Sect, Sun Wukong was furious.

These Buddhist Sect disciples!

During his time on Square Inch Mountain, Sun Wukong had deeply felt the nature of the Buddhist Sect's disciples.

But his mysterious master had taught him everything, revealing all the disciples' secrets to him!

In comparison, the Buddhist Sect seemed far more despicable.

"Lady, rest assured. I will listen to my master!"

"I will not let the Buddhist Sect succeed!"

Sun Wukong agreed repeatedly.

At the same time, he resolved to follow his master's guidance and thoroughly sabotage the Buddhist Sect!

Houtu smiled faintly:

"I will cover for you."

This would make the Buddhist Sect believe that your drop in cultivation was due to my warning.

Thus helping you better conceal your identity.

"Thank you, Lady!"

Sun Wukong watched curiously as Houtu lowered his cultivation.

Houtu's magical power was unfathomably deep.

The monkey couldn't help but suspect that the Lady before him might be a sage!

He speculated that his mysterious master, who could command a sage to act on his behalf, must possess power far beyond that of a sage!

At that thought, the monkey grew even more excited.

At this moment, Houtu's heart was a tangle of emotions.

This Taiqing fellow was profoundly mysterious. With a casual hand, he could control a Calamity and suppress the Two Sages of the West without giving them any room to fight back.

Truly unmatched in strategy, peerless in the world!

Houtu sighed softly, then raised her delicate hand.

"Go now."