After all, Buddhism is the target of many powerful beings and even Saints nowadays.
Could it be a Saint from the legends? Marshal Tian Peng thought to himself.
"No need to overthink it, you'll see the owner here soon." Sun Wukong walked to the door and knocked. "Shopkeeper, Senior, Wukong is here. I've brought someone with me this time."
Inside the General Store, in the courtyard.
Wu Feng sat cross-legged, golden light emanating from his body.
"Boom..."
Suddenly, Wu Feng opened his eyes, and explosive energy shot out.
Behind him, divine demons appeared one by one, all bowing to Wu Feng.
If any powerful being were to observe Wu Feng's physical body at this moment, they would discover that an extremely terrifying power was contained within it.
The destructive force that would erupt if that power were unleashed would be immeasurable.
This was the result of Wu Feng cultivating the Divine Demon World-Suppressing Method, nurturing divine demons within the particles of his body.
"The Golden Immortal realm, I've reached it." Wu Feng stood up.
After cultivating the Divine Demon World-Suppressing Method, Wu Feng did not rest. He directly absorbed Merit and Destiny and read the Great Dao Scripture to improve his strength.
This encompassed improvements to his soul, his physical body, and even his cultivation method.
The Great Dao Scripture touched upon the mysteries of the Great Dao.
It allowed Wu Feng to gain a deeper understanding of the world's laws, indirectly enhancing his soul.
As for Merit and Destiny, there was even less to say.
Sun Wukong had only obtained a wisp, but Wu Feng, with his amplification, had received a whole mass.
Even a Quasi-Saint would likely covet such a mass.
For Wu Feng, who was only at the Mysterious Immortal stage, its effect was even greater.
The combination of various wondrous cultivation methods and heavenly treasures allowed Wu Feng to successfully break through from Mysterious Immortal to Golden Immortal.
Even so.
The Great Dao Scripture and Merit and Destiny had not been fully consumed.
However, Wu Feng decided to take a break.
Wu Feng had no intention of becoming a cultivation fanatic; increasing the number of customers at the General Store was the most important thing.
That was his top priority.
Moreover, guests were arriving at this very moment.
"Let's go see who our guest is." Wu Feng smiled and left the courtyard.
Outside the General Store.
Sun Wukong knocked for a while and called out a few times, but there was no reaction from inside, and the door did not open.
"Sun Wukong, is the Senior you mentioned perhaps out?" Marshal Tian Peng asked, seeing this.
"He's out." Sun Wukong scratched his head. "It really seems possible."
"How about we come back another time?"
"...Another time." Marshal Tian Peng frowned.
He had come to find Sun Wukong this time under the pretense of apprehending him.
Otherwise, Immortals and Gods from the Heavenly Court leaving without permission would be punished.
"If the Senior isn't here, there's nothing I can do." Sun Wukong shrugged.
"Then I understand." Marshal Tian Peng took a deep breath. "I'll find time to come see you then."
Just as Sun Wukong and Marshal Tian Peng were about to leave the General Store.
A creaking sound echoed as the door opened.
A familiar face appeared before Sun Wukong.
It was that powerful and terrifying shopkeeper Senior.
In Sun Wukong's heart, Wu Feng was an even more formidable existence than a Saint.
"It's Wukong, have you robbed another place?" Wu Feng chuckled.
"Shopkeeper, Senior, you jest." Sun Wukong replied with a simple grin. "I haven't had the chance to do anything like that in such a short time. But I've brought Bajie this time; he can become a customer at the General Store."
"Mmm..." Wu Feng looked at the handsome man beside Sun Wukong.
From Sun Wukong's words, Wu Feng learned who this man was.
The future Zhu Bajie, currently Marshal Tian Peng, who was banished to the mortal world for molesting Chang'e and became a pig demon.
"Marshal Tian Peng of the Heavenly Court." Wu Feng stated.
"Yes, Senior." Marshal Tian Peng replied respectfully. "According to Sun Wukong, you can reveal my future, my destiny, and even change my fate here."
"That's right, but to get something, you also need to give something in return," Wu Feng said. "Do you understand this?"
Seeing the confused Marshal Tian Peng, Wu Feng smiled. "Wukong, explain it properly to Tian Peng."
"Yes, Shopkeeper Senior." Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly. "Bajie, let me explain it to you properly."
Afterward, Sun Wukong gave a general overview of the General Store.
For example, to purchase anything inside, Exchange Points were needed.
Exchange Points could be obtained by bringing in rare treasures and similar items to exchange here.
"Senior, I haven't brought much this time. Can I come back next time?" Tian Peng finally replied.
"No problem," Wu Feng nodded.
"Thank you, Senior." Tian Peng cupped his hands. "Then Tian Peng will take his leave."
"Shopkeeper Senior." Watching Tian Peng leave, Sun Wukong rubbed his hands, hesitating slightly.
"Don't worry, Wukong. Tian Peng will pay you your share of the Exchange Points when he makes a purchase later," Wu Feng said with a smile.
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Senior. See you next time." Sun Wukong also left the General Store with joy.
On Flower-Fruit Mountain.
"Great kindness needs no thanks. Sun Wukong, I hope we meet again," Tian Peng said solemnly. "I will remember this kindness and repay you then."
"I believe we will meet again soon," Sun Wukong's eyes shone.
He hadn't even tried the Peach Tree yet.
Chapter 43: The Chess Match Between Saints!
In the Heavenly Court.
The Jade Emperor looked grimly at Nezha, the Four Heavenly Kings, Juling Shen, and other generals below.
The rest of the Heavenly Soldiers were not qualified to stand in the Hall of Lingxiao.
Marshal Tian Peng had led tens of thousands of Heavenly Soldiers and suffered defeat this time.
The news quickly spread throughout the entire Heavenly Court, and the Jade Emperor convened another court session in the Hall of Lingxiao.
They needed to make proper arrangements for this defeat and for what was to come.
"Nezha, you're saying Sun Wukong defeated you all by himself?" the Jade Emperor asked coldly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Sun Wukong defeated us all by himself," Nezha's expression was bitter.
He hadn't expected this situation either.
Nezha had originally thought he and Sun Wukong could at least contend for a while, but who knew that in just one move, Sun Wukong had easily defeated him.
He had to remember that he, Nezha, was a standout figure from the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
It could be said that among the third generation disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect, besides Yang Jian, he, Nezha, was the strongest.
But even so.
His strength was still inferior to Sun Wukong's.
This was something Nezha had realized from their previous battle.
Moreover, Nezha had a vague feeling that even at the end, Sun Wukong hadn't used his true strength.
This made Nezha feel extremely unwilling.
"And what about Marshal Tian Peng?" the Jade Emperor asked.
Where had Marshal Tian Peng, who was the commander-in-chief, gone after Nezha and the others returned to the Heavenly Court?
"Your Majesty, Tian Peng stayed behind to cover our retreat, allowing us to leave first. He engaged Sun Wukong in a desperate battle," Nezha explained.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the Four Heavenly Kings, Juling Shen, and other Immortals and Gods nodded in agreement.
Marshal Tian Peng's look of utter determination to die had indeed left a deep impression on them.