Disciples Wish to Follow Sage Tongtian and Charge Once More!

Qiu Shou Xian picked up his severed yang-jing, on the verge of tears, filled with extreme hatred!

Ling Ya Xian, Yu Yi Xian, and Jin Guang Xian also felt uneasy.

"Alas, we were once the Seven Attendants under Master Tongtian. Back then, when countless immortals paid homage to the Jiejiao Sect, how glorious it was!"

"I truly miss the happy days with my senior brothers and sisters on Jin'ao Island and in Biyou Palace!"

"We were carefree and unfettered in the past, but now we've been reduced to mounts for Buddhism. How pathetic and hateful!"

The three beasts sighed with sorrow and lament. As they spoke with emotion, tears began to fall. The past was too painful to recall...

Qiu Shou Xian carefully put away his severed yang-jing and said to the other three beasts:

"Crying and wailing, can that possibly scare away these demons from Spirit Mountain?"

"A few days ago, I overheard a message from Master Tongtian! Perhaps Master Tongtian can truly lead us to make another charge!"

Upon hearing this, the three beasts' spirits lifted, and they all looked towards Qiu Shou Xian.

Qiu Shou Xian continued, "I heard from people in Buddhism that Sun Wukong disappeared for three years and then learned a great deal of divine abilities. However, the person who taught him the techniques concealed the heavenly secrets, making it impossible even for Saints to deduce. Everyone in Buddhism is guessing that perhaps Master Tongtian made a move, intending to defy heaven and disrupt the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West."

Hearing this, the three beasts were overjoyed.

Ling Ya Xian said excitedly:

"Rather than living a life of indignity in Buddhism, I truly wish to follow Master Tongtian and make another charge!"

Jin Guang Xian was equally excited: "I also wish to follow Master and make another charge!"

Yu Yi Xian: "Me too!"

Seeing this, Qiu Shou Xian sighed deeply and said:

"Our Divine Souls are currently sealed. We can't even leave the Western Ox Continent. How can we contact Master Tongtian?"

Ling Ya Xian thought for a moment and replied:

"That's easy! Although we can't contact Master Tongtian, we can contact Brother Gongming! If we tell Brother Gongming this message, perhaps he will have a way to contact Master!"

This Zhao Gongming was the foremost among the three thousand outer disciples of the Jiejiao Sect. His true form was the first wisp of clear wind between heaven and earth. He gained sentience from comprehending the Heavenly Dao and later became a disciple of Sect Master Tongtian.

He was the eldest brother of San Xiao, and together they were known as the four great outer disciples of the Jiejiao Sect.

During the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, Zhao Gongming wielded the twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls and repeatedly defeated the Twelve Golden Immortals. He even forced Daoist Randeng to flee in disarray, only to be ambushed by Daoist Lu Ya and die under the Seven Arrows Book, his true spirit eventually ascending the Investiture of the Gods List!

Currently, Zhao Gongming has been enfeoffed as the "Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord," overseeing the gold and silver treasures of the human world. He is the head of the Five Paths of Wealth Gods and is also known as the "Martial God of Wealth" among the populace.

Although this position appears to be lucrative, it is essentially a sinecure with no real power in the Heavenly Court, making him a borderline figure.

Immediately, the four beasts used a secret technique, a long-distance transmission, which was a secret art for Jiejiao disciples to communicate with each other.

"Brother Gongming, Master Tongtian may have reappeared in the Primordial World."

"In Flower-Fruit Mountain, Eastern Continent of Divine Sands, there is a monkey named Sun Wukong, who may be the Master's newly accepted disciple."

In an instant, these two sentences transformed into a wisp of clear wind, traveling thousands of miles in the blink of an eye, heading towards the True Lord of the Altar's mansion in the Heavenly Court.

However, a day in heaven is a year on earth.

The four beasts remained entrenched in Shituo Ridge, awaiting Zhao Gongming's reply.

On this day, Shituo Ridge was suddenly bathed in Buddhist light, shining brilliantly.

A stream of auspicious clouds descended upon the mountaintop. The four beasts sensed the aura and came out to see a handsome young monk with a face full of heroic spirit and clear eyes.

"Amitabha, esteemed cultivators Ling Ya Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, Jin Guang Xian, and Yu Yi Xian, this humble monk offers his greetings!"

The visitor was none other than Golden Cicada. He bowed to the four.

The four beasts looked at each other in confusion. Golden Cicada was Tathagata's second direct disciple, possessing exceptional talent and great favor. What was he doing in Shituo Ridge?

Golden Cicada noticed their confusion and smiled slightly, saying:

"This humble monk has come hoping that the four esteemed cultivators will lay down your butcher knives and spare the lives of the millions of people in Shituo Kingdom! If you can do so, this humble monk would be immensely grateful!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of disdain flashed across Qiu Shou Xian's face:

"Heh heh, stop being hypocritical! You are the ones who made us wield butcher knives, and now you are the ones telling us to put them down? What's wrong with you!"

Ling Ya Xian also nodded: "Golden Cicada, do you think we want to slaughter the people of this kingdom? Who wants to bear this karma..."

As he spoke, a flicker of pain crossed Ling Ya Xian's eyes:

"But if we don't slaughter the people of this kingdom, we will be castrated by that demon Puxian and become eunuchs..."

Golden Cicada was stunned and found it hard to believe:

"Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of Spirit Mountain. He has always been compassionate, with great vows and great actions. How could he harm you?!"

"Hmph!"

Qiu Shou Xian sneered, "Golden Cicada, put away your hypocrisy. Puxian personally severed my yang-jing yesterday and castrated me. Is there any falsehood in that?"

"If you truly have compassion and wish to save the people of this kingdom, go and plead with your Buddha. Don't disturb our rest."

"Roar!"

With that, Qiu Shou Xian let out a roar, waved his thick claws, and ignored Golden Cicada. The other three beasts also followed him back into the cave!

The facts were right before him!

No wonder Golden Cicada couldn't believe it. His expression shifted repeatedly. Buddhism had always been compassionate, but how could today's events be considered compassionate in the slightest?!

At that moment, the "Buddha" within Golden Cicada's heart crumbled with a resounding crash!

He summoned auspicious clouds and flew towards Samantabhadra's dojo on Mount Emei, intending to seek a clear explanation from him.

Just then, a mysterious golden light suddenly appeared from nowhere and engulfed him.

Immediately after, Golden Cicada felt the world spin.

When he regained consciousness, the sight before him made him gasp in shock.

He saw a colossal stone tablet standing before him!

This stone tablet pierced straight into the clouds, tearing through the azure sky!

Deep red characters were carved onto the stone tablet, ancient and vigorous, their daoist charm pressing against the heavens!

Golden Cicada's gaze sharpened. The contents of this stone tablet made his heart tremble.

--

Pangu Opens the Heavens, bowed thrice to me, borrowing my axe and chisel.

Hongjun Merges with the Dao, truly an old thief, stealing my Jade Treasure.

Nuwa Becomes a Saint, using my form to mold clay and create humans.

Three Pure Ones Establish Teachings, Erhu Creates Buddhism, all mere trivial paths.

If you ask of the Great Dao, it is the Supreme Being of Chaos, eternally free and unfettered.

--

Beneath the stone tablet, Golden Cicada stood there, dumbfounded.

Every word was desolate and ancient, majestic and profound!

It was like the Great Dao Laws themselves, existing for eternity.

It inspired awe and a desire to prostrate and worship!

Yet, upon careful consideration of the content, it felt rather exaggerated, even bizarre!

"The axe and chisel that Great God Pangu used to open the heavens and earth back then were borrowed from you?"

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun, who enlightened beings and became the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao, you call him an old thief?"

"Empress Nuwa created humans using your form?"

"The Three Pure Ones of the Daoist sect and the two Saints of Buddhism are all trivial paths, while you represent the Great Dao?"

"Heh heh!"

"You don't even put the myriad gods and Buddhas, the Saints of all heavens, in your eyes!"

"The owner of this dojo is truly arrogant!"

"Even my master, Dabao Tathagata, wouldn't dare to boast like this!"

Golden Cicada muttered to himself, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. He strode towards the dojo:

"Hmph, this humble monk wants to see whose dojo this is, to be so outrageously arrogant!!!"