With a single step, Sun Wukong crossed mountains and rivers and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Auspicious mist rose over Flower-Fruit Mountain, and colorful clouds swirled around it.
The first delegation sent by Aolai Country had also arrived.
It numbered more than five hundred people, including scholars, politicians, generals, artisans, and others...
They would reform Flower-Fruit Mountain in every way!
They would draft laws, establish schools, form a court centered on Sun Wukong, and consolidate power...
Sun Wukong followed along, studying tirelessly.
He had read Journey to the West and The Legend of Wukong!
He knew that if the demons remained a disorganized mob, relying only on brute force, they would never have a future!
Flower-Fruit Mountain would end up reduced to scorched earth!
A million demon soldiers and Demon Generals would be wiped out!
And Sun Wukong himself would be imprisoned beneath Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years before becoming a lackey of the Buddhist School.
Of course, in this life, he had met his master, and his fate had changed completely. At worst, he could hide in his master's sanctuary, where even Hongjun could do nothing to him!
But that was not what Sun Wukong wanted!
He could hide, but could these millions of demons?
He could hide, but could the entire demon race?
Sun Wukong wanted to become a peerless Demon King, one in ten thousand!
He wanted to lead the entire demon race toward a glorious revival!
So Sun Wukong understood that to build a demon kingdom and become its emperor, he had to learn from humans, adopt their strengths, and truly unite the resources and power of every demon.
Only then could they contend with Heaven, with Buddha, and with Hongjun!
For a time, Flower-Fruit Mountain underwent a sweeping transformation.
Meanwhile, the Buddhist School began to make its move.
In Cuiyun Palace, deep within the Netherworld.
A monk wearing a jeweled crown and red-and-gold robes sat upon a black lotus throne in the great hall. He was the Netherworld Cult Master, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas.
"This disciple pays his respects to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Netherworld Cult Master!"
Arhat Dragon-Subduing bowed his head and pressed his palms together, speaking with reverence.
The Buddhist School had a strict hierarchy. Though Arhat Dragon-Subduing ranked first among the 108 arhats and had reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he still had to show utmost respect before Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas and a Quasi-Saint. He would never dare neglect the proper courtesies.
On the black lotus, Ksitigarbha raised a hand slightly. His voice was low.
"No need for ceremony, Arhat Dragon-Subduing. Have you come about the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West?"
Arhat Dragon-Subduing lowered his head. "Yes. Shizun sent me to deliver a message to you, Cult Master."
"Sun Wukong recently entered the East Sea Dragon Palace and obtained the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron, the Ruyi Golden Cudgel. As expected, he will soon come to wreak havoc in the Netherworld. Buddha has instructed us to proceed with utmost caution. The Great Prosperity of the Buddhist School depends on this, and nothing can be allowed to go wrong."
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded faintly. His brows lifted, his gaze deep as an abyss.
"Indeed... With this humble monk guarding the Netherworld, that monkey will not be allowed to ruin the Grand Plan of Journey to the West. But this is no small matter. The Netherworld's King Yama must also be informed."
With that, he flicked a finger, sending a beam of golden light from the lotus throne.
"Go to Yama Hall first and settle the arrangements with King Yama. Remember, the plan for Journey to the West must be woven as tightly as silk. There can be no mistakes."
"I shall obey your decree, Cult Master."
Arhat Dragon-Subduing pressed his palms together and bowed. Then he transformed into a streak of Buddhist light that flashed through the Netherworld like a meteor. In an instant, he landed outside Yama Hall.
Inside Yama Hall, the lamplight was dim. Yakshas and judges stood solemnly along both sides, while King Yama sat upon his throne. Seeing Arhat Dragon-Subduing, head of Spirit Mountain's Arhat Hall, arrive in person, he hurried to his feet to greet him. His expression was gracious, though a trace of weary helplessness hid beneath his smile.
"Greetings, Arhat Dragon-Subduing. Forgive me for not coming out to welcome you."
Arhat Dragon-Subduing nodded faintly, but his tone was blunt.
"You are too courteous, King Yama. I have come only to remind you that the monkey has obtained a divine weapon from the Dragon Palace. His next step will be to wreak havoc in the Netherworld. Shizun has decreed that every stage of the tribulation of Journey to the West must proceed exactly as planned. Do not let that Mischievous Monkey notice anything amiss."
King Yama's brow twitched. He smiled bitterly to himself, but answered with deference.
"The Netherworld has made all the arrangements. We will ensure that monkey incurs a mountain of karmic debt and completes the tribulation!"
"Excellent."
Arhat Dragon-Subduing glanced at him and smiled faintly.
"As long as you cooperate, the Buddhist School will not treat anyone in the Netherworld unfairly."
King Yama nodded repeatedly and bowed. Only after he watched Arhat Dragon-Subduing turn into light and fly away did he slowly sit back on his throne. His fingers trembled slightly as they tapped the armrest.
A sigh echoed through the gloomy hall.
"Ah... I wonder whether this scheme is right or wrong..."
He looked up at the roiling black clouds beyond the hall, his thoughts in turmoil.
The Netherworld was far from peaceful. Its factions were tangled together, and many powers maneuvered in secret, each holding the others in check.
To keep those powers balanced, he, King Yama, had to watch every step and tread as though on thin ice.
Yet in recent years, the Buddhist School's influence had grown ever stronger. Even he had been forced to gradually curry its favor.
If anyone in the Netherworld commanded the greatest respect, it was naturally Empress Pingxin.
But Empress Pingxin was the representative of the earthly Dao. She had always stood apart from worldly affairs and disdained entangling herself in mortal karma. Besides, she was a Saint. With her lofty standing, why would she readily involve herself in factional struggles?
Next came Ancestor Minghe.
A supreme power born when heaven and earth first opened, he lived in seclusion within the Netherworld Blood Sea. His mind was fixed on becoming a Saint, and he had always ignored the Netherworld's mundane affairs.
The Buddhist School had seized the opportunity to plant its people in the Netherworld!
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was one of them. He had made the grand vow, "Until hell is empty, I will not become a Buddha," and used it as an excuse to remain in the Netherworld!
Now he had even acquired the title of "Netherworld Cult Master" and was showing every sign of becoming its new leader.
As for that vow about not becoming a Buddha until hell was empty...
It was a joke!
He simply wanted an excuse to stay in the Netherworld and siphon off the merit generated by souls passing through reincarnation!
The Netherworld's normal process was to collect souls, judge them, punish them, have them drink Meng Po's Soup, and send them down the path of reincarnation.
But Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had opened a separate, smaller path of reincarnation, imprinting Buddhist teachings on the dead. He called it using the Dharma to guide souls and bless their next lives. In truth, he was siphoning away the fortune and merit of reincarnation!
Moreover, souls marked with that imprint would naturally feel drawn to Buddhism after being reborn. They would become Buddhist Disciples, expanding the Buddhist School's influence in the mortal world.
Through these maneuvers, the Buddhist School's influence had spread through nearly every corner of the Netherworld.
As for Great Emperor Beiyin Fengdu, who belonged to Daoism, Ksitigarbha had quietly stripped him of his power. Daoism's voice in the Netherworld had been suppressed again and again, forcing it into steady retreat.
At this rate, the Buddhist School's fortune might truly be at its peak. No one could stop it.
"Ah, will joining forces with the Buddhist School bring us fortune or disaster?"
"Now that I've chosen a side, I can only hope the Buddhist School keeps its word and shares more merit and fortune with us."
"Everything I've done has been for the Netherworld's future foundations..."
"I only hope the Buddhist School doesn't let me down!"
Even after murmuring those words, King Yama could not put his worries to rest. He summoned Judge Cui and ordered him to carry out their original plan for Sun Wukong's rampage through the Netherworld.
"Remember, nothing can go wrong at any stage. Let Sun Wukong turn the place upside down, but don't let him do us any real harm."
"And make the performance convincing. That monkey must not spot a flaw."
Judge Cui thumped his chest. "Rest assured, King Yama. He's just a wild monkey. I'll make certain our performance is flawless."
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