Flower-Fruit Mountain Reform, Underworld Takes Action!

With a single step, Sun Wukong crossed mountains and rivers, returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

At this moment, Flower-Fruit Mountain was enveloped in auspicious energy, with colorful clouds swirling around.

The first exchange delegation sent by Aolai Country had also arrived at Flower-Fruit Mountain.

This delegation consisted of over five hundred people, including scholars, politicians, generals, and artisans.

They would implement reforms in all aspects of Flower-Fruit Mountain!

For example, establishing laws, setting up schools, forming a court centered around Sun Wukong, and consolidating power.

In response, Sun Wukong diligently followed along and learned.

He had read Journey to the West, and The Legend of Wukong!

He knew that if they remained a scattered mess, relying only on brute force, the demon race would never have a future!

The end result would only be Flower-Fruit Mountain turning into scorched earth!

Millions of demon soldiers and generals would vanish into thin air!

And he, Sun Wukong, would be suppressed under Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years, eventually becoming a lackey of Buddhism.

Of course, in this life, he had met his Master, and his fate had been completely altered. At worst, he could hide in his Master's dojo, and even Hongjun wouldn't be able to do anything to him!

However, this was not what Sun Wukong wanted!

He could hide, but could these millions of demons hide?

He could hide, but could the entire demon race hide?

Sun Wukong wanted to become a peerless demon king, one in ten million!

He wanted to lead the entire demon race onto the path of great rejuvenation!

Therefore, Sun Wukong understood that to establish a demon country and become an emperor, he had to learn from humans, absorb their strengths, and truly integrate all the resources and power of the demon race.

Only then could they contend with Heaven, contend with Buddha, and contend with Hongjun!

In an instant, Flower-Fruit Mountain underwent earth-shattering changes, bustling with activity.

Meanwhile, the people of Buddhism also began to take action.

Netherworld, Cuiyun Palace.

Inside the grand hall, a monk wearing a jeweled crown and a red-gold kasaya sat on a pitch-black lotus throne. This person was the Netherworld Cult Master, and also one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

"Disciple pays respects to the Netherworld Cult Master, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!"

Arhat Dragon-Subduing bowed his head, clasped his hands together, and said respectfully.

Buddhism had a strict hierarchy. Although Arhat Dragon-Subduing was the head of the 108 Arhats and his strength had reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he still had to be extremely respectful towards Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas who possessed the Quasi-Saint realm. He absolutely dared not lose his manners.

On the black lotus, Ksitigarbha slightly raised his hand, his voice low:

"Arhat Dragon-Subduing, there is no need for such formalities. Have you come regarding the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West?"

Arhat Dragon-Subduing lowered his head and replied, "Indeed. Shizun ordered me to come and deliver a message to the Cult Master."

"Sun Wukong recently entered the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace and obtained the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron, the Ruyi Golden Cudgel. As expected, he will soon come to cause chaos in the Underworld. The Buddha has decreed that this matter is crucial for the great prosperity of Buddhism, and we must be extremely careful and cautious, making no mistakes."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva nodded slightly, his brows gently raised, his gaze as deep as an abyss:

"Excellent, excellent... With this humble monk guarding the Underworld, naturally, we will not allow that monkey head to ruin the Grand Plan of Journey to the West. However, this matter is not trivial, and we must inform the King Yama of the Netherworld."

As he finished speaking, he flicked his finger, and a golden light flew out from the lotus throne.

"You shall go to Yama Hall first and discuss this matter thoroughly with King Yama. Remember, the plan for Journey to the West must be woven as tightly as silk, allowing no room for error."

"I shall obey the Cult Master's decree."

Arhat Dragon-Subduing clasped his hands together, bowed, and then transformed into a beam of Buddhist light, streaking through the Netherworld like a shooting star. In an instant, he had arrived outside Yama Hall.

Inside Yama Hall, the lights were dim, with Yakshas and judges standing solemnly on both sides. King Yama sat on his throne. Upon seeing the arrival of Arhat Dragon-Subduing, the foremost seat of the Spirit Mountain Arhat Hall, he quickly rose to greet him, his expression humble, though a hint of deep helplessness was hidden within his smile:

"Greetings, Arhat Dragon-Subduing. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar."

Arhat Dragon-Subduing nodded faintly, his tone unceremonious:

"King Yama is too kind. I have come only to remind you that the monkey head has already obtained the divine weapon from the Dragon Palace, and his next step will be to cause chaos in the Underworld. Shizun's command is that the tribulation of Journey to the West must proceed without a single misstep. Do not let that mischievous monkey see through our plans."

King Yama's brows twitched slightly. He gave a bitter smile inwardly, but replied respectfully:

"The Underworld has already made all arrangements. We will ensure that monkey incurs immense karma and completes the tribulation!"

"That is excellent."

Arhat Dragon-Subduing glanced at him, then smiled faintly:

"If King Yama cooperates, our Buddhist sect will certainly not treat the officials of the Underworld poorly!"

King Yama nodded repeatedly and bowed respectfully. After watching Arhat Dragon-Subduing transform into light and depart, he slowly sat back on his throne, his fingertips tapping restlessly on the armrest.

A sigh echoed in the somber great hall:

"Alas... I wonder if this plan is right or wrong..."

He looked up at the rolling black clouds outside the hall, his mind in turmoil.

The Underworld was not peaceful these days. Factions were intricate, and numerous forces were in a hidden struggle, restraining each other.

To maintain the balance of power among the various factions, he, King Yama, had to tread with extreme caution, as if walking on thin ice.

Yet, in recent years, Buddhism had grown in strength and momentum, becoming more and more powerful, forcing even him to gradually show favor to Buddhism.

If one were to ask who had the most prestige in the Netherworld, it would naturally be Empress Pingxin.

However, Empress Pingxin was the spokesperson for the Way of Earth, always detached, disdainful of worldly karma. Moreover, as a Saint, she possessed an arrogant demeanor, so how could she easily intervene in these factional disputes?

Next was Ancestor Styx.

This was a top-tier expert born at the beginning of heaven and earth, who lived in seclusion in the Blood Sea of the Netherworld. His mind was solely focused on the great cause of becoming a Saint, and he usually paid no attention to the mundane affairs of the underworld, never inquiring about them.

As a result, Buddhism took the opportunity to plant spies in the Underworld!

This Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was from Buddhism, who made the great vow of "If hell is not empty, I will not become a Buddha," and refused to leave the Underworld!

Now he had even gained the title of "Netherworld Cult Master," clearly showing signs of becoming the new leader of the Underworld.

As for the so-called "If hell is not empty, I will not become a Buddha."

This was simply a joke!

In reality, it was just a way to linger in the Underworld and seize the Merit of the beings undergoing reincarnation.

The normal reincarnation process in the Underworld involved summoning souls, judgment, punishment, drinking the Meng Po soup, and stepping onto the path of reincarnation.

However, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had opened a small path of reincarnation, imprinting the souls with Buddhist Dharma. Under the guise of using Buddhist Dharma to convert the souls and bless them for a smooth next life, he was actually seizing the luck and Merit of reincarnation!

In addition to this, the souls imprinted with Buddhist Dharma would naturally be drawn to Buddhism after reincarnation and become disciples of Buddhism, thereby expanding Buddhism's influence in the human world.

With this series of maneuvers, Buddhism's influence had spread throughout the Underworld.

And the Great Emperor Beiyin Fengdu, who belonged to the Daoist sect, had now been quietly sidelined by Ksitigarbha. The Daoist sect's voice in the Netherworld was repeatedly suppressed, and they were retreating steadily.

Judging by this situation, Buddhism's luck was truly at its peak, and no one could stop it.

"Alas, this alliance with Buddhism, is it a blessing or a curse?"

"Since we have chosen a side, I can only hope that Buddhism will keep its word and share some of the Merit and luck with us."

"Everything I've done is for the long-term foundation of the Underworld..."

"I only hope Buddhism doesn't disappoint me!"

After murmuring to himself, King Yama was still uneasy. He immediately summoned Judge Cui and ordered him to arrange for Sun Wukong's havoc in the Underworld according to the plan.

"Remember, no link must have any flaws. We must allow Sun Wukong to cause chaos, but we cannot let ourselves be harmed."

"Also, the act must be convincing. Don't let that monkey see through the pretense."

Judge Cui patted his chest and assured him, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. He's just a wild monkey. I will ensure this play is performed flawlessly."