The Supreme Lord, I Came to Make Demands! (8k Combined Chapter)
The peerless monkey king, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?
A question mark appeared on Zhang Fusheng's forehead. A thought struck him, and he asked softly:
"Logically speaking, you should have died long ago."
"How could I possibly have encountered the Supreme Lord like the Great Sage Equal to Heaven King?"
The Taiping Daoist spoke in a low voice:
"And I must first tell you, senior, that while it is permissible to mention the Great Sage Equal to Heaven within this Daoist temple, once you leave the temple and enter this Netherworld, it is best to refrain from uttering the words 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven.'"
Sima Shi and Zhuge Yu'yi pondering this name.
Zhang Fusheng asked curiously:
"Why is that?"
The Taiping Dao Master stared with a complex expression at the seemingly ordinary being before him, whose various methods were actually beyond his complete control.
He concluded that this mysterious person was of extraordinary origin, definitely a resurrected ancient spirit, and terrifyingly powerful in the ancient world!
The reason is quite simple.
The abilities this person displayed at the highest level were terrifying.
Was his true form at his peak the Daluo?
Or is it stronger?
The Taiping Dao Master immediately dismissed that last thought—it was impossible.
He exhaled a breath of stale air, calming his jumbled thoughts, and replied:
"Back then, the Great Sage personally shattered the Nine Netherworlds, burying countless corpses and resentments of immortals, demons, ghosts, and gods from the past."
After pausing for a moment, the Taiping Dao Master continued:
"These immortals, demons, ghosts, and gods that were personally killed by the Great Sage could not possibly have their true spirits revived in the present day, countless years later, like you. They are only remnants of souls filled with resentment."
"As time goes by, the resentment of the remnant souls accumulates to an immense thickness. Even though I have collected and suppressed tens of thousands of remnant souls over the years, it is but a drop in the ocean."
As he spoke, he pointed to the tens of thousands of Bone Bell hanging in the Daoist temple.
Zhang Fusheng suddenly realized, so this is how these vengeful spirits of the earth god came to be?
The Taiping Dao Master then continued:
"Right now, the entire underworld is like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. The words 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven' could very well trigger a riot among the vengeful spirits."
"Then the news spread like wildfire, and with the resentment of countless earth spirits and deities erupting, even celestial beings and Buddhas would likely shed blood!"
Zhang Fusheng's heart skipped a beat. So many immortals, demons, ghosts, and gods were buried in this underworld?!
Even the weakest of the Earth Deities is a Celestial Person, and many of them are of the Venerable level.
But what about the deities of famous mountains, great rivers, and massive cities?
Then the upper limit is even higher—not to mention, the Mountain God of Mount Tai, the Great Emperor Dongyue the Eastern Peak, is the incarnation of the Azure Emperor, a true Daluo!
Zhuge Yu'yi and Sima Shi, standing to the side, were even more terrified, their hearts and souls trembling.
Countless vengeful spirits of gods?
This number is so large it's almost unimaginable.
The Daoist temple was quiet, everyone digesting this terrifying information. However, Zhang Fusheng felt more joy than fear.
Central Extreme Cult Master, Great Emperor of the Underworld, Master of Nine Nether --
What if one were to gain control and rule over the underworld?
At that time,
Whether it's manipulating these billions of vengeful spirits as the leader of the Central Extreme Cult Master,
Or perhaps we should entrust them to the World-Honored One Dao Body to guide and convert them, so that they may take refuge in the Buddha.
Or perhaps one could simply merge into one's own divine realm, transforming it into the fuel and sustenance of one's true self?
The benefits are unimaginable!
Zhang Fusheng was astonished to realize that a broad and promising road seemed to have been paved before him. This trip to the capital was truly the right decision!
The importance of the underworld alone to him is no less than that of the Mountain River Society and Country Diagram!
My thoughts wandered, and all sorts of feelings returned to silence.
Zhang Fusheng was determined to postpone all his plans until after he entered the underworld.
He then raised his eyes, continuing to gaze at the Taiping Dao Master whose cracks were slowly healing, and then asked:
"Then what about your claim to be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven as your the Supreme Lord? If I remember correctly, you should have died at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, right?"
Late Eastern Han Dynasty?
Zhuge Yu'yi and Sima Shi were somewhat confused.
The Taiping Dao Master's expression turned solemn, and he said in a low voice:
"Indeed, I should have died that year—but also that year."
"At a time when the Han dynasty was on the verge of collapse, the world was in chaos, and numerous warlords rose up."
The Taiping Dao Master spoke with dramatic intonation, raising his head with eyes burning fiercely:
"On the day I was to die of illness in Julu due to the backlash of heaven and Upper Heaven and the punishment of the gods, the Supreme Lord appeared before me."
Zhang Fusheng:???
If he remembered correctly, even disregarding mythological timelines and only looking at history from his previous life, the Monkey King was probably still imprisoned under the Five Finger Mountain at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, right?
If we really calculate it, the monkey was suppressed for five hundred years. If we trace it back from the Tang Dynasty, it would be exactly the Han Dynasty, but it was definitely not the end of the Han Dynasty.
After much thought, Zhang Fusheng pressed on with his question:
"Will the one who comes to see you then be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in the Heavenly Palace, or the Victorious Fighting Buddha who has already become a Buddha?"
Zhuge Yu'yi and Sima Shi both pricked up their ears.
The Taiping Dao Master said softly:
"He has taken off his Buddhist robes, severed his position Victorious Fighting Buddha, and become the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Monkey King again."
Zhang Fusheng remained silent.
That would be the Monkey Brother many years after the journey to the West.
The timing doesn't match. Daluo?
He suddenly had a jolt of realization: the Daluo One transcends time, surveys history, and roams through the ages!
Monkey Brother's attainment of the Daluo seems like a matter of course—but it also illustrates a special fact!
"Has the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who used to wield his staff and eat peaches, actually started plotting, making moves, and strategizing?"
Zhang Fusheng's faint voice echoed through the Daoist temple.
Having become the Daluo Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he specifically returned to the late Han Dynasty to seek out the dying Zhang Jiao and rewrite history.
This shows that the Great Sage was also making plans and scheming.
As for who will be the one to be laid out for?
What are they plotting?
Zhang Fusheng was completely clueless.
He then gazed silently at the Taiping Dao Master, awaiting his reply.
The Taiping Dao Master licked his slightly dry lips and said frankly:
"The Supreme Lord's plan is for all eternity; I only know the tip of the iceberg, a mere glimpse of the whole picture. So, if you wish to learn the Supreme Lord's plan from me, senior?"
"That's absolutely impossible."
Zhang Fusheng narrowed his eyes and said calmly:
"Then say whatever comes to mind."
A bead of sweat appeared on the forehead of the Taiping Dao Master, only to evaporate in an instant. Neither Zhuge Yu'yi nor Sima Shi would have noticed it.
But he himself understood it very well.
The two sides appear to have shaken hands and made peace, but in reality...
The entire Taiping Daoist Temple had been torn apart from the underworld by this Black Robe Bronze Mask using his Great Magic Power.
At this moment,
The Taiping Daoist Temple appears to still be in the underworld, but in reality, it is already isolated in the vast void!
In other words
If I give a wrong answer, this mysterious person will kill me.
There's no escaping it.
A palpable sense of impending death enveloped the Taiping Dao Master.
He was never afraid of death—he had already prepared himself to be shattered to pieces when he chose to fight against the Han Dynasty for the sake of the people.
Only,
The task entrusted to us by the Supreme Lord is not yet complete.
I can't die yet.
Taking a deep breath, the Taiping Dao Master spoke in a low voice:
"Back then, at Julu, the Great Sage traveled against the flow of time and descended before me, only to instruct me on three things."
Reversing the passage of time?
Zhuge Yu'yi's heart pounded wildly, and he felt dizzy. Could there really be such great power in the world?
Who exactly is this Great Sage Equal to Heaven?
Zhang Fusheng then calmly said:
"Continue."
As he spoke, he picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and the rising steam, accompanied by a massive amount of divine essence, surged wildly through his body.
The Taiping Dao Master then continued to respond:
"The Great Sage instructed me to continue doing what I was originally going to do, but to go a step deeper and a broader level."
Zhang Fusheng seemed lost in thought:
"The Yellow Heaven replaced the Azure Heaven, but now the Blue Heaven is replacing the Azure Heaven?"
"You originally intended to change the fate of the Han Dynasty, Monkey Sun rewrote history and saved your life, only to have you change the fate of this world?"
The Taiping Dao Master was frank:
"That's exactly right."
Zhang Fusheng pressed him for answers:
"I can roughly guess the cause and effect, but what exactly did Monkey Sun tell you to do?"
Their conversation was beyond the comprehension of Zhuge Yu'yi and Sima Shi; at this moment, they both hunched their shoulders and listened intently.
Hearing such a closely guarded secret, I don't know if I'll survive. But even in the worst-case scenario, I want to die knowing the truth!
However.
The Taiping Dao Master pointed at the two men.
Sima Shi:?
Zhuge Yu'yi:???
Zhang Fusheng looked at the two little ones and immediately understood:
"The Zhuge Clan and the Sima Clan?"
"That's right."
The Taiping Dao Master took a deep breath:
"Zhuge Kongming was a very impressive junior. He changed his fate and Heavenly Numbers several times, but unfortunately, he suffered a backlash in the end. The Seven Star Lamp failed to help him seize three parts of his destiny."
"As for Sima Yi, with his eagle-like gaze and wolfish demeanor?"
After pausing for a moment, the Taiping Dao Master continued:
"At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms were vying for the throne, a great struggle that even immortals and Buddhas had to avoid."
"Although Sima Yi has a notorious reputation, he is also very capable. He actually stole the Mandate of Heaven from Cao Wei and made the throne fall into the hands of the Sima family."
"These two men, one who has claimed several Heavenly Numbers and the other who has stolen the mandate of heaven, are the best candidates to change the heavens."
Zhuge Yu'yi licked his slightly dry lips. Zhuge Kongming. His own ancestor?
Sima Shi's breathing also quickened slightly. Sima Yi, with his eagle-like gaze and wolf-like stare, realized that the Mandate of Heaven had been stolen and returned to him. Had his ancestors been so magnificent?
Their hearts pounded, but Zhang Fusheng's face showed a look of confusion.
He spoke solemnly:
"The monkey should have had better choices; the Zhuge Clan and Sima Clan were both quite remarkable, but ultimately they were still human and didn't believe in immortals or Buddhas?"
The Taiping Dao Master was slightly startled and stared at the person before him:
"Just as you guessed."
Zhang Fusheng's thoughts raced, and he could roughly guess the gist of it.
It's simply that Monkey Sun learned of the tragic fate of Tang Monk and his companions, and chose to overturn the table—although this overturning of the table may very well have been the will of some Supreme Beings.
He recalled Li Xiuyuan's words: those who journey to the West possess a vast Merit Purple Qi.
So the immortals and Buddhas shared it.
Therefore, the Great Sage did not believe in immortals or Buddhas, and chose to use humans, who did not accumulate merit, to plan his schemes.
After much deliberation, I finally made up my mind.
Zhang Fusheng gazed at the severely wounded Taiping Dao Master:
"I'm afraid there's more than that."
The Taiping Dao Master nodded calmly:
"Naturally, the Great Sage wants me to Auxiliary Guardian this Netherworld—the entire Netherworld was deliberately created by the Supreme Lord back then."
"Auxiliary Guardian?"
Zhang Fusheng squinted:
"Are you not the only one in the underworld?"
"Nature."
The Taiping Dao Master was truly omniscient—he could sense that every inch of himself was being monitored.
It's not just about Essence, Qi, and Spirit, but also about cause and effect.
I cannot lie.
The Taiping Dao Master replied in a low voice:
"As for who else is stationed in the Underworld, who is the master and who is the assistant?"
"As I said before, I only have a glimpse of the whole picture and don't know the whole story."
Zhang Fusheng stroked his teacup, lowered his eyes, and pondered quietly.
Zhang Jiao the Taiping Dao, the Sima Clan, the Zhuge Clan, Valued Year Grand Duke Star Lord Yin Jiao was beheaded.
If I'm not mistaken, Sixty Grand Duke Gods under the command of Tai Sui Xingjun have also been subdued.
But it's clear that, let alone sixty Tai Sui gods, even if there were sixty thousand or six hundred million, it wouldn't have any impact on the overall situation.
Zhang Fusheng asked:
What do you know?
"Firstly, there was Marshal Tianpeng and the Altar Cleanser Envoy in those days."
The Taiping Dao Master responded in a low voice:
"But not long ago, Marshal Tianpeng left the Underworld to do what he needed to do. Where he is now? I don't know either."
Zhang Fusheng raised an eyebrow. What a coincidence.
"Continue."
"Secondly, the Dragon Prince of that year, the Eight Divisions Heavenly Dragon, if you had seen the entire Underworld, you should have been able to discern some clues."
Zhang Fusheng was surprised, his thoughts rising higher and higher.
Looking down upon the underworld from an infinite height, one sees it as a long, winding, and twisted strip.
It resembles a snake—and also a dragon.
He recalled what Tianpeng, who had taken Li Xiuyuan's body, had said: that the Little White Dragon was suppressed under the earth and transformed into Dragon Vein, which was then consumed by earth spirits and ghosts.
Zhang Fusheng suddenly realized and sighed softly:
"So, this is the Dragon Vein that the Little White Dragon transformed into?"
"Those local deities and spirits who died here were all killed by the monkey's staff when they were feeding on the Little White Dragon?"
The Taiping Dao Master changed his expression slightly:
"You know more than I thought, indeed, just as you said."
Zhang Fusheng nodded, having roughly sketched out the cause and effect of that year in his mind.
He heard the Taiping Dao Master continue his narration:
"However, the Little White Dragon is no longer in the Underworld—after countless years of tragic experiences, the Little White Dragon has long since become a demon."
Not long ago, He broke free from the underworld, but then disappeared without a trace, his whereabouts unknown.
"And then, that was the last person I knew."
The Taiping Dao Master raised his head and spoke in a low voice:
"That is the third one, and the last of the Auxiliary Guardian whom the Supreme Lord arranged to remain here."
Zhang Fusheng frowned:
"Speak frankly, don't keep me in suspense."
"It is the Golden Horn Heavenly Venerate who wields the Celestial Fan in the Tushita Palace of the Thirty-Three Heavens!"
The Taiping Dao Master's voice first rose sharply, then fell softly, and he sighed:
"Of course, we don't know what sudden change occurred, but not long ago, the Golden Horn Heavenly Venerate, along with the Tushita Palace, was moved out of the Underworld. It's more like they were driven out."
Zhang Fusheng's brows were tightly furrowed.
Tushita Palace?
The Tushita Palace in the Starry Sky Ruins, originating from the Underworld?
Wow!
But what did the Taiping Dao Master mean by "being driven out"?
"Tell me more about it."
Zhang Fusheng lowered his eyes, his voice extremely solemn:
"What does 'kicking them out' mean?"
The Taiping Dao Master answered frankly:
"The 'not long ago' I'm referring to isn't just in time, but rather a 'not long ago' that transcends time itself—"
"That is to say, the Tushita Palace was originally located in the underworld."
"It has been like this since a very, very long time ago, since the moment I first arrived in the underworld."
"But not long ago, about a month or two ago, history changed. At the beginning of the Supreme Lord's creation of the Underworld, when the Supreme Beings were living in seclusion."
"He personally threw the Tushita Palace out of the underworld."
"As time passed, the Tushita Palace ceased to exist in the underworld. I am only able to perceive this historical change through the grace of the Supreme Lord. That is all."
The light, airy words echoed through the Daoist temple.
Zhuge Yu'yi and Sima Shi felt a chill run through their bodies and felt dizzy.
As time goes by, history is rewritten.
This time, even Zhang Fusheng was shaken!
"The specific time, when exactly—I mean, on what day [now] history changed?" he asked solemnly.
The river of time flows ceaselessly forward, and the last ripple at its end represents [the present moment].
Before that line lies the past; beyond that line lies nothingness, which is the future.
Although history was altered countless years ago, a corresponding [present time] can be found.
For example, if Zhang Fusheng were to gently knock on the Gate of the Past at this moment and change history from a year ago, then history would begin to change from a year ago.
But for [the present moment], it is the past that begins to be rewritten at this very moment.
The Taiping Dao Master recalled for a moment:
"A month ago, when a great sound resounded throughout the heavens and earth of our Mother Star, it was the day Lao Tzu laid out the Dao De Jing."
"The Supreme Lord himself cast Tushita Palace Heaven out of the underworld in the year after the Supreme Beings Ones withdrew from the world, countless years ago."
"That's all I know."
The words echoed in the Daoist temple, then Silence Below.
Zhang Fusheng sat cross-legged, stroking his teacup, his heart churning with turbulent emotions.
Lao Tzu left Hangu Pass. Or perhaps it could be said that he himself left Hangu Pass to the west, standing between the ages past and the future, and laid down the five thousand words of the Tao Te Ching.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven rewrote history, kicking the Tushita Palace out of the game.
All I can say is, he truly lives up to his name as Monkey Sun King).
That's incredibly audacious!
A multitude of thoughts collided violently in Zhang Fusheng's mind, and he was certain that Sun Wukong abandoned the Tushita Palace because he had laid down the Dao De Jing!
Similarly, why? What are the reasons?
Zhang Fusheng didn't know.
What truly terrified him was that time had undergone a drastic change without his knowledge.
In other words.
"Has the history I know now, the history I know at this moment, changed just a second ago?"
"Did the people I remember today not even exist yesterday?"
"Or is it possible that in the last moment I had someone I deeply loved, but now I have completely forgotten them?"
His thoughts raced. Although he had known these things for a long time, the first time he had truly faced the rewriting of history, the immense terror hidden within it, still made Zhang Fusheng extremely sad.
He had a very unreal feeling.
Everything one has done, everything one has strived for, can be erased at any time—all it takes is for a Daluo to rewrite history at will.
That's all.
A nameless panic enveloped Zhang Fusheng, only to be ruthlessly ripped from his mental world.
His Dao heart was worn down, yet in the blink of an eye it was completely restored, even surpassing its former glory.
"All of these are the very reasons why I seek the Way, strive, and ascend!"
"As the Northern Emperor said—to rebel against the Supreme One, one must first submit to the Supreme One."
My heart went from pounding wildly to slowly calming down.
Zhang Fusheng ignored the others in the Daoist temple, closed his eyes, recited his true name, and visualized his mind remaining calm and undisturbed.
His resolve was becoming increasingly firm.
His will entered a divine realm.
Opening my eyes, I found myself above the Heavenly Realm Sea of Clouds.
Zhang Fusheng didn't hesitate for a moment. His thoughts descended upon the World-Honored Tathagata been left behind on the Other Shore Mountain.
Then, by borrowing the karma of the other party, we can look directly at the living beings upstream in the long river of time.
In an instant.
Under that person's guidance, Zhang Fusheng's will appeared above time, transcending the years.
"Fellow Daoist Fusheng, what brings you here?"
The weary creatures upstream asked questions, as if the backlash from the last gift of the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the Innate Willow still lingered.
Standing at the end of the river of time, Zhang Fusheng did not answer directly, but instead carefully observed the entire river of time.
The long river of time is essentially composed of countless 'threads'.
Each thread is, in fact, a piece of history; the topmost thread represents the present history.
Below that are numerous rewritten 'abandoned histories'.
And at this moment,
With each passing second, Zhang Fusheng could see more and more threads appearing in the long river of time.
His heart sank. He looked at the [Central Heavenly Emperor], or rather, the [Great Heavenly Venerate of Jade Purity], and asked in a deep voice:
"May I ask, Fellow Jade Emperor, from the end of June last year to now, more than eight months have passed."
At the end of June last year, I first used the Contract Book to embark on the path of spiritual practice.
Zhang Fusheng continued to ask:
How many times has history been rewritten during these eight months?
The creature upstream chuckled twice:
"Their number is as vast as the sands of the Ganges."
Zhang Fusheng took a deep breath:
"Any specifics?"
The creature upstream thought for a moment and replied:
"Six hundred and seventy million times."
Before Zhang Fusheng could even feel the shock, he heard the creature upstream continue speaking:
"For a mere instant."
Zhang Fusheng fell silent.
In an instant.
Twenty moments make one instant, and twenty instants make one snap of the fingers.
In a single day and night, more than ten thousand snaps of the fingers, nearly five million moments flash by, yet in that instant, history is rewritten six hundred and seventy million times.
More than eight months.
After a long silence, Zhang Fusheng spoke hoarsely:
"Fellow Jade Emperor, may I be permitted to view history from trillions of times ago, and see what it was like?"
The creature upstream shook its head slightly and said softly:
"Fellow Daoist Fusheng, do not worry. These numerous historical rewrites are all about the past, about the present [nowtime]. They are too numerous to count, and therefore very few are targeted rewrites."
Zhang Fusheng frowned:
"I know that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven once kicked the Tushita Palace out of the Underworld—this was a month ago in the present time, rewriting the story."
The creatures upstream paused, as if recalling something, then nodded:
"That's true. How so? Did Fellow Daoist Fusheng find out exactly what that mischievous monkey is up to?"
Zhang Fusheng shook his head and said in a deep voice:
"But a month ago was precisely the day I laid down the Dao De Jing and inherited Lao Tzu's throne."
The creatures upstream were astonished:
"Is this really true? But it's not unusual. The Supreme Being cannot see through the present; they are avoiding the world and playing games with the past."
"But on the other hand, those who attain the Daluo do not have this restriction—or rather, the restriction is not that significant."
After a brief pause, the creatures upstream changed the subject:
"Fellow Daoist Fusheng, your Dao heart is in turmoil."
A bitter smile appeared on Zhang Fusheng's face:
"My past seems like a delusion; how can it not be chaotic? How can it not be ruined?"
The creature upstream seemed slightly lost in thought, then sighed softly and said:
"Before I achieved the supreme state, I was just like you—but it is precisely because of this that I spared no effort to attain the supreme state."
"I have succeeded."
The creatures upstream slightly raised their heads.
Zhang Fusheng, filled with curiosity, couldn't help but ask:
"And what price did Jade Emperor Daoist Jade Emperor pay?"
The creatures upstream gazed at him across the vast expanse of time, and after a long silence,
The creature upstream sighed softly and replied calmly:
"There are many examples, such as the Buddhist westward journey, the Tushita Palace in the Heavenly Court, and the fact that there were originally no Six Imperial Ones or Four Emperors of the East, West, South, and North."
He lowered his eyes and suddenly said earnestly:
"Fellow Daoist Fusheng, you are the most promising person in recent history to attain supreme enlightenment, but you must remember one thing."
"To attain supreme enlightenment, one must first submit to supreme enlightenment and draw strength from supreme enlightenment."
These heartfelt words reached Zhang Fusheng's ears. He remained silent, then bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Fellow Jade Emperor, for enlightening me."
"It's alright. Fellow Daoist Fusheng is merely walking the same path I came from. It's only right that I offer some guidance."
As he spoke, the creature upstream coughed softly and bowed to Zhang Fusheng.
Zhang Fusheng once again disappeared into the river of time, returning to the Heavenly Realm above the Sea of Clouds in the divine realm.
He didn't move; he just stood there, lost in thought.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Buddha Ancestor, the Central Heavenly Emperor, and the Eastern Emperor.
In a sense, I have faced them all directly—except for Lingbao Heavenly Venerate, one of the Three Pure Ones.
Each of these Supreme Beings bestowed upon him immense benefits and acted with extreme friendliness.
The Eight Sceneries Palace and the title of Taiqing in Taiqing, the Floating Dawn Scripture of Yuqing, and Empress Nüwa's Primal Human Ancestor and position.
With the Heavenly Emperor's gifts of treasures and guidance, the Eastern Emperor was even more engrossed in his divine realm.
Every Supreme Beings is very good to themselves, extremely good.
The vast majority of them warned themselves to be careful, careful, and even more careful.
"What's this?"
Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, then suddenly gave a bitter smile:
"Have I become a public pawn? Everyone wants to make a mark on me?"
"Is it because of the Contract Book?"
He lowered his eyelids, his Dao heart fluctuating between solidity and turmoil. At one moment it was cracked, seemingly chaotic and broken, and the next it shone brightly, clear and lucid, repeating itself endlessly.
Then.
I don't know how much time has passed.
Zhang Fusheng suddenly felt at ease, his thoughts settled, and his mind cleared.
"Overthinking is pointless."
He muttered to himself, clearly realizing one thing— the Supreme Beings seemed to 'need something from him'.
Or rather, they possess what they desire in themselves.
"Do not trust any supreme being."
"Borrowing their momentum and strength, I will achieve my own goals and realize my own path."
Zhang Fusheng murmured to himself, gazing at the Eight Sceneries Palace, then at the [Chaos Bell] hidden in the shadows of the Divine Realm.
He pondered for a moment, then walked into the Eight Sceneries Palace and stood before the prayer mat.
A smile suddenly appeared on his face, and a divination block appeared in his hand. He held it in his palm and softly asked a question in the deep, quiet space.
"Zhang Fusheng greets Fellow Daoist Taiqing."
He addressed himself as a fellow Daoist, no longer bowing his head, and though he spoke in a humble tone, there was not a trace of subservience in his voice.
After pausing for a moment, Zhang Fusheng continued:
"Behind that Gate of the Present are three treasures and three futons. This quiet room is both the true Eight Sceneries Palace and simultaneously appears within the Jade Void Palace."
"Is there a way for me to enter?"
"Fellow Daoist Taiqing, could you please open this portal for me, so that I may enter?"
After saying this, Zhang Fusheng threw down the divination blocks nine times in succession—all of them were negative, meaning that the gods and the Supreme Purity did not allow it.
Zhang Fusheng's smile faded slightly, and he continued:
"Please, Fellow Daoist Taiqing, open that portal for me."
Even after nine more throws, it's still nine unlucky cups.
His smile vanished, and he stood tall and straight in the Eight Sceneries Palace, head held high, speaking for the third time:
"Please, Fellow Daoist Taiqing, open this door for me!"
This is no longer a request, it's more like a demand!
Zhang Fusheng no longer held the cup with both hands, but instead grabbed it with one hand, stretched out his arm, and then reversed his grip—
"Taiqing -- Taishang".
"I'm here to make a request."
Zhang Fusheng spoke calmly in a low voice, and then released his hand.
The divination blocks fell to the ground and rolled into the distant, dark depths.
Time passed slowly, and both Sima Shi and Zhuge Yu'yi were filled with unease.
The Taiping Dao Master cautiously examined the man in Black Robe Bronze Mask before him, unsure of what the other was doing.
But he knew very well that his fate lay in the next time the other person opened their eyes.
Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes.
The Taiping Dao Master felt a growing unease. What was this Black Robe Bronze Mask doing?
Simply closing your eyes to rest?
Or is he using this matter to coerce me?
He was somewhat uneasy; he had indeed truthfully confessed everything he knew, without a single lie.
My biggest worry right now is that I'll be killed by this mysterious person and won't be able to complete the tasks that the Supreme Lord.
Therefore, did this person have a grudge against the Supreme Lord in his past life?
Most likely they are.
The Taiping Dao Master understood this very well: the Supreme Lord was hostile to all the immortals and Buddhas in the heavens, and the person before him must have held a very high Rank/Status in the old world.
Naturally, he was one of the countless immortals and Buddhas in the heavens.
Time flows on, flows on.
When Zhuge Si slowly awoke...
The Taiping Dao Master seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up, just in time to see the man in Black Robe Bronze Mask suddenly open his eyes.
He was laughing, laughing so hard that tears and snot were streaming down his face!
Zhuge Yu'yi was stunned, Sima Shi felt a chill run down his spine, and Zhuge Si, who had just woken up, was full of confusion.
As for the Taiping Dao Master...
He was startled and confused, so he cautiously asked:
"What is it that you are laughing at, senior?"
The man in Black Robe Bronze Mask, who was laughing heartily, did not answer, but simply shrugged.
"Divination blocks?"
The Taiping Dao Master was puzzled, staring at the divination blocks lying flat in the hands of this terrifying creature, which presented a yin and yang image.
The interplay of Yin and Yang represents the Holy Grail, signifying divine approval.
What does this mean?
The Taiping Dao Master asked in a soft voice.
Zhang Fusheng, Black Robe Bronze Mask, lowered his eyelids and stared at the 'Holy Grail' image he had just tossed out.
A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes as he spoke calmly:
"It's nothing, I just realized that I'm not the only one who has to go along with them."
Sometimes, they actually have to go along with me.
Zhang Fusheng wiped away the tears that had come out of his laughter. His smile was half-frozen, half-wooden, a mixture of crying and laughing. All these emotions eventually subsided into stillness.
For a long, long time.
He stood up leisurely, gazing at the divination blocks in his hand, at the image of the yin and yang symbols on the Holy Grail.
A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Fusheng's eyes as he spoke, enunciating each word clearly:
"So, they want to go along with me too."
"I need their help—and they need my help too!"
"Hahaha!!"
He was laughing, laughing loudly, and saying things that the others couldn't understand.
The person who had been laughing loudly stopped laughing and muttered to himself:
"Therefore, let us wait patiently for the door to open."
He crushed the divination blocks used for praying to gods and Buddhas to the ground.
The fragments slipped through his fingers and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.