India Captures the Jade Rabbit (Twenty)

Meanwhile, the Sage Jieyin Tang Sanzang presented the Treasure Banner, which finally calmed the situation and freed Tang Sanzang from the false accusation.

Ao Tu obtained the Green Lotus Treasure-Color Banner, perfecting his Great Dao. He was enlightened and realized that only the last Treasure Banner was needed to complete the Dao Principles.

However, the last plain -Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner was still in the hands of the Queen Mother.

Ao Tu pondered that this matter should not be delayed, as things might change if it dragged on. So he took out his Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, preparing to head to Yaochi to exchange it for the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner.

Ao Tu, carrying the precious tree, stepped out of the Heavenly Palace, he saw a Baldheaded Monk standing outside, grinning.

"Whoosh!"

Ao Tu knocked the tree away.

The Jieyin Sage gently stepped aside and smiled:

"Fellow Daoist, why hold a grudge? I have never harmed you, and now you have even gifted me this Treasure Banner. Our grievances should be forgotten. After I move to the Eastern Lands, I will be looking forward to hosting a banquet for you!"

Ao Tu sneered, "Sage don't remember things. Who was it that plotted against me when I was Attainment of the Dao?"

The Sage of Jieyin Human Way, "It's not a sneak attack; I simply request that you register your name within my Buddhist Sect. If it's about fighting, we've fought in other worlds before, and it always ends in mutual destruction. It's best Buzheng."

Ao Tu listened and thought for a moment. The old monk's words were clear; he had come to seek peace. Ao Tu wasn't one to hold grudges, so he put down the precious tree and said:

"The Sage has misunderstood me. I am not a vengeful person. I have two great loves in my life: to forgive others and to forgive mistakes."

The Sage Jieyin heard this, but did not believe a single word.

The Sage could re- Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, changing the world—it was nothing unusual. The Eastern Migration of Buddhism was the best outcome reached through discussions among sages across countless worlds.

Just like the division of the Three Pure Ones Sages in the past, it was the best outcome that was achieved under the general trend and after countless cycles of Reincarnation.

If Ao Tu was telling the truth, why would he have taken Buddhism with him to the Eastern Lands?

The Sage who Jieyin Human Way, "I am well aware of your magnanimity, fellow Daoist. I still need Shakyamuni to manage Buddhist Sect in the Eastern Land for me. I beg you, fellow Daoist, to let him go east for the sake of the treasure I just gave you, and not let him enter the calamity."

Ao Tu said, "That's easy. Fellow Daoist just returned my treasure to me, and I am naturally very grateful. Here's what we'll do: I've learned the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation because I'm going to attack Spirit Mountain. You can teach Shakyamuni to avoid it when he goes down the mountain, and to bypass the Formation."

The Sage Jieyin thought to himself, "How can the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation be bypassed? If he truly believed that, Shakyamuni would be entering a calamity as soon as he descended the mountain." So he reached out and grabbed Ao Tu's arm, wanting to walk arm in arm with him, to make an intimate gesture, so as to reminisce and become friends.

Ao Tu, fearing he might plot against him, avoided him.

The Sage of Jieyin could only say, "Fellow Daoist, please state your conditions."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "My Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation has four gates. Now there are three swords, each guarding one gate, leaving one gate undefended. The Sage must recognize my Attainment of the Dao form and we have a long-standing relationship. In fact, the Sage and I hit it off immediately and are quite destined for each other. Why doesn't the Sage come and help me?"

The Sage Jieyin them had already agreed in his heart, but he pretended to hesitate on the surface:

"No! No! You've set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation to attack Spirit Mountain. My Zhunti brother Zhunti is still on the mountain. He's like a brother to me. If I help him, wouldn't that be like fighting among brothers? Besides, I am also the Buddha of Spirit Mountain, the Namo Jewel Banner Light King Buddha. How can I join you in attacking the mountain?"

Ao Tu listened and advised:

"Sage, you are mistaken. The saying goes, 'When the great power prevails, it doesn't matter who is close to you.' This is why the sages helped the Zhou dynasty overthrow the Shang dynasty and the Three Pure Ones separated. Now, Buddhism Eastern Migration, which is beneficial to Heaven and Earth, but the Sage Zhunti is obstructing it. It is precisely because of this that all the sages should go together to defeat him. As for attacking Spirit Mountain, Sage are the Taoist Jieyin. What does that have to do with the Namo Jewel Banner Light King Buddha of Spirit Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, the Sage Jieyin repeatedly praised, "Excellent! Excellent!"

Ao Tu was equally delighted to see that he had agreed.

Such a joyous occasion shouldn't be enjoyed alone.

After making preparations, Ao Tu summoned the Three Pure Ones Sages to jointly manage the other three gates of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, and together with the Jieyin Sage, they went to attack Spirit Mountain.

In this way, even without the Four Swords of Zhuxian, his Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation would still be more powerful than the original Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.

It's just unknown whether the Three Pure Ones Sages would agree.

If they were unwilling, they would have to use another Precious Sword instead.

Meanwhile, as Ao Tu spoke with the Sage of Jieyin, the Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor also remembered his Zhunti the Sage Zhunti.

The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor summoned Taibai Jinxing and gave the following instructions:

"Go to the Yaochi Pool to meet the Queen Mother and borrow the Immortal Gathering Banner."

Taibai Jinxing agreed.

The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor asked, "Do you know why we need to borrow the Immortal Gathering Banner?"

Taibai Jinxing replied, "Your Majesty, I do not know."

The Jade Emperor said, "It was a Western sage who asked me to borrow this flag because a demonic dragon in the West is causing havoc. I am borrowing this innate treasure to annihilate the dragon!"

Taibai Jinxing was startled, but his expression remained unchanged. He said, "I see. Your subject will certainly not fail in your trust and will borrow the Treasure Banner."

The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor nodded.

Taibai Jinxing asked, "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor said, "You must not rush on your journey. This matter is of utmost importance. Under no circumstances should you speak carelessly about borrowing the treasure, lest the Demon Dragon overhear."

Taibai Jinxing asked, "Your Majesty, if I do not offer to borrow the treasure, how can I go to see the Queen Mother?"

The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor said, "The Queen Mother has seven Female Immortals under her command, who are her trusted confidantes. If you tell them the truth, you can borrow the treasure."

Upon hearing this, Taibai Jinxing knew what to say.

He immediately accepted the order and agreed.

The Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor then urged him to go.

Taibai Jinxing then went to the Yaochi, saying he had important business to discuss with the Seven Immortal Maidens.

Which Heaven Immortal doesn't recognize Taibai Jinxing)?

So he hurriedly went to call Hong'er and the others.

Upon hearing of Taibai Jinxing's arrival, the Seven Immortal Maidens, including Hong'er and Qing'er, hurriedly came out to greet him. They invited Taibai Jinxing to a separate palace and asked, "May we ask what brings Venus here?"

Taibai Jinxing said, "I have come on the orders of the Jade Emperor to borrow a treasure."

Qing'er said, "Why are so many people coming to borrow treasures these past two days? Yesterday, a monk came to borrow a treasure; today, Venus is also borrowing a treasure."

Taibai Jinxing cautiously opened the door and said, "This matter must not be made public. My trip to borrow the treasure is of great importance, and you must never tell any outsiders about it!"

Hong'er and the others asked curiously, "What's the matter that requires such caution?"

Venus said to Hong'er, "This time, the Western Sage asked His Majesty the Jade Emperor to borrow the Queen Mother's Gathering Immortals Banner. The reason is that the Western Demon Dragon is causing havoc and is difficult to eradicate. This innate treasure is being borrowed to annihilate the Demon Dragon!"

Everyone was shocked to hear this.

Qing'er and Zi'er couldn't help but look at Hong'er.

Hong'er was also panicked, but she managed to steady herself. Perhaps it was because she had spent so much time with Ao Tu, but the previously naive Female Immortals quickly uttered a lie, saying:

"This matter is of utmost importance and must not be leaked. My sisters, you stay here with Venus and wait; I will go alone to inform the Queen Mother."

Qing'er and the others looked at each other and agreed.

Hong'er walked out alone, her heart filled with panic, her lips pale. She hurried to her room and took the Western Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner.

Previously, the Queen Mother of the West trusted her and instructed her to keep this flag safe and to check it at Three Ke on the second Chen Hour of the third lunar month every year, and not to touch it without permission.

Now, Hong'er took out the Treasure Banner and hid it in her bodice. She walked out of the room, intending to escape to the Flower Realm, but she was afraid that Taibai Jinxing would notice and capture her. Her magic power was weak, and she was afraid that she would be captured by Taibai Jinxing before she even reached Heaven of Parting Hatred.

Hong'er thought for a moment, then took the new flag away.

This new flag is also the Immortal Gathering Banner, and it looks exactly the same as the Western Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner. However, it is not an Primordial Heaven treasure, but was refined by the Queen Mother of the Postcelestial.

Hong'er took the flag and returned to Taibai Jinxing, saying:

"The Queen Mother of the West is resting in the palace and has instructed that she not be disturbed. This is the Immortal Gathering Banner. She instructed me to bring the banner and hand it to Venus."