Chapter 35

When casting the technique to examine a pregnant woman, if a fetus appeared, it was normal; if it did not, then it was undoubtedly a Demonic Fetus.

After teaching this technique to the immortal officials, Zhuang Yan ordered every immortal official in Guangci Prefecture to inspect the pregnant women within their jurisdictions one by one.

He also specifically summoned Elder Guangde of Tianci Temple and taught him the Yin-Yang Fetal Observation Technique as well.

As the largest buddhist temple in Guangci Prefecture, Tianci Temple had a deep base of followers. If the monks in the temple could be mobilized to assist with the inspections, the effort would yield twice the results with half the work.

Elder Guangde accepted the order without hesitation. Upon returning to the temple, he immediately passed down the technique and dispatched all the monks to travel through various regions under the pretense of spreading the Dharma, searching for Demonic Fetuses.

The monks were exceptionally enthusiastic. After all, this Buddha Calamity concerned their very survival.

Just as Zhuang Yan was busy investigating Demonic Fetuses throughout Guangci Prefecture, a decree suddenly descended from the Department of the Mortal Realm of the True Palace of Great Mystery, ordering him to ascend to Heaven at once and meet Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion.

Zhuang Yan did not dare delay. After entrusting the affairs of the prefecture to Fire Spirit True Immortal, he immediately set off for Heaven.

Zhuang Yan ascended to the First Heaven and arrived directly at the True Palace of Great Mystery. The moment he entered the gates, he saw Lü Dongbin, dressed in immortal robes with a treasured sword on his back, standing beneath the corridor by the screen wall.

Zhuang Yan hurried forward and bowed. "Why is True Immortal Lü here?"

Lü Dongbin turned around with a smile. "This humble Daoist has come especially to welcome the Prefecture Lord."

"Welcome me?" Zhuang Yan asked in surprise. "I am merely a Seventh-Rank Immortal Official. How could I dare trouble a True Immortal to personally receive me?"

Lü Dongbin shook his head with a smile. "If even the Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord is unworthy of such a reception, then who would be? Enough idle chatter. Come with me."

Zhuang Yan nodded and followed him, asking as they walked, "Did Emperor Shaoyang suddenly summon me because of Moluo's descent into the world?"

"That is only one part of it."

"Oh? Then what is the other matter?" Zhuang Yan showed a look of surprise.

Lü Dongbin replied, "Ten days ago, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas came to the Department of the Mortal Realm to lodge a complaint."

Zhuang Yan's heart stirred, and the image of a certain monkey flashed through his mind, though his expression remained unchanged. "What matter did the Dragon Kings report?"

Lü Dongbin said, "A Demon Monkey from Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Divine Continent broke into the Eastern Sea and seized the Treasure of the Sea, the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron. It also stole the Lotus-Root Silk Cloud-Treading Boots of the Dragon King of the North Sea, the Chain Mail Golden Armor of the Dragon King of the West Sea, and the Phoenix-Winged Purple-Gold Crown of the Dragon King of the South Sea, turning the Eastern Sea upside down. The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas came to the Department of the Mortal Realm to complain, and Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion ordered the eight of us to descend and capture the Demon Monkey."

"Did you capture it?" Zhuang Yan asked.

Lü Dongbin shook his head. "That Demon Monkey possessed immense divine abilities. Only I managed to fight it for sixty exchanges before being defeated. The other seven could not even last ten moves."

At this, Zhuang Yan's eyes shifted slightly. He thought to himself that being able to fight Sun Wukong, wielding the Golden Cudgel, for sixty exchanges was already far from ordinary.

Seeing his expression, Lü Dongbin sighed. "To be honest, Prefecture Lord, my Pure Yang Sword has been damaged. Its edge is covered in chips."

"That Demon Monkey... does have some skill," Zhuang Yan said.

Lü Dongbin nodded. "It truly is formidable. After we retreated in defeat, it did not pursue us further. Who would have thought that we would encounter Moluo on the way back?"

"Moluo?" Zhuang Yan was startled. "Where did you encounter it?"

Lü Dongbin replied, "Within Southern Jambudvipa, I believe."

Zhuang Yan's heart shook. He immediately concluded that a Demon Seed had already appeared in Southern Jambudvipa and urgently asked, "What happened afterward?"

Lü Dongbin said, "As Demon-Subduing True Persons, it was naturally our duty to eradicate evil. We formed an array and besieged it. After a fierce battle, Li Xuan, Zhongli Quan, and I finally drove it back, but..." He paused. "Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, and Zhang Guolao, four fellow Daoists, fell in that battle."

"They perished?" Zhuang Yan froze. "The Eight Immortals are Daoist immortals. How could they be subject to the Buddha Calamity?"

Lü Dongbin smiled bitterly. "We brought it upon ourselves."

"What do you mean?" Zhuang Yan asked.

Lü Dongbin said, "Do you still remember the Eight Immortals Pavilion? It was precisely because it stirred Buddhist karmic ties that we fell into this calamity."

Zhuang Yan fell silent. Only after a long while did he say, "Indeed... we brought trouble upon ourselves."

Originally, there should not have been an Eight Immortals Pavilion in the Western Ox Continent. Yet because of him, the Eight Immortals had established a tower there. Fate had abruptly changed, and karma had arisen of its own accord.

He asked again, "How are those four True Immortals now?"

Lü Dongbin said, "Their primordial spirits have returned. Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion has already sent a letter to Mount Tai Prefecture. Once a reply arrives, they will be sent to reincarnate and cultivate anew."

Zhuang Yan frowned. "Their bodies cannot be remade?"

Lü Dongbin sighed softly. "For those who perish while answering a calamity, even if their bodies are reforged, their karmic ties remain difficult to erase. They will eventually answer the calamity again. Only through reincarnation can the karmic ties be completely severed."

Zhuang Yan nodded slightly. The two arrived outside the Hall of Grotto-Heavens. After the heavenly soldiers announced them, Lü Dongbin led Zhuang Yan into the hall.

Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion sat at the head of the hall, with True Lord Xuandu and True Man Wenshi standing on either side. The four great deities of the Department of the Mortal Realm were all present: Auspicious God Lu Wu, Bai Ze, Fierce God Bi Fang, and Shang Yang. Tieguai Li, Zhongli Quan, He Xiangu, and True Person Siming Xuji Chongying of the Department of the Mortal Realm were also seated among the Eight Immortals.

Lü Dongbin stepped forward and bowed. "Reporting to the Grand Minister of Grotto-Heavens and the two Junior Ministers, the Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord has arrived." After Emperor Shaoyang signaled his assent, he withdrew and took his seat among the Eight Immortals.

Zhuang Yan bowed respectfully. "This minister, Lord of Lingtai Dongming Zhuang Yan, pays respects to Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion, True Lord Xuandu, and True Man Wenshi."

The Emperor raised a hand with a smile. "Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord, rise." He indicated the seat beside True Person Xuji Chongying. After thanking him, Zhuang Yan took his seat and exchanged greetings with his colleagues.

Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion spoke. "The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas accuse the Demon Monkey of Flower-Fruit Mountain of forcibly seizing treasures and disrupting the Eastern Sea. Do any of you know this demon's origins?"

The immortals and gods all shook their heads. Seeing that Zhuang Yan remained silent, the Emperor continued, "This demon's magic power is formidable and beyond the Department of the Mortal Realm's ability to restrain. I intend to report this matter to the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion. Do any of you object?"

True Lord Xuandu and True Man Wenshi immediately voiced their agreement. With the decision made, the matter was handed over to the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion.

The Emperor shifted the topic. "As for Moluo's descent into the world, it was not originally the responsibility of our Department of the Mortal Realm."

True Lord Xuandu continued, "This is a calamity of the Buddhist sect and has nothing to do with the Heavenly Court."

True Man Wenshi nodded in agreement. "The conflict between Buddhists and demons has nothing to do with us."

However, the Emperor said, "Yet eight Demon-Subduing True Persons from our Department of the Mortal Realm have already become entangled in this calamity, and four have already answered it. We cannot ignore this matter." His gaze turned toward Zhuang Yan. "Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord."

Zhuang Yan immediately rose. "This minister is here."

The Emperor said warmly, "Please sit. I summoned you here today precisely because of the Eight Immortals answering the calamity. Since the karmic ties began with the Eight Immortals Tower, they should end with the Eight Immortals Tower."

Zhuang Yan understood. "Your Majesty means?"

Emperor Shaoyang said calmly, "Li Xuan, Zhongli Quan, Lü Dongbin, and He Xiangu, the four immortal beings, shall accompany you to reside temporarily in the Lingtai Divine Manor. By placing themselves at the source of the karmic ties, they may perhaps find a way to resolve them."

Zhuang Yan seemed to grasp something, but then heard the Emperor continue, "If the karmic ties ultimately cannot be resolved, let them answer the calamity in the Western Ox Continent and sever the entanglement completely, lest further complications arise in the future and hinder their cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan could not help looking toward Lü Dongbin and the others. The four immortal beings looked utterly composed, smiling as they watched him.

Zhongli Quan laughed heartily. "Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord, we will be imposing on your manor from now on."

Zhuang Yan looked astonished. "Lan Caihe and the other four fellow Daoists have already answered the calamity. You are still within it, yet you can still laugh and chat so freely?"

Everyone smiled at his words. He Xiangu said with a faint smile, "Who here has not experienced life, death, and reincarnation? It is merely a return to the mortal world to taste once more its joys and sorrows, unions and partings. What is there to dwell on?"

Lü Dongbin clapped his hands. "Being able to enjoy a few meals and drinks at the Lingtai Divine Manor before answering the calamity means this journey was not in vain."

Zhuang Yan turned to Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion. "Your Majesty, will the True Palace of Great Mystery reimburse these expenses?"

The Emperor burst into hearty laughter. "Put it all on the True Palace of Great Mystery's account."

Zhuang Yan immediately bowed. "In that case, the four immortal beings may stay as long as they wish."

"I fear they will not stay long," True Lord Xuandu sighed. "Karmic calamities are the hardest to predict. If they can be resolved, that would naturally be fortunate. If not... then we must trouble the Prefecture Lord to send their primordial spirits back to the True Palace of Great Mystery."

True Man Wenshi added, "To put it plainly, we are asking you to help collect their bodies."

Zhongli Quan joked, "And while you are at it, mourn us and burn us some incense."

Zhuang Yan smiled as well. "I can mourn you, but it will cost extra."

At those words, laughter erupted throughout the Hall of Grotto-Heavens, leaving none of the heavy atmosphere of a life-and-death calamity.

News of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Monkey reached the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion while Lord Pi Li, Divine Might Subduing Demons, was on duty. In the Thunder Pivot Treasure Hall, he sat in the chief seat, with the two generals Azure Thunder and Stone Thunder standing to either side and the Five Directional Thunder Emperors arranged along both flanks. Below stood True Lords Tianpeng, Tianyou, and Yisheng, along with the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, the Four Great Marshals Ma, Zhao, Wen, Guan, Nezha, and the others.

Marshal Deng stepped forward to report. "Reporting to True Lord Pi Li, the Department of the Mortal Realm of the True Palace of Great Mystery has forwarded a memorial: a Demon Monkey from Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Divine Continent has declared itself king and drilled troops. Recently, it forcibly entered the Eastern Sea and seized the Sea-Calming Divine Needle and the armor of the Dragon Kings of three seas. Though it did not take any lives, many aquatic clans of the Eastern Sea were injured. Earlier, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas asked the Department of the Mortal Realm to subdue the demon, but the Eight Immortals were defeated. On their return journey, they encountered an incarnation of Moluo, and four True Immortals answered the calamity as a result. Therefore, the Department of the Mortal Realm specifically requests that the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion act to subdue the demon."

True Lord Pi Li asked in a deep voice, "Has that Demon Monkey killed any living beings?"

Marshal Deng replied, "It only seized treasures and injured others. It took no lives."

True Lord Pi Li pondered briefly, then continued, "That monkey demon has declared itself king in the mountains and gathered a host to drill troops. Has it ever harassed the mortal world?"

Marshal Deng cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to True Lord Pi Li, although that monkey demon has subdued the demon kings of seventy-two caves and declared itself king, it has only operated within the territory of Flower-Fruit Mountain and has never invaded any mortal cities."

"Then it has not brought disaster upon the common people?" True Lord Pi Li pressed.

Marshal Deng said, "It truly has not disturbed the mortal realm. However, this demon forcibly entered the Dragon Palace and seized the treasures of the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. It has already committed the crime of plundering an Immortal's Mansion."

True Lord Tianpeng stepped forward. "Since this monkey can wreak havoc in the Eastern Sea, it must possess extraordinary qualities. Since it has already attained the Dao, it would be better to guide it toward goodness. It may perhaps achieve righteous fruition in the future."

Nezha disagreed. "What does it matter if it stole a few treasures from the Dragon Palace? The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas have mountains of wealth..."

"Do not speak nonsense!" the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King shouted, glaring at him.

Nezha grinned cheekily. "Father King is right to reprimand me. Your son should not rashly speak of Grandfather." Those words made the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King's face turn green.

True Lord Yisheng took over. "True Lord Tianpeng is entirely correct. If this monkey can be enlightened and returned to the righteous path, it would indeed be a meritorious deed."

"Who will go and enlighten it?" True Lord Tianyou asked.

True Lord Tianpeng smiled. "Our Divine Thunder Jade Mansion is responsible for military campaigns. Matters of guidance and reform should be handled by the Department of the Mortal Realm."

True Lord Pi Li turned to the Five Directional Thunder Emperors. "What do you all think?"

The Eastern Thunder Emperor answered on behalf of the others, "Matters of war naturally follow your command. For ordinary affairs, True Lord Pi Li may decide as he sees fit."

"Then so be it," True Lord Pi Li decided. "Order the Department of the Mortal Realm to send someone down to guide the Demon Monkey."

When the decree reached the Department of the Mortal Realm, Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion was discussing matters with True Lord Xuandu and True Man Wenshi.

After reading the decree, Emperor Shaoyang smiled. "The Divine Thunder Jade Mansion actually wants us to enlighten a Demon Monkey. That is quite unusual."

True Man Wenshi idly turned the decree over in his hand and smiled. "Why has the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion, usually so swift and decisive as thunder and lightning, become so merciful this time?"

True Lord Xuandu summed it up concisely. "They find it troublesome."

Emperor Shaoyang smiled knowingly. Though that was not entirely the reason, he understood the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion's considerations.

If the Demon Monkey could turn from evil and return to righteousness, why would they need to mobilize troops for a punitive campaign?