The arrival of the Western Sect was something most immortals and gods hadn't anticipated, except for Xu Xiao.
With a sense of impending doom, he had already sensed the arrival of the Western Sect.
'As expected, you bald monks wouldn't just stand by and watch me officially bring the monkey into the Heavenly Court.'
"Without your instigation, the monkey wouldn't have stormed the Dragon Palace, wreaked havoc in the Underworld, let alone caused Havoc in Heaven."
'If a monkey who has cultivated his mind and understood virtue is not misled or instigated by you, how can you find a reason to punish him?'
In Xu Xiao's view, the monkey's entire life actually stems from the calculations of the Western Sect.
Upon closer examination of the monkey's original destiny, it turns out that everything was preordained.
As creatures born of nature, monkeys are pure and innocent.
As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black," the monkey's changes were influenced by his surroundings even when he was still in the stone.
The Heaven-Mending Stone by the Goddess Nüwa to mend the sky was influenced by the surrounding monkey troop and evolved into the Lingming Stone Monkey.
His life with monkeys after birth narrowed his horizons and taught him the wildness and arrogance of Beast.
Even the pursuit of the Tao, in its original course, was influenced by the monkey troop's cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and the monkeys told them to pursue the Tao of immortality.
Unfortunately, the cultivation method did not cultivate the mind. It taught him the ability to Douzhan everything, but did not teach him how to subdue his restless mind, just to plant a time bomb that could explode at any moment!
After returning from his studies, he was met with monsters and an old monkey stirring things up, fueling his wild nature. He relied entirely on his Daoist cultivation and bravery to fully unleash his mischievous and wicked nature.
Whether it was stealing treasures from the Dragon Palace, causing trouble in the Underworld, or later, unable to bear the Heavenly Court's disdain, gathering demons in the mortal realm to become kings and rebel against the Heavenly Court, all of these were actually orchestrated.
Many people ask, why did the monkey change so much after being imprisoned for five hundred years and embarking on the journey to the West? Was he afraid?
Actually, that's not the case. Rather, during those five hundred years, this inherently intelligent monkey saw through and understood his own destiny!
Everything about him—whether it be narrow-mindedness, heroism, persistence, fierceness, or discontent—is actually a trap set by others.
The reason Xu Xiao risked fighting Guanyin to give the stone monkey common sense guidance on the day the Stone Monkey was born was to plant that seed of cause.
Only by guiding the monkey from the very beginning can we give him a chance to escape his predetermined fate.
According to the Daoist Sect, they should wait until the Journey to the West begins before influencing the monkey, but Xu Xiao believed that was completely impossible.
By that time, the monkey had already figured things out and come to terms with it. He already had his own set of rules for doing things, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to interfere.
Only by planting a seed in the very beginning, when the Stone Monkey was born, can it slowly sprout, gradually influence, and ultimately completely change the monkey's fate.
However, the sudden appearance of the Western Sect is clearly intended to prevent this from happening.
As expected, the battle was temporarily suspended after the figure of the Mahavairocana appeared.
Even the most unruly Nezha and the most arrogant Sun Wukong stopped fighting and watched coldly after sensing the Buddhist Sect laws permeating the entire South Heaven Gate.
The gentle light of Buddha shone on them, yet it gave them a vague sense of unease.
The Sun Wukong, high Tathagata, carefully examined Sun Wukong after appearing. Seeing the Daoist robes he wore and the weapon that was not the Adamantine Staff ), a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.
As expected, the Daoist Sect is determined to compete with the Western Sect!
Therefore, Tathagata pride, Buddha spoke directly:
"I was preaching the Dharma at Spirit Mountain, but unexpectedly, a talent destined for the great prosperity of our Western Paradise appeared in the Heavenly Court. Therefore, I have brought my Buddhist Sect followers to the Heavenly Court to meet the Great Heavenly Venerable, hoping that the Jade Emperor Heavenly Venerable will be able to reluctantly part with this talent and grant it to our Western Sect."
Tathagata he spoke, Sun Wukong stared unabashedly at Sun Wukong, his intentions practically laid bare.
I've already brought the Western Sect members with me, so this monkey should come with me today, right, Great Heavenly Venerable? You don't want to turn against me over a monkey, do you?
It must be understood that the Journey to the Westward Calamity is Heavenly Dao calamity ordained by the Sage; who would dare to disobey it?
Tathagata the Buddha spoke, all the immortals looked down at their noses and their hearts, remaining silent for a moment, and the scene fell silent.
Nobody wants to get involved in this mess; there's no need.
Seeing this, Xu Xiao stepped forward and, without the slightest fear, bowed respectfully.
"Your Holiness is mistaken. Fellow Daoist Sun has already entered the Heavenly Court. It was agreed that after three victories, he would receive the title of God of God of Battle. Your Holiness, forcing him would be against the rules, wouldn't it?"
Is he... gone mad?
Is it possible for one person to confront the leader of the Western Sect head-on?
With his Heavenly Immortal cultivation level, Xu Xiao was directly confronting someone above the Daluo level, possibly even Half-Sage, causing all the immortals to hold their breath in worry for him.
I know you're a vanguard of the Daoist Sect, but is it really necessary to be so eager to stand out?
"Oh? Fellow Daoist, you must be the Sky-Patrolling Bureau. This humble monk has heard of you before."
"Fellow Daoist, you possess great supernatural powers and are also gifted with wisdom. Why don't you also join our Buddhism?"
The Tathagata gave Xu Xiao a deep look.
With just one glance, an invisible gaze was imprinted on Xu Xiao's heart, even giving rise to the strange thought of immediately converting to the Buddhist Sect.
At the critical moment, an old immortal with white beard and hair stepped forward and blocked the Tathagata's view.
"Your Majesty is joking. Xu Zhicao is a righteous deity of the Heavenly Court. How could he be allowed to enter Shakya Sect? Since Your Majesty has come to visit, please wait a moment while this old minister informs His Majesty."
Taibai Jinxing stepped forward with a smile, and a surge of righteous stellar power blocked Tathagata's underhanded attack Tathagata Xu Xiao.
Only these veteran deities are qualified to Tathagata blows with Buddha; Xu Xiao is still too inexperienced.
With Taibai Jinxing's intervention, Xu Xiao was able to escape the contamination of Buddhism, and a wave of fear washed over him.
'As expected, these damned bald monks are ruthless and unscrupulous; they even dared to attack me in front of the South Heaven Gate!'
Even though I was prepared, these big shots could still be corrupted by just a glance.
'I must break through to the Golden Immortal as soon as possible. Only when my body merges with the Great Dao will I truly be qualified to sit at the table!'
Xu Xiao was startled Tathagata Tathagata's gaze, and along with the lingering fear came a deep sense of urgency.
I thought I had gained an advantage by interfering with cause and effect, but now it seems that without real power, Jidu useless.
"Who do you think you are? You have the audacity to tell me to join your so-called Western Sect? No way!"
"The immortal has promised me; after these three battles, I will become the God of Battle in Heavenly Court!"
The monkey clearly understood something as well, and immediately pointed his stick at the Tathagata, unleashing a fierce aura.