The Jade Emperor remained silent; he hadn't expected that the dignified Lord of Mount Spirit Mountain would so directly bring up the issue.
The journey to the Journey to the West is indeed a Heavenly Dao ordained by the Sage, but are you trying to force me to back down? Don't you care about my reputation or the reputation of the Daoist Sect?
The Jade Emperor's expression remained unchanged, but everyone knew that the ruler of Heavenly Court was somewhat displeased.
Upon seeing this, Taibai Jinxing, the chief spokesperson for the Heavenly Emperor, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.
"World Honored One, please don't be in such a hurry. The journey to the Journey to the West is indeed Heavenly Dao calamity ordained by the Sage, but the time is not yet ripe."
"Furthermore, the Heavenly Rules are strict, and His Majesty's Nine Cauldrons. This Fellow Daoist Sun has already passed the Heavenly Court's tests and should rightfully hold a nominal position in the Heavenly Court."
" The Heavenly Court can't possibly go back on its word, can it?"
Taibai Jinxing smiled as he spoke, but there was little genuine joy in his voice.
What, you Western Sect care about face, but my Heavenly Court doesn't? The Great Heavenly Venerable just agreed, and you're using the Journey to the Journey to the West to coerce me? Does the Heavenly Court really have no one left to rely on?
The Tathagata clearly understood the implied meaning in those words, and his expression changed slightly, but he ultimately yielded.
"This humble monk has no request for the Heavenly Court to renege on its promise. However, the Stone Monkey destined for tribulation has already deviated from its original course, which may affect the Journey to the Westward Calamity."
"While it's not too late, let's entrust it to this humble monk to take back to Spirit Mountain. When the time is right, we can continue our journey to the Journey to the West."
"Bullshit! Why should I go back to this damned Spirit Mountain with you? Just for your bullshit Journey to the West?"
Having already learned most of the events of the Journey to the West from Xu Xiao, the monkey cursed loudly upon hearing this, his fur standing on end.
"Just because I'm destined for some kind of calamity, does that mean my life is to be controlled by you?"
Who do you think you are?!
As he spoke, the monkey raised the Divine Staff of Battle in his hand high, ready to smash it down on Tathagata.
The Tathagata completely ignored it, and was instead somewhat puzzled as to how the monkey had learned of the calamities of the Journey to the West.
"You beast! How dare you be so insolent!!"
The surrounding Arhat and Bodhisattvas glared fiercely, their boundless Buddhist light forming a barrier in front of them, preventing the staff from falling.
" Wukong, don't worry. This is the Lingxiao Palace. I believe the Great Heavenly Venerable will give you justice."
Xu Xiao intervened and stopped Wukong, putting the pressure on the Jade Emperor.
I've done everything I could. What happens next is up to you. The Western Sect has already formed a group and is coming up in force. You, the Lord of Heavenly Court, will decide the next step.
As the leader of the Daoist Sect, Xu Xiao has done almost everything he could. Now that the Buddhist Sect has revealed its true colors, it's beyond his ability to handle.
Next, it was the Jade Emperor and other Daoist Sect ' turn to perform.
After Xu Xiao spoke, the Heavenly Emperor at the head of the table could no longer remain silent. His majestic gaze swept over the monkey and the Western Sect members:
" The Journey to the Westward Calamity was a calamity of heaven and earth, and the decision to Journey to the West was made by the Sage, so it is naturally unchangeable."
Upon hearing this, all the Arhat and Bodhisattvas smiled slightly.
See? The trend is irreversible. The rise of the Western Sect is an inevitable trend of heaven and earth, and no one can control the course of events.
"However, Sun Wukong is a being of heaven and earth, and has achieved great success in the Dao; his position in the Heavenly Court was already predetermined and cannot be changed."
"Perhaps, Venerable One, you should reconsider, and we can replan our journey to the Journey to the West?"
Although the Jade Emperor's words were a question, they actually revealed His position.
Yes, the Journey to the West cannot be changed, but the fact that this monkey entered the Heavenly Court cannot be changed either.
Now, Buddha, Tathagata don't you consider revising the original Journey to the West script altogether?
As soon as he finished speaking, all the Arhat and Bodhisattvas stopped laughing, and even the Tathagata's face turned frosty.
Is this... even the Jade Emperor siding with the Daoist Daoist Sect and making things difficult for my Western Sect?
"That's right. Fate is unpredictable. Even Sage can't predict all the variables. Since Fellow Daoist Sun has already entered the Heavenly Court, unless he leaves, how can he possibly join the Western Sect?"
"Furthermore, the journey to the Journey to the West is still some time away. Perhaps Your Majesty should reconsider and replan this Journey to the West."
The celestial beings and gods of Heavenly Court also chimed in, and at this moment, they all sided with the Jade Emperor.
Even Taishang Laojun, who never spoke, said, " The Journey to the West is ordained by Heavenly Dao, but destiny is not fixed. Since this monkey has already cultivated virtue and refined his mind, why not let him become a variable in this calamity?"
Those deities qualified to know about the Journey to the Journey to the West know how the Journey to the West Western Sect's version of the Journey to the West smears Daoist Sect.
Not only that, but they also want the Heavenly Court to cooperate with the monkey in putting on a show, and to highlight the importance of his Western Sect, which is infuriating.
Following the Sage's instructions on the Journey to the West, the Western Sect has been striving to gain more and more, which has long been a source of discontent among the celestial beings and gods of Heavenly Court.
The Buddha Tathagata to the gossip around him, and the veins on his forehead almost bulged, but he dared not directly refute it.
No matter what, the Jade Emperor is the supreme ruler of Heavenly Court and the true master of the Three Realms. He doesn't have the ability to confront the other party head-on in this situation.
But if they really changed their plans to Journey to the West as promised, how could their Western Sect flourish?
The most important aspect of the Journey to the West was to share the incense offerings of the human world, while simultaneously drawing the four beings born to face calamities into the Shakya Sect, making their pilgrimage a pivotal event in the Western Sect.
Whether it's the Journey to the West Origin World, or other lower dimensions or other universes and spacetimes, all will recognize this anchor point.
Only in this way can the influence of the Western Sect spread throughout all the heavens and the myriad worlds, allowing them to radiate influence across all the heavens and the myriad worlds.
At this moment, the protagonist, the Stone Monkey, glared at him with his staff. The Daoist Sect and the Jade Emperor had Tathagata again formed a united front, which made Buddha somewhat angry.
All of this was caused by this variable!
Glancing at Xu Xiao beside the monkey, Tathagata even had an urge to suppress him.
He had sensed a force that was disrupting destiny, but failed to find it in time. Now, the Daoist Sect was using it to ruin the important journey to the Journey to the West.
He remembered this anger, this cause and effect!
The atmosphere inside the Lingxiao Palace froze for a moment, everyone waiting for Buddha Tathagata speak, to see if they would obey the Jade Emperor's will.
After a long while, the Tathagata managed a smile and nodded.
"Then, as the Great Heavenly Venerable said, since things have changed, we should change the original Journey to the West strategy to avert this calamity."
All the gods in the Heavenly Court around him laughed, feeling a sense of satisfaction!
You used the journey to the Journey to the West as an excuse, but now your scheme has failed. Let's see what you can do now.
"Very well, since Your Excellency has agreed, then that's for the best." The Jade Emperor nodded, a smile appearing on his face.
"Everything in the universe is subject to change; the World Honored One need not be fixated on that one point,"
"However, this humble monk has something else to say, and I hope the Great Heavenly Venerable will grant my request."
The Buddha stared Tathagata at Xu Xiao and the monkey, his smile gradually fading.