"Calm down, calm down. Please calm down, everyone. It's all because of the calamity on the Journey to the West. Why make such a fuss?"
Taibai Jinxing, who had rushed over, finally arrived and acted as a good Samaritan, providing a way for both sides to warm up the atmosphere.
Xu Xiao and the monkey greeted their old acquaintance, Star Lord Taibai, while Guanyin nodded with a cold expression.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Taibai Jinxing could only smile sheepishly, and then solemnly began to announce the Jade Emperor's decree:
" The Jade Emperor has decreed that the Great Tribulation of the Journey to the West is a calamity of heaven and earth. In order to resolve the karmic consequences predetermined by the calamity, the Heavenly Court and the Western Sect must join forces and refrain from causing further trouble."
"Today, the protectors of the Way and the Great Master of the West are engaged in a magical contest in the mortal world, which goes against the original purpose of the Journey to the West. They should be punished according to the Heavenly Rules, but considering that everyone is doing this for the sake of the Great Tribulation of the Journey to the West, we will set it aside for now and discuss the matter of rewarding or punishing them after the calamity is over."
After Taibai finished speaking, his eyes darted between Xu Xiao and Guanyin.
"Your subject will obey the Great Heavenly Venerable's command and fulfill my duty to protect the Dao." Xu Xiao bowed and accepted the order. This was not a reproach, but the final verdict on this farce.
Guanyin took a deep breath, and finally reverted to her serene Bodhisattva countenance, saying, "As the Great Heavenly Venerable commands."
Auspicious clouds rose, Guanyin, riding on the clouds, led the unconscious Arhat Nadietuo back to Spirit Mountain to report.
The matter seemed to have ended there, but both Xu Xiao, who had benefited, and Guanyin, who had suffered a loss, knew that the matter was not over yet.
Xu Xiao only breathed a sigh of relief after the other person's figure disappeared into the horizon and he could no longer sense their presence.
"Phew!" Xu Xiao let out a long breath, cupped his hands, and bowed to the Great Emperor Zhenwu.
"Thank you very much for your help, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."
In the entire Heavenly Court, the Great Emperor Zhenwu's intervention at a crucial moment was already extremely righteous. In particular, the fact that the Great Emperor Zhenwu directly challenged Guanyin to Guanyin just now made Xu Xiao wholeheartedly acknowledge this senior brother.
The Great Emperor Zhenwu stroked his beard and smiled, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "You lad, you've got some nerve. You even dared to injure Guanyin; in the entire Three Realms, you're the only one like that."
"It's just venting our anger. If we don't confront him directly, these Western Sect will think we're easy to bully," Xu Xiao replied seriously.
Zhenwu nodded. He naturally knew what bad consequences would result from constant forbearance, and Xu Xiao's style of doing things was still in line with his appreciation.
Those who cultivate themselves should act instead of talking; rather than scheming and plotting, they should fight a good battle.
"But don't be too smug. Today's events have thoroughly offended Buddhist Sect. The road ahead will be a hundred times more dangerous than you imagine."
" The Western Sect had already taken notice of you before. Now that you, Golden Immortal, have managed to injure Daluo Immortal, they will no longer give you any chance to escape unscathed," the Great Emperor Zhenwu solemnly warned.
"What is the Heavenly Court's attitude?" Xu Xiao asked.
" The Heavenly Court?" Before the Great Emperor Zhenwu could answer, Taibai Jinxing, standing to the side, interjected.
"That's naturally in accordance with the Heavenly Rules. The Great Heavenly Venerable said that as long as it conforms to the Heavenly Rules, everything will be ours."
Taibai Jinxing smiled broadly, and Xu Xiao immediately understood the other party's intention.
"That's right, everything should be done according to the rules, just like this time. As long as the reason is valid, no one can say anything to you." Zhenwu nodded with a smile.
"I'm here under immense pressure. I can guarantee your safety this time, but not next time. The rest of your journey depends primarily on yourself."
He took out a dark black talisman from his robes and handed it to Xu Xiao: "This is the Black Tortoise Divine Talisman. Keep it with you. Crush it in a moment of crisis, and I will sense it. As long as it's not Tathagata himself who takes action, I can save your life."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xu Xiao accepted the talisman and solemnly put it away.
"Alright, I should head back now. I'm busy with official duties and can't keep an eye on you all the time. There are still quite a few demons waiting for me to suppress in Northern Continent of Julu." Great Emperor Zhenwu turned around and mounted the Turtle-Snake Generals.
"Continue your Journey to the West. Remember, be careful; the road Journey to the West will not be peaceful."
After speaking, the Great Emperor Zhenwu led his troops and transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into the horizon.
"In that case, this old man will return to report. Take care, Duty Officer and the God of Battle." Taibai Jinxing bowed and rode his auspicious cloud Rotation.
As soon as the two left, the Heavenly Court officials, mountain gods, and local deities all disappeared, no longer daring to spy on the place.
Sun Wukong sidled up to Xu Xiao Xu Xiao excitedly patted him on the shoulder. "Big brother, you're amazing! You even injured Guanyin Bodhisattva! Let's see who dares to look down on us now!"
Xu Xiao shook his head, his gaze fixed solemnly on the distant Western Heaven. "It was just luck. You and I both know that everything that happened today was merely a surprise attack. Next time, it won't be so easy."
"That's true. That bald monk is a Daluo Golden Immortal, possessing the status of a Bodhisattva. Whether it's supernatural powers or other skills, he's far superior to us. My stick didn't even have any effect on him."
The monkey was somewhat frustrated. Only when facing a truly powerful being did he realize how weak his Dao of Battle he had always been so proud of, were.
"This isn't your problem. If everyone could defy the Daluo, then who would need to attain the Daluo realm?"
Xu Xiao shook his head and offered a soft word of comfort.
"That's true, but this only proves how amazing you are, brother. Guanyin was wounded by your sword, she must hate you to death." The monkey looked at Xu Xiao with admiration.
"We were lucky, but we still need to work harder in our cultivation. The road ahead will only be more dangerous than today."
Xu Xiao nodded, then walked towards Xuanzang was standing to the side.
" The Master Xuanzang."
" Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk greets the celestial official, but I am unaware of the various things that have happened to me..." Xuanzang performed a Buddhist salute. He had just woken up when he saw someone defying Guanyin, which was a mind-blowing event for a Buddhism.
Connecting the dots of his own life, Xuanzang guessed that it was probably related to the unfamiliar Heavenly Court official before him.
Seeing Xuanzang staring intently at him, Xu Xiao slowly shook his head. "Please don't be offended, Master. I will tell you everything slowly in the future; it's not the right time yet."
"But don't worry, I will accompany you to the very end on your journey Journey to the West to obtain the Buddhist scriptures."
"In that case... let's listen to what the celestial official says." Xuanzang wanted to ask more questions, but since the other party wouldn't answer, he didn't press the matter further.
He was no longer the naive monk he once was, but a true holy monk who was about to obtain the Buddhist scriptures from the West, but was punished by Guanyin and had to live another life.
Although he woke up on a strange road, he wouldn't ask any more questions as long as he could obtain the true scriptures for all living beings.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three bid farewell to the old shepherd boy and his family and began their true journey Journey to the West.