"I, Old Sun, don't care about any merit rewards."
"I, Old Sun, care more about how innocent everyone in Wuzhuang Monastery is."
"This time, please let the Heavenly Dao distribute the merit rewards to them!"
At these words,
The many powerful figures were once again greatly shocked!
...
"Well said, Great Sage Sun, well said, fellow Daoist Sun. You never change when it comes to befriending others. Despite suffering betrayal, you can still remain calm and composed. Such a state of mind is only achievable by a sage."
"Xuandu, you did well this time descending to the mortal realm. Have you seen it?"
"The reason why I value Great Sage Sun so highly is not solely because he possesses many secrets and the Pangu bloodline, but because this person, despite appearing flippant and courting disaster countless times, actually has immense potential."
"To put it mildly, he is highly likely to be the eighth or ninth sage in the future."
"To put it strongly, when the Dao and the Demon realms clash for the second time, the outcome will not depend on the Heavenly Dao or the Dao Ancestor, nor on the Demon race. It might very well depend on him!"
Laozi's casual remarks represented his centuries-long attitude of suppressing Sun Kong on the surface while secretly supporting him.
At the same time, these few words left the Grand Master Xuandu behind in utter shock.
Even though Grand Master Xuandu had not fully believed in Sun Kong's abilities before,
After experiencing the first tribulation up to the current nineteenth tribulation, and having personally witnessed Sun Kong defeating five Quasi-Sages and showing no fear of any challenge,
Grand Master Xuandu, like his master Laozi, was filled with respect for Sun Kong!
...
"Guangchengzi, you eight have done well this time. Although you ultimately could not provide any method to save the ginseng fruit tree."
"But by simply demonstrating the goodwill of Chan Teachings towards young friend Sun, it is considered good. Remember to be even more diligent in the future."
"This young friend Sun is increasingly displaying astonishing talent. How can this be constructed solely by the five-colored stones and the Mani Pearl? Clearly, this child is truly the great god Pangu's... Heh heh, in any case, pay more attention."
At the crucial moment, Yuanshi Tianzun still harbored some apprehension towards the Heavenly Dao and the Demon Dao, forcing him to change his words temporarily.
But even so, the eight immortals of Chan Teachings could tell that he seemed to genuinely know the secret of the Pangu bloodline.
However, due to the majesty of the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor Hongjun, as well as the pressure from the rising Demon race and the numerous Demon Saint-level experts, he dared not speak it plainly.
But even these few words were enough for the eight immortals of Chan Teachings to regard Sun Kong with even greater respect and admiration, and even develop a kind of awe similar to facing Yuanshi Tianzun!
...
Unlike Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Empress Nuwa, who all praised Sun Kong for his swift actions in this battle, the other three Sages on the other side.
The two Sages of the Western Teachings, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti, along with Tongtian Sect Master.
The three felt almost identical fear and resentment.
What they feared was none other than how Sun Kong, at some unknown time, with the power of a "Quasi-Sage" who was not a Quasi-Sage, was able to counter five Quasi-Sages and fight an extremely brilliant battle.
This battle not only repelled the Jade Emperor and the other four, saving everyone in Wuzhuang Monastery, but also made Sun Kong's name completely renowned throughout the Great Desolation and the Three Realms.
Henceforth,
Apart from demons and monsters who court death and have no backing, it is likely that even the Demon Alliance and the Western Teachings, who most wished to compete with Sun Kong, would have to deliberate carefully.
In a word.
They had to back down in the face of Sun Kong's comeback!
And what caused the three to feel resentment was that five hundred years ago, the Heavenly Dao did not prepare them, the three great Sages, in advance. Five hundred years later, with the rise of the Demon race, the Heavenly Dao similarly did not place high hopes on them.
As a result, among the three, Tongtian Sect Master decisively betrayed the Heavenly Dao, while Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti were forced into temporary neutrality.
On the surface, the former received the support of the Demon Alliance and might restore the Jie Teachings of the past.
On the surface, the latter, maintaining a neutral stance similar to Laozi, could play both sides and benefit from both.
However.
To this day, the nineteen tribulations of the first round of Journey to the West in the Immortal Realm have shown that the true biggest winner has always been Sun Kong.
Even the Heavenly Dao could only rank second.
As for the so-called Demon Alliance, the Demon race, Jie Teachings, the Heavenly Court, and the Great Vehicle Buddhism and Lesser Vehicle Buddhism of the Western Teachings.
Occasionally obtaining a small amount of merit reward would be considered good.
And they had to do so without going against Sun Kong.
Otherwise, not even a little would be obtained.
How could such a result not infuriate these three supreme Sages to the extreme!
...
"Zhao Gongming, Sanxiao, you have disgraced yourselves this time. I specifically ordered you to act, but in the end, it was still Sun Houzi who succeeded."
"Alas, alas, this Demon Alliance is just child's play. You are all restricted by the 'List of Investiture of Demons,' making it difficult for your cultivation to improve further, and thus difficult to suppress the increasingly rampant Sun Houzi."
"Stay on Jin'ao Island. Tomorrow morning, I will personally go to the Heavenly Court. Regardless of how the Demon race is dissatisfied, regardless of how the Jade Emperor objects, I will tear up the 'List of Investiture of Demons' and restore peace to my Jie Teachings disciples."
Tongtian Sect Master kept his word.
The next morning.
He truly entered the Lingxiao Treasure Hall alone!
...
"Burning Lamp, after this great defeat, what else do you have to say?"
"Very well, we, the two Sages, will make further arrangements. From now on, the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism of Spirit Mountain will be abolished and merged into the Great Vehicle Buddhism."
"All of you will move to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and hand over the Great Thunder Sound Temple of Spirit Mountain to Maitreya Buddha and others. Henceforth, he will preside over both rounds of the Journey to the West!"
The two Sages of the Western Teachings meant what they said. How could Ancestor Burning Lamp dare to object?
From then on,
Lesser Vehicle Buddhism ceased to exist.
Only Great Vehicle Buddhism remained!
...
Wuzhuang Monastery.
Zhenyuanzi looked at Sun Kong with indescribable gratitude.
Even he had not expected that at such a critical moment, Sun Kong would not blame him for his wavering stance, but instead provide merit rewards as compensation.
With these merit rewards, the tragically deceased Daoist Qingquan and Daoist Songjian could finally rest in peace. And Zhenyuanzi, as the abbot of Wuzhuang Monastery, finally, at this moment, pledged his loyalty to Sun Kong as an ally.
Never to change!
"Great Sage Sun... Fellow Daoist Sun, I, Zhenyuanzi, bow to you."
"I, Zhenyuanzi, have met countless people since I attained enlightenment, yet none are as sincere and true as Fellow Daoist Sun. Previously, I hesitated many times and almost caused harm to Fellow Daoist Sun, yet you did not hold it against me."
"For such great kindness and virtue, Zhenyuanzi has no way to repay it. Here, I swear to the Heavenly Dao, oh no, I should swear to the Great Dao, that from now on, I will cooperate with Fellow Daoist Sun with utmost sincerity. If I betray you, I shall perish without a burial ground!"
Seeing Sun Kong's generosity, not only did he not dwell on his near betrayal, but he also gave away his own merit rewards to the people of Wuzhuang Monastery.
Zhenyuanzi the Great Immortal could not help but shed tears of emotion and be deeply moved.
Without further ado.
While taking an oath that shocked many powerful figures in the Great Desolation and the Three Realms,
Before Sun Kong and his group could react,
He proactively bowed to Sun Kong.
And even knelt down!
However, Sun Kong did not have the time to attend to his prostration, as he vaguely felt that the Heavenly Dao was shifting again.
The subsequent tribulations seemed to be accelerating!