Purple energy surged from the east for three hundred million li, the spiritual energy vast as an ocean. Countless auspicious and divine beasts flew to and fro in celebration, elevating the already awe-inspiring scene to its zenith. Witnessing this spectacle, the immortals and Buddhas understood its implications. Yet, what they couldn't comprehend was that the one responsible for it all was that very monkey, Sun!
"Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal!"
"How is this possible!"
Li Jing's face was contorted in shock. Even if this monkey was born from a Mani Pearl, even if he was the divinely gifted Spirit Stone Monkey, achieving Taiyi Golden Immortal within a mere four hundred years was already astonishing enough. Now, before their very eyes, he was about to break through to Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal. Was he still a being of the Three Realms? It was doubtful that even the peerless Old Ancestor Hongjun could have achieved Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal in four hundred years.
In truth, the most distraught was not Li Jing, but Wang Lingguan. He had just boasted of dealing with Sun Kong. And now, this monkey was on the verge of breaking through to Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal. The vast chasm between Taiyi Golden Immortal and Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal was something Wang Lingguan, a Taiyi Golden Immortal himself, did not understand. He couldn't feel it. But one thing he was certain of: he and the thirty-six generals of the Thunder Department, even combined, were not as formidable as a single finger of a Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal.
"Heavenly Venerable, should we fight or not?" the generals of the Thunder Department asked timidly. In the current situation, even a fool could see that they stood no chance against Sun Kong. Fighting would only result in their deaths.
Upon hearing this, Wang Lingguan did not immediately reply. He cast his gaze towards Guanyin and the other Buddhas.
"A Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal, whether in the Heavenly Court or on Spirit Mountain, is a core existence. Even if one achieves the Golden Body merit and becomes one of the Thirty-Five Buddhas, they are still only a Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal. Once Sun Monkey completes his tribulation, it means the Journey to the West would be a mere joke for him. I doubt the Buddhas would be pleased."
Wang Lingguan calmed himself and spoke slowly. As the Jade Emperor's bodyguard, Wang Lingguan was privy to the truth. It was all about the prosperity of Buddhism and the decline of the Heavenly Court. The Journey to the West was merely the final stage for the immortals to vie for merit. And the crucial four pilgrims of the Journey were vital pieces in consolidating the rise of Spirit Mountain. To ensure Tang Sanzang and his disciples would willingly complete the journey and sincerely convert to Buddhism, Tathagata naturally had to offer some tantalizing empty promises. These empty promises were the attainment of the Golden Body merit. The positions of Chan Tan Gong De Buddha and Dou Zhan Sheng Fo were directly Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal. The positions of Jing Tan Shi Zhe and Jin Shen Luohan were at least Taiyi Golden Immortal. But now, Sun Monkey had achieved Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal before even embarking on the Journey to the West. Never mind whether the Five Finger Mountain and the eighteen layers of hell could contain him. With Sun Kong's cultivation level already rivaling Dou Zhan Sheng Fo, why would Spirit Mountain demand he become Tang Sanzang's disciple and participate in the Journey?
"Attack!"
As Wang Lingguan finished speaking, a stir arose from the side of the Buddhas. Instantly, countless divine and demonic eyes turned towards Guanyin. Guanyin, Puxian, Wenshu, Maitreya Buddha, along with many Arhats and Venerables from Spirit Mountain, all surged towards Sun Kong. The vast spiritual energy was like a tsunami, intending to suppress Sun Kong. This was the critical moment of Sun Kong's breakthrough to Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal; he hadn't even faced his heavenly tribulation. The Buddhas of Spirit Mountain were stabbing him in the back! How despicable!
"Vile!"
"But it's unavoidable."
Li Jing sighed, lamenting Sun Kong's fate. A genius who achieved Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal in four hundred years was about to perish here!
"Mischievous monkey, will you not cease?" Guanyin swooped forward and issued a threat. Stopping the breakthrough was exactly what the Buddhas wanted! The Buddhas of Spirit Mountain were the most unwilling to see Sun Kong achieve Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal. Preventing him at this moment was imperative. However, who would willingly let a cooked duck fly away? Moreover, Sun Kong was facing suppression from the immortals of the Heavenly Court. If he didn't break through to Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal, how could he deal with Wang Lingguan and the thirty-six generals of the Thunder Department?
"Heh heh."
"When Wang Lingguan attacked this old sun, you lot didn't step forward. Now, this old sun is undergoing a tribulation, and you deem it an obstruction?"
"What kind of logic is this!"
Sun Kong sneered, making no effort to hide his disdain for the Buddhas. It was precisely because he was not a disciple of Buddhism that Guanyin and these monks were being hypocritical towards him. What was even more vexing was that he genuinely wished to join Buddhism, but the Buddhas wouldn't allow it. How infuriating!
Sun Kong's blunt words caused the expressions of the Buddhas and immortals to shift slightly. Guanyin and the others were indeed being hypocritical, but no one had ever dared to expose such blatant truths in public. After all, even immortals had pride. This monkey truly feared no death!
"Silence!"
"You mischievous monkey, you released Jin Chanzi without authorization, which alone warranted you being cast into the eighteen layers of hell. If you were allowed to achieve Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal, how could the Underworld possibly suppress you? Therefore, suppressing your cultivation is merely the karmic consequence of your grave sins. It is all your own doing!"
Guanyin was astute. With a few words, she reframed her double standards as Sun Kong's own fault. The so-called karma, being so flagrantly misused by Guanyin, was truly laughable.
"Guanyin speaks the truth. This karma is of your own making. We Buddhas are acting on behalf of Heaven!" Maitreya Buddha grinned and added another blow, following Guanyin's lead. Hearing this, the Buddhas, who had been somewhat hesitant, now felt their consciences clear. With sufficient justification, the Buddhas no longer feared criticism from the world.
Guanyin and Maitreya Buddha were feeling smug, believing themselves sufficiently clever. However, they had completely forgotten the purpose of the Heavenly Court's presence.
"Oh?"
"So, the Buddhas are preventing this old sun from breaking through to ensure I am cast into the eighteen layers of hell."
"In that case, you are completely disregarding the immortals of the Heavenly Court!"
Sun Kong mocked and then turned his gaze towards Li Jing. As expected, Li Jing's expression was far from pleasant. He had brought a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals, along with the thirty-six generals of the Thunder Department, with great fanfare, solely to reclaim Sun Kong. After going in circles, the conversation had finally returned to the conflict between Spirit Mountain and the Heavenly Court.
"Hmph!"
"Generals of the Thunder Department, obey my command, attack immediately!"
Li Jing, unwilling to be outdone, decisively issued orders to Wang Lingguan. Although Sun Kong was on the verge of breaking through to Hun Yuan Da Luo Golden Immortal, he hadn't completed it yet. Coupled with the intervention of the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, suppressing Sun Kong should not be an issue. As for who Sun Kong would ultimately belong to, that would be decided after he was subdued.
"Buddhas, please strike!" Guanyin's side was equally unyielding. Subsequently, the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain also displayed their divine abilities, intending to capture Sun Kong before Wang Lingguan could.
"Dealing with the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain and the immortals of the Heavenly Court simultaneously?"
"Then this old sun can only give it his all, or you'll think this old sun is truly a pushover!"