Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 192 - 185: Zhun Ti Sits at the Pass and Seals Sumeru

Chapter 192: Chapter 185: Zhun Ti Sits at the Pass and Seals Sumeru

Xuan Ming died fighting to save Wukong, struck dead by a colossal hand seal; Goddess Nuwa sacrificed herself to patch the heavens, thus averting a cataclysm.

Di Jiang had once reconstructed reincarnation alongside Xuan Ming, who declared that the process was only for contingency during times of dire calamity. She was a Saint—surely her calculations were those of a Saint. But now, seeing her lifeless body, he couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart. The Twelve Ancestral Witches had lived almost a hundred thousand years together, and the bonds they had formed were incomparably deep.

"She’s not dead," Di Jiang suddenly said.

"What?" Wukong looked up and saw Di Jiang standing before him.

"She’s not dead," Di Jiang repeated the four words.

"Not dead?" A glimmer of light began to shine in Wukong’s eyes.

"Not dead," Di Jiang affirmed.

Wukong gave a wry smile.

Di Jiang said, "She asked you to look for her."

Wukong asked, "Where should I look?"

Di Jiang said, "She had already rebuilt the Wheel of Rebirth, with the six path’s True Spirits merged into it. The intricacies of it are beyond me. Perhaps it’s a puzzle to outsiders, but clear to one involved. You’ve entered the cycle of reincarnation with her twice, the mystery within it is for you to unravel."

Wukong instantly leaped up from the ground, without a word, carried Xuan Ming’s body into Water Curtain Cave and laid her on a stone bed. Then he used his mana to create ice, freezing the corpse. Having done all of this, he went out and said, "Then I shall go find her! Even if there’s the faintest chance, I won’t give up."

A glint of admiration flashed in Di Jiang’s eyes. He said, "Then be quick."

Wukong told Yuan Hong to take charge of Water Curtain Cave, saying, "Brother Yuan, you and Wu Zhiqi will guard Water Curtain Cave, don’t let any miscreants seize the opportunity in my absence. I’m going into the cycle of reincarnation to bring her back."

Yuan Hong nodded and smiled, "Hurry on your way, and don’t hesitate this time. If the flower can be plucked, it must be done without delay, lest all you grasp is the barren twig. Xuan Ming’s sincerity and love for you are beyond question. If you dither again, beware that even I might give you a thrashing."

Wukong managed a strained smile, "I understand, I’m off now."

Having said that, he executed a somersault leap toward the Reincarnation Netherworld, with the eleven Ancestral Witches close behind.

Wukong went straight into the Reincarnation Netherworld, and indeed saw that reincarnation had been re-established; he believed much of what Di Jiang had said. The methods of Saints are inscrutable, and perhaps they really could revive Xuan Ming. With his spirits lifted and without any hesitation, he dived into the Reincarnation Pool.

"What if she, like Goddess Nuwa, cannot be awakened?" Wukong’s heart raced with anxiety.

A six-colored wheel appeared, pulling him in, and suddenly his vision went black as he fell unconscious and his Primordial Spirit left his body.

Let’s leave Wukong’s quest to find and awaken Xuan Ming’s True Spirit via the cycle of reincarnation for now.

Meanwhile, three Saints of the Buddhist Sect convened atop Mount Sumeru.

"Buddha Great Sun Tathagata, with the sky torn asunder and the Great Dao Sage striking down Xuan Ming, your absence has made Sun Wukong remember," Amitabha Buddha sighed and slowly said.

The Great Sun Tathagata, dressed in snow-white robes, forming the Wisdom-Fist Seal with his hands, said indifferently, "Hasn’t he already remembered me? The death of Xuan Ming is an event that benefits both my Esoteric Buddhism and your Exoteric Buddhism. Without Xuan Ming’s support, it’ll be much easier to kill Sun Wukong, won’t it?"

Zhun Ti Taoist looked at him and said, "Such actions may lose sight of the bigger picture and give rise to criticism."

The Great Sun Tathagata scoffed, "Criticism? The Three Pure Ones have had their grievances against me for some time—what’s a bit more to them? Moreover, my feud with Sun Wukong is a matter of life and death, had not Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch decreed that Saints must not intervene, I would have slain him long ago!"

"Now with Xuan Ming dead, Sun Wukong’s relationship with the Ancestral Witches must surely freeze over. Although Water Curtain Cave has gained a few Sect Founders, they are still beset on all sides, with too many karmic entanglements with others."

Amitabha Buddha clasped his hands together and said, "If he fails to overcome the crisis of the origin return, this struggle between Buddhism and Daoism will all have been for naught. With less than eight thousand years left, for ascetics like us the time will pass in the blink of an eye. Remember, Buddha Great Sun Tathagata, the overall situation must be kept in mind."

Subhuti went to destroy Wukong’s Daoist heart but ended up helping him cut away his good thoughts instead, a not so small loss of face. If he didn’t kill Wukong, he would feel truly uneasy, a hindrance to his cultivation. And Wukong, having been toyed with by Subhuti, naturally harbored a murderous intent as well. With various saints making their moves, even Luo Hou summoned the World-Ending Black Lotus, but Lu Ya abstained from acting. Wukong’s hatred for him deepened even more. This time, their feud had become even more entrenched, and with Hong Jun pushing from behind, once Wukong became a saint, it would indeed be a fight to the death.

Buddha Great Sun Tathagata said, "That’s not necessarily the case. I’ve heard that the fate of the world can create a Great Dao Sage. If one has the strength of a Great Dao Sage, they could protect themselves and more during the calamity at the meeting of cycles. However, that Tathagata really lacks ambition. The plan for the Journey to the West was thwarted, and he was seriously injured in the battle at Mount Putuo, damaging his great Primordial Qi."

Amitabha Buddha shook his head and said, "I’ve already withdrawn from this struggle for fate. The prominent branch of the Buddhist Sect is already in decline; I’m leaving this mess for Tathagata to handle. I don’t wish to muddy the waters any further. Even the Heavenly Dao Saints are unclear about the current situation. I’m afraid the only ones who could possibly have everything under their control are Di Jun and Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch."

When Buddha Great Sun Tathagata heard the name of Di Jun, a flash of hatred crossed his eyes.

No wonder, originally he was the essence of Innate Separation Fire, intending to use the sun to achieve sainthood, but Di Jun got there first, stealing his opportunity to become a saint and making him suffer for tens of thousands of years more. How could he not be furious?

Buddha Great Sun Tathagata then said, "If you won’t compete, then my esoteric sect will! Ksitigarbha took action, suffocating the forces of Tianzhu, and Immeasurable Light Buddha is a waste!"

Amitabha Buddha slightly shook his head and added, "Buddha Great Sun Tathagata, you are being obscured by inner demons. A Heavenly Dao Saint should not hold such a mindset. Otherwise, I fear you too won’t escape the boundless slaughter tribulation."

Buddha Great Sun Tathagata said, "Everyone has their own path!"

Amitabha Buddha said no more. It was Great Sun Tathagata’s own choice. What more could he say? If he pressed on, it might only create rifts between them, which would be even less ideal. Even saints know that you must only reveal a part of your thoughts when speaking.

Zhun Ti sighed and said, "So be it. Buddha Great Sun Tathagata, you must take care of yourself, and we’ll say no more. From today, Mount Sumeru will close its gates and receive no visitors. Whether the exoteric or esoteric branches wither, it is no longer our concern."

"Infinite kalpas!"

Amitabha and Zhun Ti joined their hands together and said slowly.

Great Sun Tathagata nodded and said, "Since you both have made up your minds, then let it be so."

He then floated down the mountain.

Amitabha Buddha shook his head and said, "This Lu Ya really is narrow-minded; he’s likely to face a great calamity."

Zhun Ti added, "It’s not so easy to kill a saint. He and that Sun Wukong will have a good fight. Back then, it was fortunate I did not agree to become that monkey’s master. Otherwise, I’d end up reaping the consequences just like Lu Ya."

Amitabha nodded and said, "Exactly. All the scheming of the Buddhist Sect has now fallen entirely on Lu Ya’s shoulders, and he is bound by a fight to the death with Sun Wukong."

Zhun Ti couldn’t help but laugh and declared, "Close the mountain!"

Apprentices then went down the mountain to post notices and send the Mountain Guardian Deity to guard the mountain pass.

Amitabha Buddha and Zhun Ti will sit tight on Mount Sumeru patiently until the meeting of cycles. Given the current murky situation, the best course is to step back and reassess. If the enemy does not move, neither do we; if the enemy shows any sign, we move first. By maintaining stillness to control activity, they opt for the safest approach.

"What? Zhun Ti and Amitabha have closed the mountain?" Lord of Primordial Beginning frowned slightly upon hearing this news. After calculating, he slightly smiled, "Ah, I see, I see! Being in the game, one can be confused; an observer might understand better. This Lu Ya, heh, hasn’t he seen that something is wrong yet? Blinded by his inner demons, he is rightly destined for calamity!"

Tong Tian Sect Master said, "They also can’t make sense of the situation, naturally opting to respond with stillness."

Lord of Primordial Beginning asked, "Don’t they care about their sect anymore?"

Tong Tian Sect Master scoffed coldly, "When it comes to life and death, is a sect that important? They already have karma with Sun Wukong, and if they are not careful to avoid creating more significant karma, it would likely lead to another fight to the death! Lu Ya is unaware of what’s good for him, thinking that with Xuan Ming dead, Sun Wukong is easily within his grasp. It’s not that simple! Who’s behind that guy? It’s our teacher backing him up!"

Lord of Primordial Beginning said, "Don’t speak carelessly about that."

Tong Tian Sect Master, known for his forthrightness, quickly realized his slip of the tongue and thus fell silent.

Meanwhile, back at the esoteric sect, as soon as Great Sun Tathagata arrived, he immediately ordered the sect’s experts to set off for Water Curtain Cave.

How the fortunes of good and ill will unfold, please listen to the next part for an explanation. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote with your recommendation tickets and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)