Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 144 - 144 144 Taibai Why Must I Find Erlang Shen

144: Chapter 144 Taibai: Why Must I Find Erlang Shen 144: Chapter 144 Taibai: Why Must I Find Erlang Shen Guanyin Bodhisattva had initially come to attend the Peach Banquet upon invitation, but upon hearing that the feast had been disrupted and even witnessing the disarray within the Yaochi herself, she decided to come and see for herself.

Upon hearing Guanyin’s words, Zhang Daoling, who had been somewhat embarrassed, now couldn’t help but brighten up and said with a smile, “Bodhisattva’s timing is impeccable, indeed there is a troublesome matter!”

The Celestial Court’s internal powers are intricately interwoven, broadly divided into two factions, Buddhism and Daoism.

But in reality, within the Celestial Court’s Daoist faction, there is also a division between the Expounding Teachings Sect and the Cutting Teachings Sect, which stand in opposition to each other.

Buddhism, seemingly the fewer in number, also had many who tended towards Buddhism.

The convergence of these upper echelon forces could simply be described as a tangled mess.

Although Zhang Daoling had no connection to Buddhism, he now faced a big trouble of his own, which could conveniently be handed over to those from Buddhism.

After telling Guanyin Bodhisattva about the matter, Guanyin Bodhisattva wasn’t surprised and replied with a smile, “It seems that my coming here is quite fortuitous, as when I arrived, Tathagata also gave the Wind-Calming Pearl to me for this very matter!”

Upon these words, the Deities of the Celestial Court were unable to conceal their surprise and delight.

Having been at a loss on how to deal with the Banana Leaf Fan in Sun Wukong’s hands, wasn’t this just like someone sleepy encountering a pillow?

Afterward, they saw Guanyin Bodhisattva’s hand flash with light after she spoke, and a bead wreathed in a faint treasured light appeared in her hand.

This bead looked just like an ordinary Treasure Bead.

However, it also emitted a powerful aura.

“Is this the Wind-Calming Pearl?

The Wind-Calming Pearl of Lingji Bodhisattva?”

Seeing the Wind-Calming Pearl in Guanyin Bodhisattva’s hand, the faces of the Deities of the Celestial Court present brightened slightly.

“Bodhisattva has indeed provided great assistance to our Celestial Court this time!”

“Indeed!”

“…”

Li Jing and some other Celestial Deities close to Buddhism, couldn’t help but speak up at this time.

This, however, caused some of the Celestial Deities who detested Buddhism to let out a contemptuous snort as if they were quite disdainful.

Following the appearance of the Wind-Calming Pearl, Guanyin Bodhisattva then turned to the Jade Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, now that we have the Wind-Calming Pearl, we will surely be able to capture that demon monkey!”

“The Bodhisattva might not be aware, but we haven’t been able to decide who should be appointed as the commander for this task,” Li Jing interjected.

After hearing what Li Jing said, Guanyin Bodhisattva was not surprised, apparent by her knowing about the events that had occurred when Li Jing went to Mount Huaguo.

“Oh, if Your Majesty is still undecided about the commander, I do have a candidate to recommend.

If he extends his hand, he will surely be able to capture that demon monkey!”

A flash of insight appeared in Guanyin Bodhisattva’s eyes as if she immediately had someone in mind.

“May I know whom the Bodhisattva is referring to?” the Jade Emperor asked out of curiosity.

Guanyin Bodhisattva, holding the Jade Pure Bottle calmly, responded, “It’s none other than Your Majesty’s nephew, Erlang Shen.

During the Divine Enthronement War, he single-handedly slew the Six Brothers of Plum Mountain.

Unparalleled in his Divine Skills and with twelve hundred Strawhead Gods at Guankou in the lower realm, he Achieved Saintliness through his body, is an expert at Transformations – he’s the natural nemesis of the demon monkey!”

“However, this Erlang Shen is known for doing as he pleases and might require an Imperial Decree from Your Majesty to dispatch him to Mount Huaguo and appoint him as the commander for the upcoming campaign against it,” Guanyin Bodhisattva added.

Upon hearing Guanyin’s suggestion, the expressions of the many Immortals present changed subtly.

Yang Jian and the others had naturally thought of it, but none dared to bring it up.

After all, that was the Jade Emperor’s family affair.

Furthermore, many were secretly taking pleasure in the Jade Emperor’s predicament.

No one had mentioned it for so many years; wasn’t this bringing up an unpleasant subject?

Surprisingly, the Jade Emperor simply nodded lightly and then said, “Good!”

He then had an Immortal Official directly prepare the Imperial Decree.

Watching the Jade Emperor directly draft the Imperial Decree left the Deities of the Celestial Court momentarily stunned.

“Where is Taibai Jinxing?” the Jade Emperor asked without seeming to notice the expressions of the celestial Court Deities present.

Upon hearing the Jade Emperor’s call, Taibai Jinxing was momentarily stunned.

He had thought that the meeting in the Ninth celestial Palace would make him unnoticeable by the Jade Emperor, yet the Jade Emperor still remembered him.

He really did not want to get involved in this Calamity of Measurement, but even if he didn’t want to, the Jade Emperor still insisted that he be involved.

“This official is here!”

With these thoughts, Taibai Jinxing could only sigh and then reluctantly chose to bow to the Jade Emperor.

“You will carry My Imperial Decree to Guankou.

If you succeed, I shall remember your contribution!” the Jade Emperor declared.

“As Your Majesty commands!”

With the Jade Emperor saying so, what choice did Taibai Jinxing have but to agree?

“Go!”

The Jade Emperor nodded and waved his hand dismissively.

At once, Lord Taibai accepted the Imperial Decree and headed toward Guankou in the lower realm.

“Good!”

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded in approval upon seeing the Jade Emperor’s actions and uttered a chant.

Then, she turned and left.

Now, with the Wind-Calming Pearl and Yang Jian involved, there naturally shouldn’t be any more problems.

Once Guanyin Bodhisattva had departed, the Jade Emperor began to muster his forces in the Ninth celestial Palace, preparing the celestial Soldiers and Generals for Yang Jian’s assault on Mount Huaguo.

This time, not only were the deities of the Thunder and Fire Departments who had surrounded Mount Huaguo last time dispatched, but also the Nine Luminaries Star Lords, the Twelve Yuan Chen, and the Twenty-Eight Constellations—all without exception—were sent.

Li Jing was part of the campaign to capture the demon monkey in the lower realm as well.

However, this time Li Jing was not the chief commander but merely a general.

Upon hearing the Jade Emperor’s arrangement, Li Jing’s expression turned somewhat unsightly, but he dared not say much.

After the previous incident, the fact that he wasn’t directly thrown into the celestial Prison was fortunate enough, so he had nothing more to say.

Meanwhile, Lord Taibai had already carried the Jade Emperor’s Imperial Decree through the Southern Heaven Gate, passing through the Gang Wind Layer, and made his way toward a certain location in the lower realm.

A moment later, a Daoist Temple that appeared quite majestic appeared before Lord Taibai.

The Daoist Temple occupied an area of a hundred square miles, and around it patrolled hundreds of Strawhead Gods.

Upon closer inspection, a few big characters were carved on the plaque of the Daoist Temple.

Erlang Shen’s Mansion.

This was where Yang Jian, the Jade Emperor’s nephew by marriage, resided in the Earth Immortal Realm.

By this time, Erlang Shen’s Mansion had already come into view for Lord Taibai; Yang Jian must indeed be within the temple.

However, Lord Taibai in the clouds above began to hesitate.

After all, the Erlang God had been at odds with his uncle, the Jade Emperor, because his mother, Yunhua Fairy, had been imprisoned by the Jade Emperor under Peach Mountain.

And Yunhua Fairy was someone the Jade Emperor had high regard for through countless calamities, ascending to Immortality with the help of the Jade Emperor’s own Cultivation Technique.

Yet, to the surprise of the Jade Emperor, Yunhua went to the lower realm again and gave birth to a child with a mortal.

Subsequently, she was suppressed under Peach Mountain.

Although Erlang God later saved his mother during the Divine Enthronement following the Calamity of Measurement and became a Body Saint, his feelings toward his uncle naturally remained strained.

Now, to ask Lord Taibai to invite Erlang Shen to capture Sun Wukong at Mount Huaguo, wasn’t that putting Lord Taibai in a tough spot?

On one hand, he couldn’t afford to offend the Jade Emperor,

and on the other, Erlang Shen was also one of the Twelve Golden Immortals under the Expounding Teachings Sect, a disciple of Master Yuding, an awesome being backed by the Jade Void celestial Venerable—Lord Taibai similarly couldn’t afford to offend.

Yet, the will of the Jade Emperor had already been issued,

so Lord Taibai had no choice but to proceed with proclaiming the decree.

This was indeed putting him in a difficult position.

What was he to do?

Lord Taibai was burdened with gloom and hesitation for a good part of the day.

The steps he had just taken, he retracted sheepishly, then stepped out again, only to pull back again.

Thus, Lord Taibai on the clouds above struggled for a good portion of the day, not once daring to approach Erlang Shen’s Mansion.

“Isn’t that Lord Taibai?

I wonder what brings you here this time!”

While Lord Taibai was still hesitating, a Strawhead God emerged from Erlang Shen’s temple at Guankou below, smiling at Lord Taibai who was up in the sky.

“Ahem!”

Lord Taibai cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment, then said, “Greetings, Immortal Lord.

I have come on a mandate from the Jade Emperor, with urgent matters to discuss with Erlang Shen at Guankou!”

“I wonder if Erlang Shen is present in the temple at this moment?”

Lord Taibai appeared somewhat anxious.

“So that’s why Lord Taibai has come to Guankou.

But why the hesitant demeanor, why not just enter?”

The Strawhead God’s expression turned to one of sudden realization, then chilled, as he said, “If it’s just for this matter, then I’d ask Lord Taibai to please return.

Our Erlang True Lord has gone to visit Master Yuding at Golden Mist Cave on Mount Yuquan.

It might be some time before he comes back!”

Upon hearing this, Lord Taibai’s face turned pale, and he said with a wry smile, “Immortal Lord, please don’t make this difficult for me.

I am but a messenger for His Majesty.

If I cannot meet Erlang Shen, it will be difficult to explain when I return!”

After speaking, he quickly took out a piece of Precious Jade from his bosom and discreetly slipped it into the Strawhead God’s possession.

He hoped this Strawhead God could provide an introduction.

Then, the Strawhead God toyed with the Precious Jade, showing no intention of accepting it.

With a flash of light, his figure transformed into a tall, handsome, distinguished-looking young man.

Strangely, there was a mark on his forehead that resembled an upright eye.

“Why must Erlang God amuse yourself at the expense of this Old Daoist!”

Seeing the young man, Lord Taibai couldn’t help but smile wryly.