Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 184 - 185: Reincarnation Begins, Tianpeng, Have a Good Journey

Chapter 184: Chapter 185: Reincarnation Begins, Tianpeng, Have a Good Journey

Wen Zhong, upon seeing Marshal Tianpeng being taken away, did not pursue the matter further and immediately turned his head.

This was an errand he was originally unwilling to undertake, and since he was a figure from the Investiture of the Gods, even if he had made a meritorious deed, there would be no reward.

Now that Li Jing was willing to help, let him do it.

After Tianpeng was escorted into the celestial Prison, Li Jing and many of the Deities of the celestial Court could not help but return to the Ninth celestial Palace.

"Your Majesty, now that the traitor Tianpeng has been captured and is held in the celestial Prison, we await Your Majesty’s decision!"

Li Jing stepped forward and explained the situation that had just occurred.

In the Ninth celestial Palace, the Jade Emperor was silent for a while before finally turning to the many Deities of the celestial Court within the palace and saying, "My lords, what are your opinions?"

"Your Majesty, with regard to the crimes committed by Marshal Tianpeng just now, according to the law, he should be demoted to the Eighteen Layers of Hell, never to rise again, as he not only secretly liaised with a Female Immortal but also committed the crime of attempted escape!"

Seeing the Jade Emperor ask, Li Jing also quickly stepped forward to express his views.

Having been beaten so miserably by Marshal Tianpeng, coupled with the fact that Tianpeng was originally a pawn of Daoism in the Journey to the West, naturally, he would not let Tianpeng off the hook easily, calculating both old grudges and new grievances at this moment.

Seeing Li Jing so intent on kicking someone when they were down, the many Deities of the celestial Court also looked at Li Jing.

They did not expect Li Jing to be so petty; Tianpeng was already in his current state, yet Li Jing was still unwilling to forgive.

Nezha, seeing this, was somewhat dissatisfied; if not for the Linglong Pagoda in Li Jing’s hands, he would have long since ceased to associate with Li Jing.

For a moment, many of the Deities of the celestial Court in the Ninth celestial Palace harbored their own thoughts, but due to the status of this Great Demon-slaying Marshal, no one spoke out against him.

Witnessing this scene, the Jade Emperor’s face remained impassive, not responding to Li Jing’s proposal, but simply quietly observing the Deities below, with no one knowing what he truly thought.

"Your Majesty, your humble subject believes this should not be so, as Tianpeng is already severely injured, and there is no need to cast him into the Eighteen Layers of Hell. It would be better to stick to the original judgment!"

At this moment, Taibai Jinxing stepped forward and spoke.

As a close attendant to the Jade Emperor, he naturally understood the dilemma in the Jade Emperor’s heart.

After all, Tianpeng was a pawn of Daoism set to enter the calamity; if he acted too harshly, it would mean outright opposition to Daoism, benefitting him in no way.

Therefore, Taibai Jinxing could only come forward to smooth things over.

For he became a close attendant to the Jade Emperor, as Taibai Jinxing was observant and knew the dynamics.

As Taibai Jinxing spoke, the Jade Emperor also looked at him approvingly.

The Jade Emperor was well aware of the schemes in Li Jing’s heart.

He sided with Buddhism and suppressed Daoism.

However, it was not to be done so blatantly.

Furthermore, quite a few from the immortal clans were present in the Ninth celestial Palace and had witnessed Li Jing’s battle.

And from the current reaction of the Deities of the celestial Court toward Li Jing, it was evident that they held dissatisfaction.

Not to mention that the Jade Emperor himself did not wish to treat Tianpeng too harshly, even if he truly wanted to deal with Tianpeng, at this moment he had to consider this aspect.

After pondering for a while, the Jade Emperor looked towards Wen Zhong, then spoke, "As you have captured the person, what is your opinion?"

Wen Zhong was silent for a moment, about to speak, but was interrupted by Li Jing.

Li Jing thought the Jade Emperor was addressing him and thus began to speak, "Replying to Your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty!"

It was at that moment that Wen Zhong spoke up.

Li Jing was taken aback, realizing that His Majesty was not calling to him, and his face inadvertently turned red with embarrassment.

"Replying to Your Majesty, Marshal Tianpeng may have committed the crime of attempted escape, but since he has already endured the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, the crime of escape should no longer be pursued!"

Wen Zhong glanced at Li Jing and respectfully stated.

Li Jing understood that probably the battle they had just fought outside was all observed by the Jade Emperor.

If the Jade Emperor were to investigate, Li Jing likely would face serious trouble.

Now, hearing Wen Zhong make excuses for Tianpeng, and with the majority of immortals present sharing this sentiment.

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment and then nodded.

The matter was, after all, Daoism’s scheme, but it also ultimately resulted in karmic ties.

He owed Tianpeng, and it was not right to punish him too severely, especially since Tianpeng was destined to face his trial.

Considering this, sitting atop the Golden Palace in the Ninth celestial Palace, the Jade Emperor declared:

"Tianpeng, having had an illicit meeting with the Female Immortal Chang’e, transgressed the heavenly laws and ought to receive the death penalty; but in consideration that he has been punished by the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, no further charges will be pursued. I now order Great Demon-slaying Marshal Li Jing to quickly send Tianpeng to the Underworld for Reincarnation without error!"

Among the many Deities of the celestial Court, Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Although he had not managed to make Tianpeng suffer further hardship, it seemed the Jade Emperor had no intention of pursuing the accusations against him for overreaching his authority.

"Your servant obeys the command!"

Li Jing stepped out and bowed respectfully.

"You may go."

Li Jing nodded and then, taking the Order of Law, went to fetch Marshal Tianpeng and led him down to the Nine Serene Yellow Springs.

In the Underworld Hell, the sky remained a dull, murky gray.

With no sun, moon, or stars, the vast expanse appeared endlessly dark, accompanied by countless wails and howls.

Mountain after mountain stretched unbroken, seemingly reaching the very end of the world.

Ksitigarbha Pusa, who had been meditating and cultivating this entire time, now opened his eyes, glancing towards Yama’s Palace.

He could sense that the Underworld was hosting some uninvited visitors.

Without saying, one could also know that today’s events must be related to the celestial Court’s plans for the Journey to the West.

Thinking of his own awkward position now, he knew that none of it was within his control.

Moreover, if the Journey to the West could be successfully carried out, it would greatly benefit him as well.

He then closed his eyes and began his cultivation.

Meanwhile, a ray of light fell from the sky, within which several figures condensed, the golden light descending with supreme majesty.

"The Ten Yama Kings, come forth and receive the decree!"

As the divine light descended, Li Jing, along with two celestial Soldiers and Generals, escorting Marshal Tianpeng, appeared here.

Upon hearing Li Jing’s words, the Ten Yama Kings hurried out without daring to delay.

"This official pays respect to the great deities. May I inquire what orders the Jade Emperor has? We will follow them all!"

The Ten Yama Kings, currently in charge of the Underworld, along with many Underworld Envoys, respectfully greeted Li Jing and the others!

The Yama Kings were naturally filled with fear and trepidation upon Li Jing’s arrival.

As the Yama Kings of the Underworld, they naturally did not know what had transpired in the celestial Court.

However, seeing the people Li Jing brought with him this time also left them bewildered and puzzled.

Compared to the Yama Kings, who were bending over backward for Li Jing, Li Jing took no notice of these Yama Kings from the Underworld of course.

After all, accustomed to commanding a hundred thousand celestial Soldiers and Generals and accustomed to privilege, these lower-ranking Immortals were not ones to whom he would pay much regard.

He then directly opened the Imperial Decree of the Jade Emperor and began reading it.

"By the Order of Law of the Jade Emperor, it has been ascertained that Marshal Tianpeng, Commander of the celestial River Navy, has violated heavenly laws, and his crimes are unforgivable. Today he shall be stripped of his immortality, and Li Jing is commanded to escort him into the cycle of Reincarnation in the Underworld, without error!"

"What, this person is actually the Commander of the celestial River Navy? Marshal Tianpeng?"

Upon Li Jing reading out the Imperial Decree of the Jade Emperor, all the Yama Kings present could not contain their shock and looked at the man lying on the ground with some surprise.

Some Underworld Envoys even whispered among themselves—after all, such an event had never happened before.

To demote such a high-ranking immortal and god to the lower realm, they had never seen such a thing.

At this moment, they couldn’t help but speculate what had happened to warrant such a retribution.

Moreover, wasn’t this Marshal Tianpeng a disciple of the Human Teachings Sect? How could he suffer such punishment?

While these Yama Kings and Underworld Envoys were pondering, puzzled.

Li Jing frowned slightly, seeming to realize what they were thinking, and said, "Don’t let your thoughts wander. You only need to follow orders and act accordingly!"

Upon hearing Li Jing’s stern voice, these Yama Kings and Underworld Envoys of the Underworld dared not let their thoughts wander further.

After all, these were matters of the celestial Court, not something for Underworld Envoys of the Underworld to ponder.

Now that the Jade Emperor had issued a decree, their role was to follow it!

Hence, King Qin Guang complied with the decree, and then led Pagoda-Carrying celestial King Li to the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

As they approached the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the three from the celestial Court could feel a chilling aura emanating from it.

Even someone with a cultivation level as high as Li Jing couldn’t help but feel a sense of threat at this sight and dared not take it lightly.

The two celestial Soldiers and Generals behind him felt the same, not daring to slack off in the least, afraid of risking their own lives in the process.

The Yama Kings of the Underworld, having grown accustomed to it, showed no particular emotion upon facing the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The Six Paths of Reincarnation are the cornerstone of the Underworld.

They are divided into the Three Good Paths: the Heavenly Path, the Human Path, and the Asura Path.

And the Three Evil Paths: the Hungry Ghost Path, the Animal Path, and the Hell Path of Reincarnation.

Countless beings within the Three Realms must pass through the Six Paths of Reincarnation to undergo transmigration, which is the foundation of the Underworld.

Once through the Six Paths of Reincarnation, their past lives become unrelated to them.

Of course, due to Tianpeng’s special circumstances, he was not given Meng Po’s Soup to drink.

If he had drunk Meng Po’s Soup, how would he then proceed to seek scriptures?

"This place is the site of the Six Paths of Reincarnation of the Underworld!"

King Qin Guang informed Li Jing.

"If that is the case, let us begin!"

Li Jing nodded in agreement, indicating to King Qin Guang that it was time to start.

King Qin Guang immediately used his mana to open the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Boom!

As the Six Paths of Reincarnation opened, an intense suction force emanated from within, along with a chilling aura of the Underworld.

This caused everyone present to tremble with fear.

Those from the Underworld were used to it, but Li Jing and the two celestial Soldiers and Generals, feeling such an aura, turned pale and quickly circulated their mana to stabilize their stance.

"Great deity, the Six Paths of Reincarnation have been opened!"

King Qin Guang said to Li Jing.

Li Jing turned back to look at Marshal Tianpeng who was still unconscious.

"Tianpeng, farewell on your journey."