Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 187 - 188: Who Caused the Anomaly

Chapter 187: Chapter 188: Who Caused the Anomaly

Celestial Court.

Inside the Ninth Celestial Palace.

Clairvoyance and Clairaudience stumbled and tumbled in, running in a flurry.

Within the Ninth Celestial Palace, the Jade Emperor and numerous deities of the Celestial Court were discussing major matters concerning the Three Realms.

Although they had always been focusing on the matters of the Journey to the West, promoting the Journey to the West, managing the Three Realms was still their top priority.

"Report!"

Just at that moment, two shadows burst into the Ninth Celestial Palace from outside, in a state of panic.

Seeing this scene, the Jade Emperor couldn’t help but slightly frown.

The other ministers of the Celestial Court also showed angry faces.

However, before the Jade Emperor could speak, Pagoda-Carrying Celestial King Li, with a face as dark as iron, sharply reprimanded, "Since when is such panic acceptable? What a disgrace!"

Ever since he sent Marshal Tianpeng to be reborn, he witnessed countless transformations in the Six Paths of Reincarnation and nearly had all his memories and mana sealed away. Although he didn’t know who had saved him, it left him extremely frustrated.

Finding everyone quite displeasing to the eye, he now saw Clairvoyance and Clairaudience daring to barge in and immediately yelled in anger.

Hearing Li Jing’s angry shout, the faces of Clairvoyance and Clairaudience changed, and they shrank their necks.

Clairvoyance, trembling, spoke up, "Reporting to the Celestial King, Your Majesty, an unusual phenomenon suddenly emerged in the Earth Immortal Realm, and countless amounts of spiritual energy congealed into thousands of gods and Buddhas. It might be a powerful Buddhist figure attaining enlightenment, which is why we came to report!"

Clairvoyance and Clairaudience glanced at Li Jing, then looked away.

In the Underworld, the events that occurred with Li Jing might deceive everyone else but certainly not them. However, now they dared not provoke Li Jing’s ire.

"What, spiritual energy congealed into thousands of gods and Buddhas? Perhaps a Buddhist powerhouse has attained enlightenment?"

Li Jing, hearing Clairvoyance’s words, also frowned in doubt, momentarily unsure of what to say.

His own deep connection with Buddhism goes without saying, as any Immortal of the Celestial Court would know.

Though he now occupied a high position within the Celestial Court, it was clear who he would truly support between Buddhism and the Celestial Court.

"A Buddhist figure has attained enlightenment?"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor also frowned slightly and said, "Currently, the Daoist Sect is very dominant in the Celestial Court, but to be certain, Buddhism’s influence should not be underestimated."

He thought that if they were left to develop unchecked, it was unknown to what extent they would grow in the future.

Not to even mention the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West, which was about to begin.

And now another Buddhist powerhouse has emerged, which would surely affect the Daoist Sect.

After a moment of deliberation, the Jade Emperor decided not to dwell on it any longer.

The strength of the Daoist Sect in the Celestial Court is incredibly powerful. If there is a Buddhist force to counterbalance, it would be greatly beneficial for him.

The Jade Emperor waved his hand dismissively and said, "I am already aware of this matter, you may withdraw!"

Clairvoyance and Clairaudient then took their leave.

Li Jing stepped forward and continued, "Your Majesty, I wonder if we should send someone to investigate?"

Although he would definitely assist Buddhism, if the Jade Emperor truly wanted an investigation, he would need to secure the task for himself, so he could be the first to know if anything happened.

"There’s no need. The rise of Buddhism is now inevitable; we can just wait and observe!"

The Jade Emperor shook his head.

The rise of the Western Buddhist Sect is certain and not even the Daoist Sect can prevent it, let alone the Celestial Court.

This matter was not even open for their consideration.

The Eastern Celestial Court had discovered the anomalies appearing over the Southern Continent Jambudvipa.

Naturally, the Western Buddhist Sect felt it too.

"Such a familiar sensation, but why can’t I ascertain who it is that’s involved!"

At this time, Sakyamuni Tathagata also furrowed his brows in confusion.

Although Clairvoyance and Clairaudient had determined that it was due to a Buddhist figure’s enlightenment, Sakyamuni Tathagata, as the leader of the Buddhist Sect, had no such information, after all, it was too distant.

Although he could sense a change in the aura, and it was surely not a nobody, he only found the sensation familiar and couldn’t confirm its source.

Driven by curiosity, Tathagata began his own calculations to check the identity of the individual.

Yet no matter how much he deduced, he couldn’t ascertain the identity.

Everything seemed shrouded in mist, preventing him from seeing through, preventing clear vision.

And to be so concealed...

"Could it be that someone has obscured the celestial secret?"

At this time, Sakyamuni Tathagata couldn’t help but suspect, for as a pinnacle quasi-saint, the inability to deduce this suggested only a few Saints could achieve such a feat.

And that land was under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Court.

"Could it be that the Daoist Sect has undertaken some measures in response to our Buddhist Sect’s impending initiation of the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West?"

At this moment, Sakyamuni Tathagata couldn’t help but think so and even was unable to calm down.

The initial joy from the upcoming start of the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West started to mix with worry.

After all, Buddhism well knew that once the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West was complete, Buddhism would inevitably grow stronger, surpassing the Daoist Sect.

Knowing how powerful the Daoist Sect used to be, they could only watch as Buddhism grew stronger. If not for destiny’s will, surely the Daoist Sect would not agree to allow Buddhism’s rise.

Even so, the Daoist Sect had not refrained from acting in secret.

For instance, taking a few positions and being responsible for arranging the Western Direction Calamity of Measurement.

These actions could also snatch some of the Fate from the Western Buddhist Sect for the Daoist Sect.

...

Of course, Xuanzang had no idea about Tathagata Sakyamuni’s speculations; he was still devotedly practicing his cultivation.

After an unknown period, the aura around Xuanzang finally began to stabilize and calm down.

Then, Xuanzang abruptly opened his eyes.

A flash of powerful light erupted and feeling the earth-shattering power within himself, Xuanzang couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy in his heart.

"This power is tremendous, this is the strength the predecessor wanted me to learn!"

Xuanzang was immensely grateful. Though the technique was not personally handed down by Wang Yang, it was still considered a transmission from him.

"However, since the predecessor didn’t teach me personally, but used this method instead, he must wish for me to keep it confidential; otherwise, it may implicate that predecessor!"

"Moreover, the predecessor mentioned the extreme dangers outside. I have also seen the Buddhism followers and Immortals; I can’t recklessly reveal my power. To ordinary people, my power might seem tremendous, but it’s insignificant compared to those mighty beings, as trivial as ants!"

"Perhaps this is why the predecessor chooses to stay hidden!"

Thinking that even such formidable entities choose to remain hidden served as a testament to how terrifying this world could be.

Initially, he was fearless due to his ignorance, but now, after recognizing the shortcomings of Buddhism, he knew he had to be cautious in spreading his own teachings.

"I remember the Three Paths of Heaven and Earth includes the Qi-Concealing Technique, which can be marvelously useful in concealing one’s Qi!"

Xuanzang suddenly remembered something and hastily picked up the Three Paths of Heaven and Earth to review the Qi-Concealing Technique.

"Indeed, it’s here. There’s also the Three Palms of Heaven and Earth!"

Xuanzang’s face lit up with excitement.

Although he might not need it, it offered great benefits for him who had only recently been a mortal but was now a celestial Immortal.

As he continued his cultivation, he quickly mastered the Qi-Concealing Technique.

For him, a celestial Immortal, this cultivation technique was not challenging.

Especially in terms of his understanding, Xuanzang was in no way inferior to Sun Wukong.

Soon, the aura emanating from Xuanzang began to change, and the mana fluctuations radiating from him started to take on a more elusive and intangible quality.

Just then, a Buddha’s light flickered briefly around him, and a Golden Bell Shield appeared around Xuanzang.

If Wang Yang had been there to witness this scene, he would have been speechless. Xuanzang practicing a single Qi-Concealing Technique had unexpectedly activated the Golden Cicada’s Golden Bell Shield technique.

However, Xuanzang was unaware of all this. He only felt that he could conceal his aura and also rely on this for defense, which he considered a rather useful Divine Skill.

Meanwhile, Wang Yang, who had now left the small country, heard a system prompt in his ear.

"Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully transmitting the Qi-Concealing Technique, which triggered the Buddha’s Golden Bell Shield, synchronization of cultivation level in progress!"

Wang Yang was taken aback before shaking his head with a wry smile.

Xuanzang was progressing too rapidly, beyond his expectations.

Xuanzang had clearly been reincarnated, and yet, after just one session of cultivation, he was making such rapid progress.

In the blink of an eye, he had reached the realm of a celestial Immortal.

If he continued to transmit more Daoist Techniques to him, wouldn’t he reach the realm of a Golden Immortal even faster?

Could he then have the chance to break through to the late stage of a Quasi-Saint?

Since Sun Wukong had already changed too many fates, he gained a lot of benefits.

He directly broke through to the middle stage of a Quasi-Saint. Fortunately, at that time, all the attention of the Immortals and Buddhas was on Sun Wukong, so no one noticed his breakthrough.

But it’s not easy to break through to the late stage of a Quasi-Saint.

Sun Wukong had already imposed a seal on himself, and although it was only a split form, everything still depended on future developments.

So, the only one he could influence was Xuanzang. However, were it not for the fact that this was not Xuanzang’s final life, he would take a risk. But now, he did not wish to meddle needlessly and gain nothing in return.

Moreover, Xuanzang had accidentally taken his technique, and even if something truly changed in the future, he could find Xuanzang.

After finishing all his cultivation, Xuanzang noticed his clothing was somewhat soiled.

He might have discovered the flaw in Buddhism and sought change, but everything had to be done gradually, so he could not afford to be slovenly.

He promptly took a bath and changed his clothes.

What Xuanzang did not know was that there was a detection-shielding formation left on his clothes by Wang Yang. With the change of his clothing,

deep within the Western Sumeru Pure Land, both Amitabha Buddha and Zhunti sensed something.

"The aura of the Golden Cicada!"

They were finally able to clearly sense the aura of the Golden Cicada without any obstruction.

Immediately, the two Saints were filled with joy and began searching around the Golden Cicada. However, they found nothing.

Moreover, there was no change in the Golden Cicada; it was the same as when they had inspected it before.

"It seems we were overly concerned. The phenomena that stirred the heavens and earth recently was not caused by the Golden Cicada!"

Amitabha Buddha spoke calmly.

"Then who could be the cause of such heavenly and earthly phenomena?"

...

ps: Grateful to the book friend Li Yongsheng for the reward, I hope to recover a bit next month, and I’ll resume updating.