Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 204 - 205: The Scripture Seeker, Five Treasures

Chapter 204: Chapter 205: The Scripture Seeker, Five Treasures

The Jing River Dragon King’s face was filled with unwillingness. Emperor Li Shimin had already agreed to plead on his behalf, yet now Wei Zheng stated there was none.

This made the Jing River Dragon King incredibly furious.

But now, with Wei Zheng coming forth with the Imperial Decree, accompanied by celestial Soldiers and Generals, how could he resist?

Seeing this scene, the River-patrolling Yaksha shrank his head; he had never imagined that because of him, the Dragon King would actually be facing decapitation.

With endless resentment, the Jing River Dragon King ascended the Dragon-Slaying Terrace.

"Execute!"

Seeing that the hour had arrived, Wei Zheng shouted loudly.

The large Dragon head flew out directly.

The execution of the Jing River Dragon King.

...

In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Li Shimin saw Wei Zheng dozing off while playing chess and revealed a trace of a smile.

Naturally, he wasn’t annoyed by the other’s disrespect before His Majesty, and with a faint smile, he said, "My wise subject truly supports the state. With a wise subject like you, Great Tang will surely prosper!"

His original intent was to stall Wei Zheng and keep him from presiding over the execution. Now that his purpose had been achieved, Emperor Li Shimin naturally did not disturb him and let Wei Zheng doze off.

Before long, Wei Zheng awoke and saw that he had scattered the chessboard. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground and respectfully said, "Your humble servant deserves death, your humble servant deserves death, it was due to my weariness that..." He hoped for the Emperor’s forgiveness.

Emperor Li Shimin, upon hearing Wei Zheng’s words, waved his hand and said, "What crime do you have, my subject? Rise!"

Now that the hour was past, Emperor Li Shimin’s mind was entirely at ease.

Thereupon, he and Wei Zheng set up the chessboard once more, and they began to play again!

"Today, I have indeed caused you to neglect the decree of the Jade Emperor. There shouldn’t be any serious consequences, right?"

Although Emperor Li Shimin intended to help the Jing River Dragon King, he did not wish his actions to harm Wei Zheng. Now that the event had passed, he could speak frankly.

Wei Zheng respectfully said, "Your Majesty, be at ease, your humble servant has already executed the Jing River Dragon King in my dreams!"

Emperor Li Shimin was startled by the words and said, "You..."

"Just now, as the hour approached, the Jade Emperor commanded me to supervise the execution of the guilty dragon. The Jing River Dragon King violated the heavenly laws and was to be executed at the third quarter of the noon hour."

"Who would’ve thought that just then Your Majesty invited me to play chess? I had no choice but to leave in my dream to execute the Dragon King. Little did I expect Your Majesty knew about it as well!"

Wei Zheng was no fool; hearing Emperor Li Shimin’s words, he more or less understood what had transpired.

"What!"

Emperor Li Shimin’s feelings were complex; he had good intentions of helping the Jing River Dragon King but hadn’t expected that he would still fail to help.

Now, he felt as though he had broken his promise to the Dragon King, who ultimately still lost his life.

"My dear subject, you’ve worked hard. It’s good that there were no issues. Seeing as you are also exhausted, you may go and rest!"

Emperor Li Shimin had thought he delayed Wei Zheng, yet nothing had been accomplished. He felt a sudden emptiness and was filled with a sense of guilt.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the Jing River Dragon King’s tearful pleas.

At that moment, he could only muster his spirit and signaled to Wei Zheng to go rest.

Meanwhile, everything proceeded onto the rightful path of the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West.

Li Jing could now return to report back with peace of mind.

"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, the Jing River Dragon King has now been executed, and that King of Tang has earned a name of unreliability!"

Within the Ninth celestial Palace, Pagoda-Carrying celestial King Li stood out and reported the current situation of the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West to the Jade Emperor.

Following the incident with Emperor Li Shimin, the Jing River Dragon King’s unwillingness to seek trouble with Emperor Li Shimin became a cause.

But that’s a story for another time; as of now, the celestial Court has completed its cooperation with the Western Buddhist Sect and fully initiated the path to the start of the Calamity of Measurement.

"We are already aware of this matter," the Jade Emperor said. "celestial King Li, you have done well. Now, our celestial Court has also done what needed to be done, and it’s time for Buddhism to handle their own affairs!"

The gaze of the Jade Emperor slightly parted with majesty, watching over the many Deities of the celestial Court, who all appeared indifferent.

Although he intended to facilitate the Calamity of Measurement and thus gain power within the celestial Court,

after all, he was from the Daoist Sect, and after this Calamity, the Western Buddhist Sect is likely to flourish, and his celestial Court might be influenced.

Therefore, he too needed to make some considerations. Now that he had already cooperated with the West in implementing the plan, he decided not to intervene any further, leaving everything to the West to handle.

After all, this was originally the affair of the West. He couldn’t just let the West sit back and reap the benefits!

Now that the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West was about to formally commence, he also should seek his own share of the benefits.

Thinking this, the Jade Emperor looked towards Taibai Jinxing and said, "Taibai Jinxing, now that the Calamity of Measurement is about to begin, you too should proceed as planned."

The Jade Emperor, with his meaningful gaze, looked at the many Deities of the celestial Court.

He did not explicitly state anything!

Hearing the words of the Jade Emperor, Taibai Jinxing then turned and left.

At this moment, the many Deities of the celestial Court within the Ninth celestial Palace were looking at each other, unsure of what to say.

celestial King Li couldn’t help but overthink it.

After all, he had exerted the most effort this time. However, the Jade Emperor had only praised him slightly, without offering any substantial rewards, and now it seemed there was some secret task for Taibai Jinxing to do.

Li Jing felt somewhat complicated, as if he were being excluded.

Even so, Li Jing dared not show his feelings, after all the Jade Emperor was the Ruler of the Three Realms and was not someone he could oppose.

Therefore, even though Li Jing was reluctant in his heart, he did not dare to be disobedient.

At this moment, it was not only Li Jing who was feeling frustrated; the other immortals and gods each had their thoughts, all speculating about what the Jade Emperor had instructed Taibai Jinxing to do.

And at this moment, the reactions of the many Deities of the celestial Court naturally did not escape the eyes of the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor remained unchanged. Nowadays, in the Ninth celestial Palace, there were very few people he could trust.

The Jade Emperor naturally did not explain anything, and the many Orthodox Deities of the celestial Court did not dare to ask further questions.

Meanwhile, Grand Elder of the Supreme Way within the Helmet Armor Palace, located beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, also sensed something.

"The Calamity of Measurement for the Journey to the West has finally commenced!"

Grand Elder of the Supreme Way glanced down at the Earth Immortal Realm with an aged face that bore a touch of helplessness.

As the progenitor of the Daoist Sect, although he was unwilling to see the Western Buddhist Sect take advantage of this Calamity of Measurement to flourish completely,

it was after all decided by the Heavenly Dao, and even if they did not wish to see Buddhism prosper, they were utterly unable to stop it.

Compared with the Heavenly Dao, they, the Saints, were not really anything significant.

All he could do now was to seek some merit for the Daoist Sect.

In the depths of the Posa Mount Sumeru Pure Land in the Western Direction,

compared to the Grand Elder of the Supreme Way, Amitabha Buddha and Zhunti, the two Saints were extremely joyful.

The actions the celestial Court had taken for the Calamity of Measurement of the Journey to the West naturally could not be hidden from their probes.

Now that Emperor Li Shimin of Tang had entered the Calamity, what followed was for Emperor Li Shimin to be aware of the sufferings of the people, and not just the Dragon King but countless disasters, and only the Mahayana Buddhist Law of the Western Direction could universally save sentient beings.

By then, Emperor Tang would naturally send scripture seekers, and thus the Calamity of Measurement for the Journey to the West would truly begin.

Thinking that after this Journey to the West, the Western Buddhist Sect would also welcome a great uprising, Buddhism would flourish and thereby overshadow the Daoist Sect,

Amitabha Buddha and Zhunti at this moment could not help but reveal a look of joy on their faces.

"The early stage of this Calamity of Measurement of Journey to the West, although full of trials and tribulations, is ultimately a good thing that comes to those who wait. Now, it has entered the right track, and we need to prepare early!"

Amitabha Buddha sat on the Lotus Platform, his mournful face showing not too much emotion.

"It should be so indeed!"

Upon hearing this, Zhunti nodded his head.

This time, the Calamity of Measurement for the Journey to the West, the two of them had been planning for many years.

They both naturally understood what should be done.

Afterward, the two Saints once again fell silent.

However, they couldn’t help but cast their eyes toward the Great Thunderclap Monastery.

Within the Great Thunderclap Monastery, Sakyamuni Tathagata had already received the will of the two Saints, and although Amitabha and Zhunti had not clearly stated it, Sakyamuni Tathagata understood the implications in his heart.

Now that the celestial Court had started, the next step should also be taken by them in the Western Direction to continue the unfolding.

Now Emperor Tang had entered the Calamity, but there still needed to be a conviction in Buddhism by Emperor Tang, otherwise, how could he help facilitate the Calamity of Measurement for the Journey to the West?

Thinking of this, Sakyamuni Tathagata pondered for a while, his compassionate eyes gazing upon the many Buddhas of Buddhism below.

"I observe the beings in the Four Great Continents, their virtues and vices all differ widely!"

"The people of Dongsheng Divine Continent honor Heaven and revere Earth, with content hearts and calm dispositions!"

"The people of Beiju Luzhou, although they are inclined to violence, are only compelled by the necessities of life!"

"The people of Western Cow Hezhou, free from greed and violence, all enjoy long lives!"

"Only the people of Southern Continent Jambudvipa, greedy for silver and reveling in misfortune, are excessively violent and quarrelsome!"

"Here, I have the True Scriptures, which can persuade people to be virtuous!"

Upon hearing this, all the Bodhisattvas clasped their hands and looked towards Sakyamuni Tathagata, asking, "Our Buddha, which are the True Scriptures?"

Upon hearing this, Tathagata then replied, "The scripture of one deposit preaches of Heaven, the scripture of the second deposit speaks of Earth, and the scripture of the third deposit saves ghosts!"

"Together, the three deposits comprise thirty-five volumes, amounting to fifteen thousand one hundred forty-four scrolls. I wish to send the True Scriptures to the Eastern Land, but I worry that the people of Southern Continent Jambudvipa are too ignorant to recognize the True Scriptures and would neglect the Buddhist Law!"

"Who wishes to go to the Eastern Land in search of a scripture seeker, allowing him to traverse thousands of mountains and rivers to come here seeking the True Scriptures, and to spread them eternal in the East?"

The intent of Tathagata was clear, the Western Direction hoped to spread the Buddhist Law to the Eastern Land and was not willing to squander their scriptures and Buddhist Law, hence the wish for someone truly sincere in seeking the True Scriptures.

"Your disciple is of modest ability, but willing to go to the Eastern Land to find a scripture seeker!"

At this moment, Guanyin Bodhisattva stepped forward, wanting to undertake the task of the Buddha Ancestor.

The matter of the Calamity of Measurement for the Journey to the West involved Guanyin Bodhisattva from the very beginning, and all the words spoken by Sakyamuni Tathagata just now were merely going through the motions.

The one to guide this time has long been determined to be her.

Seeing this, Tathagata revealed a compassionate expression and nodded, saying, "Others are unsuitable to go, it must be the Venerable Guanyin with her vast Divine Skills who can go."

Guanyin then inquired, "May I know if there are any instructions from the Buddha Ancestor for this journey?"

Tathagata spoke, "On the way, create a blend of cloud and mist to inspect the path. Remember well the measure of distances far and near, and remind the scripture seeker, since the journey is difficult. To assist you, I give you five treasures that you may also pass on to him."