Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 215 - 216: How did you teach him such powerful palm thunder?

Chapter 215: Chapter 216: How did you teach him such powerful palm thunder?

In the Ninth Celestial Palace of the Celestial Court.

The Jade Emperor and many Orthodox Deities of the Celestial Court witnessed this scene and were left speechless, for they had not expected that Xuanzang would be reluctant to journey to the Western Heaven.

How different this was from what they had imagined.

Originally, the Celestial Court only participated in this for the sake of acquiring merit.

Would they now have to invest more into this situation?

If not, if they did not agree with Xuanzang, this Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West might end before it even began.

The Jade Emperor was at a loss for words, for although the Celestial Court wanted the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West to unfold, they did not wish to lose anything either.

It was not just the Celestial Court.

In the Great Thunderclap Monastery, inside the Great Hero Treasure Hall.

Sakyamuni Tathagata sat solemnly upon his Lotus Platform, all of them also paying attention to the beginning of the Calamity of Measurement, for this matter was crucial for the great flourishing of Buddhism.

However, Xuanzang, who should not have encountered any issues, now faced a major problem. Instead of having a steadfast resolve to go to the Western Heaven, he turned around at the slightest change and wanted to return.

Now that Taibai Jinxing had helped Xuanzang get past the Forked Ridge, did Xuanzang want benefits to continue his journey?

If not for their ability to easily discern the identity of Xuanzang as a reincarnation of Golden Cicada.

They would probably think it was a different person.

"Guanyin Mahasattva, you have met with Xuanzang. Have you noticed any changes in him?"

Sakyamuni Tathagata remained silent, gazing at Guanyin, who showed no significant change of expression.

The other Buddhas also looked toward Guanyin, hoping she could provide an answer, for the situation was indeed quite special.

"Disciple went to seek the scripture seeker for the Western Direction and found nothing amiss with Xuanzang. I just do not understand why he has now become like this!"

Guanyin also frowned, seemingly puzzled.

"Then why?"

Sakyamuni Tathagata furrowed his brows.

The Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West had already begun, and they were really caught in a dilemma, not wishing for any mishaps to occur.

Moreover, even if they wanted to replace him, it was simply not possible, for Xuanzang was the divinely appointed one.

"My Buddha, we should now contemplate how to lead Xuanzang into the Calamity of Measurement,"

Sunlight Bodhisattva spoke up.

He had initially been part of the promotion of this Calamity of Measurement. Now that matters had reached this point, it was natural to continue advancing the Journey to the West rather than discussing it here.

The other Buddhas nodded as well, clearly intending to resolve this matter first before discussing anything else.

Sakyamuni Tathagata also nodded, "Manjushri Bodhisattva, what is your opinion?"

Manjushri Bodhisattva, with his hands clasped in respect, politely spoke, "My Buddha, the monk also believes that we should prioritize advancing the Journey to the West before anything else!"

"So be it, poor monk will telepathy the Great Celestial Venerate to advance the Journey to the West first, and calculate gains and losses later!"

Sakyamuni Tathagata had a plan and softly spoke something, however, his voice was not heard.

...

At this moment, deep within the Posa Pure Land.

Under the Bodhi Tree, two figures sat in meditative stillness, seemingly immutable.

At this moment, both of them opened their eyes, as if something had happened that disturbed them.

They obviously showed no change.

"Brother..."

Zhunti began to speak, yet before he finished, Amitabha Buddha had already nodded and said, "Xuanzang must have undergone some unknown change!"

"Then what shall we do? Allow the Calamity of Measurement in the Journey to the West to change, not knowing what will happen afterward!"

Zhunti frowned. He had thought that once Xuanzang entered the Calamity of Measurement, everything would proceed smoothly, and they could be at ease; however, to their surprise,

Xuanzang showed such a state.

Originally, letting Xuanzang experience ten lifetimes was meant to solidify his resolve toward Buddhism, leaving no room for doubt regarding Buddhism; however, unexpectedly, something happened to Xuanzang.

Amitabha Buddha did not immediately respond to Zhunti, but instead closed his eyes and began to calculate.

Countless Buddha’s lights gathered around him.

After a long while, Amitabha Buddha finally opened his eyes.

"Strange. In this life, Xuanzang did not meet anyone else or change his trajectory. Perhaps it was just the instinct of a mortal seeing demons!"

Amitabha Buddha had examined Xuanzang’s lifetime and found nothing suspicious.

"Hopefully that’s the case!"

Zhunti nodded, but for some reason, he felt concerned.

Not only Zhunti, but even Amitabha Buddha, although saying this, had a flickering light in his eyes, clearly showing that he was not as calm as his words suggested.

...

Meanwhile, outside the Forked Ridge, Xuanzang watched Taibai Jinxing in front of him, waiting for him to speak so he could return home.

"The Buddha hopes you would treat the Tripitaka Mahayana Buddhism with solemnity, not just acquire it casually. If you want to do so for the Great Tang or the common people, you should solidify your resolve!"

After a brief pause, as if he had received a divine message, Taibai Jinxing spoke.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Xuanzang nodded, "Monk understands, it’s just that upon reaching the boundary of the Two Realms, such a demon was encountered immediately, and who knows what other demons lie ahead!"

Taibai Jinxing detected the underlying meaning in Xuanzang’s words, which was clearly a desire to receive some benefits before he would proceed.

Otherwise, there would be no further progress.

Taibai Jinxing frowned and with a sweeping glance, he saw the Zen Staff in Xuanzang’s hands and said, "This item is a gift from the Bodhisattva, its power is boundless. Let me teach you how to wield it!"

Taibai Jinxing did not intend to grant Xuanzang any real benefit; the directive from above was simply that as long as Xuanzang could be persuaded to continue on the road, that was enough.

"I see. But Old Star Lord, how should this item be used?"

A spark of light flashed in Xuanzang’s eyes; he was still pondering how to use his divine skills openly and honorably.

Since Taibai Jinxing was going to teach him a defensive technique, he was naturally eager to learn.

The reason he had spoken as he did was also somewhat because he had the strength of a chicken, powerless to confront the monsters on the road.

With Taibai Jinxing’s instruction, even if he displayed a powerful cultivation technique, it would fundamentally be attributed to Taibai Jinxing.

Taibai Jinxing clearly did not know that Xuanzang had decided not to continue requesting treasure, but instead had asked for his instruction, which relieved Taibai Jinxing.

Thereafter, Taibai Jinxing taught him a Daoist technique, similar to the Daoist Sect’s Palm Thunder, which could scare away some demons and wild beasts, but it was useless against more powerful demons.

Of course, this was also because Taibai Jinxing did not want to teach Xuanzang anything too powerful, lest it disrupt the Journey to the West Calamity.

Even though he felt that even if he taught some powerful divine skills, it was unlikely that Xuanzang would be able to learn them.

"With the power of the nine-ringed staff, you should be able to scare off some demons!"

After casually teaching the Palm Thunder, Taibai Jinxing was ready to leave.

All of it was merely a perfunctory effort to appease Xuanzang, with no genuine intent to teach.

"Many thanks, Old Star Lord!"

Xuanzang was not picky and spoke with gratitude.

Shortly after, Lord Taibai left as if fleeing the scene.

A smile appeared on Xuanzang’s face as he mounted his horse and continued walking toward the Western Direction.

Meanwhile, above in the celestial Court.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your servant has already led Xuanzang into the Calamity!"

After reaching the celestial Court, Taibai Jinxing spoke respectfully.

"Very good!"

The Jade Emperor nodded with satisfaction.

The first of the challenges had not caused any issues.

"What is the next challenge?"

The Jade Emperor asked calmly.

Much of these challenges were collaboratively orchestrated by the celestial Court and the Western Direction.

Since the celestial Court was also involved, the Western Direction would not conceal anything.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the next challenge should be a colorful tiger that has gained some spirit but has not fully awakened yet!"

Pagoda-Carrying celestial King Li stepped forward and said respectfully.

As a disciple of the Western Direction’s Ran Deng, he was more hopeful than anyone for a successful completion of the Journey to the West Calamity, which would assuredly elevate his own status.

"Nearby hunters have also been arranged accordingly. Should Xuanzang face danger, the hunter will naturally appear and rescue him!"

The deities of the celestial Court who were closely aligned with the Western Direction could not help but show excitement. It wouldn’t be long before the completion of the Journey to the West Calamity, after which Buddhism would flourish and Daoism would wane.

They would then be able to suppress these factions of the Daoist Sect within the celestial Court.

The Jade Emperor nodded and looked at the Mystic Light Mirror, which now showed Xuanzang riding a horse forward.

He had already left the town, so it was largely deserted nearby, with just one man and one horse slowly moving ahead.

From the shadows, a colorful tiger let out a series of low roars.

It had clearly spotted the man and horse, now seeking an opportunity to strike as it circled them.

Xuanzang had already noticed and looked panicked.

"It seems Xuanzang has noticed!"

The Jade Emperor observed the scene and spoke calmly.

Most of the challenges in the Journey to the West Calamity seemed to test the scripture seeker’s awakenings and resolve, but they were actually just to fill the gaps in the calamity.

Especially as the Western Direction did not have so many demons.

So the tiger had been brought in as one of the challenges.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Xuanzang, seemingly worried, dismounted, using the nine-ringed staff as a tool for self-defense. After all, between one man and one tiger, it was clear who had the upper hand.

If it were any ordinary person, they likely would never place themselves in such peril.

"It seems that the Star Lord’s instruction has boosted Xuanzang’s confidence a great deal!"

"Yes, if it had been earlier, Xuanzang might have been trembling in fear already!"

"Just don’t know how powerful his Palm Thunder is!"

"..."

At that moment, numerous deities of the celestial Court began discussing animatedly.

Although most of them did not care much about the calamity.

"Boom!"

However, just as a thunderous sound emitted from the Mystic Light Mirror, all the present deities of the celestial Court were shocked and stood frozen in place.

So did the Jade Emperor.