Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 370 - 371 Master Performed Universal Salvation for These Monsters

Chapter 370: Chapter 371 Master Performed Universal Salvation for These Monsters

Sakyamuni Tathagata did not pay attention to Sun Wukong but turned his gaze to the Golden-Winged Roc.

With a wave of his hand, Buddha’s light spread out, and the Monster Energy on the Golden-Winged Roc’s body dimmed at this moment.

Meanwhile, the Green Fur Lion and White Elephant, previously captured by the Golden-Winged Roc, walked out.

"Amitabha Buddha, sinful beast, why do you not convert quickly and at once? What are you waiting for!"

Manjushri Samantabhadra also appeared at Tathagata’s sides at that moment.

The Green Fur Lion and White Elephant involuntarily brought their hands together in prayer, immediately after Manjushri Samantabhadra both chanted a mantra.

The Green Fur Lion and White Elephant rolled on the spot and revealed their true forms, with the two Bodhisattvas riding on Lotus Platforms, settling respectively on the Green Lion and White Elephant.

The Ancestor Buddha Tathagata said with a smile to the Golden-Winged Roc, "You have committed many sins here, and since you like Thunder Sound Temple, why not follow me back, and there shall be meritorious work for you."

The Golden-Winged Roc shook its head and said, "Your place observes fasting and vegetarianism, embracing utter poverty and hardship; here I feast on human flesh, enjoying boundless pleasure! If you starve me, the sin will be yours."

Ancestor Buddha Tathagata said, "I govern the Four Great Continents, looked upon by countless beings. Whoever does good deeds, I instruct them to offer sacrifices to your mouth first."

The Golden-Winged Roc, unable to escape nor overcome, was extremely reluctant but also powerless to resist.

At this moment, Ancestor Buddha Tathagata stretched forth his hand and lightly pointed, and the enormous body of the Golden-Winged Roc suddenly shrank to a few feet in size, folding its wings and landing on the shoulder of Ancestor Buddha Tathagata.

At this point, the Golden-Winged Roc said nothing but stared at Sun Wukong with a fierce gaze.

Then Ancestor Buddha Tathagata turned his head to look at Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong, not fond of the celestial Immortals and Buddhas, said bluntly, "Buddha Ancestor, your timing is quite impeccable indeed! When this sinful beast wanted to kill us just now, Buddha Ancestor did not show up; now when I want to kill this sinful beast, Buddha Ancestor hurriedly comes out to save it, isn’t that a bit too biased!"

"Ancestor Buddha Tathagata, this sinful beast has done many evil deeds and harmed countless lives."

"Now, it even wants to devour my master, which is utterly sinful and wicked. If you hadn’t intervened just now, this sinful beast would have been killed by Old Sun’s staff. Such favoritism towards this sinful beast seems rather inappropriate! Moreover, I’ve heard that you and this Monster are actually related."

Ancestor Buddha Tathagata still wore a compassionate smile and said, "You glib-tongued Macaque, don’t talk nonsense."

Sun Wukong looked puzzled, "If you’re not related, why would you protect him like this?"

Ancestor Buddha Tathagata laughed and said, "Indeed, if we were to speak the truth, this Roc is indeed somewhat related to me."

Sun Wukong quickly asked, "There is indeed a relation, but what exactly is your relationship with this Monster?"

The Tathagata explained with a smile, "Since the time of Chaos, when the sky opened in the first quarter, the earth split in the second, humans were born in the third, and heaven and earth merged once again, all beings were born."

"Among them were walking beasts and flying birds, with the Qilin as the leader of the beasts, and the Phoenix as the leader of the birds. The Phoenix, receiving the essence of union, nurtured the Peacock and Roc."

"When the Peacock came into this world, it was most vicious, able to devour humans, sucking them in from forty-five miles away."

"Atop Snow Mountain, I achieved my Jinzhang Six-foot Golden Body, and upon seeing me, it sucked me into its stomach in one gulp. I wanted to exit through its rear, for fear of soiling my True Body."

"It was I who split his back and ascended Mount Meru, intending to take his life. When all Buddhas argued, they said wounding the Peacock is like wounding my mother. Thus, I allowed him to stay on the assembly of Mount Meru and consecrated him as Peacock Mahamayuri Bodhisattva."

"The Great Roc and he were born of the same mother, hence there is some kinship."

"So that’s how it is!" Sun Wukong said with a laugh. "That said, you’re practically his maternal uncle! No wonder you protect him like that."

Then Sun Wukong mocked, "Yet the Buddha Ancestor’s Buddhist Law is boundless, the Buddha Ancestor must have known that this demon has been committing evil here all along, yet you chose not to stop him. Now that his life is in jeopardy, you finally appear to save him. It’s hard not to be accused of indulging a relative!""

"Ha ha!" Ancestor Buddha Tathagata said with a laugh, "You impudent monkey, your mouth is indeed formidable. In this matter, I do have a fault, yet everything happens for a reason."

"You just mentioned, why didn’t I stop the Roc when it wanted to harm you? It’s because I knew he couldn’t take your life. Sun Wukong, burdened with an important mission in the Three Realms, you are destined to face myriad trials and tribulations."

"And this Roc is merely one of the tribulations on your path to achieving saintliness, just as the Peacock was for me back in the day. This is the will of heaven."

Ancestor Buddha Tathagata evidently did not wish to say more. After uttering these words, he turned and instructed Manjushri Samantabhadra, "Manjushri, Samantabhadra, the matter here is concluded. Follow me back!"

As the Buddha Ancestor spoke, the enormous Lotus Platform slowly rose, transforming into a beam of golden light heading straight to Mount Meru, and Manjushri Samantabhadra, riding on their mounts, also took to the auspicious clouds towards Mount Meru. In a blink of an eye, they disappeared.

At this moment, Zhu Bajie could not help but complain, "That Buddha Ancestor clearly came to save his maternal uncle, yet spoke so righteously."

Sun Wukong glanced at the Western Direction where Ancestor Buddha Tathagata and the others had long since vanished, barely discerning a glow of rosy light.

Sun Wukong turned to Zhu Bajie and said, "Never mind them, regardless, the demon has been subdued. Let’s hurry and rescue your master!"

"I forgot to ask just now, and I don’t even know where that mangy beast hid the master," Zhu Bajie said, frowning.

"Can’t your powerful divine sense locate the master? Hurry up!"

Sun Wukong ordered.

After Zhu Bajie agreed, he transformed into a streak of light, heading straight into Lion Camel City.

He entered the royal palace in almost an instant.

By then, the three Demon Kings had been taken away.

With the city’s leaders gone, the group of demons was left headless, already thrown into chaos, with the little demons scared and scrambling in all directions.

Sun Wukong rode a cloud to hover above Lion Camel City.

He shouted loudly into the city, "All demons within the city listen up, the Green Lion, White Elephant, and Roc have all been subdued, and your numerous evil deeds are well known!"

"Now, you have only two choices before you, either submit to my master’s Buddhist Law, or take a beating from Old Sun’s staff, life or death notwithstanding."

As Sun Wukong spoke, he casually tossed the Jingu Bang, and the Mind-control Iron Staff immediately transformed into a beam of golden light, flying off into the distance.

A loud "Boom!" followed by a violent explosion, striking a mountain peak in the distance. Instantly, the earth shook, rocks splintered, and dust filled the sky. When the dust finally settled,

the distant mountain peak had been evenly sheared off.

The demons inside the city, one by one terrified to the point of losing their souls, knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing and begging for mercy, "We are willing to convert."

"Good, since that’s the case, you all wait here for now!"

"Yes!"

The demons within the city dared not defy and kowtowed in agreement.

Together, Lion Camel Ridge and Lion Camel City housed a total of tens of thousands of demons, big and small. Although most of these demons possessed mediocre power, when united, they also represented a force that could not be overlooked.

As they were approaching the foot of Mount Meru, Xuanzang also needed a force; by the time they reached Mount Meru, there would likely be serious trouble.

And these little demons would surely be of use.

At this time, Zhu Bajie had already rescued Xuanzang.

Zhu Bajie might not be particularly strong, but locating someone was well within his abilities.

"Master, Old Zhu is here to save you!"

Zhu Bajie, having found the iron cabinet where Xuanzang was hidden, released him.

"Bajie, what has become of those demons?"

Xuanzang looked at Zhu Bajie and asked.

"It’s just like Master to be thinking of those demons at a time like this!"

Zhu Bajie, supporting Xuanzang, said with some surprise.

"You fool, the poor monk has saved the Green Fur Lion and the White Elephant, naturally I do not wish for them to just perish like this!"

Xuanzang said, slightly irritated.

Zhu Bajie hastily reported everything that had just happened to Xuanzang.

Xuanzang’s brow furrowed slightly.

"I did not expect it to be Tathagata who acted!"

"Let’s go, let us meet up with Brother Monkey first!"

Zhu Bajie said.

Xuanzang nodded.

"Master, I have already gathered the demons for you, please proceed with the Universal Salvation now!"

At this moment, Sun Wukong, upon seeing Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie had emerged, hurried to greet them.

"Oh?"

Xuanzang also looked over and indeed saw that many demons were truly waiting here.

It seemed they were waiting for him.

"Master, are you up for it?"

Zhu Bajie worried about whether Xuanzang, after being detained for so long, still had the energy.

"Of course, what could prevent me?"

Xuanzang sat down cross-legged, and a glow of Buddha’s light spread forth.

"That’s settled then, let’s find a place to rest for now, it’s getting late, we should prepare something to eat for Master. After the Universal Salvation, he can enjoy a meal!"

Seeing that Xuanzang had begun the Universal Salvation, Sun Wukong turned to Zhu Bajie to offer a reminder.

Zhu Bajie nodded and said, "Brother Monkey is right, that demon said they were going to starve us for a few days, an empty stomach is easier to fill. Master hasn’t had a meal."

"Now that these demons are taken care of, I too am starving."

"Let’s go, let’s see what food we can find inside."

This place, after all, was the palace of the slain Lion Camel King, and naturally, there would be plenty inside.

As Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie prepared to enter the palace, Sand Monk also came in with the horse.

Upon seeing Xuanzang performing Universal Salvation on many demons, he dared not disturb the process and walked towards Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, you’ve already rescued Master!"

Sand Monk said excitedly.

"Don’t waste words, Junior Brother Sand, let’s quickly prepare some vegetarian meals; Master will need to eat after he finishes the Universal Salvation!"

Zhu Bajie grunted a response, laughing as he spoke.

Sand Monk nodded.

"Junior Brother Sand, don’t think you can be lazy now!"

Sun Wukong, seeing Zhu Bajie attempting to sneak away to rest, spoke out.

Zhu Bajie, realizing he could not shirk his duties, complied and said, "All right then! Junior Brother Sand, let’s prepare some vegetarian meals for Master."

With that, he pulled Sand Monk out the door, and as soon as they were out, he began to grumble, "Big Brother doesn’t do any work, he just knows how to boss us around."

Sand Monk snickered and said, "Second Brother, why don’t you say that to Big Brother’s face instead of badmouthing him behind his back and playing the good guy upfront? I’ll never learn that skill in this lifetime."