The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 187 - 183: Zhuge Borrows Wind at Seven Stars Altar

Chapter 187: Chapter 183: Zhuge Borrows Wind at Seven Stars Altar

The tale goes that Enlightenment Dao repelled Ao Kuang, seized his Golden Sand Pills, and gained a great advantage.

Ao Kuang truly hit a streak of bad luck. Not only was he beaten by Enlightenment Dao, but he also failed to accomplish the task given by the Buddhist sect and ended up losing their item. Now, he was unsure how to explain this to the Buddhist sect upon his return.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood with a "tch", Ao Kuang was quickly recovering due to the Indestructible Realm’s rapid healing, yet his injuries were no small matter. His mana was greatly drained in the process of bodily restoration, and his Primordial Spirit had been shaken. Fuming with silent rage, Ao Kuang wondered who this wild Taoist that appeared out of nowhere was and who had spoiled his grand opportunity! Upon noticing that it was already before dawn, his fear deepened, knowing that the hour had passed and it was now pointless to try to accomplish his task.

"I... I had better go to the Jade Void Palace and listen to the lessons on the Primordial Dao Fruit. If I can advance to being a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal soon, those bald-headed troublemakers won’t be able to do anything to me. I’ll let Prime Minister Tortoise handle the rain-calling with my divine seal and just tell him to be more cautious," Ao Kuang thought to himself. With the Golden Sand Pill gone and the task incomplete, coupled with the added misfortune and fear of retaliation from the Buddhist sect, he decided to entrust the affairs of the Eastern Sea to Prime Minister Tortoise and go to the Jade Void Palace to listen to the teachings on the Primordial Dao Fruit.

Ao Kuang was only one step away from becoming a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal; what he lacked was comprehension of the Primordial. Listening to Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch discussing the Primordial could possibly give him the opportunity to break through to the realm of the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal.

With that in mind, Ao Kuang turned back to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, delegated his instructions to Prime Minister Tortoise thus and so, and afterward, ascended directly to the heavens to listen to the lecture. In truth, he used listening to the lecture as a pretext, his real fear was retaliation from the Buddhist sect. The Buddhist sect, despite its vast divine skills, wouldn’t dare to cause trouble at the Jade Void Palace, right? Wouldn’t that mean death for anyone who tried?

Meanwhile, as Enlightenment Dao traveled up along the Yangtze River, he spotted Zhuge Liang’s straw boats heavily loaded, which had already turned back from Cao’s camp, evidently having "borrowed" enough arrows.

Enlightenment Dao admired inwardly and said, "This Zhuge Kongming truly possesses courage and strategy to come up with such an ingenious plan! Remarkable, indeed."

The School of Diplomacy, known for their unobstructed travel and unhindered access to all places, was directly taught to Zhuge Liang by Ghost Valley himself. Naturally, this put him on par with figures like Zhang Yi and Su Qin. Moreover, he also had mechanical techniques passed down from the founding fathers of Mohism and the Yin-Yang School’s Zou Zi teachings on harmonizing Yin and Yang and understanding the timing of heaven and earth. Disciples taught by these Three Sages from the Hundred Schools of Thought were not ordinary by any means. Liu Bei had the fate of an emperor, and Zhuge Liang was his indispensable supporting star. With only Left and Right Assistants, Liu Bei’s life could only be preserved, but with Zhuge Kongming, he could stake a claim over a territory.

The Three Kingdoms was a major turning point between Buddhism and Daoism. After The Three Kingdoms came the Two Jin Dynasties, and then the chaos in the Central Plains which led to the rise of Buddhism. At that time, the Five Barbarians rampaged through China, and it seemed that Buddhism was manipulating this, as these invading barbarians caused the establishment of additional four hundred eighty temples.

Knowing that the trajectory of the Heavenly Dao had strong inertia, Enlightenment Dao still used all his effort to change it, lest in the end, Tathagata need only flip his hand to turn everything to ash. What was the use of reversing so many years with the Rebirth Box? It was nothing but prolonged suffering!

The fog had already dissipated quite a bit, and as Cao’s army pursued from the rear, Enlightenment Dao formed a spell with his hands and blew out a breath, immediately creating a large mist that enveloped the great river.

Seeing this, Zhuge Liang felt even more relieved and thought, "It seems I have the aid of a divine immortal. How could my great endeavor fail?"

Lu Su, sitting by his side, turned pale as a ghost, terrified by Zhuge Liang’s move to use just twenty boats to penetrate Cao’s naval camp. Although it was said to be "borrowing arrows", it was still terrifying indeed.

At dawn, the twenty boats returned to the riverside, where Zhou Yu had already ordered several hundred soldiers to await them. Clad in armor, he paced back and forth along the riverbank, seemingly impatient.

Shortly after, he saw Zhuge Liang’s twenty boats crammed with arrows returning. He was utterly astonished.

Jumping off the boat, Zhuge Liang saluted Zhou Yu with a cupped fist and chuckled, "Grand Commander, Kongming has fortunately fulfilled his mission. Here are several thousand more arrows than the hundred thousand requested. Please, inspect them at your pleasure."

Zhou Yu looked at the twenty boats packed dense as porcupines and couldn’t help but shake his head, ordering his soldiers to quickly carry the arrows away.

Having been informed of these events by Lu Su, Zhou Yu felt it more imperative to eliminate Zhuge Liang sooner rather than later, for he would surely become a great threat to Eastern Wu. However, to kill a man, one must justify the cause, lest he draw criticism. After all, it was a time of Sun-Liu alliance, and to act against the Allied Forces would be indefensible.

Enlightenment Dao had been keeping a watchful eye on everything from the shadows. On Cao’s side, it seemed someone was protecting Cao Cao’s destiny, but they did not show themselves openly or interfere with the human path. This appeared to be a silent agreement reached between Buddhism and Daoism.

Ever since the Ming River sought to take part in these matters, provoking a grand war between Buddhism and Daoism, Tathagata and the Three Pure Ones began spreading their teachings and preaching the Dao to quell the disturbance. Even with protectors lurking in the shadows, no one dared to meddle any longer. If the Buddhist sect wanted to play ghost, it had to start with Ao Kuang, instigating internal conflict within the Daoist camp. Tathagata’s move was certainly ruthless.

While everything here progressed similarly to the previous lifetime, with Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai to fake his defection to Cao Cao, and Pang Tong offering the strategy of chained fireboats.

The people from the Buddhist sect, knowing they were being watched by someone from the Daoist side, did not dare to use underhanded methods or reveal divine powers in secret. They were merely irked that Ao Kuang had taken the item without accomplishing the task.

Proficient in Qimen Dunjia and Taiyi Divine Calculation, Zhuge Liang, an extremely intelligent man, had long anticipated Zhou Yu’s plan to use fire to defeat Cao Cao’s army. However, how should the fire attack be executed? It needed a southeast wind to begin.

Zhuge Liang claimed he could borrow the east wind, and Zhou Yu, having no other choice, tentatively believed him and ordered a sacrificial altar to be built on South Screen Mountain, named the Seven Stars Altar.

Zhuge Liang went with Lu Su to South Screen Mountain to survey the terrain and establish an altar. No further details were mentioned.

During his contemplation, he couldn’t help but think secretly, "Zhuge Liang wants to borrow the eastern wind. Though I am capable of summoning fog with my divine skills, if it’s summoning wind that you want, I can only raise Soothing Wind. Once such wind arises, I fear it might blow ships into dust, not to mention people!"

The divine skills of Rain Mage Chi Songzi were all related to summoning wind and calling rain, but the wind he summoned was Soothing Wind, and the rain was a deluge of ren water, unbearable when it hit a person. When he took over Wuzhiqi’s body, Wuzhiqi had not learned the common skills of summoning wind and calling rain like Chi Songzi, so he was not able to call forth ordinary wind. If the Soothing Wind were to blow, it would blow people’s three souls and seven spirits out of their bodies, there would be no need for fire attacks, a single evil wind could bring about Cao Cao’s army’s demise without return.

All of a sudden, Enlightenment Dao slapped his forehead, saying, "If I lend my Seven Stars Sword to Zhuge Liang to borrow the wind, the immortals in heaven would see it is a treasure of Laojun, how could they not dare to send a great wind?"

This idea was purely out of a lack of options, and he didn’t feel any brilliance in his plan, but he faintly sensed its feasibility! At this stage of cultivation, one could vaguely sense some extraordinary things, or possess a sudden inspiration; this was what they call sensing some Heavenly Dao.

Enlightenment Dao took the opportunity when Zhuge Liang was not paying attention, switched his Seven Stars Sword with the sword in Zhuge Liang’s hand, and figured he would just take it back after the wind ceremony was completed. After all, the Seven Stars Sword was no ordinary object, and now that he was practicing Sword Dao, he certainly needed a divine sword.

Once the altar was established, Zhuge Liang commanded people to arrange it in the shape of the Twenty-Eight Constellations, and various offerings were presented on the altar. Below, men held banners, treasured covers, spears and halberds, and they surrounded all sides with solemn, grave expressions.

Zhuge Liang chose an auspicious hour, bathed and purified himself, with disheveled hair, ascended the altar.

Zhuge Liang went up to the altar, drew the Seven Stars Precious Sword, and a flicker passed through his eyes as he thought, "Eh... this sword is not mine, could it be that an immortal is here to help me again? Haha, this is even better. When the immortals in heaven see my prayers like this, they will naturally lend a hand."

Zhuge Liang danced wildly with the sword, while chanting a spell with his mouth, consisting of a segment from the "Tao Te Ching," another from the "Primordial Classic," and finally the "Yellow Court Classic."

After reciting the three segments of scriptures, he thus paid homage to the Three Pure Ones. Then he chanted another section of scripture to worship the High God of the Mysterious Firmament, which is also the Jade Emperor. Lastly, he recited five sections of scriptures to worship the Great Emperors of the Four Directions of the Heavenly Court, as well as Great Emperor Ziwei.

To make the immortals grant him the eastern wind, he had to please his ancestors above. Otherwise, seeing you not worshipping them, these ancestors could sabotage you by saying to others, "This person is disrespectful towards me; pay him no heed."

The immortals would not care for these offerings, but this was also a ritual, meant to express respect for them. This is exactly why the Jade Emperor would become furiously angry when his offerings were overturned and eaten by dogs.

"Report! Your Majesty, someone below has raised a Seven Stars Altar, in response to the Big Dipper, to summon a southeast wind," an auspicious constellation immediately reported into the palace of Great Emperor Ziwei.

Great Emperor Ziwei was plucking at the strings of a zither, a very handsome man, who was Bo Yikao from the ancient Divine Enthronement. Even Daji couldn’t help but want to have a tryst with him, but he, being upright, flatly rejected her, earning her hatred. She conspired to have King Zhou kill him, turning his flesh into pancakes to feed to Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, thus resolving his crisis.

Great Emperor Ziwei’s cultivation was not high, yet he held a position of great authority, overseeing a vast expanse of stars. However, to say his cultivation was low was only a guess. Perhaps, like a Human Sage, he had realized the Great Dao through playing chess and music, and his mana had grown by leaps and bounds – that was also a possibility.

Great Emperor Ziwei stopped his fingers, the zither music abruptly ceased, and he said, "Who is it that can raise a Seven Stars Altar? To come to my Ziwei Palace to borrow wind?"

The constellation replied, "It seems to be Zhuge Kongming, whose fate is controlled by Hooked Chen Great Emperor."

Great Emperor Ziwei uttered, "Oh," then said, "Ancestral Taoist Master has decreed not to intervene in the affairs of the mortal world for the time being. Report this matter to Hooked Chen Great Emperor."

"But Your Majesty," the constellation protested, "the sword in his hand is the Seven Stars Sword of the Ancestral Taoist Master, and it looks like the genuine article!"

Great Emperor Ziwei slightly frowned, using his divine skills to look and indeed saw someone at South Screen Mountain in Eastern Wu performing the wind ceremony with the Seven Stars Sword in hand on the altar.

"Hmm, I’ve got it. Report this to Hooked Chen Great Emperor," Great Emperor Ziwei said.

The constellation obeyed and reported to Hooked Chen Palace, where Hooked Chen Great Emperor responded with a single nod, showing no sign of action as if he had no intention of summoning the wind.

To find out what happens next, please follow the next part of the story. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Starting Point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)