The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 194 - 189: Master and Disciple Meet to Resolve Doubts

Chapter 194: Chapter 189: Master and Disciple Meet to Resolve Doubts

The Daoist Equal to Heaven, as he passed through Upper Pure Heaven, overheard the Celestial Venerable of the Spiritual Treasure expounding on the "Yellow Court Classic". A flash of spiritual light crossed his mind, and he entered the Biyougong Palace, where, to his surprise, he indeed managed to trick the Venerable out of hiding.

Patriarch Subhuti is, after all, a transformation of the Celestial Venerable of the Spiritual Treasure. Although this sounds rather incredible, there are many reasons to believe it’s true. Yu the Great, the last of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, was a disciple of the Celestial Venerable of the Spiritual Treasure and achieved great accomplishments after practicing the "True Scriptures of the Precious Luminaries". The Jingu Bang, originating from Laojun’s Bagua Oven, was later used by Yu the Great. The reason why Wukong felt no obstruction when he obtained the Jingu Bang might well be due to sharing the same school of thought with Yu the Great.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven said with a bow, "Master, you hide in Upper Pure Heaven and live at leisure, but when the Tathagata captured me, you didn’t help me."

The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating scoffed, "You knew early on that the Tathagata would come for you, and had already positioned yourself accordingly. Why trouble me for help?"

The Daoist Equal to Heaven of course knew that his misadventures began with Wusheng’s instigation, which was clearly Subhuti’s intention. Then, as the matter ballooned out of control and reached the Heavenly Court, it weakened the Jade Emperor’s authority and gave the Tathagata a pretext, laying the groundwork for the Journey to the West.

"Master, how did you know that I am aware of my past and present lives?" asked the Daoist Equal to Heaven.

The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating replied, "One of the Dragon-Consuming Steles contained the reason. I deduced it by analyzing the runes on it."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven released five of the Dragon-Consuming Steles and said, "I obtained the first in the Peach Garden, the second in the South Sea Ruins, the third was a gift from a fellow female disciple, the fourth I acquired at Mount Shu, and this fifth was hidden within the magical treasure of Huang Tuqiu. I also obtained one during the refining of my Primordial Spirit. Each Dragon-Consuming Stele seems to be protected by a Heaven-Avoiding Coffin. What is the origin of these Steles and Coffins?"

After a moment of contemplation, the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating said, "Your experiences of life and death, enlightenment, and upheavals have given you much clearer understanding than in your past life. Some things can now be disclosed to you. These Dragon-Consuming Steles were carved by skilled craftsmen and masters of Daoist arts, as decreed by Yu the Great, with runes bestowed by Heaven. They, alongside the Nine Tripods, anchored the Nine Provinces, stabilizing the national destiny. As for the origin of these runes, I know a little."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven inquired, "These runes seem to each touch upon some wondrous aspect. What is their origin?"

"These runes are Heavenly Dao Runes, belonging to the Heavenly Dao, and represent the most primal script in the world, making them extremely difficult to comprehend. I too have looked at them but found them too troublesome to calculate, and did not delve deeper. Others did the same, and after Yu the Great used them to stabilize the Nine Provinces, we paid even less attention to the Dragon-Consuming Steles. Unexpectedly, Fuxi had such a grand ability. He seemed to have foreseen something and communicated with the Heavenly Dao, leading to the descent of the runes that recorded your rebirth through the Rebirth Box onto the Dragon-Consuming Steles," lamented the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating. Fuxi’s actions were probably meant to avoid leaking any secrets, as there are some things that cannot be said or even thought, lest someone calculates and uncovers them.

Of course, that is not the main reason; to claim so would be too far-fetched. Perhaps his actions were merely to maintain the unaltered flow of history, ensuring it proceeded along the path he had anticipated. If this matter was rashly revealed to the Three Pure Ones or others, those beings with sky-reaching mana might inadvertently change the course of history and the outcome, showing Fuxi a future he did not wish to see.

Fuxi was injured in the Middle Ancient Times, striving for a slim chance of survival. He arranged the Bagua in the void with great magical power, and with the combined force of the saints, managed to defeat the enemy.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven asked, "What is inscribed on the other Dragon-Consuming Steles?"

"It’s indecipherable. The runes on them are disordered and lack any pattern. Only Fuxi’s prophecies are systematically laid out," replied the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven, frowning, said, "The person inside the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin told me that if I gathered all nine Dragon-Consuming Steles, I would understand. But what does that mean? Do you know who is hidden inside that Heaven-Avoiding Coffin, Master?"

The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating sighed, "It must not be said, it must not be said! If I speak, then someone will become aware. Some people possess divine skills so immense that even saints fear them. Although they also fear us, this matter must not be spoken. If I were to speak, they might deduce the location of the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin and spare no effort in searching for it. Why is it called ’Heaven-Avoiding’? It is to avoid the calculations of those beings."

"What exactly happened in the great battle of the Middle Ancient Times?" asked the Daoist Equal to Heaven.

"The opening of Heavens and Earth marks the division of Yin and Yang. The enlightenment of Zhunti and Amitabha was merely part of some people’s long-prepared schemes... This matter is too complex to be discussed now. Let’s leave it aside and I will explain it to you later," said the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven indeed knew that Zhunti and Jieyin originally belonged to the orthodox mystic sect and later established Buddhism in the West Cow He State. Back then, Buddhism was referred to as the Western Religion; they propagated ultimate bliss, preached Buddhist law, accumulated the merit of founding a religion, and with Jieyin’s grand wish that moved Heaven and Earth, he became a Sage of the Heavenly Dao and was named Amitabha Buddha. Whereas Zhunti dreamed a great dream in broad daylight, living through aeons in a moment, and likewise attained saintly status.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven was inquiring about this matter, but the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating answered another question instead. Yet, it was evident that his response was also related to the Middle Ancient Times’ great war, an event the saints were reluctant to mention, treating it as a profound secret.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven continued, "Is my sister Wusheng actually the Mother of Non-Duality?"

The Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader laughed and said, "It’s indeed Wudang, during the Divine Enthronement, our Sect of Interception suffered a great defeat, and only Wudang escaped. I then let her undergo reincarnation to cultivate anew, reborn near Mount Li, named Wusheng. Once her mana had grown strong, I guided her back here. Aside from a few people, no one else knows her origins."

In later generations, some worshipped "Mother Wusheng," and Mother Wusheng’s name became widely celebrated—it was Wusheng who had established the Way of the Dao to accumulate incense power and wishes in the mortal world. But that’s a story for another time, we won’t mention it here.

Indeed, how could Wusheng, a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal so powerful that she nearly reached the realm of a creator, possibly be an unknown figure? It turns out she was a disciple of the Sect of Interception from a previous era, reincarnated to cultivate anew. And she did so inconspicuously, it’s no wonder others were unaware of it!

The Daoist Equal to Heaven then asked, "What exactly is the situation with the South Sea Ruins? So many people are cultivating there, and there’s that giant gate—what’s being suppressed behind it?"

The Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader replied, "That Divine Gate is transformed from the bone of Pangu’s forehead since the creation of heaven and earth. Your Jingu Bang is but a tiny piece of his fingertip, which only became powerful after being refined by the Old Lord. That Divine Gate was naturally formed, and during the Middle Ancient Times, it had been opened before. However, whatever came out from it was either beaten back by us or killed. Yet, I estimate that when the next great calamity of heaven and earth approaches, the Divine Gate will open once again."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven couldn’t help but shiver. The Divine Gate was actually formed from Pangu’s forehead bone, and the Jingu Bang was nothing more than a tiny piece of Pangu’s fingertip!

The Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader continued, "Actually, our Sect of Interception suffered a terrible defeat in ancient times due to a conspiracy. At that time, we did not see it clearly, thinking it was merely a struggle for fortune. However, after the Divine Enthronement, with our primordial qi greatly damaged, a sudden outbreak of war caught us unprepared, resulting in heavy losses."

The Daoist Equal to Heaven listened with fear. To be able to manipulate a saint into the palm of one’s hand—who could that terrifying person be? As the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader spoke, it did give him some insight. During ancient times, the Divine Enthronement saw ten thousand immortals from the Sect of Interception gathered, and then the Western Religion, along with the Interpretation Sect and Human Teachings, united against the Sect of Interception. At that time, the Sect of Interception represented the entire force of the Dao of Immortals, and the result was that it was shattered by a great wave of slaughter.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven posed all the doubts in his heart one by one, and the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader naturally told him all he could say.

"Why does Master practice the combined method of Unity of the Three Teachings?" The Daoist Equal to Heaven asked.

"I once used an incarnation to reincarnate in the Western Herne Jade Country, was born on Mount Luofu in Xina’s Tianyucha, and reached Supreme Right Enlightenment. Later, I was known as the Great Enlightener through Ordeals. As such, I also came to be extremely versed in the Buddhist Law; I roamed the mortal world as a Daoist priest and monk to compose the ’Sutra for Crossing Sentient Beings,’ and discovered that most mortals followed scholars. Hence I also took the form of a Confucian scholar. Whenever I met someone with the right affinity and eagerness to learn, I would spare no effort to teach them. For those with the aptitude, I would enlighten and transform them. Thus, I am equally adept in Confucian teachings. I originally come from the Mystic Sect, being one of the Three Pure of the Daoist Sect, and it’s hard for anyone to match me in Daoist Teachings. To be a Sage of the Heavenly Dao is to stand at the peak of the path of cultivation. I intend to use the principle of Unity of the Three Teachings to forge a new path, to take my cultivation to a further step," the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader spoke of this matter candidly and without reservation.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven realized that there was a folk tale that the Great Enlightener through Ordeals of the West was a reincarnation of the VLOOKUP(A1289,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0), who, in order to guide those with fate, roamed the mortal world taking on various forms such as a Daoist priest, a monk, and a scholar.

Before hearing the Yellow Court Classic, the Daoist Equal to Heaven always thought the Supreme Old Lord was Patriarch Subhuti, but it turned out to be VLOOKUP(A1289,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0). Furthermore, VLOOKUP(A1289,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0) was such a deep cover; he rarely showed his face, always living secluded and simple, and even had a volatile temper and an intimidating aura. How could he be linked with Subhuti?

The Daoist Equal to Heaven asked respectfully, "Master, what should I do next? How can I escape the Tathagata’s clutches?"

The Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader then said, "That Tathagata harbors wild ambition. He has hidden the true Mahayana Buddhist Sutras and has placed fake scriptures in the Great Thunderclap Monastery. Once they are spread, they will naturally lead countless people into demonization and blind faith in Buddhism, turning them into the puppets of Buddhism! In the past life, perhaps the Tathagata discovered our covert actions; hence, to be on the safe side, he aimed to kill you and replace you with the Six-Eared Macaque, to guarantee foolproof control. I was prepared to make a move, but with the Old Lord possessing the Rebirth Box, you naturally had to go through reincarnation to gain Great Wisdom and understand the great cycle of life and death. With this Journey to the West as a gamble, we are more assured of our chances."

"What exactly is the Tathagata doing this for?" The Daoist Equal to Heaven asked.

"The Tathagata’s strength may not be that of a saint, but he is capable of battling one. He is preparing for the great calamity to come. By weakening the fortune of our Daoist Sect, he aims to seize incense power and wishes. His five Great Wisdom Kings’ Bodies and Mahavairocana grow stronger with more incense power and wishes. Even reaching sainthood through incense is not impossible! The Buddhist Cultivation Techniques were not originally from this world but were taught to Zhunti and Amitabha by outsiders," revealed the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven was inwardly shocked and said, "Couldn’t the Three Pure simply go and cut down the Tathagata on Mount Meru? In the Buddhist sect, perhaps only a few like Kong Xuan are capable of clashing with saints. The rest could be turned to dust with Magical Treasures."

"It’s not that simple! The Tathagata has backup plans within the Buddhist sect. Even if we go and kill him, we may end up severely wounded. Therefore, we can only wait for the great calamity to reveal his true nature," replied the Heaven-Penetrating Sect Leader.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven was even more astonished to learn that the Tathagata was strong enough to stand on equal footing with a saint. What kind of backup plans did he have up his sleeve!

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the following episode. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)