The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 311 - 272: Banquet for the Gathering of Eminent Persons from All Directions

Chapter 311: Chapter 272: Banquet for the Gathering of Eminent Persons from All Directions

It is said that Wukong achieved the status of Victorious Fighting Buddha, attained true fruition, and now having emerged from seclusion, he has become a master of the Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal Second Layer of Heaven. It is no easy feat to have comprehended the Heavenly Dao Laws and to imprint one’s own heart onto the Heart of Heaven.

Within the ranks of all Buddhas, the mana of a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal of the Second Layer of Heaven is not considered high. Among the Buddhas, there are countless creators, but to become a Buddha and an ancestor is no small matter, so Tathagata wants to invite guests from all directions to come.

When the Buddhist sect encountered a great loss during the foundation of Louguan, Tathagata is now laying out a banquet and inviting guests from all directions, naturally intending to reclaim that lost ground.

Invitations were sent out by the shami from within Mount Meru, ending up in the hands of various deities of the Heavenly Court, and of course, renowned loose cultivators also received their invitations.

Lapis Lazuli Light Medicine Buddha said, "This time, Sun Wukong has achieved the status of Victorious Fighting Buddha, after enduring the eighty-one trials with great difficulty! Now that we are inviting the masters of the Daoist Sect to celebrate and offer congratulations on achieving Buddhahood, we of the Buddhist sect must not neglect the proper etiquette and should host them graciously."

Medicine Buddha is the next Respected Ruler of the World formally appointed by Tathagata, taking over the position left by the slain Maitreya by Chi Songzi, and as the Future Buddha among the Three World Buddhas, his influence within the Buddhist sect is second only to Tathagata himself, even surpassing that of the Ancient Buddha Dipankara! After all, Dipankara is the Former Buddha, the past Respected Ruler of the World.

"At the command of the Future Buddha!"

Mount Meru erected the Welcoming Immortals’ Platform, placed a great Vast Bell on top, and set up a thatched pavilion adorned with fresh flowers to welcome guests from all corners.

"North Pole True Martial Demon Conquering Emperor, has arrived——"

"Hook Chen Upper Palace Heavenly Emperor, has arrived——"

"Great Emperor Ziwei of Zhong Tian, has arrived——"

"Eastern Emperor Taiyi Salvation Heavenly Venerable, Great Emperor Qinghua, has arrived——"

"South Pole Immortal Emperor, has arrived——"

This time, five Great Emperors of the Heavenly Court have gathered together, making for an exceptionally impressive scene. The Vast Bell of Mount Meru sounded ninety-five times, signaling that the arrivals are of supreme stature. Only the likes of the Three Pure and the Jade Emperor, such great Heavenly Masters, are entitled to ninety-nine tolls of the bell, while others are too numerous to count.

With a smile, Tathagata said, "The five Great Emperors have come quite early. Please enter the thatched pavilion to rest."

But the grass used for this thatched pavilion was no ordinary reed grass; it was Immortal Herbs, which could be used in medicine, emitting a fragrance that adding many years to one’s cultivation just by inhalation.

As the Eight Divisions of Heavenly Dragons scattered flowers around, the five Great Emperors bowed respectfully to Tathagata and said, "We thank the World Honored One for the hospitality."

All five made their way into the pavilion where seats were arranged in the five directions. They each took their place on meditation cushions, waiting for more people of the Immortal Path to arrive.

Numerous experts of the Immortal Path flocked to Mount Meru, aware that this was another grand occasion. Tathagata hosted a grand event, taking the opportunity of Wukong’s achievement as Victorious Fighting Buddha to invite masters from all regions. It was bound to lead to various combats. The magic combat between the experts was sure to be spectacular.

This time, as Tathagata presided over the main event, inviting masters from all sides to congratulate Wukong on achieving Buddhahood, he was fully prepared to regain the face lost at Louguan.

Soon, Lu Dongbin, Zhang Junshi, Chen Tuan, and others arrived. Once at Mount Meru, everyone sought out familiar friends and settled down to chat.

"Is this Victorious Fighting Buddha none other than the Sun Wukong who caused Havoc in Heaven and has now converted to the Buddhist sect?" Not knowing that the Daoist Equal to Heaven was Wukong’s avatar, Chen Tuan asked Lu Dongbin, who was sitting beside him.

"Yes. Back then, Sun Wukong caused Havoc in Heaven and was suppressed by Tathagata for five hundred years. He has since redeemed himself by protecting Tang Sanzang on the Journey to the West and has now achieved true fruition, becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha, implying that there is no one and nothing he cannot conquer," Lu Dongbin nodded in affirmation. He was the Patriarch of the Complete Truth Sect which was also flourishing within the Great Tang, hardly inferior to Louguan.

"I see! That’s some serious dominance, no one who cannot be conquered?" Chen Tuan scoffed coldly.

Chen Tuan was at odds with the Buddhist sect, and his gaze shifted to Shan Wuwei, the hierarch of the Esoteric Sect, immediately feeling infuriated.

Shan Wuwei, seeing Chen Tuan, put his hands together in a greeting, offering a slight smile.

Chen Tuan sneered inwardly, thinking, "When it comes to magic combat later on, I shall settle this karma with you once and for all!"

Chen Tuan had exceptional talent, and after sleeping for some time, he surprisingly reached the level of Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal of the Second Layer of Heaven. His path was unusual as he cultivated in his dreams, achieving ’a thousand autumns in one dream’, thus spending much longer in cultivation than anyone else.

Shan Wuwei and Chen Tuan had a longstanding feud, and now with the opportunity arising, it was natural to settle their karma and see whose methods were superior.

Shan Wuwei thought, "Chen Tuan’s mana seems to have improved again. I must engage him in combat later, but it’s difficult to say who will be more skilled."

Shan Wuwei and Chen Tuan were originally evenly matched, but now that Chen Tuan had further advanced his mana, predicting the outcome of their conflict was really not easy!

"Jade Emperor of the Golden Que of the Vast Heaven, the Supreme and Most Honored Natural Lord of Marvelous Being and Infinite Truth, has arrived——"

This person was of course the Jade Emperor. This time, Tathagata also invited the Jade Emperor, after all, the Jade Emperor is the Great Heavenly Master of the Three Realms, a person with a reputation. To invite others but not him, wouldn’t that be disrespectful? The last time Louguan initiated its sect, the Jade Emperor was unable to attend due to a backlog of documents, but this was probably an excuse, as he was extremely dissatisfied with the Three Pure Ones. Why should he go to give them support?

Yet now that Tathagata had invited him, he had arrived. Clearly, he wanted to make a point to the Three Pure Ones.

"Greetings to the Great Emperor of Heavenly Court!"

No matter what, the Jade Emperor was the ruler of both the inner and outer Three Realms, the person who administers on behalf of Heaven and maintains order, even the Three Pure Ones ranked below him.

The Three Pure Ones are the Patriarchs of the Taoist Sect, but they don’t hold divine positions in the Heavenly Court; the Jade Emperor is the being with the greatest divine authority. Even Tathagata must pay his respects when he sees him.

Tathagata bowed and said, "Greetings to the Great Emperor of Heavenly Court!"

The Jade Emperor raised his hand and said, "No need for such courtesies, Ancient Buddha."

The Vast Bell tolled ninety-nine times before stopping. A shami then led the Jade Emperor down from the Welcoming Immortals’ Platform and into the central grass hut to sit. Tea was presented with an offer, "Your Majesty, please."

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, feeling a surge of dissatisfaction in his heart. The Three Pure Ones were showing such neglect; they still had not arrived, whereas he, the Great Heavenly Master, had arrived first.

"Spiritual Treasure Venerable has arrived!" A loud call came, and everyone present stood up. This was the Patriarch, who would dare sit and receive him? That would be a great disrespect towards the whole world.

The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating rode down from the sky on a one-legged kui ox. The kui ox was incredibly robust. With its breath, thunder entwined around it, and with a roar, it shook Mount Meru!

"Welcoming Spiritual Treasure, our Patriarch!"

The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating raised his hand, indicating that the True People need not be overly courteous. Then, the Great Bell tolled, ninety-nine times, before it finally stopped.

The Jade Emperor cursed inwardly, thinking, "I am the sovereign of the Three Realms, why should Spiritual Treasure also enjoy ninety-nine bell tolls? My heart cannot accept this!"

Tathagata smiled and said, "Spiritual Treasure Venerable, please come in. The Great Emperor of Heavenly Court actually arrived before you."

The Leader of Heaven-Penetrating, holding a Jade Ruyi, chuckled and said, "It seems the Great Emperor of Heavenly Court is early today."

Shami led the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating to the grass hut to sit, and tea was presented.

Suddenly, the sound of dragon chants resonated in the sky, and a chariot pulled by Nine Heavens Golden Dragons descended slowly to the Welcoming Immortals’ Platform. Naturally, this was the chariot of Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch, the Nine Dragons Golden Palanquin. The Jade Emperor saw that Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch’s procession was even grander than his, stirring irritation in his heart. But since Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch was the teacher who taught him the art of cultivation, he did not dare to act rashly. Although he wielded divine authority, his strength was far less than that of the Three Pure Ones. With just one word from the Three Pure Ones, many in the Heavenly Court might turn against him.

"Welcoming Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch!" The Buddhist sect’s All Buddhas got up to greet him.

"Welcoming Yuan Shi, our Patriarch!" Daoists also paid their respects with a bow.

The bell tolled another ninety-nine times as Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch descended from the Welcoming Immortals’ Platform, took his seat next to the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating. However, the middle seat was reserved for Laojun.

"Oh dear, I am late, forgive me, forgive me!" From the sky descended a Green Ox, and on it rode an old man, Laojun himself.

Everyone quickly stood up to welcome him. He was the foremost of the Three Pure Ones and could not be slighted. More formidable than Yuan Shi, on the Journey to the West, he made Tathagata suffer many losses.

With the Three Pure Ones gathered, the Great Emperors of Heavenly Court were also present. Loose Cultivators certainly did not dare to be negligent and had already arrived; nearly all the True People of the Taoist sect had gathered here.

"Haha, I truly am the last to arrive!" A loud laugh was heard as a Taoist holding a withered branch descended.

When the Buddhist sect saw this, they couldn’t help but grind their teeth in anger. Who else but Chi Songzi, the one who killed Maitreya, could evoke such fury?

The bell ringer Vajra hesitated for a moment, glanced at Tathagata, who said sternly, "Ninety-five."

The Vajra immediately regained his composure and rang the bell ninety-five times to show respect for Chi Songzi’s status.

"Not late, not late! I am the one who’s truly late!" Another loud laugh echoed as a golden light flickered in the sky, indicating the arrival of Donghuang Taiyi.

As the eminent figures from all quarters converged on Mount Meru, another great confrontation was about to unfold.

To find out what happens next, tune in to the next episode. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Starting Point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)