The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 335 - 296: The Great Saint’s Secret Plan for Kong Xuan

Chapter 335: Chapter 296: The Great Saint’s Secret Plan for Kong Xuan

The Great Hall of Mount Ling was quiet after the Buddha Ancestor had finished his sermon and all the Buddhas dispersed.

Peacock Great Ming King Kong Xuan made his way back to his own mountain gate, and Wukong and the others waited for him to enter before they proceeded to visit.

"Bodhisattva, the Victorious Fighting Buddha has come to visit," a little novice monk announced, hurrying in to report upon seeing Wukong’s arrival.

"Invite him in," Kong Xuan said.

Wukong entered Kong Xuan’s mountain gate and was invited into the room by Kong Xuan. The novice monk offered tea, and the two sat down cross-legged.

Wukong said, "I heard that Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva has regained his senses. Bodhisattva, you have been in Mount Ling for many years; have you heard any news of The Two Saints of the West?"

Kong Xuan replied, "Tathagata used the Power of the Heavens to brainwash me against my will, and I couldn’t resist. Last time, it was only because the Celestial Venerable of Spiritual Treasure intervened that I was able to regain my senses. The modified Buddhist Cultivation Method that Tathagata tampered with is too terrifying, with the ability to subtly influence and convert. Even though I have regained my senses, I dare not neglect it and must rid myself of the horror every day to avoid being brainwashed by Tathagata again. As for the news of The Two Saints of the West you asked about, I do have some information. Teacher Zhunti has already reincarnated part of his Primordial Spirit to layout strategies and foster the fortune of the Daoist Sect to resist Tathagata."

The decay of the Heavenly Dao was too severe, and it was difficult to single-handedly avert the crisis. Only with the cooperation of the Saints was Daoism able to confront Buddhism on equal terms. Before long, Daoism is going to flourish even more. However, it too will reach its peak and then decline, at which point the Buddhist sect will have an unshakable stronghold that cannot be replaced.

Overjoyed, Wukong said, "Zhun Ti Buddha Ancestor has already reincarnated? Do you know whom he has reincarnated as?"

Kong Xuan remained silent, shaking his head slightly. Even he did not know this. He had only accidentally learned of it.

Kong Xuan was prepared to be subdued and had been following Zhunti in cultivation. Since Zhunti had reincarnated part of his Primordial Spirit to start anew, it was possible that Kong Xuan sensed something through the unknown, which is how he came to know.

"Medicine Buddha intends to take back the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm, but the Pure Light Realm is currently occupied by a false Medicine Buddha. Does Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva have any clever plan?" Wukong asked.

"The Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm itself is a secret realm, hidden near the Southern Toad Continent. We’ll need to borrow a Magical Treasure to anchor that world securely in place, then find a master to lead the attack. Afterwards, station someone on the outside to eliminate any remnants that may escape," Kong Xuan explained.

"What kind of Magical Treasure do we need to borrow?" Wukong asked.

"Laojun’s Heaven and Earth’s Mystical Yellow Exquisite Pagoda is known as the foremost in defense. Once activated, it can stabilize the Elemental Forces of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire, and is invulnerable to all laws. We need to borrow Laojun’s Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda to secure the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm. After that, we can gather masters to attack the secret realm, annihilate Medicine Buddha, and let Medicine Buddha take its place, absorbing its Three Souls and Seven Spirits, thus leaving no flaw," Kong Xuan said.

To slay Medicine Buddha and take back the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm and ensure Medicine Buddha ascends was a difficult task. If the news leaked, and the Buddhas of the Spirit Mountain took action, it could ruin everything and even jeopardize the grand scheme.

Wukong inquired, "Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva, with your mana reaching the Heavens and mankind, surely you are aware that Tathagata is ruining the fortune of the human path and affecting the Heavenly Dao, leading to a great calamity for Heaven and Earth. It should be quite simple for the Three Pure Ones to slay Tathagata. Now that the Nine Heavens are restored, with no worries left behind, why do they still not take action?"

Kong Xuan replied, "To the Saints, Tathagata is also a significant nuisance, and forcibly settling accounts with him risks a desperate struggle from him, potentially harming the very foundation of our realm! Imagine, if Three Thousand Buddhas, Bodhisattva Ru Yun, and Daoist Eight or Nine Golden Immortals were to fight to the bitter end, we would both suffer heavy losses. Should the Heavens of the Otherworld forcefully tear through the Heavenly Dao and invade, with Saints restraining each other, and with creator, Quasi-Saints, Semi-Saints, and other powerful beings having exhausted themselves against the Buddhist Sect, with the Ancient Times’ powerful beings not yet returned, what then?"

Hearing this, Wukong couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

Kong Xuan continued, "Even the Otherworld is unaware of the whereabouts of the powerful beings of Ancient Times. With Chi Songzi, Chi Jiangzi, and Ning Fengzi causing upheaval, even they are apprehensive. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors also manifested and frightened away Tathagata, causing them to have many reservations. Besides, forcibly tearing through the Heavenly Dao would harm their very roots, so they prefer to wait for the Heavenly Dao’s fortune to collapse and the great calamity to arrive."

Kong Xuan had been with the Buddhist sect for many years and had a grasp of many things. The sudden war in the Middle Ancient Times dealt a heavy blow to the Four Great Continents; their own side was already in a phase of recuperation and could not afford rash actions. Last time, at the Wuzhuang Temple, we attempted to kill Tathagata. Had it been successful, with the head of All Buddhas cut off, things would have naturally been much easier. However, Tathagata has long been absent from the world, even when summoned by the Jade Emperor, it was just an avatar that attended; his true body holds fort on Mount Meru, who would dare ascend and sever his head?

This side needs to recuperate, while the other awaits the opportune moment. Any rash action could spell doom; the Four Great Continents cannot afford a loss, thus we must tread carefully at every step.

When a rich merchant possesses wealth in abundance, he spends it like dirt; but when his fortunes decline, he’ll pinch every penny, no longer able to bear losses; he’s reached a dead end, with a cliff at his back.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Suddenly, both heard a booming noise from the sky, a sign of the Heavenly Dao Laws in motion, a sign that something was happening.

Kong Xuan sneered, "It seems that our realm’s Nine Heavens has also projected its influence into the Otherworld, now employing the Heavenly Dao Laws to attack. The projections of Various Heavens are numerous in our world; how can the Heavens of our realm show weakness? It’s lucky that over the years, the projections in the Otherworld have been wreaking havoc; otherwise, the actions of the Otherworld would have been even greater."

The Otherworld is separated from the Four Great Continents by an unknown expanse of Chaos; projecting there is extremely difficult, only the Nine Heavens, with its mastery over the power of the Heavenly Dao, can accomplish this.

To forcibly tear through the Heavenly Dao, certain conditions must be met. Only when the qi of the Heavenly Dao and its order weaken is it possible. Although the qi during the era of The Three Kingdoms was chaotic, with the Hundred Schools of Thought ringing out in unison, it was not scattered and was extremely powerful. The qi only genuinely started weakening when Tathagata overpowered The Two Saints of the West and seized control of Buddhism. However, at that time, the Heavenly Beings of the Otherworld did not dare to act rashly; this game of chess involved the Heavenly Dao of both worlds, and one false step could mean losing everything.

The will of the Heavenly Dao is in motion; it seeks transcendence, and so it must engage in battle with the Otherworldly Heavenly Dao. Hence, a great calamity is bound to descend upon the world; no one can prevent it, no one can reverse its will, for it has no compassion, no manners, no justice, no orders; everything follows the order it has established. Violating this would lead to its own collapse.

During the era of The Three Kingdoms, Wei, Shu, and Wu were split into three. Zhuge Kongming launched six campaigns from Qishan to attack the Central Plains because Wei was stronger than Shu; he had to continuously harass Wei, encroaching on Wei’s borders to keep it in chaos. Otherwise, once Wei regrouped, it could easily annihilate Shu. The case is similar for the two Heavenly Dao Worlds; the Otherworld is Wei, and the Four Great Continents are Shu. Therefore, even when injured, the Nine Heavens would often deploy its projections lurking in the Otherworld to create chaos, causing the Otherworld to hesitate, fearing that they still have the power to fight a war.

Wukong said, "I’ll go borrow Laojun’s Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda to plot the assassination of the Medicine Buddha."

Kong Xuan said, "You should not act, as you have Tathagata’s trust. On the other hand, he seems to have become suspicious of me. I’ll handle Medicine Buddha this time."

As Tathagata’s first and foremost expert, Kong Xuan naturally had no problems dealing with the Medicine Buddha, except that in the Secret Realm, the outcome could be different. The Medicine Buddha’s mana in the Secret Realm was frighteningly strong, given that this was under the premise that Medicine Buddha had confused sentient beings with Lion’s Roar.

"Very well! I’ll send an avatar to borrow the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda from Laojun, then gather the masters to attack the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm. At that time, I also request the presence of Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva," Wukong said.

"Mm! You shouldn’t linger in my cultivation ground too long, so as not to arouse Tathagata’s suspicions. Return to your own cultivation ground. Here is an incense stick; when the time comes, light it, and I’ll sense it and make my way to assist in the Lapis Lazuli World," Kong Xuan said.

Now, as the great calamity of Heaven and Earth approaches, and Wukong has become a creator, he naturally begins plotting great things. The first major endeavor is to eliminate Tathagata’s followers and reclaim the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm, allowing the Medicine Buddha to take the helm.

With the Heaven and Earth’s Mystical Yellow Exquisite Pagoda suppressing the Lapis Lazuli World, it’s conceivable that even if the Medicine Buddha is slain within it, Tathagata might remain ignorant. Once Medicine Buddha takes over, being inherently aligned with the Buddha heart, he could devour the Medicine Buddha’s spirit and deceive Tathagata through trickery. When the great calamity arrives, alongside Wukong, a sudden strike against Tathagata could achieve a great deed!

With his plot with Kong Xuan decided, Wukong somersaulted, traveling on clouds back to his own cultivation ground, sending Daoist Equal to Heaven to Doulu Palace to borrow Laojun’s Magical Treasure, as the Enlightened One hurried about, seeking reliable masters to prepare for the siege on the Lapis Lazuli World.

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the next Chapter. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to go to Starting Point (qidian.com) to cast your recommended votes and Monthly Ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)