The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 337 - 298: Kong Xuan’s Carelessness Loses Jingzhou

Chapter 337: Chapter 298: Kong Xuan’s Carelessness Loses Jingzhou

The gathering in Wuzhuang Temple included Zhen Yuanzi, Chi Songzi, Daoist Equal to Heaven, Guang Chengzi, Wusheng, Medicine Buddha, and Chen Tuan. The cultivation of everyone present was not inferior to the creator’s. If taken outside, any of them could undoubtedly establish a major sect and secure a place of their own.

Chen Tuan’s progress in cultivation could only be described as terrifying. Surpassing his peers later in life, his mana increased greatly the more he slept over the years. With odd and unusual dreams, dreaming a millennia in a night, he gained various fortunes and penetrated the mysteries of Prajna in his dreams. Which cultivator does not toil tirelessly? Yet this old immortal simply sleeps, and upon waking, his cultivation advances, prompting envy and jealousy in others.

Everyone has a tendency to be lazy. Cultivators are merely free of worldly desires and pure of heart, but laziness is rooted in their core. It can erupt when least expected, potentially destroying years of cultivation. Yet, for Chen Tuan, even in sleep, he faced no such risks.

Outsiders claimed that Zhang Daoling practiced Chamber Arts, finding great pleasure in them. In reality, dual cultivation is the most perilous aspect of practice, requiring the harmonizing of Yin and Yang, the blending of water and fire. One false step could cause one’s body to explode and the Primordial Spirit to disintegrate into Chaos. All cultivation entails risk, except for Chen Tuan.

Daoist Equal to Heaven said, "Good, now that everyone has arrived, let’s proceed to the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm, slaughter the Medicine Buddha, and allow Medicine Buddha to deceive the heavens, replacing him. Then we can also turn the tables on Tathagata, striking two birds with one stone!"

The time had come, and the gathered experts immediately set off for the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm. Wukong had already secretly lit Kong Xuan’s incense stick, prompting Kong Xuan to head to the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm as well.

"I’ll stand guard outside. Should anyone escape, I’ll unleash the Five-Colored Divine Light to capture them. You all break into the Medicine Buddha’s realm and apprehend him! Be extremely cautious." Kong Xuan conveyed his divine thoughts from a thousand miles away.

"Gentlemen, cleanse the mountain gate!" Daoist Equal to Heaven commanded.

The mountain gate of the Medicine Buddha was vast, with temples dotted around. The Secret Realm was hidden above the void of the mountain gate. To prevent any mishaps, all those at the mountain gate had to be eradicated.

"I shall take action myself! Sky-Overshadowing Seal!" Wusheng whispered, forming a spell with his hands, silently reciting a mental method, as a seal appeared in his hand.

This seal was already of extraordinary might. Later, Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch even fused the broken Kunlun Mountains into it, helping Guang Chengzi refine it to Great Achievement, increasing its power a thousandfold. Now, upon wielding it, a sense of Heavenly might trembled the air.

Daoist Equal to Heaven raised the Heaven and Earth’s Mystical Yellow Exquisite Pagoda in his hands, setting it in the void. The winds and clouds in this piece of sky ceased to surge, the grass and trees stood still, as if even time itself was imprisoned.

"Heaven and Earth primordial, the universe so vast; Exquisite Pagoda, suppress all directions!" With a shout, the Exquisite Pagoda isolated this world from the rest, making it impossible for any movement to escape. Even incense sticks and jade talismans could not fly out, and divided thoughts were instantly shattered by the Magical Treasure.

Kong Xuan performed the Five Elements Great Escape, hiding in the void, becoming omnipresent. He could transform into water, fire, vegetation, sand, and stone.

Wusheng deployed the Sky-Overshadowing Seal borrowed from Guang Chengzi, striking down fiercely. With a thunderous boom, the experts at the mountain gate had no time to react before they were pulverized to dust.

"What a Magical Treasure! Universe in the Sleeve, take them in!" Zhen Yuanzi suddenly made his move, sweeping up several mountain gates with his sleeve. Then, with a powerful spell, he obliterated them with robust True Qi into a powder.

The mountain gate of the Medicine Buddha was annihilated by the people present, who then ascended on clouds, invading the Secret Realm.

Medicine Buddha was meditating cross-legged when suddenly a Bodhisattva came to report, "Buddha Ancestor! A group of Daoists has arrived outside, along with Medicine Buddha, and they’re charging towards us!"

Medicine Buddha frowned, asking, "Who are these people?"

Moonlight Bodhisattva replied, "They are all powerful beings above the level of the creator! There are about six or seven of them."

Shocked, Medicine Buddha said, "Quickly send out the jade talisman and light the incense stick, call for assistance from Mount Meru!"

Moonlight Bodhisattva, realizing the gravity of the situation, hurriedly lit the incense stick, only to find it extinguished as soon as it was lit. When the jade talisman was raised, it shattered instantly.

"This is bad, there must be someone outside who has set up a Great Array, or used a powerful Primordial Magical Treasure to suppress the heavens and earth, preventing our messages from getting out," exclaimed Moonlight Bodhisattva.

"No matter! I’ll send you out, and you must immediately go to Mount Meru to report this to Buddha Ancestor, asking him to send help," Medicine Buddha calmly directed.

He used his Divine Skills to send Moonlight Bodhisattva out of the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm and then rose to meet his adversaries. This Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm was his foundation; should it be taken or destroyed, he would lose his standing. Subsequently, his mana would weaken, and his position as the Respectful Ruler of the World could potentially be usurped by another.

Moonlight Bodhisattva left the Lapis Lazuli Pure Light Realm and hastened towards Mount Meru.

However, not long after taking flight, a flash of five-colored divine light streaked past—it was Kong Xuan. Standing atop the clouds, Kong Xuan inquired, "Moonlight Bodhisattva, why the hurry? This poor monk was just about to pay a visit to Medicine Buddha."

Moonlight Bodhisattva replied anxiously, "Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva, please have mercy! Foreign enemies are invading and attacking the Lapis Lazuli World. Our Medicine Buddha’s mountain gate has been destroyed, and I am on my way to Mount Meru to seek reinforcements."

Kong Xuan exclaimed furiously, "Who dares to be so bold as to attack the Lapis Lazuli World? Could it be those Daoist curs? Lead me to them, and see how my five-colored divine light deals with them!"

Moonlight Bodhisattva further explained, "I am afraid that the Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva might not be able to handle them alone. There are six or seven of them, all extremely formidable masters, each with cultivation surpassing that of a creator. It might be best for the Peacock Great Ming King to first aid Medicine Buddha in the Lapis Lazuli World while I rush to Mount Meru to plea for the Tathagata’s assistance."

Kong Xuan was shocked, "So many masters? Has the Daoist sect truly turned against us? Very well, Bodhisattva, you go and seek help from Mount Meru, and I shall assist Medicine Buddha."

Moonlight Bodhisattva said, "This humble monk is grateful, O Peacock Great Ming King Bodhisattva. I shall take my leave!"

As Moonlight Bodhisattva passed by Kong Xuan, Kong Xuan suddenly turned back, releasing a beam of five-colored divine light that struck Moonlight Bodhisattva’s back. Caught off guard by Kong Xuan’s sneak attack, the Bodhisattva was hit in the back, coughing up a mouthful of blood and almost having his Primordial Spirit disperse.

"Kong Xuan, you!" As Moonlight Bodhisattva turned around, another wave of five-colored divine light came hurtling down.

Without time to react, he was struck again by the five-colored divine light. He could not help but cry out as he fell from the sky, his Primordial Spirit extinguished and his body shattered.

"Kong Xuan, you dare betray the Buddhist sect. However, Buddha Ancestor always suspected you, how could I not be prepared? Ha-ha, just wait for the Tathagata to deal with you!" Moonlight Bodhisattva’s taunting laughter filled the air, and Kong Xuan realized too late that he was deceived. This was merely one of his avatars, not his true body, which was already bound for Mount Meru.

Taken aback, Kong Xuan plucked a feather from his own form to create an avatar who remained on guard while his true body gave chase to Moonlight Bodhisattva.

"Great Blood Escape Technique!" Moonlight Bodhisattva roared furiously, burning his Primordial Spirit and body to perform the Blood Escape, soaring away at an incredible pace and turning into a streak of blood toward Mount Meru.

Kong Xuan followed closely on a cloud but continually failed to catch up. Moonlight Bodhisattva’s mana was not weak; having already put several thousand li between them, and now using the Blood Escape, Kong Xuan struggled to keep pace.

Internally cursing, Kong Xuan muttered, "Due to a momentary oversight, I let this wretch deceive me! Damn it! If I continue this chase, I fear he will reach Mount Meru before me."

As Moonlight Bodhisattva sprinted along his way, he was about to pass the Flame Mountain and reach the Women’s Kingdom when he saw a Bodhisattva riding a blue lion, coming on a cloud.

"Manjushri Bodhisattva, save me!" Moonlight Bodhisattva, pursued by Kong Xuan to the point of desperation, immediately called for help upon seeing a member of the Buddhist sect.

Manjushri Bodhisattva asked in astonishment, "What is the matter?"

Moonlight Bodhisattva hastened to explain, "Daoist masters are besieging the Lapis Lazuli World, and Kong Xuan, in league with them, has betrayed the Buddhist sect! He’s trying to kill me!"

Manjushri Bodhisattva reassured, "Moonlight Bodhisattva, do not panic. I will stop Kong Xuan. You must hasten to Mount Meru and inform Buddha Ancestor so that he can dispatch the Three Thousand Buddhas to assist the Lapis Lazuli World. Then those Daoist masters will be trapped turtles in a jar."

Moonlight Bodhisattva cried out, "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Manjushri Bodhisattva. Kong Xuan is immensely powerful; I only need you to stall him for a moment, and he will not catch me!"

Manjushri Bodhisattva commanded, "Go now, quickly!"

Not daring to delay, Moonlight Bodhisattva transformed and, with a flicker, hastily employed an Escape Technique to depart.

After all, we do not know whether it ended well or badly, please tune in for the next Chapter to find out. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote with recommendation tickets and Monthly Tickets at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)