The Strongest Mythical Emperor
Chapter 780: Let Go of My Apprentice [12 More Updates]

Chapter 780: Chapter 780: Let Go of My Apprentice [12 More Updates]

Qin Jun instinctively looked back and saw Patriarch Bodhi standing behind him, gazing towards Tathāgata.

Quickly stepping in front of Qin Jun, Bai Ze, who at the very least possessed the cultivation of the Golden Immortal Realm of Daluo, was not as strong as Sun Wukong or Xing Tian, but far surpassed Qin Jun.

"Who are you?"

Bai Ze asked in a deep voice, her beautiful face filled with wariness because she could not see through the other’s cultivation level.

Patriarch Bodhi shifted his gaze from Tathāgata and looked at Qin Jun.

"In the dark, I feel a connection with you, but I do not want any entanglements with anyone. Tell me, what do you need me to do for you?" Patriarch Bodhi said softly. The system had implanted memories about coming to this world in each God and Demon, so he was curious why someone from a past life would also appear here.

Seeing Sun Wukong and the Victorious Fighting Buddha being captured by Tathāgata, he furrowed his brows tightly.

"I want you to help capture Tathāgata!" Qin Jun said with a light chuckle.

As soon as these words were uttered, Bai Ze, Zhuge Liang, Liu Ruolai, and the surrounding soldiers and generals were shocked.

Was this old Taoist also invited by Qin Jun?

And Qin Jun had asked him to capture Tathāgata!

"Alright!"

Patriarch Bodhi agreed readily, as this was not the world of Journey to the West, and he had no need for reservations.

In a past life, he could only stand by as Sun Wukong faced hardship.

But in this world, he need not consider anything.

Patriarch Bodhi stepped into the void and approached, while the generals who were fiercely fighting Tathāgata did not notice his arrival.

"System, can Patriarch Bodhi really make a move against Tathāgata?" Qin Jun asked with some concern.

There was no helping it, the remarks he had seen in his former life were truly hurtful.

Some said Patriarch Bodhi was Cundi, others said he was Hongjun, with a multitude of conspiracy theories and various opinions.

"Setting aside the ideas brought forth by the Primordial Chaos system and the Investiture of the Gods, the system speculates that the Patriarch Bodhi from Journey to the West doesn’t really have much of a background. He is strong, but under the influence of major forces, he can only endure and not even dare to protect Sun Wukong. Journey to the West reflects the darkness of the world at that time, and even powerful beings like Patriarch Bodhi have their share of helplessness and powerlessness," explained the system.

The system clarified, "In the parallel worlds collected by the system, Patriarch Bodhi has no direct connection with Cundi, Hongjun, Immortal Zhenyuan, and others."

Enlightened, Qin Jun felt that was indeed right. If Patriarch Bodhi really were Daoist Cundi, a holy person of Buddhism, why only teach Sun Wukong skills and not shape his character? Cundi could have raised Sun Wukong from a young age and molded him into a puppet.

Why bother with a huge fuss, and then create havoc in the Heavenly Court, suppressing Sun Wukong for five hundred years?

As for those who say Tathāgata deliberately oppressed the Heavenly Court, in the original text of Journey to the West, the Jade Emperor was instructing his subordinates to request Tathāgata’s support, not to ask him in entreaty—a misconception spread by many TV adaptations.

Some might argue that it was an internal struggle within Buddhism, but both Cundi and Jieyin are saints; why would Cundi fear Jieyin?

If Patriarch Bodhi were Hongjun, it might be possible, since the Dao Ancestor would certainly be versed in the three teachings.

However, in parallel worlds, anything is possible. Some worlds are the Primordial Chaos, and some are simply worlds of Journey to the West. This Patriarch Bodhi has no connection with Daoist Cundi or Hongjun, which pleases Qin Jun.

After all, it means there’s one more possibility.

If Patriarch Bodhi is Cundi, that’s one person, but if not, that’s two people.

Two powerful beings—that would be thrilling!

Boom!

The Giant Bird that Li Yuanba had transformed into was slapped down from the clouds by Tathāgata, its huge body crashing into the earth, with the dust rising in an instant engulfing its form.

"I’ll kill you!"

Luo Shixin roared as he charged towards Tathāgata. Tathāgata, suspended in the void, looked down indifferently at it all, as thousands of hands swatted in every direction, sending out waves of palm strikes, ravaging the entire battlefield like innumerable shells bombing the land. Luo Shixin soon met the same fate as Li Yuanba.

The entire Western Regions shook violently, with the surrounding domains being affected as well, earthquakes and tsunamis occurring frequently.

"Hey! Tathāgata, cease your madness!"

Sun Wukong roared with fury, as the Victorious Fighting Buddha followed by his side, both swinging their staffs to strike.

The two monkeys crisscrossed through the air, their speed extremely fast, dodging palm shadows along the way, with Xing Tian and Hou Yi also attacking from another direction.

Tathāgata was strong, but he had sustained serious injuries and forcibly increased cultivation that was not enough to kill those who had fully reached the perfected state of the Daluo Immortal Realm. Consequently, he was burning with anxiety. Yet, he was not willing to flee.

How much effort had he invested in the Western Regions over the past decade?

Especially upon seeing Sun Wukong, this monkey who defied the Five Elements and could not be categorized, might become the key to his own enlightenment in the future.

He truly did not wish to let go.

"Forget it! Capture Sun Wukong! Let the Western Regions be!"

Tathāgata thought with a flickering gaze, his eyes turning towards Sun Wukong and the Victorious Fighting Buddha, his eyes growing fervent.

Although he did not understand why there were two Sun Wukongs, he was too indifferent to quibble and decided to capture both!

With that thought, Tathāgata flashed forward, arriving in front of Sun Wukong and the Victorious Fighting Buddha, reached out with both hands, and grabbed both monkeys. His speed was so fast that even the Victorious Fighting Buddha could not react.

After Xing Tian and Hou Yi missed their strikes, they gritted their teeth and continued to charge at Tathāgata.

Hou Yi’s Shooting Sun God Bow could scarcely inflict any damage on Tathāgata, who was left to engage in close quarters combat.

Yang Jian, Yuan Hong, Nezha, and other formidable warriors were too frightened to get close. If even those who had fully reached the perfected state of the Daluo Immortal Realm were injured by Tathāgata, there was no question how much more risky it was for them.

"Sun Wukong, come with me!"

Tathāgata sneered coldly, his voice ringing out like a mighty bell, echoing between heaven and earth.

Sun Wukong struggled fiercely, and so did the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Both monkeys executed their seventy-two transformations, but sadly, no matter what they turned into, they could not escape from Tathāgata’s grasp.

"Damn it! What trouble!"

The Victorious Fighting Buddha thought with a sour expression. He was not worried for himself, as he could only stay in this world for seven days.

He just did not want Sun Wukong to repeat his past mistakes.

Despite his previous mockery of Sun Wukong, he did not truly feel that way in his heart. If possible, he wished to always be the Supreme Heaven Great Sage, always the Monkey King of the Flower and Fruit Mountain.

What good was becoming a Buddha?

He couldn’t even protect the things he cared about and was at the mercy of others.

Sun Wukong continued to struggle, not noticing the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s gaze.

"I won’t be captured by you a third time!"

Sun Wukong cursed repeatedly, while Tathāgata smiled in disdain, simultaneously repelling the onslaught of other Great Qin warriors and magical attacks around him.

"Humph! Release my disciple!"

Just then, the voice of Patriarch Bodhi was heard, causing both Sun Wukong and the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s expressions to change dramatically, as they quickly turned to look.

In the midst of the raging battle, Patriarch Bodhi approached, his daoist robe untouched by dust, walking in the void with a calm expression, as if taking a leisurely stroll in a garden.

"Master!"

Sun Wukong and the Victorious Fighting Buddha called out in unison, overwhelmed with excitement.

This scene made Tang Sanzang frown from a distance.

In the world of the Journey to the West, Sun Wukong had never revealed to anyone else where he had learned his skills, so Tang Sanzang did not recognize Patriarch Bodhi.

But when he heard Sun Wukong calling someone else "Master," Tang Sanzang instinctively felt uncomfortable yet also understood immediately.

"Could this person be the great being who taught Wukong his abilities?"

Tang Sanzang thought, frowning. Who Sun Wukong’s teacher was in his past life was a matter of curiosity for many, but no one knew.