With the rise of the Buddhist order, the one most threatened would undoubtedly be the Daoist sects. Even though the Three Eastern Saints had fought bitterly during the Investiture of the Gods, the moment Buddhism's prosperity posed a threat to Daoism, they would undoubtedly unite on the same front.
Yet, despite every effort, they could deduce nothing. The purpose of this hidden hand was clear: to obstruct the ascension of the Buddhist order.
"Honored Saint, Grand Supreme Elderly Lord will certainly make a steep demand," Bodhisattva Guanyin spoke with some reluctance, visibly dreading another encounter with Grand Supreme Elderly Lord.
Jieyin Daoist frowned, acknowledging the truth in her words. If they were to ask Grand Supreme Elderly Lord for help, it would come at a great cost.
He reached into his sleeve and produced four fragments of merit. As he held them, a pained expression crossed his face. These fragments were valuable beyond words, but the rise of the Buddhist order could not be halted, and Tripitaka's journey to the West had to proceed.
Seeing this, Tathagata Tathagata sighed with relief. At least, this time, it wouldn't be his own treasury taking the hit.
"After Tripitaka's revival, make sure you get to the bottom of this," Jieyin continued. "We have suffered greatly, yet we are left in the dark about what exactly has happened—an embarrassment."
"And what of the Band-tightening Spell?" Bodhisattva Guanyin inquired.
"It has already bound itself to Tripitaka. Unless he enters reincarnation, the Band-tightening Spell will remain with him. I will personally remove the restrictive curse, so it shall serve as a genuine defensive artifact."
"But that doesn't align with our plans. If Monkey King doesn't wear the Band-tightening Spell, there will be too many variables," Bodhisattva Guanyin objected. "Perhaps we could place both the Band-tightening Spell and the Prohibitive Fillet on him?"
"There's no need for that, at least for now. It would only backfire," Jieyin declined firmly.
"Later, there will be a tribulation with the 'True and False Monkey King.' Use that time to gauge Monkey King's sincerity toward the Buddhist order. If his heart is not with us…" Jieyin's words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
The assembled immortals and Tathagatas understood instantly what he meant.
Meanwhile, Monkey King stared blankly at Tripitaka's lifeless body, still in shock.
The process had been incredibly swift. Tripitaka had barely let out a scream before his head exploded. It was astonishingly efficient.
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have altered the karmic path of the Journey to the West, earning 1,000,000 karma points!
Monkey King grinned. His "mobile ATM" had come through once again, delivering a sizable sum.
However, with how quickly this had escalated, the Buddhist order was bound to investigate. For now, it was best to lie low and avoid further provocation. Although Tripitaka's demise was profitable, it wouldn't be worth much if it cost him his own life.
Still, smaller indulgences wouldn't hurt—like eating and drinking along the way. After all, even small gains add up over time.
At that moment, three devarajas—Silver-Headed Guardian Deity and his companions—appeared, encircling Monkey King.
"What do you want?" Monkey King frowned.
"It's not about what we want; it's about what you've done," Silver-Headed Guardian Deity replied icily.
"The Journey to the West was progressing smoothly, exactly as planned. Yet, ever since you joined, everything has gone wrong. If I don't suspect you, whom should I suspect?"
"Hey, now! You can't just throw around accusations without proof!" Monkey King retorted indignantly. "Otherwise, I'll sue you for defamation!"
Proof? If they had any, they wouldn't waste time talking—they'd act immediately.
"Then tell me, how did the Band-tightening Spell, which was supposed to be on your head, end up on Tripitaka's?"
"What do you mean, 'supposed to be on my head'? It's always been in Tripitaka's possession. I haven't even touched it," Monkey King insisted, feigning innocence. "Besides, that thing was given to him by Bodhisattva Guanyin, not me! He put it on himself—it has nothing to do with me!"
Silver-Headed Guardian Deity hesitated, frowning. "Why would Tripitaka wear it voluntarily?"
"He said it was a defensive artifact," Monkey King explained nonchalantly. "He's just a mortal and needed protection. He even asked if I'd mind letting him have it."
Monkey King couldn't help but roll his eyes, as if this whole situation was beneath him. "I've been tempered in The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord's alchemical furnace. My copper skull and iron skin are impervious to blades and immune to fire. What do I need a defensive artifact for? I let him have it, of course!"
The Silver-Headed Guardian Deity looked at Monkey King skeptically. His story sounded suspicious, but there was a certain plausibility to it.
"If you don't believe me, go ask Tripitaka yourself. His soul is still in the Underworld. We can settle this face-to-face. It's got nothing to do with me!" Monkey King continued, as if to wash his hands of the matter entirely.
Reluctantly, Silver-Headed Guardian Deity, seeing Monkey King's confident demeanor, decided to leave his two companions to keep an eye on him while he reported back to Mount Sumeru.
Monkey King simply squatted down and waited for Tripitaka's inevitable resurrection. No matter how many times Tripitaka died, the Journey to the West would carry on; stopping it was out of the question.
After Bodhisattva Guanyin grudgingly returned to Dou Shuai Palace and bartered for more Nine-Turn Resurrection Elixirs, Jieyin Daoist turned his attention to the Jade Purity Realm of Yuqing Heaven, the sanctum of Prime Celestial Sovereign.
In Jieyin's assessment, if any of the Three Eastern Saints were meddling in the Journey to the West, the prime suspect had to be Prime Celestial Sovereign.
While Tongtian also bore suspicion, he was still under Hongjun Daozu's command, forced to reflect in Zixiao Palace. Without permission, he couldn't possibly intervene.
As for Grand Supreme Elderly Lord, he adhered to a philosophy of non-interference; as long as he wasn't provoked, he was unlikely to meddle in such affairs.
But Prime Celestial Sovereign was different.
Despite winning during the Investiture of the Gods, Chan Sect disciples had been duped by the Buddhist order, losing many prized students. This resentment had only festered over time, and if anyone had reason to hinder the Buddhist order, it was Prime Celestial Sovereign.
After all considerations, Jieyin Daoist was certain that Yuanshi was the most likely culprit behind the recent machinations against Buddhism.
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