Chapter 68 Another Wave of Shock

"Your Majesty, how can you utter such foul language?"

"Has Your Majesty forgotten that the cooperation between our two families is a grand affair in accordance with Heaven's will? This incident with Sun Houzi was not intended by my Buddha. Why does it seem to be all our fault?"

"I implore Your Majesty not to speak such nonsense. Listen to my advice and come to Spirit Mountain for a personal discussion. Otherwise, it is of no consequence if you enrage me, but it will displease the Buddha Tathagata."

"Believe it or not, your Heavenly Court will not gain even a single thread, let alone the merits of the Journey to the West?"

The Jade Emperor's unbridled arrogance not only stunned the immortal maidens and young attendants in the Lingxiao Palace but also infuriated Guanyin, the sole guest, on the spot!

Because for many years, she had been accustomed to the Heavenly Court's celestial beings acting at her command.

Guanyin subconsciously prepared to retort.

Unexpectedly, the Jade Emperor, ever since he had seen through the incompetence of the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain last time and observed Sun Houzi's increasing might, had begun to approach the matter of cooperation with a subtle shift in attitude.

Before Guanyin could continue her angry scolding,

The Jade Emperor finally revealed a domineering aura rarely seen in millennia.

His cultivation of mid-grade Quasi-Saint!

"Sister Guanyin!"

"What the hell are you boasting about!"

"Let's not even talk about the last incident. Your Buddha Tathagata must bear seventy percent of the responsibility, Sun Houzi twenty percent, and I, at most, ten percent."

"Even if it were judged a fifty-fifty split by Dao Ancestor, you, a mere ordinary Bodhisattva of Spirit Mountain, not even a Buddha, let alone the Buddha Tathagata, dare to question me like this?"

"What do you take my Heavenly Court, myself, the Lord of the Three Realms decreed by the Dao Ancestor, for?"

"Do you think of me as the bamboo in your Purple Bamboo Forest, which can be felled and replanted at will?"

"Or do you see me as those useless Buddhas in your Spirit Mountain? Do you truly believe that because I once cooperated with Tathagata and reached an agreement, you, this 'sister,' are entitled to lecture me?"

"What kind of Bodhisattva are you, a mere late-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal, a mere combat weakling? If it weren't for my giving face to Tathagata and allowing you to enter anytime, would you even be qualified to speak with me?"

"And you still think you're like that little Tathagata, forgetting that it is you who are seeking my help today, not I who seek yours."

"If I didn't have the Journey to the West, I would still be the Jade Emperor. If your Lesser Vehicle Buddhism cannot solidify Spirit Mountain's foundation without the merits of the Journey to the West, it is unknown whether it will even exist in the future. What makes you so arrogant?"

"Now, you have one minute to reorganize your thoughts and tell me, who will not gain a single thread, and who should be more low-key and humble, and not put on airs?"

Ever since being decreed the Lord of the Three Realms by the Dao Ancestor, the Jade Emperor had been suppressed by the Saints and faced defiance from non-Saints for so many years.

Even after the Battle of the Investiture of the Gods, where the great Saints were forced to hand over their disciples to be listed and managed by him, he had not had much opportunity to vent his anger and display his authority.

Today, the Jade Emperor finally felt a sense of release, thanks to Guanyin's rashness. However, afterwards, he still remembered that the cooperation between the two parties was not just a matter for their respective domains,

But also a decree of the Heavenly Dao!

Thus,

As Guanyin below was splattered with leftover flat peaches, leftover immortal dew, leftover lingzhi mushrooms, and leftover cassia fruits spat out by the Jade Emperor,

The Jade Emperor, as the leading figure of the Heavenly Court, finally regained some rationality, his tone softening.

He once again smiled and looked towards Guanyin!

"Bodhisattva Guanyin, please excuse me."

"I was slightly out of sorts just now due to your Buddha's lack of discernment. Now, may we return to the main topic? Or, seeing that you are so dirty and smelly, perhaps someone could escort you to the Jade Pool for a bath."

"As for me, I will immediately have someone transcribe a copy of the answers to the four questions for you to take back to Tathagata."

"What do you say?"

Hearing this, Guanyin's previously enraged heart calmed considerably.

Seeing such a Jade Emperor for the first time, she quickly grasped the crux of the matter and did not stubbornly offend him further.

Instead, after subtly activating her Buddhist techniques to deduce,

She saw a result that even astonished her!

"This Jade Emperor has not been replaced by a demon?"

"This Jade Emperor shows no signs of poisoning or enchantment; it is truly his heartfelt words?"

"This... Very well. Let it be considered that I, and all the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, were too presumptuous in the past, inevitably displeasing this Lord of the Three Realms, and it is only right that I bear his ire."

"Later, at worst, I will ask the Buddha Tathagata for more compensation."

With this thought, Guanyin, true to her reputation as the foremost among the Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Spirit Mountain, maintained her composure and smile, resolutely refraining from anger.

She followed an immortal maiden to the Jade Pool for a bath and then used her magic to change her clothes.

Upon emerging, she found that the Jade Emperor had indeed kept his word. Although his previous attitude was infuriating, the answers he provided were complete, not a single word missing.

Guanyin, suppressing her displeasure, thanked the Jade Emperor and then hastily departed the Heavenly Court to return to Spirit Mountain!

...

Shortly after Guanyin's departure, the Jade Emperor rose.

He walked into a palace behind the Lingxiao Palace, used for changing attire.

Inside, besides him, was an elder whose appearance was unclear, emitting a powerful demonic aura, with white hair.

"Your Majesty, did you send away that Guanyin as I suggested?"

The voice of this person was so unpleasant that even a Quasi-Saint would find it difficult to bear.

Most intimidating were the two demonic swords hanging on either side of his ears, as if perpetually eager to spill blood.

If Sun Kong were present, he would recognize them.

They were the renowned demonic swords of the Great Desolation:

Yuantu and Abi!

The identity of this person also became clear; he was none other than one of the three remaining ancient ancestors of the Demon Race, representing the new Six-Eared Macaque in their negotiations.

Old Ancestor Ming He!

"Fellow Daoist Ming He, your foresight is remarkable. Guanyin indeed came on orders, inquiring about Sun Houzi's four peculiar questions. I have dealt with her as you instructed. Next..."

Facing the remnant of the Demon Ancestor Luohu, the sworn enemy of his Dao Ancestor, this Jade Emperor did not drive him away immediately. Instead, he dared to treat him as an equal.

It seemed that after his previous misstep, he intended to forge a new path by cooperating with Ming He!

"It is an easy matter, an easy matter. The first step is complete, and the second and third steps will be even simpler. Now, thus and so, and then, and then..."

Ming He smiled more grotesquely than a demon, but as he revealed more details of their cooperation, the Jade Emperor also began to laugh.

Their clandestine collusion even made the palace feel sinister!

...

A few days later

Guanyin landed her cloud.

She tearfully sought out the Buddha Tathagata, recounting the events. Along the way, she also obtained several not-so-valuable, but passable, compensation spirit treasures from him.

Satisfied with this, Guanyin and others, including Tathagata, began to examine the answers recorded by the Jade Emperor.

As this matter was of great importance,

Besides the Buddha Tathagata, who was presiding over the affairs, Burning Lamp Buddha and the Four Great Bodhisattvas were present. Others, whose status was insufficient, were excluded.

Everyone assumed that reading the Jade Emperor's answers would resolve Sun Kong's questions.

Unexpectedly,

Upon finishing the reading, they were immediately blown away by shock!

"So that's how Sun Houzi transformed into such a monstrous being?"

The assembled Buddhas were dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes!

...

At the same time.

Beside Spirit Mountain, atop the New Flower-Fruit Mountain, Sun Kong could not help but open his eyes as the system again provided notifications and rewards!