"You come, and there's still a chance to parry. Life and death are predetermined, and wealth is bestowed by heaven. As long as you can withstand my three moves, this seat will not pursue the matter further."
"If you don't come, this seat doesn't mind forcing you out!"
"That wouldn't be very pleasant."
The catastrophe of Tongtian Cult Master had arrived.
It was aimed at Sun Kong!
Upon hearing this, the entire Spirit Mountain was shocked!
"Vice Buddha, this is not good. How did Tongtian Cult Master suddenly provoke us? Nominally, he wants to avenge the gods of the Heavenly Court's Jie Sect, but in reality, I fear he won't spare us either!"
"Let's just hand over that troublesome, condemned monkey."
"Although it's not ideal to do so, the Spirit Mountain is more important, and we are more important. We absolutely cannot be implicated because of him alone."
As the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain were in consternation.
Suddenly.
A low-level Vajra guarding the gate rushed in.
His arrival was fine; no one would mind if he bypassed the rules and reported to a higher authority at this time.
But this fellow, out of sheer fear for his life and extreme timidity, actually uttered these words in public, putting Patriarch Randeng and Guanyin and the other two in an awkward position!
For a moment.
All other Patriarchs, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, etc., turned their gaze towards the five highest-ranking figures under Tathagata.
Though nothing was said.
Their thoughts were full of implied messages.
Not suggesting anything else.
Just implying that the decision must be borne by these five!
"There is no need for everyone to panic. Although Tongtian Cult Master is extremely furious, he is also a Saint. He wouldn't dare to slaughter indiscriminately and defy the Heavenly Dao."
"You all may return for now. Allow this Buddha to ponder this matter carefully. At worst, we still have Patriarch Tathagata as a card to play."
"Besides, the two Saints of the Western Teachings will not watch us be slaughtered, will they?"
Stared at by so many intense gazes, even Patriarch Randeng, as Vice Buddha, was quite distressed.
He could not openly suggest selling out Sun Kong, who had just formally joined them.
He also had to face the dissatisfaction of everyone, and he dared not act as he pleased just because he was the second-in-command.
This position was scorching hot.
Not just his backside, but also his heart that had been waiting for Patriarch Tathagata to return and clarify the attitude of the two Saints of the Western Teachings, but he had yet to appear!
"The four of you, return as well."
"This matter is of great importance. As a mere Vice Buddha, how can I make a decision? I will immediately use my divine sense to communicate with Patriarch Tathagata and request his instructions."
"Whether to fight, to seek peace, to help, or to ignore... He will give us an answer."
Seeing that everyone else had left, Patriarch Randeng then sent Guanyin and the other three away.
Turning back.
He, drenched in anxious sweat, immediately contacted Patriarch Tathagata.
And complained at length!
"You damnable little Lai Lai, if you have something to say or are angry and don't want to return, you could have secretly told me. We've been colleagues for so many years, don't I deserve to discuss it with you beforehand?"
"You fellow, it's just that the two Saints of the Western Teachings didn't give you a good answer, which made you sad, and coupled with Sun Monkey's extreme rebelliousness, he brought his whole family in. Is that any reason to be so enraged and expose everything, reporting it to Tongtian Cult Master?"
"Have you become arrogant, or have you forgotten that whether he defeats Sun Monkey, or Sun Monkey defeats him, we, the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, will not have a good outcome."
The above are the thoughts in Randeng's heart.
Below is what Randeng actually said, and what he could only say.
"Senior Brother Tathagata, you've caused a big mess this time."
"This matter is truly difficult to handle. I can't do anything, so I can only seek your help and hope you give me some guidance!"
"If Tongtian Cult Master wins, the one who loses face will not only be Sun Monkey, but also you, his 'foster father' who taught and nurtured him."
"Moreover, we Buddhas will be laughed at. How will we lead the Journey to the West in the future?"
"If that Sun Monkey continues to be cunning and wins by sheer luck, our Spirit Mountain will retain its dignity. However, can Tongtian Cult Master, a dignified Saint, be content and not seek revenge?"
Upon saying this.
Patriarch Randeng's mental pressure was greatly relieved, and he felt much better.
However, Patriarch Tathagata on the other end was completely baffled and astonished!
"Junior Brother Randeng, what do you mean by this?"
"I did indeed come to Jin'ao Island to seek out my former master, Tongtian Cult Master. But at most, I discussed compensation for the gods of the Heavenly Court's Jie Sect and the distribution of future merits."
"During that time, I occasionally complained a few words, but I never betrayed Spirit Mountain or Sun Monkey, nor did I ask Tongtian Cult Master to deal with him!"
"Could it be that you all misunderstood?"
"Or is it Tongtian himself..."
...
Jin'ao Island.
Outside the gates of the Biyou Palace.
Patriarch Tathagata, who had just concluded negotiations with Tongtian Cult Master and allocated their respective merits, originally intended to return to Spirit Mountain to share with everyone after expressing his grievances and feeling relieved.
Afterwards, he would endure this unruly but capable Sun Monkey and continue to promote the Journey to the West.
Meanwhile, he would look for an opportunity to report the strange situation of Six-Eared Macaque's appearance and request the attention of the two Saints of the Western Teachings, so as not to take a wrong step because of this.
But he did not expect that.
Just as Tathagata left the Biyou Palace and had not taken two steps, he received a message from Patriarch Randeng, condensed with divine power using supreme Buddhist Dharma, through their exclusive divine sense communication channel.
He was stunned on the spot!
Hearing Tathagata's words, Patriarch Randeng, who was far away on Spirit Mountain, was also surprised.
Although neither of them explicitly stated it, they quickly realized.
This damn thing was indeed not entirely Sun Kong's fault.
It was indeed Tongtian Cult Master, that scoundrel, who, after being disgraced in the Battle of Investiture of the Gods, had been meticulously plotting to get revenge on Tathagata, who had left him.
He was too embarrassed to fight openly.
So he used Sun Kong's matter to pick a fight!
"Junior Brother Randeng, I am returning immediately. You quickly protect Sun Monkey. Although this fellow was not very proper before and did not respect us, we cannot do without him."
"Moreover, yesterday you drank his holy water soup. You can't drink comfortably one moment and then let him be the scapegoat the next, can you?"
To protect Sun Kong, Patriarch Tathagata disregarded everything else and directly gave Randeng a command without any pleasantries.
Upon hearing this, Patriarch Randeng did not bother with these trivial matters but immediately came to his senses and personally headed towards New Huaguo Mountain.
He was about to remind Sun Kong not to go out.
Unexpectedly.
The dignified Vice Buddha, Patriarch Randeng, was too late.
Sun Kong here had already gone out and was confronting and fighting Tongtian Cult Master!
The reason?
It wasn't that Tathagata or Randeng mistakenly thought Sun Kong was too impatient, couldn't bear the grievances, and fell into a trap after being provoked by Tongtian Cult Master.
In reality, it was related to the system!
[Ding! The Guanyin whom the Host has shocked before is now shocked by Tongtian Cult Master, causing the Host's prestige to be damaged. Reverse reward obtained: Retrieval of Sister Guanyin's sincere heart-to-heart, beginner level!]
Sun Kong was stunned by this unprecedented reverse reward from the system.
Before he could even ask for clarification.
As Tongtian Cult Master continued to intimidate more people, the subsequent system prompts made his eyes burn!