Above the Xuandu Heaven, half chaos energy and half innate energy, clouds and mists coiled, exuding incomparable fragrance, ever-changing and wondrous.
Below the Xuandu Heaven, within the Eight Views Palace, a Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Linglong Pagoda hung upside down, releasing endless mystic yellow energy. This not only isolated external interference and divination but also made the place more mysterious and unfathomable.
Indeed, it was the territory of Taiqing Sage Laozi, the foremost of the Three Pure Ones.
So profound and elusive!
Under such protection, Laozi was not one for lengthy pronouncements. He directly opened his mouth and spoke with his two avatars.
"Thanks to the help of you two avatars, now Sun Wukong will no longer entangle with my Human Sect, and my Human Sect disciples will be spared the risk of offending him and being entangled by him."
"In return, I, the main body, will consider you both more in the future. Do not worry."
"But the Tribulation of the Journey to the West has undergone new changes. Even the Dao Ancestor was shaken, forcing him to summon us for a talk. This shows its immense importance, and we must not be negligent."
Upon hearing the words of their main body, the good corpse Taishang Laojun and the evil corpse Li Er bowed without hesitation, ready to obey Laozi's every command.
Seeing his two avatars so cooperative, Laozi was pleased and did not stand on ceremony. He proceeded to assign tasks to each of them.
Since the Journey to the West Tribulation had undergone new changes, and Sun Wukong's actions, though seemingly suicidal and crazy, were actually in line with the Heavenly Dao at every step.
Then, the three supreme beings of their Human Sect should also adapt and make changes accordingly!
"Good corpse Taishang Laojun?"
"Present!"
"You manage the Tusita Palace in Lihua Heaven, a position second only to the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, on par with Taibai Jinxing and King Li Jing of Pagoda. In the future, the eighty-one tribulations of the Journey to the West will also feature many scenes for you."
"Your responsibility is great and cannot be ignored. However, you should change the initial plan of dealing with Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Instead, prioritize harmony and do not easily engage in battle with Sun Wukong."
"As long as you can gain merit from the Journey to the West, other matters are trivial."
"Moreover, I observe that Sun Wukong, though even more mischievous, seems to be more sensible than before. If you don't provoke him, he won't provoke you. Isn't that pleasant?"
Hearing the main body's words, Taishang Laojun understood in an instant and resolutely agreed.
In other words, he was told to diligently execute the Journey to the West Tribulation, not to cause trouble, and not to make things difficult for Sun Wukong, to avoid unnecessary complications.
The last ones who did not listen and suffered great losses were the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain and the Immortals of the Heavenly Court.
Laozi did not want his three-in-one being to be the next, hence his reminder to Taishang Laojun!
"Main body above, I understand. Although there are still five hundred years until the Journey to the West Tribulation, I believe it is time to bring certain individuals to the Earthly Immortal Realm."
"Rest assured, Main Body. I know my limits and will not let those fellows act recklessly."
After Taishang Laojun bowed respectfully.
Receiving praise from Laozi, the main body, he immediately returned to the Tusita Palace in Lihua Heaven.
To attend to some necessary matters.
After he left.
Laozi looked at the evil corpse Li Er, who was not often seen in public.
"Evil corpse Li Er?"
"Li Er is here."
"You once founded Daoism in the mortal world. Although it has little to do with the Earthly Immortal Realm and the Heavenly Realm, this Journey to the West Tribulation has presented various new changes. I have calculated that this Journey to the West is somewhat related to you as well."
"Your responsibility is not as great as Taishang Laojun's, but it pertains to three major matters."
"First, you must quickly return to the mortal world and monitor Chang'an City and its surroundings. I have a bad premonition that the Journey to the West Tribulation, which was originally destined for the Earthly Immortal Realm, may also occur in the mortal world."
"And the person causing this situation may not be Sun Wukong, but the new Six-Eared Macaque that we have not been monitoring."
"Remember, behind this new Six-Eared Macaque are three ancient demon ancestors whom even the Dao Ancestor fears. You cannot confront them directly; you can only be subtle."
"Second, if no unexpected events occur in the Tang Dynasty of the mortal world, then do nothing. However, if they do, you must report to me immediately and not handle it alone."
"Although you are the founder of Daoism and revered as the ancestor of all schools of thought in the mortal world, your cultivation is still insufficient to deal with the three ancient demon ancestors. The Dao Ancestor seems to be observing with indifference. Do not underestimate them."
"Third, if there are indeed two Journey to the West teams and two Tang Dynasties undergoing the Journey to the West, then it means this matter is no longer something you and I can easily participate in."
"At that time, remember to take away the Daoist fortune we left in the mortal world and quickly return to the Eight Views Palace. I will then consult the Dao Ancestor for subsequent matters and make a decision."
"The Three Realms of the Great Desolation have become more lively and even more unfathomable with Sun Wukong and the new Six-Eared Macaque. We three are one, so we cannot be careless and must always be cautious."
"As for what others will do? Hahaha, you need not worry. I know without guessing that after me, my second and third brothers, and sister Nuwa, as well as the two from the Western Sect, will all take action."
"They may not consider things as thoroughly as I do, but they will certainly have astonishing performances. Let's watch the show together."
"As for your previous report about the Heavenly Court's strange occurrences and the meeting between the Jade Emperor and Ming He... do not worry about this matter. The Dao Ancestor will make a judgment."
With Laozi's words, Li Er, who had initially wanted to showcase himself, could only obey and act as commanded, not daring to act on his own.
Afterward.
Just before he left the Eight Views Palace to return to the mortal world to handle these three major matters, he indeed saw that the other five Great Sages also had flashes of light.
It was exactly as his main body, Laozi, had said. After the Dao Ancestor's teachings to the Six Great Sages last time, not a single Sage had failed to take action!
...
Among them, the fastest to act and the most timely in their response was none other than Yuqing Sage Primordial Heavenly Lord, the second of the Three Pure Ones.
Of course, Primordial Heavenly Lord himself could not enter the Earthly Immortal Realm, nor did he wish to dispatch the eight Golden Immortals of the Chan School, attracting the attention of others.
Instead, he followed Laozi's example and sent a most crucial and suitable candidate from the third generation of disciples.
The disciple of Taiyi Zhenren, the Great God of the Three Altars of the Lotus, Nezha!
Before setting off, Nezha was shielded by Primordial Heavenly Lord, which not only temporarily concealed his heavenly secrets, preventing anyone from discovering him but also protected him from being detected by the Jade Emperor's side.
This could be considered an intentional or unintentional avoidance of the Heavenly Court lineage by the Sages since the last talk with the Dao Ancestor. They were not openly targeting the Jade Emperor, but were secretly ostracizing him!
"Grand-Ancestor, Master, rest assured. Nezha will obediently deliver the message this time and will not act recklessly."
After respectfully kowtowing, Nezha, who had always been arrogant and overbearing, changed his demeanor.
He headed towards the New Flower Fruit Mountain!
...
At the New Flower Fruit Mountain.
Upon hearing of Nezha's arrival, Sun Wukong's heart stirred.
Although he did not possess the abilities of Laozi or Primordial Heavenly Lord, he could roughly guess the reason.
"So, these are the spies from the Heavenly Court actively seeking me out?"
"Not bad. If I can't figure out the Heavenly Court, and there's an insider helping me, isn't it even better to find Sha Wujing and the White Dragon?"