Indeed.
The new Six-Eared Macaque, five hundred years ago, upon learning that Sun Wukong had prematurely initiated the Journey to the West tribulation, decisively acted.
Directly confronting Sun Wukong?
He dared not.
Nor did it align with the intentions of the Demon Saint and other high-ranking demons.
However, when the new Six-Eared Macaque gained similar foresight to Sun Wukong, anticipating the general plot of the subsequent eighty-one trials, a malicious idea took root.
First, he incited Qing Feng, a disciple of Zhen Yuanzi, to cooperate with him, replacing the original Liu Hong, and also receiving the new Six-Eared Macaque's assistance.
His cultivation base doubled.
From the inconspicuous Great Perfection of Heavenly Immortal, he directly ascended to the Great Perfection of Golden Immortal.
A full four minor realms and one major realm of advancement.
He was confident in shining brightly during the second trial.
As Qing Feng himself stated, he would certainly seek the merit from the Journey to the West, and he also desired Huang Er, Yin Wenjiao, one of the two maids sent down by Nuwa!
Then, the new Six-Eared Macaque, leveraging his ancient alliance with the Jade Emperor, obtained authorization from the Jade Emperor, granting more authority to the Rose Dragon King, who already harbored hatred for the Chen Guangrui family.
On the surface, he still had to save Chen Guangrui according to celestial decree, completing the merit task.
But in reality, this fellow, like Qing Feng, was lustful, and intended to take this opportunity to detain Chen Guangrui and restore Feng Er to her female form, making her his wife!
"Daoist Master Qing Feng truly sees eye to eye with this King. Then it is settled."
"No problem, no problem. Nuwa's maids are blessings we could never attain in several lifetimes. This time, by obtaining them in the second trial, even Nuwa cannot interfere."
"In the future, as we both continue to exert ourselves, and once Senior Six-Eared Macaque firmly establishes himself as the Victorious Fighting Buddha, even usurping the entire destiny of the Western Sect, we will be among the greatest contributors!"
With these words, the two laughed even more unrestrainedly, completely oblivious that while the new Six-Eared Macaque could shield them from the Heavenly Dao, they themselves could not.
Before leaving, the new Six-Eared Macaque had repeatedly instructed them to act with caution and never reveal themselves easily until the very last moment.
Yet, these two were short-sighted, only seeking immediate gratification, and completely disregarded the new Six-Eared Macaque's warnings, instead acting high-profile prematurely.
They thought no one knew.
Little did they know.
Just as the two were laughing most sinisterly, hundreds of billions of miles away, on the peak of the new Mount Huaguo, Sun Wukong, while meditating, suddenly sensed something amiss.
It seemed related to this second trial.
It also seemed related to the new Six-Eared Macaque, who had disappeared for five hundred years and no one knew where he had gone.
Without further ado.
He immediately mobilized his mana and performed the "Marquis Wu Seven Star Formation"!
Soon, a result was obtained.
Most of the light spots representing the seven parties were still behaving.
The first golden light spot, representing Jin Chanzi, remained in place, in infant form, receiving care from the blood-red light spot representing the demon family's domestic servant.
Although the two were, one the former second disciple of Spirit Mountain's Tathagata Buddha, the future Tang Sanzang, and the other an elite demon, destined to be enemies,
Sometimes, things are just so strange.
The two who should be enemies got along the best, the most harmoniously!
The second golden light spot, representing the second brother Wu Zhiqi, was cultivating in a cave dwelling outside Luoyang City, constantly monitoring Jin Chanzi's situation, and found no anomalies.
The red light spot, representing Guang Chengzi, was also quietly within Chang'an City, without any issues.
Apart from these, other individuals were less than peaceful.
Among them.
The third golden light spot, representing the Southern Pole Star Lord, perhaps due to greed for the merit of the Journey to the West, did not wait in Jiangzhou but also went to Chang'an.
And thus, accompanied Yin Wenjiao!
The two purple light spots, representing Feng Er Chen Guangrui and Huang Er Yin Wenjiao, though within the Prime Minister's mansion, seemed to have attempted to return to Luoyang several times.
Although Sun Wukong did not observe closely, through deduction, he could roughly perceive that they seemed to have developed a sense of motherhood since their descent to the mortal realm.
And felt familial affection for Jin Chanzi!
Similarly, the black and white two-colored light spots, representing He Xiangu Zhang Shi, this goddess from the Eight Immortals, was actually carrying a three-marvelous lotus, patrolling day and night around Jin Chanzi's inn.
This maternal protectiveness was truly remarkable.
However, although the above individuals had abnormalities, they still remained within Sun Wukong's predictions and did not pose a threat to the second trial that would require him to intervene.
It was the last two, the yellow light spot representing the Rose Dragon King and the green light spot representing Qing Feng, who should never have had any contact.
But at this moment, the two were gathered near the East Sea, between Jiangzhou and Haizhou, chattering and plotting something!
"Good heavens, who dares to plot against me?"
"There are always idiots scheming against this old Monkey."
"In this day and age, it's even worse than five hundred years ago. Back then, it was the new Six-Eared Macaque himself, or the Jade Emperor, or Tathagata, the big shots, who dealt with me. Now, it's down to two Golden Immortals?"
"They truly don't take this old Monkey seriously."
"Bullies us all, is it because the direct karma cannot be directly involved since the Journey to the West tribulation began?"
"Fine, just wait and see, this old Monkey has plenty of ways to deal with you two clowns."
"Monkey hair clone!"
"Quickly inform my second brother Wu Zhiqi, and tell him to be extra careful. This second trial seems to have more and more people competing, and the outcome is becoming increasingly unpredictable."
"Remember, if I cannot help directly, he should try to unite the people around him as much as possible, such as Guang Chengzi, Feng Er and Huang Er, He Xiangu, the Southern Pole Star Lord, and so on."
"At this time, Jin Chanzi has not yet grown up. Although he has regained his past life memories, he cannot exert his cultivation. Whether he can pass this trial depends on him."
Sun Wukong pulled out another monkey hair, transformed it into a monkey hair clone, and quickly relayed this matter to Wu Zhiqi. Subsequently, as this was not his direct karma and he could not directly participate,
He had no choice but to continue meditating!
...
On the other side, Wu Zhiqi, upon learning of this matter, became even more solemn, daring not to be careless. He directly moved from outside Luoyang City to within the city, arriving at Jin Chanzi's inn.
He happened to meet He Xiangu, who had transformed into Zhang Shi.
Although neither of them had anticipated this, after they revealed their identities, they found common ground in their interests and did not cause any conflict.
Subsequently.
The two even formed a temporary alliance due to the karma between Sun Wukong and the Taiqing Saint Laozi in the past.
During the day, He Xiangu patrolled, openly protecting her grandson in the guise of a grandmother.
At night, Wu Zhiqi kept watch, protecting the future Tang Sanzang, today's Jin Chanzi, in the identity of Zhu Bajie.
Under such circumstances.
They truly did not reveal any flaws.
However, this matter displeased some others, such as the new Six-Eared Macaque, who was also initiating a second Journey to the West in the mortal realm!
"Mo Zang, hurry up and set off. Dig up the roots of the Western Sect from the South Asian region of the mortal realm. In the future, this seat will surely reward you handsomely."
After sending Mo Zang away, the new Six-Eared Macaque suddenly felt something amiss in the Great Tang Empire of the Earth Immortal world, and was shocked!