Although Guangchengzi now held the "Innate Sweet Donut" that Sun Kong had tossed to him before leaving, he felt a profound regret for having offended someone he shouldn't have, namely Sun Kong.
This regret prevented him from discerning the truth or falsehood of Sun Kong's words.
It left him stunned for a long time!
Only when Nezha timidly approached, intending to reclaim his "Innate Sweet Donut," did everyone else snap back to reality, glaring at him.
Guangchengzi, for the first time, did not treat Nezha as one of his own, giving him a glare and telling Taiyi Zhenren to discipline him.
However, he voiced the complex emotions shared by everyone present.
"My fellow junior brothers, tell me, is what Dao Brother Sun just said true?"
"Setting aside whether his second brother Wu Zhiqi has truly replaced Zhu Bajie as the future Zhu Bajie, this matter requires Xuandu to seek confirmation from the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord himself."
"Just considering this, did we overstep our bounds and act recklessly by forcing Dao Brother Sun so much to help this scoundrel Nezha?"
"Although Dao Brother Sun is usually flippant and not serious, always seeking death, and constantly shocking others, he is, after all, the acting Deputy Buddha of Spirit Mountain recognized by our Master. He shouldn't be speaking nonsense."
"If this is indeed the case, aren't we going against the natural order and inviting great trouble sooner or later?"
"Damn it!"
"Just for one troublesome kid like Nezha, we doubted Dao Brother Sun, who has twice given us soup, and almost came to blows with him because of it. What do you say we do?"
These words, more than being asked of Taiyi Zhenren and the others, were a question directed at Nezha, the foolish child he still was.
Upon hearing this, the other six immortals and their disciples stepped forward, expressing their support for Guangchengzi and advocating for Nezha's punishment.
Taiyi Zhenren and Nezha were naturally unwilling.
Taiyi Zhenren pleaded incessantly.
As for Nezha?
Even at this moment, he hadn't abandoned his troublesome-kid persona, as Xuandu hadn't clarified things, and Sun Kong had "escaped" on his own. He felt even more triumphant.
He stroked the Innate Sweet Donut in his hand, which had grown even more potent.
He actually argued with Guangchengzi!
"Senior Uncle Master, don't be fooled by that Sun Monkey. I think he's lying. What about Wu Zhiqi becoming Zhu Bajie, or adhering to the new heavenly laws and not daring to return my treasure early?"
"I think it's all a trick."
"You are all immortals who cultivated long before him, how can you not know these chaotic things?"
"Besides, he returned the treasure to me himself; it wasn't forced from him. In any case, as long as we have the item, that's all that matters. Why must we be so serious?"
"It's possible this Sun Monkey is using this to sow discord among us."
"Otherwise, if he truly had such talent, why didn't he come earlier? Why didn't he strike immediately... Ow! What is this, daring to hit your Great Divine of the Three Altars Sea Assembly?"
"You seek death?"
"Seeking... Master, save me! Heavenly tribulation, heavenly tribulation has truly arrived!"
Before Nezha could continue his arrogant speech, he was struck by a lightning bolt a hundred zhang thick. Although his cultivation meant it wasn't a serious injury, he was thoroughly terrified.
He quickly hid in Taiyi Zhenren's arms.
At the same time, Guangchengzi and the others on the other side witnessed this scene. Their shock was no less than Nezha's, but they didn't immediately conclude it was heavenly tribulation.
Because, as Nezha was startled, the lightning bolt finally revealed its true form. It wasn't heavenly tribulation at all, but a fragment of a paving stone from the Eight Views Palace in Xuandu Heaven.
Wait.
Xuandu Heaven?
Eight Views Palace?
A fragment of a paving stone?
Could it be that while this wasn't heavenly tribulation, it was Xuandu Daoist Brother reporting back the incident of us bullying Sun Monkey, thus incurring the wrath of the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord?
But, is the wrath of the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord so great? Is it worth it?
Could it be that what Sun Monkey said was true, and we misunderstood and wronged him, so even the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord couldn't bear to watch?
Guangchengzi and the others, with almost identical doubts, looked up towards the direction of the Eight Views Palace in Xuandu Heaven.
They didn't have to wait long.
Indeed.
They saw eight more fragments... oh no, not fragments this time, but the Eight Immortals themselves, being thrown over here by an enraged Laozi!
Following that.
It was one of Laozi's rare roaring admonishments!
"The Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave have betrayed heaven and their ancestors, abused their power, and wronged Daoist Friend Sun, the acting Deputy Buddha of Spirit Mountain. Their sins are heinous. I shall punish them on behalf of heaven."
"Effective immediately, you eight are demoted to mortals. Return to the mortal realm and undergo reincarnation. Without experiencing tribulations and awakening to the cause and effect, you shall not return to the Human Sect!"
As soon as the words fell.
Before Guangchengzi and the others, or any of the other powerful figures in the Great Desolation's three realms, could react, a mass of black and white energy shot out from the Eight Views Palace in Xuandu Heaven.
It was precisely one of Laozi's famous magical abilities, the Taiji Transformation of Yin and Yang.
Under such powerful and brutal divine power, the Eight Immortals had no chance to resist or escape. They were directly taken to the mortal realm, trillions of miles below.
They were indeed forced into reincarnation.
Seeing this, not only Guangchengzi and the others were greatly astonished, but the various overlords from the three realms of the Great Desolation were also deeply shocked and utterly bewildered.
No one could have imagined that the Eight Immortals, disciples of the Human Sect whose status was second only to Grand Master Xuandu, would also be so severely punished for offending Sun Kong!
"Senior Uncle Master, I don't want this Innate Sweet Donut anymore. Please help me return it to... Ow! Master, why are you hitting me again?"
On Guangchengzi's side, before he could speak, Nezha finally showed some intelligence. Despite being terrified, he wanted Guangchengzi to return the treasure on his behalf.
As expected, he was beaten again by Taiyi Zhenren.
In the end.
Guangchengzi and the others, who had arrived with high spirits and performed adequately, were now terrified and trembling. They completely believed every word Sun Kong had said.
However, they did not dare to apologize to him directly.
Instead, they quickly returned to the Jade Void Palace, recounted the entire incident, and presented the Innate Sweet Donut to the Supreme Heavenly Venerable for personal examination!
"This spiritual treasure... is very strange. For my master to not understand it, yet it is indeed far superior to the Qiankun Circle before."
"Alas, I told you all long ago that it's better to be friends than to offend that Sun Monkey, but why didn't you listen?"
The Supreme Heavenly Venerable's words made Guangchengzi and the others even more fearful.
Nezha was so scared he fainted.
But at this moment, Taiyi Zhenren, still clinging to a sliver of hope, came forward to defend Nezha.
"Master, it's just the Eight Immortals being demoted to the mortal world. It's not enough to be completely wary of that Sun Monkey, is it? Perhaps it's to pave the way for the subsequent minor tribulation of the Song Empire after the Tang Empire."
"It's not like Xuandu is in trouble, why such a reaction... Oh my god!"
Taiyi Zhenren's face turned ashen with fear before he could finish speaking.
He saw that.
Just as he believed it was merely the Eight Immortals being punished, from the direction of the Eight Views Palace in Xuandu Heaven, Laozi roared for the second time, this time throwing down the chief disciple, Grand Master Xuandu.
In an instant.
Everyone in the Chan Sect, including the Supreme Heavenly Venerable, was dumbfounded!
...
New Flower Fruit Mountain
Sun Kong, meanwhile, was chuckling. This advanced "seeking death" mission was a success!