The first half was the "rewards" from Patriarch Hongjun, the Taiqing Sage Laozi, the Yuqing Sage Yuanshi Tianzun, and the two Western Sages Jieyin Daoist and Zhunti Daoist.
The latter half, however, was from Empress Nuwa and Master Tongtian.
"The former is my godmother; it's unlikely she'd attack me ruthlessly."
"The latter reached an agreement with me last time, and expressed willingness to cooperate with the heavenly court and the gods of Chan School. It's impossible that they'd turn on me so quickly?"
"Master Tongtian, the third brother, couldn't even find out the truth about who impersonated Laozi and tricked him into targeting me. How could he possibly have the time to attack me?"
Sun Kong instinctively felt that these two should be kinder to him.
But to his surprise.
The "rewards" announced by the system from these two were not much less in value!
[Ding! The fifth Sage that the host shocked was Empress Nuwa, causing her to view the host in a new light and become extremely curious about his journey.]
[From this moment on, although she doesn't believe the host is the eighth Sage, she will keep him in mind and treat him as if he were a son, even better than a son.]
[The system rewards the host with an opportunity to be personally received by Empress Nuwa. If the host chooses to accept this meeting, Empress Nuwa will allow the host to complete the maternal-child ceremony with her and prosper together. Otherwise, he will be viewed with hostility by Empress Nuwa.]
Empress Nuwa, indeed, was treating Sun Kong like King Zhou of Shang back then. If she was satisfied, there would be no real reward, but if she was displeased, there would be severe consequences!
[Ding! The sixth Sage that the host shocked was the Shangqing Sage of the Jie School, causing him to view the host with twelve points more favor. He is indifferent to whether the host joins the Jie School, and is more concerned about how they will cooperate in the future.]
[From this moment on, although he doesn't believe the host is the eighth Sage, nor that the host has gained no benefits, he intends to find an opportunity for a peace talk with the host.]
[In the future, the host will have an opportunity for an equal negotiation with Master Tongtian. If the host chooses to negotiate, Master Tongtian will have his gates opened early, and he will wait patiently. Otherwise, Master Tongtian will be somewhat disappointed.]
[However, because he has always been very optimistic about the host and genuinely wishes to cooperate, he will not harbor hostility or abandon the host. But this will lead to a loss of unity and hinder cooperation.]
[The host is requested to carefully consider!]
As expected, Master Tongtian was more far-sighted than the other Sages.
Although he also gave Sun Kong a negative reward for not going, which would lead to alienation, superficial cooperation, and unfortunate consequences, it was still much better than the others.
The others all demanded that Sun Kong confess everything and hand over benefits.
Otherwise, there would be consequences.
Only Master Tongtian was wholeheartedly focused on revitalizing the Jie School by leveraging the Journey to the West. Therefore, he was not concerned with Sun Kong's experiences and gains, but only with how he would cooperate in the future.
From this, it could be seen that Master Tongtian possessed only a fraction of the common indifference and ruthlessness of a Sage, far less than Patriarch Hongjun, a thousandth of Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, Jieyin Daoist, and Zhunti Daoist, and not even one percent of Empress Nuwa's.
He had a special aura, somewhat akin to human emotions and desires!
"This is the greatest breakthrough with the Seven Sages."
"This is also Master Tongtian's inherent personality. Fortunately, he exists, which makes this reward no longer so ironic."
"Since that's the case, I can meet Master Tongtian first and listen to what he has to say, then agree to Empress Nuwa's offer to be her son."
"Although the seniority is not pleasant to hear, after all, it is the protection of a Sage. I believe other Sages, as well as Quasi-Sages, will not dare to object, nor will they be able to."
"At most, they will be envious, unable to act, and wary of Empress Nuwa, allowing me to navigate between them and continue to survive until the Journey to the West tribulation begins."
"This outcome is far better than being ganged up on by all seven Sages, isn't it?"
With this thought, Sun Kong finally managed to digest this super upheaval, which was indirectly triggered by him, though not entirely his own doing.
Then.
Before the Seven Sages could descend upon the New Flower Fruit Mountain, and before these seven individuals, each with their own agenda, could devise another round of schemes and manipulations against him.
Sun Kong, on the other hand, immediately splashed cold water on his face to clear his mind, and at the fastest speed, went to the Great Sage Tathagata.
His original intention was to fulfill the previously agreed-upon three articles and discuss the specific deployment of the ninety-nine eighty-one tribulations together.
But unexpectedly.
Before he arrived, Tathagata and the others had already been shocked, had their views shattered, and were left speechless and bewildered by the seven boys who delivered their visiting cards, creating a huge commotion.
Not for any other reason.
It was precisely because these seven boys represented the Seven Sages, meaning that the Sun Monkey, whom they had barely managed to tolerate, had once again courted death and caused trouble.
This time it was seven Sages!
Good heavens!
If you don't want our Spirit Mountain to grow stronger during the Journey to the West, you could have just said so. Why must you send such a Sun Monkey to torment us?
As the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain were in a state of panic, uncertainty, and trepidation, it was Great Sage Tathagata who was the most decisive.
Before the other Buddhas could vote again, forcing him to take military action against Sun Kong.
Great Sage Tathagata's heart sank. He was more desperate and closer to tears than anyone else, but as everyone looked at him, he uttered words that were not as pleasant as the Seven Sages' visit, but were more terrifying than any previous occasion.
"Everyone!"
"Fellow Daoists, please stop infighting and quarreling. This Buddha understands your pain and your difficulties."
"Isn't it all because of that Sun Monkey?"
"I understand."
"However, I must say that the Sun Monkey is not only someone I have cultivated, but he is also destined to be the Great Senior Brother of the Journey to the West tribulation, unchangeable and indestructible..."
"Well, perhaps, if the Seven Sages come and are truly dissatisfied, they can still hold a meeting and remove him."
"Then consider it as if I said nothing."
"But for now, I have one and only one method to resolve your troubles: that is, I will abdicate, and let him take over as the Buddha!"
"This way, externally, we can welcome the Seven Sages' procession with the highest courtesy, so that they will not express dissatisfaction with Spirit Mountain first due to my incompetence."
"And internally, you can all be free from worries. All responsibilities will fall on him. Whether he succeeds or fails is not important. As long as the Sun Monkey is punished by the Seven Sages on your behalf, isn't that equivalent to exoneration?"
"Also, stop crying to me. This Buddha doesn't want to waste any more words, as I have to bear the bitter fruit I have sown myself."
"This position should have been his long ago!"
After saying this, without waiting for the other Buddhas to express their opinions, or whether they truly disagreed or feigned opposition, this heartbroken Great Sage Tathagata actually walked away and gave up.
First, he left his throne, leaving everyone with endless speculation, and the quiet sneers that he heard but pretended not to.
Unsurprisingly.
The former were those loyal to him, while the latter were various schemers!
Afterwards, Great Sage Tathagata found Sun Kong halfway there and, while explaining the matter to him, actually bowed to him!