"Yes, this eighth tribulation, which was originally the easiest place for me to exploit so far, how could I have almost forgotten this matter?"
Upon hearing the New Six-Eared Macaque's words, the Jade Emperor felt invigorated!
With his billions of years of experience, he didn't need the New Six-Eared Macaque to say anything further. The Jade Emperor already understood some aspects and, with a rare smile in these past few months, he respectfully inquired:
"May I ask, fellow Daoist New Six-Eared Macaque, do you have any specific methods?"
"I can tell you that Liu Boqin is indeed a heavenly being, but I underestimated Sun Wukong and the others too much back then. Coupled with his presence, I thought the eighth tribulation would be very difficult to gain benefits from. Therefore, I merely had the Earth God of Two Realms Mountain impersonate Liu Boqin, to gain a little merit from the Journey to the West. Now, after your reminder, I realize... alas, no more, the arrangements of the past are all tears."
"Besides that Earth God, I didn't arrange anyone else. This was a huge oversight!"
After saying this, the Jade Emperor relaxed considerably and, for the first time, treated the New Six-Eared Macaque with such politeness. He was almost ready to swear brotherhood with the New Six-Eared Macaque, just like Sun Wukong.
Seeing this, the New Six-Eared Macaque was inwardly delighted. However, outwardly, he still had to maintain decorum with the Jade Emperor. Although his methods were similar to Sun Wukong's, there were differences. Sun Wukong courted trouble to gain rewards, while the New Six-Eared Macaque worked for the demonic path to obtain rewards.
Therefore, before the Jade Emperor became too anxious and pleaded for specific advice, the New Six-Eared Macaque decisively laid out his prepared plan, shocking the Jade Emperor!
"Your Majesty, even if Liu Boqin is just an Earth God with insufficient cultivation and little to do, it doesn't matter. After all, what hunter's family doesn't have a son or grandson?"
"I, New Six-Eared Macaque, am not talented, but I am willing to test the waters myself. Even if I become the son or grandson of that Earth God, it's fine. The merit from the Journey to the West is secondary; disrupting Sun Wukong's Journey to the West is the most crucial part."
"In addition to this, I wonder if Your Majesty could temporarily lend me Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing and others. I am confident that with them and myself, we can create some unique variations for this eighth tribulation."
"I don't seek to kill that cunning Sun Wukong, but even a little disruption will accelerate the revival of the demonic path and the rise of the demon race, allowing our demonic alliance, formed by the three of us, to reap significant rewards."
Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's eyes lit up! It turned out that the New Six-Eared Macaque had long intended to personally participate in the eighth tribulation, and his vision extended far beyond the Jade Emperor's. He didn't even mind pretending to be the Earth God's son or grandson. Setting aside other matters, the Jade Emperor couldn't help but admire the New Six-Eared Macaque for this very reason.
This would not only increase the harvest of merit from the Journey to the West but also provide benefits for the three factions. It was truly brilliant! Moreover, and most importantly, with the New Six-Eared Macaque's intervention, the public outcry that had surrounded the Jade Emperor for months could be quelled. This was a win-win-win situation. How could the Jade Emperor object?
"Fellow Daoist New Six-Eared Macaque, I, the Jade Emperor... oh no, Haotian, thank you."
"As for the specifics, fellow Daoist doesn't need to inform me. Haotian will fully cooperate. Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing and the others are my trusted subordinates, ready for deployment at any time."
"To this end, I will now give you a token, a decree token, representing a part of my authority. With it, fellow Daoist can at any time command the gods and immortals of the Heavenly Court to serve our three-party alliance. Indeed, this eighth tribulation still depends on fellow Daoist. However, there is one thing I must remind you: most of the gods are disciples of the Jie Teachings. Before you utilize them, it is best to consult with Master Tongtian."
With the New Six-Eared Macaque taking the blame for him, the Jade Emperor not only did not object but also seized the opportunity to hand over a decree token, as if making the New Six-Eared Macaque the crown prince of the Heavenly Court.
Upon seeing this, the New Six-Eared Macaque quickly understood and didn't mind being the Jade Emperor's prince, nor did he mind consulting with Master Tongtian at crucial moments. Instead, he readily accepted. After bowing repeatedly, and with the eighth tribulation and subsequent tribulations seemingly settled, the New Six-Eared Macaque immediately sought out Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing and his subordinates to make swift arrangements.
At this point, there were still two and a half years until Xuanzang would arrive at Two Realms Mountain. Although the time seemed tight, for the New Six-Eared Macaque, representing the demon race as the eldest disciple, it was not at all rushed. Instead, it gave him plenty of time to make arrangements!
"Heavenly King, you must be even more diligent this time. With this unprecedented eighth tribulation, I believe that from now on, the first round of the Journey to the West in the Immortal Realm will eventually become our domain."
"Coupled with the second round of the Journey to the West in the Mortal Realm, we will have merit from both rounds. How can he, Sun Wukong, compete with me?"
"As long as you all diligently assist me, in the future, there will be ample merit and rewards. When my demon race fully rises and the demonic path is perfectly revived, and we overthrow the Heavenly Dao and that old man Hongjun, it might not be impossible for you to become Sages!"
Thousands of miles above Two Realms Mountain, as the New Six-Eared Macaque painted more grand visions, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing and the others, who were already inclined towards the demonic alliance, became even more loyal and audacious!
...
Meanwhile, at New Flower Fruit Mountain.
Although Sun Wukong could not directly deduce the karma and heavenly secrets related to the New Six-Eared Macaque, as a long-standing sworn enemy, he had made preparations in advance even without new developments.
"General Ba, quickly summon Marshals Ma Liu and Liu."
"This Great Sage has just considered that we cannot be as careless about the eighth tribulation as others. It's better to be cautious."
"This time, I will have them descend to the mortal realm to secretly protect Xuanzang."
"As for going to the Mortal Realm to disrupt Mo Zang and the others, I must think carefully. Alas, it is lamentable that we have so few capable people around us."
"In the Mahayana Buddhist sect, there is only Chan Master Wuchao. The Lesser Vehicle Buddhist sect is completely hopeless. These dogs might even collude with the Jade Emperor as they see my advantage growing."
"As for the Human Teachings and my mother Nuwa's Palace, one is neutral and fence-sitting, having sent the Eight Immortals from the Upper Realm to the Mortal Realm, while the other has no good disciples and is difficult to utilize."
"It seems that in the end, I might have to talk to that person. Within the Three Realms of the Great Desolation, the only one with the strength, qualifications, and responsibility, who also aided my New Flower Fruit Mountain last time, is him."
After much deliberation, the only candidate Sun Wukong could think of was not anyone else but the person he had greatly offended during the second tribulation—Zhen Yuanzi!
In his nature, he either didn't do something, or he did it in a big way. Currently, besides Zhen Yuanzi, he truly couldn't think of a second person who could achieve his goals!