"Huh? This eighth tribulation is truly a coincidence, happening at the same time as the decisive battle for the impending war between humans and demons?"
"Truly remarkable."
"Presumably, this was intentionally arranged by that Rakshasa. He knows Tang Sanzang will soon approach Two Realms Mountain in the next few days, and I, Old Sun, will have to throw myself into this calamity, significantly weakening my foresight afterward."
"As they say, in the martial world, one's fate is beyond their control. When caught in a calamity, it's hard to know oneself."
"He deliberately chose these days to launch a fierce attack on the three checkpoints. I, Old Sun, shall not disappoint him. Perhaps, it is time to add some extra spice to the demon race's three armies."
Through the calculations and deductions of the 'Prime Minister's Seven Star Formation,' Sun Wukong still could not grasp Rakshasa's causal connections, nor did he know the attitudes of other Saints.
However, at the very least, he discovered that the demon armies were accelerating their assembly and were about to launch a decisive battle, and that Tang Sanzang was nearing Two Realms Mountain, requiring his presence for escort, making him unable to be in two places at once.
These two minor matters were observable.
At this moment, Sun Wukong was not anxious, nor did he collapse due to the complexity of the situation, where the eighth tribulation, originally the easiest, had become as arduous as the sum of the previous seven.
On the contrary.
He decisively issued three commands.
To swiftly stabilize the morale of his people and army!
"This time, I, Old Sun, can summarize it in one sentence: both hands must be strong, both fronts must be fought, and ideally, both battles should be fought with brilliance, with style, and with the grace of our Mahayana Buddhism, Hinayana Buddhism, and the New Flower-Fruit Mountain lineage!"
"Specifically, there are three matters."
"Firstly, regarding the first round of the Journey to the West in the Immortal Realm, I, Old Sun, will escort Tang Sanzang myself. Let the Eight Immortals of the Chan School act as substitutes, filling in any gaps."
"As long as it's not the Heavenly Lord Tongtian who attacks, even if other quasi-Saints are dispatched, or even if that Rakshasa himself appears, I, Old Sun, am not afraid."
"I'd be delighted to have a good spar with him."
"Secondly, on the New Flower-Fruit Mountain front, vigilance must be maintained at all times. Do not give any demon the slightest opportunity to invade. Currently, with I, Old Sun, and my two brothers, the three Great Kings, all away, the defense of our home rests upon Generals Ba and Ma Liu, you two marshals."
"You three have followed me, Old Sun, for nearly a thousand years, and are at least Grand Unity Golden Immortals. You must not disgrace yourselves."
"If you can hold the line, do so. If you cannot, retreat to Spirit Mountain. If even the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain cannot protect you, then hurry to Wa Huang Palace. With my mother and the Heavenly Lord Primordial Beginning there, they would not dare to venture."
"Thirdly, concerning the human-demon war in the mortal realm, although we have the sword immortal Li Bai, the reincarnation of Brother Zhen Yuanzi's disciple Mingyue, along with Wu Zhiqi, the Five Immortals of Zhou, and the indirect cooperation of the Eight Immortals of the Upper Heaven."
"However, Rakshasa's demonic forces behind him are incredibly formidable and should not be underestimated. For the sake of absolute certainty, it is necessary to trouble the deputy leader of the first class, the Buddha Dipankara, to make a trip."
"If it is only a minor issue, the fourth class is sufficient. For a medium issue, please dispatch the second and third classes. But if, by chance, the Four Demon Gods of the Asura Sect personally appear, then the first class must be deployed."
"How to proceed will depend on the situation. I believe Buddha Dipankara is an experienced veteran, having gone through the tragic Investiture of the Gods war. I don't need to waste words, do I?"
As he spoke, Sun Wukong intentionally cast a deep glance at Buddha Dipankara and the Four Great Bodhisattvas, who had always been at odds with him.
Though not explicitly stated.
It was an implicit warning to the five of them: regardless of past animosities or disagreements, do not cause trouble this time.
Otherwise.
Even if they could somehow plot against Sun Wukong, if he survived this ordeal, he would surely repay them tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold, a myriad of times.
Not to mention anything else.
They only needed to recall how the Two Sages of the Western Teachings had assigned them to Sun Wukong's command, and how, when Sun Wukong broke through to the early stage of Primordial Golden Immortal, he fought against a hundred thousand.
They should know how trustworthy Sun Wukong is!
"Junior Disciple Sun, rest assured. We of the four classes recognize you as our leader, and no one dares to disobey. The human-demon war in the mortal realm will be handled by me, this Buddha. Not to mention that the most powerful Rakshasa is already occupied by Junior Disciple Sun, even if he weren't, even if he came."
"I, Dipankara, with my cultivation of the Great Perfection of Primordial Golden Immortal, am not to be trifled with. My Lingjiu Lamp, Qiankun Ruler, and Dinghai Pearls can all subdue demons and eradicate evils, purifying the Three Realms!"
Seeing Sun Wukong's subtle hint, Buddha Dipankara was quite forthright. He promptly led the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain, totaling four elite classes, and agreed.
With his assurance, Sun Wukong was much more at ease about the impending war between the demon race and the Tang Dynasty.
This was not just because Spirit Mountain had countless powerful figures.
Nor was it solely due to his trust in his second brother Wu Zhiqi, third brother Zhou Wuxian, and that reincarnation of Mingyue, the sword immortal Li Bai, believing they would fight to the death.
More importantly, Sun Wukong knew very well that even if the demon race had further plans, if it involved subverting the Tang Dynasty and unifying the mortal realm, such a significant event.
The originally neutral Great Pure One Saint Laozi and other factions would not stand idly by.
To put it plainly.
They detested the rule of the Heavenly Dao and the Old Ancestor Hongjun for so many years.
However, they feared and were more apprehensive of the Demon Ancestor Rakshasa, this peerless innate god and demon who killed like flies and sought to eliminate everyone except the demon race!
"Since Senior Brother Dipankara has given his word, I, Old Sun, need not worry further. This pot of sacred water soup may not significantly improve your cultivation, but at a critical moment, it can be used for healing."
"Please distribute it among the Buddhas, Senior Brother Dipankara."
"I, Old Sun, am departing!"
He left three pots of sacred water soup. One pot was given to the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain on the spot as medicine for the impending war. One pot was entrusted to General Ba to deliver to Wu Zhiqi, Zhou Wuxian, and Li Bai.
The last pot was reserved for the monkey descendants of the New Flower-Fruit Mountain.
This could be considered perfecting all aspects.
Afterward.
Before Guanyin Bodhisattva and others could secretly gossip, spewing nonsense about Sun Wukong being biased, Sun Wukong, having no time for such insignificant beings far inferior to him, drove his Chaotic Someday Cloud, wielding his Chaotic Golden Cudgel, and arrived near Two Realms Mountain.
Just as in the original plot of 'Journey to the West.'
But instead of being suppressed by the Tathagata.
He entered voluntarily!
...
"Oh!"
"Indeed, noble people have poor memories. I forgot that over the past five hundred years, I, Old Sun, ate and drank too much, and my head has grown larger."
"Well, I'll make do. There are still three days before that Tang Sanzang, and Liu Boqin at the foot of the mountain, should arrive."
After a self-mocking inner monologue, Sun Wukong did not stand on ceremony.
He truly shrunk his body beneath Two Realms Mountain, awaiting the arrival of his master, Tang Sanzang, in the final countdown!
...
Almost simultaneously.
Sun Wukong's various commands were issued.
The three-pronged demon armies were about to launch their decisive offensive concurrently with the eighth tribulation.
He himself had arrived near Two Realms Mountain, intending to play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.