Before this, Daoxing Tianzun never expected that he would encounter his disciple this time, and be instantly shamed.
He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Look at Sun Kong, whose two younger brothers were key figures in the Journey to the West, and whenever they made a move, they were powerful and precise. Then look at Chan Master Wu Chao, who joined last but contributed significantly.
Look at themselves.
Apart from the eldest disciple, Guangchengzi, who was somewhat capable, everyone else was worse than the last. Now, the third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect had appeared again to ruin the Chan Sect's cause.
It was utterly disgraceful!
"How dare those two fools!"
"Before you were enfeoffed, you were at least third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect. How could you truly obey the command of that traitorous Jade Emperor and come to cause trouble?"
"Causing trouble is one thing, but hiding and sneaking around, with no trace of the Chan Sect's demeanor. As soon as you appeared, you were rolling on the ground like three-year-old children, a complete embarrassment, what kind of conduct is this?"
"Do you truly wish to die?"
"Or, it would be best if you willingly surrendered. Quickly lead us to find the other five people and finish this fifth tribulation!"
"This is also your only chance to atone for your sins. Why aren't you quickly paying your respects to Jin Chanzi and the other seniors?"
"Do you really want to die?"
Before others could recognize that the newcomers were Longxuhu and Xue Ehu, the third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect, Daoxing Tianzun, standing at the forefront,
reacted with furious anger at lightning speed.
With this torrent of scolding, he not only vented his personal anger and dissatisfaction with his disciple Xue Ehu, but also saved some face for the Chan Sect.
After all,
under everyone's gaze, he could only conceal it for a short while. By seizing the opportunity to hint to these two, and urge them to quickly betray their master, perhaps the Chan Sect could suffer less damage.
But once too much time passed, and Wu Zhiqi, Zhou Wuxian, Chan Master Wu Chao, Jin Chanzi, and others discovered their identities.
Then it would be too late.
As expected.
Upon hearing their master's subtle hints, Xue Ehu did not dare to hesitate. He immediately pulled the Longxuhu beside him, who was stunned by the imposing aura of the crowd, and they both knelt down.
While constantly kowtowing to Jin Chanzi, Chan Master Wu Chao, Wu Zhiqi, Zhou Wuxian, and the seven Immortals of Chan Sect, admitting their mistakes and stating that they were indeed as Daoxing Tianzun had said.
They did not dare to cause trouble,
but instead betrayed them!
At the same time, as everyone smiled knowingly, they quickly conveyed the results of their discussion with the other five people.
In simple terms, it was one word.
Surrender!
"Master Jin Chanzi above!"
"Chan Master Wu Chao above!"
"Esteemed Uncles and Martial Brothers, and my Master above, I, Xue Ehu, and my junior brother Longxuhu, were truly forced by that Jade Emperor to act, and did not genuinely intend to harm Master Jin Chanzi or disrupt the plan of Great Sage Sun.
"Indeed, indeed, please do not misunderstand, esteemed seniors, and please believe us. Besides the two of us, the other five are also unwilling to be cannon fodder.
"Therefore, they have elected us as intermediaries to come and negotiate peace.
"We do not want, nor do we dare to want, any merit from this fifth tribulation. We only beg the esteemed seniors to spare us and let us return to debate with the Jade Emperor.
"If we can persuade him, that would be best.
"If we cannot persuade him, even if we die, we will not die in vain. We will consider it a sacrifice for the Chan Sect. We implore our Master and all esteemed seniors to grant our request!"
As they spoke, tears involuntarily streamed from Xue Ehu and Longxuhu's eyes.
This was not an act or flattery.
It was because after being shamed, they dared not face the seven Immortals of Chan Sect.
This also showed that although they, the third-generation disciples, were manipulated by the Jade Emperor and commanded by the Investiture of the Gods, deep down, they were still loyal to the Chan Sect and revered Sun Kong.
They would never truly cause trouble!
Upon hearing this.
Daoxing Tianzun himself was somewhat moved and wanted to speak for them, but he was also worried that his fellow disciples and Jin Chanzi might suspect him of colluding with outsiders.
He opened his mouth,
and then closed it again.
His heart ached!
But at this moment,
Jin Chanzi and the others behind him were quite magnanimous. They did not humiliate or attack these two for colluding with the five disciples of the Jie Sect and failing in their crime.
Instead, they displayed rare benevolence.
"Wu Zhiqi, Zhou Wuxian, please help these two third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect to rise, and have them lead the way to find the other five fellow Daoists."
"I am not talented, but I know their difficulties. According to Great Sage Sun, on our path to the West, it is best to kill fewer low-level Daoist friends. The most important thing is to deal with high-level figures like the Jade Emperor."
"It is better to resolve enmities than to create them. Moreover, since I am to complete the Journey to the West and resolve the internal strife in Nanzhan Buzhou and the entire human race, I will be the first to execute this principle."
Jin Chanzi was indeed different.
After years of hardship and suffering, coupled with his reincarnation, he admired Tathagata's Buddhist teachings even more, and was the first to propose reconciliation.
Soon.
Wu Zhiqi, Zhou Wuxian, and the seven Immortals of Chan Sect all nodded in agreement.
They truly allowed Xue Ehu and Longxuhu to lead the way to negotiate with the other five people.
Only Chan Master Wu Chao, who lagged behind, seemed somewhat puzzled!
Not for any other reason.
It was because before they set out this time, Sun Kong had mentioned a sentence, saying that the fifth tribulation would not weaken because of the presence of the third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect.
Instead, it might become stronger and more difficult to withstand due to the Jade Emperor's demonization and the Investiture of the Gods becoming the Investiture of Demons.
But now...
"Perhaps Great Sage Sun was overthinking it."
"Or perhaps, what these two said is somewhat true. After all, the other five disciples of the Jie Sect are not core disciples of Sect Leader Tongtian, so they wouldn't be relentlessly persistent."
"I'll trust them for now. Even if something happens, with me here, as long as it's not the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, or the Four Great Holy Mothers of the Jie Sect, I can still manage."
With this thought, Chan Master Wu Chao did not take Sun Kong's words too seriously.
He truly went with them to find the other five people!
...
Ding ding!
At almost the same time, hundreds of billions of miles away, on the summit of the New Huaguo Mountain, Sun Kong, who was still meditating and practicing, suddenly felt something in his heart.
He sensed it.
The smile on his face just a moment ago instantly turned grim!
"Not good!"
"Jin Chanzi and the others are in big trouble. Although it seems they can reconcile the fifth tribulation, they don't realize that the Jade Emperor had already planted demonic seeds in those seven people, which are about to explode."
"Alas, this little Jin Jin, this Chan Master Wu Chao, and my two foolish younger brothers. This elder brother warned you long ago not to underestimate the enemy, but now, I'm afraid you're in for it."
"However, suffering a loss is also a good thing. It's better than not knowing the dangers of the conflict between immortals and demons later. This time, I, Old Sun, will endure and not intervene, and let you rely on your own destiny."
"It can also be considered teaching by example rather than by words."
...
Here at Baihu Ridge.
Jin Chanzi and his party had just met with the seven heavenly gods and immortals of the fifth tribulation, and had agreed that the latter would withdraw and they would be forgiven.
It seemed peaceful.
But they did not expect.
At the moment when everyone was letting their guard down, a strange and cold voice emanated from the depths of the seven people's primordial spirits.
Unexpected misfortune followed!