It wasn't a good word, though.
It was a cliché that made you kneel as soon as you heard it!
"We, the buddhas of Spirit Mountain, have a word, and we ask all living beings of the Great Primordial Three Realms to listen carefully..."
The first sentence, spoken by Patriarch Burning Lamp, tried to imitate the Jade Emperor's dominance, but after shouting for so long, no one paid any attention.
It was an embarrassing and humiliating situation!
"Let this Bodhisattva speak, and ask all beings to listen carefully. Regarding the conflict between the Dao and the Demon, we, the buddhas of Spirit Mountain, have made a decision. We follow the teachings of the Two Sages of the Western Teachings and dare not take sides arbitrarily. Instead, we are neutral..."
The second sentence was spoken by Bodhisattva Guanyin, who couldn't stand seeing Patriarch Burning Lamp tremble with fear and stammer. She decided to take over.
To her surprise.
Her words also didn't attract much attention. Because they were too cliché, not only were there few people outside Spirit Mountain listening to her, but even hundreds of millions of Buddhist disciples were yawning.
It was a complete lack of respect!
"You are still not skilled enough in speaking. Let us, the Five Hundred Arhats, handle this. We have never lost a debate."
Seeing that Patriarch Burning Lamp and Bodhisattva Guanyin had both failed and disgraced Spirit Mountain, the Five Hundred Arhats couldn't stand it any longer and decided to speak as a group.
However.
Before they could continue, the Dao and Demon factions, as well as the neutral onlookers, were already fed up with the repeated delays of the Spirit Mountain buddhas.
They directly attacked!
"Well said, Patriarch Burning Lamp! You are not even a quasi-saint, so how dare you imitate the Jade Emperor and announce to the Great Primordial Three Realms?"
"Get lost and go eat dog food! You scoundrel are not even one percent as good as Great Sage Sun."
This was a jab from the Eight Immortals of the Chan Sect!
The buddhas of Spirit Mountain did not dare to retaliate and could only endure it silently!
"Indeed, as the Eight Immortals of the Chan Sect said, you, Bodhisattva Guanyin, were ordered by Tathagata to be most concerned about the Tang Monk and his disciples, but you have done nothing in five hundred years. It's a disgrace."
"With such buddhas of Spirit Mountain, how dare you talk about neutrality? I think it's better for you to come to the human realm and become monsters in the second round of the Journey to the West, so you can be killed and eaten when facing calamity."
This was a taunt from the New Six-Eared Macaque and others.
Seeing that the speakers were backed by the Demon Race, who dared to provoke the Heavenly Dao, the buddhas of Spirit Mountain dared not retaliate even more after hearing this, and could only endure it silently.
"It seems that Spirit Mountain, without Tathagata and myself guarding it, is indeed inferior. However, don't worry, I don't mind your fence-sitting and fickle attitude."
"After all, this Spirit Mountain and the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism are also my second home. As long as you do a little better in the subsequent tribulations, oh no, rather, as long as you don't drag us down, I swear I will not trouble you!"
"In the future, you will receive ample merit."
"However, if you dare to be neutral on the surface and help others in secret, beware of my Golden Cudgel. It is not to be trifled with!"
The one who spoke this time, belittling the buddhas of Spirit Mountain, was none other than Sun Wukong, who had already developed PTSD from the buddhas' actions!
Although the buddhas all knew that their positions were becoming more and more awkward and marginalized, under the years of training by Sun Wukong, the ancestor of all mischief-makers.
Not a single one dared to utter a sound!
Ultimately.
The entire Spirit Mountain became the sole laughingstock of the conflict between the Dao and the Demon!
"Sigh, you guys, why did you push me up back then, and now you're making me lose face? The Eight Immortals of the Chan Sect dare not confront, the New Six-Eared Macaque dare not confront, and Sun Wukong even less so."
"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have snatched Tathagata's position. How was I tricked by you few people?"
"What will happen in the future?"
Spirit Mountain.
Great Thunderclap Temple.
On the chief seat that originally belonged to Tathagata, Patriarch Burning Lamp, with a mournful face, looked at the equally embarrassed expressions of Guanyin and the others, and felt immense regret!
At this moment.
He began to miss the good old days when Tathagata Buddha was in charge and took all the blame!
...
Meanwhile.
After a night of discussion, Sun Wukong and the others reached a consensus.
Without the New Six-Eared Macaque causing trouble in the Journey to the West, they should go all out. With the New Six-Eared Macaque and the Demon Race causing trouble, they had to work even harder!
Thus.
Just as the buddhas of Spirit Mountain became the most embarrassingly awkward faction in the Great Primordial Three Realms, millions of monkeys and grandchildren, following Sun Wukong's deployment.
Began to prepare for the fifth tribulation, which would arrive in over ten years. Although this tribulation was acknowledged by Patriarch Hongjun to have its difficulty reduced by two levels, in reality, it might be even harder.
On the opposite side were seven "Tiger" related deities arranged by the Heavenly Court.
On this side, Sun Wukong, based on his previous calculations, roughly dispatched seven groups of people to help the Tang Monk overcome the trials.
The first group was, of course, none other than the Tang Monk's master in this life, Master Wuchao!
Sun Wukong arranged for him to deal with the fortune-damaging god Xue Ehu.
The second group was undertaken by his second brother, Wu Zhiqi.
Responsible for dealing with Lan Hu, the Earth Horn Star.
The third group was undertaken by his third brother, Zhou Wuxian.
Responsible for dealing with Wang Hu, the Heavenly Sword Star.
The fourth group was handed over to General Ba.
Responsible for dealing with Wang Hu, the Moon Break Star.
The first four groups were responsible for dealing with the four most powerful, highest in cultivation, and simultaneously the most uncertain among the seven "Tigers".
Afterward.
Sun Wukong found the Eight Immortals of the Chan Sect and asked them to deal with the remaining three "Tigers".
"Brother Guangchengzi will continue to guard Chang'an City."
"Brother Chi Jingzi, thank you for your hard work. Your junior brother Jiang Ziya's disciple, Long Xuhu, the Nine Ugly Star, is also a candidate for the fifth tribulation this time. It depends on how you negotiate."
"As for the other two, Wei Huo Hu Zhu Zhao and Bai Hu Xing Yin Cheng Xiu, how about handing them over to Taiyi Zhenren and Lingbao Dafashi to deal with?"
"From what I know, both Taiyi Zhenren and Zhu Zhao cultivate fire-based spells. Your Nine Dragon Divine Fire Hood should be most effective against him."
"As for Lingbao Dafashi, his comprehension, roots, and magical powers should all be superior, and dealing with Yin Cheng Xiu should be a piece of cake."
"Besides this, Brother Guangchengzi and I will each guard one side of the rear, ready to provide support. The other five fellow Daoists can also assist from the side. There should be no major problem."
"Of course, in case the Demon Race, the Heavenly Court, or the Jie Sect make any bigger moves, I will definitely pay attention at all times. I will lend you eight monkey hairs for you eight people. At a critical moment, blow them with your magic power, and they will take effect."
Facing the Eight Immortals of the Chan Sect, with whom he had cooperated several times, Sun Wukong was naturally generous. While deploying a plan that everyone praised, he also gave them monkey hair clones as backups.
Seeing this, the Eight Immortals of the Chan Sect admired Sun Wukong even more.
Everyone then set off according to the plan.
Soon.
These ten-odd years passed by in the blink of an eye.
Finally, the Tang Monk officially came of age, paid respects to the Emperor of Tang, and was awarded the title of National Preceptor. All that was left was for the Emperor of Tang to encounter his nemesis, the Old Dragon King of Jing River!
...
It was said that one morning, this was the nth time the Jing River aquatic creatures had been tricked by Yuan Shoucheng.
It finally alarmed the Old Dragon King of Jing River.
"Damn it!"
"How dare a mere Yuan Shoucheng bully my Jing River aquatic creatures like this? I will personally go and find him!"
As the Old Dragon King of Jing River was about to leave.
Suddenly.
Someone from the Heavenly Court arrived!