"Your Majesty, these matters are indeed as I've described. The details involve the workings of heaven, the conspiracy of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court colluding with demons and the Jie Sect to subvert the human emperor's great undertaking and seize control of Nanzhanbuzhou.
"This also involves the second conflict between Taoism and the demonic path, and the fifth tribulation of the Journey to the West... and so forth, a cycle of cause and effect.
"It's difficult for me, Guang Chengzi, to fully explain it all in a short time. However, since His Majesty the Human Emperor wishes to know, though I am not a great scholar, I can tell you more.
"Only I hope that after listening, Your Majesty will remain calm and not become too agitated.
"The current Great Desolation, across the Three Realms, is no longer peaceful. Apart from my master, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Empress Nuwa, who wholeheartedly uphold the righteous path, and the efforts of Monkey King, Jin Chanzi, and his disciples on their journey to the West to assist the Great Tang, it is difficult to trust anyone else.
"However, regardless of how the heavenly or demonic paths may change, as long as Your Majesty treats matters with reason, no evil or heretical path can harm you in the slightest.
"At this critical juncture, I am also willing to protect Your Majesty until your end!"
Seeing that Li Shimin was truly wary of the Heavenly Court, Guang Chengzi spoke without hesitation.
He immediately revealed his identity and laid out the causes and consequences of this second conflict between Taoism and the demonic path, validating the words of the old Dragon King of Jing River and making Li Shimin truly understand at once!
After hearing his words,
Even if Li Shimin were not the Human Emperor but an ordinary person, he would have become vigilant and recognized that the Daoist priest before him was no ordinary mortal.
He was the purported ancestor of the Li family, a junior disciple of Li Er, the foremost of the Eight Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, and the teacher of Emperor Xuanyuan of old.
Guang Chengzi!
In that instant, Li Shimin felt as if he had received similar treatment to Emperor Xuanyuan. He not only completely believed Guang Chengzi and the old Dragon King of Jing River but also felt extreme dissatisfaction towards Li Chunfeng and the other two.
He had intended to immediately dispatch troops to arrest Li Chunfeng, Yuan Tiangang, and Yuan Shoucheng.
But Guang Chengzi stopped him with a smile.
"Does the National Preceptor wish to be magnanimous towards them?"
"That is too merciful!"
"Though I am a mortal, I know that some grudges cannot be easily forgiven. Since they are all lackeys of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, intending to subvert my Great Tang empire, why should you stop me?"
"National Preceptor, you must know that not long ago, I witnessed part of the scene of the second conflict between Taoism and the demonic path. Letting them go like this will surely bring greater disaster in the future."
"Furthermore, they have that Wu Meiniang behind them, and they intended to harm the old Dragon King of Jing River."
Li Shimin mistakenly believed that Guang Chengzi had become overly benevolent after so many years without taking a life, and thus expressed his confusion.
Guang Chengzi wasted no words, instead laughing heartily and indicating that he was not being merciful but acting for a reason. While doing so, he waved his hand, displaying visions of future events one after another.
This instantly stunned Li Shimin!
He saw countless scenes: Wu Zetian killing members of the Li family and proclaiming herself Empress; the old Dragon King of Jing River failing in his revenge, only to be killed by Yuan Shoucheng in collusion with the Heavenly Court, and then seeking redress from Li Shimin.
At the same time,
Naturally, there were also scenes where Li Shimin and the old Dragon King of Jing River were both schemed against by the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court. Though he had received Wei Zheng's help in beheading the old Dragon King of Jing River, this incident triggered a series of changes.
From then on,
The two esteemed generals, Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong, were forced to accept Li Chunfeng's arrangement and become door gods. Ostensibly gods, they were in reality reduced to cannon fodder for the Heavenly Court.
This was not all.
As Li Shimin was forced to comply with the will of heaven and implement the Journey to the West plan according to the Jade Emperor's wishes, the Great Tang Empire would gradually decline.
It would successively experience Wu Zetian's reign, Emperor Xuanzong's An Lushan Rebellion, and in the centuries that followed, the Great Tang Empire would suffer from regional warlordism and eunuch power.
It was enough to bring tears to one's eyes.
While the inherent flaws of each dynasty and the cyclical nature of history played a part, the schemes of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court and the machinations of the demonic path and the Jie Sect were undeniably involved.
To put it plainly,
Even if the heavenly laws dictated that the Journey to the West must proceed, Sun Wukong and Jin Chanzi did not intend to weaken the subjects of the Great Tang by relying solely on the scriptures of the Western Teachings.
They merely intended to use them as a reference.
However, it was different for the Jade Emperor and his cohorts. Their intention was to use Li Chunfeng, Yuan Tiangang, Yuan Shoucheng, Wu Zetian, and others.
To gradually erode and swallow the Great Tang, Nanzhanbuzhou, and the Earthly Immortal Realm.
To achieve the revival of the demonic path and for the Jade Emperor to fulfill his grand ambition of becoming the true Demon Lord of the Three Realms!
"So, the entire affair is indeed like this. I have harbored two such traitors by my side?"
"But I am merely a mortal emperor, how dare I challenge the demonic path and the Heavenly Court? Can the Daoist priest immediately prove it, so I can make up my mind?"
Li Shimin's trust in Guang Chengzi grew, but because it involved figures like the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, he, a mortal emperor, couldn't help but feel afraid.
Therefore,
At times he addressed Guang Chengzi as National Preceptor and at other times as Daoist priest, clearly reflecting his internal struggle!
Seeing this,
Guang Chengzi knew his opportunity was ripening.
He no longer concealed anything.
He told Li Shimin in one go about all the events surrounding the fifth tribulation.
Putting aside other matters,
For now,
The temporary alliance of Li Shimin, Guang Chengzi, and the old Dragon King of Jing River must each fulfill their roles to prevent disaster!
"Your Majesty must meet with Wei Zheng in advance and brief him, making him aware of the dire situation, so he doesn't solely pursue the beheading of the old Dragon King of Jing River, benefiting the Heavenly Court for nothing."
"I, on the other hand, will act as an ordinary soldier, staying by Your Majesty's side, ready to guard against any potential retaliation from the Heavenly Court."
"As for the old Dragon King of Jing River, his difficulty is the greatest. Until he exposes Yuan Shoucheng's true nature and earns merit for the Journey to the West by complying with destiny, we must not disturb him."
"But once he succeeds, subsequent matters will be much easier to handle."
As he spoke, to completely appease the startled Li Shimin, Guang Chengzi specially produced an ordinary golden elixir of the Chan Sect.
It had no effect on him, of course.
However, after Li Shimin took it, his body became light and healthy, and his lifespan was extended. Immortality was impossible, but living for several hundred more years, completely preventing Wu Zetian's rise to power,
Was achievable!
"Thank you, Daoist priest... oh no, thank you, National Preceptor Guang Chengzi. I know what to do."
"I will certainly not disappoint you."
"After all, I am, in a way, a descendant of Li Er."
That night,
Li Shimin and Guang Chengzi reached an agreement and summoned Wei Zheng that very night, giving him a heads-up. Preparations were made in advance.
The following morning,
The old Dragon King of Jing River outwardly obeyed the arrangement of the Grand White Venus, transforming into an ordinary human to make the bet with Yuan Shoucheng. Inwardly, however, his attitude was humble, devoid of arrogance.
His demeanor made Yuan Shoucheng almost believe he had the wrong person.
The surrounding common people did not harbor excessive displeasure towards the old Dragon King of Jing River; instead, they admired him!