"I hereby declare that from today, Master Jin Chanzi shall be bestowed the title of Imperial Brother, named the foremost eminent monk of our Great Tang Empire, and shall lead the grand undertaking of the Western Journey. No local officials of the Great Tang shall obstruct him; they must render their full assistance.
This unparalleled great achievement deserves a grand ceremony, celebrated by the entire nation and worshipped in Chang'an.
I have decided that in three days, the Western Journey Grand Ceremony will be held, and I shall personally escort Jin Chanzi out of the pass!"
As Li Shimin spoke these words, the already roaring populace became even more excited!
Soon, it was also the peak moment of Jin Chanzi's current life.
Time.
The third day after the pre-event of the Fifth Tribulation was resolved.
Location.
Earth Immortal Realm, Southern Continent, the First Imperial Capital, the capital of the Great Tang Empire, the city of Chang'an.
Atmosphere of the populace?
A scene of cheers and revelry. The journey had not yet been successful, but countless people were already enthusiastic due to Li Shimin's outstanding leadership, Jin Chanzi's perfect background, and the blessings he had bestowed upon the common people over the eighteen years.
Various factions?
Except for the New Flower-Fruit Mountain represented by Sun Kong, the Chan School represented by Primordial Lord of Heaven, and the Wa Imperial Palace represented by Goddess Nüwa, almost no other factions sent anyone to participate. However, this did not hinder the people's admiration for the many deities.
After all.
Setting aside other matters.
Three days ago, Yuan Shoucheng, Li Chunfeng, and Yuan Tiangang, three subordinates of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court who were said to have betrayed the Dao Ancestor, were indeed beheaded by the foremost loyal minister of the Great Tang, Wei Zheng.
Since everyone regarded the lineage of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court as traitors, the three who followed them were also considered rebels.
Although these three had brought considerable benefits to the people of the Great Tang over the years, once people realized the truth, they dismissed these as mere small favors.
Not a single person would believe them anymore!
In an instant.
The entire Great Tang Empire became busy.
Not to mention the officials from all regions preparing to welcome Jin Chanzi.
Even within Chang'an City, countless individuals, including Emperor Li Shimin of Tang, were in motion, bustling about, constructing the relevant rituals and ceremonies, and undertaking all sorts of mobilization work.
It could be said to be unprecedented in history, with the first Human Emperor treating a mortal minister with such a grand display.
This showed that after Guangchengzi's reminder, Jin Chanzi's influence, coupled with the Li family's long-held belief that they were descendants of Laozi's evil corpse, Li Er, Li Shimin became even more convinced of the importance of the Western Journey.
And the Western Journey Tribulation, issued by the Heavenly Dao and led by the two Saints of the Western Sect, Goddess Nüwa, Primordial Lord of Heaven, and the former Buddha Tathagata, entered a brand-new stage!
...
Meanwhile, the entire Great Tang Empire was focused on the Western Journey Grand Ceremony, led by Li Shimin and Jin Chanzi, solemn and respectful, serious and dignified.
The populace prostrated in welcome.
Officials bowed low.
The Human Emperor offered his support, Jin Chanzi ascended, and immediately preached Buddhist scriptures, with celestial flowers descending and divine melodies resonating endlessly.
Beside him, Wuzhiqi and Zhou Wuxian, following orders, brought out a pot of Sacred Water Soup, which, after immense dilution, was distributed to the millions of people present.
While it could not directly lead them to immediate ascension, it could prolong life, enhance physical constitution, and allow countless people to live decades or a century longer, granting them more opportunities to enjoy life.
Under such circumstances, Emperor Li Shimin of Tang and the billions of his subjects became even more supportive of the Western Journey.
Li Shimin personally served the soup to the people and repeatedly stated that this was all due to the goodwill of Great Sage Sun Kong and Jin Chanzi!
It was as if he regarded Jin Chanzi as a future Buddha to be revered.
On the other side, Sun Kong of the New Flower-Fruit Mountain, using his Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze, saw that Li Shimin genuinely wished to seize this opportunity to display his dignity as a Human Emperor, to express his dominance by denouncing the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, and to demonstrate his determination to win over the Western Sect, the Chan School, and the Wa Imperial Palace.
He instantly gained some certainty.
No need to guess.
This seemingly harmless Li Shimin, who was merely being influenced by others, might indeed have been a reincarnation of a disciple under Laozi in his past life.
Although Laozi's attitude had been ambiguous and seemingly unreliable before, Sun Kong knew that Laozi's doctrine of non-action was precisely how it came about.
Despite speaking neutrally, this fellow was far more cunning than the Heavenly Dao or the Demonic Dao.
If Sun Kong had not been completely suppressed by the New Six-Eared Macaque before, Laozi would never have invested carelessly.
Especially when it concerned a crucial link to Jin Chanzi's destiny – the Li family!
It was said that Saints could not be calculated, but Li Shimin and his ancestors could be.
Under the vigorous operation of the "Wuhou Seven Star Formation," in just a moment, Sun Kong understood the general outline of the matter!
"Legend has it that the Tang imperial family, the Li clan, has always claimed to be descendants of Li Er. Although it is vague and distant, there is indeed some truth to it.
The father of this Li Shimin in the Earth Immortal Realm was Li Yuan. In this timeline, Li Yuan is not the Ancestor of Tang, but a common Jin King.
Li Shimin's grandfather, Li Bing, was the Duke of Tang, a title from one of the dynasties that rotated several times in five hundred years, posthumously honored as Emperor Taizu of Tang.
His great-grandfather was even more remarkable, a member of the Eight Pillars of the Western Wei, posthumously honored as Emperor Taizu of Tang.
His great-great-grandfather was named Li Tianci. Just hearing the name, one could tell he was extraordinary.
Others might not be able to trace back so far, but I, Old Sun, am different. With the 'Wuhou Seven Star Formation,' I can deduce that this Li Tianci is none other than the reincarnation of the Great Master Xuandu.
It is likely that Laozi is hedging his bets, sending the Eight Immortals of the Upper Realm to participate in the second round of the New Six-Eared Macaque's Western Journey in the mortal world, while also having Great Master Xuandu lead the Li family to participate in my Earth Immortal Realm's first round of the Western Journey.
They say he practices non-action, but in reality, Laozi is doing everything he can, cloaking himself in the guise of non-action.
The reason he dares to do this, besides the unpredictable outcome of the second Dao-Demonic conflict, is likely that he truly possesses certain key information that even I am unaware of. What could it be?
Although Sun Kong harbored some unmentionable thoughts about Li Shimin's great-great-grandfather Li Tianci and Laozi, he knew more clearly that under the current circumstances, among the six Saints, only two truly supported him, and only one was absolutely opposed.
The other three were fence-sitters.
In such a situation, neither he nor the New Six-Eared Macaque had a very high chance of winning. They had to temporarily ignore the alliances of the Saints and focus their main energy on the specific tribulations.
Only by unleashing his talent for courting disaster in this way would he avoid offending Saints and altering the course of events without reason before truly becoming powerful!
Thinking thus, Sun Kong said nothing more.
He immediately sent out five more pots of Sacred Water Soup. The previous one represented himself, while the subsequent ones represented Laozi, Primordial Lord of Heaven, Goddess Nüwa, and the two Saints of the Western Sect.
In order to win over as many Saints as possible, he was willing to pay a heavy price. Even though it was diluted a hundred million times, it was enough to make the billions of people in the Great Tang Empire eternally grateful to him!
As expected.
After these six pots of Sacred Water Soup benefited everyone, the entire Great Tang Empire was once again shocked and grateful, and with Jin Chanzi, the super lineup was thus established!"