"But, Venerable Masters, previously I arranged for Guanyin Bodhisattva and her two companions to meet Sun Kong, precisely to avoid any unpleasantness between them. Now, are we to abandon the plan due to a minor mishap? From what I understand, since the eighth trial, no one dares to provoke Sun Kong lightly. He treats the subsequent trials with a playful attitude, even cooperating with Guanyin. I fear..."
Hearing his two Saints so anxious, Burning Lamp Buddha dared not be careless and immediately paid close attention to this unforeseen anomaly. However, as the one who directly arranged for Guanyin and her companions, he had to consider their emotions and thus offered a reminder.
Unexpectedly, his words were immediately interrupted by the two Saints!
"Nonsense!"
"Who told you the Journey to the West tribulations would be without accidents or anomalies? And who authorized you to command Guanyin and her companions like that?"
"They are, and always will be, people of our Western Teachings' Hinayana Buddhism. We should not have ostracized Sun Monkey back then, leading to one wrong step after another. Now, stop making excuses for them. If you can manage it, have them cooperate with Sun Kong immediately to complete the nineteenth trial, and do not demand excessive merit rewards. Otherwise, we will not hesitate to replace them."
"Burning Lamp, Burning Lamp, have you forgotten what we told you last time? With the second opening of the Dao-Demon contention and two parallel Journeys to the West, the heavenly secrets are even more chaotic. It is better to remain still than to act. Why don't you understand that cooperating with Sun Monkey to complete the Journey to the West and obtain the deserved merit rewards constitutes success? Do not emulate the Demon race, the Heavenly Court, or the Jie Sect and cause trouble!"
"If you don't believe me, just look at this heavenly tribulation. Although Qing Quan Daoist and Song Jian Daoist violated the procedure first, can Heaven punish them with its full power?"
To make Burning Lamp Buddha understand their earnest intentions, Jieyin Daoist and Zhunti Daoist spoke with great sincerity, even revealing certain matters that should have remained secret.
Indeed, as they leaked a part of Heaven's secrets, the heavenly tribulation that had descended upon the Five Zhuang Temple surprisingly shifted towards the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Although no action was taken, it terrified many!
"So, Heaven is truly unable to punish them immediately due to the Demon Dao's restrictions, and is merely issuing a warning?"
"It turns out we, who are not Saints, have overestimated Heaven's power. No wonder Sun Kong has courted death countless times without any concrete punishment from Heaven."
"For no other reason."
"It is simply because, since the appearance of the Demon Dao, Heaven has been greatly weakened. If that is the case, we should indeed listen more to the opinions of the two Venerable Masters. Someone, immediately inform Guanyin and her companions!"
"I hope they do not force me to use my last resort. While it is indeed better to remain still, does this anomaly indicate that subsequent tribulations will also change?"
After a moment of shock, Burning Lamp Buddha quickly regained his composure, sending people to inform Guanyin and her companions that they must change their previous mindset. The focus should no longer be on extorting more merit rewards, but on immediately reviving the Ginseng Fruit Tree and completing the nineteenth trial.
Meanwhile, to ensure the Western Teachings' interests were not harmed, Burning Lamp Buddha personally set out, disguised as a monk, and arrived at the backyard of the Five Zhuang Temple in advance to meet Sun Kong!
...
South Sea.
Purple Bamboo Forest.
Although Guanyin Bodhisattva and her two companions were reluctant to change their strategy, when Lingji Bodhisattva informed them that it was an order from the two Saints of the Western Teachings, and that if one anomaly could occur, more could follow. For the sake of the Western Teachings, they must not cause further trouble, or they themselves might be expelled!
The three were immediately terrified and no longer dared to act presumptuously. They promptly went to the Five Zhuang Temple.
Upon landing, they saw Sun Kong and Burning Lamp Buddha in conversation, reaching some sort of agreement!
...
"Thank you for your understanding, fellow Daoist Sun. With this cooperation, I believe the misunderstandings of many years should be resolved."
"I have already sensed that fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi is returning. Can the nineteenth trial proceed..."
In front of Sun Kong, Burning Lamp Buddha even had to speak in a humble tone. This scene made Guanyin Bodhisattva and her companions' hearts race, their eyes filled with disbelief, yet their lips remained silent, offering no rebuttal. It was for no other reason than that Sun Kong was calmer than all of them. Despite seeing the Five Zhuang Temple suffer a great calamity and anticipating further anomalies, he remained composed. In this regard, he was tens of thousands of times superior to the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain!
"Zhenyuanzi..."
"Hmm, this time, Old Sun really didn't intend to court death or cause trouble. It's a shame his disciples were disobedient, coupled with the heavenly tribulation, and meddlers stirring up trouble."
"However, Burning Lamp Buddha and the others need not fear. Old Sun has never intended to turn against you. As long as Guanyin sister personally revives the Ginseng Fruit Tree and completes the nineteenth trial ahead of time, others will not be able to escalate the situation."
Sun Kong's words were a timely rain for Burning Lamp Buddha and others. Even Guanyin Bodhisattva, though unwilling to lose face, under the current circumstances where demonic energy permeated the Five Zhuang Temple and its surroundings, and with monstrous energy raging, she could only yield.
"Greetings, Great Sage Sun."
"I will first pay my respects to Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi and immediately tend to the Ginseng Fruit Tree."
With that, Guanyin Bodhisattva dared not look at Sun Kong any longer and turned to find Zhenyuanzi. Everyone thought this would prevent external forces from intervening further.
However, the moment Zhenyuanzi entered with the Ginseng Fruit Tree and the corpses of his many disciples, his expression turned extremely grim, and he then delivered an explosive piece of news!
"I apologize, fellow Daoist Sun, Burning Lamp Buddha. The Jade Dew of your Guanyin Bodhisattva cannot save the Ginseng Fruit Tree."
"I fear no one can save it."
"But I would very much like to ask, does anyone know who completely killed the Ginseng Fruit Tree and forced me to erupt in anger?"
"Also, Qing Quan and Song Jian did not dare to be greedy, and I would have punished them myself. Who dared to take their lives?"
"Do you truly think I am easy to provoke?"
Zhenyuanzi's words not only made Guanyin Bodhisattva, who followed him, filled with shame, and Burning Lamp Buddha and others turn pale, but even Sun Kong was slightly surprised. He then activated the "Wuhou Seven Stars Formation," locking onto a figure no one had expected. Indeed, it was that person causing trouble from behind!
"Fellow Daoist Netherworld, these two calamities of the Five Zhuang Temple have nothing to do with you. Are you also going to interfere?"
"No wonder, only the abilities of Patriarch Netherworld could completely destroy a Ginseng Fruit Tree, one of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots, rendering Guanyin helpless."
"However, on what grounds do you think Old Sun will not help Zhenyuanzi, nor unite with the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain?"
Sun Kong's sharp accusation of the intruder's identity shocked not only Burning Lamp Buddha, Zhenyuanzi, Guanyin, and Jin Chanzi but also intensified the conflict!