Sun Kong's strength was evidently far superior to Jin Chanzi's, despite both being Taiyi Golden Immortals.
In the Primordial Era, the difference between minor realms was as vast as the moon compared to stars.
Furthermore, Sun Kong was at the Great Perfection of Taiyi Golden Immortal, just one step away from Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal. His power even surpassed Erlang Shen's.
However, this was not the primary reason.
What truly astonished Jin Chanzi and the Venerables was the divine ability he displayed.
"Buddha's Light Illuminates All!"
"This is my Buddha's divine ability?"
The "my Buddha" spoken by Venerable Kashyapa naturally referred to Tathagata.
Tathagata possessed two signature divine abilities.
One was the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm, the technique from which Sun Houzi could never escape his palm.
The other was this Buddha's Light Illuminates All.
It had to be said that the monks of Spirit Mountain were truly adept at putting on a show.
Every appearance was accompanied by either myriad rays of golden light or boundless Buddhist sounds.
However, ordinary disciples could at best manage golden light that stretched for ten thousand feet.
Tathagata, on the other hand, could spread his golden light for a million miles, intermingled with supreme pressure.
Its primary function was to deter the minds of the weak.
To put it plainly, the magic damage far outweighed the physical damage.
If used against an immortal of equal standing, such as the Jade Emperor or Grand Supreme Elderly Lord, this move would be merely a display.
Yet, within the Three Realms, few could compare to Tathagata.
Those who surpassed him were virtually non-existent.
Unless those few from Zixiao Palace descended.
However, after the Investiture of the Gods, the Six Sages had shattered the Primordial Era, causing untold suffering to countless beings.
Angered, Patriarch Hongjun had completely separated the Primordial Era from the Three Realms.
He further decreed that Saints were forbidden from entering the Three Realms.
Thus, the Three Realms became the domain of quasi-Saints.
This was the reason why Tathagata, the former chief disciple of the Chan Sect who suffered setbacks during the Investiture of the Gods, could wield such influence in the Journey to the West.
"Sun Houzi, how you learned my Buddha's divine ability is a matter for later."
"Upon our return to Spirit Mountain, we will report it to my Buddha."
"Today, we are here to capture Tang Sanzang on my Buddha's command. Since you are not a disciple of my Buddha's sect, you have no right to interfere in our internal affairs!"
Venerable Kashyapa unleashed a torrent of words at Sun Kong.
His speech constantly pressured Sun Kong with mentions of Tathagata and the Buddhist sect.
It was clear he feared Sun Kong's strength.
Otherwise, he would have likely rallied the other Venerables to gang up on Sun Kong, just as they had done with Jin Chanzi.
"Bullying the weak and fearing the strong?"
Sun Kong sneered inwardly.
Who said Buddhism preached equality for all beings?
A faction where inequality in status, position, and power still existed could never be truly equal.
Therefore, the Buddhist sect remained a place where strength was paramount.
Since Tathagata did not wish for Sun Kong to join the Buddhist sect at this moment, he would force his way in with his strength.
Anyone who dared to oppose him would be beaten into submission!
"Amitabha."
"Lay down your butcher's knife and you shall become Buddha."
"As disciples of the Buddhist sect, you gang up on a lone individual. I, Old Sun, cannot simply pretend not to see this."
"Otherwise, my Buddha might later say that I, Old Sun, did not sow good karma and have no connection to the Buddhist sect."
Sun Kong chuckled and invoked Tathagata's name as well.
These monks loved to talk about karma, so he would use magic to defeat magic.
"This..."
The Venerables were rendered speechless.
For a moment, they found themselves unable to retort.
In truth, Venerable Kashyapa and the others had no idea why Tathagata refused Sun Kong.
It made no sense to reject such a powerful ally at the Great Perfection of Taiyi Golden Immortal.
Yet, he had sent various immortals to persuade Sun Kong to leave.
What kind of strategy was this? It seemed like a foolish one.
Of course, their inability to comprehend stemmed from their low status, which did not grant them knowledge of the grand plan for the Journey to the West.
Even Kashyapa and Ananda, Tathagata's confidants, were not privy to such secrets.
"Since my Buddha has spoken thus, there must be a reason for it."
"How about this: as long as you promise not to interfere in this matter, we will speak well of you afterward."
"If you help Jin Chanzi today, you might truly sever your ties with the Buddhist sect for good!"
Venerable Kashyapa spoke again, attempting to deceive Sun Kong.
Empty promises?
Sun Kong had fallen for this trick too many times in his previous life.
Those unscrupulous bosses knew nothing else but how to make empty promises.
Now that he had been reborn and transmigrated into Sun Wukong, he still had to endure the empty promises of immortals.
Was this not bullying a monkey?
"Enough talk."
"Jin Chanzi, I, Old Sun, will protect him."
"If anyone has a problem with that, just try to make a move!"
Sun Kong suddenly became enraged.
Kashyapa was instantly dumbfounded.
He had pondered for a long time but could not figure out what he had said wrong.
"I..."
As Venerable Kashyapa was about to inquire further, a dazzling golden light transformed into a mountain-like hand and pushed towards him.
With the magical power of a Great Perfection Taiyi Golden Immortal, how could a Golden Immortal like Venerable Kashyapa resist?
"Ah!"
In a single exchange, Venerable Kashyapa was severely wounded and vomited blood.
"Kashyapa!"
The other Venerables cried out in alarm, their faces filled with fear.
Fortunately, Venerable Kashyapa was only severely injured and not dead.
However, the pain from his injuries was a minor matter.
What puzzled him most was why Sun Kong had attacked him.
"Talking counts too!"
At this moment, Sun Kong offered an explanation.
The Venerables: "..."
"Pfft!"
Venerable Kashyapa felt a surge of humiliation, spat out another mouthful of blood, and fainted on the spot.
Seeing this, the remaining Venerables immediately froze like wooden statues.
With Venerable Kashyapa as a cautionary tale, they all wished Sun Kong would take Jin Chanzi and leave quickly.
After all, they had no idea what excuse Sun Kong might use to beat them next.
What if blinking was also considered an offense?
Even immortals would get very dry if they didn't blink for a long time!
"Not good!"
"The commotion here is too great, it has attracted others!"
Jin Chanzi frowned, looking into the distance.
Indeed, streams of golden light were converging towards their location.
Among them were Bodhisattvas with powerful auras.
"You should go."
Sun Kong glanced at Jin Chanzi indifferently and said.
"You..."
Jin Chanzi was about to refuse, but he saw the resolute expression on Sun Kong's face.
"I, Old Sun, am not a disciple of the Buddhist sect, so even if I err, they cannot do much to me."
"Conversely, if you return to Spirit Mountain, you will face reincarnation. Are you willing to part with it?"
Sun Kong asked with a serious expression.
Willing to part with it?
These three words echoed endlessly in Jin Chanzi's mind.
He had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years to achieve his current status.
Once he fell into reincarnation, all those years of effort would be in vain.
How difficult it was for a mortal body to cultivate to immortality.
Furthermore, who knew what the Three Realms would become in another hundreds of thousands of years.
Perhaps, as Sun Kong said.
Tathagata was merely angered for a moment, and once his temper subsided, he could return to Spirit Mountain.
"Great Sage."
"If you are imprisoned by Spirit Mountain, I, this humble monk, will rescue you even at the cost of my life."
"I will surely repay this great kindness today."
"Take care!"