Conferred God: Got cramped at the beginning

Chapter 1108 Pleading

"Is it really the Venerable Xuanzang?" After a moment, a familiar, elegant voice rang out.

A slightly aged man hurried in from the city.

Before the man had even stood still, Xuanzang had already recognized him.

They had met once before in Liangzhou.

He was one of the ministers who supported King Li Ke of Wu.

When the Kingdom of Fengqi was established, King Li Ke of Wu was sent to Fengqi to make a living. Naturally, the ministers who followed and supported him were no exception. The vast majority of them crossed the ocean with King Li Ke of Wu to come to Fengqi to make a living.

It's fortunate that all these civil and military officials with experience in governing a region came to Fengqi Kingdom.

Otherwise, the humanitarian order in Fengqi Kingdom would never have been stabilized so quickly.

"It really is the Venerable Xuanzang!" Looking at the dignified and gentle monk at the city gate, the county magistrate named Chen Li also showed a look of joy and emotion.

—In this vast and distant Southern Continent, to be able to meet an old friend, even if the relationship with this old friend is not very good, is still a very joyful thing.

After a brief moment of joy, a reproachful look appeared on Chen Li's face.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming to Fengqi Kingdom, Master?"

“The timing of your arrival in Fengqi Kingdom is truly unfortunate.”

Chen Li said.

Even as they were talking, several Taoist disciples turned their cold gazes toward them.

“Monk, this city gate is not for you to pass through.” After a moment, a Taoist priest came over and gestured angrily to the side.

—That's the right side of the city gate, where a small gate has been opened.

That small door is the entrance and exit for the Buddhist monks.

In this Fengqi Kingdom, monks can only use this small gate—to use the main gate would be considered an overstepping of authority.

They should be severely punished.

"It is even more undignified for the county magistrate to personally come to greet a monk." The Taoist's gaze then fell on County Magistrate Chen Li.

"Absurd!" Chen Li glanced at the Taoist priest, completely unconcerned.

“Ordinary monks cannot pass through this gate, but how could Master Xuanzang be an ordinary monk?”

"This is an envoy from a superior nation!"

"Even if your ancestor came, he would be treated with the utmost respect in front of the Dharma Master."

"How dare you, a mere novice, offer your opinion here?"

Chen Li had no intention of causing trouble; he simply handed the document in his hand to the Taoist priest.

Before he even received the document, an incredibly strong aura of humanity emanated from it, pressing down like a mountain and a sea, almost completely shattering the magical power within the person's body.

"So they are envoys from a superior country."

"I apologize for my rudeness."

The Taoist priest didn't dare to accept the document at all. Instead, he took two steps back before bowing to Master Xuanzang, showing no doubt about Xuanzang's identity.

After all, the overwhelming humanitarian spirit emanating from that document was undeniable.

"The envoy from the superior country was just a monk."

Xuanzang clasped his hands together, emphasizing his identity as a Buddhist monk.

He's not the one stirring up trouble.

Rather, it's because he's about to spread the Dharma in the Kingdom of Fengqi.

If one were to avoid revealing their identity as a Buddhist monk at this time, it would create additional obstacles when it came time to transmit the Dharma.

Therefore, after confirming the state of Taoism and Buddhism in Fengqi Kingdom, he was certain that he would enter Fengqi Kingdom as a Buddhist monk.

Instead of entering the Kingdom of Fengqi as an envoy from a superior country.

The former, after entering this place, was able to expound the Dharma.

But the latter... after stepping into this place, could only talk about the affairs of the two countries.

As for the troubles brought about by Buddhist monks stepping into this Xuanzong Dao Kingdom—this was something that Master Xuanzang was used to!

Before the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, Chang'an, the capital of the Central Plains, was practically a dead end for Buddhism.

Even Buddhist bodhisattvas would face certain death if they stepped into that place!

At that time, the Tang emperor issued an edict ordering eminent scholars from both Buddhism and Taoism to come to Chang'an to discuss Buddhist teachings in order to prepare for a Water and Land Dharma Assembly to deliver the souls of the dead.

As a result, eminent figures from both Buddhism and Taoism headed towards Chang'an. During this process, the powerful figures of the Taoist sect naturally obstructed the Buddhist monks in various ways.

Beneath the eye-catching figures of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, countless powerful figures from both Buddhism and Taoism fell on the road to Chang'an City.

Even True Lords and Bodhisattvas at the Taiyi Realm have died countless times because of this.

No matter how much Taoism is revered and Buddhism is abandoned in Fengqi Kingdom, can the situation still compare to that of Chang'an before the Water and Land Dharma Assembly?

It should be noted that before the Water and Land Dharma Assembly in Chang'an, the Buddhist community's status was not recognized by human beings.

Back then, even monks walking on the street could be directly dragged away to do hard labor.

In this Fengqi Kingdom, although monks can only use the side gates, at least they can still walk openly on the road and appear before people.

"Just a monk..." Upon hearing this, Chen Li's face immediately turned bitter.

Those who had wanted to watch the spectacle scattered in all directions, no longer daring to approach.

As for the Monkey King...

His attention was completely elsewhere at that moment.

After stepping into the Fengqi Kingdom, all his attention was focused on the many powerful figures within it.

—The lineage of humanity in Fengqi Kingdom grew under the care of Emperor Wenchang.

This place can also be considered one of the Taoist temples of Emperor Wenchang.

And the Great Sage Equaling Heaven happens to be the protector of Emperor Wenchang.

In addition, there was the Ruyi Jingu Bang (magic staff) he was holding.

He was originally recognized by humanity as a saint within the human order, and had an extremely close relationship with humanity.

In addition, there's his identity as a Great Sage of the Demon Clan.

In this Phoenix Kingdom, the human spirit that is connected with the demon race is even more harmonious!
It was precisely because of this that, after stepping into the Fengqi Kingdom, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's senses were directly connected with the humanity of the Fengqi Kingdom.

The undulating aura of humanity stirred the energy of powerful figures both within and outside Fengqi.

Thus, the auras of these powerful beings were also highlighted in the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's vision.

Beneath these dormant auras, the fighting spirit within the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, which had never dissipated, was about to erupt completely once more. Fortunately, he clearly remembered his purpose in coming to Fengqi Kingdom.

So he suppressed his fighting spirit, plucked a hair, and dropped it beside the monk Xuanzang.

“Master, Fengqi Kingdom is a land of humanity where gods gather. You should be safe here.”

"You should calmly consider your Buddhist teachings."

"I, Old Sun, am going to pay my respects to my godmother first!"

The moment those words fell, the hair landed and took shape, transforming into a clone that followed Xuanzang.

The true form of the Monkey King had already vanished from everyone's sight.

Without needing anyone's guidance, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven had already sensed the location of the White Tiger Guardian God.

As the golden light descended, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven had already landed in front of the White Tiger Supervisor God's gate—and at the same time, disappeared from the perception of all the powerful figures in the Phoenix Kingdom.

The most central place in the Phoenix Kingdom is the Phoenix Capital.

This is the source of the Fengqi Kingdom's destiny, the cave of the demon god Zaoge, and the resting place of the White Tiger Supervisor God.

However, after the order of Fengqi Kingdom was re-established, the Phoenix Capital disappeared.

In the Fengqi Kingdom, all the powerful figures know that Feng Qi Du Que exists in the Fengqi Kingdom, located in a corner of the Flaming Mountain.

But all the powerful figures tried every possible method, yet they could not find the location of the Phoenix Capital.

Not to mention going to the Phoenix Capital to pay respects to the White Tiger Military Supervisor and ask him whether the order they had reshaped in the Phoenix Kingdom had met his requirement of 'destruction and reform'.

That is why those powerful figures who joined forces to conquer Fengqi Kingdom still dare not leave it.

However, guided by that humanity, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven simply leaped into the air.

As his figure landed, the Phoenix Capital, which no matter how hard the many powerful figures searched, had been unable to find, appeared before the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.

"Your son, Sun Wukong, greets his godmother." The Great Sage Equaling Heaven descended with golden light, tidied his golden chainmail and phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, and then bowed towards the cave.

The next moment, the cave gate opened.

A tiny figure of flame jumped out from it.

"The young master has arrived."

"Young master, please come inside quickly."

The little fire-breathing figures circled around the Monkey King, dancing and gesturing wildly.

"Hurry up and lead the way!" The Great Sage Equaling Heaven bent down, flicked his finger, and sent the little fireman tumbling.

The little fire-man, though overturned, was not angry at all; instead, he happily led the Great Sage Equaling Heaven forward.

Soon, a scorching light appeared before the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, almost giving him the illusion that he had returned to the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

Within that scorching light, in the very center stood a phoenix tree, and on the phoenix tree, a demon god dressed in colorful robes, languidly and tenderly held a mirror, seemingly lost in thought.

In the corner to the side, a deity dressed in plain clothes sat upright, his skirt legs submerged in the molten lava; this was none other than the White Tiger Supervisor God.

Although it was located in a corner of this capital city, when the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's gaze fell upon it, the place where it was located had already transformed into the very center of this Phoenix Capital City.

"Godmother, your son greets you." Upon seeing the White Tiger Guardian God, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven chuckled, took a step forward, and came to the White Tiger Guardian God's back, massaging the White Tiger Guardian God's shoulders.

"You little monkey, once we parted ways at Five Elements Mountain, you started running around having fun and disappeared without a trace."

"Now, they've come all the way to Fengqi Kingdom to curry favor with us."

"What's wrong? Did you get into some big trouble again out there?"

"Let me tell you, if you truly violate the Heavenly Rules, I cannot protect you either." The White Tiger Supervisor God raised his hand and tapped the Great Sage Equaling Heaven on the head.

“What are you saying, godmother? I have already reformed,” the Monkey King replied.

“Now, I have been protecting the monk Xuanzang on his journey to the west, and we have never caused any trouble.”

"Then how did your journey west end up in Fengqi Kingdom?"

"Don't you know that the situation in Fengqi Kingdom is extremely unpredictable?" the White Tiger Supervisor God admonished.

“Godmother, I, Old Sun, had no intention of interfering with your relationship.”

"However, now that I, Old Sun, am escorting Xuanzang on his journey to the West, I have encountered a problem." The Great Sage Equaling Heaven scratched his ears and cheeks, looking anxious.

"After much thought, I realized that no one, my godmother, could help me. That's why I persuaded Master Xuanzang to come to Fengqi Kingdom." The Great Sage Equaling Heaven recounted the ritual performed on Master Xuanzang and his plan to invite General Curtain-Raising to be Xuanzang's protector.

“I, Old Sun, think that the Curtain-Roller is suffering pitifully in the Flowing Sand River. If we can get him out, it will not only be in accordance with the great order of heaven and earth, but also save him from torture.”

"But to my surprise, that fellow showed no mercy whatsoever."

"Old Sun clearly meant well."

"No matter how much we tried to persuade him, he was unwilling to leave that quicksand river."

"Therefore, I specially invited Master Xuanzang to come to Fengqi Kingdom to ask my godmother for a decree." As he spoke, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven also described the 'miserable state' of General Curtain-Rolling that he had seen at the Flowing Sand River.

"This is utter nonsense!" The White Tiger Supervisor God Lord raised his hand and tapped the Great Sage Equaling Heaven on the forehead once more.

"The act of rolling up the curtain and shattering the glass cup, and being sent to the Flowing Sand River to be punished, is ordained by the heavens and discussed by the gods."

"Even if my decree can make the Curtain-Raising Guard obey my every word, how could it possibly defy the laws of Heaven?"

"You want to roll up the curtain and step out of the Flowing Sand River, but you shouldn't come to Fengqi Kingdom to find me. You should go to His Majesty the Jade Emperor and ask for a pardon."

The White Tiger Supervisor God said.

As Ao Bing's Daoist partner, how could she possibly break Ao Bing's Heavenly Rules on her own initiative?

Even though many things can be done expediently during this calamity, she would never break the boundaries of the heavenly rules.

"Godmother, I, Old Sun, am thinking of going to find that old Jade Emperor."

"That scoundrel, once the calamity began, he abandoned the affairs of the Heavenly Court and went off to face his own tribulation!"

"Where am I supposed to go to ask him for a pardon now?"

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven said in distress.

—That rolled-up curtain was indeed being tortured in the Flowing Sand River.

But both are punishments for violating the heavenly rules. What is the difference between being punished in the Liusha River and stepping into the ritual, in which Xuanzang went through tribulations together?
“Godmother, nowadays, under the rituals of Master Xuanzang, countless demons are coveting him. If it weren’t for being able to invite the Curtain-Raising Guardian to act as a protector, I, Old Sun, would truly not be able to protect Xuanzang on my own.”

"Godmother, please show me the way!" the Monkey King pleaded.

"Xuanzang was a Buddhist monk."

"What covered him was also Buddhist ritual."

“If you want General Curtain-Rolling to leave the Flowing Sand River, then you should go to the Great Thunderclap Temple and ask Buddha Shakyamuni to intercede for you,” said the White Tiger Supervisor God.

"Will this... work?" The Monkey King hesitated.

He knew very well that his godfather, who was high above the heavens, disliked Buddhism very much. If someone from Buddhism came to plead for leniency under the heavenly rules, wouldn't that just be bad luck for his godfather?
(End of this chapter)