Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

"I am merely giving them a taste of their own medicine. Buddha came to the Heavenly Court to interrogate us without any evidence. I would like to ask him, what is the reason for this?"

As he spoke, the Jade Emperor's gaze swept over all the immortals and Buddhas present, and his voice rose eight octaves.

"Or is it that Buddha was already dissatisfied with the Journey to the West, deliberately sowing the seeds of disaster, and now wants to frame the Heavenly Court so that he can monopolize the merits of the Journey to the West?"

As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

"Is the Jade Emperor telling the truth?"

Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, couldn't help but ask.

"No wonder the Western Paradise has been making so many moves lately."

Venus stroked his beard and whispered.

In the Western camp, Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned slightly, while Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes.

Upon seeing this, the Buddha was so angry that he laughed instead.

"What a sharp-tongued Jade Emperor! Today I have truly witnessed the Heavenly Court's ability to distort the truth!"

The Jade Emperor remained unmoved, and instead became even more composed.

"Turning black into white? I think it's Buddha who's guilty. If not, why doesn't he dare let the three sages investigate thoroughly?"

This move, a strategic retreat, presented the difficult problem to the three incarnations of saints.

Lao Tzu coughed lightly.

"This matter is of great importance and requires a thorough investigation."

Bodhi Patriarch nodded.

"The Journey to the West involves the karma of the Three Realms and should not be taken lightly."

The Void Emperor Daoist looked directly at Tathagata.

“If the Buddha has real evidence, he may present it; if he has no real evidence, it is indeed inappropriate to make such a fuss.”

The Buddha's face was ashen, and he spoke after a long while.

“Very well! Since the three sages have spoken, this humble monk will grant them this favor. But the Jade Emperor must hand over the bamboo forest so that I, in the Western Paradise, may interrogate it!”

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in the Jade Emperor's eyes.

"How else?"

The moment those four words were uttered, the world changed color.

Behind the Jade Emperor, the phantom images of the Thirty-Three Heavens appeared, with countless heavenly soldiers and generals arrayed in each heaven, creating a magnificent spectacle.

The Buddha's golden body trembled, clearly not expecting the Jade Emperor to be so forceful.

He gritted his teeth.

"Otherwise...otherwise it means the Heavenly Court is intentionally protecting us and is making an enemy of the Western Paradise!"

"Hahaha!"

The Jade Emperor looked up at the sky and laughed, his laughter filled with disdain.

"What a fine 'enemy of the Western Paradise'! Tathagata, your invasion with your forces today is already a provocation. Now you demand that I hand over people without any evidence. Do you really think I'm afraid of the Western Paradise?"

As he spoke, the Jade Emperor stood up, and the Nine-Dragon Chariot transformed into nine ten-thousand-foot-long golden dragons that circled behind him.

He placed one hand behind his back and pointed the other towards Buddha.

"I am the supreme ruler of the Three Realms, governing all heavens. How dare you be so insolent!"

This single finger gesture seemed to trigger the laws of heaven and earth, and the Buddha's aura was suppressed by thirty percent!
All the immortals and Buddhas present were horrified.

No one expected that the Jade Emperor, who usually seemed gentle, actually possessed such terrifying power!

Inside the Heavenly Palace, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

"enough!"

With a cold shout, Laozi waved his whisk, and a beam of light swept across, abruptly severing the confrontation between the Jade Emperor and the Buddha.

The Jade Emperor snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and the golden light around him receded, restoring his composed and dignified demeanor as the supreme ruler of the Heavenly Court.

The Buddha let out a long sigh of relief, the golden Buddha seal on his forehead shimmering slightly, clearly indicating that the confrontation just now was not easy.

"With three sages before you, what kind of decorum is this, arguing like this?"

Yuanshi Tianzun sat upright on the cloud platform, his voice, though soft, was as loud as thunder.

The Buddha clasped his hands together, his eyes filled with resentment.

"The three sages are wise enough to see that Lin Zhu forced Yin Wenjiao into marriage, thus ruining the grand plan of the Journey to the West. This is an act against the will of Heaven and must be severely punished!"

Patriarch Bodhi stroked his long beard and suddenly laughed.

"Since that's the case, why not let Lin Zhu come under my Western Sect and be taught by me personally? That would be a way to make up for the loss of the Journey to the West."

"absurd!"

Laozi frowned.

“This child possesses extraordinary abilities and should be accepted as a disciple of our Human Sect.”

Yuanshi Tianzun also spoke.

"You two are mistaken. Such extraordinary individuals should be accepted into the Chan Sect."

As the three sages spoke, a glint of shrewdness flashed in their eyes.

All the immortals and Buddhas in the hall understood that what they valued was the immense power of merit emanating from Lin Zhu.

Upon seeing this, the Jade Emperor coughed lightly.

"Buddha, you keep saying that Lin Zhuqiang married Yin Wenjiao, but do you have any evidence?"

The Buddha's expression froze for a moment, then he spoke.

"This was witnessed by the Venerable Guanyin herself."

Guanyin Bodhisattva stepped out from among the bodhisattvas, her hands clasped together in prayer.

"Your Majesty, this humble monk did indeed witness Lin Zhu and Yin Wenjiao's wedding ceremony, but..."

"But what?"

The Jade Emperor's gaze was like lightning.

"But it seems that Yin Wenjiao was not forced."

Guanyin's voice gradually faded.

The Buddha's expression changed slightly.

"Guanyin!"

Lao Tzu suddenly spoke.

"Since there is controversy, why not use the Haotian Mirror to take a look and find out?"

The Jade Emperor nodded.

"good."

With a wave of his sleeve, the Jade Emperor conjured an ancient bronze mirror from the void, its surface rippling like water.

The Jade Emperor made hand seals and chanted incantations, and the scene in the mirror rapidly changed, but just as Lin Zhu's figure was about to appear, it suddenly blurred and eventually turned into chaos.

"This"

The Jade Emperor looked surprised.

"The Haotian Mirror is unable to display an image?"

Bodhi Patriarch sighed softly.

"This child is an anomaly, disrupting the workings of heaven; ordinary divination techniques are ineffective against him."

A glint of light flashed in Laozi's eyes.

"It's alright. As long as Lin Zhu is present, the old Taoist can use merit as a medium to forcibly examine past events."

The Jade Emperor immediately approved the decision.

"Venus! Quickly summon Lin Zhu!"

Venus stepped out from the ranks of the immortals and bowed to receive the order.

"The minister obeys the order."

But he immediately looked troubled.

"But...where is that Lin Zhu now?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva suddenly spoke.

"Perhaps in the underworld."

Venus's eyes lit up. He bowed to the three sages and the Jade Emperor, then turned into a golden light and disappeared into the sky.

Inside the Lingxiao Palace, the atmosphere became heavy once again.

The celestial immortals and the Buddhas of the West stood on either side, while the three sages sat high on cloud platforms, and an even greater storm was brewing.

Meanwhile, deep within the underworld.

Lin Zhu was leisurely lying on a recliner made of Netherworld Jade, with the Emperor of Fengdu standing respectfully beside him.

"My lord, do you like the blood grapes from the underworld?"

The Emperor of Fengdu personally presented a plate of crystal-clear grapes, each one gleaming with a blood-red light, a treasure of the underworld.

Lin Zhu casually picked one and popped it into his mouth. The juice burst in his mouth, and a refreshing sensation rushed straight to his mind.

"Indeed, they are just as good as the peaches of immortality in Heaven."

The Emperor of Fengdu was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"I'm glad you like it, sir. I still have some Ten-Thousand-Year Netherworld Wine."

Xiao Qiong, standing to the side, pouted.

"The mighty Emperor of Fengdu is acting like a gardener."

The Emperor of Fengdu was not annoyed at all; instead, he laughed.

"It is my honor to serve Lord Lin."

The underworld officials around him were exceptionally respectful, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Lin Zhu.

These usually fierce and menacing underworld messengers were now like mortals seeing their idols.

"I heard that Lord Lin once shattered the golden statue of an Arhat on Mount Ling with a single punch?"

"A bull-headed underworld official asked cautiously."

Lin Zhu waved his hand.

"Not worth mentioning."

"I also heard that you had Laozi personally pour wine for you at the Heavenly Banquet?"

The horse-faced ghost also joined in.

Lin Zhu smiled without saying a word, but her expression clearly indicated her agreement.

The Emperor of Fengdu sighed.

"Lord Lin is an anomaly in the Three Realms, not bound by the Heavenly Dao. I have never seen such a being in my tens of millions of years of life."

As they were speaking, the entire underworld suddenly trembled, the River Styx flowed backward, and the Bridge of Helplessness shook violently. "What's going on?"

Xiao Qiong stood up alertly.

The Emperor of Fengdu's expression changed.

"A powerful being from the upper realm has descended!"

Before the words were finished, a dazzling golden light pierced the dark sky of the underworld, and the figure of Venus appeared in mid-air.

"Where is Lin Zhu? The Jade Emperor has issued a decree; receive the decree immediately!"

Emperor Fengdu hurriedly straightened his clothes and was about to step forward to greet him when Lin Zhu grabbed him.

"No hurries."

Lin Zhu slowly ate another blood grape.

"Let him wait."

Venus waited in the air for a moment, but received no response. He frowned slightly and raised his voice a few decibels.

"Lin Zhu! The Jade Emperor has issued a decree; receive it at once!"

This sound contained divine power, causing countless wandering souls in the underworld to tremble in fear.

Lin Zhu then lazily stood up and stretched.

"What are you yelling for? Can't you see I'm eating?"

Venus descended from the clouds and landed in front of Lin Zhu. He was surprised to see the Emperor of Fengdu standing respectfully behind Lin Zhu.

"Lin Zhu, the Jade Emperor orders you to go to the Lingxiao Palace immediately."

Venus unfurled a golden imperial edict.

Lin Zhu didn't even glance at the imperial edict.

"What is so urgent?"

Venus lowered his voice.

"Regarding your forced marriage to Yin Wenjiao, the Buddha of the West has complained to the three saints, and now the Heavenly Court and Mount Ling are almost at war."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor of Fengdu gasped, while Xiao Qiong wore a gloating expression.

"Oh dear, this is getting out of hand."

Lin Zhu smiled.

"Interesting, all three sages have arrived?"

Taibai Jinxing nodded.

"That's right. Laozi said that you need to be present so that you can use your merits as a medium to see the truth."

Lin Zhu touched his chin.

"Looks like I have no choice but to go?"

Venus smiled bitterly.

"If you don't go, I'm afraid the Three Realms will be thrown into chaos."

"Let's go then."

Lin Zhu suddenly became interested and turned to the Emperor of Fengdu.

"Save these blood grapes for me, I'll eat them when I get back."

The Emperor of Fengdu readily agreed.

"Don't worry, sir, I will take care of it myself."

Upon seeing this, Venus was secretly alarmed.

The Emperor of Fengdu is the supreme ruler of the underworld, with a status comparable to the Four Emperors of Heaven. Yet he is now showing such respect to Lin Zhu, indicating that Lin Zhu's influence has far exceeded his expectations.

"Please come with me."

With a wave of his whisk, Venus unleashed a golden road that stretched from the underworld straight to the heavens.

Lin Zhu stepped onto the golden light, with Xiao Qiong following closely behind.

Before leaving, Lin Zhu suddenly turned back to the Emperor of Fengdu and said.

"Oh, and remember to water the flowers in my backyard."

The Emperor of Fengdu bowed.

"Don't worry, sir, I will take care of it myself."

When Venus heard this, he almost fell off the golden road.

The mighty Emperor of Fengdu is actually working as a gardener for Lin Zhu?

As the golden light faded, Lin Zhu's figure disappeared into the underworld.

The Emperor of Fengdu straightened up and addressed the underworld officials around him.

"Did you all hear that? No one is allowed to approach Lord Lin's backyard. I will personally take care of it."

The underworld officials readily agreed, their eyes filled with even greater reverence for Lin Zhu.

On the golden road, Venus couldn't help but ask.

"Fellow Daoist Linlin, you and the Great Emperor of Fengdu..."

Lin Zhu said casually.

"Oh, him? He owes me a favor."

Venus was even more puzzled.

"What kind of favor could make a supreme being of a realm act like this?"

Lin Zhu smiled but did not answer, while Xiao Qiong chuckled to himself.

As they were about to reach the Heavenly Court, Venus suddenly lowered his voice.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, the Western Sect has come with great force this time, and the attitude of the three sages is unclear. You must be very careful."

Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow.

"Thanks for reminding me. However..."

There was a playful look in his eyes.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing the expressions on the faces of those three saints."

"Name: Lin Zhu, lifespan not yet exhausted, merits... Huh?"

Suddenly, the Book of Life and Death in the judge's hand emitted blue smoke, startling his goatee so much that it trembled.

"My esteemed immortal, what brings you to the underworld?"

Lin Zhu withdrew his finger from the Book of Life and Death and casually rubbed Xiao Qiong's head, who was hiding behind the judge.

The little girl's soul was cold, but surprisingly it didn't feel eerie; instead, it was like a warm, smooth piece of jade.

"take it easy."

Lin Zhu looked around and saw that Ox-Head and Horse-Face had secretly formed a battle formation, and Black Impermanence's chains rattled in his sleeves.

"I'm just here for tourism."

The Hall of Yama fell silent instantly.

King Qin Guang, holding his teacup, froze, not even noticing the tea leaking from the corner of his mouth.

The ghost soldier who was adding fuel to the oil cauldron at the corner of the palace suddenly trembled, spilling the entire barrel of corpse oil into the sea of ​​fire. The eerie green flames that shot up made everyone's faces turn blue.

"Travel?"

King Qin Guang wiped the tea stains off his dragon robe with his sleeve.

"Does the immortal know where this is?"

"I know."

Lin Zhu took out a brand-new mobile phone and took a picture of the Nie Jingtai.

"Is this the underworld? What's your WiFi password? I want to post something on my WeChat Moments."

Meng Po burst out laughing.

She stood at the head of the Bridge of Helplessness, her moon-white silk dress fluttering in the cold wind, like a white swan that had strayed into a pack of wolves among a group of blue-faced, fanged ghosts.

Lin Zhu's eyes lit up, and she pointed at her and said.

"The tour guide wants this lady."

King Qin Guang frowned.

"Meng Po is in charge of this."

"Neither male nor ugly."

Lin Zhu interrupted.

"Just to my liking."

Meng Po covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes sweeping over Lin Zhu's side.

She possessed a peculiar fragrance, like the vapor from the River of Oblivion mixed with the sweet, slightly fishy scent of red spider lilies.

"Shall I show you around, young master?"

With a light tap of her jade finger, the vengeful spirits beneath the Bridge of Helplessness suddenly fell silent.

"A hundred meters away from the Hall of Yama," Lin Zhu suddenly said.

"Did you dilute your Meng Po soup with water?"

Meng Po's steps faltered slightly.

The evil spirit pushing the millstone ahead was grinding the scholar-like soul into mincemeat, the screams and the sound of bones breaking perfectly masking her heartbeat. If the ghost immortal still had a heartbeat.

"Young Master is joking."

When she turned around, the cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye was so red it looked like it was dripping blood.

"The formula for the River of Oblivion, the Flower of the Other Shore, the Thousand-Year Sorrow, and the Heartbreak Grass has never been changed."

Lin Zhu kicked away the half-destroyed ghost hand blocking his way, a half-smile on his face.

"Then why is it that three out of ten souls who cross the bridge can still remember their past lives?"

The mountain of knives suddenly trembled violently.

A demon that was being tortured took the opportunity to roll down and crawl toward the two of them, covered in bloody holes.

With a gentle wave of her wide sleeves, Meng Po caused the ghost to dissipate into wisps of green smoke.

"Young master has a good eye."

Her voice suddenly turned cold.

"But some things, knowing too much about them..."

"Just to my liking."

Lin Zhu magically produced a white jade bottle. (End of Chapter)