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

Seeing the Buddha's anger, the Five Directions Protectors were so frightened that they prostrated themselves on the ground, unable to move. The Golden-Headed Protector, steeling himself, asked in a trembling voice.

"Buddha...Buddha...will the ordeal at Five Elements Mountain...continue? Will...will you personally intervene to rescue Guanyin Bodhisattva and Acala Bodhisattva?"

Take action personally?

The Buddha clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

As the Buddha of the Western Paradise, the ancestor of all Buddhas, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness. Faced with Lin Zhu, an unpredictable variable beyond the comprehension of ordinary logic, could he guarantee victory even if he personally intervened? If he won, all would be well; but if something went wrong... what would become of the Western Paradise's reputation? Moreover, Mount Ling could not function without his presence.

Could it be that... the mighty Buddha of the Western Paradise has to bear all the "torture" and pressure from Lin Zhu all by himself?

Just as the Buddha was torn between heaven and man, and the hall was deathly silent, with no one daring to utter a sound.

Among all the Buddhas, one who had always sat with his eyes closed, radiating a pure, crystal-like light, with a kind yet somewhat aloof expression, slowly opened his eyes.

He is the lord of the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli, Bhaisajyaguru, also known as the Medicine Buddha.

His gaze was calm, as if unaffected by the somber atmosphere in the hall. He looked at the Buddha, whose face was ashen and who was struggling to hold back tears, and put his hands together. He spoke softly, his voice clear and melodious, like the clinking of glass.

"Namo Bhaisajyaguru Buddha. This scoundrel is troublesome, disrupting the Journey to the West, injuring our Buddhist venerable ones, and slaughtering Buddhist soldiers. His sins are grave."

He paused and continued.

"The Buddha is bound by the destiny of Buddhism in the Three Realms and should not be moved lightly. This calamity will be dealt with by this humble monk...."

Seeing the Buddha vomiting blood in grief and anger due to the defeat at the Five Elements Mountain, the Buddhas in the hall were terrified and no one dared to respond. Manjushri Bodhisattva also made a series of "mistakes," and the Five Directions Protectors were even more unreliable. The Western Paradise seemed to be in a predicament where no one could be relied upon.

Just then, the Medicine Buddha, who was usually quiet and reserved and resided in the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli, stepped forward and expressed his willingness to go there.

Looking at the calm and resolute face of the Medicine Buddha, the Buddha Tathagata couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise and joy in his eyes.

Although Bhaisajyaguru is also a Buddha, he is in charge of the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli and does not usually have very close contact with the Central Saha World. In particular, during the conflict involving Maitreya, the future Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru indirectly caused Maitreya to be "exiled" to another place due to certain considerations, which greatly increased Tathagata's trust and reliance on Bhaisajyaguru.

His willingness to volunteer at this moment is undoubtedly a timely help.

"I am greatly pleased that the Medicine Buddha is willing to go!"

Suppressing the surging blood in his throat and the bitterness in his heart, Tathagata quickly said.

"We urge Buddha to set off immediately to Mount Liangjie to rescue Guanyin and Immovable King! That Lin Zhu... is an anomaly of the Heavenly Dao, his cultivation and treasures are unpredictable and cannot be defeated by force. We can only outwit him or find a way to maneuver around him. We must ensure that the two of them return safely!"

He specifically emphasized that "it cannot be defeated by force," because he was truly terrified of Lin Zhu and was afraid that the Medicine Buddha would also underestimate his opponent and make a rash advance, resulting in losses. In that case, the Western Paradise would truly lose face and suffer serious damage.

The Medicine Buddha clasped his hands together, nodded slightly, and remained serene.

"Don't worry, Buddha, this humble monk understands."

He had his own plans.

Back then, the Buddha who came from the East was "arranged" to go to another place for some reason, which allowed the Medicine Buddha to be more stable in the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli, and even his voice in Mount Sumeru was enhanced.

He had long harbored ambitions to vie for the second-highest position in the Western Paradise. Lin Zhu's disruption of the Journey to the West, and the setbacks suffered by Guanyin and Acala, presented him with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and establish his prestige!

More importantly, the Medicine Buddha is confident that he has some connection with Lin Zhu.

He had heard that Lin Zhu seemed to have some entanglements with Buddhism in his early years, and even encountered some "minor troubles" at the Great Thunder Temple. It was only through the secret help of the Medicine Buddha that Lin Zhu was able to "get out of trouble." Although Lin Zhu may not have known it was him, it was still a token of goodwill.

He believed that his purpose in going there was not to fight Lin Zhu to the death, but to act as a "mediator" or "stepping stone"—both to give Xitian a chance to end things gracefully and to do Lin Zhu a favor.

He felt that he was exactly what Lin Zhu needed at that moment—a "middleman" who could prevent the two sides from completely breaking off relations.

With this confidence and calculation, the Medicine Buddha did not delay any longer. He bowed to the Tathagata Buddha again, and then, together with the two bodhisattvas who had been attending him for many years—the Bodhisattva of Sunlight and the Bodhisattva of Moonlight—transformed into three pure and clear lapis lazuli lights and left the Great Thunderclap Temple, heading straight towards the Two Realms Mountain in Jambudvipa.

As the Buddha watched the Medicine Buddha's departing figure, the joy that had just risen in his heart was replaced by a faint unease.

Will Lin Zhu really give face to the Medicine Buddha? That lawless, reckless guy... But now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to trust the Medicine Buddha's abilities and judgment.

This terrifying battle, which broke out at Liangjie Mountain and shook the Three Realms, had a power and aura that could not only be clearly perceived by the Western Heavenly Spirit Mountain, but also by the Lingxiao Palace, which reigns supreme in the Nine Heavens and governs the Three Realms.

Inside the Lingxiao Palace, ethereal mists and auspicious clouds filled the air. The Jade Emperor sat regally on his nine-dragon throne, his face serene and majestic, yet his gaze seemed to pierce through layers of celestial palaces, landing on the chaotic battlefield of the mortal realm.

Venus, who was standing below the steps, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He stepped forward, bowed, and said urgently.

"Your Majesty! The battle at the Two Realms Mountain in the lower realm is fierce. The Western Buddhist sect has mobilized all its forces, including Guanyin and Immovable King, as well as hundreds of millions of Buddhist soldiers! Although Lin Yushen is brave, he cannot fight against so many opponents. If the battle drags on, something unexpected may happen!"
In my humble opinion, Your Majesty should immediately issue an edict dispatching celestial troops and generals to the mortal realm to assist us, at least to deter the Western Paradise and prevent them from taking advantage of our numbers and striking first!

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor did not respond immediately.

He slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Venus, whose face was full of anxiety. His expression remained calm and composed, and there was even a faint smile on his lips.

"Venus, calm down."

The Jade Emperor's voice was calm and composed, carrying a sense of control over the entire situation.

"Although I haven't been able to fully understand Lin Zhu, his abilities are far beyond those of an ordinary half-step quasi-saint. Look at that battlefield, he fought Guanyin and Fudo Myoo alone, not only did he not lose, but he also gained the upper hand with ease. He even... had the strength to help Sun Wukong dispel the heavenly tribulation."

He paused, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of the dragon throne.

“If the Heavenly Court were to rashly intervene at this moment and send a large army down to the mortal realm, it might not only fail to help, but could also complicate the situation further, even prompting the Buddha of the Western Paradise to personally intervene, which would then truly lead to a war between the three realms. This is not advisable.” Venus was taken aback.

"Then... are we just going to sit idly by? What if Lin Yushen... "

"It's not that we're just sitting idly by."

The Jade Emperor smiled slightly, a shrewd glint flashing in his eyes.

"Although we cannot directly intervene in the battle, we can help Lin Zhu... cover their retreat."

"After the break?"

Venus was even more puzzled.

"good."

The Jade Emperor stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked towards the direction of the South Heavenly Gate outside the palace.

"Have you forgotten what Lin Zhu said before? He wanted to 'capture' Sun Wukong and imprison him in the Heavenly Prison."

Venus suddenly realized.

"Your Majesty means..."

The Jade Emperor's smile deepened.

"If Lin Zhu wants to arrest someone, there must be a place to detain them. The Heavenly Prison of my Heavenly Court is not a place that anyone can enter as they please, nor is it a place that anyone can take away as they please."

Since he says he wants to be imprisoned, then my Heavenly Court will prepare this 'cell' for him, and incidentally... help him keep those unnecessary 'trouble's' that might follow him out of the Southern Heavenly Gate.

This is what it means to cover the rear.

His move not only gave Lin Zhu face and support, but also avoided the embarrassment of the Heavenly Court directly going to war with the Western Paradise. It also allowed him to observe more of Lin Zhu's background, which can be described as killing several birds with one stone.

"Prepare the carriage for the Southern Heavenly Gate. I wish to go and see for myself."

With a flick of his sleeves, the Jade Emperor mounted his nine-dragon chariot and, surrounded by Venus and a host of celestial officials and generals, slowly made his way toward the Southern Heavenly Gate.

His personal visit to the "front line" was both a precaution and a demonstration of the Heavenly Court's attitude to the Three Realms.

Liangjie Mountain, the battlefield.

The situation has become one-sided, presenting an unprecedented scene of utter defeat for Buddhism.

The chaotic demon god phantom that Lin Zhu had transformed into, wielding the God-Slaying Spear, launched a relentless and overwhelming attack, completely suppressing Guanyin Bodhisattva and Fudo Myō-ō. Without the Golden Relic Dharma Image as their strongest barrier, the two were immediately under immense pressure and could only struggle to hold on.

The Immovable King had long lost his initial imposing presence. His greatest trump card—the Kurikara Sword, forged with malevolent energy and possessing power approaching that of a primordial spiritual treasure—had already shattered into dust before Lin Zhu's Thirteen-Grade Merit Lotus, leaving him severely injured from the backlash.

At this moment, he was wielding a golden, Buddhist-script-covered treasure called the "Vajra Rope." This rope originally had the power to bind immortals and gods and suppress demons, but in front of Lin Zhu, who had once shattered the Kurikara Sword with a single shot and whose ferocity was even greater, it was like a child's toy, appearing so pale and powerless.

Guanyin Bodhisattva herself was also in dire straits, filled with regret. Had she known Lin Zhu was so ruthless, she should have been more decisive and agreed to his conditions directly, perhaps saving face and avoiding this predicament.

But it was too late to say anything now. Lin Zhu was clearly enraged, especially towards the Immovable King who had spoken rudely and provoked him repeatedly. He was filled with murderous intent.

"die!"

Within the illusory image of the Chaos Demon God, Lin Zhu coldly uttered a single word. The God-Slaying Spear suddenly thrust out, its tip a dark red that seemed to solidify the killing intent of eternity. Ignoring the layers of Buddhist light barriers hastily erected by the Vajra Rope, it struck a specific spot on Rope's body with unparalleled precision!

"Tsk-!"

Like a hot knife through butter, the once-renowned Vajra Rope, a treasure acquired through cultivation, was pierced and torn apart by the God-Slaying Spear! The Buddhist inscriptions on the rope instantly dimmed and collapsed, and the entire Vajra Rope lost all its spirituality. With a mournful cry, it broke into several pieces and fell from the sky like ordinary iron!
"My Vajra Rope!!"

Fudo Myo-o cried out in anguish, utterly terrified! Even his last decent magical artifact was gone!
Lin Zhu gave him no chance to catch his breath. Because of the foolish words of this ignorant blue-skinned guy earlier, such as "pulling out tendons and bones" and "being irreconcilable enemies," Lin Zhu had already decided to make him "die" here today! The God-Slaying Spear turned its head, no longer attacking in a scattered manner, but locking most of its killing intent and power onto the Immovable King!

"Lin Zhu! Stop! We surrender! We're willing to let you and Sun Wukong leave!!"

Seeing this, Guanyin became very anxious and shouted loudly, trying to surrender in exchange for her life.

However, Lin Zhu paid no heed and launched an even more ferocious and ruthless attack! The God-Slaying Spear transformed into countless black spear shadows, each strike aimed directly at the vital points of the Immovable King's Dharma Image!

Although Fudo Myo-o, as a half-step quasi-saint, had his primordial spirit and physical body tainted with a trace of sainthood and possessed extremely tenacious vitality, he was not so easily destroyed by a single blow. However, in the face of the God-Slaying Spear, a weapon that specifically breaks all laws and annihilates primordial spirits, his defense was as fragile as paper!

"Pfft! Pfft! Sizzle!"

As the spear flashed past, golden "blood flowers" burst open continuously on the massive Dharma image of Fudo Myo-o. Its left arm was swept by the spear light and instantly became mostly illusory; its chest was pierced again, and cracks spread; even a corner of the Dharma image's head was cut off!
His primordial spirit let out a painful roar within the Dharma form, his aura weakened at a visible speed, and his movements became increasingly sluggish and stiff!
"No...don't kill me! Lin...Lin the Prison God! I was wrong! I was really wrong! Spare me! Spare me!!"

Fudo Myo-o finally broke down completely, no longer caring about the dignity of a Myo-o, and while frantically dodging, he let out a pitiful cry for mercy.

But Lin Zhu's gaze remained as cold as ancient ice, unwavering in the slightest. The God-Slaying Spear, like a persistent, insidious wound, relentlessly pursued him. It seemed that in just a few more rounds, this head of the Buddhist Dharma Protector Kings would perish completely outside the Two Realms Mountain!

On the other side, Sun Wukong's battlefield was even more bloody and terrifying!
The colossal ape, towering ten thousand feet tall, wielded its Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel) like a pillar of heaven, unleashing destructive gales and indescribable terrifying power with every swing! Wherever the cudgel passed, space twisted and cracked, the earth below was repeatedly plowed by an invisible giant plow, mountains collapsed, rivers changed course, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation!

The hundreds of millions of Buddhist soldiers, who were originally as vast as the sea and whose Buddha light soared into the sky, became a joke under Sun Wukong's staff!
No sophisticated formation could stop it, no sturdy armor could defend against it, and not even a scream could be heard in time!

The golden cudgel swept across, and the wind pressure came first! A hundred miles away, those Buddhist soldiers who were lucky enough not to be directly hit were also gripped and squeezed by the terrifying wind pressure, which was as solid as steel and contained Sun Wukong's violent demonic power, as if they were being squeezed and crushed by an invisible hand!
In an instant, it turned into a blurry mass of flesh and blood, mixed with broken armor and weapons, falling like red raindrops!
The golden cudgel crashed down, shaking heaven and earth! In the area struck head-on, whether it was a well-organized army of ten thousand or a hastily assembled Arhat formation, all were reduced to ashes in an instant! Only the sky filled with blood mist and scattered fragments of Buddha's light proved that life had once existed there!
With each strike, hundreds of thousands, even millions, of lives were taken! The so-called "hundreds of millions" of Buddhist soldiers melted and diminished at an astonishing speed before Sun Wukong, the freed god of war!
In just half a day, the once overwhelming and imposing army of Buddhist soldiers was reduced to less than one-tenth! The dazzling golden sea of ​​soldiers was no longer visible; only scattered, terrified fleeing troops, and mountains of blood, flesh, and broken magical artifacts littered the ground! (End of Chapter)