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

"Yes, yes, we all have high hopes for the Heavenly King! We wish him every success and a triumphant start!"

Some people even put their hands together and began to mutter something under their breath; upon closer listening, it turned out to be...

"...Namo Amitabha Buddha, may the Buddha have mercy and deliver...uh, may Heavenly King Li have a safe journey..."

Their gloating and eagerness for him to die was utterly undisguised!
Li Jing stood alone and helpless in the center of the hall, feeling the gazes cast from all directions—some mocking, some pitying, and some simply watching the spectacle. Looking at the cold and majestic eyes of the Buddha beside the lotus throne, his heart turned ice-cold.

Although he is the only remaining disciple of Dipankara Buddha and has a special status, his usual behavior and intelligence are truly touching. He has long been regarded as a "joke" and an "oddball" among the higher-ups of Mount Sumeru. At this moment, he is being collectively ostracized and isolated, and no one is speaking up for him!

He opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing, cold sweat instantly soaking the back of his clothes. Go to Heaven? Now? Make that kind of request? What's the difference between that and directly knocking on the door of Yama's palace and saying you want to die?
"Li Jing," the Buddha's voice rang out again, now tinged with obvious impatience and pressure.

"Do you have a problem?"

The gazes of the three thousand Buddhas were like invisible needles, densely piercing Li Jing's body.

His face was deathly pale, and his lips trembled for a long time. Under the increasingly cold gaze of the Buddha, he finally, as if all his strength had been drained, bent over very slowly and with great difficulty, and squeezed out a few words through his teeth.

"Disciple... obeys... obeys the decree."

Li Jing's once dignified square face was now wrinkled like a dried orange peel, his features almost squeezed together, and it was filled with the words "bitterness and deep hatred".

He wanted to cry, to faint on the spot, to immediately defect from Mount Ling... but all his impulses turned into deep powerlessness and fear when he met the Buddha's cold yet unquestionable gaze, and the gloating eyes of the three thousand Buddhas around him, whether open or hidden.

Not going? That would be openly defying the imperial decree, showing contempt for Buddha, and disregarding the holy decree! Given Li Jing's current awkward position on Mount Ling, it's highly likely that he would be given the cold shoulder, marginalized, or even "eliminated" afterward.

Go? What's the difference between that and sticking your head under the guillotine at the Southern Heavenly Gate? The Jade Emperor's rage hasn't subsided, Lin Zhu's ferocity is at its peak, and you're going alone to make a demand that's tantamount to a declaration of war...

"Buddha..."

Li Jing's voice was as dry as two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together. He forced out a smile that was ten times uglier than crying. The smile was so distorted that even the bodhisattvas next to him couldn't bear to look at it and turned their faces away.

"Disciple...disciple obeys the decree. I will...I will do my utmost to explain the advantages and disadvantages, and I will absolutely...I will absolutely bring that demon monkey and the elixir...back to Mount Ling!"

He spoke eloquently, but he knew perfectly well that this was an impossible task.

All he wants now is to survive and come back, even if it means being beaten half to death and thrown out.

With a quick glint in his eyes, Li Jing came up with another plan and hurriedly added to it.

"However... however, the Heavenly Court is powerful and the Jade Emperor is majestic. With only me, I fear it will be difficult to demonstrate the determination of our Buddhist sect, nor will it be able to form an effective... deterrent. I humbly request the Buddha to allow me to dispatch an elite Western Heaven Enforcement Team to accompany you, to bolster our strength, and to provide some support."

His idea was to bring more people with him, so that if a fight broke out, they could at least hold off the attackers and give him a better chance of escaping.

However, as soon as he uttered these words, the Buddha's face showed obvious impatience. Before he could even speak, another Buddha who had long disliked him sneered.

“King Li, this journey is to petition and demonstrate the Buddhist sect’s sincerity in seeking peace. Why bring an enforcement team? Wouldn’t that only create misunderstandings and make the Buddhist sect appear sinister? Besides… hehe, if something truly goes wrong, bringing more people will only mean more deaths. Why implicate our fellow disciples?”

These words were extremely harsh, almost a blatant statement: "You're just going to your death, don't drag others down with you." Upon hearing this, some of the Buddhas in the hall showed mockery, some kept their eyes downcast, and some nodded slightly, clearly agreeing.

Everyone knew that Li Jing's journey was fraught with peril, and who would be willing to send their disciples, followers, or elite troops to their deaths?

Li Jing was choked so badly that his face turned red and his chest heaved violently, but he dared not retaliate. He could only turn to Buddha for help once again.

The Buddha waved his hand, his tone indifferent, making the final decision.

"No need. You can go alone. Go quickly and come back quickly, don't delay."

He didn't even bother to come up with any more plausible reasons for Li Jing and simply refused.

With his last glimmer of hope shattered, Li Jing felt a chill in his heart and fully understood his predicament—he was a pawn pushed out to test the Heavenly Court's reaction, and perhaps even to appease part of the Jade Emperor's anger! Bitterness, grievance, fear, anger... a mix of emotions overwhelmed him, making him want to flip the table immediately.

But in the end, all his emotions could only turn into a powerless sigh. He lowered his head deeply, concealing the fleeting resentment in his eyes, and responded in an almost inaudible voice.

"...Disciple obeys."

Having said that, he turned around dejectedly, like a defeated rooster, and dragged his heavy steps out of the Great Thunderclap Temple.

The figure, silhouetted against the magnificent Buddha light, appeared exceptionally desolate and forlorn.

Watching Li Jing's dejected figure disappear outside the hall, the atmosphere inside the hall remained anything but relaxed.

Everyone knew that sending Li Jing was just a formality, or rather, a last-ditch effort with a very slim chance of success.

The Buddha's expression grew even more unpredictable. He slowly sat up straight, his fingers unconsciously tapping the cold bluestone base. The White Lotus Child remained standing quietly to the side, his kind smile unchanged, simply waiting patiently, like a perfect listener and executor.

Time passed slowly, and the oppressive silence was almost suffocating. Buddha knew that the Journey to the West concerned the eternal destiny of Buddhism and the entrustment of the sages, and could not be delayed for long.

Jin Chanzi's primordial spirit couldn't afford to linger, and the opportunity to retrieve the scriptures was fleeting. To show weakness to the Heavenly Court, to compromise, and to wait? That was absolutely not in his nature, nor was it an outcome that a sage would want to see.

His gaze involuntarily fell once again on the azure lotus-colored banner radiating a serene and pure light in the White Lotus Boy's hand. The banner rippled slightly, as if silently telling a story.

A sage bestows a flag… “untainted by karma”… tacitly approving “necessary measures”…

A ruthless, bloody plan, yet potentially the quickest way to break the deadlock, gradually took shape in his mind. Since "courtesy first" was destined to be ineffective, and might even lead to humiliation, then... only "military force" remained! And it had to be a risky move, striking directly at the heart of the problem!
The Buddha suddenly raised his eyes, all hesitation and dejection vanished, replaced by an almost resolute coldness and ruthlessness.

He looked at the White Lotus Boy, his voice deep and firm, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.

"White Lotus Boy".

"This humble Taoist is here."

The White Lotus Boy bowed slightly, his smile unchanged.

"Li Jing's journey will likely be fruitless. The great cause of the Journey to the West cannot be delayed." Buddha said clearly, word by word.

"I command you to take the Azure Lotus Banner and immediately descend to the mortal realm to the Buddhist Kingdom of Tianzhu in Xiniuhe Continent."

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the White Lotus Child, but his smile remained unchanged as he listened quietly.

"I want you to command all available forces in the Buddhist kingdom of India, including monks, believers, and even... the 'protectors' secretly cultivated!"

The Buddha's tone was stern.

"Within three days, conquer the borders of the Great Tang Dynasty in the Eastern Land of Jambudvipa! I want to see the flames of war ignite, to see corpses strewn across the fields, and to see Jambudvipa, the land that is said to be the cradle of human destiny and the foundation of the Heavenly Court, fall into the danger of annihilation, into boundless war and panic!"

He paused, his voice growing even colder, like ancient ice.

"Only in this way can we truly shake the Heavenly Court! Only when the Jade Emperor sees that our Buddhist sect has the determination and ability to shake the core human territory and destiny under his rule will he truly value our Buddhist sect's demands!"

Only then will they seriously consider whether to gamble the lives of hundreds of millions of beings in the Southern Continent and the turmoil of humanity's destiny just to protect one Sun Wukong and one Lin Zhu!

"Three days! I'll only give you three days!"

The Buddha stared intently at the White Lotus Boy.

"No matter what means you use! Incitement, assassination, brute force, evil magic... I only care about the result! I want to see the Heavenly Court overwhelmed by the devastation in the Southern Continent, and see them forced to come to me and negotiate! Hand over Sun Wukong, and hand over the Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill!"

This plan is ruthless, bloody, and utterly shameless! It uses the lives of billions of mortals as bargaining chips and the upheaval of the human race as a threat to force the Heavenly Court to submit! This is no longer a simple struggle, but rather a direct and brutal escalation of the power struggle between the two sides!
Upon hearing this murderous command, the smile on Bai Lian Tong Zi's face finally showed a noticeable change.

It wasn't fear or resistance, but rather... an undisguised excitement! In the depths of his clear eyes, a crimson light seemed to flash and disappear, so quickly that one might think it was an illusion.

He stuck out his tongue and gently licked his rosy lips, like a young animal that had smelled blood.

"I will obey the Buddha's instructions."

The White Lotus Boy respectfully accepted the Azure Lotus Banner, which the Buddha had not touched but had tacitly approved of his use, with both hands. His voice was still clear and crisp, but it inexplicably carried a hint of sweetness and eagerness.

"Within three days, war will break out in Jambudvipa, and the Heavenly Court will be restless."

The Buddhas in the hall, listening to the conversation between the Buddha and the boy, felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads! They seemed to already see how, under the protection of the Azure Lotus Banner, which was "untainted by karma," this seemingly kind but actually infamous White Lotus Boy would "enthusiastically" unleash slaughter and disaster upon the long-peaceful human kingdom!

The Tang Dynasty... is probably about to face an unprecedented bloodbath!

……

In the depths of the nine-layered Heavenly Prison in the Heavenly Court, there is a quiet room for refining weapons.

Lin Zhu sat cross-legged on a futon, with two dimly lit treasures floating in front of him—the damaged Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp and the Thirteen-Petal Merit Golden Lotus.

In his hand lay a piece of warm, smooth, and lustrous red jade, imbued with boundless creative energy and a faint divine aura. It was the sacred object left behind by the goddess Nuwa when she mended the sky, containing supreme creative power—Nuwa Blood Jade.

Strands of pure creative energy were being carefully extracted by Lin Zhu from Nuwa's Blood Jade, transforming into wisps of red light that slowly merged into the two treasures, attempting to repair their original structure that had been eroded and damaged by the Glazed Illusionary Light.

The Qingyun Golden Lamp suffered the most severe damage, its walls riddled with cracks, its wick completely extinguished, and a persistent, insidious, glassy-colored poisonous light lingering within, constantly eroding its fundamental spiritual essence. Although the creative energy of Nuwa's Blood Jade could nourish and repair it, dispelling the remnants of that quasi-saint level poisonous Buddhist light would not be a quick task; it would require painstaking effort and a great deal of time and mental energy.

In comparison, the Thirteen-Grade Merit Lotus is in much better condition. Although its body is dim and its petals have spots of corrosion, its foundation is intact. As a top-level defensive treasure that has been blessed by the system and has gradually surpassed the category of ordinary top-grade innate spiritual treasures and is close to the level of "heavenly treasures", its self-recovery ability and resistance to Buddhist supernatural powers are extremely strong.

Lin Zhu estimated that if the power of merit were directly poured into the repair, it would only take about 100,000 merits to restore it to its original state, and it might even turn misfortune into blessing, making its origin more condensed.

"Ten thousand merits..."

Lin Zhu was making plans in his mind.

He had just broken through to the half-step Quasi-Saint Perfection using the Merit Divine Water, and he didn't have much merit left, but with a little thought, it wouldn't be difficult to gather 100,000.

Although the Jade Emperor saved him from the sneak attack by Liuli Huanguang, it served as an unprecedented wake-up call for him.

He clearly recognized his biggest weakness at present—the lack of a powerful protective magic weapon that could truly withstand attacks from quasi-saint level beings!
The God-Slaying Spear, combined with the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, is indeed incredibly powerful, capable of threatening or even severely injuring a Quasi-Saint. However, it is an offensive weapon, and the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone's enhancement requires the right timing, so its accuracy is not 100%. Defensively, the Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp is shattered, and the Merit Golden Lotus was also quickly breached by the Glazed Illusionary Light, leaving him feeling very insecure.

"The Western Paradise is determined to kill. They even dared to launch a sneak attack without any shame. The next one might be even more ruthless and have even more unpredictable methods."

A cold glint flashed in Lin Zhu's eyes.

"We must strengthen our protective abilities as soon as possible! If the Thirteenth Grade Golden Lotus of Merit can advance further..."

As if sensing his urgent needs and strong will, the long-silent system, with its cold and mechanical prompts, rang out in his mind without warning.

[The host's strong will and current situation have been detected.]

[A special magic item upgrade quest has been issued. Collect the following materials to upgrade the "Thirteenth-Grade Merit Golden Lotus" to the "Fifteenth-Grade Chaos Merit Golden Lotus".]

[Required materials.]

[1. Merit-Boosting Water. 500,000 units of merit.]

2. Golden Relic. A Buddha relic containing the pure essence and merit of Buddhism.

3. The Three Lights Divine Water. One portion each of Sunlight Divine Water, Moonlight Divine Water, and Starlight Divine Water, collectively known as the Three Lights Divine Water, has the power to bring the dead back to life, heal the wounded, and nourish the very essence of all things.

4. One lotus seed from a twelve-petaled pure white lotus.

[Quest Reward: 500,000 Merit Points]

[Note: Upon successful advancement, the original "Thirteen-Rank Merit Golden Lotus" and its consumable materials will disappear and be transformed into the source of a new magic weapon.] (End of Chapter)