Simultaneous travel: I am proving the great way in the heavens.

Chapter 556 Seeking Justice from Heaven! The Fate of Buddhism and Taoism!
The reason why Lady Pingxin, the most powerful being who had the earliest contact with Luofu, remained so calm was because...

There is a reason for that.

On the one hand, the Wu tribe no longer exists, unlike the demon tribe, which is present in almost every part of the four continents.

However, the Wu tribe became a rarity, for a simple reason: the Wu tribe was too eccentric.
Ever since the great calamity of the Lich King, the Witch Clan has never given up the struggle.

The earliest conflict between Chi You and the Yellow Emperor was arguably the greatest threat the Wu tribe posed to the human race.

After that, among the human race, there were often people who appeared out of nowhere, seemingly at the same age as their ancestors, possessing powerful Wu clan bloodlines.

Even in the pre-Qin era, the First Emperor, who unified the six states of Shandong, specially prepared twelve bronze statues in an attempt to reunite the consciousness of the ancestral shamans.

From the moment the witch clan and the human clan merged, the relationship between humans and witches became inextricably linked.

In name, the human race is indeed the protagonist of heaven and earth, but in reality, the witch race is among them, having shared in an unknown amount of the human race's fortune. However, due to the countless generations of intermarriage between the witch race and the human race, the witch race can now only be considered a special kind of human race.

Besides, although Lady Pingxin is indeed the Ancestral Witch Houtu, who transformed into a saint of the underworld after reincarnation, Lady Pingxin and the Ancestral Witch Houtu are absolutely not the same person.

Lady Pingxin is the creator of the underworld. As long as she doesn't leave the underworld, she is almost no different from a saint.

Houtu, the Ancestral Witch, was merely an Ancestral Witch.

The two parties may be able to invite each other due to cause and effect, but they should never be confused.

In the human world, in Xiniu Hezhou, at Jindou Cave.

Although it seems that Luofu's Seven Emotions Crane Cloak and Vajra Bracelet have reached a stalemate.

In reality, however, the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak is inferior to the Vajra Bracelet in terms of both its cultural heritage and other aspects.

After all, this was a magical artifact that Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao) always carried with him.

This magical artifact, crafted by the Supreme Saint of Taiqing specifically for the incarnation of Laozi, almost combines the essence of both Buddhism and Taoism.

Of the three thousand great methods and eight hundred unorthodox techniques, very few can ignore the attraction of the Vajra Bracelet.

It's a miracle that the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak, a magical artifact that hasn't been crafted for very long, can hold its own against it.

After a stalemate that lasted for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak finally sank into the hole created by the Vajra Bracelet.

But in the instant the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak was taken away by the Vajra Bracelet.

The One-Horned Rhinoceros King froze on the spot.

Because he clearly felt that although the Vajra Bracelet had taken this strange magic weapon, it had vanished into thin air the instant it was taken away.

That's right.

The Seven Emotions Crane Cloak vanished into thin air the instant it was taken away.

Even the One-Horned Rhinoceros King himself couldn't figure out where the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak had gone.

Ruzhen Temple.

Before Luo Fu, strands of the Seven Emotions seemed to appear out of nowhere, converging from all directions and instantly weaving together a brand new Seven Emotions Crane Cloak.

Seeing the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak reappear before him, Luo Fu sighed.

Although he wasn't like the other powerful beings in the Three Realms who were watching the scene outside the Golden Gourd Cave, the fact that the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak returned on its own meant that Sun Wukong, the monkey, had indeed not obeyed Luofu's orders.

In a flash, Luo Fu put the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak back on, completely forgetting about the matter.

After all, lending the magic weapon to Sun Wukong to help the westward journey team overcome their tribulations was not part of Luofu's original plan.

He has already revealed a trick in front of many powerful figures in the Three Realms, which is enough to satisfy his mission. The rest will require negotiations between Laozi, the head of the Taoist sect, and Tathagata of the Western Paradise.

Although Luofu is now the Buddha, the patriarch of the Middle Vehicle of Buddhism, and the leader of all Pratyekabuddhas, he would never easily get involved in such a thankless and arduous matter.

The challenge of the Golden Gourd Cave is one that needs to satisfy Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao).

Even the Buddha sent his disciples to bring out eighteen golden pills.

Such a grand gesture—let alone whether Luo Fu could manage it, even if he could, he couldn't afford to bankrupt himself for the sake of Buddhism.

From the moment Luofu became a Pratyekabuddha, he actually separated from the Western Paradise and Mount Ling.

The Middle Vehicle Buddhism lineage can be considered a branch of Buddhism.

Where is it possible for a direct descendant to have problems, causing a collateral branch to go bankrupt?
Although Luo Fu felt he had let something slip, it was enough to satisfy the powerful beings of the Three Realms.

But it is clear that those powerful beings in the Three Realms do not think so.

Outside the Golden Gourd Cave.

When he saw that even the Seven Emotions Crane Cloak had been taken away by the Unicorn King.

Realizing he had misused the magic weapon, Sun Wukong, having learned from his previous experiences of suffering at the hands of the Vajra Bracelet, immediately somersaulted and fled.

In the blink of an eye, Sun Wukong had vanished.

After hesitating for a moment, the King of the Unicorn Rhinoceros finally took back the Vajra Bracelet and returned to his cave.

Having escaped, Sun Wukong was truly driven to desperation this time.

Previously, they had tried every possible means and summoned countless reinforcements, but they still couldn't defeat the Unicorn King. They went to Ruzhen Temple together with Zhen Yuanzi, although there was indeed an element of scheming by those powerful beings involved.

But from Sun Wukong's perspective, he was indeed forced into a corner, otherwise he wouldn't have had the nerve to approach the newly formed Ruzhen Buddha, with whom he had no prior connection, for help.

But now, because of his carelessness, even the magic weapon he borrowed from Luofu has fallen into the hands of the Unicorn King.

This left Sun Wukong completely at a loss.

The calamity of Journey to the West was nothing more than a play orchestrated by powerful beings in the Three Realms.

Despite the great calamity, the arrangements were so meticulous that there were few oversights in any aspect.

At this moment, Sun Wukong was facing a situation that was almost desperate.

It was time for the supporting characters to take the stage. This time, however, it was Venus who came.

It was as if they had been waiting for Sun Wukong's despair all along.

Taibai Jinxing, riding on a cloud, came towards Sun Wukong, calling out from afar, "Great Sage, Great Sage."

Sun Wukong's ears twitched slightly, and he looked in the direction of the sound. When he saw Taibai Jinxing, he said unhappily, "You old man, are you here to laugh at me too?"

Venus smiled slightly, not annoyed at all. He said, "Great Sage, you are mistaken. I have come here this time to guide you through your confusion."

Startled, Sun Wukong's eyes lit up. He rushed forward, grabbed Taibai Jinxing's collar, and said, "Could it be that you, old man, know the background of that One-Horned Rhinoceros King?"

"Great Sage, don't be anxious." Venus waved his hand and said, "Great Sage, you can go to the Tushita Palace and see for yourself."

With a quick glance, Sun Wukong realized what was happening.

Sun Wukong was certainly familiar with the Tushita Palace, since it was there that he stole the elixir refined by Laozi. He was then burned in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, but this also allowed him to fully absorb the medicinal power of the elixir and achieve an indestructible body.

If we say that Sun Wukong's PTSD towards Buddhism stemmed from being imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha for over 500 years, and how he developed severe PTSD after escaping, then...

As for the Taoist sect, after being tempered in the Eight Trigrams Furnace and witnessing its terrifying depths on the journey to the West, Sun Wukong no longer dared to display the arrogance he once had when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace.

Just from hearing the name of the Tushita Palace from Venus, Sun Wukong understood that this One-Horned Rhinoceros King must be related to Taoism.

It should be noted that he had dealt with Laozi before; aside from other matters, the two demons, Golden Horn and Silver Horn, had caused Sun Wukong great losses.

Not to mention that Golden Horn and Silver Horn actually possessed several magical treasures that made Sun Wukong fully realize their terror.

Having understood the whole story and knowing who to approach, Sun Wukong bowed deeply to Taibai Jinxing and said, "Thank you very much, old man. I, Sun Wukong, will go to the Heavenly Court to seek justice."

The moment he finished speaking, Sun Wukong made a hand seal and chanted an incantation, then rode his somersault cloud straight into the sky.

After arriving in Heaven, Sun Wukong found the Tushita Palace with ease.

It was as if Laozi had been waiting there all along.

As soon as Sun Wukong stepped into the gate of the Tushita Palace, he immediately saw Laozi sitting cross-legged on a futon.

This time, Sun Wukong dared not be as arrogant as before. He gritted his teeth, bowed in the direction of Laozi, and said, "Laozi, you have to give me an explanation."

Before he actually reached the Western Paradise and attained the status of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong was actually always a monster.

The Buddha Tathagata suppressed him for over five hundred years with a single slap. Faced with Tathagata, Maitreya, Guanyin, and other great Buddhist figures, Sun Wukong knelt down with remarkable ease.

But when faced with Laozi, the leader of Taoism, his behavior was enough to show that in his heart, Taoism was not as terrifying as Buddhism.

Slightly opening his eyes, which were as pure as a baby's, Laozi chuckled and said, "You monkey, instead of protecting your master Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures, why are you causing trouble here?"

“Don’t try to fool me, Old Sun.” Sun Wukong stood up and said, “When I, Old Sun, escorted Tang Sanzang to the Golden Gourd Cave, the One-Horned Rhinoceros King of the Golden Gourd Cave caught us in a trap. This One-Horned Rhinoceros King must be related to you.”

"Don't talk nonsense." Lao Tzu looked completely innocent.

Sun Wukong certainly didn't dare to really turn against Laozi, but he still wouldn't let it go, saying, "Go ahead and investigate. There must be some wicked creatures in your Tushita Palace who have descended to the mortal world to become demons while you weren't looking."

Clearly, Sun Wukong is quite adept at playing dumb. With the phrase "while you weren't paying attention," he, as the aggrieved party, cleared Laozi of suspicion.

Even if the investigation is truly thorough, the One-Horned Rhinoceros King belongs to the Tushita Palace. At most, Laozi (Taishang Laojun) is just someone who didn't discipline him properly. Even if the Buddha or the Jade Emperor were present, he would only be punished with three cups of wine as a penalty.

Having experienced countless tribulations orchestrated by powerful figures, Sun Wukong has become quite shrewd, knowing what he can and cannot say.

After giving Sun Wukong a meaningful look, Laozi sighed and said, "Enough, enough. Since you monkey insist on causing trouble, where is the servant boy?"

As Laozi finished speaking, a boy whom Sun Wukong recognized very well appeared in the main hall of the Tushita Palace.

"Disciple Jinjiao greets Master. May I ask what your orders are?"

Indeed, the one who appeared in the main hall was none other than the Golden Horn King, who had previously caused Sun Wukong a great loss at the Lotus Cave on Pingding Mountain.

However, in the Tushita Palace of Heaven, this Golden Horned King was merely a pageboy under the tutelage of Laozi.

Previously, Laozi had promised to take away King Golden Horn and King Silver Horn and punish them severely, but now it seems that they are not being punished at all.

"Go and check if any of my disciples are absent from my Tushita Palace," Laozi said, feigning ignorance.

"Yes."

Not long after the Golden Horned Boy left, he hurriedly returned to the main hall and knelt down in front of Laozi, saying, "My lord, something terrible has happened! That Green Ox has secretly left the Heavenly Court and is now nowhere to be found."

“Good!” Sun Wukong jumped out and said, “Laojun, now you have nothing to say, right? I knew it was because you didn’t discipline him properly.”

In front of Laozi, Sun Wukong acted as if he had never seen Golden Horn before.

Laozi laughed and said, "It's alright, it's alright. Since my mount is causing trouble for you and your disciples, I will go down to the mortal realm to take away that wicked creature and let you and your disciples go west."

Just when Sun Wukong thought everything was about to settle down, the Golden Horned Boy suddenly said, "Master, that Green Ox with Flat Horns not only escaped to the mortal realm, but also stole your Vajra Bracelet."

"What?" Upon hearing this, Laozi's expression changed drastically, but his surprise was merely a pretense to appease Sun Wukong.

"What kind of treasure is that Vajra Bracelet?" Sun Wukong asked curiously. "All I know is that the demon has a ring in his hand. It's quite extraordinary. No matter what kind of magic weapon, supernatural power, or spell it is, as long as the demon shows the ring, it can snatch it all away. It's impossible to defend against it."

"My Vajra Bracelet is a treasure for refining demons. You should carry it with you at all times. However, I did not wear it during this alchemy session, and this wicked creature found an opportunity to use it." Laozi sighed and said, "If the Vajra Bracelet is in this wicked creature's hands, then things will be difficult."

"Is that the Vajra Bracelet?" Sun Wukong pressed.

“Exactly! Speaking of which, you monkey have seen the power of this Vajra Bracelet before.” Laozi reminded him, “Back when you were causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, you were hit by the Vajra Bracelet, which broke your indestructible body and brought it to the Heavenly Court.”

After a moment of hesitation, Sun Wukong immediately started to throw a tantrum, saying, "I, Old Sun, don't care about that. Anyway, since this monster was not properly disciplined by you, Lao Jun, then you have to compensate my master, Old Sun."

Laozi, however, seemed to have Sun Wukong completely under his control, and calmly said, "If you want to capture this wicked creature, you, monkey, will need to make a trip to the Western Paradise. There, you will have a way."

Sun Wukong was actually extremely resistant to being sent to Mount Ling.

On the one hand, Sun Wukong did indeed have a strong psychological shadow over the Buddha; on the other hand, he was somewhat embarrassed.

(End of this chapter)