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

Chapter 574 Like a true Buddha, utterly ruthless! Journey to the West is a makeshift production!
"You impudent monkey, you've caused a huge disaster!" Zhen Yuanzi said sternly. "Do you know where those two magical treasures you destroyed came from?"

Blinking, Sun Wukong said, "I suppose it was the Buddha Ruzhen who killed a certain monster and then used its wings and claws to create them, right?"

“You do understand,” Zhen Yuanzi sighed. “But do you know the identity of the demon who died at the hands of the True Buddha?”

"He was just a monster killed by the Buddha Ruzhen. Could he possibly have some other background?" Sun Wukong had not yet grasped the crux of the matter.

"Do you think an ordinary monster could catch the eye of the True Buddha? Let me tell you, it is the first Roc in the world since the beginning of time."

"I, Old Sun, am a stone monkey born of nature," Sun Wukong said nonchalantly.

Even now, Sun Wukong still doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation.

Zhen Yuanzi then broke it down into details, explaining the true identity of the Golden-Winged Roc in great detail.

Now Sun Wukong finally understood.

"Brother, are you saying that the true Buddha killed Tathagata's brother-in-law? Tathagata's brother-in-law is the Peacock King Buddha Mother Bodhisattva of Buddhism? And there is also the Phoenix Mother who suppressed the southern volcano?"

"Yes."

Sun Wukong's eyes darted around, and an idea to shift the blame eastward instantly popped into his mind.

"If that's the case, wouldn't I, Old Sun, be helping the Buddha?"

"Foolish!" Zhen Yuanzi said angrily, "Do you really think that Buddha Tathagata still has any sympathy for you? Why do you think that Buddha Tathagata and Peacock King Buddha Bodhisattva didn't know that Buddha Tathagata killed the Golden-Winged Roc and used its body to refine magic weapons? Also, do you remember the vortex of Yin and Yang, life and death that Buddha Tathagata made when he made his move?"

Sun Wukong nodded vigorously, his memory of the innate Yin and Yang energies still fresh in his mind.

On his journey westward, he had encountered far too many devastating attacks from powerful magical artifacts.

In Sun Wukong's eyes, Luo Fu's innate Yin-Yang dual energy supernatural power was undoubtedly among the best, even the most outstanding.

Faced with the vortex of innate Yin and Yang energies, even Zhen Yuanzi's hidden universe and the Golden Circle of the One-Horned Rhinoceros King of Jindu Cave did not frighten Sun Wukong as much.

"If I told you that the black and white energies were originally the innate Yin and Yang energies of the Golden-Winged Roc, what would you think?"

With a start, Sun Wukong exclaimed in horror, "The true Buddha is so cruel!"

"You." Zhen Yuanzi almost laughed out loud at Sun Wukong's audacity. He never dreamed that Sun Wukong would misinterpret Luofu.

However, in Sun Wukong's view, Luo Fu's actions were indeed cruel.

Sun Wukong was indeed a disciple of Subhuti, and he cultivated the authentic Buddhist Great Celestial Immortal Technique, which combines the three teachings of Buddhism, and was a genuine Buddhist Golden Elixir Path.

Indeed, the concept of the Golden Elixir also exists in Buddhism. Otherwise, the Buddha would not have taken out twenty-four Golden Elixir Sands when he was in the Golden Gourd Cave.

In fact, after the Investiture of the Gods, the concept of the unity of the three religions became very popular.

The Taoist school has a Golden Elixir Path that incorporates Buddhist concepts, and the Buddhist school also has a Golden Elixir Method that incorporates the orthodox teachings of the Xuanmen (Taoist school).

Regardless of his cultivation system, after returning from learning his skills at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Sun Wukong immediately became an outlaw and a monster.

His ideas do not conform to the conventional understanding and concepts.

Therefore, in his view, after Luo Fu killed the Golden-Winged Roc, he also seized its innate Yin and Yang energies and refined them into his own magic weapon. Even its physical body was dismantled into parts to refine magic weapons. This practice was simply too insane. It was far more cruel than any madman.

"Enough, enough." Zhen Yuanzi decided to stop explaining the pros and cons to Sun Wukong. Instead, he directly reminded him, "You've caused a huge disaster this time. If you want to save your master Tang Sanzang, you'd better think of a way to appease the wrath of the True Buddha."

"Please advise me, brother, what should I do?" Sun Wukong asked shrewdly.

"In my opinion, you should first try to restore the Buddha's magic treasure."

"But I, Old Sun, have been wronged," Sun Wukong said indignantly.

Zhen Yuanzi was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn't realized where Sun Wukong got such a big grudge from.

But he soon realized that Sun Wukong's so-called injustice was because he had killed the seven adopted sons of the Seven Emotions Bodhisattva. This was what led to this series of troubles.

As the saying goes, ordinary people fear the consequences, while bodhisattvas fear the causes.

Clearly, Sun Wukong is still in the former state.

Ordinary people fear the consequences because they only feel fear and regret after bad results occur. Bodhisattvas, on the other hand, foresee the cause and effect before they even act.

Sun Wukong's resentment at this moment stemmed mostly from his regret over his decisive action in killing the seven insects. This ultimately led to everything that followed at Ruzhen Temple.

In his mind, he shouldn't have had this consequence for doing what he did, and that's why he felt resentful after the consequence occurred.

Zhen Yuanzi, however, knew that it wasn't just because Sun Wukong killed seven insects.

He sighed and said, "Brother, you've been traveling west all this way, haven't you seen any evil monsters from the powerful sects?"

Sun Wukong suddenly realized, gritted his teeth, and said, "Please advise me, brother, who should I seek help from to repair the Buddha's magic weapon?"

Clearly, Sun Wukong also knew that the magical artifact he had destroyed was too special.

Is a magical artifact crafted from the physical body of the Buddha's brother-in-law a troublesome matter that ordinary cultivators would dare to dabble in?
Even Zhen Yuanzi didn't want to get involved in such a cause and effect.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Brother, the best course of action now is for you to travel to the South China Sea."

The only person Sun Wukong from the South China Sea could think of was Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"Can the Bodhisattva really help me, Old Sun?" Sun Wukong asked doubtfully.

“The Bodhisattva will explain,” Zhen Yuanzi said with unwavering faith.

"Then I, Old Sun, will make the trip." Sun Wukong got up and prepared to make hand seals and chant incantations to summon his somersault cloud and head to Mount Luojia in the South China Sea.

Just as Sun Wukong was about to leave, Zhen Yuanzi inexplicably said, "Brother, you have a great affinity with the Buddha Ruzhen. Although this journey will be very troublesome, it may also be an opportunity."

Unfortunately, Sun Wukong completely forgot what he had just heard.

Now all he can think about is seeking help from Guanyin Bodhisattva.

He bowed respectfully towards Zhen Yuanzi, then leaped up and rode his somersault cloud toward Luojia Mountain in the South China Sea.

It wasn't until Sun Wukong left that Zhen Yuanzi suddenly seemed to realize something.

A sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he exclaimed in frustration, "Oh no!"

Zhen Yuanzi finally remembered that he had also been caught in Luo Fu's attack before.

Logically speaking, Luo Fu shouldn't be targeting him; something is definitely amiss. Could it be that the true Buddha believes he is also a culprit?
When Zhen Yuanzi escaped from Luo Fu's attack of innate Yin and Yang energies, he subconsciously took Luo Fu's attack as Luo Fu's subconscious anger at the destruction of his magic weapon.

But now, upon closer reflection, he suddenly realized that things weren't as simple as he had imagined.

Of course, Zhen Yuanzi never imagined that Luo Fu intended to take the opportunity to kill him. After all, there was no irreconcilable enmity or cause and effect between him and Luo Fu.

He even took the initiative to visit Ruzhen Temple and presented eighteen ginseng fruits to Ruzhen Buddha in Luofu.

No matter how you look at it, Luo Fu has no reason to attack him.

So, what probably prompted Luo Fu to do this was that he associated himself with Sun Wukong.

He thought that when he went to find Sun Wukong to ask for the ginseng fruit back, he happened to run into Luofu.

Zhen Yuanzi gave a bitter smile, but his heart was filled with even more frustration.

It's just a few ginseng fruits, though they are indeed quite valuable, but this time I really lost more than I gained.

Zhen Yuanzi had no interest in helping Sun Wukong withstand the lightning.

After all, he was at most caught up in this Journey to the West tribulation, not the protagonist of it.

This time, in particular, it was a disaster that came out of nowhere.

Rather than helping Sun Wukong, Zhen Yuanzi now hopes to explain everything to Luofu.

Although Zhen Yuanzi was an ancient great power and one of the three thousand guests in Zixiao Palace, he had witnessed the terror of too many eons, but he had long since lost that courageous and diligent spirit.

It should be noted that Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun Laozu were once inseparable friends. After the last sermon at Zixiao Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun bestowed saintly positions. Because of that wisp of Primordial Purple Qi, Hongyun Laozu was plotted against and ultimately died. His soul drifted to the Netherworld Blood Sea and eventually disappeared without a trace. Even that wisp of Primordial Purple Qi eventually vanished without a trace.

At first, Zhen Yuanzi had the idea of ​​avenging Hongyun and even took action. However, the demon and witch clans declined one after another. The Styx Ancestor was obsessed with becoming a saint and became a demon. Although he did not achieve his wish, his strength was far beyond what Zhen Yuanzi could contend with.

As time passed and after repeated disappointments, Zhen Yuanzi deeply felt his own powerlessness, and now he had completely lost the spirit he once had.

The current Zhen Yuanzi has even transformed into the kind of person he once despised.

He established connections with the Three Pure Ones, and now, during the tribulations of Journey to the West, he disregarded his status and became sworn brothers with Sun Wukong.

At best, he only has the will to maintain the status quo, and has no ambition whatsoever.

Luo Fu, a rising star, is clearly not someone Zhen Yuanzi can afford to offend.

In addition, he did not want to be involved in the Journey to the West Tribulation. Even though the Journey to the West Tribulation was essentially a stage play arranged in all aspects, unless the dust was finally settled, who knew how many powerful beings would be involved?
In this situation, his best option is not to engage in any emotional conflict, but to try his best to avoid getting involved and unable to extricate himself. If things go wrong, he risks even his own death and annihilation.

I glanced at the direction of the South China Sea from afar.

After a moment of struggle, Zhen Yuanzi summoned his disciples and instructed them to close Wuzhuang Temple.

He himself activated the entire formation of Longevity Mountain, completely concealing the blessed land, and headed straight west towards Ruzhen Temple.

Inside Ruzhen Temple.

Luofu hung Pigsy, Sandy, and the White Dragon all together outside the mountain gate.

However, after hanging Tang Sanzang for a while, they decided to give him a minor punishment and let him go.

Tang Sanzang is undoubtedly the protagonist of the Journey to the West tribulation, and is destined to become a Buddha in the future.

Even if Luo Fu is to be punished, he cannot be too humiliating; he is different from the previous Xiao Leiyin Temple.

The trouble at Xiaoleiyin Temple was initially brought to the forefront by Huang Mei, but in the end, it was only through the intervention of the Buddha of the East that everything was resolved with a single word: "You are a wicked person."

Luo Fu has personally intervened.

In the Zen room.

Tang Sanzang, who was quite frightened, would probably have already shifted the blame to Luofu and placed all the blame on Sun Wukong if he had just embarked on his journey to the West.

Don't doubt whether Tang Sanzang could do it.

In Tang Sanzang, humanity far outweighs Buddhism.

More importantly, Tang Sanzang was indeed a cowardly and timid person who dared not take responsibility.

Countless times, Tang Sanzang made it clear to Sun Wukong that if he caused trouble, he shouldn't involve him.

Of course, that was at the beginning, not long after Sun Wukong became a disciple. At most, the master and disciple had only a nominal relationship; there was no real affection between them.

It was during this long journey to the west that the pilgrimage team gradually developed genuine camaraderie.

Tang Sanzang, still shaken, waited for a while in the meditation room.

Then we saw the appearance of Luo Fu, the victim.

Tang Sanzang hurriedly stood up, bowed deeply, and knelt down, prostrating himself on the ground, saying, "This disciple of Xuanzang has committed grave sins. I beg the Buddha to atone for my sins. I am willing to bear all the blame and hope that the Buddha will have mercy."

"Xuanzang, please get up." Luofu gave Tang Sanzang an approving look.

It must be admitted that the closer they got to the Western Paradise, the closer Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and others became to the image of the Journey to the West master and disciples in Luofu's mind.

At the beginning, the infighting and backstabbing within the westward journey team made one wonder if such a makeshift group could really reach the Western Paradise.
Pigsy suggested breaking up the group countless times. He wasn't just talking about it or complaining; he genuinely didn't care.

Who can blame him when Pigsy was once Marshal Tianpeng, one of the Four Saints of the North Pole in Heaven? Even though he was banished to the mortal realm and ultimately reincarnated as a pig, he still had powerful backers.

For others, joining the westward journey was a rare opportunity to land and become part of the organization, but for Zhu Bajie, it was different. Luofu knew that behind Zhu Bajie stood the Great Emperor Donghua.

That's right.

Zhu Bajie's true background is not the Human Sect, nor the Taiqing Sage, but the Donghua Emperor, the ruler of the Three Islands and Ten Continents.

Even the fact that Zhu Bajie was able to become Marshal Tianpeng was not because he had any real ability; he got the position through connections and by relying on the identity of the Eastern Emperor.

With such a background, even at the very least, Pigsy could travel to the Three Islands and Ten Continents and secure a decent position.

There's no need to gamble everything like Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing.

Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing were truly penniless, with no choice but to struggle.

The entire journey to the West consisted of Tang Sanzang as the core of the group, Sun Wukong as the most capable and strongest fighter, Zhu Bajie as a second-generation heir with connections who didn't care about anything, and Sha Wujing as a good-for-nothing who was willing but powerless.

It has been no easy feat for such a team to have come this far, with each member constantly changing themselves along the westward journey.

(End of this chapter)