Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Just as Chen Xuan was about to speak, he saw that Qing Teng had returned with the Spirit Stone Monkey. Behind them were Yang Jian and other third-generation disciples of the Daoist sect.

Qing Teng approached, first bowing to Chen Xuan, then greeting Houtu and Tongtian. Only then did she speak to Chen Xuan.

"Master, your disciple has fulfilled his mission and has brought back the Spirit Stone Monkey."

Houtu hid the cucumber behind her back while examining the Spirit Stone Monkey and said, "Master, there's something strange about this monkey."

“His true spirit is not complete, and I am certain that it was forcibly separated by someone else, rather than being missing from the beginning.”

As the lord of the Nine Netherworld, Houtu could tell whether a true spirit was complete with just one glance.

Even Chen Xuan hadn't considered this possibility if Houtu hadn't brought it up. Now, upon closer inspection, it was indeed as Houtu had said.

He then turned his gaze to Wuzhiqi and asked, "When you arrived at Flower Fruit Mountain, had this Spiritual Stone Monkey developed any intelligence?"

Without even thinking, Wuzhiqi shook his head and said, "Ancestor, when the three of us brothers went there, my younger brother had not yet developed intelligence."

"It was we who irrigated him with the Three Lights Divine Water for three hundred years, which gave him sentience. Then it took another hundred years before he was able to take human form."

"Moreover, during this period, none of us brothers have ever left our little brother. We can confirm that no one forcibly stripped our little brother of his true spirit."

Chen Xuan nodded after hearing this, after all, he didn't believe Wuzhiqi would dare to lie to him. He then looked up at Zixiao Palace and said with a smile.

"Hongjun, Hongjun, your intervention this time has indeed surprised me. It seems that this great calamity of the Journey to the West will become even more interesting."

Only Hongjun himself could have the power to split a part of the true spirit of the Spirit Stone Monkey without anyone noticing.

Otherwise, even if a sage intervened, it wouldn't be possible to keep it from Wuzhiqi and the others. Even if they were powerless against a sage, they would still know about it.

As for why Hongjun separated the true spirit of the Spiritual Stone Monkey, Chen Xuan knew without asking that it was to create a fake Sun Wukong.

In the original primordial timeline, it was the Six-Eared Macaque who impersonated Sun Wukong. During their journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, a story of the true and false Monkey Kings unfolded.

Some people in later generations even suspected that the one who followed Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West after the real and fake Monkey Kings was no longer the Spiritual Stone Monkey, but the Six-Eared Macaque.

However, Yuan Futong, the Six-Eared Macaque, has now entered the Taoist order. The Western Buddhist sect's attempt to use a substitute to replace the peach blossom is naturally no longer feasible.

Therefore, Hongjun had no choice but to take action and secretly take away a portion of the true spirit of the Spirit Stone Monkey. He then stored it in the Heavenly Dao to nurture it, so that it could be put to great use in the future.

However, Chen Xuan did not say anything to the others, but instead said to Wuzhiqi, "Take him to see your master. It's time for him to join the Daoist sect."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan reached out and grabbed towards the East China Sea. An iron rod flew into his hand.

"This is the Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel), also known as the Sea-Stabilizing Needle Iron. I'm giving it to you today; it can serve as a weapon in battle."

The Spiritual Stone Monkey bowed deeply to Chen Xuan, and then followed Wuzhiqi to see the Jade Cauldron Immortal, as well as Yuan Hong and Yuan Futong.

Seeing the two monkeys leave, Zhao Gongming stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Grandmaster, I have trapped the White Elephant Venerable of Buddhism in the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. I don't know what to do with him?" Yunxiao also took out the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron and bowed to Chen Xuan, saying, "Grandmaster, I have also captured Wuyun Xian and the other two from the Jie Sect with the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron."

"However, according to the instructions of the Grandmaster, Yunxiao did not abandon their cultivation. He simply sealed them in the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron."

Chen Xuan nodded with a smile and said, "Have them send them to your Uncle Ao Ping, and have Ao Ping hang them on the dragon pillar outside Qinglian Island."

"So that when the Jie Sect and Buddhist saints arrive, they won't be able to find their disciples and will be anxious."

As soon as Chen Xuan said this, Houtu couldn't help but whisper, "Master is really wicked. Isn't this clearly a way to give the Two Buddhas of the West and Ancestor Hongyun a hard time?"

Tongtian, who was standing to the side, also laughed and said, "Master's move was indeed quite cunning. I wonder what kind of expressions the Red Cloud Ancestor and the Two Western Masters will have when they arrive."

"I do hope they have the guts to rescue their own apprentice. That way, we'll have a reason to intervene."

Houtu smiled and nodded, saying, "I originally planned to return to the Nine Netherworld, but it seems I can't rush it now. Otherwise, wouldn't I miss this good show?"

Hearing Houtu and Tongtian whispering to each other, Chen Xuan said helplessly, "Houtu, didn't you want your senior brother Tongtian to watch over the Nine Netherworld for you?"

"I have agreed to this matter. Now take him to the Nine Netherworld to hand over the reins. A thousand years later, you can temporarily entrust the affairs of the Nine Netherworld to your senior brother Tongtian and let him guard the Nine Netherworld for you for ten thousand years."

In truth, asking Tongtian to help guard the Nine Netherworld was merely a jest by Houtu. After all, Houtu's role in the Nine Netherworld is irreplaceable.

Otherwise, with eleven ancestral witches, including Dijiang, guarding the Nine Netherworlds, there would be no need for Tongtian.

So Houtu never expected Chen Xuan to agree. But now that Chen Xuan has actually agreed, is Houtu somewhat at a loss?

Tongtian's expression became even more fascinating. His gaze towards Chen Xuan was now filled with confusion and doubt.

Unfortunately, Chen Xuan didn't give them a chance to question him. He simply waved his hand and sent the two of them to the Netherworld.

After seeing the two off, Chen Xuan finally spoke up, saying, "Without these two interfering, the Journey to the West Calamity wouldn't have had any unexpected complications."

Chen Xuan was well aware that Tongtian could not replace Houtu. The reason for doing this was to ensure that they would stay obediently in the Nine Netherworld during the Journey to the West calamity.

On the surface, Chen Xuan was worried that they might cause some trouble and affect his plans for the Journey to the West Calamity. In reality, he had other plans.

Even the moment Chen Xuan sent the two into the Netherworld, he had already made them aware of their mission.

Meanwhile, in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Daoist Zhunti had already learned the whole story through his benevolent incarnation, Patriarch Bodhi.

He then spoke directly to the Daoist guide beside him, saying, "Senior brother, now that the Spirit Stone Monkey has fallen into the Daoist sect, what should be done next?"

"Are we going to let a Taoist monkey complete the Journey to the West tribulation? If so, I'm afraid this Journey to the West tribulation will not be peaceful."

The Guide sighed and said, "The Spiritual Stone Monkey is the chosen one for this great calamity. Like Jiang Ziya back then, he cannot be replaced by anyone else. Therefore, it seems we have no choice but to go to Green Lotus Island." (End of Chapter)