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

Zhunti Daoist was speechless, his face turning ashen, and for a moment he was at a loss for words to answer Yuanshi Tianzun.

Seeing this, the Guide Daoist quickly grabbed his junior brother's wrist and put on a smile, saying, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, why are you angry? We have come here only to discuss the matter of the Spiritual Stone Monkey, and we have absolutely no intention of questioning or punishing you."

Lao Tzu sat upright on his cloud bed and said calmly, "The Spiritual Stone Monkey is destined to join my Daoist sect and has already become a disciple of Qinglian Island. However, the Journey to the West is a great calamity that concerns the operation of the universe and humanity, so my Daoist sect will not obstruct the eastward spread of Buddhism."

A glint flashed in Zhunti Daoist's eyes, and he said urgently, "Since that's the case, please hand over the Spiritual Stone Monkey to our Buddhist sect..."

Before Zhunti Daoist could finish speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun slammed his hand on the table, and the Three Treasures Ruyi appeared in his hand.

"Zhunti, do you really think Qinglian Island is your Western Paradise? A place where whatever you say goes?"
The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly froze. The two Western monks felt as if the space around them had been locked, and even their breathing became labored.

The guide was shocked, realizing that the cultivation of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable had advanced to such a level that he could suppress two Heavenly Saints with just his aura.

The Guide Daoist hurriedly smoothed things over, saying, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, why bother? Since the Daoist sect has agreed to let the Spiritual Stone Monkey enter the Journey to the West calamity, it should naturally be handed over to our Buddhist sect."

Yuanshi Tianzun snorted coldly and said, "Isn't it just raising a monkey who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace? Do you think my Daoist sect can't do that?"

"If you Buddhist monks train him, you'll still need those useless bastards in Heaven to show him mercy before he can cause havoc in Heaven."

"But the monkeys trained by my Taoist sect need no mercy from anyone. They will definitely be able to successfully wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace."

Zhunti was so angry that his lips turned blue. He thought to himself, "Listen to what you're saying. Is that even human language?"
The havoc in Heaven was just a formality. If that monkey really possessed the power to wreak havoc in Heaven, wouldn't the Jade Emperor turn against Buddhism?

At this moment, Lao Tzu spoke up, saying, "My two fellow Daoists, have you ever considered what the Spiritual Stone Monkey would have to go through to successfully embark on the journey to the West?"

"Your Buddhist sect can handle the havoc in the Heavenly Palace. But can your Buddhist sect also handle the havoc in the Dragon Palace and the Nine Netherworld?"

"Especially in the Nine Netherworld, my junior sister Houtu has quite a temper. If anything goes wrong, the Spirit Stone Monkey might not be able to return from the Nine Netherworld."

Lao Tzu's words definitely carried a threatening tone, but the two Western monks felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing them.

Because what Lao Tzu said was not merely a threat, but also the truth. After all, neither the Dragon Clan nor the Nine Netherworld were places where Buddhism could not intervene.

Think of Ao Ping who just greeted him; that's the ancestor of the Dragon Clan. He now possesses the cultivation of a Saint. If it were him making a move, the Spirit Stone Monkey would be absolutely courting death if it tried to steal treasures from the Dragon Palace.

As for the Nine Netherworld, it's even more of a no-brainer; it's a place even Hongjun can't interfere with. With twelve Earthly Saints in charge, even the two Western Buddhas would be beaten to a pulp if they went there.

Even Ksitigarbha, who was once sent to the Netherworld, has now become the Ksitigarbha King.

Although the Western religion reformed Buddhism, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was still given the title of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, it is unknown whether his heart is still in Buddhism.

Most importantly, even if Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is devoted to Buddhism, what say does a quasi-saint have in the Netherworld?
Having understood the implications, the Guide Daoist asked Laozi, "Then why did I prepare for this, and how will the Spiritual Stone Monkey undergo its tribulation?"

Lao Tzu didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Our Daoist sect will naturally take care of the matters concerning the Dragon Palace and the Nine Netherworld."

"We will ensure that the Lingming Stone Monkey goes through the tribulations according to your plan. There will be absolutely no mistakes, so you can rest assured." "As for the Lingming Stone Monkey's havoc in the Heavenly Palace and his eventual suppression by Buddha under the Five Elements Mountain, nothing will change. The only difference is that the Lingming Stone Monkey who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace will not be a Taiyi Golden Immortal, but may be a Quasi-Saint or a Half-Step Saint."

"However, you can give the Heavenly Court a heads-up in advance and let them make proper preparations. Otherwise, the Spiritual Stone Monkey might overdo it and actually become the new Jade Emperor."

Zhunti Daoist's lips twitched incessantly. He thought to himself, "Even the Buddha's cultivation is only at the Quasi-Saint level. If you were to cultivate the Spiritual Stone Monkey into a Quasi-Saint, it's uncertain who would ultimately suppress whom."

As for the Jade Emperor, he didn't need to worry about him, since the current Jade Emperor had already attained sainthood. It was just that the Taoist disciples were unaware of this.

Because the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West attained sainthood in the world created for them by Hongjun, the primordial beings had no idea that the two had already reached the realm of saints.

Of course, this is only what the two Western interpretations think, because Chen Xuan had already guessed that without Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi, Hongjun would definitely cultivate two more Heavenly Dao Saints.

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West are undoubtedly the most suitable candidates. As for their names being changed to Jade Emperor and Queen Mother of the West, that's just a gimmick.

The Guide Daoist said helplessly, "Fellow Daoist Laozi, please don't joke. If that Spiritual Stone Monkey's cultivation has reached the Quasi-Saint realm, then who should be sent to deal with the demons blocking the way?"

The Guide Daoist has revealed the key point: if the Spirit Stone Monkey from the journey to the West had possessed quasi-saint cultivation, wouldn't he have been able to wield a Ruyi Jingu Bang and easily traverse the westward journey?

Back then, there were no more eighty-one tribulations; they simply transformed into demons and went on a rampage, eventually reaching the Great Thunderclap Temple on Mount Ling in the West.

Most importantly, if the Spirit Stone Monkey possessed quasi-saint cultivation, how would he set up these eighty-one tribulations? Who would dare to descend to the mortal realm as a demon and cause trouble for the Spirit Stone Monkey?

At this moment, Daoist Zhunti finally grasped the key to the matter and immediately said, "No, the Lingming Stone Monkey's cultivation level can only be Taiyi Golden Immortal, not even Daluo Golden Immortal."

Yuanshi Tianzun sneered and said, "That's a bit difficult, after all, just before you came, the Lingming Stone Monkey ate a gourd of Nine-Turn Golden Pills."

"At this moment, his cultivation has not only reached the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, but his physical strength is also comparable to that of a Primordial Spiritual Treasure."

The words of the Primordial Celestial Venerable nearly made the two Western monks vomit blood. They thought to themselves, "We know your Taoist sect is arrogant, but you can't just let someone eat a whole gourd of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir in one go!"

Those are Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, not sugar pills. And they're not those inferior elixirs they arranged in the Tushita Palace; those are genuine products made by Laozi.

Left with no other choice, the Guide could only say, "Since he has already reached the Great Luo Golden Immortal level, we cannot further diminish his cultivation. But we absolutely cannot allow him to advance any further."

After hearing this, Laozi sighed and said, "Our Taoist sect has no precedent of harming its disciples, so if you want the Spirit Stone Monkey's realm to remain at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level, your Western Buddhist sect must provide compensation."

"How about this, after the great calamity of the Journey to the West is over, let the Spiritual Stone Monkey alone receive 50% of the merit from the pilgrimage. This will make up for his loss."

"In addition, after the journey to the West is over, the Spiritual Stone Monkey cannot stay in Buddhism. He needs to return to Taoism and continue to be a protector of Taoism."

At this point, Daoist Zhunti finally reached his breaking point. He stood up abruptly, and the Seven Treasures Tree appeared in his hand.

"Isn't your Taoist sect going a bit too far? Do you really think you can just manipulate my brother and me like this?" (End of Chapter)