The Battle in Journey to the West-Chapter 33 - 0 Zhen Yuanzi Lectures in Yuxu
Chapter 33: Chapter 033: Zhen Yuanzi Lectures in Yuxu
Chapter 33 -033: Zhen Yuanzi Lectures in Yuxu
Daoist Equal to Heaven made his way to Guan Jiangkou, and upon reaching the Temple of the True Monarch, he called out loudly, “Yang, I have come to visit you!”
Yang Jian was in the midst of cultivation when he heard Daoist Equal to Heaven’s call. He regained his composure, emerged from his cave abode, and upon seeing Daoist Equal to Heaven, he couldn’t help but ask, “Who might this fellow Daoist be?”
Daoist Equal to Heaven chuckled mischievously and said, “We’ve met before in the War God Secret Realm. I am none other than Daoist Equal to Heaven.”
Yang Jian remembered then. Indeed, Wukong had transformed a Primordial Spirit into Yuan Hong’s body using the art of Fetal Transformation and Easy Shape-Shifting, and then spent seven days shaping him into a human being. Now it seemed he had fully matured, so he said, “Ah! It’s you! We haven’t been apart for long, but surely you wouldn’t come up to the Temple of the True Monarch without some matter to attend to. Is there something you need?”
Seeing how urgent Daoist Equal to Heaven appeared, Yang Jian knew that he must have come with an issue, it couldn’t be that simple, as he pierced through the profound mystery with a single statement.
Daoist Equal to Heaven let out a strange laugh and said, “Fellow Daoist Yang Jian truly has a Wisdom Eye as bright as a torch. Indeed, I have come here with a matter to discuss with you.”
Although Yang Jian knew this Daoist Equal to Heaven was in essence no different from Wukong’s original form, with Primordial Spirits from the same origin, the way he looked and spoke still felt oddly disconcerting to him. He found this person’s appearance resolute, yet there was also an undercurrent of something sinister.
Yang Jian then smiled and said, “Regardless of the matter, let us drink our fill before we discuss it. We can talk over drinks.”
The two entered Yang Jian’s cave abode, located within the Temple of the True Monarch, concealed from mortals’ eyes by a Blinding Spell. Many mortals came here to pray and offer incense. Erlang Shen, cold on the outside but warm inside, was willing to help if he could do so without causing harm for his benefit. Of course, there were also evildoers who came to seek his help. Those evildoers inevitably met their demise by Heavenly Thunder after returning home. As a result, the number of people coming to the Temple of the True Monarch to pray continuously increased, and the surrounding towns were mostly safe and peaceful with unlocked doors at night, much like during the primordial Era of the Three Emperors.
Yang Jian ordered his uncertified God servants to bring wine and food, and then he sat down on the ground with Daoist Equal to Heaven, each holding a jar of aged liquor for a hearty toast.
Daoist Equal to Heaven gulped down most of his jar in one go and, with a free and wild air, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, saying, “I won’t lie to you, Brother Yang. This time, I really do have a matter at hand.”
Yang Jian said, “What matter? Please explain.”
Daoist Equal to Heaven then spoke, “The Tathagata appeared in a dream to Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, causing him to see a vision of a Golden Man flying over the Imperial Palace in his night dreams. Thinking it an auspicious sign, the emperor dispatched General of the Household Cai Yin and several Honglu Temple officials as envoys to the Western Regions to seek Buddhism and ask about the Dao. The Tathagata intends to bring the Dao of the West into our Eastern Land. The envoys have already set off, and, having no Magical Treasures on this body and unwilling to use those of my original self to avoid revealing secrets of heaven, it occurred to me that you, Yang, being Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun, surely wouldn’t sit back and watch Buddhist Law bring chaos to the Eastern Land. Thus, I have come to request your aid in stopping those Buddhists.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Jian frowned and said, “Is that so? And the Jade Emperor doesn’t care?”
Daoist Equal to Heaven responded, “I fear the Jade Emperor has already struck some deal with the Tathagata. He appears splendid, but he is still suppressed by the Three Pure Ones, otherwise he wouldn’t have chosen me for such a task as the Journey to the West. Brother Yang, this Dharma of Zen from the Buddhist sect greatly conflicts with our Eastern Land’s Confucianism and Taoism. If it spreads here, it will undoubtedly distort Confucianism and Taoism completely, leading to many who would misinterpret the teachings of Confucius, and those who would seek fame under the guise of cultivating Inner Learning.”
Yang Jian was also exceedingly intelligent, but he was not one who knew past and future lifetimes like Wukong; he couldn’t see so far ahead. Yet he also felt there was truth in Daoist Equal to Heaven’s words. The Dharma of Zen had a significant impact on Cultivators, but if it spread amongst the mortals, it would be like a poison, distorting the teachings of Confucianism and Taoism and bringing misfortune to the region.
“Hmm, your point makes sense. If the Jade Emperor does not intervene, then I shall! No need to worry. It’s not easy for Buddhist Dao to infiltrate the Eastern Land. There are powerful figures even amongst mortal sects. Major Daoist sects like Mount Mao, Orthodox Unity, and Wudang certainly won’t stand idly by. And there are some formidable Scattered Immortals as well. With our combined efforts, it won’t be easy for Buddhist Dao to make its way in!” Yang Jian said with a sneer.
This matter concerned Incense Power and Wishes. Which sect or Immortal would not desire their incense to thrive and willingly let another tradition take a share? Almost none would be so foolish. Incense Power and Wishes could be transformed into Mana, and even used to craft Magical Treasures. Yang Jian was not willing to let Buddhism dilute his own share of Incense Power and Wishes.
Daoist Equal to Heaven nodded repeatedly after hearing this. If the Tathagata’s Dao could not spread, then King of Tang, Emperor Taizong of Tang, would not commission Tang Sanzang to undertake the Journey to the West. Although Tang Sanzang had already perished, there would surely be Tang Sanzang the Fourth, Tang Sanzang the Fifth, and others. After Golden Cicada, there would come Silver Cicada. With Three Thousand Buddhas, Infinite Bodhisattvas, Eight Hundred Arhats, and numerous Holy Monks, the Tathagata’s followers certainly did not lack for personnel.
Daoist Equal to Heaven said, “For this mission, I must rely on you, Brother Yang. I have no fitting Magical Treasures in hand, impoverished and empty as I am, and I dare not use those of my original self, lest I expose myself and alert the Tathagata, leading to greater losses for minor gains. It will be up to you to lead the effort.”
Yang Jian laughed and said, “No worries at all! General Cai Yin shouldn’t have traveled so fast. Let’s enjoy some good wine first, and then we’ll take a trip to West Cow He State.”
A thought struck Daoist Equal to Heaven, “That Ancestral Earth Immortal Zhen Yuanzi, with his immense mana, strikes awe into those who witness it. This trip to West Cow He State, perhaps we could persuade him? The old Daoist was quite amenable, and in my past life, he and I were sworn brothers. Maybe I could ask him for a couple of pepino fruits as well?”
Zhen Yuanzi boasted greatly, claiming to revere only heaven and earth, not bowing to the Three Pure Ones, yet still he had to rush up to the Thirty-Three Heavens whenever Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch decreed it. Daring to claim the title Ancestral Earth Immortal, he must possess considerable skills; how else could he manage? Even Ancient Past Buddha Dipankara failed to gain advantage over him, as the twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls were effortlessly warded off by the Book of Earth and swept away into his Universe in the Sleeve, revealing his might.
Daoist Equal to Heaven then said, “I wonder, Brother Yang, are you aware of Wuzhuang Temple on Ten Thousand Year Mountain in West Cow He State, whose owner calls himself the Ancestral Earth Immortal, Zhen Yuanzi?”
Yang Jian gave a slight nod. Who in West Cow He State capable of establishing a Taoist temple and spreading their own Dao weren’t skilled? Much like the Buddhist Temples built by the Buddhist sect in Southern Toad Continent, where each abbot was at the level of a Taiyi Golden Immortal. It was well known that Zhen Yuanzi possessed a pepino fruit tree but no one dared to steal or snatch from it, which gave some indication of his prowess!
Yang Jian asked, “Do you intend to request the assistance of this Ancestral Earth Immortal? He must be a formidable expert.”
Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed and said, “Zhen Yuan Immortal’s cultivation is extremely high, and his Divine Skills of the Universe in the Sleeve are truly unrivaled. If we could have his help, it would be much easier to stop Buddhism from spreading to the Eastern Land.”
While Yang Jian and Daoist Equal to Heaven were making their plans, let’s turn our attention to the Jade Void Palace in the Thirty-Three Heavens, where Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch, feeling fortune smile upon him, calculated and frowned deeply.
“Does the Patriarch have any instructions?” the White Crane Boy hurriedly asked.
“This Zhen Yuanzi is but a Scattered Immortal with great mana, known as the Ancestral Earth Immortal. On a whim, I calculated his destiny and found that he could hinder our plans! If he really takes action against the Buddhist sect, I’m afraid it would be difficult to explain to Tathagata. Child, take my decree and descend to the mortal world to invite Zhen Yuanzi to come up and listen to my lecture,” Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch said indifferently.
Since the Middle Ancient Times, after a great war, the Three Pure seemed to have suffered grievous injuries, as had the Two Saints of the West, who were trapped by Tathagata inside Mount Sumeru, unable to leave. The Three Pure also feared mutual destruction; if they perished, then the Four Great Continents would undoubtedly be annihilated as well. Tathagata did not want to gamble with their lives, so an agreement was reached between the two parties: to use the Journey to the West as a means for their strife, competing for the fate and fortune of the world.
“I will follow Elder’s arrangements completely,” said the White Crane Boy promptly.
Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch painted talismans in the void, wrote a passage of text, and tossed the talismans into the hands of the White Crane Boy, saying, “Tell him I invite him up to discuss the Dao.”
The White Crane Boy said, “I obey the Elder’s decree.”
With the Jade Talisman in his mouth, the White Crane Boy transformed into a snowy white crane and flew down from the Thirty-Three Skies.
This time, the temporary spread of Buddhism into the Eastern Land had been tacitly approved by the Three Pure, also as preparation for the future contest against Tathagata for the world’s fate and fortune—all part of the grand game initiated with the Journey to the West.
Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch frowned deeply, his fingers flicking continually, pushing the Heavenly Dao to make calculations. He discovered that the future of the VLOOKUP(A1300,[1]Sheet1!$A:$B,2,0), the Stone Monkey, had countless paths branching off. Destiny is a great river, and Wukong’s destiny had spawned many tributaries, so numerous that even Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch felt somewhat overwhelmed and incapable of tracing these branches back to their sources. If the Journey to the West were a chess game, then the Stone Monkey was an apple placed on the board.
“The background of this Zhen Yuanzi is also very mysterious; I don’t know who has taken him as a disciple!” Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch pondered. “Could it be that he truly attained the Dao during the Era of the Heavenly Emperor and has been quietly cultivating in secret all this time?”
In an instant, the White Crane Boy had already arrived at Wuzhuang Temple and knocked on the gate to seek an audience. He reported his origin, and the gatekeeping Child, not daring to neglect him, invited him inside to the inner hall.
Zhen Yuanzi, dressed in a Taoist Robe adorned with Bagua, his feet in Yin-Yang Shoes, and his hair coiled up in a Daoist bun, looked quite distinguished as he clasped his hands together and said, “May I know what brings the Immortal Child from Yuan Shi’s seat to my Wuzhuang Temple?”
The White Crane Boy then said, “Zhen Yuanzi Teacher, my Patriarch invites you to discuss the Dao with him at the Jade Void Palace.”
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Zhen Yuanzi was somewhat delighted and asked, “Is this true?”
Handing over the talismans, the White Crane Boy said, “This is an invitation from the Patriarch; please, Zhen Yuanzi Teacher, have a look.”
Upon examining the talismans, Zhen Yuanzi saw that they were indeed written by Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch. He accepted the talismans and said, “Immortal Child, please wait a moment while I make some preparations.”
“Teacher, please take your time,” said the White Crane Boy, sitting down to wait.
Zhen Yuanzi went to the backyard to take four pepinos, gave one to the White Crane Boy, and placed the remaining three into a Jade Box. After closing the lid, he stored them in his sleeve – they were gifts for Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch.
Having received a favor, the White Crane Boy smiled from ear to ear, showing even more respect towards Zhen Yuanzi.
The two made their way, chatting and laughing, on a cloud to the Jade Void Palace in the Thirty-Three Heavens. Meanwhile, Daoist Equal to Heaven and Yang Jian’s journey to West Cow He State came to naught, for the Wuzhuang Temple’s Child said that Zhen Yuanzi had ascended to the heavens for a lecture. With no other choice, they could only sheepishly return to Guan Jiangkou.
To find out what happens next, please tune in to the following chapter.
