However, Sun Wukong was ultimately Sun Wukong. Even if the one left was Traveling Monk Sun, a second intent still appeared within his heart.
Unfortunately, such matters were all concealed from the world.
Everything returned to normal, and history continued moving forward.
“There’s a high chance that the Nine Underworlds were also involved in this. They might have attempted to prevent the central Blessed Lands of Saha from flourishing, and the Tathagata Buddha from transcending.” Yan Zhaoge let out a sigh and looked towards the Great Sage Equalling Heavens. He suddenly asked, “The journey to the west was the journey of Buddhism’s flourishment and the Demon Race’s declination.”
Seeing the monkey’s stare, Yan Zhaoge shrugged, “Well, other than my human race, other ancient races had gone through the retribution of declining.”
He corrected his expression, “Most Great Sages and Small Saints either perished or were forced into a mere mount that had to obey their master’s command. Some of your old friends were included among them as well.”
“That Traveling Monk Sun converted to Buddhism and devoted his heart towards Buddhism. He doesn’t care about past affairs any longer. Instead, you’re the only that cares now. Since that’s the case, how about you walk down this path as well? Maybe you can be benevolent and spare more lives.”
The Great Sage Equalling Heavens snorted, “It won’t be that simple. One of us must die.”
He looked up towards the sky and was in a daze, “After the ancient era, when the Daoism’s Three Clear transcended, the Western Buddhists flourished while various other ancient races were still present. As such, the two factions fought to be this world’s monarch.”
“The Grand Plainness’s Plain of Nuwa existing beyond the Thirty-three Heavens had issued a decree. Thirty-six Great Sages, and seventy-two Small Saints of the Demon Race, which totals up to a hundred and eight, distributed the Nuwa Sovereign’s spiritual stone, which she used to patch the heavens. Then, they laid down a huge formation, which obstructed Buddhism’s path.”
“The hundred and eight spiritual stone fragments fused with the Great Sages and Small Saints. If one wanted to destroy the formation, he would have to kill.”
“However, even if one managed to kill the Great Sages or Small Saints that possessed the spiritual stone fragment, the fragments would automatically fly back to the Plains of Nuwa. With that, the Demon Race still had a chance of making a comeback.”
“When the Nuwa Sovereign patched the heavens, she left behind a total of three spiritual stones, namely Heaven, Earth, and Human. The spiritual stone used to lay down this formation is called the Humanly Essence Stone.”
“If one wanted to break through the wonders of the Humanly Essence Stone, they would require the Earthly Essence Stone.”
The monkey pointed at the stone imbued by the mountain rock indifferently, “That’s the Earthly Essence Stone, which is the place of my origins!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1369 - Monkey Sun's Wrath
“The existences beyond the Grand Heavenly Immortal Realm were holding each other back, thus making them unable to make a move.”
“Those in the Grand Heavenly Immortal Realm and below would only end up being massacred by me, or that coward. Only then would the Humanly Essence Stone fragment remain on the spot without returning to the Plains of Nuwa.” The monkey’s expression was a little furious.
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng both looked at each other.
While the things that happened in the past had surprised them, they were currently focusing on another matter.
“Heavenly Essence Stone…” Feng Yunsheng remained silent, but Yan Zhaoge could read her lips.
After calming himself down, Yan Zhaoge softly asked, “Great Sage, you mentioned that the Plains of Nuwa had issued a decree for various Sages and Saints to lay down the formation. Was that the Nuwa Sovereign’s own words?”
Beneath the Thirty-three Heavens, the Grand Plainness Heaven’s Plains of Nuwa’s Nuwa Sovereign Palace was where the Nuwa Sovereign resided.
Upon hearing her name, many sorts of guesses popped up within Yan Zhaoge’s mind.
However, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven shook his head.
“Of course not. The Nuwa Sovereign had already transcended long ago.” The monkey gritted his teeth, “If the Nuwa Sovereign hadn’t transcended yet, how would I be birthed from the Earthly Essence Stone?”
“The one that held authority over the Plains of Nuwa during that time was Eastern Sovereign.”
Yan Zhaoge gently rubbed his temples, “Eastern Sovereign, huh…”
The so-called Eastern Sovereign was the legendary Eastern Sovereign Taiyi!
He was listed among the Ancient Three Sovereigns along with the Nuwa Sovereign. In fact, he was on par with the Daoism’s Three Clear Grand Masters, the Buddhism’s Western Second Patriarch, and even the Nine Underworld’s Primordial Heavenly Devil. He was the oldest and the strongest existence in the universe.
However, the period where the Ancient Three Sovereigns were active had already passed a long time ago. From then until now, information related to them was already extremely scarce. It was practically impossible to locate their whereabouts.
Although there were various kinds of rumors about it, they were still rumors after all. Now, Yan Zhaoge had finally acquired a trustable intel regarding them from the Great Sage Equalling Heaven – Sun Wukong.
Nuwa Sovereign, also known as Mother Goddess Nuwa, had already transcended, just like how the Daoism’s Three Clear Grand Master and the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha had.
Moreover, if what the Great Sage Equalling Heaven said was true, the Nuwa Sovereign had transcended even earlier than the Tathagata Buddha.
Only, he wasn’t aware of where the other two of the Ancient Three Sovereigns were at.
Was the Eastern Sovereign still presiding over the Demon Race’s Astro Mountains Starry Sea?
“The Eastern Sovereign had instructed various other races to fight against Buddhism,” said Yan Zhaoge with a sigh. “In the end, Buddhism illuminated… Traveling Monk Sun had protected monk Sanzang on his pilgrimage. With the Great Thunderclap Monastery’s Buddhism bigwigs’ assistance, the huge formation prepared by the Plains of Nuwa was cleared away to allow Buddhism to descend upon the East once again.”
“The Western Buddhas descended upon the East and forced the group of Great Sages and Small Saints into retreat. At the same time, they spread Buddhism’s teachings throughout the entire world and enlightened the myriad of lifeforms, causing them to achieve an insurmountable accomplishment. It built the foundations for the Blessed Lands of Saha’s flourishment, and ultimately allowed the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha to transcend.”
He thought in his heart, “What role did the Western Pure Lands, Daoism, and the Nine Underworlds play in these turns of events?”
While thinking about it, he looked towards Sun Wukong, “Great Sage, according to the myths, our Daoism’s Grand Clear Grand Master had made an appearance during the Middle era. However, the Three Clear Grand Masters should have transcended together during the end of the Ancient era. Then, the Elder Lord that appeared during the Middle era…”
The Great Sage Equalling Heaven remained silent and stared at Yan Zhaoge.
His dazzling bronze mirror-like eyes made Yan Zhaoge uncomfortable, “Great Sage, is this some sort of taboo?”
After staring at Yan Zhaoge for a while, the monkey chuckled, “What kind of taboo would there be?”
“The Lord of Dao and Virtue is the Supreme Elder Lord. If not, who did you assume he was?”
Yan Zhaoge replied frankly, “It’s not based on who I assumed he was. Only, various sorts of guesses and legends had been made since the Middle era until now. Other than a few existences, no one else knew about the truth behind this.
There were indeed many sorts of rumors regarding the Elder Lord. In fact, there were some extravagant theories as well.
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br /> Relatively speaking, there are three widely spread theories.
The first theory was that he was indeed the Grand Clear Grand Master – the Lord of Dao and Virtue. While he should have transcended long ago, he continued to remain in this world. Otherwise, although he had already transcended long ago, he returned to this world for some unknown reasons.
Second, that wasn’t the real Grand Clear Lord of Dao and Virtue. Instead, the Supreme Heavenly Devil had taken his form!
Before the establishment of heavens and earth, within the Early Heaven’s primordial gulf, the Grand Clear Lord of Dao and Virtue had taken over an Ancestral Devil’s position. There, he manifested himself into a Supreme Heavenly Devil and cleaved the vitality of the Devils.
The one that accompanied him in doing so was the Western Pure Land’s owner – Amitabha. He manifested into a Faceless Heavenly Devil and occupied another Ancestral Devil’s position.
Upon being affected by the two, the Devils had suffered a significant loss. Afterward, other people joined forces together and continuously targeted the Devils. As a result, the dao flourished, while the Devils diminished most of the time.
When the Lord of Dao and Virtue manifested himself into the Supreme Heavenly Devil, and the Amitabha Buddha manifested himself into the Faceless Heavenly Devil, they had undergone an actual manifestation. It wasn’t just a clone or something.
However, as the Lord of Dao and Virtue had transcended, whether the Supreme Heavenly Devil had indeed become an entity of its own was unknown to the mass.
As such, when the Lord of Dao and Virtue appeared in the world in the form of the Supreme Elder Lord during the Middle era, most people had guessed that he was merely a transformation of the Supreme Heavenly Devil.
As for the third theory, others guessed that he was the Lord of Plentiful Treasures.
During the ancient Investitures of the Gods era’s great war, the Prime Clear’s first disciple – Lord of Plentiful Treasures was brought away by the Lord of Dao and Virtue, never to be heard from again.
There were many sorts of rumors about him.
One of them was Old Man Hua Hu.
In this legend, the Lord of Plentiful Treasure was the monarch of the Blessed Lands of Saha during the Middle era – the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha, Gautama Buddha!
The other rumor was that the Elder Lord appearing during the Middle era was contradictory to the Ancient era’s Three Clear Grand Masters transcendence. Most people guessed that the Middle era’s Elder Lord was the Lord of Plentiful Treasures.
In this rumor, the Prime Clear’s first disciple had also inherited the Jade Clear and Grand Clear’s lineage and successfully ascended to the realm beyond the Grand Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Nobody knew why he transformed into the Supreme elder Lord and appeared in the world as the Lord of Dao and Virtue.
The existence of those beyond the Grand Heavenly Immortal Realm was too mysterious for ordinary citizens. As such, all sorts of rumors and guesses were widely spread around.
“The Lord of Dao and Virtue is the Supreme Elder Lord…” The monkey repeated. He suddenly said, “However, the Supreme Elder Lord isn’t the Lord of Dao and Virtue.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded after studying the monkey’s words, “I see. The Jade Clear Grand Master symbolized the birth of all objects from nothingness. The Prime Clear Grand Master symbolizes going from being to unbeing, while the Grand Clear Grand Master existed between nothingness and creation. Only he would leave his shadow behind in this world even if he had transcended. It’s not his main body, nor is it a clone or a manifestation.”
“
Heh,
that’s it,” said the monkey impatiently.
Feng Yunsheng asked, “I’d like to ask you something. Among those existences beyond the Grand Heavenly Immortal Realm in your era, do you know anyone who’s still alive within this world? Daoist Zhunti, Amitabha Buddha, the Vast Freedom Heavenly Devil, the other person among the Ancient Three Sovereigns other than the Nuwa Sovereign and the Eastern Sovereign – Fuxi Sovereign. How are they now?”
“Daoist Zhunti?” The monkey suddenly went silent. Then, he chuckled weirdly. His laughter was filled with complex emotions, capable of making one shudder.
Anger, unresigned, sadness, bleakness…
“He’s already transcended!” The Great Sage Equalling Heaven laughed fanatically while raising his head, “You guys were the one that told me that!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1370 - The Unyielding One Would be the True Great Sage!
Within his fanatical laughter, hints of anger and sadness could be heard.
Being in such an environment, the monkey’s fanatical laughter made their scalps tingle.
Although Yan Zhaoge was a little surprised, it was exactly how he expected it to be.
If one were to compare to the types of contradicting mental state, the latter would be much more possible.
Previously, the monkey didn’t know which bigwig experts had already transcended. Yan Zhaoge had only mentioned the Middle era’s Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha’s transcendence.
The monkey was revealing a secret.
The Ancient era’s Daoist Zhunti was the Middle era central Blessed Lands of Saha’s master. He was the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha – Gautama Buddha!
“Master?!”
The rageous roar engraved within space resounded once again.
Assuming this monkey here had never bowed his head down to Buddhism and was being suppressed here the entire time.
Then, the Buddhist monk Sanzang couldn’t possibly be his master at all.
Only one of such existence existed. That would be the one who thought the Great Sage Equalling Heaven – Sun Wukong, the legendary Grand Master Bodhi.
From ancient times until now, the most popular rumor regarding the Spiritual Mountain of Mind and Heart’s Cave of Slanting Moon and Three Stars’ Grand Master Bodhi was that he was the manifestation of the Ancient era’s Western Second Patriarch – Daoist Zhunti.
After the ancient era, Daoist Zhunti barely appears anymore, and thus his whereabouts were unknown.
Compared to what the Great Sage Equalling Heaven had said, Daoist Zhunti was undoubtedly his master – the Grand Master Bodhi.
Grand Master Bodhi, who taught him the cultivation methods, was the Tathagata Buddha that suppressed him here!
The monkey’s current emotions were extremely complex.
Other than rage and unresigness, disappointment and sadness were contained within.
“So this is why he insisted that the Tathagata Buddha was a liar. He was lying to the monkey from the start.” Feng Yunsheng sighed, and she started feeling down.
Yan Zhaoge gently grabbed her hand and shook his head, “The one that lost was the Eastern Sovereign.”
Maybe, this was the true reason why Sun Wukong was sad.
The precious stone lands its possessor in jail [1].
As a manifestation of the Earthly Essence Stone, he could break through the Humanly Essence Stone’s bizarreness. This was something he was born with, and such was his fate.
Since the Eastern Sovereign used the Humanly Essence Stone to lay down the formation, the Buddhists would require the Earthly Essence Stone to break through the formation.
As such, Daoist Zhunti, who transformed into the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha, transformed once more into Grand Master Bodhi and secretly took Sun Wukong in as his disciple.
Unfortunately, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven had no intention of converting to Buddhism.
Although the monkey was indebted to Grand Master Subuthi, breaking through the formation to obtain the Humanly Essence Stone’s fragments would imply that he would fight against his old friends.
Regardless of which side Sun Wukong was standing on, he wouldn’t be able to accept such an outcome.
As far as Yan Zhaoge knew, some legends from the Journey to the West era differed from how the novel described in
his memories.
The most notable among them was that the Traveling Monk Sun had killed off other Great Demons of the Seven Great Sages!
The Great Sage who Pacifies Heavens – Bull Demon King, was already lucky enough to have his life spared.
The Great Sage Equal of Havens had been suppressed here the entire time and was isolated from the outside world. As such, his knowledge of the outside world was limited. However, as long as he thought about the possibilities that might happen during the pilgrimage, he would become furious and angry, causing him to go mad.
Unfortunately, most of his guesses had turned true.
Although not all of the Demon Race’s Great Sages had perished, a majority of them didn’t manage to survive.
According to Yan Zhaoge’s guess, the Eastern Sovereign should have been paying attention to the Earthly Essence Stone in the past.
Unfortunately, the Tathagata Buddha managed to beat him to it.
With this, other than the Human Race, all other ancient races had indeed suffered.
Meanwhile, the central Blessed Lands of Saha flourished because of this, and Buddhism teachings thrived. Then, the Tathagata Buddha successfully transcended, allowing Buddhism to experience an absolute victory.
Fortunately, the Eastern Sovereign was decisive enough. He led various other races to retreat to the Astro Mountains Starry Seas and isolated themselves from the world.
After years of recuperation, the Demon Race finally recovered their vitality. As such, they emerged once more during recent years, in an attempt to fight for their destiny once more.
Only that, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven in the past, was still being suppressed here.
“Great Sage, please be at rest.” Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng sighed. They couldn’t think of any ways to console Sun Wukong.
Any sorts of condolence would sound too fake.
“The seal here is too strong for us to break apart.” After contemplating for a while, he said, “How about I try to report your condition to the Eastern Sovereign?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 736
