Having said that, it would be hard to predict the outcome.
Yan Zhaoge wasn’t sure if the Eastern Sovereign was aware that the Great Sage Equalling Heaven was being suppressed here.
If he were to guess, Dong Huang probably knew of it.
However, even if Dong Huang knew, whether he would release the monkey was uncertain.
After all, this seal was left behind by the Tathagata Buddha, who had already transcended since long ago.
Although they were opponents in the past, the Tathagata Buddha had already transcended. Since the matters were already bygones, no one would be willing to provoke the Tathagata Buddha until he re-descends upon the world.
Being able to let go and moving forward would be the logical way of doing things.
Currently, his opponent was already someone different.
Just like how everyone views the Supreme Elder Lord now.
Although the Supreme Elder Lord was unpredictable, he could possibly not care about Daoism anymore, just like what he did before the Great Calamity.
If one wasn’t forced to, or if the benefits outweigh the risks, no one would massacre the entire Daoism lineage. At most, they would only suppress and limit the Daoism’s movements.
In the past, when the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace had gone through the Great Calamity, the main reason why the Three Clear Lineage had experienced such troubles was because of the internal disorders happening within Daoism itself.
Yan Zhaoge deeply suspected that the internal disorder was instigated by other forces as well. However, these forces remained by the sidelines and didn’t join forces to destroy Daoism.
While they seemed like they were wasting some unnecessary efforts, they were wary of the Three Clear Grand Masters that had already transcended.
Especially when the Supreme Elder Lord was still around.
Only, the Elder Lord’s thoughts were too unpredictable.
Similarly, one wouldn’t know if the Tathagata Buddha would be angered if the Great Sage Equalling Heaven was released.
“No need.” The monkey’s eyes burned, “After so many years, I’ve come up with my plans. Only, there are some difficulties in executing it.”
“If you truly want to help me, you only have to find me some helpers.”
“It can’t be the two of you. They must be of the Demon Race. Even if it’s someone of the Human Race, they would need to possess the Yin Yang Earthly Spirit.”
Yan Zhaoge raised his eyebrows slightly.
Sun Wukong was very clever. Upon seeing Yan Zhaoge’s looks, he smiled, “Do you think that I’m looking for a scapegoat? You’re underestimating me too much.”
“Please explain, Great Sage.” Yan Zhaoge cupped his hands.
“Indeed, I’d like to borrow their bodies. However, not only would they not suffer, I’d even grant them a huge opportunity.” Monkey Sun’s eyes were blazing, “I’ll transfer my cultivation to them!”
“They’ll obtain a huge amount of benefits while I’ll regain freedom!”
The Great Sage Equalling Heaven raised his head, “That old man Tathagata had taught me in the past. Now, I’m going to cut off all the teachings he had taught me!”
“There’s no need to fear restarting all over again, even if it takes up to a thousand years, ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even ten million years!”
“I would transcend and find that master of mine!”
[1] A person will get into trouble for merely possessing something precious due to other people’s greed.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1371 - Wukong's Request
All kinds of bigwig experts sought after their transcendence. I’m no exception.
All sorts of purposes in the past weren’t important anymore. However, I seek transcendence, not for transcendence itself, but to gain revenge against Old Man Tathagata!
It doesn’t matter if I was obsessed or if it’s my anger alone.
No matter how the world sees me, I shall live my life like how I desire!
The flames within the monkey’s eyes seemed to be gushing out, forming the scorching sky’s momentum.
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng’s expressions turned serious upon seeing the Great Sage Equalling Heavens.
Starting everything from scratch once more.
While it sounded easy, the difficulty contained within was indescribable.
It wasn’t merely a few thousand years, ten thousand years, or even many more years of cultivating. It also implied that everything would become uncertain.
Even if Sun Wukong was born from the Earthly Essence Stone, who could guarantee that he could ascend to the Grand Heavenly Immortal Realm once more?
Who could guarantee that he would definitely transcend?
In a more extreme hypothesis, perishing half-way through the hands of fate or even someone else wasn’t impossible.
However, the monkey didn’t seem to hesitate about his decision.
For him, succeeding or failing was far better than being suppressed here, never to be released!
“Cease to exist without freedom, and remain fearless while fighting against the world…” Yan Zhaoge let out a sigh and looked towards the Great Sage Equalling Heavens, “I’ll try to find some suitable candidates for you, Great Sage.”
The Great Sage Equalling Heavens stared at Yan Zhaoge. After a while, he said, “Brat, aren’t you afraid of angering that Old Man Tathagata? Although he had already transcended, he might still return.”
“You’re right. However, there’s a possibility that the Tathagata Buddha won’t be angered.” Yan Zhaoge smiled, “To be frank, if this would anger the Tathagata Buddha, I’d have to consider my actions more.”
“Not because I’m afraid, but because I’m someone with all sorts of attachments.” He turned his head and looked towards Feng Yunsheng, “I have my family, I have my friends, I have my sect. I have to take measures for them as well.”
“If I were as solitary as you, I would do some things even if it meant angering the Tathagata Buddha.”
Yan Zhaoge said calmly, “It’s human nature to seek after advantages and avoid disadvantages. I’m no exception to that rule. However, not every matter had to be done after weighing the gains and losses.”
“Sometimes, I tend to overly do things recklessly, solely for the satisfaction of it!”
The monkey stared at him. After a long time, he asked, “How did the two of you find this location?”
“Someone instructed us to do so.” Yan Zhaoge’s eyes narrowed slightly, and replied, “He only said that some sort of existence was being suppressed here and asked me to find out who said existence was. I never expected it to be you, Great Sage.”
The monkey asked, “Who instructed you?”
Yan Zhaoge pondered for a while and replied, “One of our Daoism’s Four Imperials, the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor.”
“Southern Extremity Old Immortal, that old man huh…” The Great Sage Equalling Heavens slightly raised his head and seemed to have zoned out while thinking about something.
After a while, a smile appeared on his hairy face, “No matter if you’re sincere or not, I still have to thank you for helping me this time.”
“May I know the qualifications of the candidates you’re seeking after? Are there any limits to how high or low their cultivation is? Are there any demands in terms of numbers?” asked Yan Zhaoge.
The Great Sage Equalling Heaven swayed his hairy claws, “Make the cultivation as high as possible and make the numbers as low as possible. For example, if the candidate has the cultivation just like the woman beside you, one alone would be sufficient.”
In other words, the lower the group’s cultivation was, more people would be required to shoulder the monkey’s inheritance.”
“Alright, I’ll remember that.” Yan Zhaoge nodded.
The monkey asked again, “The woman only mentioned Old Man Tathagata’s transcendence. What happened after that?”
Yan Zhaoge’s heart moved slightly, “Many things had happened. It’s hard to keep them short.”
He told the monkey about the critical matters that happened after the Middle era and mentioned the New Era before and after the Great Calamity. The more the monkey listened, the wider his eyes got.
“
Haha,
although Old Man Tathagata had transcended, his lineage had failed!” The Great Sage Equalling Heavens laughed, “Maitreya only needed to follow Old Man Tathagata’s footsteps. He must’ve been tricked by someone, which obstructed the original path. As a result, he was forced to switch his path, causing Old Man Tathagata’s lineage to change completely!”
“Let me think. It doesn’t seem like Amitabha had done it. The one that destroyed Maitreya’s path should be that old man Dipankara.”
The Great Sage Equalling Heaven said with a sneer, “That spineless person had destroyed many Buddhist’s lives as well. Most of the Humanly Essence Stone’s fragments should have fallen into the central Blessed Lands of Saha as well. After Old Man Tathagata’s transcendence, most of it had been passed on to Maitreya. Now, it has become Maitreya’s foundations.”
“The Blessed Lands of the White Lotus’s Buddha light imbued with faith power originates from the Humanly Essence Stone?” Yan Zhaoge came to a revelation and continued thinking, “However, the Blessed Lands of the White Lotus and the Demon Race are now working together. The Demon Race could possibly possess some remaining Humanly Essence Stone fragments…”
After hearing about the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord’s existence, the monkey scratched his fur behind his ear, “What kind of person is this? Did he get his hands on the Heavenly Essence Stone? However, only a few people are truly suspicious. He must be one of them.”
Yan Zhaoge truly felt that his journey here wasn’t for nothing.
From the Great Sage Equalling Heavens’ mouth, he had acquired many sorts of secret information.
He could feel the mist shrouding the history slowly dissipated.
Of course, even if Sun Wukong didn’t lie, everything was based on his knowledge. Not everything would be true.
However, such information was already precious enough for Yan Zhaoge.
After all, he could verify them with all sorts of information he possessed.
Many kinds of seemingly useless and fragmented information were slowly being pieced together.
“Great Sage, my wife and I shall depart for now. Do take care.”
They had remained by the Five Elements Mountains for quite an amount of time. Even if the people of the Western Pure Lands were holding back the enemy lines, Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng had remained here for more than two hours already.
They needed time to leave, as well. As such, Yan Zhaoge immediately bid farewell to the monkey.
“After so long, I finally have people to talk to. Now that you’re leaving, I’m going to feel lonely again.” The monkey scratched his ears, “Go ahead. Leave quickly, and come back as soon as possible.”
Yan Zhaoge slapped his forehead, “Oh, right. Other than the Victorious Fighting Buddha, there’s also the Great Sage who Pacifies Heavens – Bull Demon King outside. Do you need me to come in contact with him and tell him about your condition?”
Upon hearing the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s name, ruthless and raging fiery sparks lit up within the Great Sage Equalling Heaven’s eyes.
To him, that Buddha was just like his eternal mark of shame.
However, upon hearing the Great Sage who Pacifies Heavens – Bull Demon King’s name, the fiery sparks within his eyes disappeared, and he let out an emotional sigh.
Previously, when Feng Yunsheng described the legends related to the Journey to the West, she mentioned the matters that happened to the Bull Demon King.
“Don’t tell him, don’t tell him!” said the Great Sage Equalling Heavens furiously. “I don’t feel like meeting him now. If you tell him about it, he would simply treat it as a lie.”
The monkey gritted his teeth, “When I finally kill that spineless monkey, I shall personally tell him myself and explain everything to all my old brothers.”
“Alright, I won’t say it then.” Yan Zhaoge shrugged and said with a solemn expression, “Take care, Great Sage. We shall depart now.”
The Great sage Equalling Heavens jumped onto the mountain’s rocks and placed his hand on the pergola, watching Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng leaving.
“My eyes shouldn’t be deceiving me, right?” He muttered to himself.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1372 - Yan Zhaoge's Recklessness
Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng walked by the mountain range. Upon looking back, they could still see the shiny bronze mirror-like gaze that was flickering.
After waving their hands, they left the Five Elements Mountain together.
“Zhaoge, the Great Sage Equalling Heavens seemed like it was judging you when looking towards you, as if… he had some other intention in mind?”
On the road, Feng Yunsheng frowned and asked with uncertainty.
“
Yeah
, you’re right.” Yan Zhaoge nodded, “He seemed to have noticed some problems that even I haven’t noticed previously.”
“Although I have no idea what he had noticed, I can guess what it’s related to.”
“Elder Lord…”
Yan Zhaoge let out a long sigh, “Unlike others, it’s impossible to meet the Elder Lord. At most, one would only be able to greet him from afar and speak courteously for a while.”
“This Demon Race Great Sage seemed to have interacted with the Elder Lord in the past, according to the legends.”
“I can’t say for sure that he’s the Grand Heavenly Immortal that understands the Elder Lord the most. However, his understanding of the Elder Lord far surpasses normal people.”
Feng Yunsheng pondered for a while, and said, “Does that mean, from the Great Sage Equalling Heavens’ perspective, you’re… related to the Elder Lord?”
“Actually, I’ve already had some guesses previously. Only, my thoughts hadn’t been tidied yet. The Great Sage Equalling Heaven’s response was an affirmation to my guesses,” said Yan Zhaoge. “Do you remember the time when I told you how I became more proficient in cultivating the Grand Clear lineage’s supreme martial arts, and my perception towards it became faster and deeper?”
Feng Yunsheng nodded, “I remember.”
“This matter alone wasn’t anything unique.” Yan Zhaoge shrugged, “You can’t just judge a martial art practitioner’s talents in terms of perception.”
His dad – Yan Di, had been accompanying the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud for a thousand years. Yan Di had only been nurturing the Creation Saber’s saber intent.
Cultivating the Jade Clear lineage and the Grand Clear lineage held no differences for Yan Di. Even when cultivating the Grand Clear lineage, there weren’t any apparent advantages.
Among blood relatives, genetic talents might be passed down.
However, for martial art practitioners’ cultivation, or even for a specific type of martial art, their talents in perception was unrelated to their bloodline. It was mostly due to the uniqueness of their soul.
For example, the “Sikong Qing”s manifested by the Heavenly Essence Stone’s fragments made their innate talent in terms of perception outstanding. However, they weren’t blood-related either.
As such, the theory that the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud could “pass down the talent” was impractical.
In terms of cultivator’s talents, Yan Zhaoge was Yan Zhaoge, and Yan Di was Yan Di. There was no relation between the two.
Since the dawn of time, it was perfectly normal for someone to be exceptionally proficient in a particular type of martial art.
That’s how many heaven’s favored children appeared. Such advantages gave them the qualifications to be exceptional.
For example, Yan Xintang, Di Qinglian, Gao Qingxuan, Long Xingquan, Yin Shiyang, Long Xueji,
Nie Jingshen, Yue Zhenbei, Yu Ye, He Mian, and the others were people that possessed exceptionally high talent towards sword martial arts.
Among them, although Long Xueji and Yu Ye were related to Gao Qingxuan and Long Xingquan, the benefits they got were mostly from the high-quality pointers influencing their learnings.
Their perception talents towards sword martial arts were mostly due to how great a foundation they had since birth.
As such, Yan Zhaoge’s exceptional sensitiveness and understanding towards the Grand Clear lineage’s supreme arts wasn’t something unbelievable.
At most, others would only hold exceptional talent towards a kind of martial art, while he held exceptional talent towards a lineage’s entire martial arts.
However, while this might seem like a coincidence, if more related matters were pieced together, saying that it was merely a coincidence would be inconceivable.
At the very least, Yan Zhaoge wouldn’t believe it.
“Even the East Sovereign, the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord, the Maitreya Buddha, and other bigwigs couldn’t see through what the Elder Lord is thinking, not to mention us.”
Yan Zhaoge murmured to himself, “I’m still uncertain whether my current condition is related to the Elder Lord.”
“Instead, the Southern Extremity Longevity Emperor might have saw through something, which was why he asked us to come here.”
Obviously, if they had to pick someone that wasn’t afraid of offending the Mystical Mountain’s Tathagata Buddha that had already transcended, the person would be either the Three Clear Grand Masters or Mother Goddess Nuwa, both of which had already transcended as well.
If Yan Zhaoge were affected by the Supreme Elder Lord’s arrangements, whether the Elder Lord planned it or not, he would have a much easier time moving around in the Five Elements Mountain. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to be wary of angering the Tathagata Buddha.
Of course, this was only relatively speaking.
This was speculated using the principles of human feelings in this world.
However, the Tathagata Buddha, the Three Clear Grand Master, and the others’ emotions weren’t able to be speculated using ordinary means.
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