Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 41 Is this a question of loneliness?

"Zixiao Palace already has the ability to shield against the probing of fate, and with someone to conceal it, we too are helpless," Zhunti said slowly.

Although Tathagata is only a Quasi-Saint, his relationship with the Two Sages of the West is more like a collaboration, especially since Laozi transformed Duo Bao into Tathagata.

To prevent the qi of the West from dissipating, the Two Sages of the West also expended a great deal of effort to win him over, granting Tathagata considerable power.

"What should be done about this?" Tathagata felt utterly exhausted at this moment.

"Let it be for now, you should return first. I shall consult with my elder brother, the Taoist Ancestor," Zhunti spoke.

The Taoist Ancestor?

Tathagata nodded in agreement, for at this juncture, they had no other option. Being the foremost entity in the Three Realms and the Primordial World with immense divine skills, the Taoist Ancestor would surely know.

"Amitabha, then I shall take my leave first," Tathagata said as he nodded gravely.

Seeing Tathagata depart, the Two Sages of the West also approached the site where the Taoist Ancestor was in closed-door cultivation.

"Your disciple is perplexed and seeks your guidance, Master," Zhunti said respectfully, bowing deeply. In front of Taoist Ancestor Hongjun, he bore none of the airs of a Saint.

The deeper one’s understanding of a Saint’s cultivation, the more dreadful the Taoist Ancestor seems. Though both are Saints, the Taoist Ancestor could slay him with but a thought.

Eventually, a voice, grand and dignified, began to rise, as if coming from a secret chamber, yet it seemed to be omnipresent.

"This matter is already known to me."

The statement was brief, but the sounds that accompanied it were imbued with infinite Tao Intent.

Zhunti’s bow grew deeper, "Esteemed Master, is there a way to proceed?"

After a few moments, the voice filled with Tao Charm spoke again: "Let nature take its course!"

"Let nature take its course?"

Zhunti was stunned. How could that be considered a solution? This Monkey King’s unpredictability was already disrupting their plans for Buddhism, and it could not continue like this!

"Master, may I ask who is behind this matter, and are they also a Saint?" Jieyin asked a crucial question, for only a Saint would be able to interfere with another Saint.

"Master, could it be the doing of Nuwa or Tongtian?" Zhunti chimed in.

Taishang Laojun and the Primordial Saint had chosen to share the qi and merit points with them equally, and would not blatantly interfere with the Journey to the West; that left only Nuwa and Tongtian.

The Monkey King is a transformation of a Heaven-Mending Stone from Nuwa, and Tongtian might hold a grudge because of issues with Duo Bao and Long Ear.

The reason they brought it up here was first to verify, and secondly, because the Taoist Ancestor’s abode naturally conceals divinations, it would not be detected by the Two Saints.

However, the outcome proved to be a disappointment for the Two Saints.

"Nuwa is in seclusion in her palace, unconcerned with worldly matters, and Tongtian has not left Zixiao Palace for long."

What the Taoist Ancestor meant by this was that neither of them was responsible. However, another piece of information shocked the Two Saints.

Tongtian had left Zixiao Palace!

"Master, didn’t you say he was to be confined?" Zhunti grew anxious.

That Tongtian was capable of madness, daring to do anything. If he had not destabilized the Primordial World back then, the Saints would not have been confined.

"He will not do anything," the Taoist Ancestor’s calm voice carried a note of absolute certainty.

Receiving this response, the Two Sages of the West were dubious but dared not refute. They inquired loneliness and returned to their own secret chambers, conveying to Tathagata their decision with one word: wait!

Within the secret chamber, the Taoist sounds rang out once more, profound with a hint of sighs.

"Let’s just hope this unknown variable does not become a disaster for the Primordial World, deviating from what has been set and already becoming a certainty."

In Chaos Residence, Chen Nuo watched with serene contentment as Sun Wukong, Bull Demon King, and Roc Demon King bustled around the shop.

Oh, right. I haven’t done the lottery draw today.

Chen Nuo clapped his hands, his mind had nearly turned to mush living these lackluster days, silently praying for some kind of divine blessing.

Then he began the lottery!

"Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the Beverage Category, Peach Blossom Brew Inheritance!"

What the heck!

Chen Nuo was shocked, this was his first time drawing something from the beverage category, Peach Blossom Brew...

The system really knew its stuff, aware of his garden full of flat peach trees.

Peach Blossom Porridge, Peach Blossom Brew, coupled with his own flat peach juice, he had it all now!

"Stop wiping the tables, you three, you’re going to polish the finish off!" Chen Nuo called out, "Come, follow me to brew some wine!"

Brew wine?

Sun Wukong’s heart leaped with joy, had his master come up with a new trick?

He knew Chen Nuo wouldn’t say such a thing for no reason, he didn’t drink alcohol because there was nothing in the world that tasted better than his master’s flat peach juice.

Since the master was going to brew wine, he was determined to have a taste before returning to Huaguo Mountain.

In Heaven, within the Palace of the Polestar.

Haotian wondered when that monkey would show up, frowning as he contemplated his schemes against Buddhism.

Although he had agreed to the humiliating act of causing a ruckus in Heavenly Court as per the Two Sages of the West’s proposition, it didn’t mean he would sit by and let Buddhism do as they pleased, he had to minimize the losses!

That monkey’s mysterious backing force surely had no love for Buddhism, otherwise, they wouldn’t take such enormous risks to commit such acts.

As he fretted, Haotian suddenly heard a series of crisp yet orderly footsteps.

"Jade Pool? What brings you here?" Haotian put down the memorial in his hands, looking surprised at the elegantly dressed woman.

Though they were called Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, they had no official relationship, simply sharing the Heavenly Court.

After all, once both pupils under the Taoist Ancestor, working together so many years with impeccable collaboration, their feelings were like siblings.

"Isn’t it because of the Flat Peach event?" The Queen Mother’s beautiful face showed a faint hint of melancholy.

"The Flat Peach Feast is nearly here, but it’s the same few dishes every year. If the immortals aren’t tired of them, I certainly am."

Haotian chuckled, "This Flat Peach Feast has always been our means to ingratiate the Immortals of the Three Realms; since it’s named after flat peaches, the immortals’ focus would definitely be on their share of the fruit."

The Queen Mother understood this, but as a Female Immortal, with no schemes or contention for power, her days were spent enjoying flowers and the moon, drinking tea, doing embroidery, and practicing her cultivation leisurely.

Her demands for gourmet food naturally exceeded Haotian’s.

"No way!" the Queen Mother declared with an assertive frown, "This year, I will definitely introduce new dishes at the Flat Peach Feast!"

Haotian smiled helplessly, "Then how about we ask the God of Cookery and the Kitchen God in the Imperial Kitchen to completely renew this year’s dishes?"

"That’s more like it," the Queen Mother nodded in agreement, "And I suppose the skill level of those chefs is just that. If there are new Immortal Officials with culinary talent, we can also recruit them. After all, the Heavenly Court can afford it!"

Meanwhile, in the clouds, a young man dressed in purple lay on his back upon a cloud, drifting with the wind. However, his appearance was disheveled, with his true features hidden.

His eyes were murky, tinged with the dullness of twilight, his demeanor as lifeless as a rotten log.

He lifted the wine gourd from his waist to his mouth for a drink, but only a drop trickled out.

"Is that all..." the young man rasped.

He shifted slightly, trying to look down below, but put too much strength into the movement and fell off the cloud.

Yet even as he plummeted through the sky, not a trace of fear appeared on the young man’s face, with no sign of action, simply letting himself fall.