Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 225: On the Shores of the Blood Sea

After Pan Gu split the heavens and the earth to stabilize the Vast Wilderness world, he chose to transform himself into the heavens and the earth, with every part of his body transforming into the myriad things of the world, such as his spine becoming Mount Buzhou which connects the heavens and the earth, and his navel turning into a vast sea of blood.

The Sea of Blood was boundless, with surging waves of blood. No fish thrived, nor did birds or insects approach. The world’s resentment, grudges, and evil qi, and other impurities mostly gathered here.

Since it was located in the gloomy nether regions, the Sea of Blood was also known as the Netherworld Blood Sea by the myriad races of the Vast Wilderness.

After Houtu transformed herself into reincarnation and opened up the netherworld underworld, the cycle of the six paths of reincarnation was located near the Sea of Blood.

At this time, Sun Wukong, together with Houtu’s incarnation, Meng Po, and Zhen Yuanzi, the three of them arrived at the banks of the Sea of Blood.

No sooner had they stopped than the Sea of Blood, with its rolling waves, churned up towering gigantic waves.

"What brings the three of you here?"

As a deep voice sounded, a blood-red lotus platform enshrouded in scarlet flames slowly rose from the huge waves. It was the Twelfth Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus.

Standing on the lotus platform was a long-bearded elder, wearing red and black robes that danced without any wind. Various types of resentment, grudges, and evil qi and other impurities coalesced into existence, forming bizarre and grotesque ethereal spirits that howled menacingly around him.

"Greetings to Daoist Minghe," Meng Po said, leaning on her cane as she bowed politely.

Sun Wukong also smiled and clasped his hands in greeting. In actuality, since their last meeting in the Asura Realm, only a few days had passed in the lower world.

Zhen Yuanzi hesitated a moment before nodding his head.

Since ancient times, there had been rumors that Ancestor Ming He had killed Hong Yun with his own hands, which is why Zhen Yuanzi had always harbored a grudge against him. He had come to the Sea of Blood to demand an explanation, but in the end, neither could prevail over the other, and the matter was left unresolved.

After being informed by Sun Wukong and Meng Po, he now knew that Ancestor Ming He had not dealt a deadly blow to Hong Yun back then, but merely seized his treasure.

And from the results, if it weren’t for Ancestor Ming He’s actions back then, Hong Yun wouldn’t likely have preserved even that bit of True Spirit.

So now the grudge in his heart was gone, and upon seeing Ancestor Ming He again, he did not act with hostility as before.

Ancestor Ming He obviously knew what Zhen Yuanzi was thinking, but he had never cared to explain himself, and he did the same this time.

’Do not offend others unless offended,’ had always been his guiding principle for dealing with the world.

Expecting him to show a favorable expression to Zhen Yuanzi was, of course, out of the question.

His gaze finally rested on Meng Po and he asked, "So, what is it you want to discuss?"

Meng Po smiled and said, "Recently, Wukong thought of a method to enhance the Earth Dao, so he specially invited the two Daoist friends to discuss this matter."

Ancestor Ming He’s eyes flashed with a streak of blood, and he didn’t doubt Meng Po’s words because he knew Sun Wukong had accomplished miracles time and again over the years. He then asked, "Is there any possibility of completion?"

Sun Wukong thought to himself, as expected, this master of the Sea of Blood truly has his heart set on becoming a Saint, and then he replied with a smile, "There is always hope."

Ancestor Ming He fell into contemplation and did not make an immediate decision.

He certainly knew what this matter entailed.

If the Earth Dao could indeed be completed, then he would certainly earn a portion of merit from heaven and earth, and he could secure one of the positions as an Earth Dao Saint.

It would not be like the time he created the Asura race, when, although heaven and earth bestowed upon him a great amount of merit, he did not manage to obtain the Heavenly Dao Saint position.

And as one of the peak Quasi-Saints of the Vast Wilderness, he could also see that there were hidden matters and greater secrets and arrangements behind the incompleteness of the Earth Dao. If he decided to participate in the completion of the Earth Dao, he would become involved in these matters, and a slight misstep could result in losing his life and his Dao.

After all, an existence capable of arranging the three Dao of heaven, earth, and humanity was not something he, a peak Quasi-Saint, could contend with.

At this moment, Sun Wukong, Meng Po, and Zhen Yuanzi did not urge him, knowing that such matters require a voluntary decision.

Before long, Ancestor Ming He had made a decision and solemnly declared, "The Asura Path in the Six Paths of Reincarnation came into being because of me, to complete the task of harmonizing the Earth Path is my undeniable duty."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong and the other two couldn’t help but laugh.

They, of course, understood that Ancestor Ming He’s sentiments were not so altruistic; had he truly been selfless, he would have agreed earlier without taking so long to consider.

However, as long as he agreed, the distinction between public and private matters was not important at the moment.

Indeed, after Ancestor Ming He made his decision, he put away the blood-colored lotus platform and stepped to the shore of the Blood Sea.

Gazing at the roiling waves of the blood-colored ocean, he knew in his heart that he was setting foot on an unknown path.

Yet, he wondered if, when everything was settled, both he and the Nether Blood Sea would still exist in the world.

Ancestor Ming He had already sensed that beneath the seemingly calm Three Realms, undercurrents were surging, and countless hands were engaged in clandestine games of strategy.

If he continued to stay out of conflicts and only fend for himself as he had done before, by the time the inevitable changes came, it would be too late for him to make a choice.

Therefore, it was better to join the fray early and take the initiative.

The reason he agreed to a faction of the Asura clan warriors joining the Buddha Sect and allowed demonic forces like Po Xun to leave was based on this rationale.

At the same time, he was considering finding an opportunity to split off another part of the Asura clan to join the forces of the Heavenly Court.

Yet no amount of calculation was better than personal strength.

If he could become a Saint, then no matter how the situation changed in the future, he, Ming He, could remain unshaken.

And the opportunity before him might be his last chance to attain sainthood; he certainly couldn’t afford to miss it.

After the four of them discussed and came to an agreement, Houtu’s incarnation, Meng Po, was the first to take action.

"Reincarnation, arise!" With a gentle tap of her staff on the ground, it seemed as if the entire Netherworld trembled, boundless grey mist rose, and surged toward the shore of the Blood Sea.

Whoosh whoosh!

The boundless gray mist swirled wildly at the shore of the Blood Sea, gathering into a huge vortex, emitting an eerie and sacred aura.

Immediately afterward, a simple and unadorned, dull wheel rose slowly from the depths of the reincarnation vortex.

"Use the power of the Earth Path to draw out the supreme treasure of the Earth Path, the Reincarnation Disc," Sun Wukong’s eyes shimmered with divine light.

Seeing the Reincarnation Disc appearing quite ethereal, as if it might vanish at any moment, he shouted, "Stabilize!"

In the Underworld, he was the North Yin Emperor of Fengdu, a master of the Earth Path as well, and he immediately channeled more of the Earth Path’s power, with even more grey mist streaming into the reincarnation vortex, steadying the faintly manifesting Reincarnation Disc.

"Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, the Earth’s Womb Membrane," Meng Po shouted upon seeing this.

Zhen Yuanzi waved his hand, and the yellow and black Earth’s Womb Membrane expanded with the wind, setting itself in the sky, instantly pulling on the myriad earth veins, mountain ranges, and lands across the Three Realms.

Boom!

A thunderous sound as if from an explosion resonated between heaven and earth, and then boundless earthly power crossed the Netherworld, converging from all places to the shore of the Blood Sea, pouring into the vortex of reincarnation.

But since the Earth Path was already stable, the earthly power that should have been absorbed by the Reincarnation Disc only swirled and accumulated within the vortex without the slightest integration.

If this continued, instead of enhancing the Earth Path, the infinite earthly power would not only fail to improve the Earth Path but might also damage the Reincarnation Disc and throw the order of reincarnation into chaos.

Sun Wukong, Meng Po, and Zhen Yuanzi all wore solemn expressions as they looked toward Ancestor Ming He, who had yet to make a move.