Chapter 1532

But they have also seized the spiritual fortune and merit of Lingshan.

Thus, they have become enemies again.

In short, the relationship is extremely complicated.

But at least one thing is certain: they are certainly not on the same side.

The result—the other party directly dropped the immense merit of the Heavenly Emperor down upon him.

This isn't just a cake falling from the sky; it's a celestial peach falling from the sky.

Sun Wukong suspected the other party was mocking him.

"Yes, it's you."

Sun Wukong froze.

Could it really be referring to him?

Given the other party's power, such a statement, spoken with certainty, would not be empty.

But could he truly become the Heavenly Emperor?

Sun Wukong had little desire for power.

When he ascended to heaven to serve as an official, it wasn't because he loved power; otherwise, he wouldn't have spent every day drinking with immortal friends while serving as the Horse Keeper and Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

If he truly loved power, wouldn't he have used it to exert influence everywhere once he held it?

In fact, he did not.

He liked being an official only because, during his quest for the Dao, he had spent long years among mortals and was influenced by them.

Among mortals, on any continent, there is one rule—study, then become an official.

Master the arts of literature and martial skill, and sell them to the imperial house.

At that time, though Sun Wukong had not yet mastered divine arts, the seed of wanting to become an official had already sprouted in his heart.

This could not be blamed on him.

Whether ordinary people or immortals, few can grow beyond their environment.

Sun Wukong, raised in such an environment, naturally could not avoid human desires.

Though he did not know what benefits being an official brought!

But since everyone wanted it, it must be something good.

Thus, when the heavenly court offered him an official post, it was a perfect match.

Later, when he spoke of "the throne of emperor rotating," it was mostly just angry words.

It was only because the Jade Emperor had treated him like a monkey—granting him a grand title but no real authority.

No real authority was bad enough, but then—he wasn't even allowed to attend the Peach Banquet, a mere work benefit.

That made him furious.

Now, after experiencing many things, Sun Wukong had long understood what he truly wanted.

The Jade Emperor's throne?

He certainly could not accept it.

He had a clear self-awareness: he was merely immensely powerful, but in governing the Three Realms, his ability might not surpass that of a mortal emperor.

If he sat in that seat, it would be a disaster for both himself and the Three Realms.

"Thank you, Lord Tianzun, for your kindness, but please choose another worthy for the Jade Emperor's throne," Sun Wukong replied, bowing.

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang exhaled in relief.

He had truly feared Sun Wukong would accept.

First, the position of ruler of the Three Realms is not easy to hold; if he failed to govern the Three Realms properly, the monkey would accrue endless karmic debt.

Second, who knew if this wasn't a test?

Zhang Taixuan smiled: "Good. Sun Wukong, you have truly grown. Very well, disciple, grant them both Buddha titles, and let them return to Lingshan."

Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong were stunned.

"Can we return to the Buddha Realm?"

"What else?" Zhang Taixuan smiled. "You have committed no sin—why can't you return?"

With a wave of his hand, Zhu Bajie, Sha Seng, and Bai Long appeared in the heavenly court.

"Big Brother!"

"Bajie!"

Zhu Bajie and the others looked bewildered—they had been sealed away.

How had they suddenly appeared in the heavenly court?

This doesn't make sense.

Why are there so many unfamiliar immortals in the heavenly court?

The Victorious Fighting Buddha stepped forward quickly and explained the entire sequence of events.

Zhu Bajie was shocked: "Wu Tian has passed away? Lingshan gave it to Sun Wukong?"

Zhu Bajie stared at the monkey who bore the same aura as his big brother, dared not believe it, and asked cautiously: "Big Brother Monkey, is that really not your avatar or brother?"

The Victorious Fighting Buddha sighed: "Get lost, get lost—I've never had such power."

Tang Xuanzang shook his head: "Bajie, don't misunderstand—that's Lord Tianzun's disciple, from another world, also named Sun Wukong, but he has no relation to your big brother."

Sha Seng was stunned: "Another world's Sun Wukong?"

Tang Xuanzang nodded.

"Master, should they also be granted titles and returned to Lingshan as usual?"

Zhang Taixuan's gaze fell upon them all: "Bai Long shall be granted the title of Eightfold Heavenly Dragon as usual; Sha Seng and Zhu Bajie shall undergo several lifetimes of reincarnation first."

Tang Xuanzang was puzzled: "Heavenly Honoured One, for what reason must my two disciples still suffer the torment of reincarnation?"

Su Xiao's eyes shifted, and she said: "Of course it's because they've eaten people. My Taixuan brother is the Heavenly Honoured One who stands supreme over the human race. Tell me, isn't their crime enough? If it weren't for childhood filters, by now your two disciples would have long since turned to ash."

Hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

Yang Jian's gaze shifted: "If it is eating people, then they indeed deserve punishment."

Erlang Shen nodded lightly.

The other group members were the same.

Whether it was Yang Jian of human and immortal bloodline, or the others.

They still recognized the human race quite well.

When the human race slaughtered each other, they felt nothing about it.

But eating people, they did not like.

Zhu Bajie's expression was one of panic: "Heavenly Honoured One, don't humans also eat livestock? We eat people—could there be something wrong with that?"

Zhang Taixuan smiled and said: "First, I am of the human race, so naturally I stand on the side of the human race; second, 617, when humans eat livestock, livestock have not opened their spiritual intelligence and cannot be counted as a race—this is fundamentally not the same matter."

Hearing this, Tang Xuanzang fell silent as well.

He had the memories of the Jin Chan period, and also the memories of his human period.

The memories of the Jin Chan period held no particular aversion to eating people.

Although he himself did not eat them.

The memories of his human period naturally held no goodwill toward demons and monsters who ate people.

Over a decade of journeying to fetch the scriptures, though not long, was enough to become an indelible memory.

This stretch of memory still influenced him very greatly.

At this moment, he quite agreed with Zhang Taixuan's words as well.

Zhang Taixuan's expression shifted: "Today, let us set down a heavenly rule."

"From this day forth, any sentient being shall not consume a race that has opened its spiritual intelligence. This heavenly rule covers all races; whether demon, devil, human, sprite, or other beings, all shall abide by it. If this heavenly rule is violated, tribulation shall follow at every step, and the heavenly tribulation of achieving the Dao shall be made heavier; upon re-entering reincarnation, one shall be cast into the eighteenth layer of hell and suffer all the punishments of every hell."

Zhang Taixuan spoke these words plainly, yet his voice rang through the Three Realms and Six Paths, reverberating like thunder across the hearts of all races.

Even without learning, the meaning within could be understood.

It was precisely at this moment that this single sentence became an unshakable heavenly rule of the Three Realms and Six Paths.

PS: Thanks to 15662.. for urging the updates, thanks to the big shot for the support.