Chapter 241: A Different Jade Emperor, The Buddha Cuts His Flesh

In the rear hall of the Lingxiao Precious Hall, purple mist swirled and auspicious clouds lingered.

The Jade Emperor, dressed in imperial robes and wearing the crown of heaven, leaned casually against his throne, toying with a white jade paperweight in his hand without rising.

He did not even glance at Maitreya Buddha as he stepped into the hall, his gaze resting calmly on the surging sea of clouds outside.

Maitreya Buddha entered the hall, putting his posture extremely low, hands pressed together, bowing ninety degrees, the smile on his face humble and gentle.

"Little Monk Maitreya pays respects to the Great Heavenly Sovereign."

The Jade Emperor's voice was flat yet carried an inherent majesty as it came from the throne: "World-Honored One, you are too polite. Someone, bring a seat."

Immediately, an immortal maiden brought over a chair and placed it below.

"Thank you, Great Heavenly Sovereign." Maitreya sat down as instructed, but only sat on half the cushion, his waist and back still slightly bowed.

"I have heard that the Fomen is currently searching for the reincarnated body of the former World-Honored Tathagata?" The Jade Emperor finally withdrew his gaze from the sea of clouds and landed it on Maitreya, asking casually.

"Replying to the Great Heavenly Sovereign, that is indeed the case." Maitreya dared not hide it. "The Journey to the West kalpa is a great trend determined by Heaven and cannot be interrupted. Now that the protector of the Dao has encountered a mishap, this little monk is dull-witted and wishes to invite the reincarnated body of my Senior Brother back into the kalpa to complete the merit."

"Oh?" The Jade Emperor was slightly taken aback upon hearing this; he had not expected Maitreya to have such boldness, to let Tathagata enter the Journey to the West kalpa.

He gently placed the white jade paperweight on the desk and said playfully: "Enter the kalpa again? Buddha Maitreya, you use the word 'again' very interestingly." The Jade Emperor's voice turned cold abruptly.

"That Senior Brother Tathagata of yours used the Six-Eared Macaque to perform a feat of stealing the heavens and changing the sun, deceiving the Three Realms and fooling the Heavenly Dao! If not for the intervention of Doumu Yuanjun, would I, the Lord of the Three Realms, have fallen into the eyes of all living beings as a muddled ruler under his schemes?"

"The face of the Heavenly Court, My majesty—what do they count for in his eyes!"

"Does Buddha Maitreya think that My actions were inappropriate by using the word 'again'?"

Every word of the Jade Emperor pierced the heart.

Maitreya Buddha, however, did not panic upon hearing this; he had long known that this hurdle with the Jade Emperor would be the hardest to pass.

He hurriedly rose and bowed deeply again: "My Senior Brother's actions were indeed inappropriate and he has already reaped the evil consequences. This little monk has come today to apologize to the Great Heavenly Sovereign on behalf of our Fomen, and also to restore good relations with the Heavenly Court to promote the great matter of the Journey to the West."

"Apologize?" The Jade Emperor sneered, leaning forward slightly, his eyes—which overlooked the Three Realms—filled with scrutiny and pressure. "You think a light apology can wipe away the damage caused to My Heavenly Court? Maitreya, you have held this position of Buddha far too easily."

Maitreya's heart sank, knowing the other party was about to make an exorbitant demand.

He steadied himself and said in a deep voice: "Taishang is already aware of this matter. The Old Lord said that the Journey to the West is a great trend of the Heavenly Dao. The two Saints of the West are also quite concerned about this matter."

He had to bring out the Saints, hoping to make the Jade Emperor wary.

However, upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor not only remained unmoved but let out a soft laugh.

"Maitreya, are you trying to use the Saints to pressure Me?"

The Jade Emperor slowly stood up, paced to the door, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the endless sea of clouds.

"Maitreya, you seem to have forgotten that this is the Thirty-Three Heavens, My Lingxiao Precious Hall! I am the Lord of the Three Realms recognized by the Heavenly Dao, presiding over the Heavenly Laws and maintaining the order of the Three Realms. Even Saints cannot attack My Heavenly Court without cause."

He turned his head abruptly, his gaze like a sword, piercing straight into Maitreya's spirit.

"You use the Saints to pressure Me? Do you think My Heavenly Emperor position is made of mud!"

Maitreya's eyelids twitched; the Jade Emperor's pressure, aided by the Heavenly Dao laws within his position, was enough to make even a Semi-Sage-level powerhouse like himself feel a trace of threat.

He thought to himself that things were bad; how had this Jade Emperor changed his personality, becoming more like the Haotian God of the past?

"This little monk dares not!" Maitreya hurriedly bowed again, putting his posture even lower.

The Jade Emperor stopped speaking and just watched him quietly, as if waiting for something.

Maitreya knew there was no more room for luck.

If he did not satisfy the other party today, the matter of the Journey to the West would likely be completely shelved.

He calculated rapidly in his heart, the smile piled on his fat face hiding nothing but pain.

After a long while, he finally made up his mind, slowly raised his head, and squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Great Heavenly Sovereign, please calm your anger; it was this little monk who misspoke just now."

He took a deep breath and said: "To show the sincerity of our Fomen, this little monk is willing to take an oath here. Once the Journey to the West is successful, wherever our Buddhist temples are built, a seat for the Jade Emperor must be set in the Great Heroic Hall, and a golden body of the Great Heavenly Sovereign must be sculpted to enjoy the incense and offerings of our Buddhist believers!"

For the Fomen, this was no longer a small loss; this was cutting off their own flesh, using the very foundation of the Fomen for ten thousand generations to fill the Jade Emperor's appetite.

One must know that faith and incense were the roots of both the Fomen and the Divine Dao.

Maitreya's move was tantamount to handing over a portion of the Fomen's future power of faith to the Jade Emperor.

A trace of movement finally appeared on the Jade Emperor's face.

Deep within his eyes, a flash of brilliance flickered and vanished.

The Immortal Dao he cultivated had already reached the peak of the Semi-Sage realm, but without the foundation for becoming a Saint, the path ahead was broken, and the road to sainthood was visible but unreachable.

But as the Heavenly Emperor, he could also cultivate the Divine Dao!

In these years, although the incense of the Heavenly Court was flourishing, it had never been able to help him take that critical step.

But if he could obtain the incense and offerings of the immeasurable believers of the Fomen in the Four Great Continents...

That massive power of faith might just allow his Divine Dao cultivation to advance further.

Perhaps this was the opportunity for him to break the deadlock in the future!

Maitreya Buddha saw the Jade Emperor's expression change and knew his condition had finally touched the other party's heart.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this was the limit of what he could promise.

If the Jade Emperor was still not satisfied, he would have no choice but to return to Mount Sumeru and ask the two Saints to decide.

The atmosphere in the hall was finally no longer so tense.

The Jade Emperor walked slowly back to the throne and sat down again, the oppressive imperial power quietly receding.

He looked at Maitreya, who was nervous below, his voice returning to flatness.

"Good."

Just one word, yet it made Maitreya feel as if he had been granted amnesty.

"However, I have one condition," the Jade Emperor added.

"Great Heavenly Sovereign, please speak!"

"Regarding the Journey to the West, the Heavenly Court can cooperate with all its might. But I do not wish to see any further incidents that damage the Heavenly Court's reputation." The Jade Emperor's gaze turned sharp. "If there is a next time, do not blame me for not considering our current ties."

"This little monk will remember! There will never be a next time!" Maitreya hurriedly guaranteed.

"Since that is the case, if there is any need for the Heavenly Court to cooperate in the future, the World-Honored One may send someone to inform Me in advance, and the Heavenly Court will certainly cooperate fully for the stability of the Three Realms." The Jade Emperor smiled slightly and made his promise.

"Thank you, Great Heavenly Sovereign; this little monk shall take his leave."

Maitreya Buddha bowed and slowly retreated from the Lingxiao Precious Hall.

Not until he rode a cloud out of the South Heaven Gate did he look back at the towering Heavenly Palace deep in the clouds; the smile on his face vanished completely, leaving only pain and helplessness.

"Sigh..." A long sigh dissipated with the wind.

This newly appointed World-Honored One of the Fomen headed toward the Great Lei Yin Temple in the West, carrying a covenant that would cause the Fomen to bleed heavily. ===== CHAPTER 242 =====