Chapter 483

In the dark, deep underground cavern, six Reincarnators stared at the ceiling, their expressions tense.

"Wasn't it said that if we just dressed as Princess Iron Fan and Hong Haier, that ox would obey us?!" shouted a beautiful female Reincarnator: "But this trick requires sleeping with that ox! I've been slept by the ox, and still can't get Tang Seng's flesh?!"

"The guide sold in the Reincarnation Space for one Reincarnation Point must be correct—this time, the problem is the strength of the Pilgrims' party." A short man chuckled.

His gaze openly scanned the fake Princess Iron Fan, and she didn't mind—on the contrary, she became even more relaxed.

"Next, we abandon the Pilgrims and seek out the team of the Three Demons of Chechi to gain points and return." The beautiful woman said.

As she spoke these words, she felt the surroundings grow brighter—even the wrinkles on the short man's face became perfectly clear.

"Amitabha."

At the same time the Buddhist chant echoed, the beautiful woman unhesitatingly plunged a jet-black dagger into empty air; countless shadowy, grotesque monsters surged from the tear.

"Good."

Su Lin threw out a blood-red cross—it was a toy he had seized from the White Bone Spirit.

The cross landed on the ground; crimson blood gushed forth, and a Shadow castle appeared at the other end of space, countless bats coalescing into figures glowing with red light.

"Have you prepared the cost?"

The figure clad in a high-collared ceremonial robe transmitted its message.

"Go, kill them all." Su Lin pointed forward.

The "cost" figure's tone was displeased, but his voice abruptly cut off.

Su Lin turned around, and twelve pairs of wings manifested behind him, radiating an incomparable sense of holiness.

"What cost?"

"You monkey, why didn't you kill me?"

"I merely wished to clear your mind."

Niu Mowang watched the golden giant ape shrink until it became a slender, refined Daoist with streaks of gray at his temples; he fell silent for a long while.

"How is it, Pingtian Dasheng?" Meng Qi asked.

"You've become exactly like that monkey," Niu Mowang rumbled: "So exactly, I thought he had returned."

Meng Qi said nothing, continuing to gaze at Niu Mowang sprawled like a star on the clouds; another silence followed.

"Won't you kill me? You'd gain something by killing me, wouldn't you?"

"I have no need for such gains."

"You're different from those liars."

Niu Mowang's voice revealed no emotion, but after this sentence, he chose to continue:

"I know that monkey is dead, I know my wife, Niu Shengying, and my little brothers are dead—I know they were all lying to me. But from one point onward, when those people took on their forms, I don't know why, I softened."

"I used to drink and eat meat every day with my friends and brothers—today at this Dragon King's palace, tomorrow at that Demon King's cave—I never paid attention to home, always thinking"

"What if it's real? What if they all come back? I just wanted this time to be a good ox, to spend more time with them. But every monkey was far worse than the last—until today, I saw you."

Niu Mowang's eyes were dull and lifeless; his right hand clenched the void, summoning back the Iron Staff, which he used to prop himself up from the ground.

"I hate the Heavenly Court—they force me to retain my memories only so they can use me: kill when told to kill, spare when told to spare."

The Iron Staff pointed at Meng Qi; though his aura was chaotic, it brimmed with thick demonic power.

"But if you think I'll serve you, you're mistaken—either kill me, or leave."

Meng Qi sighed helplessly and glanced toward a spot beyond the heavens.

In the blink of an eye, a clear light flashed; the dust whisker struck Niu Mowang's head first, and the sharp geng metal qi sliced through, knocking the staff from his grasp.

"You fool, how dare you—how dare you—" Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing stole a glance at Meng Qi; seeing the other nod slightly, he gathered courage: "How dare you strike at Tianzun?!"

Niu Mowang opened his ox mouth, staring blankly at Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing; even without mind-reading, Meng Qi could see the screen full of question marks on the demon's face.

"Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing, how long have you been watching from above?" Meng Qi smiled.

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing's spine stiffened; he immediately turned and bowed: "Your Majesty, I—I forgot to fetch the Ginseng Fruit, so I returned to Heaven to get it, and forgot this fool didn't know your identity. Please, Tianzun, punish me!"

"What punishment?" Meng Qi countered: "Punish you for using my hand to help Niu Mowang break through his inner demon? Enough with the act—I'm not petty enough to hold a grudge over this. If the Holy Monk finds out, you'll lose more than skin."

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing calmed down, but a look of helplessness still lingered on his face.

"I beg Tianzun's forgiveness," Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing bowed his head: "But Pingtian Dasheng has sunk too deep—I had no choice but to use your hand to help him."

Concern for Niu Mowang?

If the Heavenly Court of this world could care for Niu Mowang, why not care for his entire family?

Niu Mowang may be strong, but his value probably isn't that high.

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing is full of ulterior motives—whether I ask or don't ask, I'll end up playing into his hands.

Meng Qi studied Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing for a moment, then thought and spoke directly: "What do you mean?"

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing bowed even lower: "At first, the influence from beyond was still mild—"

At that time, Sun Wukong's group had already been attacked and perished, but they weren't as utterly unrecoverable as now; it was only after using the Heavenly Emperor's relic to reboot the Three Realms that they discovered a problem.

Of the eighty-one trials, any trial in which a Reincarnator killed a target became controlled by some force from beyond.

"When this was realized, Niu Mowang's entire family had already—"

Originally, the Pilgrims were played by Reincarnators, but the Heavenly Court's method was to "block" the trials, preventing the previous merits from dissipating, then transformed Chang'an, using the Way of Man to suppress it.

Seeing this stalemate wouldn't work, they decided to make active changes.

"If identities were stolen, reclaim them—the Holy Sanzang and others poured their spiritual light, souls, and bodies into the stolen treasures, fusing them into one; each time the Western Journey restarted—"

Part of their spiritual light and soul became permanently fused into the Reincarnator's body, gradually transforming them, merging completely with their fate—no one could detect it.

This wasn't possession—it was a gradual sacrifice of part of the self.

Logically, this plan had no flaw; if all went well, some spiritual light and soul fragments could be preserved, waiting for the Three Realms to return to normal and enter reincarnation for nourishment.

Unfortunately, the Reincarnators of Lingshan also possessed a certain treasure; the moment the destiny of Tang Seng's group fully merged with the Reincarnator's, it was detected immediately.

"The legacy still exists—meaning Sun Wukong and the others can still be saved?" Meng Qi pulled out the Ruyi Jingu Bang, but found nothing inside.

"During the forty-fifth western journey, everything vanished, perishing alongside all those previous failed celestial demons," Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing's words extinguished the faint glow that had just ignited in Niu Mowang.

"What remains in the artifact are only residual emotional instincts and divine powers, for Master Sanzang himself was one of the primary rituals chosen by the Buddha sect—walking the western path with the kasaya and the staff, half the merit could serve as a catalyst to activate preparations dating back to ancient times."

After a Reincarnator dies, nothing remains—meaning every previous deceased Reincarnator permanently took away the original Tang Sanzang and others.

Meng Qi stepped out of his thoughts and suddenly said: "You never finish your sentences—do you really distrust us this much?"

I'm afraid that even if his identity is confirmed, his condition would still be suspected—Zhenyuanzi is a cautionary example.

【65】 Even if his identity is confirmed, he would still be suspected of being unstable—Zhen Yuanzi is a prior example.

"We dare not gamble, yet we must gamble." Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing lifted his head and gave a self-deprecating smile: "All things in the Three Realms, including our lives, are at the mercy of Tianzun and the Holy Monk to take or use as they please."

In his hand appeared a square wooden medicine tray, which he turned and offered with reverence before the person behind him.

"Ginseng fruit and Peaches of Immortality are mere trifles, but unfortunately the supply is limited, meant only to quench thirst along the way." Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing drew a deep breath and said: "Please, Holy Monk, proceed to Lingshan and complete the western journey!"

【68】 "Ginseng fruit and Peaches of Immortality are mere trifles, but unfortunately the supply is limited, meant only to quench thirst along the way." Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing drew a deep breath and said: "Please, Holy Monk, proceed to Lingshan and complete the western journey!"

【68】 "Ginseng fruit and Peaches of Immortality are mere trifles, but their supply is scarce, meant only to quench thirst on the journey." Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing drew a deep breath and said: "Please, Holy Monk, proceed to Lingshan and complete the western journey!"

Su Lin picked up the tray and passed Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing, saying coolly:

"You didn't even bring my Nine-Turn Sugar Beans—no sincerity. If things get unmanageable, I'll return to my own Lingshan Lei Yinsi."

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing trembled, restraining his excitement, and said: "Thank Tianzun, Buddha, Hun Tian Di, and Confused Siming for their mercy!"

"I should go back and reprimand Jinjiao and Yinjiao." Meng Qi turned and said: "Silent meditation seems fitting."

Although, of course, it was precisely what this group had intended.

Compared to the unknown, even irrelevant information—true or false—can bring some comfort.

"Great Saint of Pacifying Heaven, your trial is over. Return now." Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing looked at Niu Mowang.

Niu Mowang gazed sadly toward the direction of the Flame Mountain and said: "Return? Return where?"

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing thought for a moment and said: "Then come with me back to the Heavenly Court."

"Continue being your pawn?" Niu Mowang clearly sneered.

The western journey was their doing; had they not dragged them into it, his family would never have been entangled, and the Monkey King would not have ended up like this.

So even the Great Uproar in Heaven was a long-planned performance.

Niu Mowang suddenly found it all absurd—himself, everything under heaven, this world's hopes—what did any of it have to do with him?

He lifted his foot and walked eastward, not knowing where, perhaps finding a peasant household to work as a ox plowing fields would be fine too.

"Niu Mowang, whether you exist or not makes no difference to the grand scheme."

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing's words came from behind, sharp and cruel, but Niu Mowang paid no mind.

"Apart from the Tang Emperor, you are the only demon outside the Heavenly Court who retains memory."

It didn't matter to him—whatever, it was all the same.

"You're kept alive not because you're special or important, but because the Great Saint, before sacrificing himself, said—"

"Please look after my sworn elder brother."

His steps halted, sinking deeply into the mud.

Moo—!

The Nine-Ringed Staff descended, casually sending a lost demon toward the Western Heaven.

"You've been making a racket for ages—what is the property management doing?" Su Lin plugged his left ear and looked back, while his right hand lit up with an extreme brilliance ready to be hurled.

【92】 "You've been making noise for hours—what's the property manager doing?" Su Lin covered his left ear and turned toward the rear, his right hand igniting a blinding light, ready to hurl it.

Meng Qi grabbed Su Lin's hand, astonished: "Still a Heavenly Buddha? You've got zero Buddhist calmness or tolerance!"

Don't let all the image you've built up collapse now!

It's fine if you collapse yourself—but don't drag your brothers down with you, alright?!

"I've been tolerant enough." Su Lin tried to pull free, expressionless: "Otherwise I'd have acted half an hour ago."

Lu Mingfei shrank his neck, glancing casually at Kleine: 'Is this what you call normal?'

'Much more normal than usual.' Kleine gave him a look that said, 'You've never seen anything.'

Moo—!

Sacred light was tainted with a sliver of black calamity.

"Bro, have a little compassion, will you?"

"Have you ever seen a university dormitory at three a. m.?"

This mooing was like a snoring roommate blasting auto-play through a speaker—feeling sorry for him would be self-harm.

"Tch." Su Lin dispersed the light in his hand and said:

"Be careful from now on. Aside from the Heavenly Court monitoring through land and mountain spirits, the Lingshan side's integrated Reincarnator team is somewhat troublesome."

"It's basically confirmed: this raid dungeon has turned into 'us versus the whole team.'"

"Among A-rank teams, the range of Reincarnator strength varies greatly—those at the top, combined with strange artifacts, can cause massive destruction."

As Su Lin spoke, he looked at Han Li and Kleine.

Han Li gave a slight nod: "I am not skilled in killing, but I know how to preserve myself. If danger arises, do not concern yourselves with me."

"Don't worry—I'll shield Liu Li Ge inside the Source Fortress when I run. You can't expect two attendants to handle everything." Kleine flicked a gold coin. "I just wonder what the surviving great ones are plotting."

When it comes to the art of internal strife, our Earth's mythological systems still lead the way—by now, perhaps multiple factions are still secretly clashing.

Many appear to have sacrificed for the greater cause, but before the final day of disaster arrived, open and covert struggles were certainly inevitable.

But none of that matters anymore.

The one with the most initiative in this world is not the Lingshan Reincarnators or Bodhisattva Mara, nor the surviving native great ones—it's us, the intruders who come and go as we please—the Special Guests of the Reincarnation Space.

"Who knows? I'm just a cold-blooded mission machine." Su Lin said: "I'm just waiting for the plot to unfold—if it's good, I'll even rate it on Hupu."

Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing wouldn't dare make such a promise—it's his backer who spoke; frankly, that offer is far sweeter than the pittance the Reincarnation Space provides.

Though even that pittance isn't to be sneezed at—taking on a Reincarnation Space raid mission while picking up side gigs is perfectly reasonable.

Su Lin isn't afraid of anyone defaulting—no one in this world can default on him, not even the Three Pure Ones.

"Last time in the modern world of Bai Yu Jing, at the entrance of the Big Electric Sound Bar, you borrowed me 37.5 for midnight snacks." Su Lin suddenly remembered something.

Meng Qi's face darkened, patted his robe, pulled out a phone, and checked its zero-signal display: "I'll pay you back next time—I won't short you!"

The Three Pure Ones truly cannot evade their debt.

Su Lin suddenly felt curious and said: "That Zhenyuanzi's Sleeve Universe is quite peculiar, and I've heard the Three Pure Ones speak of the Hunyuan Dao Fruit—why don't you interrogate them and learn it? Maybe another company will transfer to your name."

Even if that company only has some scattered leftover assets, possibly even debts, it can't match this current shell company.

"I don't like the immortals and gods of that realm," Meng Qi thought for a moment, then looked at Su Lin and said: "Regardless of what the immortals and gods of this realm have done in the past, but—"

He glanced at the Ruyi Jingu Bang in his hand, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"At least my temperament can accept it—being willing to sacrifice oneself to mend the sky rather than plundering the essence of all living beings for self-nourishment—it's far better than that outsider Zhenyuanzi."

"If one feeds on all sentient beings to nourish oneself, then such a Hunyuan Dao Fruit, even if learned, would be useless."

As the saying goes, those who follow different paths cannot work together; Meng Qi still felt that under conditions of 'abundance,' there was no need to care about Zhenyuanzi's cultivation method.

"What about you?" Meng Qi asked curiously.

"If you saw, in another realm, a mad and fallen remnant of a God who herds billions of living beings, and accepting it would grant you many benefits—but at the cost of corrupting the normal God—how would you choose?"

Su Lin was stunned: "There's such a good thing?!"

"Hmm, you're not afraid of the other God's influence—that's only natural," Meng Qi chuckled.

"If it's free, why not take it? The mad God's influence affects the normal God—I don't care a damn," Su Lin said matter-of-factly: "After all, I'm Su Lin."

Meng Qi paused, then laughed: "That's right—you're just Su Lin, and I'm Meng Qi, and also Yuanshi."

Different paths, yet harmoniously distinct.

"When can I join a conversation like this? This has the right vibe," Lu Mingfei ruined the mood from behind: "But, you two big shots, don't you feel like it's getting colder?"

Cold to an unnatural degree.

"It's normal for a shut-in to have a weak body. Meng Qi, look—is it that cave?" Su Lin asked.

Beneath the sheer cliff, between two groves of pines and cypresses, in the deep ravine, the water had frozen, and a cave adorned with icicles appeared before them.

"Not sure," Meng Qi pulled out a basket full of tangerines and tossed it straight into the cave.

"Forces from the Four Continents and the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas' Minor Thousand Worlds, and Middle Thousand Worlds, as well as the Heavenly Court, have all withdrawn."

"The Heaven's Wound is temporarily sealed. The Ten Kings of Hell and the Five Directional Ghost Emperors have submitted a memorial: the Soul Demon of Mount Ling has requested to borrow the duties of the Yellow Springs and the Underworld."

"The River of the Dead has spread from the Underworld into the mortal realm, and the number of newly born souls in heaven and earth is gradually decreasing."

Figures of varying attire, ethereal yet majestic, stood on either side, one after another reporting matters of the Three Realms and Six Paths.

A towering figure, wearing a crown with twelve jade pendants and a robe embroidered with heaven, earth, and all things, sat upon an infinite-height throne, eyes closed, listening.

"Your Majesty, the Soul Demon has prepared at Mount Ling to receive the scripture pilgrim. Bodhisattva Poxuan says the contract must add one condition: Tang Sanzang must belong to him."

"Tell them: any condition that does not hinder the Western Journey may be granted—but not yet."

Zhen Tian Yuan Shuai bowed and withdrew. Tai Bai Taibai Jinxing led Niu Mowang into the hall and had him stand at the entrance.

"The demon race has sent someone too. Take him to open the Heavenly Prison, then summon the Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals, along with the Eight Division Immortals and Gods who have not yet died, and march them to Mount Ling," the Hun Tian Di slowly opened his eyes, pulling an ancient scroll from the river of time and eternity, and spoke calmly:

"Exterminate the demons."