Chapter 509: The Jade Emperor Gets Cuckolded Again

High Heaven Palace.

Just as Xuanzang had guessed, the place was indeed filled with singing and dancing at this moment; the Jade Emperor was once again drinking with the host of immortals and watching the fairy maidens dance, the entire palace bustling with activity.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has invited Xuanzang to Yaochi."

A minor immortal official appeared out of thin air at his side and whispered.

The Jade Emperor, whose heart had been filled with joy, saw his expression freeze; he suddenly felt the immortal wine in his hand become insipid.

"Withdraw."

The Jade Emperor waved his hand, and the dancing fairy maidens left one after another, leaving behind a crowd of confused deities.

"Your Majesty, has something happened?" Li Jing asked.

"Nothing at all," the Jade Emperor said.

The Seven-Colored Treasure Lotus of Yaochi was itself an extremely formidable Spirit Treasure; aside from a Saint, even he could not perceive the situation inside.

Besides, Saints did not have the leisure to perceive the affairs of the Three Realms.

Counting the time, it had been a long time since he had gone to Yaochi, and being invited to Yaochi was even rarer.

Now that the Queen Mother had invited Xuanzang to Yaochi, it was naturally impossible for the Jade Emperor not to have some thoughts.

"Queen Mother, you truly do not give this Venerable One any face. If this matter were to spread, this Venerable One would lose all face," the Jade Emperor thought to himself.

From this moment on, the water in his wine cup had turned sour.

The Jade Emperor also did not understand what exactly about Xuanzang had caught the Queen Mother's attention.

Aside from being young, bearing the Heavenly Mandate, and being the youngest Great Luo Golden Immortal, was he not otherwise completely unremarkable?

Could it be that the Queen Mother was serious this time? That shouldn't be; she had lived for so many years, what was there left that she couldn't see past?

Sigh!

The West, Thunder Sound Temple.

The fact that Xuanzang had entered the Heavenly Court naturally could not be hidden from the Dharma Eye of Tathagata Buddha and Burning Lamp Buddha.

It could be said that the entire Buddhism was paying attention to this one matter.

Just like the previous few times, Tathagata Buddha's expression was calm, his emotions unreadable.

Maitreya Buddha lay on his lotus seat, his face full of smiles.

Ancient Buddha Dipankara, however, wore his feelings on his sleeve, looking as if someone owed him billions in Merit.

As for the Buddhas below, they were merely onlookers, daring neither to speak nor to ask anything.

"Tathagata, what is your view? Is this still the Scripture Seeker? He doesn't seek scriptures every day, but wanders around everywhere. At this rate, how long will it take to reach Lingshan, to save all living beings, and to liberate all beings from the Bitter Sea!" Randeng asked.

"Burning Lamp Buddha, the Puti is originally no tree, the bright mirror also no stand. Originally there is nothing at all, where can dust gather?" Tathagata Buddha said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Randeng became even more depressed and anxious, saying: "So, Tathagata, are you lecturing me on Buddhist principles?"

"Emptiness is form, form is emptiness," Tathagata said.

"Ancient Buddha Dipankara, with your status, do not be so hot-tempered. Who decreed that the Scripture Seeker cannot rest? Let us not have so many rules," Maitreya said.

"Maitreya, are you lecturing me? Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Xuanzang is so lazy; he does not treat Scripture Seeking as his primary task at all. Do you know how many living beings in this world are struggling in the Bitter Sea at this moment, unable to find liberation?" Randeng said.

"..." Maitreya was speechless.

He was embarrassed to expose Randeng: was the Journey to the West really for the sake of all living beings? Was it to save the myriad living beings from the Bitter Sea? Of course not.

If they truly wanted to save the world, these Great Abilities could simply cast a spell to make the living beings in Renjian never die or fall ill, and then have the God of Wealth provide endless silver; wouldn't all troubles and sufferings vanish? Saving the world was that simple; for them, it was just a flick of the hand.

But birth, aging, sickness, death, hunger, and famine were themselves part of the world's cycle, indispensable.

And what was Randeng's purpose, or rather, the purpose of the Heavenly Court, Buddhism, and Taoism? It was merely the final conclusion of the Journey to the West, when Heavenly Dao Merit would descend.

"Ancient Buddha Dipankara, Xuanzang is already a Great Luo Golden Immortal. Are we, Buddhism, still going to restrict the freedom of a Great Luo Golden Immortal?" Maitreya said.

"What of a Great Luo Golden Immortal? As a disciple of Buddhism, one must abide by the rules of Buddhism," Randeng said coldly.

"Burning Lamp Buddha, according to your meaning, should we also put a Tight-Fillet on Xuanzang?" Maitreya said.

As soon as these words were spoken, the Bodhisattvas and Arhats below were shocked.

Putting a Tight-Fillet on a Great Luo Golden Immortal—what kind of terrible idea was this?

Furthermore, the other party was Tathagata Buddha's second disciple, one of the existences in all of Buddhism with the greatest affinity for the Buddha.

"Actually, it is not impossible." Burning Lamp Buddha's eyes lit up; he truly felt this was a good idea.

Tathagata Buddha shook his head and said:

"The significance of the Tight-Fillet's existence is to restrain a wayward heart and uphold one's original intent. That was the meaning behind putting the Tight-Fillet on Sun Wukong back then. If we were to forcibly put a Tight-Fillet on Xuanzang, how would the Three Realms view Buddhism?"

Tathagata did not entirely approve of this idea.

If they really did this, it would be openly announcing to the Three Realms that Buddhism truly had no shame.

Moreover, to restrain a Great Luo Golden Immortal, the price required would be immense; ordinary Spirit Treasures simply could not do it.

"Buddhism is flourishing; who dares to disobey? If they do not submit to Buddhism, then ferry them to the Western Paradise," Randeng said.

"To refine a Tight-Fillet capable of restraining a Great Luo Golden Immortal, at the very least, one would need Spirit Treasure materials of the Innate level," Tathagata Buddha said.

"Ancient Buddha Dipankara, I see that the material of your Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Pearls is very suitable for making a string of Puti beads. If you are willing to let the Sea-Calming Pearls be refined into Buddha Beads to restrict Xuanzang, it is not impossible," Maitreya suggested.

"No." Randeng refused immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

Just kidding, the Sea-Calming Pearls were the strongest Spirit Treasure in his possession. The origin of these Sea-Calming Pearls was mysterious; it was rumored that they were derived from the legendary Chaos treasure, the Chaos Pearl.

Within the pearls were contained immeasurable worlds, capable of opening up twenty-four immeasurable heavens and myriad worlds.

Furthermore, with the power of the Sea-Calming Pearls, one could completely crush a Great Luo Golden Immortal-level existence, causing them to die and their soul to dissipate.

"Ancient Buddha Dipankara, look, you are unwilling to sacrifice any Spirit Treasures again." Maitreya spread his arms, revealing a helpless expression.

Randeng's expression was unsightly as he said:

"Although Xuanzang is wayward, he has not yet reached the point where a Tight-Fillet is needed. Buddhism loves all living beings and uses supreme Buddhist principles to transform the world. I believe that one day, Xuanzang will understand our painstaking efforts. Amituofo."

"..." Rulai.

"..." Maitreya.

He knew this old guy would speak so shamelessly, only moving his mouth without being willing to sacrifice even a tiny bit of profit.

Randeng felt depressed, but for the time being, he had no other way.

He certainly couldn't let himself contribute the Spirit Treasure he had treasured for many years; these were his trump cards for saving his life.

"Let us not mention this matter for now, and instead watch Xuanzang's next move," Rulai said.

Earth Immortal Realm, deep within the North Sea.

Sun Wukong, Baigu Furen, Zhu Bajie, Heixiong, Shaseng, and Xiaobailong had already infiltrated the lowest layer of space in the North Sea.

But where the end of the North Sea floor lay, the group did not yet know.

Along the way, they encountered many Demon Beasts, but they were simply no match for Sun Wukong and his party; most were either beaten to death on the spot or fled for their lives.

And the deeper they went, the more intense the demonic aura on the seabed became.