Chapter 223: The Tathagata Wants the Monkey, Haotian Adds a Person

Jin Ling shook her head, her long hair swaying, a trace of schadenfreude on her stunning face as she suppressed her excitement and said: "This crystal ball actually wants one-tenth of my cultivation."

Chen Nuo had a black line across his face, Elder Sister, your expression isn't quite right!

For cultivators, cultivation isn't the most important thing to look at, is it? Like when Nezha gave up his cultivation earlier, his expression was just like being constipated.

How come when it comes to Holy Mother Jin Ling, it feels like winning the lottery? "Cultivation"

Zhao Gongming was startled, his face showing thick envy—he also really wanted the same!

Qiong Xiao and Bixiao were both like this, only Yunxiao and Wudang didn't understand the meaning.

"Elder Martial Sister, this shouldn't be a bad thing, should it?"

Wudang voiced his confusion.

"You don't understand."

Jin Ling's lips curled slightly, looking somewhat evil.

"You haven't made the Investiture of the Gods list, so your cultivation must be cultivated by yourselves."

"But we who are on the list, our cultivation depends on the Investiture of the Gods' supplementation; once on the list, cultivation cannot be changed—this is common knowledge in the Three Realms."

"But conversely, your cultivation cannot rise nor fall, and any realm you drop will be replenished by the Investiture of the Gods."

Holy Mother Jin Ling narrowed her eyes, her eyes brimming with schadenfreude.

Chen Nuo tugged at the corner of his mouth—he already understood what Holy Mother Jin Ling wanted to do.

Good partner, this is exploiting a bug in the Investiture of the Gods, there's something here.

No wonder Nezha is the opposite—he achieved Sainthood through his flesh body, his cultivation is his own, so losing it naturally pains him.

Yunxiao and Wudang are also quick-witted, and they immediately reacted.

As expected of the Elder Martial Sister, just brave!

Although the Investiture of the Gods is a divine object, its energy isn't inexhaustible; it relies on gradual accumulation.

Elder Martial Sister's cultivation is that of a Prepared Saint—if she loses even a bit, the required energy would be absolutely immense.

Jin Ling without hesitation directly handed over one-tenth of her cultivation.

The person's aura suddenly dropped somewhat—logically, cultivation cannot fall so abruptly.

But Chen Nuo's crystal ball is just that strong—there's no meal money it can't collect.

Heavenly Court.

In the small hall, Haotian gazed at the Investiture of the Gods in his hand, lost in thought.

This is where he handles private affairs.

Now that the Heavenly Court's three hundred and sixty-five Zhèng shén positions are full, yet it hasn't shown great strength; instead, due to this Investiture of the Gods matter, the Heavenly Court's strength has become tangled and complex—even he cannot fully grasp it.

"Your Majesty, the Buddha Tathagata wishes to audience you."

Taibai Jinxian held a whisk in one hand, hurried to the palace gate, bowed, and said.

Buddhist Sect? Haotian raised his brow, a trace of pride in his heart—The Tathagata can't sit still anymore!

"Summon."

Haotian retracted the Investiture of the Gods in his hand.

However, he didn't notice that the Investiture of the Gods emitted a faint light when retracted, and the energy stored in the magical treasure had decreased slightly.

"The Almsgiving Monk pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The Tathagata arrived before the hall, bowed slightly to Haotian on the high seat.

Though respectful, there was no flattery, and no trace of superiority or inferiority could be seen.

Haotian wasn't annoyed either—soon enough, the Tathagata will have a headache!

"Venerable Tathagata, why not lecture on scriptures at Ling Mountain, but come to my Heavenly Court to visit?"

Haotian acted mysteriously, still poured a cup of tea, and used his mana to push it toward the Tathagata.

The Tathagata did not drink.

"Your Majesty, the Almsgiving Monk has come today for one matter."

Haotian was unhurried, first poured himself a cup, sipped it slowly.

After finishing the cup, he then slowly said: "Speak freely, no problem."

The Tathagata belongs to those of excellent nature, fundamentally unaffected by the slightest influence.

"The Almsgiving Monk needs a celestial official, precisely speaking, a monkey."

"Which one?"

Haotian still looked dazed, feigning ignorance.

Anyway, if it's about monkeys, my Heavenly Court still has Yuan Hong, the long-armed ape!

"Sun, Wukong, Kong"

The Tathagata's Buddhist voice resonated, word by word.

"Great Heavenly Venerable, you don't not know who he is? Also, you should comply with my Buddhist Sect's affairs."

The Tathagata spoke again, his words carrying a warning tone.

Haotian's face turned cold upon hearing this—submitting to the Two Sages of the Buddhist Sect has been his lifelong shame.

"The path was chosen by that monkey himself—don't blame me."

Haotian coldly snorted, said ruthlessly: "At the end of the day, it's still your Buddhist Sect failing to control that monkey, causing his current temperament to be nothing like you imagined, and how could he honestly follow your thoughts?"

The Tathagata's expression froze.

The Buddha aura he had unintentionally emitted all over his body solidified.

Yes, causing the current situation has nothing to do with your Buddhist Sect's delay.

After all, the monkey wasn't supervised, letting others teach him for ten years.

Now, nothing concerning this monkey has been accomplished.

If he learns who masterminded the plan to destroy the Buddhist Sect, he will certainly demand an explanation.

"But Sun Wukong ultimately is a person destined to face calamity in our Buddhist Sect."

The Venerable Tathagata's meaning is that the monkey must be handed over.

Haotian spread his hands, and the original imperial dignity now carried a few more traces of a rascal's air.

"Then I have no way either."

"The Great Heavenly Venerable only needs to expel the monkey from the Heavenly Court."

The Venerable Tathagata responded.

"Impossible."

Haotian's eyes widened, he slapped the table and rose, imperial might manifesting.

"Celestial rules are strict!

Even I cannot be an exception!

Sun Wukong has committed no crime; I, have no reason."

Haotian spoke righteously and solemnly, his aura grand.

The Venerable Tathagata's expression was somewhat unpleasant; speaking at this moment, he also felt caught between two difficulties, celestial rules admit no exception, Haotian has indeed done so!

Even Haotian's younger sister Yao Ji died under the celestial rules; merely verbally urging him to defy the celestial rules is truly some foolish talk of dreaming.

"The almsgiving monk will offer three Taiyi Golden Immortal-level spiritual treasures as compensation."

The Venerable Tathagata pondered briefly, then stated his terms.

However, Haotian utterly disregarded it.

"Such a grand Buddhist Sect, with great enterprise, surely it won't only have this little thing?"

His everyday items he casually uses are all Taiyi Golden Immortal-level things.

Seeing the mockery in Haotian's eyes, the Venerable Tathagata knew he could not easily dismiss him.

"Two Great Luo Golden Immortal Dharma treasures."

The Venerable Tathagata's face showed a trace of pain.

He is also known as Duōbǎo Tathagata, not only taking meaning from the former Duōbǎo dàoshī, but more so because of the literal meaning of Duōbǎo.

Yet having many treasures does not mean he is willing to casually give them away, especially since he is his mortal enemy.

However, now the situation is stronger than the person.

"Venerable Tathagata, it is not that I am unwilling to help your Buddhist Sect."

"This Heavenly Dao is fixed; who dares to defy Heaven?"

Haotian's aura diminished considerably; obviously, he is still fairly satisfied with this compensation.

But... it is still far from enough!

Expression revealing solemnity and steadfastness, Haotian again spoke in a deep voice: "But, you do not know that this Sun Wukong is indeed my Heavenly Court's regular personnel, and at the Peach Banquet he greatly displayed his talents, exalted my Heavenly Court's might, truly a minister of Hóng gǔ, a pillar of the Heavenly Court."

The Venerable Tathagata drew a deep breath, his face gaining a few more traces of impatience: "Great Heavenly Venerable, do you truly value this?"

Could it be that Haotian truly plans to linger here with his Buddhist Sect? Even his many years of cultivation foundation would inevitably be somewhat affected, a trace of nameless fire rising in his heart.

"Then Great Heavenly Venerable, what do you mean?"