CHAPTER 1061: CHAPTER 1061: DIFFERENTIATING IMMORTALS AND BUDDHAS

After opening the friend list, Sun Wukong’s avatar was seen blinking, just as Jiang Liu had anticipated.

After opening the chat window between himself and Sun Wukong, a message appeared in front of Jiang Liu.

"Master, why are you going to the Lingxiao Hall alone? Isn’t that too dangerous?"

Looking at the message from Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu replied with a message: "Naturally, it’s to sow discord between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect!"

"Sow discord between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect?" Sun Wukong looked at the message from Jiang Liu and was slightly stunned.

Then, he turned to Zhu Bajie and the others, reciting Jiang Liu’s message to them.

Upon hearing this message, Zhu Bajie and the others all had thoughtful expressions on their faces.

Clearly, they were pondering the connection between their master’s visit to the Lingxiao Hall and the discord between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect.

"I understand now, so that’s it!" In contrast, being from the Western Sea Dragon Palace, Little White Dragon understood such official matters better. After a moment of thought, he nodded in comprehension.

Although Zhu Bajie was once Marshal Tianpeng and was familiar with such official matters, in this life, he was mistakenly reincarnated as a pig. Therefore, although he retained his past life’s memories and knowledge, his wisdom was greatly affected due to his reincarnation.

As a result, Little White Dragon figured it out first, but Zhu Bajie was still only half-understanding.

"Xiaobai, do you understand what Master means? Tell us," Sun Wukong asked, turning to Little White Dragon.

"It’s quite simple actually!"

Hearing Sun Wukong’s inquiry and seeing the questioning eyes of his senior brothers on him, Little White Dragon began to explain: "This time, Master killed the Emperor Ziwei. Of course, the Jade Emperor has to act, otherwise how can he govern the three realms effectively, right?"

"Indeed, that makes sense!" Sun Wukong and the others nodded in agreement with Xiaobai’s analysis.

Indeed, with the deaths of the Emperor Qinghua and the Emperor of Longevity where the killer couldn’t be found, it’s understandable...

But for the Emperor Ziwei to have died at the hands of Master, if the Jade Emperor disregards it, wouldn’t that chill the hearts of the deities under him?

"However..."

After some analysis, Little White Dragon shifted his tone and continued: "To capture Master, only the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, Crown Prince Nezha, and these few Star Monarchs Nine-Light were sent."

"Consider this, even though Master could kill the Emperor Ziwei, only these people were sent. If Master resists, and we all resist, could Master really let them capture him?"

"So, Xiaobai, you’re saying the Jade Emperor sent people to capture Master, but actually, he never intended them to really succeed?" Sun Wukong, being sharp, quickly caught on and asked.

"Exactly, it should be like that. If Master resists, or if you, Senior Brother, resist, then the Jade Emperor has a legitimate reason to go to the Great Thunder Monastery and ask Tathagata for compensation, and surely a significant one, which is the Jade Emperor’s true objective!" Little White Dragon nodded in agreement.

After a slight pause, he continued: "Master must have seen through the Jade Emperor’s intentions, which is why he willingly allowed himself to be captured!"

"Senior Brothers, think about it, if Master is indeed captured, the Jade Emperor will surely punish him harshly, right? Otherwise, if he captures him but doesn’t punish him, how will it make sense?"

"And once the Great Jade Emperor is compelled to punish Master, surely Tathagata will not stand idly by..." Xiaobai continued his analysis.

At this point, the faces of Sun Wukong and the others all showed expressions of sudden realization, and they all understood.

The Jade Emperor, caught between a rock and a hard place, must punish, and Tathagata will surely come to save.

At that time, perhaps Master will use this to divide the Great Jade Emperor and Tathagata, achieving his goal?

"Truly worthy of being Master, unparalleled in wisdom! So this is Master’s true goal?" Zhu Bajie’s flattery instinct kicked in. Although Master wasn’t present, after understanding Master’s intentions, he couldn’t help but praise warmly.

"Indeed, the powers of the Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court are considerable. Though there’s some competition in the shadows, on the surface they’re still amicable."

"Going to the Great Thunder Monastery and facing a great battle, confronting both the Buddhist Sect and Heavenly Court would be the hardest. If they can be split in advance, all the better!" Sha Wujing nodded in agreement, analyzing verbally.

"Terrifying! Their objective is actually to topple all the Immortals and Buddhas!? To counter both the Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Court!?" Beside them, the White Mouse Demon was paralyzed upon hearing the conversation of Sun Wukong and the others.

The longer the White Mouse Demon stayed with the Journey to the West team, the more secrets it felt it discovered, and the more shocked it became.

Previously, when they plotted to assassinate the Emperor Ziwei, the White Mouse Demon had already found it frightening.

Unexpectedly, their ultimate aim is to overthrow the rule of the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect!?

What a magnificent objective that is?

...

Let’s not talk about Sun Wukong and the others in the Mortal World, and how they are discussing. Regarding the message Sun Wukong sent, after Jiang Liu replied, Sun Wukong never sent another message. This long explanation, Jiang Liu was too lazy to initiate.

Let them think for themselves, let them discuss amongst themselves, it’s not a bad thing.

Bound by chains, under the escort of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, Jiang Liu soon passed through the South Heavenly Gate, directly arriving at the entrance of the Lingxiao Hall.

After an Immortal Official announced his arrival, Jiang Liu was directly pressed into entering the Lingxiao Hall.

Inside the Lingxiao Hall, all the Deities cast their gaze upon Jiang Liu, with varying emotions in their eyes.

Some had hatred as if sharing a common enemy, some wore amused expressions as if watching a show, while others appeared indifferent, as if Jiang Liu’s fate had nothing to do with them.

"Master Xuanzang greets the Jade Emperor! Please forgive the shackles on my body, I cannot perform a full ceremony!"

Although when killing the Emperor Ziwei Jiang Liu was ruthless, now in the Lingxiao Hall facing the Jade Emperor, Jiang Liu maintained his usual courteous and humble demeanor, nodding slightly and greeting the Jade Emperor.

"Xuanzang, in such circumstances, there’s no need for such courtesy. I ask you, are you aware of your crimes?" The Great Jade Emperor sat atop his throne, looking down at Jiang Liu as he straightforwardly questioned.

"This monk admits his crime!" Facing the inquiry of the Great Jade Emperor, Jiang Liu did not hesitate, quickly nodding to express his acknowledgment of guilt.

This acknowledgement attitude was remarkably good, similar to when the Emperor of Longevity died, and Jiang Liu was similarly questioned.

"Very well, since you admit your guilt! Then, I won’t waste words! Since ancient times, debts must be paid and life taken for death is the way of heaven. Today you killed Emperor Ziwei, this crime is immense, and I, as the Jade Emperor, sentence you to execution! Do you have any objections?"

Seeing Jiang Liu’s decisive admittance, the Great Jade Emperor slightly paused, then directly declared his judgment.

"This monk has no objection!" Jiang Liu answered with a slight bow of his head, his expression still calm, as if he had seen through life and death.

Seeing Jiang Liu face death with such calm, the Great Jade Emperor’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Then, hesitating in speech.

Logically, since he had already pronounced judgment, and Xuanzang was willing to accept this outcome, next should be the immediate execution.

But, the Jade Emperor fell silent?

Above the Lingxiao Hall, many Deities secretly exchanged glances, bewildered.

"Your Majesty, wait..." At this moment, suddenly, an elderly voice sounded.

Then, the Supreme Elder Lord stepped forward and said to the Jade Emperor: "Your Majesty, Master Xuanzang killed Emperor Ziwei, certainly a crime unforgivable. However, since he is of the Buddhist Sect, even if punishing, should we first inform the Tathagata Buddha?"

"Hmm, what the Elder Lord says is reasonable..." Listening to the Supreme Elder Lord’s words, the Great Jade Emperor thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Xuanzang is, after all, a person of the Buddhist Sect. Even if he committed a great crime, execution should be communicated to the Tathagata Buddha first.

Moreover, the more important reason is Xuanzang, as the core figure in the Journey to the West for Scriptures, stands at the center of this Measureless Calamity, and cannot be killed before the calamity concludes.

Just as during the Deification Calamity, when Jiang Ziya aided King Wu in overthrowing Zhou, countless Sect of Intercepting disciples were killed.

But even though Sect Master Tongtian was furious, he never personally struck against Jiang Ziya, the reasoning is alike.

Bringing Xuanzang here, sentencing him to execution in front of everyone was a move where the Jade Emperor was stuck.

If it wasn’t done, would it not chill the hearts of his subordinates?

However, the King expected the Tathagata Buddha to find a way to come and rescue him.

But he has already announced it, yet the Tathagata Buddha hasn’t appeared to retrieve his person?

This leaves his solo performance uncertain on how to proceed?

Fortunately, at the critical moment, the Supreme Elder Lord spoke up, providing him a way out.

Additionally, the Jade Emperor understood that the Tathagata Buddha likely knew rescuing Xuanzang would come with a great cost, and since he dared not truly kill Xuanzang, he turned indifferent?

Hmph, since so, we’ll notify you and see how you continue playing deaf and dumb...