Journey to the West: Great Saint Equal to Heaven
Chapter 68 - 68 68 Permanent Solution

68: Chapter 68 Permanent Solution 68: Chapter 68 Permanent Solution The Jade Emperor dodged and gave Sun Wukong a fierce glare, saying, “My thoughts are naturally beyond your comprehension, and even if you guessed them, you wouldn’t understand.

Wukong, you will realize this in the future.”

“Supporting the Buddhist Realm’s rise, to have Buddhism and Daoism flourish at the same time, to increase the power of living beings, to enhance the influence of the Great Dao of living beings,” Wukong said with a cold smile.

The Jade Emperor was somewhat surprised.

This was indeed his plan.

Ever since Sun Wukong appeared, he and Tathagata had been scheming, planning the Journey to the West, to bring Buddhism to prominence.

Wukong’s Havoc in Heaven also fell within their design.

Their original intention was for Wukong to create a disturbance, after which Tathagata would subdue him.

Once that happened, Tathagata could make demands for the Journey to the West.

The gods of the Heavenly Court would also not oppose because of Tathagata’s merits.

But neither the Jade Emperor nor Tathagata had anticipated that Lord Taishang would interfere, and Wukong, seizing the opportunity, would grow significantly in strength, nearly turning the Heavenly Court upside down.

Even Tathagata paid the price of Nirvana to suppress Wukong for five hundred years, grinding his strength down to less than one-tenth of its peak.

At his prime, what obstacles could Wukong have faced on the Journey to the West?

A single sweep of his staff would have done the job.

Even with less than one-tenth of his strength, he could still send countless demons wailing and gods howling.

It was only the Demon Kings descended from heaven, with some treasures, who could pose a threat to him.

Sun Wukong stared at the Jade Emperor and said with a cold laugh, “You think I know nothing, I’ve always been puzzled, as I couldn’t see the purpose behind your actions.

The prosperity of Buddhism brings no benefits to the Heavenly Court, only when I helped Lord Taiyin and saw the Great Dao of living beings lock heaven and earth did I understand your intentions.”

“So, I have not erred.

Only when the two Sects are equal in strength and compete with each other can they enhance their power.

Daoism’s monopoly benefits the Great Dao of living beings in no way,” the Jade Emperor said with a cold, collected expression, his smile gone.

Lu Dongbin also felt that the Jade Emperor’s actions truly reflected deep and far-reaching plans.

Sun Wukong burst into loud laughter, filled with irony.

“However, you misjudged Tathagata.

You thought he would obediently follow orders, yet you didn’t foresee that he simply wished to see Buddhism thrive and even dominate the Three Realms.

You wanted to lure Old Sun into Buddhism, and with my character, I would definitely hinder Tathagata, preventing him from smoothly implementing his ideas.

Thus, even if Buddhism thrived, it would pose no threat.”

“Correct,” the Jade Emperor said, his expression turning sour.

“It’s a pity, you didn’t expect Tathagata’s audacity to sabotage me halfway through the journey, replacing me, nor did you consider that Tathagata, in order to truly unite the Buddhist Realm, would also feign death like you, even beginning to secretly plot over the Eastern Continent.

Once Tathagata succeeds, the Buddhist Realm will become uncontrollable.”

The Jade Emperor’s face darkened.

Sun Wukong glanced at him sideways, saying coldly, “I still don’t understand the purpose of your feigned death.

Was it just for fun, or to give Tathagata a chance to put Buddhism on equal footing with Daoism once and for all?”

The Jade Emperor remained silent.

His face may have looked unpleasant, but his eyes were eerily calm.

Wukong watched him closely, his brows lightly furrowed, considering a possibility.

“I underestimated you.

The Great Heavenly Venerate is indeed a Great Heavenly Venerate.

I think I’m starting to understand what you are planning to do,” Wukong said.

Lu Dongbin looked perplexed.

What are they talking about?

“Let’s go,” said Wukong, beckoning to Lu Dongbin and turning to leave.

After bowing to the Jade Emperor, Lu Dongbin followed Wukong as they prepared to depart.

“Wukong, I hope you will stay and help me,” said the Jade Emperor, his gaze sincere and his face stern.

“I can help you reach the realm of Heavenly Venerate.

With your talent, once you become a Heavenly Venerate, you could even battle the mightiest of the ancient gods.

You wouldn’t want the living beings of this world to suffer, would you?”

Without stopping or looking back, Wukong walked away.

The Jade Emperor sighed deeply.

How few in this world could understand him.

After leaving the Immortal Peach Orchard, Lu Dongbin sent a telepathic message: “Great Saint, what exactly is the Jade Emperor planning to do?”

Instead of answering his question, Wukong retorted, “What would you do if you had an enemy who refuses to rest until one of you is dead?”

“Naturally, he must be removed.”

Lu Dongbin said without hesitation.

He jerked suddenly, displaying an expression of disbelief, and said, “The Great Heavenly Venerate intends to completely exterminate the ancient gods.”

“Indeed.”

Wukong showed an approving expression.

Lu Dongbin suddenly understood.

The feigned death of the Great Heavenly Venerate was to throw the Three Realms into chaos; by that time, there would be heavy casualties among living beings, and the Great Dao of Living Beings would weaken to an extent.

The ancient gods from beyond would naturally be able to return.

It was then that the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerate, would intervene and completely resolve the ancient gods issue.

Where does his confidence come from?

“Does the Three Purities Lord know about this?”

Lu Dongbin couldn’t help but ask.

“He should be aware, but not necessarily intervene.

After so many years of the Jade Emperor reigning as the Great Heavenly Venerate, no one knows how many cards he holds.

You see, he just now asked me to assist him, but in his heart, I carry little weight.”

Wukong smiled faintly.

The depth of the Jade Emperor’s machinations could be said to be unmatched in the Three Realms.

This plan, perhaps, was already conceived by the Jade Emperor before the Journey to the West was even decided.

Previously, it seemed as though Tathagata had outmaneuvered the Jade Emperor; now it seems that everything might have been in the Jade Emperor’s calculations all along.

Tathagata might have realized this, and he very much wanted to turn the tables.

This feigned death was also a strategic move to turn the tables.

Of course, even if Tathagata were successful, ruling over the Three Realms would be impossible.

But the Buddhist Realm might have a chance to stand on equal footing with the Heavenly Court.

Is this what it means to be a game player?

Wukong sneered coldly.

It was far too underestimating of them to see these so-called chess pieces.

Lu Dongbin exclaimed, “These power-seekers have too many tricks up their sleeves, it’s terrifying.”

Wukong did not speak.

It was only recently that he had come to understand.

But the reaction of The Three Pure Ones puzzled Wukong.

They couldn’t possibly fail to see through the Jade Emperor’s intentions, but why not stop him?

Do they share the Jade Emperor’s approach, seeking a permanent solution?

Or do they have other plans, simply not worried whether the Jade Emperor or Tathagata would escape their control?

All these complexities, tangled like hemp, still need to be calculated and investigated.

Now that he had entered the game, Wukong naturally would not sit and wait for death.

Within Huaguo Mountain, Lu Dongbin returned as well.

Having wandered outside for a time, he eventually found Huaguo Mountain more comforting.

“Great Saint, how about I call those seven over as well?

They haven’t been having a good time lately,” Lu Dongbin suggested.

Wukong looked at him, as if trying to see through Lu Dongbin’s heart.

“Do you wish to help me gather troops and horses?”

Lu Dongbin nodded, saying earnestly, “Mainly because following the Great Saint seems more reliable; at least the Great Saint won’t scheme against his own people.

The Heavenly Court is too dreadful, not worth joining.”

“Wait until I reach the realm of Heavenly Venerate, then you can contact them,” Wukong said.