Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything
Chapter 868 - 868: You Were Really Ruthless When You Fought the Tathagata!

Emperor Zhenwu sat quietly in his palace, his expression solemn.

The fall of Empress Qinghua had caused significant upheaval in the Heavenly Court.

As one of the Four Emperors, the fact that Empress Qinghua had fallen, who was the deity behind such a malicious act?

It truly is a tumultuous time; not long ago, Maitreya Buddha, one of the Three-World Buddhas of the Buddhist Sect, perished, and now, Empress Qinghua, one of the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court, has also fallen.

This Immeasurable Kalpa has almost reached its most dangerous phase; could it be that many hidden powers are finally revealing themselves?

With the fall of Empress Qinghua, countless beings in the three worlds and six realms have become acutely aware of the terrifying nature of the Immeasurable Kalpa!

Although Empress Qinghua did not die at the hands of the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team, had he not lost an arm and significantly weakened his strength there, perhaps he wouldn't have been so easily slain?

Moreover, he had suffered great losses from the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team just before being assassinated?

Who wouldn't believe this incident is related to the Immeasurable Kalpa?

Thinking about the death of Empress Qinghua, Emperor Zhenwu felt heavy-hearted.

Not only did he perish, but the Great Jade Emperor went personally to Ksitigarbha Cave and couldn't bring him back, making Emperor Zhenwu feel even worse.

"What is the situation in the Lower Realm?" After a long silence, focusing solely on the fall of Empress Qinghua, Emperor Zhenwu finally gathered his thoughts and asked Bodhisattva Zhenli in front of him.

"Emperor..." Bodhisattva Zhenli replied, "For the past few days, Xuanzang and his team in the Lower Realm have remained stationary, not continuing their westward journey."

"Really this obedient? They actually stayed put?" Emperor Zhenwu frowned slightly upon hearing Bodhisattva Zhenli's answer.

"Do you think Xuanzang particularly wants to stay behind?" After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Zhenwu felt it was perplexing that Jiang Liu and his team remained stationary on their Journey to the West.

"Well..." Bodhisattva Zhenli hesitated upon hearing the Emperor's question.

"Why? You want to hide something in front of this seat?" Seeing Bodhisattva Zhenli's reluctance, Emperor Zhenwu couldn't help but speak.

"Actually, what you say is not unreasonable!"

Bodhisattva Zhenli dared not hide anything upon hearing the Emperor's words, "Considering their journey west, Xuanzang's team progresses only three to fifty miles a day!"

"Moreover, it's heard that two boys of Supreme Elder Lord and Taoist Boy Huangmei under Maitreya Buddha had captured him, but in the Demon Cave, Sun Wukong and his team showed no intention of rescuing him!"

"Xuanzang seemed content staying in the Demon Cave, not in a hurry to leave!"

Bodhisattva Zhenli simply described past events without explicitly stating his perspective, yet Emperor Zhenwu naturally understood his meaning.

"So, Xuanzang's team indeed wants to stay behind?" Emperor Zhenwu murmured, hearing Bodhisattva Zhenli recount the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team's past experiences.

What guilt, what staying to reflect and repent? These were merely excuses, weren't they?

He originally wanted to stay, didn't he?

"Do you know why Xuanzang's team behaves this way?" After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Zhenwu asked Bodhisattva Zhenli.

"This, I do not know!" Bodhisattva Zhenli shook his head decisively, indicating his ignorance.

"Alright then!"

Emperor Zhenwu wasn't surprised by Bodhisattva Zhenli's response; although he couldn't understand why Xuanzang's team lingered, he confirmed that Xuanzang indeed wanted to stay, which was sufficient.

"Emperor, we've obstructed Xuanzang's team for over half a month; logically, the calamity should have ended!" Bodhisattva Zhenli spoke after a moment of silence.

"Indeed, it should have been completed by now!"

Emperor Zhenwu nodded in agreement, then looked at him, "So, since the task is done, you're planning to leave?"

"I've been away from the Taoist Arena for quite some time, and have some matters to attend to..." With hands in a prayer position, Bodhisattva Zhenli replied, slightly bowing his head.

Emperor Zhenwu had immense strength and could definitely protect himself, but Bodhisattva Zhenli's limited power meant that engaging in the calamity would ensure his destruction.

Since his task was nearly completed, Bodhisattva Zhenli had no intention of staying longer.

Moreover, it seemed Emperor Zhenwu wasn't content with a single engagement in the calamity; he wished for another round?

"If so, you may go!" Seeing Bodhisattva Zhenli's desire to leave, Emperor Zhenwu pondered a moment, then nodded; he couldn't force him to stay anyway.

"Thus, I shall take my leave, and will visit again when I'm free!" Bodhisattva Zhenli bowed once more, then turned to exit the Zhenwu Hall.

With Bodhisattva Zhenli's departure, Emperor Zhenwu began pondering deeply.

Though the calamity was easily dealt with this time, which was indeed good news.

But thinking about Xuanzang's team's deliberate delays, he felt tricked instead of successful manipulation.

This spoiled Emperor Zhenwu's mood.

"Are they really procrastinating unwilling to leave? If so, I must see for myself!"

Thinking this over, since they had stayed nearly a month, it was indeed time to urge them onward. Thus, Emperor Zhenwu activated his form and left the hall, heading to the Lower Realm.

Upon reaching the Lower Realm, Emperor Zhenwu naturally saw the Exquisite Immortal Mansion.

"Such a mansion, how can they possess it?"

Recognizing the Exquisite Immortal Mansion as a portable immortal dwelling requiring Quasi-Saint cultivation to create, Emperor Zhenwu was astonished.

Noting Sun Wukong's possession of the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors, Emperor Zhenwu realized the Pilgrimage Team was indeed wealthy!

"During the daytime, are they staying in the mansion?" Approaching the mansion's gate, Emperor Zhenwu curiously knocked.

After several knocks without response, even no sign of life within, Emperor Zhenwu grew puzzled, suspecting Xuanzang's team might be absent.

With no answer to his knocks, Emperor Zhenwu decided to push open the gate.

Entering the mansion, Emperor Zhenwu's eyes immediately fixated on the scroll floating in mid-air.

"Is this? Empress' Map of Mountains and Rivers? How can it be here?"

Seeing the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Emperor Zhenwu was even more astonished.

From what he knew, there were already many treasures, but unknown ones might be even greater?

This Pilgrimage Team was truly wealthy?

Possibly richer than himself?

"Wait, what's happening?" Despite being surprised by the map's presence, Emperor Zhenwu was even more shocked upon examining the map.

The map depicted the scenery of the Great Thunder Monastery of the Western Heaven, with Xuanzang's team inside.

The team was battling within the depicted world, slaying all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas?

This sight made Emperor Zhenwu's mouth twitch.

Though the map's world was fake, seeing Xuanzang's team causing havoc felt bizarre.

Like someone urinating on a father's portrait, despite its falsity, anyone witnessing would be stunned.

"Do they hold grievances against Spirit Mountain?" Observing the events in the map's world, Emperor Zhenwu murmured, frowning.

Reflecting, this seemed plausible?

He recalled Xuanzang's westward journey due to Princess Gaoyang's matter, causing quite a stir.

Considering Sun Wukong, having been subdued by Tathagata and imprisoned under Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years, Emperor Zhenwu doubted he bore no resentment toward Spirit Mountain.

"Xuanzang's team holds grievances toward Western Spirit Mountain and thus delays their journey?"

This theory seemed perfectly plausible?

However, this was just Emperor Zhenwu's speculation, requiring further verification.

...

In the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Jiang Liu and his team exhausted themselves, finally clearing the Western Spirit Mountain's challenge.

Then, the master and disciples emerged from the map's world.

"Emperor Zhenwu? Why, you..." Jiang Liu was shocked upon seeing Emperor Zhenwu.

"Xuanzang, you all truly opened my eyes!" Emperor Zhenwu remarked, hinting at the events seen earlier.

"I saw your fierce battle against Tathagata; your cooperation was extraordinarily synchronized, seemingly practiced countless times!"

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