novelapdf Chapter 279 Eight Years of Infernal Affairs
Chapter 279 Eight Years of Infernal Affairs
Chapter 279 Eight Hundred Years of Infernal Affairs
In the realm of immortals, undercurrents are surging.
The morning bell of Daleiyin Temple has been ringing for three hundred years.
Sun Wukong sat on the lotus throne of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, meditating with his eyes closed. His body was enveloped in Buddhist light, making him look like a highly enlightened monk. However, no one knew that beneath this Buddhist light lay the heart of a six-eared macaque.
Three hundred years.
It has been exactly three hundred years since the battle between the real and fake Monkey Kings.
He should have died in that battle.
When the Buddha's alms bowl descended and the golden cudgel struck his head, he could almost smell the approaching death. However, at the critical moment, an extremely subtle underground power silently enveloped him, pulling his spirit back from the brink of death.
It is Houtu.
At that time, he did not know why Houtu wanted to save him. It was not until he was taken to the underworld and Houtu said those words to him that he realized that his fate had never belonged to him from the beginning.
"Six Ears, you were originally a quarter of the Chaos Demon Ape, a primordial god-demon, outside the Five Elements and not subject to reincarnation. This is your advantage, and also your destiny."
"The Buddhist journey to the West is the inevitable course of Heaven, which I cannot change. But I can make you the only variable in this course of events."
"The real Wukong has been suppressed by me under the Flowing Sand River. From now on, you are Sun Wukong. You will protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures, achieve enlightenment, and reside on Mount Ling. You will obey the orders of my Underworld. At all times, I will surely bestow upon you a great opportunity, and you may even have the chance to attain sainthood!"
"You've done a great job over these three hundred years."
In his mind, Houtu's voice seemed to still echo. Sun Wukong slowly opened his eyes, a barely perceptible glint of light flashing within them.
Eight hundred years ago, he transformed from a mere opportunistic monkey into a true quasi-saint.
From then on, he watched as Buddhism grew stronger step by step on Mount Ling, watched the two saints, Zhunti and Jieyin, secretly plotted, and watched the Eastern Xuanmen (mysterious sect) be gradually devoured.
He secretly passed all of this on to Houtu.
He is Houtu's eyes, the deepest nail Houtu planted in Buddhism.
"The Victorious Fighting Buddha, the Buddha summons you."
Just then, an Arhat came to report.
Is Zhunti looking for me?
Sun Wukong's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "I understand, I'll go right away."
He stood up, shook his Buddhist robes, and strode toward the back hall.
When he arrived at the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, Zhunti was sitting upright on a lotus platform, his eyes slightly closed, his hands holding prayer beads, as if he were deducing something.
Sun Wukong did not disturb him and stood quietly to the side.
After a long while, Zhunti frowned slightly, finally sighed, and slowly opened his eyes: "Wukong, you've come."
Sun Wukong bowed and said, "This disciple greets the Buddha. May I ask what brings you to this audience?"
Zhunti's gaze fell on Sun Wukong, and after looking at him for a long time, he slowly said, "Wukong, how many years have you been at Mount Sumeru?"
""
Sun Wukong replied, "Reporting to Buddha, it has been three hundred years."
"Three hundred years." Zhunti nodded. "How has your cultivation progressed in these three hundred years?"
Sun Wukong said, "Reporting to Buddha, I have received your guidance and am now at the early stage of Quasi-Saint. However—I feel that I have encountered a bottleneck and can hardly make any further progress."
Zhunti smiled slightly: "Bottleneck? That's natural. You were originally formed from the stone that mended the heavens, born of heaven and earth. Your origins were originally among the best in the primordial world, but you are, after all, born of the demon race and do not have the orthodox lineage of a sage. It will be difficult for you to advance further."
Sun Wukong sneered inwardly, but feigned respect on the surface: "Please enlighten me, Buddha."
Zhunti slowly said, "Wukong, do you know that there are three paths in the primordial world?"
Sun Wukong said, "This disciple knows; it is the Way of Heaven, the Way of Earth, and the Way of Humanity."
"That's right." Zhunti nodded. "These three paths are the origin of the primordial world, and they have evolved into a long river before all living beings. However, the underground river among them disappeared after its last evolution."
"According to my calculations, this tunnel should be hidden somewhere in the underworld."
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong felt a chill run down his spine.
Could it be that old man Zhunti is plotting to take over the Long River Tunnel?
"Wukong," Zhunti suddenly said at that moment, "Do you know that Houtu has gone into seclusion?"
Sun Wukong feigned surprise: "What? The Goddess Houtu is in seclusion?"
Zhunti nodded. "Just three days ago, she said she was going into seclusion to comprehend the Great Dao, seemingly—to attain the legendary Primordial Limitless Golden Immortal status."
"A hundred years—" Sun Wukong pondered, "Wouldn't the underworld be in a similar state of affairs—"
Zhunti nodded slightly: "In the underworld, apart from Pingxin Mengpo, there are no experts above the Quasi-Saint level. The Ten Kings of Hell are only at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level. With your current strength, if I lend you the Blessing Pestle, you will definitely not be like last time if you go to the underworld again."
"Wukong, you were formed from the stone that mended the heavens, and you are not subject to the Five Elements. You can freely travel between Yin and Yang, and you are also at the early stage of Quasi-Saint. In the Underworld, no one can stop you."
Sun Wukong understood.
Now, let's get to the main topic!
"Buddha," he feigned hesitation, "you mean—"
A glint of light flashed in Zhunti's eyes: "I want you to go to the underworld."
Sun Wukong was startled: "To the underworld?"
"Good." Zhunti nodded. "Go and find out the true location of the tunnel."
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong hesitated and said, "Buddha, although Houtu is in seclusion, the Underworld is still her territory. Besides, I have a karmic connection with the Underworld before—"
"What are you afraid of?" Zhunti frowned. "You are not within the Five Elements, nor are you subject to reincarnation. The power of the earth is the weakest against you. Moreover, you are the Victorious Fighting Buddha of my Mount Ling. Even if Houtu finds out, what can she really do to you?"
"I asked you to go and gather information, not to rob us."
Seeing that the time was right, Sun Wukong gritted his teeth and said, "This disciple will go and investigate!"
Seeing that the monkey agreed, Zhunti nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Don't worry, as long as you can find out the location of the tunnel, I will teach you the cultivation method of the Seven Treasures Tree to help you break through to the mid-stage of Quasi-Saint."
Sun Wukong feigned great joy: "Thank you, Buddha! Your disciple will certainly not disappoint you!"
"Go." Zhunti waved his hand. "Remember, be careful. Your Seventy-Six Transformations are already mastered. With Pingxin and Meng Po's cultivation levels, they won't be able to detect you."
"Disciple understands." Sun Wukong bowed and turned to leave.
Watching his departing figure, a calculating glint flashed in Zhunti's eyes.
"Houtu—" Zhunti murmured to himself, "Once I find the location of the tunnel, the Heavenly Dao will be able to lock onto it directly, and your every move will be under the Heavenly Dao's surveillance."
"No matter how many schemes you devise, can you escape my discerning eyes?"