In the Northern Continent, the Wanling Tree dropped ten thousand beams of Immortal Light, falling onto a lotus leaf.

And on the lotus leaf, a crystal-clear little figure sat cross-legged.

The White-robed Venerable, with eyes closed, had sat here for two days.

Finally, he opened his eyes once more.

"Venerable,"

the nearby monk who had been keeping vigil immediately approached and asked, "Have you gained anything?"

"No."

The White-robed Venerable flew up from the lotus leaf and landed on the monk's shoulder, saying, "That Sun Wukong possesses a wisdom of the highest order. The complexity of the Wanling Heavenly Dao is such that even I cannot master it."

The monk was greatly shocked.

The White-robed Venerable had wandered the Chaos Realm for countless millennia, experiencing innumerable worlds, with wisdom beyond imagination.

*How could he be unable to master even a Heavenly Dao?*

"Perhaps you were too hasty,"

the monk suggested, "Venerable, why not try once more?"

"No need,"

said the White-robed Venerable, "That Heavenly Dao is the crystallization of three thousand pieces of wisdom, with Sun Wukong's Tao Fruit hidden therein."

He shook his head, "I am not Sun Wukong, and ultimately, I cannot master it."

*He had previously thought it too simple, for the Heavenly Dao was a symbol of Sun Wukong's will—even if others understood it, it would be challenging to be accepted by it.*

*Just as Sun Wukong could not acknowledge Jile, likewise, the White-robed Venerable could not acknowledge the Wanling Heavenly Dao.*

"That Heavenly Dao demands that all beings strive ceaselessly, which contradicts my actions,"

the White-robed Venerable transformed into a white light and merged into the monk's body.

He knew the monk was somewhat disappointed but smiled, "Take me to see Sun Wukong; I have other ways to help him attain the Heavenly Dao."

"Yes,"

the monk replied, then began to head south.

Soon after, they found Sun Wukong at the foot of Wudang Mountain.

No one in this world would have thought that Sun Wukong was beneath the execution ground of the Grandmaster of Demon Subjugation.

"Heavenly Emperor,"

the monk, controlled by the White-robed Venerable, said upon seeing Sun Wukong, "The Heavenly Dao has also been altered by the Immortals, and taking it back is impossible. Why not transform those trees instead?"

"Transform?"

Sun Wukong first did not understand, then was suddenly moved, as his mind was filled with some methods of altering the Heavenly Dao.

"It can be done."

He wasted no time doubting and turned to set about the task.

Once he left, the White-robed Venerable emerged from the monk's body.

The monk realized what the White-robed Venerable's method was.

Although he could not seize the Heavenly Dao, he sent Sun Wukong to transform some Wanling Trees, using another kind of Heavenly Dao to confuse beings.

This kind of tactic, the monk had seen in other Star Palaces before.

"Venerable, is the Heavenly Dao of the Three Realms different from other Star Palaces?"

the monk asked, "What if it is discovered?"

"As long as it confuses mortals, it will suffice,"

the White-robed Venerable replied, not expecting to deceive the Immortals.

"The time has come, I must go to Lingshan,"

the White-robed Venerable then looked westward and said, "Sun Wukong has no Immortal Soul. Watch over him for me; if anything changes, inform me immediately."

"Understood,"

the monk nodded.

The White-robed Venerable then transformed into a small figure, pierced through the void, and disappeared.

At Lingshan, the Western Buddha looked at Ao Luan before him.

"Why has the Heavenly Empress come to seek justice?"

he asked with a smile.

Ao Luan had led a group of Immortals to block outside the Great Heroic Treasure Hall, clearly here to seek justice.

"With a great enemy before us, the Jade Emperor and I have invited you several times."

Ao Luan coldly faced the dignified Buddha: "Why has the Buddha not yet taken action?"

"It is not that I refuse to act,"

the Buddha shook his head, saying, "The great enemy has not yet appeared; it is not the right time."

"To know oneself and the enemy is the way to win numerous battles,"

the Buddha, with kind eyes and a gentle face, reassured, "Heavenly Empress, rest assured, when the time comes, I will take action."

Ao Luan slightly furrowed her brow, "When will the time be right?"

"Soon."

The Buddha glanced outside the Great Heroic Treasure Hall and replied, "Take them back to wait."

Ao Luan slightly frowned.

"Buddha, this matter is significant. Please decide as soon as possible."

Finally, she said to the Buddha with a bow and took her leave.

As soon as she left, the Great Heroic Treasure Hall was abuzz with discussion.

"What qualifications does Ao Luan have to accuse the Buddha!"

"She has some nerve..."

"Cease this foolish talk!"

the Buddha interrupted them.

"The Heavenly Empress acts for the Three Realms, and impatience is understandable."

He reassured them for a while, and once they calmed down, the Buddha had a sudden thought; the time had come.

"Jia Ye..."

He called for Jia Ye to arrange for all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats to leave the hall.

Once the hall was closed, the Buddha turned his gaze toward the void.

"The Great Monk has arrived; why not show yourself?"

he asked.

"Amitābha,"

the void suddenly split open with a crack, and the White-robed Venerable emerged on an Auspicious Cloud.

He chanted the word 'transform,' and immediately rose to the same height as the Buddha.

Then a treasure lotus appeared with the wind, on which the White-robed Venerable sat cross-legged.

The Buddha looked at him, unable to suppress his astonishment.

Their appearances were as if seen across the water, exactly the same.

He seemed to understand something and couldn't help but sigh, "So I am not the only one after all..."

"This is a Dharma image; all Buddhas of all Star Palaces are like this,"

the White-robed Venerable said, "I do not wish to destroy the Three Realms. You and I are one and the same; it is only right for us to work together to save all beings."

"How to save them?"

the Buddha asked.

The White-robed Venerable gently waved his sleeves, bringing a fresh breeze, and the surroundings immediately changed.

It was a nation, a state of pure and glorious clarity, with Seven Treasures Trees, Eight Merits Water, and countless heavenly palaces; the beings within were radiant, amicable...

"There is no suffering here, only joy. This place is Jile..."

The White-robed Venerable showed these scenes to the Buddha and said, "If the Great Monk works with me, we can create the ultimate Jile."

The Buddha watched for a long time, then sighed, "This scene is truly nostalgic."

The White-robed Venerable's eyes sparkled.

"Have you done it before?"

he asked.

"I have,"

the Buddha joined his palms, "And it is a great sin."

The White-robed Venerable fell silent.

"Why deceive yourself, Great Monk,"

the Buddha raised his head and counseled, "You know in your heart that this is not Jile."

"How is it not Jile,"

the White-robed Venerable questioned, looking at the Buddha.

This was merely a small star palace's Buddha, yet he bore an unyielding dignity unaffected by worldly matters.

He had an aura of gentleness, with eyes that seemed to see through everything.

"I see,"

the White-robed Venerable understood, "Your true attainment was altered by Sun Wukong."

"Not altered, but comprehended,"

the Buddha explained, "All beings have their own choices, beyond our compulsion. I am at peace because I contend not with the world."

He reminded the White-robed Venerable, "You should let go of your obsession."

"Obsession?"

The White-robed Venerable looked at the Buddha; *didn't he also know of his own obsession?*

"The Three Realms produced both Sun Wukong and a Great Monk, standing as the first in Chaos."

The White-robed Venerable lamented.

*He had traversed countless Star Palaces and had never seen a Star Palace as mighty as the Three Realms.*

*But for that reason as well...*

"Would the Great Monk hear me one more time."

The White-robed Venerable did not give up on persuasion.

The Buddha was different from Sun Wukong; he was someone who could be won over.

He revealed everything to the Buddha.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.