Chapter 21 Hope

  When Tang Seng finished speaking, Zhu Bajie suddenly jumped up and didn't even wipe his butt. He rolled and crawled to Tang Seng's side, hehe laughing straight away.

  Tang San Cang hesitated for a moment, saying: "Although there is hope, however, Bajie you will have to suffer greatly. If you can persevere, then when successful, you will obtain an inconceivable body. However, if you cannot persevere, then possibly you will vanish into thin air, completely disappearing."

  Pigsy sat on the ground with a thud, his face stupid. This choice was not unimportant. Once failed, it would be thoroughly scattered, and even rebirth would not be possible. Pigsy bowed his head in silence, thinking for a long, long time. Until, a figure flashed across Pigsy's mind, at this moment, Pigsy's heart became extremely determined.

  "Master, you say. No matter what suffering, I can bear it. As long as I can recover my human form. I, old pig, cannot become neither human nor ghost."

  Tang Sanzang looked at Zhu Bajie's determined face and shook his head slightly. He then said, "I previously obtained a Huā Duìhuà flower in the Underworld...". He went on to tell them about the origin of the Huā Duìhuà flower and how it was related to the battle with Tongtian. However, he glossed over the part about the Western Liang Queen.

  After finishing his story, Tang Sanzang paused for a moment before continuing, "So, the Huā Duìhuà flower was burned by Taishang Laojun's Bagua fire and later merged with me. Finally, it combined with Sun Wukong's golden blood, causing the flower to mutate into the Xūwú Huā Duìhuà flower. The Xūwú Huā Duìhuà flower not only possesses all the abilities of the original Huā Duìhuà flower but also has additional powers such as healing wounds, restoring spiritual energy, and even strong defensive capabilities. However, the most important thing is my eyes. Due to the Xūwú Huā Duìhuà flower, Taishang Laojun's Bagua fire and the karma I accumulated over ten lifetimes merged, forming this Red Lotus Karma Fire. And it is this Red Lotus Karma Fire that will bring Zhu Bajie back to life."

  Bajie is now a spiritual body, but this mutated Red Lotus Karma Fire contains powerful vitality. Normally, the Red Lotus Karma Fire relies on the karma contained within to harm people, possibly because the karma on my body was too heavy, causing a qualitative change, and the karma transformed into vitality.

  If Bajie can make the Red Lotus Fire burn continuously for 49 days without his soul dispersing, then the vital energy contained within the Red Lotus Fire will attach itself to Bajie's soul. Thus giving birth to a body of Red Lotus Fire, a body purely composed of flames.

  However, this has its pros and cons. The benefits are that the Fire Body is indestructible and can absorb other flames to strengthen itself. The drawbacks are that Zhu Bajie must endure 49 days of intense fire refinement, and his previous Water-based Taoist skills will be abandoned in favor of cultivating Fire-based Taoist skills.

  After saying so much in one breath, Tang Sanzang seemed to be a bit more tired, closed his eyes, and rested for a while. After Tang Sanzang closed his eyes, the small red flower on his finger also slowly disappeared. The red lotus karma fire floating above also disappeared along with his fingers. Before Tang Sanzang opened his eyes, Zhu Bajie said firmly: "Master, don't worry, I can hold on. If Monkey King could survive in the eight trigrams furnace for 49 days without dying, then I, old pig, can too. If Monkey King could cultivate fire eyes and golden pupils, then I, old pig, can also cultivate an extraordinary fire body. Master, starting from today, come on! I, old pig, won't die, at least not before destroying Ling Shan!"

  Pigsy finished speaking, his soul fluttered and returned to the nine-toothed rake. The rake quickly shrunk down to the size of a palm. Tang Sanzang glanced at Sun Wukong with his head tilted, finding that he seemed to be in a daze, so he reached out to pick up the miniature nine-toothed rake on the ground and said: "Wukong, what are you thinking about?"

  "Master, I've been thinking, what are we going to do from now on? Although we know Bajie's whereabouts, but what about Laoshan and Xiaobailong and the old cow? I have no idea. The Buddha said that Laoshan and Gouchen Da Di were destroyed together, but I don't believe it. Moreover, Master, must we really refine Bajie for 49 days? Bajie is now a soul body. What if, what if he can't hold on..."

  "Wukong, have you become afraid? Are you afraid because of this time's failure?"

  "Master, I'm not afraid, I just don't want more people to die for me. I'd rather not avenge myself, I'd rather give up the Flower Fruit Mountain."

  "Wukong, did you know why Bajie agreed so resolutely to let Master use the Red Lotus Incense Fire to refine him?"

  "Because, because Zhu Bajie didn't want to be a soul."

  "No, Wukong, you're wrong. You know Bajie well, don't you? Given his previous character of being afraid of death and loving life, it's unlikely that even if he were to be a vessel spirit for the rest of his life, he would accept the trial by fire. But now, Bajie has still made this choice. Because in his heart, there is a sense of discernment and attachment. And also that fearless courage that refuses to compromise. Therefore, under the Buddha's pressure, Bajie can choose to die rather than yield and be reduced to a soul state."

  "Master, I..."

  "You, Sun Wukong. The things that Zhu Bajie has now, you used to have them too. It was you who influenced Zhu Bajie. But what about you now? What's holding you back in your heart? Where is your pride? Your unyielding courage? Your determination to defy the entire Heavenly Court? We haven't completely failed yet. At least, we're still alive, aren't we?"

  Sun Wukong lowered his head, bent his knees, and buried his face deeply between his legs. Suddenly, the entire cave became very quiet, very quiet. Except for the occasional crackling sound of flames burning, there was only the sound of Sun Wukong's tears falling to the ground. It was so faint that it was almost inaudible.

  After a long time, Sun Wukong raised his head again. He said to Tang Sanzang: "Master, I understand now. My things, I must take them back. No matter how difficult it is."

  Tang Sanzang smiled, as gentle as spring breeze.

  "Alright. Next, I will use the Red Lotus Industry Fire to reconstruct Bajie's body. After forty-nine days, we will set out and search for the other three pieces of the Five-Colored Divine Stone, even if it means traversing all seven realms. At the same time, we will also investigate the whereabouts of Wujing and others, as well as the current situation in Heaven. During this period when I am reconstructing Bajie's body, Wukong, you should carefully experience your current powers. The journey ahead will be a difficult one."

  "Hmm." At this moment, Sun Wukong's eyes were filled with an overbearing aura. Tathagata, you can suppress me, you can defeat me, but as long as I am not dead, I will continue to fight on. Until... I annihilate you!

  On the first day, Tang Sanzang used the Red Lotus Karma Fire to create a boundary, enveloping himself and Jiu Zhi Dou in a huge sphere. From the outside, only a faint red glow could be seen, like a giant eggshell. The people inside were vague and unclear. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong had found another cave, sat cross-legged, and began to familiarize himself with his newfound powers and the insights gained from this life-and-death battle.

  Time flies like this.

  On the seventh day, in the stone chamber where Sun Wukong was meditating. Along with a wisp of almost imperceptible clear wind blowing by, Sun Wukong, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes wide. Instantly, two golden lights burst out and shot straight towards the Land of Nine Serenities. Suddenly, Sun Wukong's body jerked to a halt, then he suddenly increased the output of his magical powers, and saw that the originally dazzling golden light rapidly surged up. In just one breath, the two golden lights shooting from Sun Wukong's eyes had become as brilliant as the fierce sun, impossible to gaze at directly. After a long time, a sigh was heard.

  He slowly stood up, his skeletal system crackling like fried beans, and when he looked at Sun Wukong again, his whole body was shining with a faint, elusive light. It was clear that his physical body had reached an extreme state. His current physical strength might not be inferior to that of an ordinary immortal's magic weapon. Slowly twisting his neck and moving his slightly stiff limbs, Sun Wukong muttered to himself: "Seven days, just by merging the Nezha divine stone within my body, my power has increased to such a terrifying extent. I'm afraid that with only 70% of my strength, I could defeat the Jade Emperor now. Moreover, at most, it would only be a light injury. However, this is still not enough."

  After finishing speaking, Sun Wukong raised his head to look at the Western direction, tightly clenching his fists. Sun Wukong knew that his enemy was not just one person, but the entire Western Buddhist realm. Perhaps, it's not just the West, the Heavenly Court has been completely destroyed, and this Eastern world is no match for the Buddhist sect that has already occupied it.

  Shaking his head, he ignored them. Sun Wukong walked straight towards the stone room where Tang Sanzang was. After passing through countless winding paths, Sun Wukong saw the huge egg-shaped boundary. Everything seemed normal, and whether Zhu Bajie could be reborn depended on whether he could hold on or not. Thinking of this, Sun Wukong suddenly had an idea.

  He reached into his ear and pulled out the Golden Hoop, lightly waving it to return it to its normal size. Then Sun Wukong pointed at the boundary around Tang Sanzang and drew another circle. After finishing, he still seemed uneasy, so he raised his left hand in a sword-like gesture and made a slash in mid-air. With the movement of his hand, a fiery red ribbon appeared out of thin air. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Nezha's famous treasure, the Chaos-Heavenly Ribbon.

  Then, Sun Wukong waved his hand and the Hun Tian Ling transformed into a red light that merged with the circle formed by the Golden Hoop Rod. Seeing this double protection, Sun Wukong nodded slightly. He then transformed into a stream of light and headed towards the South Heavenly Gate of Heaven.

  After a moment, Sun Wukong appeared in the distance not far from the South Heavenly Gate. Hiding behind a dark cloud, Sun Wukong fell into deep thought. Indeed, looking at the four Arhats guarding the South Heavenly Gate, he could tell that within just seven short days, the Heavenly Court had been completely taken over by the Buddhist sect. Moreover, what made Sun Wukong puzzled was that these four gate-guarding Arhats gave him a feeling of familiarity.

  After some thought, he confirmed that the four arhats were not in his memory. He closed his eyes and rotated his spiritual power, and a moment later, a transparent light shot out from his eyes, straight at the four gate-keeping arhats. At this glance, Sun Wukong was suddenly shocked and angry. He withdrew his gaze, grasping the golden hoop rod with his right hand, and his veins bulged. It turned out that these four gate-keeping arhats were none other than the original Four Heavenly Kings of the Heavenly Court.

  Dongfang Chengguo Tianwang, Nanfang Zengchang Tianwang, Xifang Guangmu Tianwang, Beifang Duowen Tianwang. In the previous great war, these four Dharma Protectors were captured by Buddhism. Unexpectedly, this Tathagata was so ruthless and actually transformed the four Dharma Protectors into four Buddhist puppets!

  Buddhist puppet, is based on the flesh of a golden immortal above Da Luo Jinxian, uses special means to merge the soul of a deceased Buddhist arhat or higher expert into the flesh of the immortal. And add to the degree of transformation, thereby combining the two into one, becoming a Buddhist puppet that only knows how to fight. After becoming a puppet, it will not get tired, will not be afraid, and will be absolutely loyal to the Tathagata without betraying. Most importantly, the power of a successfully refined puppet will surge to several times its original strength.

  What enraged Sun Wukong was that, in the heat of battle, even if they captured prisoners, whether killing or beheading them would have been acceptable. However, to take living people and turn them into a single corpse-like puppet is an extreme insult to the dead. Those who were turned into puppets wouldn't even have the possibility of reincarnation.

  Looking at the four puppets guarding the South Heavenly Gate, Sun Wukong's hatred for the Tathagata rose to another level. However, Sun Wukong did not make a rash move. Instead, he carefully hid his aura and then flashed into the South Heavenly Gate with almost space-breaking speed. The four puppets guarding the gate were completely unaware of it.