A Taoist with white hair and eyebrows, a sallow complexion, and a thin frame, wearing a Taoist robe, approached from the western direction.
"Bodhi Founder!"
Everyone present was stunned, not expecting even Bodhi Founder to arrive.
This one is a manifestation of the Sage Zhunti in the human world, and quite unique.
The manifestation of Sage Zhunti left within the Three Realms involves stripping away the Taoist techniques he once cultivated, forming a separate manifestation with only the cultivation of the Tao, which is the current Bodhi Founder.
After the Investiture of the Gods, the Western religion transformed into Buddhism, residing in the Blissful Realm beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens – the Spirit Terrace Mountain – the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave. To revitalize the West, Sage Zhunti did not hesitate to lower his saintly status, running around everywhere.
However, at the same time, he also separated his own Taoist cultivation, forming a distinct branch.
The existence of Bodhi Founder allows Sage Zhunti to simultaneously step on the karmic paths of both Buddhism and Taoism, which is why Sun Wukong never realized that the karmic seeds of the West were planted long ago.
Sage Zhunti was originally a disciple of the Taoist Ancestor during the primordial era, so separating his Taoist cultivation was already somewhat inconceivable.
Of course, these are all digressions.
At this moment, the arrival of Bodhi Founder added another sage to the scene!
The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning, the Sage Laozi, Sage Zhunti, half of the disciples of the Taoist Ancestor Hongjun have arrived!
This is probably the largest high-level meeting since the Investiture of the Gods.
At this moment, the atmosphere was tense.
With the arrival of the three great sage manifestations, the right to speak gradually shifted.
The Supreme Old Lord, as the person with the highest status present, coldly said:
"Why have you gathered here, filled with murderous intent? Could it be that you want to incite a calamity and disrupt the Three Realms?"
Additionally, Bodhi Founder and Dao Lord Xu Huang also looked at everyone present with great authority.
Whether it was the Western world or the Heavenly Court, at this moment, they could only nod and agree.
With the three great sages present, who could be tough? Did they not want to live?
Buddha Tathagata put his palms together and preemptively said:
"Reporting to the sages, the Heavenly Court has violated the will of the sages, secretly arranging variables in the human world, forcibly marrying Yin Wenjiao, disrupting the heavenly secrets, and causing the karma of the Journey to the West to be subverted!"
"The Heavenly Court acts arbitrarily, doing as it pleases, and destroying the rules. This is a great taboo. Please punish the Heavenly Court severely and do not condone it!"
Buddha Tathagata made the first move.
The three great sages simultaneously turned their gaze towards the Jade Emperor.
On the spot, the Jade Emperor felt as if his whole body was frozen, and for a moment, he felt a little breathless.
This was the pressure given by the three great sages. Even a being in the Quasi-Sage realm felt extremely uncomfortable.
After all, the Jade Emperor secretly instructed Chu Hao to go down to the world to stir up trouble. Although Chu Hao was a variable, and the matter was secretly ordered, the sages might not be able to detect it.
However, this matter did exist after all, and now that Buddha Tathagata was so confidently coming to question him, the Jade Emperor was completely confused about everything. If someone with a weaker mental capacity were in his place, they would have already surrendered, apologized, and made amends.
However, after all, the Jade Emperor was a page of the Taoist Ancestor.
The Taoist Ancestor was the teacher of all the sages. Being able to serve as a page by the side of the sages' teacher, the Jade Emperor's vision and temperament were also unmatched.
Even with the three great sages pressing down on him at this moment, and the Western world being so aggressive.
The Jade Emperor remained calm and indifferent, coldly saying:
"Nonsense! As the Supreme of the Three Realms, I have always taken the peace and justice of the Three Realms as my responsibility, and I keep the teachings of the sages and the Taoist Ancestor in my heart."
"The Journey to the West is an inevitable result of karma, so how could I hinder it?! Clearly, someone is framing me, wanting to provoke a war between the two sides, in order to gain the merits of the Journey to the West alone!"
Counterattack with a preemptive strike!
Buddha Tathagata's face turned black on the spot.
"Jade Emperor, I advise you to think twice before you speak. With the three sages present, do not speak carelessly. The sages can see through the heavens and know everything. You have no possibility of hiding anything!"
The Jade Emperor said lightly:
"Hide? I am open and honest, with nothing to hide! If I say I didn't, then I didn't!"
Buddha Tathagata glared angrily at the Jade Emperor,
"The evidence is conclusive. Yin Wenjiao has become the wife of your subordinate Prison God Chu Hao, and they have even consummated their marriage. The karmic connection is irreversible. How can you still say that this was not your arrangement! How dare you say that the Prison God was not deliberately doing evil!"
Although the Jade Emperor was a little flustered in his heart, his face remained unchanged.
The Jade Emperor's face showed a hint of anger, and instead, he counterattacked, saying:
"As far as I can see, it is you who acted recklessly, prematurely enlightening her, wanting to forcibly create a karmic connection, which led to the current chaos of heavenly secrets. I suspect that you are dissatisfied with the Journey to the West, deliberately burying this hidden danger, wanting to frame me!"
"Is your intention not to use this as an excuse to start another calamity? Just like the Investiture of the Gods calamity back then?!"
"Sakyamuni Buddha, how dare you have such audacity, attempting to subvert the Three Realms. I see that you are the culprit!"
Tathagata widened his eyes, pointing at the Jade Emperor in shock and anger, and said: "You! You! You..."
The Jade Emperor, from being someone who was being questioned, instead became someone who pointed at Buddha Tathagata and scolded him, even saying that Buddha Tathagata was plotting to start a war and dominate the Three Realms!
The gods and Buddhas present were incredibly excited, their hearts surging!
This was a great encouragement to all the gods and immortals, and it also greatly stabilized the morale of the people.
Such a tough and domineering leader has charm and makes people want to follow him.
Although the Jade Emperor said he was very frank and even slightly gained the upper hand, the Jade Emperor was very clear in his heart.
This was just a war of words. Once the Western Heaven really produced any evidence that could prove that Chu Hao deliberately disrupted Yin Wenjiao's marriage scene.
Not only the Western Heaven, but even the three great sages present would not let go of the Prison God.
And the Heavenly Court would also be implicated.
But the Jade Emperor never let go. The Jade Emperor could only pray that Chu Hao did not leave any handle.
Buddha Tathagata said angrily:
"I won't waste any more words with you. Hand over the culprit who disrupted the heavenly secrets and attempted to sabotage the Journey to the West, otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" The Jade Emperor stared at Buddha Tathagata, and the aura on his body instantly burst out!
When the gods, immortals, and Buddhas present felt this immense aura, it was as if they were about to suffocate on the spot!
This was the pressure from the Supreme of the Three Realms, the Quasi-Sage Perfected, the Jade Emperor, the leader of the Heavenly Court!
No one could stop it!
Even Buddha Tathagata's face was ashen, desperately resisting this powerful pressure.
This was the first time the Jade Emperor had shown his strength in front of the Heavenly Court and the Western Buddhas. Showing muscles is a very important part for any force.
