568. Chapter 551: Slaying the Monkey, Buddha Kingdom
The common people who bathed in this sweet dew, regardless of age, found their illnesses cured if they were sick, and felt refreshed and invigorated even if they were healthy.
Within a few days, the rice in the fields visibly grew ears and shot up wildly under the sweet dew. The flying birds and running beasts in the mountain forests that consumed this sweet dew also gained spiritual intelligence, transforming from ordinary beasts into spirit monsters.
Legend has it that in ancient times, the fusion of the sun and moon would inevitably produce Imperial Ethereal Fluid.
For plants and trees to become demons, they must absorb Moon Essence Qi, but only the Moon Essence Qi from a Gengshen Night will suffice.
This is because the Moon Essence Qi on a Gengshen Night contains Imperial Ethereal Fluid.
Imperial Ethereal Fluid appears as countless olives, with ten thousand golden threads hanging down in strings.
Plants and trees in the Mortal Realm can become demons by absorbing its Essence and Qi. Foxes and Wraiths can manifest Divine Abilities by consuming it.
Because plants and trees have nature but no life, while the fluid has nature, it can supplement life. Foxes and Wraiths inherently have life, so consuming it is greatly beneficial.
Imperial Ethereal Fluid is produced once every sixty years, and the moonlight on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month every sixty years contains "Imperial Ethereal Fluid."
If monsters consume it, one night of Cultivation is equivalent to absorbing the Essence of Sun and Moon for several hundred years.
These spirit monsters who gained spiritual intelligence from the sweet dew were unlike the local Demon Monsters formed by absorbing Baleful Qi; their Viciousness was not as great.
However, as more spirit monsters and Demonic Spirits gained spiritual intelligence, conflicts between humans and beasts were unavoidable in various regions.
The sweet dew continued to fall for several days. The plants and trees grew wildly, and the fierce beasts in the old woods nearly doubled in size. Their eyes, when looking at people, were green and flashed with Cold Light.
Hunters who made a living by hunting, hunting villages, woodcutters, and herb gatherers simply dared not enter the mountains.
Despite this, small-scale Beast Tides still erupted in some villages that relied on hunting for survival, and over a dozen villages were destroyed by the Beast Tides.
This situation only significantly improved when the Demon Subduing Division and Zhechong Fu Army from various regions were mobilized. Under a series of Imperial Decrees, officials from Prefectures across the land, in coordination with the prepared Demon Subduing Division, distributed Talisman Paper and Statue Images of the Heavenly Emperor for free in the countryside.
Any village that worshipped the Heavenly Emperor found that those Demon Monsters and spirit monsters simply could not enter.
At the same time, the Government in various regions also opened granaries to distribute food, recruited craftsmen and farm laborers, repaired Earth Temples to worship the Earth God, worshipped the City God at the County Seat level, and built Heavenly Emperor Temples.
The sweet dew continued until the Heaven Worship Ceremony in Chang'an City began. The current Emperor, His Majesty, led the Civil and Military Officials in the Heaven Worship Sacrifice.
Seven days later, Chang'an.
Emperor Taizong of Tang, Heavenly Khan Li Shimin, offered incense and prayed at the Circular Mound Altar, worshipping Heaven.
However, what was different this time was that the Li Tang Dynasty was no longer worshipping Donghuang Taiyi, nor was it Haotian Shangdi, whom the Confucian School revered.
Heaven, the concept of Heaven in each dynasty was actually different. Different mythological figures would be regarded as "Heaven" in different periods. These mythological figures included Donghuang Taiyi, Di Jun, Yellow Emperor, and Haotian Shangdi.
Among them, Haotian Shangdi should be the most fitting Immortal, because Haotian Shangdi is precisely the venerable title for Heaven.
As early as the Zhou Dynasty, "Haotian Shangdi" had already appeared. The rulers of the Zhou Dynasty were called the "Son of Heaven of Zhou," and later emperors of successive dynasties all considered themselves Sons of Heaven, naturally executing the Decree of Heaven.
Haotian Shangdi was considered the supreme God. When Heaven and Earth existed, Haotian Shangdi existed, and he is uncreated and eternal.
However, Haotian Shangdi's status as the supreme God was largely propagated by Confucianism. In other words, in different Systems, the supreme God is different.
During the Western Zhou period, Haotian Shangdi was the universally recognized supreme God. Later, Confucianism was born and developed, continuing this setting, but in other religions, the supreme God was not Haotian Shangdi.
From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the Heavenly Father officially recognized during this period was not Haotian Shangdi, but Donghuang Taiyi, the Heavenly Emperor worshipped by the State of Chu during the Pre-Qin period. Furthermore, because the Chancellor of the Qin Dynasty was Li Si, and Li Si was from the State of Chu, when Qin Shi Huang asked him about the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Li Si replied that the most venerable among the Three Sovereigns was Tai Huang, and this Tai Huang was Donghuang Taiyi. Later, Donghuang Taiyi was regarded as Heaven, and this tradition continued. When performing rituals, they also worshipped Donghuang Taiyi.
This time, the Li Tang Dynasty was worshipping the Heavenly Emperor, and this Heavenly Emperor's surname was Tang! The Great Tang Dynasty had recuperated for over a hundred years, and with its current Territory, the Population had surged to eighty million people.
These people bathed in the sweet dew and listened to the Heavenly Emperor's Blessing Decree. Even the most stubborn person had to piously kowtow and kneel and thank Heaven.
The Power of Humanity is very mystical. The strength of a single Mortal is as weak as candlelight and firefly glow, but when these scattered points of Starlight gather together, they are enough to subvert Gods and Buddhas.
Is the power of a Mortal Dynasty weak? In a world where Divine Power cannot manifest divinely, even Gods and Buddhas must make way under Imperial Authority.
Just like the renowned Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the Buddhist Sect, to avoid the taboo name of the Venerable One Li Shimin, directly changed the name of this great Bodhisattva to Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Only when Gods and Buddhas manifest divinely are they truly gods.
Otherwise, gods are also determined by human Will. If everyone's perception is that Guanyin is in a female form, then she will transform into her.
Haotian in Eastern Mythology represents the supreme Heavenly Dao. In the Later Song Dynasty, during the Northern Song period, the Daoist Monarch Emperor forcefully changed the name to Jade Emperor.
He even assigned a surname, Zhang, and a given name, Bainin.
What a fool. What Son of Heaven would not share the same surname as the Heavenly Emperor?
Surname Zhang, which Zhang? Is it the "Zhang" of Celestial Master Zhang from Longhu Mountain?
Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang) once asked a Taoist Priest, "Does Heaven have a surname?"
The Taoist Priest replied, "Yes, the surname is Liu Bang!"
Now, Emperor Taizong of Tang, in the name of the Human Emperor Son of Heaven, prayed to Heaven, which is equivalent to using the power of the Human Realm and the entire Great Tang Dynasty's Qi Luck to officially sanction Tang Song as the Heavenly Emperor.
Since he is the Heavenly Emperor, mastering the Heavenly Dao is naturally a matter of course, isn't it? Above the Circular Mound Altar, Tang Song stood on the Cloud Top, watching Li Shimin begin the final Heaven Worship Ritual.
As the Heaven Worship Ritual progressed, a powerful Power of Faith transformed into a golden torrent and rushed into his Body.
Sounds of prayer, sounds of prayer, the noisy sounds were like countless mosquitoes and flies buzzing around Tang Song's ears.
Compared to this incense and faith, what truly made Tang Song feel delighted was that as Li Shimin's Heaven Worship progressed step by step, he gradually gained an experience of this world that was close to Dao Embodiment.
In the Jambudvīpa World, within the Vulture Peak Saha Pure Land, Dharma Master Xuanzang, clad in a simple white monk's robe, watched as the lotus petals of the Golden Lotus before him turned from gold to green one by one. He chanted Buddhist Epithets.
The Purification Altar Messenger Bodhisattva, who was acting as a Protector beside him, blinked his small eyes non-stop. Under his shocked gaze, Dharma Master Xuanzang first turned translucent, then dispersed into clusters of Buddhist Light, separating into bowl-sized Sariras/Relics, which merged into the Nine-Rank Karmic Luck Golden Lotus.
One bowl-sized Sarira/Relic transformed into a streak of golden Streaking Light resembling a Golden Cicada, and flew directly into a mountain outside Two Realms Mountain that looked like a Reclining Buddha.
"Boom!"
As the Golden Light merged into the mountains, the thousand-zhang high mountain exploded. A golden light shot out from the rubble, heading straight for Tang Dynasty Chang'an.
Rumble!
Just as the Heaven Worship Ritual in Chang'an City was nearing its end, and Tang Song closed his eyes to gain Insights into the rules of this world, replacing the Buddha's Dao with his Heavenly Emperor's Dao.
Suddenly, there was a roar behind him, and two Golden Light Pillars abruptly lit up behind him.
They illuminated the entire sky, as if two suns had suddenly appeared, sweeping away the Gloom from Heaven and Earth.
"Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Take this, Monkey King's staff!"
Three voices filled with boundless ferocity suddenly resounded through the sky. Infinite Primordial Qi constantly vibrated, and unimaginably powerful Monster Qi rose up!
"King of Ten Thousand Monsters, Sun Wukong!"
Tang Song's heart trembled slightly. He had originally planned to deal with this ferocious and violent Monkey (Sun Wukong) after the Mount Tai Fengchan Ceremony, but he hadn't expected this Monkey (Sun Wukong) to have escaped Five Elements Mountain somehow and come to sneak attack him!
A golden radiance suddenly flared, transforming into a staff as thick as a bowl, and smashed down towards Tang Song with a boom.
Rumble! The Ruyi Jingu Bang smashed down with a boom. Dark light flashed at the staff head and tail. This strike actually had the Force to split mountains and divide seas.
"Good Monkey (Sun Wukong)!"
Tang Song's gaze was astonishingly bright. He flicked his robe sleeve downwards, and a Barrier protected Chang'an City below.
From within his robe sleeve, a Bloodlight flashed and disappeared.
Rip!
Tang Song turned to look behind him.
A Monkey (Sun Wukong) less than five feet tall, with a pointed mouth and sunken cheeks, and four flags stuck in his back, was holding a broken staff in one hand, sizing him up fiercely and malevolently. His face, with fangs bared, was full of ferocity and defiance.
Blood Qi surged around his entire body, constantly emitting a massive amount of Monster Qi. All over his body, he carried an air of defiance. Standing in mid-air, he was domineering and disdainful, unrivaled.
"Heavenly Emperor! Back then, I carried two watermelon knives and fought my way from the South Heavenly Gate to Penglai East Road, but I never saw you, this Heavenly Emperor, show your face!" As he spoke, the Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s gaze was fixed tightly on Tang Song. The golden light in his eyes grew increasingly intense, flowing freely. As this Monkey (Sun Wukong) spoke, his long fangs ground together, fully displaying his baleful might.
"Monkey (Sun Wukong), aren't you supposed to be serving your sentence obediently under Five Elements Mountain? Did you escape from prison, or did that Monk let you out?"
Tang Song stood in mid-air, facing this Monkey (Sun Wukong), and asked calmly.
Tang Song was not unfamiliar with this Monkey (Sun Wukong). If based on the setting of this world.
This Monkey (Sun Wukong) was the leader of the Thirteen Protectors of Flower-Fruit Mountain, the King of Ten Thousand Monsters.
By rights, at this moment, he should still be under Five Elements Mountain, waiting for Chen Xuanzang to come to him.
It seems that, like Zhu Ganglie, some variables occurred. A Primal Spirit Avatar, or a Magic Treasure?
Tang Song's gaze fell upon the Golden Staff in the Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s hand, which he had split into two halves. He shook his head. It doesn't seem to be a Magic Treasure.
"Ah!"
Hearing this, the Monkey (Sun Wukong) let out a roar, filled with boundless ferocity and rage: "If not for you, if not for you! How could I have ended up like this! I am the King of Ten Thousand Monsters, I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, I am not some Mind Monkey! Ahhh!"
This Monkey (Sun Wukong) slightly crouched down in the Void. The golden light in his violent gaze flared, and he suddenly took a step forward.
Rumble!!
As this Monkey (Sun Wukong) took a step, amidst the trembling in the Void, he clenched a fist, carrying rolling airwaves, crossing the Void, and heavily smashed towards Tang Song.
"Hmm? Because of me?"
Tang Song frowned, puzzled.
It goes without saying that the only one who could command this unruly Monkey (Sun Wukong) was that Monk!
It seems that his Heaven Worship act made that Monk unable to sit still, just like the Mind Monkey.
However, now was not the time to delve deeply into it. He raised a hand: "Come! Come! Come!"
Tang Song's entire body's muscles and bones suddenly tensed to the limit. His arm was raised high, and a surge of power gathered throughout his body to its peak. Blood Qi surged over his body, and rolling Blood Qi pierced through the night sky covered by the empty fist intent.
He clenched his five fingers into a fist seal, and suddenly pressed down. It was as if Thor swung his hammer, or as if a God King was enraged, or even like a Buddha in righteous indignation, carrying a rumbling heavenly might and vast fist force, smashing towards the Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s fist that broke through the air!
Boom! Rumble! Centered around Tang Song, all the air within several hundred miles was blasted apart. Even the omnipresent Primordial Qi let out cries of wailing.
Bang! A muffled sound.
The Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s Body trembled. He was directly sent flying several hundred miles away. However, a golden light flashed under his feet, and with a Somersault, he flew back.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The violent voice tore through the sky. The Monkey (Sun Wukong) leaped up. Amidst the infinite Baleful Qi, the Monkey (Sun Wukong) roared, shook his arm, and a Sky-Supporting Giant Pillar appeared in his palm, pressing down towards Tang Song!
Boom! The air within several thousand miles exploded.
This staff strike pressed down horizontally, more domineering and mighty than any Divine Ability. The strength within it made even Tang Song look sideways.
One must know that this Monkey (Sun Wukong) was merely a Knockoff Version, yet he possessed such an Aura. One truly doesn't know what kind of Cultivation Base the genuine one possesses.
Boom! Tang Song took a step forward in the Void. His hand, gathered in his sleeve, gripped a blade. A Bloodlight shot out.
"Monkey (Sun Wukong), you are seeking death!"
Tang Song exhaled and spoke. His voice, like a clap of thunder, resounded throughout the Boundless Cosmos.
The next moment, Rumble! A streak of blood-colored Blade Light struck horizontally, colliding heavily with the Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s downward smashing staff strike.
Boom!
Rumble! Heaven and Earth first fell silent, followed by a massive explosion, and finally erupted with an incredibly powerful shattering sound.
The Sound Waves from this collision rolled out, stirring up layers of ripples like Sea Waves, triggering countless explosions in the Air.
Crack!
The Air boiled, as Space trembled and shattered.
The Monkey (Sun Wukong) suddenly folded back, transforming into countless streaks of Streaking Light and disappearing into the sky.
And that Bloodlight strike, after its Aura slightly weakened, instantly pierced through layers of the Void and struck the Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s Chest.
At the moment of life and death, the Monkey (Sun Wukong) finally revealed the power of the Divine Ability he had cultivated for countless years: "Roar!"
Buzz~~~ In one-thousandth of a second, amidst the Monkey (Sun Wukong)'s hoarse and exhausted cries, his Body suddenly lit up, flashing with infinite radiance!
The next moment, his Figure disappeared into the sky, replaced by a Giant Creature that spanned the sky like a mountain!
This Giant Creature, thousands of miles tall, was a Heaven-Propping Violent Ape!
Hiss~~~ This Giant Creature suddenly shook its Body. Airwaves around its Entire Body rolled and wailed, boiling and exploding.
Bang! Tang Song's Demonic Heaven Blood Transformation Blade heavily struck this Giant Creature.
Boom!
That Giant Creature, as large as a mountain, suddenly tumbled several times in the sky, flying ten thousand miles away.
Screech!!
And after that tumbling Giant Creature let out a wailing cry,
with a shake, it shattered layers of Space, disappearing into nothingness.
Just as the Monkey (Sun Wukong) revealed its Violent Ape form.
A Buddha lay in the Primordial Chaos, His gaze was slightly hazy for a moment.
With each breath, Golden Lotuses bloomed, and Sandalwood Merit Qi permeated hundreds of millions of miles.
Buzz~~~ The Reclining Buddha extended a Palm. The sound it emitted was actually like a Primordial Chaos Giant God waking from Slumber at the Center of the Universe, about to open up the Great Thousand World!
Buzz buzz buzz~~~~ As this Palm extended, waves of Buddhist Chanting echoed for hundreds of millions of miles. Buddhist Light illuminated the Great Thousand World, enveloping All Things, reaching everywhere, omnipresent! Golden Light and Sanskrit Chanting descended from the Void. Ten thousand miles of water turned entirely into an Ocean of Buddhist Light!
Within this infinite Buddhist Light, that golden Palm grew larger against the wind, instantly transforming into a Sky-shading and sun-blocking giant hand. Within it, a world of infinite radiance faintly floated.
It was none other than one of the Buddhist Sect's most powerful Divine Abilities, Palm Buddha Kingdom!
Enveloped by the infinite Buddhist Light, countless Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats seemed to appear! Each of these Buddhas and Bodhisattvas was lifelike, with solemn and dignified appearances, collectively emitted countless sounds of Grand Chanting.
Boundless empowerment was added as this Palm was pushed out, erupting with enough power to perform Inverting Qiankun and unleash Supreme Power that could annihilate everything!
Within the Vast Ocean of Buddhist Light filling the sky, Tang Song's gaze flickered slightly.
Regarding this Divine Ability of the Buddhist Sect, he naturally knew. The force of this Palm was naturally unparalleled in its domineering nature, needless to say.
What interested him even more was the Supreme Will contained within this Palm. The Buddhist Light and Buddhist Chanting, empowered by this Will, were enough to rewrite people's Will and Soul!
Even Golden Immortals could not escape the cleansing of this Will and would be completely Brainwashed and Delivered!
"It's somewhat similar to my Mind Stone!"
Looking at the Palm Buddha Kingdom, which borrowed the name of the Tathagata Divine Palm, amidst these infinite sounds of Buddhist Chanting, Tang Song gave a cold smile and took a thunderous step!
Boom! The Space beneath Tang Song's feet as he took a step let out unbearable cries of wailing, shattering and collapsing! Terrifying Sonic Booms, Airwaves, and Primordial Qi surged everywhere.
Countless fragments of mud and stone rustled down, smashing into the Ocean of Buddhist Light, stirring up waves of Tidal Waves!
"Take my blade strike!"
As Tang Song took a step, a Bloodlight silently appeared in his Palm. Silently, he unleashed a blade strike.
Buzz~~~ A soft hum sounded from the Void.
The Demonic Heaven Blood Transformation Divine Blade transformed into a Blood River and went against the flow, colliding with the infinite Buddhist Light, battling and annihilating each other.
As if forming a giant picture within the infinite Boundless Cosmos.
(end of chapter)