NOVEL NEXT Chapter 527, Tianpeng Exposed
Emperor Ziwei looked down and said indifferently, "I never drink tea."
Guanyin Bodhisattva asked with a smile, "Does Your Majesty come with any matters?"
Emperor Ziwei said solemnly, "Bodhisattva, what is your view of the current Heavenly Court?"
"It upholds Heaven and Earth, orchestrates the rivers and mountains, and governs the Ten Thousand Spirits, being the orthodox authority of the Three Realms."
Emperor Ziwei let out a cold snort, "Orthodox authority of the Three Realms? Nothing but a joke.
Even if they orchestrate Heaven and Earth, govern the Ten Thousand Spirits, that is the work of All Gods, what does it have to do with those Great Emperors and Divine Monarchs who sit high atop the ninth cloud?"
Guanyin's heart stirred at these profound words from Emperor Ziwei. Could he be dissatisfied with the Heavenly Court? It shouldn't be! Having risen from a mere mortal to a distinguished Heavenly Emperor, he should be grateful for the vast power of heaven, how could he be discontent?
Guanyin smiled and said, "Your Majesty's words are biased. Without the strategic governance of the emperors, how could the Three Realms enjoy peace?"
Emperor Ziwei said with sorrow, "That was in the past, the current Heavenly Court has long since changed.
The Jade Emperor is foolish and incompetent, concerned only with his own pleasure.
Emperor Changsheng is aloof from worldly affairs, indifferent to governing.
Qinghua Emperor is like the Divine Dragon who shows his head but not his tail, long absent from the Heavenly Court...
The most outrageous is Emperor Gouchen. The Jade Emperor is foolish, and Emperor Gouchen has conspired with his faction, dominating all, with the Law Enforcement Team eliminating dissidents, and controlling the finances to manipulate All Gods, bullying and confusing those above and below, threatening all under heaven.
Do you know, Bodhisattva, just for one woman, Emperor Gouchen ordered All Gods to go to Doushuai Temple and coerce the noble Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, disregarding the Heavenly Rules.
Even the Jade Emperor had to appear at his command, and in the end, even Lord Lao Zi had to bow under Gouchen's oppression, his divine might all but gone.
Such is the power that All Gods dare to be angry but not to speak. I too am burning with anxiety; if things continue like this, Gouchen will certainly extend his dark hands toward Buddhism and the Mortal World, and when the time comes, no one will be able to stop him; Heaven and Earth will become a purgatory."
Guanyin spoke up, "What are Your Majesty's intentions?"
Emperor Ziwei said sternly, "I want to form an alliance with Buddhism to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the Heavenly Court, to overthrow the Jade Emperor, Emperor Gouchen, Qinghua Emperor, and Emperor Changsheng from their dragon thrones, to establish the equal world that your Buddhism speaks of.
I have studied the scriptures of your Buddhism—great wisdom, great determination, great merit, to ferry across all beings; this is the true way of governing, the Buddha's compassion."
Guanyin looked at the impassioned Emperor Ziwei, speechless inside. How bold he is, thinking of deposing the Great Emperors, even The Buddha would not dare to utter such words.
Emperor Ziwei looked at Guanyin and said earnestly, "Guanyin, the matter of forming an alliance needs to be reported to The Buddha. United with the strength of Buddhism, we will surely be able to recreate the universe, purify Heaven and Earth, and return to all beings a clear and bright Qiankun."
Guanyin said with a smile, "The matter of the alliance does not need to be reported to the Buddha. I can make the decision entirely on my own."
Emperor Ziwei said doubtfully, "You?"
Guanyin smiled and said, "Your Majesty has found Luojia Mountain, is this not an acknowledgment of me?"
"An acknowledgment of you?" Emperor Ziwei laughed and said, "Not at all, it's simply because this Luojia Mountain is quite secluded, making it less likely to be noticed by the Heavenly Court."
Guanyin remained speechless, maintaining a smile with a good attitude, and said, "I can fully agree on behalf of Buddhism to join hands with Your Majesty."
Emperor Ziwei looked at Guanyin with surprise, and thoughtfully said, "It seems I have underestimated you; your status in Buddhism is higher than I imagined."
Guanyin humbly said, "I cannot compare to Emperor Ziwei, who commands the stars."
"Haha~ you naturally cannot compare to me." Emperor Ziwei laughed and stood up, "Since you can make the decision, Guanyin, it's the best we could ask for.
Now that we are allies, I will share a piece of news with you first."
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Emperor Ziwei and said with a smile, "Please enlighten me, Your Excellency."
"I have heard that the Bodhisattva has been searching for the rumor-monger concerning the West Sea throughout the Three Realms.
Have you found anything?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression shifted as she said, "The other party is extremely well-hidden; I have found nothing. Does Your Excellency perhaps have any leads?"
Emperor Ziwei said with a smile, "There are rumors within the Three Realms suggesting that it was the Human Sect orchestrating these matters from behind the scenes, with some even claiming to have concrete evidence pointing to Great Master Xuan Du."
Guanyin Bodhisattva said in disappointment, "Those are just rumors and cannot be trusted."
"There is no smoke without fire; rumors do have their sources."
"Do you know something, Your Excellency?"
Emperor Ziwei said earnestly, "I have also conducted a covert investigation. There is no starting point in the Earth Immortal Realm, but I have discovered something within the Heavenly Court."
"What is it?"
"During the time when the rumors started, the Heavenly River Navy moved in and out of the Heavenly Court frequently, and after descending to the Lower Realm, their whereabouts became unknown. Moreover, it is said that Marshal Tianpeng is a registered disciple of the Human Sect."
The expression on Guanyin Bodhisattva's face changed, "Marshal Tianpeng!" He is no mere registered disciple; although Marshal Tianpeng may not be well-known, he is indeed the legitimate first disciple of the third generation of the Human Sect.
Emperor Ziwei laughed heartily and said, "This is but a guess, take it as you will, Bodhisattva."
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
Emperor Ziwei stood up, clasped his hands together, and bid his farewell, "Concerning the alliance, please inform the Buddha sooner rather than later. If only the Bodhisattva agrees, it makes me doubt the sincerity of Buddhism."
Guanyin Bodhisattva stood up and said, "I will report to the Buddha at once."
Emperor Ziwei swept his robe with a wave, hands clasped behind his back, strode out with a commanding presence, disappearing from Luojia Mountain in a few flickers, ascending toward the heavens as a streak of starlight.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's face instantly turned grim with thought of the rumors spreading throughout the Three Realms; her head throbbed with pain. Once seen as the Great Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, now amidst rumors, I am cast as a suspect, accused of scheming against others, with no means to defend myself.
With anger in her eyes, Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Mu Zha~"
Mu Zha approached from a distance, palms together, and greeted her respectfully, "Bodhisattva!"
"Find a pretext to invite Marshal Tianpeng out of the Heavenly Court."
Mu Zha hesitated and said, "Bodhisattva, I have no relationship with Marshal Tianpeng."
"Then use Nezha's name; he would likely give Nezha some face."
Mu Zha said hesitantly, "I could try."
"Nevermind~" Guanyin Bodhisattva regained composure and said, "There's no need for such sinister schemes; I am not like Bai Jin, who has a dark heart and is skilled in intrigue.
I prefer to tread the path of righteousness and confront the Heavenly Court directly."
Guanyin Bodhisattva slowly stood up, and a powerful aura rose from Luojia Mountain, imposing upon the South Sea.
...
Within the Heavenly Court, music and dances flourished, and the Great Sun's light shone throughout, as all Gods settled into their respective places, managing Heaven and Earth.
Behind the Bird's Nest, Bai Jin was still sprawled out in bed, sleeping soundly. With so many matters recently–the West Sea incident, Tushan Xi Yu, and Lord Lao Zi–it had been a while since he had been this tired and troubled; he needed to rest properly, to sleep for three days and three nights, then another three days and nights.