Lingshan, the Buddha was lecturing in the Great Heroic Treasure Hall.

The audience was deeply absorbed when he suddenly stopped.

"Guanyin Venerable."

The Buddha asked, "How long have you been back?"

"Replying to the Buddha, it has been two years."

The Bodhisattva Guanyin answered.

"Two years, meaning the Golden Cicada has been gone for two years as well."

The Buddha asked the Eastern Buddha, "Where is he now?"

"He has not yet reached the Pure Land."

The Eastern Buddha clasped his hands together and replied, "It seems he is still in the Southern Continent."

"He must be lost."

The Buddha shook his head and said, "Go bring him here."

"Yes."

The Eastern Buddha bowed and left.

Not long after, he brought the Golden Cicada back.

"Buddha."

The Golden Cicada saluted, "Disciple has a request..."

"I already know your situation."

The Buddha interrupted him, "Now that you're back, you should reflect in seclusion and diligently study the Buddhist Law."

The Golden Cicada was startled and looked up, "Buddha, disciple..."

"Manjusri Bodhisattva."

The Buddha flicked his finger, silencing the Golden Cicada, and said, "Take him to the Scripture Pavilion."

"I will adhere to your command."

Manjusri Bodhisattva grasped the Golden Cicada and led him away to the Scripture Pavilion.

The Golden Cicada was taken away without even having spoken a word.

Guanyin watched his departing figure, then turned and asked, "Buddha, why is this so?"

"He does not listen to the teachings and belittles my great doctrine."

The Buddha glanced at her and said, "Guanyin Venerable surely understands."

Guanyin sighed, for she did know: the Golden Cicada's thoughts about the Buddhist path had diverged from theirs.

"But Buddha, the Golden Cicada is closely tied with the Great Saint."

Guanyin reminded, "Treating him this way may offend the Great Saint."

"It matters not."

The Buddha appeared indifferent, "That monkey cares for the world and would not oppose us over just one person."

Guanyin considered this deeply and found it to be true.

The Golden Cicada was a disciple of the Buddhist path, and Sun Wukong would not risk opposing Lingshan just for him.

Once everything settled, the Tathāgata resumed his lecture, and everyone focused attentively on the teachings.

In the Heavenly Palace, the Wanling Tree had grown to a height of a hundred meters.

Hundreds of Demons and Immortals were busy under the tree, moving like a bustling swarm of bees beneath its canopy of leaves.

"It seems stable now."

*Sun Wukong pondered.*

Over the past two years of cultivation, the Wanling Tree had successfully connected all the Spiritual Networks outside the Southern Continent.

The related organizations and systems had already been established across various regions, so there was no need for him to worry too much.

"Great King."

Gold Star Taibai smoothly arrived at the Virtue Palace to report news to Sun Wukong.

"Elder Jin Chan was taken away?"

Sun Wukong was momentarily stunned, then nodded, "As expected."

"Let's wait another half a year."

*Sun Wukong gazed up at the Wanling Tree.* "If the Buddha doesn't release him, I'll make a trip to the Northern Continent."

*He didn't want to become enemies with the Buddha too soon, but if the Buddha didn't release him, he wouldn't mind going over to seek an explanation.*

Just like that, half a year passed, and Lingshan indeed didn't release him.

Sun Wukong decided to make a trip to the Northern Continent.

This decision naturally stirred a lot of opposition.

"Brother, you must not!"

Even Ao Luan came to the Heavenly Palace to stop Sun Wukong.

Over the years, she could understand many actions of Sun Wukong, but for this matter alone, she hoped he would carefully consider.

"The Northern Continent is a land of tigers and wolves. Brother, you must not go there!"

"Land of tigers and wolves?"

Sun Wukong found this metaphor quite peculiar.

But still, he reassured Ao Luan, firmly deciding to go.

"Then I will go too!"

Ao Luan ultimately chose a compromise.

"Great King, I want to go too."

Another little one trailing behind him also spoke up.

"You're not afraid?"

Sun Wukong asked.

"No."

The little Phoenix replied.

Sun Wukong chuckled.

"In that case, you both can come along!"

He brought Ao Luan and the little Phoenix along.

This journey was simply to seek an explanation, not for conflict, so bringing them along was not a problem.

After more than a hundred years, Sun Wukong returned to the Northern Continent.

In his memory, it was a cold and barren place, but as he passed through the land where the Demon Kingdom's great battle once took place, he saw vast plains.

A warm breeze swept across the land, carrying the fragrance of flowers everywhere.

"What a great change."

Sun Wukong could no longer see any trace of the battle.

"Great King, what is that?"

The little Phoenix pointed to the various auspicious birds flying in the sky, their calls as melodious as harmonious songs.

"Those are auspicious birds that convert all beings with their song."

Sun Wukong replied.

In the songs of these auspicious birds, there were subtle truths of the Buddhist teaching. Listening to them for a long time would naturally awaken the mind to focus on the Buddha, the Law, and the Sangha.

Sun Wukong led the two of them to Lingshan.

At the foot of Lingshan, tens of thousands of devotees knelt there, reciting the names of the scriptures.

"Great Saint, Great Saint!"

A little monk waved his arms and shouted to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong approached.

"The Buddha sent the little monk here to welcome the Great Saint."

The little monk bowed to Sun Wukong and said, "Please, Great Saint, ascend the mountain on foot."

Sun Wukong nodded, about to ascend the mountain, when he saw the little Phoenix waving a branch in front of the kneeling devotees.

"Come back."

Sun Wukong pulled her back and followed the little monk up Lingshan.

"Great King, those people are truly strange."

On the way, the little Phoenix said, "They are like wooden statues, completely ignoring us."

The little monk leading the way heard this and glanced back at her.

"They are devout followers with their hearts set on the Buddha, how could they be influenced by a yellow-haired girl like you."

"You are the yellow-haired girl."

The little Phoenix was enraged, "You monk are so rude!"

Sun Wukong patted her head and curiously asked, "Little monk, whose disciple are you?"

"My teacher is the Eastern Buddha."

The little monk replied proudly.

*Sun Wukong thought no wonder, an ordinary little monk wouldn't say something like 'yellow-haired girl.'*

The little monk seemed very lively and spoke a lot on the way, letting Sun Wukong know that the Golden Cicada was merely reflecting in seclusion and hadn't been subjected to other punishments.

The group arrived at the Great Heroic Treasure Hall.

"Great Saint."

The Bodhisattvas and Arhats standing on both sides saluted Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong nodded slightly, then looked up, immediately seeing the Buddha.

"Buddha."

Sun Wukong spoke directly, "I wish to take Elder Jin Chan away."

The Bodhisattva Guanyin turned her gaze to the Buddha.

The Buddha, dignified in appearance, revealed no real intention.

"The Golden Cicada is a disciple of my teaching. What reason does the Great Saint have to take him away?"

The Buddha asked.

"He is my close friend. Taking him away is only natural."

Sun Wukong replied.

The Buddha shook his head, sighed, "Can the Great Saint swear that this is not to change my great doctrine?"

Sun Wukong was stunned.

*He cherished the Golden Cicada not just because he was a friend.*

There was also a more important reason: the Golden Cicada was the hope for reforming the Buddhist path, and Sun Wukong had high expectations for him.

*Wanling and the Buddhist path must coexist, and for that to happen, the Buddhist path must change. The quickest method was to start with the Golden Cicada.*

"Buddha."

Sun Wukong said, "How can you let Elder Jin Chan leave with me?"

The Buddha did not expect Sun Wukong to be so serious.

"Since it is so."

He extended his hand, "Let us have a contest."

"If you defeat me, I'll return Elder Jin Chan to the Great Saint."

The Buddha said, "If I win, the Great Saint will remain in the Northern Continent and listen to my teachings for ten years. How does that sound?"

*He had not given up on converting Sun Wukong.*

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