However, the tears of Sun Wukong awakened not only the people of Wanling Country.

In Lingshan, the Eastern Buddha also received a beam of light.

Buddha thus understood the cause of it all.

"It turns out there really is such a world."

Buddha sighed with emotion, seeing the Eastern Buddha hesitate to speak.

"What else do you wish to say?"

"Buddha."

Knowing he could not deceive Buddha, the Eastern Buddha said, "Two hundred years from now, a great calamity will befall the Three Realms, it might be wise for us to collaborate with the Great Saint."

Buddha shook his head and asked, "Would he acknowledge our Buddhist School?"

"This..."

The Eastern Buddha was left speechless.

Sun Wukong had a broad and forgiving heart, capable of embracing all things; but between Wanling and the Buddhist School, there would inevitably be a contest of victory and defeat.

It was a struggle for the dominance of the Dao.

"What really is Wanling?"

Buddha asked again.

"Two hundred years from now, Elder Jin Chan had told me that Wanling signifies equality."

The Eastern Buddha replied, "We have not delved deeply, but the one most familiar with Wanling is undoubtedly Elder Jin Chan."

"And where is he?"

Buddha inquired further.

"He has gone to Huaguo Mountain."

The Eastern Buddha stated.

Buddha frowned, "This Golden Cicada, I do not know whether he is a blessing or a curse to our Buddhist School."

The Eastern Buddha smiled, "It might well be another possibility."

Buddha was not convinced, but he had understood.

If he wanted to glorify the Buddhist School, he must have his own Hidden Soul return.

Only then, could he understand what had really happened in the small world and find a way to convert Sun Wukong.

"Amitabha."

Buddha fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, in the Underworld, two Judges opened the gates to a prison cell.

"Sir, please come out!"

They called out to the imprisoned old Daoist and a few Ghost Messengers.

"Why release me?"

The old Daoist came out and asked.

He was a man from Huaguo Mountain; the King Yans feared that he would collude with Sun Wukong from the inside and the outside, so they locked him and some Ghost Messengers up there.

For no apparent reason, why would these two Judges save him.

"For the sake of the Three Realms."

The Judges stated, "We have decided to defect to the Heavenly Emperor."

The Three Realms all thought Sun Wukong was a villain, but on the contrary.

"It seems that you haven't recovered your memory yet, Sir."

The Judges smiled at the old Daoist, "We, however, have taken a step ahead."

They led the old Daoist out of the dungeon, talking about how, even in a great uproar in the Heavenly Palace, Sun Wukong would not be defeated.

Given the relationship between Sun Wukong of the small world and the Jade Emperor, the likelihood of them reconciling was extremely high.

The Judges knew this, which is why they decided to ally with Sun Wukong.

Since he controlled the Three Realms, no one would be able to resist; after all...

"At no time has the Jade Emperor ever prevailed over the Great Saint."

The Judges said, leaving the old Daoist utterly confused, understanding nothing at all.

Upon leaving the dungeon, he immediately saw the Ghost Gate enveloped in the flames of battle.

"What is that?"

The old Daoist asked.

"The Ten Kings of Hell are leading their troops to lay siege to the Ghost Gate."

The Judges replied, "We must find a way to get in there to help those inside."

They took a long detour, looking for a place to enter the Ghost Gate.

The old Daoist watched as the Ghost Gate was surrounded by a Round Ball-shaped Barrier, the armies of the Ten Kings of Hell unable to break through no matter how they attacked.

"What kind of Barrier is this?"

The Taoist priest asked.

"The Great Saint made it offhandedly, so there's no name for it."

The judges replied, "That stick inside is the Great Saint's weapon."

The Taoist priest looked over, but there was no stick, just a hundred-meter tall pillar standing firm at the Ghost Gate, maintaining the Barrier.

"Goodness gracious..."

The Taoist priest secretly clicked his tongue in awe: "The Great King really lives up to his name, to be able to wield such a huge weapon!"

He was utterly impressed by Sun Wukong's might.

The judges searched along the way for a weak point to attack, hoping to take the opportunity to break into the Ghost Gate.

But the few and powerless of them were discovered and taken to the place where the Ten Kings of Hell resided.

King Qinguang stood at the forefront, shouting at the Ghost Gate.

"Come out, you won't last long!"

His shouts did not sway the Ghost Messengers inside.

Young men and women stood on the city walls, analyzing the pros and cons with absolute rationality.

"You can't constrain the Heavenly Emperor."

The siblings said, "Once the effects of the Blood Tear Pond are nullified, the Heavenly Emperor will come out and remake the Underworld."

Instead, they advised, "For the sake of the Underworld, all King Yans should submit to the Heavenly Emperor."

"You..."

King Qinguang seemed about to explode with rage, wanting to charge over alone.

"Don't be impulsive."

The other King Yans quickly held him back: "We can wear them down here, eventually that Jingu Bang won't last!"

At that moment, the Ghost Messengers brought the Taoist priest and his companions over.

"Your Majesties, these people wanted to sneak into the Ghost Gate."

The Ghost Messengers reported.

King Taishan's expression turned cold, about to say something, but then saw King Qinguang step forward.

"I've thought of a good way to break through the Ghost Gate."

He had the Ghost Messengers bring the Taoist priest and the others to the front of the Ghost Gate.

The other King Yans looked over in surprise.

In the next moment, to their utter disbelief, King Qinguang suddenly knocked out the Ghost Messengers and rushed towards the Ghost Gate with the Taoist priest and the rest.

The nine King Yans were caught off-guard, and by the time they thought to stop him, King Qinguang emitted a bright light and easily passed through the Barrier.

"This, this..."

The King Yans watched as King Qinguang disappeared into the Ghost Gate.

"King Yan."

Inside the Ghost Gate, the Taoist priest was also shocked to see King Qinguang, not understanding why he did that.

"Fortunately, you taught me some Wanling Immortal Path in the Underworld."

King Qinguang was somewhat regretful; if possible, he didn't want to come alone.

But upon recalling the small world, it seemed that he was the only King Yan.

"The Great Saint is really causing chaos this time."

King Qinguang turned around, looking at the outer Barrier, realizing that passing through it was simple – using the Wanling Immortal Path would do.

"Sun Wukong, how much have you actually plotted!"

At Blood Tear Pond, many Immortals learned of King Qinguang's betrayal and couldn't help exploding in anger.

"Diting."

Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva looked at Sun Wukong, suspended motionless in the pond, and calmly asked Diting:

"Using the Wanling map to release tears, awakening Wanling and setting up the Ghost Gate barrier—was all this part of his calculations?"

Diting shook its head: "I don't know."

It couldn't comprehend the intentions of the Heavenly Emperor.

But Diting knew that although Sun Wukong's time seemed suspended, perhaps he would soon break free.

The Immortals of the Underworld discussed that the best countermeasure would be to further slow down the time in the Blood Tear Pond.

They were constructing an Array similar to the Four Great Heavenly Gates in a larger area surrounding the Blood Tear Pond, hoping to delay Sun Wukong's time by more than ten years.

However...

Hearing about King Qinguang's betrayal, Diting couldn't help but doubt.

The Immortals could delay time further, but would Sun Wukong not anticipate this?

Perhaps, on the contrary, everything is within his expectations.

Diting felt quite a headache.

Forget it, after all, it's just a Divine Beast and shouldn't meddle in such grand affairs of the Three Realms.

Let's count itself lucky for every year that can be delayed.

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