The Qiankun Ring and Jingu Bang descended upon the peacock, instantly splattering blood in all directions.
The peacock emitted a piercing cry of agony as it started to plummet downwards.
A flash of light shone in Master Erlang's hand, and the Three-pointed Double-edged Sword was summoned forth.
Without a word, he struck to kill.
The Three-pointed Double-edged Sword swung towards the peacock's head; were it to land, the peacock would surely die.
"Namo My Buddha."
A Buddhist chant resonated, and brilliance filled the area.
A hand gently came down, blocking Master Erlang's strike and shielding Peacock Mahamayuri Bodhisattva.
Sun Wukong and Nezha's eyes flashed fiercely as they attacked the hand.
"Puh."
After consecutive collisions with three War Gods of the Three Realms, the hand could no longer withstand the blows and burst apart.
A muffled groan echoed through the void, and Buddha's Blood scattered.
With this slight delay, the peacock saw its chance, employed the Escaping Light, and fled the scene.
Sun Wukong and his companions looked towards the void where a grand Buddha emerged, standing before them.
"Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha, why do you hinder us from capturing the offender who dared to violate the Heavenly mandates?" Master Erlang asked loudly.
The Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha wore a visage of compassion as his severed hand, under the operation of mana, was restored to its original state.
Hearing Master Erlang's questioning, Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha pressed his hands together and said, "True Lord, quell your anger. Peacock Mahamayuri Bodhisattva did no evil; his rage merely clouded his judgment due to his brother's murder. He did not intentionally violate the Heavenly mandates. I beseech the True Lord to be magnanimous and forgive him this once."
"If I forgive him, who will respect the heavenly dictates in the future? The Heavenly dictates are the foundation upon which the Three Realms operate. You renunciate monks simply do not understand this. It's best you do not meddle in such matters; just manage your own affairs."
Master Erlang spoke coldly.
To put it simply, he was not giving any face.
Sun Wukong gave a thumbs-up – such staunchness, truly fitting for a War God of the Heavenly Realm.
For a fleeting moment, the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha's expression stiffened.
He, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
The mentor to Buddha.
The Past Buddha.
And yet he was given no face at all.
With a sigh, the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha said, "Since the True Lord is determined to capture the peacock, I, as a poor monk, should not intervene. Please proceed as you wish."
Shameless.
That was what everyone present was thinking.
The peacock had long since disappeared, thanks to Lamp-Burning's delay.
Master Erlang, wanting to catch the peacock, now had no one to pursue.
"Truly shameless, you've let him escape, and now where shall we find him? Are all in the Buddhist Realm such thick-skinned and shameless beings?"
Nezha sneered continuously.
He was the least polite in his speech.
Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha fully embodied the Buddhist principle that 'all is empty', appearing as if he didn't hear Nezha's provocations.
"I have other matters to attend to and shall not disturb the True Lord in capturing the criminal. I shall take my leave now," the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha said with a smile on his face as he turned to leave.
Nezha was almost beside himself with rage.
"We really should have kept this Bald Donkey here – if we can't catch the peacock, let him take the blame."
Only Nezha would dare say such a thing.
After all, the individual in question was the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Buddhas, one of the most important figures in the Buddhist Sect.
If they really did take down Lamp-Burning, it would be like poking a hornet's nest.
Samantabhadra and Manjusri sneered and turned to leave.
Any discerning person could see that Master Erlang was deliberately picking a quarrel.
If a great battle were to ensue, they would not be at an advantage.
With three War Gods joining forces, they could sweep through them.
Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha had already made his escape; if they didn't leave, they were simply looking for trouble.
"Orders to my forces, slay those demons."
Master Erlang issued the order.
Suddenly, twelve hundred Erlang's infantry charged out.
"Is this what Buddha is?"
A perplexed voice came through, as Fahai looked toward the direction where the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha had departed, his figure a bit desolate.
He had originally thought that the Great Bodhisattvas weren't as holy as imagined, but the Buddha should be different.
Yet, the appearance of the Lamp-Burning Ancient Buddha shattered his last illusion.
Could a Buddha be so sleazy?
What then, was the point of his own Buddhist practice?
Sun Wukong knew he was confused and let out a scoff, saying, "The so-called Buddha is just a monk with vast magical powers, not as great as you think. They are also living beings, and living beings have emotions and desires. When Buddha talks about 'all is emptiness,' it's just talk."
"It's still the same saying, 'the mind itself is Buddha.' With your wisdom root, you should be able to comprehend this thoroughly."
Sun Wukong gave a faint smile.
Fahai brought his palms together and said, "Thank you for the teachings, Great Saint. I understand now, though in my heart there were indeed fantasies and expectations which have now been thoroughly crushed."
His voice paused for a moment before he continued with a carefree smile, "From today on, I am Buddha."
Patting Fahai on the shoulder, Sun Wukong knew that a powerful figure was about to emerge in the Buddhist sect, one who could establish his own faction.
And, if Fahai's lineage were to continue, it would only benefit the Three Realms.
"Great Saint, the matters here are settled, and I must return to the Purple Forbidden Enclosure to report back," said Gold Star Taibai, as he bid his farewell and turned to leave.
Sun Wukong watched him go, then thanked Master Erlang, "Thank you, elder brother, for stepping in just now."
Had Master Erlang not arrived in time, a bitter fight would have been inevitable.
Master Erlang laughed and said, "You're too courteous, Great Sage. We are also friends, and it's only natural for me to help you. Besides, I was indeed ordered by Lady Houtu to come and eliminate demons."
So that was it.
Even so, Sun Wukong still expressed his gratitude.
After exchanging a few more words with Master Erlang, he prepared to leave.
"Eight Precepts, how about joining me to Huaguo Mountain?" Sun Wukong asked.
Zhu Bajie thought for a moment and declined the invitation.
"I want to go back to Gao Lao Zhuang. It's been thousands of years; I wonder how it has changed."
Time brings great changes to the world; Gao Lao Zhuang was most likely no longer the same.
"If you ever grow tired outside, come find me at Huaguo Mountain; Old Sun will also be there," said Sun Wukong before departing on a cloud.
Zhu Bajie and Fahai also bid their goodbyes to Master Erlang.
Nezha, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Second brother, why not keep Wukong here?"
Master Erlang laughed and replied, "He is the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, on par with the heavens themselves—who can hold onto him?"
Besides, with Sun Wukong so eager to leave, he must have foreseen that Master Erlang might invite him to join, which is why he left in a hurry.
Sun Wukong does not wish to join any faction.
With his actions, he has clearly expressed his decision and stance.
Returning to Huaguo Mountain, Sun Wukong sighed, realizing he was once again alone.
The number of monkeys on Huaguo Mountain was growing.
Some female monkeys kept approaching Sun Wukong, casting him flirtatious glances.
This made Sun Wukong both laugh and cry, promptly shooing them all away.
The Three Realms also enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
Master Erlang, following orders, wiped out the demons of an entire nation.
Sun Wukong himself took action, slaying the three great Demon Kings including the Green Lion and White Elephant.
The demonic spirits of the Three Realms, which had caused chaos, fell unexpectedly quiet.
Those troublemaking demons and immortals realized that although the Heavenly Court had crumbled, it was not yet their time to do as they pleased.
There were still divine forces that would intervene and eliminate disruptive demons.
Huaguo Mountain also regained its tranquility, and some young monkeys began their journey of cultivation.
One day, Sun Wukong was roused by the arrival of a great demon.