12dz Chapter 28 Complaint at the Lingxiao Palace
Chapter 28 Complaint at the Lingxiao Palace
The benevolent corpse frowned slightly.
At this moment, Yun Zhongzi's true form was sitting in meditation at Chen Tang Pass. The sights and feelings of his benevolent corpse flowed into his sea of consciousness in sync with the flow of water. The moment he saw Maitreya, everything connected.
Before Lingzhuzi was reincarnated, he was nurtured by two sages, and his innate nature was pure and kind. He could never be the kind of person who would kill. Sure enough, someone was plotting against him.
Protected by the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl beside the benevolent corpse, it ignored the restrictions on the temple gates and stood still at the corner of the temple.
Ao Guang stepped into the hall, his face still bearing the lingering anger from being reprimanded by Taiyi Zhenren, but he dared not show it to Maitreya, and forced a bow in greeting:
"Immortal Master."
Maitreya raised his eyelids, glanced at Ao Guang, and seeing his indignant expression, chuckled:
"Dragon King, do not worry, the matter of the Third Prince was an accident."
He shook his head and sighed: "I warned you before that this child is extraordinary and we need to be careful. The Dragon King shouldn't have sent the Third Prince."
Ao Guang's face darkened further, and he also regretted spoiling his three sons too much, which led to this disaster.
Maitreya, however, changed the subject, his tone still cheerful, as if he were talking about a trivial matter:
"However, our Western Sect is not unreasonable. Although the Third Prince is dead, his soul has not dispersed. He can enter our Western Sect's Dragon Pool and become one of the Eight Heavenly Dragons."
Ao Guang's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Eight Heavenly Dragons?
They call them protectors of Buddhism, but who in the Three Realms doesn't know that the Eight Heavenly Dragons are nothing more than decorations coiled around the pillars of Buddhist temples? How are they any different from mounts?
His son, Ao Guang, the third prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, was about to be reduced to a mere decoration in Buddhism.
But what can he do if he doesn't agree?
Although Ao Bing, being a horned dragon, doesn't have much karmic burden, it's already difficult for dragons to enter the cycle of reincarnation. His soul was injured by the Qiankun Ring, and if things aren't arranged in time, he might end up with his soul scattered.
"I, Xiao Wang... will obey the Immortal Master."
Ao Guang practically gritted his teeth as he uttered those words, and Maitreya's smile grew even brighter.
"The Dragon King is indeed a reasonable person."
Maitreya smiled and said:
"Tomorrow, go to the Heavenly Court and complain to the Jade Emperor. I have the Seven Treasures Tree. If I manipulate it a little, Nezha's Nine Heavens Breath Soil body will surely be destroyed without a fight. At that time, the Dragon King will steal Nezha's body and use it to rebuild the Third Prince's body."
Upon hearing this, Ao Guang abruptly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and the resentment on his face vanished instantly: "Immortal, is what you say true?"
"Monks do not lie."
Maitreya smiled and said, "That Nine Heavens Breath Soil is the essence of the primordial earth. If the Third Prince obtains this body, not only will he recover, but his cultivation will also reach a higher level. He may even become a Taiyi Xuanxian in the future."
Ao Guang's eyes gleamed even brighter.
Taiyi Xuanxian? Since the beginning of the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, it has been difficult for both the Dragon and Phoenix clans to cultivate into Golden Immortals, let alone Taiyi Xuanxian.
He bowed deeply: "This humble one thanks the immortal master!"
At the corner of the palace, the benevolent corpse laughed in anger.
What a clever scheme!
Nezha has the body of the Nine Heavens Breath Soil and the soul of the Spirit Pearl. If he can preserve this body, his future achievements will be no less than Yang Jian's, and he can even compete with the monkey on the journey to the West.
However, this plan by the Western Church is a drastic measure that undermines the very foundation of the religion.
First, the heretical teachings bewitched Nezha into killing people. Then, by borrowing the power of the Heavenly Court and the power of the Seven Treasures Tree, they induced Nezha to return his bones to his father and his flesh to his mother. Once his body in the Nine Heavens' Breath Soil was destroyed, he could only be reborn as a lotus incarnation, just like in the original story.
Later, due to limitations in his aptitude, he was unable to advance any further in his life. As a result, the Nine Heavens Breath Soil benefited Ao Bing, becoming a bargaining chip for the Western Sect to win over the East Sea Dragon Clan.
The Chan Sect should have had two guardian deities. As a result, Nezha's talent was limited, and Yang Jian lived in seclusion at the mouth of the Guan River, obeying orders but not summons. Thus, there were no guardian deities.
The benevolent corpse stood at the corner of the hall, looking at Maitreya's smiling round face. He had originally come here to find an opportunity to use the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl to wipe out all the dragons in the hall.
The East Sea Dragon Clan demands offerings of young boys and girls on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. Every few days, they stir up storms and flood human villages, leaving them burdened with karmic debts. Even if they are completely wiped out, they will not be tainted by any calamity.
But in a moment of reflection, Yun Zhongzi had already devised another plan.
Chentang Pass.
Yun Zhongzi opened his eyes, while the benevolent corpse remained in the Dragon Palace, staring at Maitreya.
"Senior brother, Nezha."
Taiyi Zhenren was watching Nezha copy the "Huang Ting" when he heard this and looked up.
"What is it, junior brother?"
Yun Zhongzi then delivered the speech he had prepared in his mind.
Since the Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang, is a deity appointed by the Heavenly Court, then we should follow the Heavenly Court's lead, take the bodies of the Yaksha and Ao Bing to the Lingxiao Palace, and present a complaint to Uncle Haotian.
The East Sea Dragon Clan was burdened by karma, so the Yaksha and Ao Bing took the initiative to attack. Nezha was merely forced to retaliate, and he had a valid reason to do so. What was there to be afraid of?
Taiyi Zhenren's eyes lit up: "Great idea! Strike first, or suffer the consequences!"
Nezha was even more eager to try: "Master, what's the Heavenly Court like? I've never been there before!"
"You'll know when you get there."
Yun Zhongzi looked at Taiyi Zhenren: "Senior brother, we should not delay."
Master Taiyi nodded repeatedly and patted the flying pig beneath him: "Let's go!"
The three greeted Li Jing and his wife. Madam Yin gave them many instructions, and Li Jing solemnly bowed to Yun Zhongzi, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Immortal Masters." The three then rode on a cloud and soared straight into the heavens.
When Nezha first ascended to heaven, he looked around and found everything new and exciting. The clouds beneath his feet grew thinner and thinner, while the light above his head grew brighter and brighter.
Before long, the clouds suddenly dispersed.
Ten thousand golden rays burst forth, spewing forth colorful clouds; a thousand auspicious wisps surged forth, swirling with purple mist and celestial aura; and a majestic heavenly gate rose from the ground, piercing straight into the sky.
South Heaven Gate.
Four colossal pillars reach for the sky, their bodies entwined with golden-scaled dragons that seem to stir up clouds and breathe mist. The dragons' eyes are piercing, and their whiskers flutter. Even though they are just stone carvings, they possess an awe-inspiring and inviolable majesty. The bases of the pillars are carved from a single piece of natural white jade, and the pillar heads plunge into the clouds, their tops invisible at a glance.
On either side of the gate stood eight Heavenly Marshals. Clad in golden helmets and armor, wielding halberds, their faces solemn. Seeing the three approaching on clouds, they simultaneously slammed their halberds down, the sound like thunder:
"Halt! State your name!"
Taiyi Zhenren stepped forward, flicked his whisk, and said, "I am Taiyi Zhenren of Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain, along with my junior brother Yun Zhongzi and disciple Nezha. We have something to discuss with Uncle Haotian."
Upon hearing this, the solemn expression on Marshal Zhentian's face softened slightly, and he bowed respectfully: "So it is the Twelve Golden Immortals who have arrived. This humble general has been disrespectful. Please come in."
The South Heavenly Gate slowly opened, and Yun Zhongzi and the other two stepped inside.
Thirty-three celestial palaces stood against the sky, and seventy-two magnificent halls were layered upon each other.
In the distance, amidst the swirling clouds and mist, the upturned eaves of dozens of palaces can be vaguely seen.
Nearby, the majestic Lingxiao Palace stands atop ten thousand jade steps, adorned with golden nails and jade doors, and colorful phoenixes dancing in the air. Before the palace stand two bronze lion-like creatures, their mouths emitting blue smoke and a fragrant aroma.
The three of them climbed the steps and arrived at the Lingxiao Palace.
There were very few people in the hall. The celestial officials on duty stood on both sides with their hands at their sides, all with their eyes downcast and their faces expressionless.
On the high platform in the very center, the Jade Emperor sat on the dragon throne, wearing a flat crown and a bright yellow robe with nine dragons. His face was square and majestic, and he exuded an awe-inspiring and unapproachable imperial majesty.
Upon seeing the three enter the hall, a faint, unusual glint flashed in Haotian's eyes, almost imperceptible if Yun Zhongzi hadn't been paying attention.
Haotian was also the person behind the scenes, or at least one of the people in the know.
Yun Zhongzi remained expressionless and bowed together with Taiyi Zhenren: "Yun Zhongzi and Taiyi Zhenren of the Chan Sect, along with their disciple Nezha, pay their respects to Uncle Haotian."
Haotian slightly raised his hand: "No need for formalities."
Taiyi Zhenren stood up and, following the instructions given by Yun Zhongzi, recounted the events from the beginning.
The story vividly recounts Nezha bathing in the Nine Bends River, the scene of Yaksha Li Gen coming ashore and wielding his axe, and Ao Bing thrusting his halberd straight at Nezha's vital points. When he describes Yaksha chopping Nezha with his axe, he even takes the mountain-splitting axe out of his sleeve and throws it on the ground.
Taiyi Zhenren then took Ao Bing's dragon corpse out of his magic treasure pouch. The silver-white dragon, several feet long, lay stiffly on the golden bricks of the Lingxiao Palace, with a clear dent from the Qiankun Ring smashing into the dragon's head.
"Uncle Haotian, you are wise to see the truth!"
Taiyi Zhenren cupped his hands, his voice resounding throughout the hall:
"That yaksha attacked without asking any questions, and Ao Bing's attacks were all aimed at vital points. My disciple was unarmed, fighting bare-handed. If it weren't for the Qiankun Ring and the Hun Tian Ling protecting him, it would be my disciple lying on the ground right now! For years, the East Sea Dragon Palace has extorted offerings of young boys and girls from the coastal people on the first and fifteenth of each month, accumulating immense karma. Such a wicked dragon should be killed. I have come here to demand an explanation from my uncle!"
Upon hearing this, the several celestial officials on duty in the hall could no longer maintain their expressionless faces, and their whispers echoed like the buzzing of bees in the hall.
The phrase "virgin boy and virgin girl" signifies that this matter is no longer just a conflict between the Chan Sect and the Dragon Clan.