Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything-Chapter 649: The Missing Gaoyang

In Lingxiao Hall, the Jade Emperor sat upright on his throne.

At this time, the atmosphere in the entirety of Lingxiao Hall was exceedingly solemn.

The news that the Empress had been severely injured, nearly meeting her death, was no secret.

After all, when the Empress appeared in her own sleeping quarters, close to death from her grave injuries, the cries of the fairies surely attracted much attention.

Thus, at this time, the mood atop Lingxiao Hall was extremely somber.

Among them, The Golden Star of Venus spoke up and inquired about the Empress's condition on behalf of all the immortals in Lingxiao Hall.

Upon learning that the Jade Emperor had stabilized the Empress's condition, everyone in Lingxiao Hall silently breathed a sigh of relief.

"May I ask the Jade Emperor if he knows who the assailant might be?" Immediately after, various immortal gods on Lingxiao Hall began to speak up one after another, inquiring about the identity of the attacker.

But, to volunteer to capture the perpetrator?

Forget about it, even the Empress was nearly killed, wouldn't going oneself be tantamount to seeking death?

"The perpetrator? If I knew who the perpetrator was, would I still calmly be sitting here?" Hearing these questions from the immortals, the Jade Emperor mocked inwardly.

"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is waiting outside the hall!" It was at this moment, at the entrance to Lingxiao Hall, that a Spirit Official walked in and reported.

"Please invite him in!" After a moment of contemplation, the Jade Emperor said.

"I pay my respects to the Jade Emperor!" After being invited in, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva bowed in salute.

"Bodhisattva, please, there is no need for such formalities. May I know the purpose of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's visit?" The Jade Emperor, sitting on his throne, asked.

"I have come to Lingxiao Hall by the Buddha's decree to inquire about the Empress's well-being," Samantabhadra Bodhisattva said straightforwardly.

"This matter, I myself have been intending to go to the Great Thunder Monastery and ask who it was that wounded the Empress," the Jade Emperor said to Samantabhadra.

According to the Empress's account, it was a man in black who made a move against Baosheng Buddha.

Perhaps the people of the Buddhist Sect might have some clues?

"Injured?" Samantabhadra Bodhisattva caught the word used by the Jade Emperor and his heart stirred slightly.

It seemed that what the Bodhisattva of Golden Light had said was not accurate; he claimed that the Empress seemed to have been killed, yet in reality, she was only injured?

"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, the Buddha himself is not aware of the identity of this person!" With a slight stirring in his heart, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva shook his head gently as he spoke.

"He is not aware?" The Jade Emperor's brow furrowed slightly.

Even Tathagata did not know? Then, without reason, why would that man in black strike at Baosheng Buddha? What was the motive?

"So, there is not even a suspect in mind?" The Jade Emperor asked following a moment of contemplation.

The Empress had nearly been assassinated. He and the Empress herself had carefully investigated, but still, there were absolutely no clues, not even a target of suspicion.

Baosheng Buddha had already died, and logically, even if the sides of Tathagata were unaware, they should have discussed and investigated, right?

Listening to their opinions might prove very valuable.

"Well actually, Tathagata indeed has a suspect in mind..." Upon hearing the Jade Emperor inquire about this, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva hesitated for a moment before nodding and speaking.

"Oh? Who is it? What is the reason for the suspicion? Please tell me!" Hearing this response, the Jade Emperor sat up much straighter.

Similarly, atop Lingxiao Hall, the attention of all the immortals also turned toward Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

"After discussions among the various Buddhas and the Buddha in our Great Thunder Monastery, we believe that the man in black is very likely to be the direct disciple newly accepted by Sage Tongtian!" Samantabhadra Bodhisattva spoke, revealing Tathagata's suspicion.

Sage Tongtian!?

Direct Disciple!?

Hearing these words, the entirety of Lingxiao Hall was also startled.

"The Absolute Immortal Sword, as everyone well knows, is a personal Supreme Treasure of Sage Tongtian. That mysterious figure must have been granted the Absolute Immortal Sword, and therefore, definitely is a direct disciple of Sage Tongtian!"

This reason convinced everyone in Lingxiao Hall to nod in agreement.

Indeed, if it weren't for a direct disciple, who would have the power to snatch the Absolute Immortal Sword from the hands of Sect Master Tongtian?

"Moreover, the Buddha said that the mysterious figure's behavior seemed to be personally instructed by Sage Tongtian..."

This statement also led many to nod internally. To commit an act such as the assassination of the Empress, such conduct was wildly lawless, wasn't it?

During the calamity of Deification, Sage Tongtian had acted in this manner, setting up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array, deliberately defying the predetermined events of the great calamity, blocking the armies that went to conquer Shang, wasn't that also wildly lawless?

Hearing the reason provided by Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and considering that Tathagata's previous incarnation was Taoist Duobao, the Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly, saying, "Since it is the Buddha's speculation, it must have a certain degree of credibility..."

Yes, compared to those who he and Yaochi had previously scrutinized, the possibility that the man in black was a direct disciple of Sect Master Tongtian was indeed the greatest.

As for the disciple of Sect Master Tongtian daring to attack the Empress despite the overwhelming karmic force,

perhaps this is indeed something they could do.

If Sect Master Tongtian is determined to protect this disciple, even the overwhelming karmic force could be withstood, right?

Protecting his own, this is one of Sect Master Tongtian's most prominent traits.

Not to mention, at this time, Sect Master Tongtian nominally has only this one disciple.

When Tathagata's speculation was revealed, it plunged the entire Lingxiao Hall into dead silence. After a moment of quiet, once they had all digested the news, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva followed up with a question, "May I ask, how is the Empress's condition?"

"The Empress's injuries are extremely severe. She has even lost her Protective Treasure Lotus Lantern. With such injuries, it will require one or two hundred years of rest to fully recover!" Hearing Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's inquiry, the Jade Emperor opened his mouth to answer.

"Such severe injuries!" Hearing the Jade Emperor's words, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva inwardly gasped.

She lost the Treasure Lotus Lantern? From this alone, one can grasp the severity of the Empress's injuries.

If it weren't for a life-and-death crisis, how could she have lost her protective Dharma Treasure?

...

Having asked all there was to ask, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva didn't intend to linger. After saying a few diplomatic words, he turned and left.

After Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's departure, a deathly stillness settled over the Lingxiao Hall, and the faces of the assembled Immortals varied greatly.

The Deification Battle led countless souls to enter the Investiture of the Gods, becoming Immortals of the Heavenly Court, each performing their duties.

In other words, many had experienced the great calamity of Deification and thus deeply understood the terror of Sect Master Tongtian.

Sect Master Tongtian secretly took another direct disciple? And even bestowed the Absolute Immortal Sword?

Indeed, this was very important news for all three realms and six paths.

It's not just the Immortals and Buddhas who were shaken by this news, but even the Demon Realm had learned of it, disturbing countless beings.

Treasure Light Buddha of the Buddhist Sect was one of the strongest, second only to the Three-World Buddha, with great renown, not to mention the status of the Empress.

Treasure Light Buddha fallen, the Empress gravely injured and on the verge of death, having even lost the Treasure Lotus Lantern?

This news simply couldn't be concealed; many powerful figures in the Demon Realm were also aware of it.

For a time, the news terrified countless people.

What the three realms and six paths thought, Jiang Liu naturally didn't know. At this moment, his heart was filled with worry for Gaoyang's situation.

After sending many messages without reply, like stones sinking into the ocean, and even attempting dozens of video calls with no one picking up, Jiang Liu felt a grave heaviness in his heart.

"Master, what's wrong? Ever since you returned, you look very troubled, and you seem very anxious!"

Jiang Liu was so anxious he couldn't sit still. Noticing this on the Journey to the West, Zhu Bajie couldn't help but ask Jiang Liu.

"Ah, I've sent dozens of messages to Gaoyang, with no replies, and I've attempted dozens of video calls, but no one answered!" Trusting his disciples completely, Jiang Liu replied.

"Eh, Master, when did you also become a 'lickspittle'? It's blinding for Old Pig's eyes!" Hearing Jiang Liu's reply, Zhu Bajie said with a strange look.

How could that be? Wasn't it that simply by standing there, crowds of beauties would swarm towards the Master? Has even the Master become a 'lickspittle'?

Zhu Bajie felt as if his worldview were collapsing.

"Lickspittle?" Glancing at Zhu Bajie, Jiang Liu's brows furrowed slightly, not understanding the meaning of Zhu Bajie's words at all.

"Didn't you say it before, Master? A lickspittle has a very standard behavior pattern, constantly pestering a girl despite being completely ignored by her!"

"Just like you, Master: You've sent dozens of messages, yet she ignores you!"

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"You've made dozens of video calls, and she doesn't pick up! Isn't that the behavior pattern of a lickspittle you described?"

Seeing the look the Master gave him, Zhu Bajie questioned Jiang Liu.

"Get lost, Gaoyang and I have confirmed our relationship. This 'lickspittle' thing refers to someone who has not established a relationship yet!" Jiang Liu's mouth twitched slightly, and he kicked Zhu Bajie in annoyance.

"Ah? That does make sense!" Although he was kicked by his master, Zhu Bajie wasn't angry at all. Instead, he took out his Love Treasure Mirror and noted this point down in his little book.

"Master, do you mean that something has happened to Princess Gaoyang?" Sun Wukong asked, his voice grave as he questioned Jiang Liu, also sensing the seriousness of the situation.

"Yeah, I'm afraid that's the case," Jiang Liu nodded and sighed.

"And, to save Gaoyang, I killed Treasure Light Buddha and severely wounded the Empress. Now, everyone in the Heavenly Court must have their eyes on Gaoyang. I must think of a way to find her first!" Nodding again, Jiang Liu felt an urgency in his heart.

On one hand, he was genuinely concerned for Gaoyang's safety, and on the other, Jiang Liu was also worried about himself.

The incident had blown up so much just to save Gaoyang.

If the people from the Heavenly Court captured Gaoyang, they would surely force his identity from her mouth, wouldn't they?