They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 78 Green Ox
When Chen Guangrui and the Jinghe Dragon King discovered the anomaly, the land disappeared without a trace, like a lump of mud merging into a crack in the rock.

The Dragon King of the Jing River suddenly looked at Chen Guangrui, his voice trembling with anxiety: "It's over, it's over! That old bastard, he... he must have joined the Buddhist order, he's gone to betray us! Quick! Follow me by water..."

As he spoke, he tried to forcefully pull Chen Guangrui away.

Chen Guangrui, however, remained rooted to the spot and instead grabbed the Dragon King. "Dragon King, don't go. It should be safer here."

His voice was unusually calm, and his sharp gaze swept towards the direction of the newly opened, even more dilapidated, gate of the Lao Jun Temple.

"They...have already arrived."

The Dragon King froze, then abruptly turned his head in the direction of his gaze.

Two figures could be seen inside the dilapidated doorway.

It was none other than Venus and Manjushri, who should have been "handling official business" at Wei Zheng's residence in Yongxingfang.

Venus still held his whisk, his white hair and youthful face bearing that unchanging, kind and amiable smile. But to the Dragon King, that smile was more terrifying than a demon.

Manjushri Bodhisattva has a dignified and solemn appearance, with a faint light flowing around his body. His eyes are calm and undisturbed, yet they carry an aura of domineering power.

Alarm bells rang in Chen Guangrui's mind, but he stood ramrod straight, without flinching. He took a deep breath and straightened his back.

"You two have quite the pace." Chen Guangrui's voice rang out in the quiet Lao Jun Temple, steady yet with a barely perceptible tension.

"Instead of going to Lord Wei's mansion to 'discuss the Dao,' you've come to this secluded place for cultivation?"

Venus chuckled, flicked his whisk, and actually stopped his footing within the threshold, without stepping into the main hall where Laozi was enshrined.

He looked at Chen Guangrui, his tone as casual as an old neighbor chatting.
"Young friend, you flatter me. I merely sensed a minor disturbance here and came to take a look."

"Oh?" Chen Guangrui's heart calmed down a little. As expected, the other party was wary of Lao Jun Temple and dared not make a move openly in the temple, which gave him a bit more confidence.

As long as he doesn't make a move here, he's temporarily safe as long as he doesn't leave Lao Jun Temple.

"A storm? It's probably not as big as the storm stirred up by the two immortals from the Wei family mansion, is it?"

Chen Guangrui asked with a hint of sarcasm, "I wonder what Lord Wei's current situation is?"

He is still testing the waters.

"Wei Zheng..." Venus's smile remained unchanged, as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

"The official in charge of the Human Affairs is responsible for supervising the human world and capturing evil spirits that disturb the mortal realm. However, his actions are... a bit too rigid and lacking in human compassion. The Jade Emperor is merciful and understands his commendable loyalty. He will only allow him to rest for a few more days and reflect on his mistakes in seclusion. As for matters of power, there will be successors who can handle them properly."

His words were extremely tactful and pleasant to hear, but the meaning couldn't be clearer:

Wei Zheng lost his position as the official in charge of personnel because he disobeyed orders; he was dismissed from his post.

Chen Guangrui guessed that the Jade Emperor might not know about this yet, but it was something he had reported to the Jade Emperor.

A chill ran through Chen Guangrui's heart.

Even Wei Zheng, who held the position of the official in charge of communicating with the Heavenly Court, was nothing more than someone who could be dealt with at will in the face of such true power and wealth.

Venus seemed to see right through Chen Guangrui's thoughts, and his kind smile deepened. He added slowly, his voice light and airy, yet it struck Chen Guangrui's heart like a heavy hammer.
"By the way, young friend, your prayers here are sincere. I sensed them when I was in Heaven and was deeply moved. So before coming here, I went to the Tushita Palace outside the Thirty-Three Heavens to inform them of these mundane matters, so as not to disturb their tranquility."

He paused briefly, looking at Chen Guangrui's suddenly contracting pupils, a hint of amusement in his smile. "Laojun asked me to pass on a message... He said, 'I understand.'"

understood.

These three words extinguished the last spark of hope in Chen Guangrui's heart.

He finally understood why Wei Zheng's letter had gone unanswered, and why he had received no response despite praying at the Laozi Temple for so long. It wasn't that the other person hadn't received the letter, nor that they hadn't seen him.
Perhaps it was just a single sentence from Venus that made Laozi stop paying attention to things here.

Just then, Manjushri Bodhisattva spoke. His voice was peaceful and gentle, like the sound of Buddha's teachings, carrying a compassionate and guiding quality.

"Chen Guangrui, do not be deluded. Do you know that what you bear is the opportunity for the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, the Golden Cicada of our Buddhist sect? This is immeasurable merit. As long as you follow the will of Heaven and the will of the people, gladly accept the arrangement of fate, and help Jin Chanzi successfully return to his rightful place, our Buddhist sect, with its compassion, will not only protect your parents and siblings with peace and wealth, but also sculpt a golden statue for you, build a temple for you to enjoy incense offerings for ten thousand generations, free you from the sea of ​​suffering in the mortal world, and help you achieve immeasurable enlightenment!"

The promises were grand and tempting, but Chen Guangrui listened quietly without showing any emotion. Instead, a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He looked up at the dignified Manjushri, his voice clear and calm.
"Thank you for your kindness, Bodhisattva. However, I am but a mortal with limited knowledge. I only know one thing: if I follow your Buddhist arrangement, will your great Bodhisattva start calling me 'father' every day?"

"presumptuous!"

The green-haired lion demon, who had been following Manjushri and had just been released, could no longer contain himself. He suddenly took a step forward and roared fiercely at Chen Guangrui.
"How dare you, a mere mortal, spout such arrogant words and slander the sacred teachings of Buddhism? You truly don't know what's good for you! Do you even know the enormity of the trouble you've caused?"

Its eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at Chen Guangrui.
"That overconfident Wei Zheng, who thinks he is just, has offended the Jade Emperor and Manjushri Bodhisattva by protecting and detaining me because of you. He has now been dismissed from his post in the Ministry of Personnel and is in dire need of his own safety."

Chen Guangrui never expected that Wei Zheng would lose his position as the head of the Human Resources Department in order to buy him time.

This usually cautious old man was quite decisive this time.

Chen Guangrui's eyes were a little moist, but his gaze toward the blue-maned lion became even colder.

The blue-maned lion had, of course, anticipated this; it turned its massive head...
"And this little mudskipper! It tipped you off and defied the Bodhisattva's decree! Whether its dragon tendons can be saved, hmph, is hard to say! And you... you'll be next!"

"You fart!"

The short-tempered Dragon King of the Jing River was completely enraged.

"My Jinghe Water Palace belongs to the Heavenly Dragon Palace system and is governed by the laws of the Heavenly Court. It is not your place to make noise here, you wicked beast!"

Chen Guangrui chuckled softly, then, seeing the two similar-looking blue-maned lions appearing beside Manjushri Bodhisattva, deliberately feigned confusion, "Why are there two lions? Are you the cowardly one?"

"Roar!"

Upon hearing Chen Guangrui's words, the green-haired lion was about to attack, but considering that this was Laozi Temple and that Manjushri Bodhisattva had given a signal to stop it, it chose to remain still.

However, as he stared at Chen Guangrui, a sinister smile twisted on his face.
"I almost forgot, kid... don't you have a younger brother? I heard he went back to his hometown on your orders?"

The green-haired lion demon watched Chen Guangrui's reaction and chuckled smugly, "Tsk tsk... Look at him now, happily hurrying back, isn't he? His little head is probably still plotting how to settle his brother in Chang'an, isn't it? Hehehe..."

"Who told you that?"

Chen Guangrui looked at the Earth God hiding behind Venus. Only this old man could spy on the whereabouts of mortals!

The Earth God shrank back, stung by Chen Guangrui's gaze, but quickly, relying on the presence of the Bodhisattva, he raised his wrinkled old face and forced a smug smile at Chen Guangrui.
“Scholar Chen, what are you saying? I am, after all, a local deity. Nothing that happens in this land can escape my senses, no matter how small the wind blows! The whereabouts of a mere mortal are naturally… hehe, completely under my control.”

As he spoke, he looked obsequiously at Manjushri Bodhisattva and Venus, clearly seeking credit.

Chen Guangrui, however, felt a sense of disgust.

"Just a few days ago you went to Wei Zheng to pledge your loyalty, and now you want to pledge allegiance to them. Do you think they will believe you?"

When the old man heard Chen Guangrui's words, his expression changed, and he wished he could kill him right now.

"Humph!"

The blue-haired lion demon snorted disdainfully, looking at Chen Guangrui again with a tone full of ultimatum-like threat.

"Did you hear that clearly? Wei Zheng, this old mudfish, and your brother... their lives and futures are all in your hands right now! Do you really want to drag them all down with you?"

The enormous lion's roar, carrying boundless pressure, shook the tiles of Lao Jun Temple, causing them to rattle: "Why aren't you coming out yet?"

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a voice suddenly came from deep within the courtyard of Lao Jun Temple.

"If he wants to stay here, he can stay here. Why does he insist on going out with you?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall figure emerge from the shadows in the courtyard.

The figure walked upright, with a human form but the head of a strange beast, a single, jagged horn, and gleaming eyes. Its head was covered in rough, protruding skin, and its earlobes were glossy black. Its muscles were as hard as iron, and its entire body was a deep indigo blue—a veritable demon of a blue ox.

He was dressed in a simple and neat black cloth short jacket, revealing his muscular arms. His copper bell-like eyes were wide open, staring intently at the green-haired lion demon at the door.

Why is he here?

Venus's eyes darted around, surprised that this person would come.

Manjushri Bodhisattva had guessed a thing or two, but he did not show it.

However, the other blue-maned lion riding under Manjushri Bodhisattva, seeing its master's displeasure, assumed it was caused by the new bull demon and roared so fiercely that the air in Laozi Temple trembled.

"What kind of monstrous creature dares to act so presumptuously here!"

The lion's roar was thunderous, filled with condescending contempt.
"Don't you know that Manjushri Bodhisattva is here, and Venus is also here? If you know what's good for you, get out of here!"

"Buzz!"

Upon hearing the words "beastly monster," the black-armored giant's face flushed crimson. Like a red-hot iron, his enormous, bell-like eyes widened instantly.
"You beast?"

The blue ox paused for a moment, clearly realizing it hadn't been addressed that way in years, then looked at the blue-maned lion.
Qingniu said, "How did your master teach you to be so ill-mannered?"

Then, he paused for a moment, still not feeling relieved.

"Roar!" A beastly roar burst forth from the depths of his throat, instantly drowning out the roar of the green lion! The entire brick and tile of the Lao Jun Temple seemed to hum!

"You bastard, how dare you insult me?!"

The burly man in black armor was utterly enraged. He didn't care who had brought the other party; with a sweep of his massive arm, his fist, the size of a bowl, slammed down towards the ferocious head of the blue-haired lion demon. "Ouch! Don't! Stop!"

Venus exclaimed in surprise, and even his kind face twitched.

He reacted extremely quickly, flicking his whisk, and several glittering starlight flew out of his hand, silently merging into the void surrounding Laozi Temple.

A very faint, thin film of light instantly enveloped the entire temple! It was like a giant bubble separating the inside from the outside.

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! This is Chang'an City! Please behave yourselves! Otherwise, if a building collapses and someone gets injured, I won't be able to explain this mission!"

Venus's voice carried a sense of helplessness, as if reminding both sides not to make too much of a fuss and disturb the mortal world.

A deep, muffled boom erupted from within the invisible energy shield!

The green-haired lion demon clearly hadn't expected the other party to dare to attack so directly, and so quickly!

It only had time to turn its head in its haste, and the giant fist, carrying the power of wind and thunder, almost grazed its mane as it slammed into the bluestone ground beside it.

The ground suddenly caved in, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out instantly. Stone fragments shot out like arrows, but were firmly blocked by the layer of light, making a crackling sound.

This powerful and domineering punch caused the blue-haired lion demon's pupils to shrink sharply, and he dared not underestimate it in the slightest.

It roared, twisted its waist, and its massive body burst forth with a speed that was disproportionate to its size. It swung its claws back and fiercely grabbed at the side waist of the black-armored giant!

The burly man in black armor neither dodged nor evaded; instead, he raised his arm and forcefully blocked the sharp claws with his forearm covered by armor.

"Clang!" A crisp sound like metal clashing rang out, sparks flew, and the two men swayed at the same time.

The green-haired lion spirit felt a sharp pain and a recoil force from its claws, and was even more shocked! This beast's strength and defense were astonishing.

The two instantly engaged in combat.

In an instant, dull thuds, the cracking of rocks, and deep roars echoed continuously within the energy shield!

Manjushri Bodhisattva stood still, watching the black-armored giant's every move closely, especially the magical aura and fighting instincts he unintentionally revealed, as if confirming his long-held suspicions. He wanted to assess the strength of this green ox.

Venus, holding his whisk, stood at the edge of the light membrane. He watched the intense yet confined fighting within the barrier, wondering why the Green Ox had come, a deep, unfathomable glint flashing in his eyes.

at this time.

"Roar!"

The burly man in black armor seemed to have been enraged by the green-haired lion demon's series of vicious attacks, and roared furiously! Facing the green lion demon's giant claws that came crashing down again, he did not choose to confront it head-on or dodge!
Suddenly, he raised his right hand, and a round, white object, resembling a bracelet, appeared on his wrist!

The bracelet looked plain and unremarkable, without any luster, just like an ordinary white bracelet from the mortal world.

Upon seeing the bracelet, Chen Guangrui seemed to realize something.

"The Vajra Bracelet!" His eyes widened suddenly, a tidal wave of emotion surging within him.
"It's it! It's Laozi's Green Ox with its flat horns! The Green Ox Monster from Journey to the West who used the Diamond Bracelet to steal all the treasures of the immortals and Buddhas!"

A mix of shock, excitement, and the joy of finally meeting the original characters surged through my heart!

He recognized him!
With a flick of his wrist, the burly man in black armor tossed the white ring into the air.

"Stop!" came a short, sharp shout.

The circle swayed in the wind, not growing larger, but emanating an irresistible and mysterious force of attraction.

Just as the blue-maned lion demon was waving its paws to strike, it suddenly felt a terrifying force entangle the weapon in its paws.

The weapon seemed to come alive, trembling violently on its own, and suddenly flew out of my hand.

"Whoosh!" The Green Lion Spirit's heavy weapon, like a weary bird returning to its nest, traced a strange arc and flew straight towards the white circle that was spinning in the air, instantly disappearing into it!

The blue-haired lion demon's claws missed their mark instantly, and the immense inertia caused it to stagger!
"Thump!" The very next second after its weapon was taken away, the spinning circle, like a meteor hammer controlled by someone, suddenly sank downwards, hitting the very center of its huge lion's head without missing a beat!

"Aow!" A shrill, painful roar rang out, and the blue-maned lion's previous domineering howl was completely gone.

Its massive body was struck as if by a heavy hammer, staggering back more than a dozen steps before regaining its balance. A large bulge appeared on its huge lion head at a visible speed, resembling a strange single horn. It grimaced in pain, its eyes seeing stars.

The Vajra Bracelet easily snatched the weapon, and then delivered a blow to the head, leaving the Green-haired Lion Demon shocked, in pain, and furious.

Its crimson eyes were practically spitting fire; the immense sense of humiliation drove it to madness, and it roared as it lunged forward again, disregarding everything else.

"Enough! Back off!"

Manjushri Bodhisattva's majestic voice finally rang out, like a thunderclap exploding in the ears of the green-haired lion demon, instantly extinguishing its anger.

It let out a low growl of resentment, staring intently at the black-armored giant who had put away his circle, but still lowered its head and retreated step by step behind Manjushri Bodhisattva.

At this moment, Venus's smile deepened, and his gaze towards the Green Ox held a knowing look.

Manjushri Bodhisattva remained unmoved, but inwardly he marveled at the Vajra Bracelet, the methods employed… indeed, the Tusita lineage lived up to its reputation. Its power and treasures were not to be underestimated.

The Earth God and the Dragon King both gaped open, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.

The landman rubbed his eyes hard. "My God! What kind of treasure is that circle? It took down that ferocious lion demon in just two moves by smashing it on the head! It's amazing!"

The Dragon King was also filled with awe, "What... what kind of divine power is this? That circle seems ordinary, yet it has such power? It's terrifying!"

"Alright, alright, the fight's over, and the show's over."

Venus smiled and smoothed things over, but his gaze turned to the black-armored giant, and his tone returned to the solemnity of a Heavenly Court envoy, "Indeed, your methods are superb, truly admirable. However... I still intend to take this person away today."

He pointed to Chen Guangrui, who looked wary.

The blue ox's expression remained unfriendly, and he retorted bluntly, "You can't take it away!"

Venus remained amiable, but his words carried weight.

"This humble Taoist has come on the orders of the Jade Emperor."

The green ox met Venus's gaze sharply, its tone resolute, "Show me your imperial decree?"

Taibai Jinxing's smile remained unchanged. "Of course it's the Great Celestial Venerable's decree. Would I lie to you?"

But Qingniu still shook his head, "Did you hear him say it with your own ears? Do you dare to leave a written agreement? If you dare to leave a written agreement saying that you heard the Great Celestial Venerable say that you should take this mortal away, then you can take him away; otherwise, it is not allowed."

Upon hearing this, Venus's smile faded. "I've already said it's the Great Celestial Venerable's oral decree, so why do we need a written agreement?"

He was clearly displeased, but the blue ox remained stubborn.

"This decree is something you deduced from the Great Celestial Venerable. Compared to his own thoughts... it's far from accurate!"

"If you dare to leave a written record, it will prove that your guess is correct. In the future, my husband can take the record to ask the Great Celestial Venerable, and there will be an explanation. If you don't even leave a written record and then deny it later, who can I turn to?"

These words were rather harsh, but Venus's previously gloomy face returned to a smile.
He coughed lightly, seemingly processing Qingniu's blunt criticism, but his tone remained tactful.

"Even if it's a little lacking... the principle is still the principle. Chen Guangrui can't just stay in your Laozi Temple forever, can he? Laozi's temple is a quiet place, and you have to guard the alchemy furnace and protect the temple. If he, a mortal, stays here for too long, wouldn't that interfere with important matters?"

The green ox glanced at Venus and said in a stern voice,
"We can't delay! He must stay in the temple! You can't hurt him!"

Taibai Jinxing raised an eyebrow, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "Haha, who said I wanted to hurt him? The Great Celestial Venerable's decree is to cooperate with Buddhism. I came to Laozi Temple to invite a mortal. This isn't a big deal, is it?"

The implication is clear: you are Laozi's mount, and have no authority to interfere in the life and death of mortals.

His thinking was simple: I came here on the orders of the Jade Emperor.

Even if your Laozi wants to get involved in this matter, he cannot change the Jade Emperor's decree.

Now, if I wanted to arrest this person, I could do so even if it were at Lao Jun Temple. The reason I haven't done so is because I'm giving face to the Thirty-Three Heavens.

However, Qingniu completely ignored Taibai Jinxing's flowery words and simply refused to listen.

Taibai Jinxing snorted, "Oh? Fellow Daoist's words... are puzzling to this old man. Although Laozi Temple is a pure place of Daoism, in the end, these are matters of the mortal world. Your master is so tranquil and inactive, these mortal causes and effects... are probably not his place to personally concern himself with, are they?"

This time, Qingniu was not stumped. Instead, he took a step forward, his previously flushed face calming down. "Mortal matters? He is no longer a mortal!"

The green ox's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Chen Guangrui. It announced loudly, "My master, the Supreme Lord Laozi, has recognized his affinity with the Dao and has assigned him a post! From this day forward, Chen Guangrui will be a furnace-tending Daoist under the tutelage of my Lord Laozi of the Tushita Palace!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangrui grinned inwardly. After all this time, he's ended up refining pills and tending the fire at Laozi's place?

What a disgrace to time travelers!

However, according to Qingniu's statement, his crisis has finally been resolved, and he can consider the rest later.

To everyone's surprise, Venus suddenly stopped laughing.

"Fellow Daoist, you have crossed the line."

"Even if he is the furnace-tending Taoist under Laozi, he still has a divine position in the Heavenly Court. You can't just say it out of thin air."

“You say he is the Taoist who tends the furnace and fires, but does he have the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable? If not, then I can still take him away.”

(End of this chapter)