Chaos Spirit Field

The next morning, Green Ox Ridge was abuzz with activity, a scene of riotous activity, even more lively than an opera. The immortals in the Heavenly Palace took out their magical weapons to show off, and after a flurry of boasting and display, they were ultimately defeated by the Green Ox Demon's diamond cutter, perhaps to curry favor with the sage Laozi.

Nuwa watched the performance outside and said jokingly, "Xuanzang, the Queen Mother's eating habits seem a bit unsightly. Aren't you afraid of being blamed by Zhunti Taoist?"

Zhao Shanhe replied with a smile, "Niangniang Nuwa, hindering someone from becoming a saint is unforgivable. Do you think there's any master-disciple relationship between me and Taoist Zhunti? The saint cannot leave until the catastrophe is over. This is a decree by Taoist Ancestor Hongjun. He owes a great debt of karma to the Heavenly Dao and dares not disobey the rules."

Nuwa teased, "I thought you were the one who decided this."

Zhao Shanhe said seriously, "Nuwa, please don't make fun of Hongjun Daozu. I can't afford to offend him."

"Xuanzang, when are you going to end this farce?"

"Nuwa, how can you say that? You were the one who summoned the Green Bull Demon, so I can't take the blame. Alas, it's just a loss of merit, and yet the Western Church is so angry. I'll leave for a moment to meet this future saint."

On the other side, over at Qingniu Ridge, the Green Bull Demon and the immortals from Heaven were having a great time, when suddenly a copper coin with wings flew out of thin air and knocked his diamond cutter down.

At this moment, a monk came out, picked up the fallen diamond cutter, and said to himself, "This treasure has a connection with the Western Paradise. It is my destiny to obtain it."

He was about to leave when a voice came over: "Fellow Daoist, please stay."

Upon hearing this, the monk stopped walking unconsciously and turned around to ask, "Excuse me, Brother Dao, what do you want from me?"

The man who came was Zhao Shanhe. As for the monk, he was the ancient Buddha Dipankara. He said in surprise, "Xuanzang, you actually have Shen Gongbao's magical power to keep people."

Zhao Shanhe replied with a smile, "I'm afraid you'll run away, so I'm asking you to stay. Please put down the diamond cutter."

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng said jokingly: "First come, first served. The diamond cutter is destined for me. Xuanzang, you are late."

Zhao Shanhe sneered, "Ran Deng, you really think you're a saint. Hand over the magical weapons of the immortals in heaven, and I'll let you go. As for whether the diamond cutter is meant for you, I, the saint, will discuss this with you."

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng said with disdain, "Xuanzang, you are so arrogant! Even a saint wouldn't dare to speak to me like that. What do the immortals in heaven have to do with you? I advise you not to get involved in this mess."

Zhao Shanhe replied, "My woman sent people to show her support, and you took their magic weapon away without a word. Do you really think I'm easy to bully?"

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng said sinisterly: "Xuanzang, you dare to admit that the Queen of Heaven is your woman."

Zhao Shanhe said jokingly, "Xuanzang is a monk, how can he be a woman? Yang Hui is my, Zhao Shanhe's, woman. Everyone in the Three Realms knows this. You haven't become a Buddha yet. Don't be so impatient. Put your things down and get out. Don't make me say it again."

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng said dissatisfiedly, "Zhao Shanhe, don't be so arrogant. I'm giving you a piece of advice. Be an honest Xuanzang and complete your journey to the West. This is your way out."

Zhao Shanhe said disdainfully: "So much nonsense, take it, kneel down when you see me." As soon as he finished speaking, he jumped forward to attack, and the ancient Buddha Ran Deng hurriedly sacrificed twenty-four Dinghai Pearls to deal with him.

After the Bull Demon lost his diamond cutter, he couldn't continue the drama. He said to the Great Emperor Gou Chen, "Lei Zhenzi, the Taoist Master Ran Deng of the Chan Sect fled to the Western Sect and learned the essence of the Taoist Master Zhunti. How shameless! Losing the diamond cutter is a small matter, but if the magic tools of the Eight Divisions of the Righteous Gods were lost, the Three Realms would be in chaos."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Gou Chen felt uneasy. He knew the Bull Demon was making fun of the Celestial Immortals. The diamond cutter was a saint's possession, and the Buddha Dipankara wouldn't dare keep it. He didn't know what the price would be for redeeming the Eight Gods' magical instruments.

At this moment, Tianpeng said: "Emperor Gouchen, you should be at ease. Now that my master has come forward, the things will not be lost. Just wait and see the show."

The ancient Buddha Ran Deng used the Ding Hai Pearl to block Zhao Shanhe's attack. After seeing Shanhe kneeling, he said with a smug look on his face: "Zhao Shanhe, you are quite powerful, but it's a pity that you can't break these twenty-four Ding Hai Pearls of mine."

Zhao Shanhe sneered upon hearing this and said, "It's just a tortoise shell, easily broken. If it weren't for the presence of Lady Nuwa, I'd really like to kill you and see the face of my cheap master. I planned the Journey to the West, and I must see it through to the end! Now is not the time to turn against me. Take my next move—the country will be destroyed, but the mountains and rivers remain!"

After saying this, Zhao Shanhe suddenly threw a punch. It seemed weak and powerless, but the power contained in it was astonishing. The ancient Buddha Ran Deng's face changed drastically. Sensing a huge threat, he quickly activated the Dinghai Pearl with all his strength, trying to resist the attack.

However, something shocking happened. When Zhao Shanhe's fist made contact with the Dinghai Pearls, the twenty-four beads instantly turned to ash and dissipated into the air. Seeing the attack about to land on the Ancient Buddha, everyone stared in astonishment. At this moment, a red hydrangea appeared out of thin air, blocking the fatal blow.

Zhao Shanhe held the red hydrangea and looked at the Burning Lamp Buddha with a half-smile, jokingly saying, "Nuwa, you can't just throw a hydrangea around! I dare not catch your hydrangea. Please keep it. I just wanted to scare the Burning Lamp Buddha, not to kill him."

As soon as the words fell, the figure of Nuwa appeared in the air. She exclaimed in admiration, "Zhao Shanhe, you are truly a genius. You have already comprehended the true meaning of the way of power."

Zhao Shanhe quickly and modestly replied, "Nuwa, you are too kind. I have only grasped the basics. Please continue to call me Xuanzang. After all, the journey to the West is not yet complete, and perhaps there will still be opportunities. Ancient Buddha Dipankara, I will accept these Treasure-Losing Gold Coins and Diamond Cutter. If there is nothing else, you may leave. The world of adults is not for a child like you to play with."

Ran Deng Gu's face turned extremely grim, but he didn't dare to refute. If Nuwa hadn't intervened, he would have been finished. This time, he had suffered a huge loss. Not only did he not get a single treasure, but he lost two. Moreover, Zhao Shanhe's strength was not inferior to Zhao Zilong, the reincarnation of the Demon Ancestor, and was even more powerful. He was truly shocked.

After Zhao Shanhe and the other ancient Buddhas left, he threw the diamond cutter back to the Green Ox Demon and said, "We still have five days left. Keep fighting. You're doing well."

The Green Bull Demon quickly said, "Thank you, Master Xuanzang, for your compliment. Who's next?"