Chapter 2

Although Buddhism possessed the Three-Light Divine Water and the Creation Lotus Seeds, Li Ling still lacked one crucial material: The "Nine Heavens Breathing Soil" used by Nüwa to create humankind.

This was also the foundation of the Human Race. Pondering this, Li Ling, sitting cross-legged on a straw mat, cast his gaze through his dwelling toward the Heaven of Lihen.

Inside the Tushita Palace in the Heaven of Lihen, an old Taoist sitting before the Eight-Trigrams Furnace, holding a horsetail whisk, seemed to sense something. He slightly opened his eyes, but then slowly closed them again, his ethereal voice drifting into the ears of the two boy attendants stationed before the Eight-Trigrams Furnace. "If anyone comes to visit, tell them the old master is in seclusion and receiving no guests." "Understood, Master!" The two boys exchanged a glance and continued with their work.

Li Ling slowly withdrew his gaze and resumed refining the Three-Light Divine Water and Creation Lotus Seeds in his hands. He needed to merge the Three-Light Divine Water into one so that it could work its miracle of bringing the dead back to life and restoring flesh to bones. As for the Creation Lotus Seed, he also needed to extract the power of creation contained within it.

At Lingshan in the Western Paradise, Joyful Buddha was still feeling unreconciled and said to Rulai: "Buddha, are we really just going to give the Three-Light Divine Water and the Creation Lotus Seeds to that Li Ling? Now that Li Ling has also won the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, if he uses this to affect the great prosperity of our Buddhism, then..."

Rulai, sitting upon his lotus throne, stopped chanting when he heard this and glanced at Joyful Buddha. "The Journey to the West is decreed by the heavens, an irresistible trend. Even if Li Ling has the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, he cannot change the journey itself—he can only create a few obstacles. Yet precisely because of this, once the journey is complete, the Heavenly Dao will surely bestow even greater merit."

Hearing this, Joyful Buddha wanted to say more, but Rulai continued: "I know very well that you have had past grievances with Li Ling, but everything must take the Journey to the West as the utmost priority. Do not ruin Buddhism's grand plan; otherwise, if the Saints lay the blame..."

Rulai left the rest unsaid, but Joyful Buddha understood: the anger of a Saint leaves a million corpses in its wake. Had it not been for the protection of the two Western Saints back then, how could a mere Da Luo Golden Immortal like him have survived the wrath of the Master of Tongtian? Yet he still felt deeply resentful in his heart, simply unable to stand the sight of this man Li Ling. If only Li Ling had been willing to submit to him back then... At this thought, the hatred in Joyful Buddha's eyes grew even more intense.

Thirty days later, Li Ling slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the now-fused Three-Light Divine Water and the extracted power of creation in his palm, he put them away, stood up, walked out of his dwelling, and flew toward the Heaven of Lihen. *It is time to go and see the Senior Uncle.* With this thought in mind, Li Ling arrived before the Tushita Palace shortly thereafter.

"Li Ling, disciple of Jiejiao, requests an audience with the Senior Uncle." Facing the tightly closed gates of the Tushita Palace, Li Ling bowed low and remained in that position for a long time.

Seeing no response, Li Ling spoke out once more. "Li Ling, disciple of Jiejiao, requests an audience with the Senior Uncle."

After a long while, the gates of the Tushita Palace finally creaked open a crack. A Taoist boy poked his head out, looked around, and seeing Li Ling still bowed and unmoving, stepped forward and said: "Immortal, please return. The master is in seclusion and cannot receive guests."

Li Ling was slightly startled upon hearing this, knowing full well that this Senior Uncle must have divined his coming. "No matter. I shall wait here for the Senior Uncle to emerge from seclusion." With that, a straw mat materialized beneath Li Ling's feet, and he slowly sat cross-legged upon it, closing his eyes slightly.

Seeing this, the Taoist boy said nothing more, turned back inside, and closed the gates of the Tushita Palace. "Master, that person didn't leave; he's sitting in meditation right outside the gate!" "I know. Continue tending to the alchemy furnace," Taishang Laojun instructed the boy, his eyes remaining half-closed. "Understood, Master!"

In the blink of an eye, forty-nine days passed. Inside the Tushita Palace, Taishang Laojun put away the refined pills, swept the area with his divine sense, and sighed. "Go and bring the person outside in."

One of the Taoist boys hurried outside, and before long, returned with Li Ling in tow. As soon as he stepped inside, Li Ling saw Taishang Laojun sitting cross-legged on a straw mat with his back to the door. Although this was merely an avatar of the Saint Taiqing, Li Ling still did not dare to be remiss. "Li Ling, disciple of the Taoist sect, pays respects to the Senior Uncle."

Hearing this, the straw mat beneath Taishang Laojun—who had been facing away—slowly turned, and his half-closed eyes slowly opened to look at Li Ling. "What brings the Star Lord to my humble place?"

Li Ling was taken aback. *This Senior Uncle is trying to draw a clear line between us!* He immediately cupped his hands, bowed once more to Taishang Laojun, and said: "This disciple has won the recognition of the Heavenly Dao and intends to obstruct the Journey to the West every step of the way. The Western Buddhism demands that I participate with a mortal body, which is why I have come specifically to implore the Senior Uncle for an item."

Seeing that Taishang Laojun did not speak, Li Ling continued: "This disciple asks the Senior Uncle to bestow the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil so that I may reshape my physical body."

"How did you know I have the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil here? And even if I were to give it to you, what of it? The Journey to the West is decreed by the heavens—how long can you possibly delay it?" "I once heard my master speak of the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil in years past, and this disciple is confident he can obstruct the Journey to the West for a thousand years."

Taishang Laojun smiled upon hearing this. "And after a thousand years? By then, the Journey to the West will be complete, Buddhism will flourish, and the Heavenly Dao's reckoning will only grant even greater merit. At that time, Buddhism will become even more powerful, and the Three Realms will likely have no place left for our Taoist sect to stand."

Li Ling smiled faintly as he replied: "To complete the Journey to the West, the scriptures must be brought into Jambudvipa by the scripture-seeker. The one who tied the bell must untie it. As long as the Human Race grows strong, there will be no further need to worship Buddhas. By then, presumably few among the Human Race will believe in Buddhism, and this merit will naturally be greatly diminished."

Taishang Laojun was startled. He calculated Li Ling's words in his mind. Although he could currently only foresee a rough outline, he vaguely felt that Li Ling's method was feasible.

After pondering for a moment, Taishang Laojun said to Li Ling: "I can give you the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, but it will depend on your actions."

Li Ling understood immediately: this meant it depended on his performance during the calamity of the Journey to the West. If his obstructions failed to make a difference, this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil would remain out of reach. "This disciple understands. But the Westerners demand that I use a mortal body to obstruct the Journey to the West; how am I to ascend to heaven to see the Senior Uncle when the time comes?"

Li Ling saw Taishang Laojun smile slightly. "No matter. Before you descend to the mortal realm, come here to me, and I shall personally seal your cultivation. However, this seal can only suppress your cultivation for thirty years in the mortal world."

Li Ling knew this was a test for him. If he performed well, he would achieve his wish; if he performed poorly, once the seal was lifted after thirty years, the Westerners would surely notice, and that Long-eared Thief would undoubtedly strip away his cultivation with his own hands, plunging him into the abyss of a helpless mortal forever.

Yet Li Ling was not afraid. He had his system; even if he truly fell to being a mortal, he could still earn system rewards by obstructing the Journey to the West, though this physical body would have limited foundational potential. "This disciple understands. I shall go and make preparations now, and before descending to the mortal realm, I will come to trouble the Senior Uncle once more." Li Ling bowed deeply to Taishang Laojun and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Hearing Taishang Laojun's voice, Li Ling turned around in confusion. "Does the Senior Uncle have further instructions?"

He watched as Taishang Laojun casually waved a sleeve. The bridge of Li Ling's nose, previously sunken from injury, slowly rose back into place, and the lingering Dao wounds inflicted upon his body by the Long-eared Thief mostly healed. Li Ling looked at Taishang Laojun in puzzlement.

Seeming to know what Li Ling was thinking, Taishang Laojun sighed and said: "During the Tribulation of the Gods, my primordial spirit was clouded; trapped within the calamity, I was not entirely my own master. Consider this a minor compensation from your Senior Uncle to Jiejiao. If you perform well this time, apart from the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, I shall bestow upon you another stroke of good fortune." "Thank you, Senior Uncle. This disciple takes his leave!"

Li Ling bowed profoundly to Taishang Laojun, paid his respects, and turned to depart. Watching Li Ling's receding figure, Taishang Laojun narrowed his eyes, looked up toward the sky above, and slowly spoke aloud: "Junior brother, oh junior brother, this is all your elder brother can do. Yet for this Li Ling to want to obstruct the Journey to the West... difficult! Difficult! Difficult!"