The power of the rules formed an invisible barrier that enveloped Zhang Mu.
The white monkey quickly walked up to Zhang Mu and, pretending to be an ordinary monkey, hopped and skipped onto the stone.
After a while, the white monkey released its grip and left the area.
Zhang Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, his uncle was there, which prevented him from being exposed.
"Once I reach the highest level of cultivation, I will amaze everyone upon my emergence!"
......
"The immortal stone should soon give birth to life. I need to make all the preparations in Flower Fruit Mountain first."
Guanyin thought to herself.
Having just examined the inside of the immortal stone and found nothing unusual, she didn't pay much attention to it and instead prepared to arrange everything in Flower Fruit Mountain.
Time flies, and decades have passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhang Mu was still hiding on the top of Huaguo Mountain, while Guanyin was quietly waiting on Huaguo Mountain.
However, year after year passed, and the immortal stone still hadn't cracked open, which made her somewhat anxious.
"Cai Xuanxian's cultivation is not enough. At least Daluo is needed. And to fight against all the gods and Buddhas in the sky, only Quasi-Saints are qualified. Daluo can only protect themselves at best."
Zhang Mu sensed his own cultivation level and continued to lie low.
Spring goes and autumn comes, another hundred years have passed.
This time, Guanyin really couldn't sit still and immediately ran to the top of the mountain to check.
The result was the same as the first time. Touching and sensing the inside of the immortal stone, she found nothing unusual. Everything was the same. Every time she looked at it, the immortal stone gave her the illusion that a living being would be born in a few years.
How strange!
Guanyin was somewhat distraught and wanted to discuss the matter with the Buddha, but when she thought that if she asked someone for help, the first share of merit would be given to someone else, she gave up the idea and decided to wait a few more years to see.
More than a decade passed, and the Immortal Stone remained unchanged. Guanyin knew that this matter had to be reported. Before the journey to the West had even begun, an unknown variable had appeared. She suspected that someone was secretly interfering to prevent the Immortal Stone from transforming.
Guanyin returned to Mount Ling and told the Buddha about it. Upon hearing this, the Buddha frowned.
"Who dares to obstruct my grand plan to reach the Western Paradise? Are they not afraid of incurring karmic retribution and being consumed by the flames of karma?"
"Could it be that someone behind the Taoist sect intervened?"
Guanyin guessed.
After much thought, Buddha could only conclude that this was the only possibility. After all, the plan to travel west was to promote Buddhism and suppress Taoism, and only Taoism would have a reason to sabotage the plan.
"The terms were agreed upon back then. Many members of the Daoist sect were also involved in the westward journey and wanted a share of the spoils. Do you want to raise the stakes at this crucial moment?"
The Buddha was extremely angry.
"You wait here while I go and talk to the Taoist sect members."
Buddha sighed. With the journey to the West imminent, he had no choice but to agree if the Taoist sect wanted to raise their stakes. Otherwise, the plan could not proceed, and no one would get any benefits.
The Taoists don't care, but the Buddhists can't. Buddha is hoping that this great calamity will make Buddhism flourish and surpass Taoism in one fell swoop.
If we miss this opportunity, we don't know how many years we'll have to wait for another one like it.
Advancement in the Heavenly Dao is not something that happens casually.
Buddha quickly approached the Taoist community and got straight to the point, saying he could increase their bargaining power, but only within certain limits.
The Taoist disciples were somewhat bewildered, but they couldn't resist the offer of benefits. Although they didn't know what was going on, they all started making exorbitant demands.
Buddha was furious. After several days and nights of haggling, he finally managed to shut up the Taoists and stop them from causing trouble.
Although the Taoists didn't know what the Buddha was talking about, they all patted their chests and guaranteed that they would never cause trouble.
Satisfied, Tathagata then returned to Mount Ling.
"The matter has been settled. The Taoists will no longer interfere with the journey to the West. Please continue to wait at Flower Fruit Mountain, Venerable Guanyin."
The Buddha addressed Guanyin.
"As you command."
Guanyin nodded and then went to Flower Fruit Mountain to wait.
At this moment, Zhang Mu was unaware of what was happening outside and was still peacefully cultivating inside the immortal stone.
Another century has passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhang Mu's cultivation level has reached the Golden Immortal level. At this level, it is unrealistic to expect to improve his strength quickly.
Further realms require time to refine. At this point, he is still fundamentally a Spiritual Stone Monkey, which is much higher than some other beings, but not at the top level.
Therefore, cultivation becomes somewhat difficult at the Golden Immortal realm.
In the simulation, the self consumed countless elixirs and miraculous medicines during the havoc in the Heavenly Palace before barely reaching the level of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, demonstrating that the Spiritual Stone Monkey's origins were far inferior.
"However, I also have a portion of Pangu's essence blood. Once fused with it, it will improve my aptitude, so there's no need to worry."
Zhang Mu thought to himself, "The system is my safest guarantee."
After waiting for so long without seeing any movement from the celestial stone, Guanyin went back to report to Buddha.
Upon hearing this, Buddha was furious and immediately went to confront him.
"Didn't you all promise not to interfere with the journey to the West? Why are you still interfering? How many merits have we Buddhists already given to the Taoists? Aren't you satisfied?"
The Buddha questioned the disciples.
Faced with this fabricated charge, the Taoist sect members were enraged: "Buddha, are you going back on your word because you felt you gave us too much back then? We never lifted a finger! Don't think that by framing us with a baseless charge, you can make us give back the benefits we've already taken!"
"Why hasn't the immortal stone shown any sign of life since you haven't made a move? Apart from the Daoist sect, who dares to interfere with the flourishing of my Buddhist sect?"
Buddha laughed in anger.
"Who knows? What if it's just a show staged by your Buddhist sect to get us Taoists to give up some benefits? We will absolutely not back down an inch. Otherwise, if no one gets any of the benefits, then this journey to the West might as well not go on!"
The Taoists snorted coldly.
Buddha cursed inwardly.
"Very well, I will stay here and watch over you all until the immortal stone gives birth to life."
The Buddha steeled his heart and decided to personally keep watch here.
The Taoist sect members ignored it. Let Tathagata keep watching, they've never made a move before, so they weren't worried at all.
The Buddha himself was watching the Taoist sect members from here, and he sent a telepathic message to Guanyin to continue waiting at Flower Fruit Mountain.
Another century has passed quickly.
The Immortal Stone remained completely still. Guanyin had checked on its condition more than once over the years, but no matter how she examined it, she found nothing unusual.
After learning of this news, Tathagata knew that it was not the Taoist sect that had taken action this time. After all, he had been keeping an eye on the Taoist sect members, and with his cultivation level, they could not possibly have acted secretly without his knowledge. So he returned to Mount Sumeru.
"Who exactly is obstructing my grand Buddhist plan?!"
The Buddha roared inwardly, without questioning whether the celestial stone itself did not wish to be born.
Zhang Mu quietly continued his cultivation, thinking that as long as they couldn't find anything about him, he would never leave the world.
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