It turned out that the Goddess of Mercy already knew that this Tathagata was not the real one. Although his behavior had completely changed in the past few days, it made the Goddess of Mercy extremely worried.
Yang Xue patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. The real Tathagata will be back soon. And 'he' knows what he's doing. It's acceptable for him to do some unexpected things within the feasible range."
At least, he wouldn't change the Buddhist precepts on his own or suddenly break the vows, because he was arranged by the system and was restricted everywhere.
Fortunately, she didn't rely on the system to come here. But according to the 'Tathagata', her current state was the best.
If she was reborn, then what about Bai Xue?
Why could they coexist?
It seemed that she couldn't get the answer from the Tathagata on this point. She had to find someone else.
But in this world, who was the most powerful?
"Goddess of Mercy, I wonder who is the most powerful in the Three Realms and how I can find him?" She thought it might be feasible to ask the Goddess of Mercy.
"There's always someone better. I can't answer this question." She looked into the distance at Tang Seng, who was talking to his disciples. "Excuse me."
"..." It was quite mysterious that the Goddess of Mercy would even say 'excuse me' to her.
However, just as she casually turned her head, she suddenly found that the current Tang Seng was completely different from before.
He was wearing a cassock. The gentleness between his eyebrows had disappeared. With bright eyes and a kind look, his gentle smile was like the spring breeze turning into rain, and every move of his was radiant.
Could this be the effect of being nourished by love?
He seemed to be saying goodbye to everyone and was about to return to the Daughter Country.
"Master, I want to go with you. How about..." Zhu Bajie was extremely envious. Following behind Tang Seng, he also wanted to go to the Daughter Country to live a happy life with his lover.
"Zhu Wuneng, you have important tasks now and can't go to the mortal world easily." The Goddess of Mercy spoke up and shattered his dream. "Tang Seng's trip is an exception. From now on, your identities will change and you'll each have your own duties. You can't be attached to the mortal world."
"I'll follow the Goddess's teachings." Zhu Bajie was dressed in a neat new outfit, looking energetic and brand new.
Sure enough, clothes make the man.
"Then can we often go to the Flower-Fruit Mountain to find Brother Monkey?" Zhu Bajie thought that if he couldn't go anywhere and had to stay on the Spirit Mountain all the time, this reward would be like a shackle. He might as well not have it.
"Of course you can." The Goddess of Mercy nodded.
"But from now on, you can't just eat and drink all day long. Xue'er has found two cultivation methods for you. If you practice according to them, you can make further progress." Sun Wukong said as he distributed an unnamed pamphlet to each of them.
The White Dragon Horse also got one. Now that he had transformed into a human form, he took it with a smile and looked at Yang Xue. "With Sister-in-law's cultivation method, I may be able to break through in just a few decades or even hundreds of years."
Yang Xue smiled slightly. "That's for sure."
Hearing this, the Goddess of Mercy slowly turned to look at her. "Do I get one too?"
"..." Yang Xue was slightly stunned. The Goddess of Mercy's behavior was really cute, stretching out her hand just like a child asking for candy.
"Does the Goddess of Mercy also want to break through?" Sun Wukong was also a bit surprised, but he didn't show it. He nudged Yang Xue. "Will the Tathagata blame us?"
"Who in the world doesn't want to make further progress?" The Goddess of Mercy put away her magic vase and pointed at Yang Xue seriously. "There must be a highly skilled person behind her. The last time I saw her, although her skin was like that of an eighteen-year-old girl, it wasn't as flawless and pure as a baby's like it is now. It must be related to the cultivation method."
So, the Goddess of Mercy also wanted to stay young forever.
Yang Xue tried hard not to laugh. She took out a thick pamphlet from her sleeve. "Since the Goddess of Mercy likes my skin, if you practice according to this method, you will surely stay young forever."
Thinking of the male Goddess of Mercy who had accompanied her in the nameless cave for more than three years, Yang Xue never thought that they were the same person.
After that, she rarely saw his male form.
It was good like this. Presumably, the female form was the Goddess of Mercy's original form.
"You misunderstood. What I'm seeking is not to stay young forever, but your state of mind that keeps improving every day and always remains the same as before." Although the Goddess of Mercy said so, she immediately put the pamphlet into her Qiankun Bag after taking it.
Yang Xue was puzzled. Did she know that there was a priceless treasure on her?
"I wonder if I can ask you for advice on the cultivation method in the future. If you don't mind, would you accept me as your disciple?" Saying that, the Goddess of Mercy took a step back and was about to bow.
"No, no!" Yang Xue was startled and quickly grabbed her. "Goddess, you can't do this. My cultivation is not good enough. How can I mislead others..."
The others were extremely shocked. Sun Wukong was the first to react.
He laughed heartily and gloated. "It's better than the Tathagata misleading others. In my opinion, it's okay for you to agree, Xue'er. The Goddess of Mercy has an eye for talent. She has finally found the right person."
Yang Xue gave him a sideways look and said unhappily, "Great Sage, this is no small matter. Don't joke around."
She was anxious. How could she be worthy of being the teacher of the Goddess of Mercy? She couldn't even imagine it.
If this got out, I'm afraid many people in the Three Realms would be shocked.
"Exactly." The Goddess of Mercy nodded. It seemed that Sun Wukong's words really resonated with her.
"In that case, I also want to join your sect," to Yang Xue's even greater shock, Tang Seng, who was about to return to the mortal world, suddenly appeared in front of her. He knelt down on the ground with a thud.
Yang Xue stepped back repeatedly and fell into Sun Wukong's arms. She said in a hurry, "G... Great Sage, what's going on..."
What was wrong with everyone!
"And me. I, Zhu Bajie... no, Marshal Zhu... I also want to worship Sister-in-law... no, you as my teacher." Saying that, Zhu Bajie also knelt down beside Tang Seng and shouted at her excitedly.
Yang Xue covered her ears and hid in Sun Wukong's arms in disbelief. "Great Sage, save me..."
"Three years ago, you were still a little demon who was scared and afraid of being killed by Brother Monkey with a single blow. But three years later, you can even make the Tathagata in awe of you and give rise to inner demons because of you... All these signs indicate that you are the one who makes the Three Realms fear. It's the wisest choice to worship you as our teacher!"
Saying that, Zhu Bajie had already kowtowed three times first.
"Bang, bang, bang!" The clear sound echoed on the smooth floor.
"I've kowtowed first. You can't go back on your word!" Zhu Bajie quickly added. "Even if you're Brother Monkey's wife, we'll still call you Teacher in the future. We hope that Teacher can teach us everything you know and help us make progress step by step."
"..."
There weren't many people in the main hall originally. Hearing the commotion here, suddenly many Arhats, Dharma protectors, and excellent disciples all came to watch.
Sun Wukong protected Yang Xue. Seeing this strange scene, he shouted, "Get up. What do you look like?"
"Master, how can you be so naughty? If you worship my wife as your teacher, then won't I have to call Xue'er Grand Teacher in the future!" Sun Wukong helped Tang Seng up, extremely helpless.
"Goddess, you too. Why did you choose this moment? Now look..."
Sun Wukong helped the Goddess of Mercy up. Just as he was thinking about how to take his wife away casually, he heard a light but steady footsteps.
"What a lively scene," the Tathagata walked up to Yang Xue with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How can I still be the 'Tathagata' like this? Can you give me some face? My task is to guard this place on behalf of the real Tathagata during this period. I just summoned you here, and now there's a situation where everyone wants to join your sect. If this gets out, where will the face of the Buddhist sect be?"
Only Yang Xue could hear the last part.
Yang Xue forced a smile. "I don't want this to happen either, but I know what to do now."
Fortunately, because of the Tathagata's appearance, many disciples who were watching the excitement left one after another for fear of angering the Tathagata.
After all, only a few Bodhisattvas had noticed that the Tathagata in front of them had changed.
"Um, it's getting late. We should go back." Yang Xue was about to slip away. She waved to everyone with a smile, grabbed Sun Wukong's hand, and turned to leave.
"Wait," a plan occurred to the Tathagata. His eyes lit up. He pointed at Yang Xue. "How about making you a Buddha? Then everyone will be your disciple in the future, which will save a lot of trouble."
"..."
"..."
"..."
...
There was a dead silence in the main hall. Everyone looked at each other, extremely puzzled.
The change today could be regarded as one of the most amazing things in the world.
Just then, a clear ringing of bells suddenly fell outside the hall, like a heart-clearing spell, making people feel clear-headed after it passed by their ears.
"Great Sage, is your wife here? There's an important matter in the Heavenly Court that requires her to go. Please come with me quickly!"
It was the Supreme Lord Lao Jun who came in person. After a casual bow as a greeting, he went straight to Sun Wukong and Yang Xue.
Everyone was confused. Their eyes kept shifting among the three of them.
Yang Xue's eyes lit up and she quickly agreed. "Sure, sure. Let's go now!"
It was the perfect time to slip away!
Sun Wukong understood and followed Yang Xue's steps. "Since there's something in the Heavenly Court, we'll leave first."
The Tathagata immediately reacted. "Yang Xue, you can't do this. I..."
As soon as he said that, he realized that he had forgotten to use mental communication only with Yang Xue. Now everyone had heard the Tathagata talking to Yang Xue so humbly...
The Supreme Lord Lao Jun pretended not to hear. He bowed to the Tathagata. "Greetings, Buddha. I'll come to apologize another day."
After saying that, he quickly turned around and followed them, disappearing from everyone's sight.
If he had come a little later and Yang Xue had really been made a Buddha, the Heavenly Court would never have been able to give her a proper position. They couldn't ask the Jade Emperor to abdicate, could they?
Moreover, if she really became a Buddha, the Heavenly Court would be inferior to the Western Buddhist Realm.
Not only that, Yang Xue's identity was so special that she must not be left alone in the Buddhist Realm.
So, after getting the news, the Supreme Lord Lao Jun rushed to the Spirit Mountain without stopping.
After leaving the Spirit Mountain, Yang Xue wanted to calm down and planned to go back to the Flower-Fruit Mountain with the Great Sage. But the Supreme Lord Lao Jun didn't give her a chance.
"What I said is true. There's a major event in the Heavenly Court that requires you two to solve." Saying that, the Supreme Lord Lao Jun raised his hand, and a clear scene appeared in his palm.
Bai Xue and Xuan You had actually appeared in the Heavenly Court to accuse Yang Xue.
How outrageous!
"That White Bone Demon has a close relationship with you, girl. Don't be angry. When you get in front of the Jade Emperor later, he will surely uphold justice for you."
The Supreme Lord Lao Jun looked solemn and explained his real purpose. "It seems that she has been instructed by someone and specifically exposed your identity. Few people know about the Book of Heaven. And regarding the lost Kunlun Mirror, the Jade Emperor already has a plan. If there's a confrontation in court..."