The light and the sounds of explosions were incessant.

The people on the street had all run back home, and there wasn't a single customer in the tavern; the waiter stood at the entrance, boredly yawning.

"The thunder is truly terrifying."

He muttered to himself as he watched the light in the distance.

At this moment, an elderly monk with a kindly face and benevolent eyes, accompanied by a young monk, walked down the deserted street.

"Are you open for business today?"

The elderly monk inquired of the tavern waiter.

"Yes, honored guest, please come inside."

The waiter was startled for a moment but then promptly invited them into the establishment.

"What would the elder like to order?"

The waiter asked as he served tea.

"Bring thirty steamed buns."

The elderly monk stated.

"No problem!"

The waiter cheerfully went to the kitchen; this monk could really eat—a lot. Although steamed buns weren't particularly valuable, thirty was still quite a number.

"Master, will the World Venerable Relics really come here?"

The young monk looked around to see that no one was around, then asked the elderly monk.

"They will come."

The elderly monk—Eastern Buddha—smiled in response: "The Buddha's calculations are peerless, since he asked us to wait here, there must be no mistake."

"Oh."

The young monk nodded and then asked: "Why haven't the commoners discovered the intense battle outside?"

"A being with Great Divine Power is concealing the battle there."

Eastern Buddha answered, frowning slightly: "But it's not Emperor Gouchen."

He looked in that direction, a hint of confusion in his gaze.

Other than Emperor Gouchen, who else from Huaguo Mountain was sent here?

He didn't find an answer, but he sensed a familiar-looking monk enter through the city gate.

"Golden Cicada."

Eastern Buddha was startled. Why would Golden Cicada be here?

But quickly, he dismissed the thought: "No, that's not Golden Cicada."

The monk, who looked just like Golden Cicada, walked through the city with a straight stride, unimpeded, and without anyone guiding him—something Golden Cicada could never achieve.

Eastern Buddha sensed the young monk getting closer as the waiter also brought up the steamed buns.

"Elder, your steamed buns...huh?"

Upon seeing another monk appear outside, the waiter immediately ran out: "Elder, you must be weary from your journey, would you like to eat something?"

"Yes."

The monk nodded.

He followed the waiter into the tavern.

"Bring me a few plates of vegetarian dishes, and some fruit wine. Do you have Peach Wine?"

"Yes, we do!"

The waiter nodded hastily.

He brought over the Peach Wine, and the monk began to drink alone.

"Golden Cicada doesn't drink alcohol, it's indeed not him."

Eastern Buddha thought to himself, then withdrew his gaze.

He had just eaten a few steamed buns when suddenly a strong wind blew in from outside, violently tearing off the roof.

The tavern waiter screamed and clung to the ground as the beams from the roof broke and fell above him.

Eastern Buddha raised his hand, about to save the waiter, but suddenly a phantom appeared next to the waiter, gestured with a hand, and moved the falling beam aside.

After the dust in the tavern settled, not a single person was injured.

"So it was him."

Eastern Buddha knew who was concealing the battle.

"Who are you talking about? Master."

The young monk asked.

"Emperor Qinghua."

Eastern Buddha replied.

There's always a repercussion in battle, but with Emperor Qinghua, who can transform myriad times, here, there's no need to worry about harming the commoners.

Eastern Buddha's gaze returned to the young monk who was drinking wine.

When the rooftop was being blown off, some debris fell toward the monk, who didn't even look up, and a Buddha Light blocked the debris.

That person was no common mortal.

Eastern Buddha was somewhat unable to see through this monk.

But he knew that the monk's proficiency in Buddhist Law might not be inferior to Golden Cicada.

Who could it be?

The Eastern Buddha searched through his memory but could not recognize the person.

He knew all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Lingshan, yet he had never come across such a figure.

He stood up and walked towards the young monk.

"Where does the elder hail from?"

The Eastern Buddha kindly asked.

"East Sea."

The monk replied.

The Eastern Buddha thought to himself, as expected, then sat next to the monk and started conversing with him.

The two discussed Buddhist Scriptures, with the young monk displaying profound knowledge of the Buddhist Law, which delighted the Eastern Buddha.

However, faintly he detected the monk's disdain for the current Buddhist teachings.

"Could it be him?"

The Eastern Buddha speculated.

Besides Jin Chanzi, only one other from the East Sea possessed such mastery over Buddhist Law.

"Master."

At this moment, the young monk tugged at the Eastern Buddha's sleeve and whispered in his ear: "The Buddha's lantern has lit up."

"Oh."

The Eastern Buddha glanced at the Human Species Bag at his waist.

Inside the bag was a lantern bestowed by the Buddha, which emitted a responsive glow whenever World Venerable Relics drew near.

The Eastern Buddha stood, preparing to leave.

"The Buddha indeed possesses Great Divine Power."

The young monk suddenly spoke: "Those were merely Blinding Techniques. He had already calculated where the relics would pass, arranging for you to wait here."

The Eastern Buddha turned his head: "Did Sun Wukong anticipate this as well?"

"I am here; that is your answer."

The monk replied.

"Amitabha."

Unable to help himself, the Eastern Buddha laughed: "A contest of supreme beings of the Three Realms, indeed beyond my prediction."

Even with his Divine Skills, he couldn't see how Sun Wukong and the Buddha had managed to foresee this plan.

"Am I merely a pawn of the Buddha too?"

The Eastern Buddha couldn't help but think.

But what he wanted to ascertain right now was the identity of the young monk.

"Elder, why not come back to Lingshan with me?"

The Eastern Buddha said to the monk: "With your spiritual cultivation, the Buddha will surely find great use for you."

"The Buddha is like a piece of elm wood, uncarvable."

The monk said: "The Heavenly Emperor looks toward the future path with a heart of reverence, yet the Buddha remains stagnant. You are the Buddha of the future and should walk alongside the Heavenly Emperor."

The Eastern Buddha's expression darkened, and he turned to leave.

The young monk also stood up and followed him.

The Eastern Buddha used his powers to shake him off, but when he reached outside the city, he saw the monk sitting on a tree stump, his gaze flickering towards him.

The Eastern Buddha narrowed his eyes: "Who are you, really?"

"Haven't you already figured it out?"

The monk replied.

"You are Sun Wukong."

The Eastern Buddha understood: "How did you deceive the Buddha?"

When he left Lingshan, the Buddha had said that neither he nor Sun Wukong would act; if either moved, the other would sense it and a conflict would be triggered in advance.

If Sun Wukong was here, it meant he had eluded the Buddha's detection.

"Could it be..."

The Eastern Buddha realized: "You're using Jin Chanzi's body!"

The monk's expression suddenly became grave.

"The Heavenly Emperor would not do such a thing."

He answered: "I am Jin Chanzi."

The Eastern Buddha's face changed in an instant, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Jin Chanzi, did you come here alone?"

"Yes."

"Without getting lost?"

"..."

Jin Chanzi fell into a long silence.

He had not changed at all, so how could the Eastern Buddha have mistaken his identity?

Could his own face be less recognizable than getting lost?

Jin Chanzi felt somewhat hurt.

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