Chapter 709
The Three Immortals of the Intercepting Sect Return to Heaven
What made Lin Zhu even more gratified was that his trip to Mount Ling not only "saved" Wu Yun Xian, but also actually rescued the other three attendant immortals of the Jie Sect—Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, and Jin Guang Xian!
Although they were temporarily exchanged as "mounts" and their cultivation levels had declined due to the restrictions imposed over the years, their foundations remained intact. Once the restrictions were lifted and they were properly cared for and guided, it would not be difficult for them to recover to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm or even reach higher realms.
This undoubtedly adds three formidable fighters to his future team!
With this substantial "harvest" that far exceeded his expectations, and a promise to Wuyunxian, Lin Zhu hurriedly led the people of the Nine-Story Heavenly Prison and the three-headed demon away.
At this very moment, before Lin Zhuren had even returned to the Heavenly Court, all sorts of exaggerated rumors about his "journey to the West" had already spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the Heavenly Court, teahouses, taverns, and celestial palaces!
"Have you heard? Lord Lin Zhu, the God of Hell, has gone to the Western Paradise to cause trouble again!"
"It's more than just causing trouble! It's absolutely outrageous! I heard that the White Lotus Child from the Western Paradise betrayed his promise and brutally murdered the dragon clan's offspring, enraging the nine ancient true dragons who have lived since the primordial era. They stormed Mount Ling and even ripped the roof off the Great Thunderclap Temple!"
"Yes, yes, yes! I also heard that Lin Yushen stepped forward at the critical moment, allied with the Dragon Clan, and together they turned Mount Ling upside down, causing rivers of blood to flow! Those bald monks in the Western Paradise have really bitten off more than they can chew this time!"
"It's not just a tough nut to crack, it's like kicking the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation! It's said that Lin Yushen single-handedly... no, he led our brothers from the Nine Heavens Prison to fight his way in and out of Mount Ling seven times, emptying most of the treasure trove of the Western Paradise!"
"Really? That's incredible?!"
"Of course it's true! My third aunt's cousin's neighbor works at the South Heavenly Gate. He said that when Lin Yushen returned, the demonic clouds following behind him were incredibly dense. He must have made a great haul!"
The lives of the gods in Heaven aren't all that carefree. The "salary" paid by the Jade Emperor is often just a drop in the ocean for the lower-ranking gods, and those legendary peaches of immortality and elixirs are so rare that they're only seen once every million years; they don't even get their hands on the peach pits.
Therefore, many immortals developed a "special hobby"—following behind powerful and influential immortal officials, especially those like Lin Zhu who frequently went out to "enforce the law" and "cause trouble," in order to pick up some "loopholes."
The so-called "leaks" might be fragments of magical artifacts shattered during battle, less important parts of demons killed by enforcers, or even just scraps casually given as a reward by enforcers in a good mood. For these low-level deities, these are all considered rare "extra income" and "cultivation resources."
They even complained privately that some superiors used the peaches and elixirs to feed their mounts and spirit pets, which was not as good as "feeding" them, the hardworking little immortals!
Lin Zhu was undoubtedly the biggest "God of Wealth" and "source of excitement" in their eyes! Last time, when Lin Zhu led a team to "trouble" Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, he almost turned the Netherworld upside down. In the end, it was only after Houtu Huangzhi intervened that the situation was stopped. The scene and the harvest were talked about by countless gods for a long time.
I heard that Lin Zhu personally led a team to the Western Paradise, and the opponent was the behemoth that was Buddhism. Moreover, it is said that the scale was even larger, and even the Jade Emperor went to watch and "eat melons". This is terrible.
So when Lin Zhu rode his escape light, leading a group of demon kings and heavenly generals from the Nine Heavens Prison, as well as the newly subdued three-headed great demon whose aura, though restrained, still exuded an ancient and ferocious intent, and arrived outside the South Heavenly Gate, the scene he saw stunned him.
The vast square outside the South Heavenly Gate, which was usually solemn and solemn and patrolled only by heavenly soldiers and generals, was now completely packed with people! It was filled with all sorts of gods and immortals!
Some were craning their necks while riding on clouds, some were looking forward to it while riding cranes, some were whispering excitedly, and some even set up small stools and took out fairy fruits and melon seeds, looking ready to watch a great show!
Lin Zhu recognized many of the faces; they were the regulars who used to follow his group and "pick up scraps." But today, even many of the usually aloof and self-important mid-level celestial officials couldn't contain their curiosity and mingled in the crowd, their eyes burning as they looked in the direction they were coming from.
There's no way around it, Lin Zhu's "achievements" are too impressive, and his appeal is too great! Who wouldn't be curious about what kind of mess this guy has made of the Western Paradise this time? And what incredible "spoils of war" has he brought back?
Amidst the bustling noise and eager anticipation, Lin Zhu and his group descended in their escape light.
Then, a scene that left all the onlookers speechless appeared.
Lin Zhu and the Jade Emperor walked at the front, chatting and laughing. Behind them followed Nezha, who looked arrogant and excited, as if he thought, "Following the boss means you'll get what you deserve." They were also followed by the army of law enforcers from the Nine Heavens Prison, who exuded a murderous aura and demonic energy, yet remained disciplined.
However, the most eye-catching are the three "new faces" mixed in with this team!
Those were three enormous beings, whose auras had been concealed, but the ancient, ferocious, and powerful demonic energy emanating from the depths of their bloodline still made many of the less powerful immortals present feel their hearts tremble!
A figure with wispy blue hair, sharp fangs, and eyes like copper bells, exuded a foul stench as it moved!
A six-toothed, crystal-clear jade statue with a long nose that hangs to the ground, a body as large as a mountain, and heavy footsteps that seem to tremble the earth!
A golden-haired creature, as bright as fire, resembles a divine dog but is even more ferocious, with clouds rising from its four paws and eyes as sharp as lightning!
"That...that is..."
The old-timer, a man of great knowledge who had lived through the Investiture of the Gods era, squinted and carefully examined the three demons for a moment. Then he gasped sharply, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. He pointed at the three great demons, his voice trembling with disbelief and horror.
"A...a green-maned lion?! A six-tusked white elephant?! And...and a golden-maned lion?!"
"Isn't that...isn't that the mount of one of the Three Great Bodhisattvas of the Western Paradise?!"
"How...how could they be here?! And...and they're with Lin Yushen?!"
"My God! This time, Lin Yushen... this time he actually managed to... bring back all three Great Masters' signature mounts?!"
Exclamations spread like wildfire through the crowd, and the once bustling South Heaven Gate fell into an eerie silence. Countless gazes, filled with shock, horror, admiration, or disbelief, were fixed on the three great demons of the Jie Sect who had once been famous throughout the Three Realms but now obediently followed behind Lin Zhu's group.
This scene was a hundred times more shocking than any rumor they had ever heard before!
Although the Heavenly Court and the Western Paradise maintained a facade of harmony after the Investiture of the Gods, their relationship was actually deeply entangled and fraught with undercurrents. Many of the deities serving in the Heavenly Court were either disciples of the Xuanmen sect or had experienced the Investiture of the Gods calamity. They were extremely familiar with the renowned Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Western Paradise, as well as the important "assistants" around them.
In particular, the three revered Bodhisattvas, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Avalokiteshvara, are known among the high-ranking members of the Three Realms for their mounts—the blue-haired lion, the six-tusked white elephant, and the golden-haired pheasant—due to their unique origins and formidable strength.
At this moment, when Lin Zhu appeared outside the South Heavenly Gate with these three enormous, ancient, and ferocious demons, many veteran immortals present recognized their identities almost instantly!
"That mane like flames and fangs like halberds... that's the blue-maned lion under Manjushri Bodhisattva! The one who was a demon in Lion Camel Ridge back then, swallowing 100,000 heavenly soldiers in one gulp!"
"And that six-tusked white elephant! The mount of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva! With a flick of its trunk, it can move mountains and overturn seas!"
"My God! That golden-haired lion... isn't that the one beneath Guanyin Bodhisattva's lotus throne?! It's said that its roar can shatter even the soul!"
"No mistake! It's definitely them! The signature mounts of the Three Great Bodhisattvas of the Western Paradise, and three of the Seven Immortals who served the Jie Sect: Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, and Jin Guang Xian! How... how could they have been brought back by Lin Yu Shen?!" "Judging from their appearance... they don't seem to be suffering from being forcibly imprisoned. On the contrary... they even seem to be... smiling brightly?"
Indeed, upon closer inspection, those three ancient demons, who usually had to lower their heads and serve as mounts in the Western Paradise, their true nature suppressed by Buddhist teachings, were still mostly concealing their auras. However, their enormous beast eyes were faintly flashing with an uncontrollable excitement, exhilaration, and even a long-lost radiance of "freedom" and "hope"!
Although their steps were heavy, they carried a lightness to them, and their mouths seemed to be slightly grinning, as if they were smiling!
This bizarre and shocking scene left all the onlookers bewildered. Then, an even more startling speculation spread like wildfire among the crowd.
"Could it be...could it be that Lin Yushen not only caused a huge uproar on his trip to the Western Paradise, but also 'kidnapped' the mounts of the three great Bodhisattvas?!"
"Not prisoners, not captured... judging by their happy expressions, they seem to have followed Lin Yushen willingly?"
"My goodness! Lin Yushen's methods... are too unbelievable! He can even 'turn' the Seven Immortals who serve the Jie Sect?!"
"The enforcement methods of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison... are indeed unique and breathtaking!"
Exclamations and murmurs erupted again, even more enthusiastic than before.
The gazes of all the deities towards Lin Zhu were filled with utter shock and awe. What kind of skill and charisma did it take to bring back the very symbol of the Western Paradise—its "mount"?
As for Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, and Jin Guang Xian, the people involved, their inner excitement at this moment was far more turbulent than it appeared on the surface!
When they were forcibly released from their restrictions by Amitabha Buddha at Mount Ling in the Western Paradise and were asked to leave with Lin Zhu, their hearts were filled with confusion, resentment, and deep humiliation.
They thought they had simply moved from one cage to another, perhaps an even harsher one.
However, on the way from Mount Ling to the Heavenly Court with Lin Zhu, Lin Zhu casually approached them and gently patted their huge bodies. At the same time, a very subtle but familiar aura that made their souls tremble quietly was transmitted to them!
That was a unique Daoist aura fluctuation from the Jie Sect's techniques, carrying the meaning of "seizing a sliver of life"! What shocked them even more was that the seemingly ordinary token at Lin Zhu's waist, in that instant, actually emitted a faint yet incredibly pure aura belonging to the Tongtian Saint!
The three demon immortals froze instantly! Unbelievable, wild joy erupted from their enormous beastly eyes! It was a fellow disciple of the Jie Sect! It was their master's successor! This Heavenly Prison God who had "exchanged" them from the Western Paradise was actually their own senior brother?! He'd come to rescue us?!
Qiu Shou Xian was the most impatient and agitated. With his huge lion mouth open, he almost blurted out the word "Master," and the cry of "Senior Brother" almost burst from his throat!
However, in the blink of an eye, just as it was about to utter its first syllable, Lin Zhu's seemingly casual hand on its shoulder pressed down slightly, and at the same time, a calm yet undeniably authoritative divine thought was poured onto its feverish head like ice water.
"Keep quiet. This is not the place to talk. Don't ruin things."
Qiu Shou Xian felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. His massive lion body trembled violently, and he instantly realized! That's it! This is outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, with countless eyes watching! If Lin Zhu's identity as a member of the Jie Sect were exposed now, it would not only bring endless trouble to Lin Zhu, but it might also plunge them into danger again after they had just escaped the jaws of death! He had been far too reckless! He had almost harmed his senior brother who had come to his rescue!
A flicker of fear and regret flashed in its enormous lion eyes. It quickly lowered its head, swallowing back the shout that was about to escape its lips, and let out a muffled gurgling sound, as if it were just a burp.
Seeing that it understood, Lin Zhu casually withdrew his hand, his face still showing a calm and indifferent expression, as if he had just patted his disobedient dog.
He turned to one of the law enforcement officers beside him and gave the order.
"Take these three...new colleagues to the side hall of the Star Palace to settle them in and rest. Treat them well and do not neglect them."
"Yes, Lord Prison God!"
Although the general was somewhat intimidated by the three terrifying demons, seeing his leader so calm, he mustered his courage and stepped forward to greet the three demon immortals with a cupped-hand salute.
"The three of you, please follow me."
The three demon immortals now understood that Lin Zhu was protecting them and paving the way for their formal integration into the Heavenly Court.
They immediately suppressed their excitement, trying to appear "docile," and responded with a low growl. They then obediently followed the celestial general, escorted by a group of law enforcers, towards the Star Palace deep within the Heavenly Court.
The oppressive aura emanating from its massive form caused the onlookers to involuntarily make way for it.
Lin Zhu watched their departing figures, not really caring whether his identity would be exposed.
He possesses a system, and his karmic entanglement with the Jie Sect was already destined, and it would be revealed to the world sooner or later. As for the Jade Emperor, with his profound thoughts, he probably already had some guesses, but everyone tacitly pretended not to know.
He had revealed the token's aura primarily to confirm the three demon immortals' fellow disciples, reassure them, and reassure them to follow him. Unexpectedly, the wisp-headed immortal almost let slip his secret on the spot, but it was no big deal. Even if the immortals present had some suspicions, without concrete evidence, they dared not gossip.
His primary purpose in bringing the three demon immortals back to Heaven was to ensure that everyone in Heaven, especially the Jade Emperor and the celestial officials, witnessed and "acknowledged" that these three great demons had returned as "new members of the Nine-Layered Heavenly Prison" and "soldiers of Heaven"! (End of Chapter)