Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Li Shimin's question caught Golden Cicada off guard; he saw the fervent flame in the Emperor's eyes. Which sovereign could resist the temptation of eternal life? Unfortunately, with the covenant between humans and gods, Emperors could not cultivate. But Li Shimin was clearly deeply concerned about the future fortunes and destiny of Great Tang, hence his inquiry.

"To be frank with Your Majesty, the Buddha Ancestor indeed knows of past and future, but the fortune and destiny of Great Tang are of the Human Path, and the Buddha Ancestor, transcending the worldly realm, has never mentioned it," Tang Monk shook his head and said.

A hint of regret flitted across Li Shimin's face as he casually mentioned, "Alas, I learned of this too late. Had not Yuan Qing brought it up, I would never have thought to ask. I should have had you inquire back then."

Tang Monk then understood why Li Shimin would pose such a question. If he were still the former Tang Sanzang, he might simply smile lightly and cast the matter aside. However, now that he had regained his memories as Golden Cicada, his eyebrows slightly raised as he devised a plan, and with a smile, he said, "Could it be Yuan Tiangang, that esteemed personage?"

Li Shimin smiled and nodded, only to hear Tang Monk continue, "Actually, Your Majesty need not ask the Buddha Ancestor to discern the fate of Great Tang. Yuan Tiangang is a great sage of the Taoist Sect, skilled at divination, and his greatest expertise lies in discerning Heaven's Secret. Naturally, he can calculate the nation's fortunes and destiny."

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At those words, Li Shimin's eyes lit up. He was aware of Yuan Tiangang's abilities but never considered this possibility. Now reminded by Tang Monk, he caught on immediately.

Seeing this, Tang Monk quietly revealed a smile, a little act of revenge for the other's talkativeness.

When Yuan Tiangang received the news, he was dumbfounded on the spot, not expecting the typically rigid and honest Tang Monk to say such a thing.

The matter originally stemmed from Li Shimin feeling his age and having a sudden thought. Yet Yuan Tiangang knew it was a burdensome and arduous task. Not to mention the painstaking process of divining, but also the immense karma it entailed was far too much for him to bear.

Therefore, he had passed the buck to Buddhism, thinking that with Tang Monk's character, he certainly would not trouble him with it. Little did he know, Tang Monk had awakened his past life's memories; his former rigidity and honesty had long vanished, and he had craftily set him up.

Now, he found himself trapped, as how could he, a mere subject, refuse the request of the current Emperor? For the first time, he deeply understood why the predecessors chose to live reclusively in the mountains, reluctant to entangle themselves in the affairs of the court. Indeed, like a quagmire, it was difficult to extricate oneself.

He hurried home to seek his uncle, Yuan Shoucheng.

At that moment, Yuan Shoucheng was playing chess with Li Chunfeng in the courtyard. Amidst the interplay of black and white pieces, it seemed as if another world emerged. A pear tree stood in the courtyard; though it was now high summer, the tree blossomed exceptionally bright. A breeze carried the white petals fluttering down, landing gently on the stone chessboard, but they were soon pushed to the ground by an invisible force.

"Brother, you were somewhat careless in your actions this time. The affair of Human Path's Fortune and Destiny is not to be meddled with lightly. Though you have shifted this matter to Buddhism, it remains uncertain if it will pass," Li Chunfeng said with a hint of anxiety.

"Sigh, we Cultivators, once we enter the mortal world, must always see our hearts clearly and dispel external demons in order to make progress. Your disciple brother has grown accustomed to flattery over the years and has become arrogant at heart. Now that calamity approaches, he still does not know how he will cope," Yuan Shoucheng sighed lightly.

The matter of Li Shimin wanting to divine the nation's fortunes had already been communicated to the two by Yuan Tiangang. They were somewhat disapproving of his action, after all, the Buddha Ancestor was an extraordinary being. If he should take offense, they were but ants in comparison, with no strength to fight back.

At this moment, hurried footsteps sounded. Turning to look, they saw a breathless Yuan Tiangang, standing helplessly at the door.

Seeing this, Yuan Shoucheng sighed softly and said, "Has there been an unexpected development regarding the previous matter?"

With an ashamed look, Yuan Tiangang said, "To be honest with uncle, Tang Monk spoke before the Emperor, claiming we are adept at divining Heaven's Secret and observing the nation's fortunes, implying there's no need to visit Mount Ling to seek an audience with the Buddha Ancestor."

"Has His Majesty been moved by this?"

"Although His Majesty did not expressly say so, he lamented in front of me that his days were numbered, and what he couldn't let go of was the future of Great Tang. He hopes that I can resolve his concerns," Yuan Tiangang said with a wry smile.

"I always told you to hide your skills and not to show off. But you never listened. A few praises made you arrogant, and you made such a big name for yourself in Great Tang that even His Majesty has deep faith in your abilities. Now you are reaping what you sowed, aren't you?"

"Uncle speaks the truth. I was careless in my conduct. Now that disaster is upon me, I do not know what to do," Yuan Tiangang said as he made a respectful bow, his tone sincere, hoping his uncle would help him find a solution.

Yuan Shoucheng could only smile wryly and say, "What could I possibly suggest? Though we are skilled at divining, the fortunes of a nation are not so easily observed. One false step could mean death and the obliteration of the soul, consigned to eternal damnation. Moreover, with the tremendous changes in heaven and earth and the Chaos of Heaven's Secret, how could we possibly succeed with our abilities? Wait here, I will go to Dragon Tiger Mountain to consult with the elders of the Taoist Sect and see if they have any solutions."

With expectant eyes, Yuan Tiangang watched Yuan Shoucheng set off for Dragon Tiger Mountain. It took several days before he returned to Changan, just as Li Shimin hinted again at divining the nation's fortunes.

Upon seeing his uncle, Yuan Tiangang was shocked. In just a few days, Yuan Shoucheng seemed to have aged considerably, his originally graying hair now completely white, his vitality greatly diminished. Yuan Tiangang could not fathom what had transpired in those days.