Great Demon Sun Wukong

The Nine Infants was originally a nine-headed serpent from the time of the ancient Emperor Yao, with extremely powerful cultivation. However, now, after devouring the Buddha's Relics of Tathagata Buddha, the Nine Infants transformed into a Nine-Headed Golden Dragon. The difference in power is enormous. In all of Chinese history, whether in mythology or legend, dragons are the top-tier beings.

Though many divine beasts feed on dragons, such as the legendary divine beast, the Hou, the protector divine beast of Western Buddhism, the Garuda, and the giant divine bird from ancient Indian mythology. The legend of Kirin eating dragons is incorrect because the progenitor of the Kirin is actually the Hou. The Hou eats dragons, which was later mistakenly interpreted as Kirin also eating dragons.

Speaking of the Hou, according to the Ming Dynasty "Cang Yong Tells," the Hou is a ferocious beast that feeds on dragons. There is a story of a Hou pursuing a dragon to the river, where suddenly three Jiao and one dragon appeared to fight the Hou. The Hou was killed, and only one Jiao and one dragon remained. This suggests it was a premeditated battle.

First, a dragon lured the Hou to a predetermined location, where three Jiao and one dragon ambushed and attacked the Hou. Despite killing the Hou, three Jiao and one dragon perished as well, showcasing the Hou's strength. Truly, only these three creatures feed on dragons.

Nonetheless, dragons remain at the top of the food chain among divine beasts. The transformation of Nine Infants into a Nine-Headed Golden Dragon caused Sun Wukong and Yang Jian to frown. From serpent to python, python to Jiao, Jiao to dragon, and finally to five-clawed golden dragon. Yet, the Nine Infants evolved directly from python to golden dragon, specifically a five-clawed golden dragon. This led to the misconception that the five-clawed dragon has five claws.

A five-clawed golden dragon is a dragon with four claws, each split into five parts. The most powerful dragon is the five-clawed golden dragon. Now, the Nine Infants is a nine-headed five-clawed golden dragon. Without delay, two dragon heads spat two streams of fierce fire toward Sun Wukong and Yang Jian.

Seeing the flames, Sun Wukong was surprised and attempted to warn Yang Jian, but the flames transformed into a giant Buddha hand reaching for Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong didn't hesitate, flipped his feet, and soared skyward to evade. As he looked back at Yang Jian, he too had jumped up to avoid it.

"Monkey, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have come. Even the Great Sun Lamp Oil Flame appeared, and getting hit by it would be disastrous," Yang Jian said, shooting a glance at Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong didn't expect Yang Jian to recognize the flame too and chuckled, "It's too late to regret now. I've already owed you; how could you leave? You've seen it, Shakyamuni, that old man, won't rest easy unless he kills me."

Ordinarily, Sun Wukong would refer to him as Tathagata, but now filled with rage, he called him Shakyamuni. Normally, 'Tathagata' or 'Tathagata Buddha' is just an epithet. 'Tathagata' means one who has come by the true path and attained enlightenment. 'Tathā' in Buddhist scripture means ultimate truth—Tathagata means one who bears the ultimate truth and comes to the world intending to save all beings.

Referring to Shakyamuni Buddha as Tathagata Shakyamuni is acceptable, but calling him Tathagata Buddha alone is incorrect because both 'Tathagata' and 'Buddha' are universal titles for all Buddhas and do not indicate a specific Buddha, much like calling someone Mr. or Sir does not specify an individual.

Shakyamuni Buddha and all Buddha have ten titles. Although usually listed as ten, in general, there are eleven titles as in the "Lotus Sutra": "Tathagata, One Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, Possessed of the Perfect Knowledge and Conduct, Well Gone, World Knower, Supreme Being, Tamer of Beings Capable of Being Tamed, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One."

Shakyamuni Buddha, commonly referred to as Tathagata, is one of the three bodies of the Buddha, known as the Nirmanakaya Buddha. There is another misconception that Mahavairocana Tathagata is the same as Tathagata Buddha or Shakyamuni, which is false. Mahavairocana Tathagata refers to the Dharma Body Buddha, Vairochana Buddha, which represents the Dharma itself, the embodiment of the law residing in a place of eternal serenity and purity.

Although Shakyamuni and Vairochana are manifestations of the Buddha, they possess independent wills and are not the same entity—much like I could create three doppelgangers of myself. If each doppelganger developed its own will, with the original consciousness gone, these three would become independent beings separate from me.

Alright, this is tangential.

The Great Sun Lamp Oil Flame, created by Shakyamuni, or rather Tathagata, refined using the solar flames and lamp oil before the Buddha, burns the deeds and cultivation terrifyingly. Tathagata likely incorporated the Great Sun Lamp Oil Flame into the Buddha's Relics, so the Nine Infants, after devouring those relics, can use the Great Sun Lamp Oil Flame.

While Sun Wukong and Yang Jian talked, the flames forming gigantic Buddha hands suddenly split into countless tiny hands like those of ordinary people, swarming toward Sun Wukong and Yang Jian. Not daring to linger, Sun Wukong and Yang Jian continuously swung their weapons, dispersing that arm-shaped Great Sun Lamp Oil Flame.

"Yang Jian, stop holding back! If you keep this up, we'll truly be done for today," Sun Wukong said while wielding the Jingu Bang. Hearing this, Yang Jian asked in surprise, "How did you know? Even my master and the Jade Emperor don't know. Tell me, how did you find out?"

Sun Wukong and Yang Jian referred to Yang Jian's true cultivation. The Taoist immortals are ranked according to their strength: Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Taiyi True Immortal, Taiyi Golden Immortal, Taiyi Mystic Immortal, Daluo True Immortal, Daluo Golden Immortal, Daluo Mystic Immortal, and Quasi-Saint.

Above Quasi-Saint, there are positions like Hierarchs, such as Primordial River Ancestor, Demon Master Kunpeng, and Western Jehovah. Beyond Hierarchs is the Primordial level, such as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, Zhen Yuanzi, who is at the Primordial cultivation level. Beyond the Primordial is the Primordial Golden Immortal, known as a Saint.

Heavenly Dao Saints are also called Primordial Saints, Celestial Saints, Innate Saints, or Primordial Supreme Daluo Golden Immortals. Heavenly Dao Saints can withstand innumerable tribulations, carry no grievances or karma, existing alongside and within the Heavenly Dao. A single thought allows them to know anything from the past, present, and future; the world can be destroyed and recreated effortlessly.

Since the existence of this universe, six people have attained sainthood, revered as the "Six Saints of Heaven," which include the three formed from Pangu's energy: Supreme Elder Lord, Yuanshi Heavenly Venerate, Master Tongtian, along with the two Western Saints, the Guiding Daoist and Zhunti Daoist. Guiding Daoist is the transformation of Shakyamuni, and Zhunti Daoist is Sun Wukong's master, Bodhi Patriarch.

The last Heavenly Dao Saint is the Earth Mother Queen, one of the Progenitors of the Demon Clan, Lady Nuwa. These six are true Heavenly Dao Saints, all honoring the Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Hongjun oversees the six major Heavenly Dao Saints as an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao.

The cultivation of Ancestor Hongjun, surpassing the Heavenly Dao Saints, is at the level of Primordial Supreme Immortal, just below the Heavenly Dao.

There are many ways to become a Heavenly Dao Saint; the so-called three thousand paths to the Great Dao are all accessible. The well-known methods include proving Dao through power, severing the three corpses to certify the Dao, and proving Dao by merit.

Sun Wukong referred to Yang Jian's cultivation, which had also reached the Primordial level. Although merely a Quasi-Saint, in today's Heavenly Palace, it is an exceptionally strong cultivation. Since ancient times, the talents in Taoism have dwindled. Although the Three Pure Ones remain, there are few between the Heavenly Dao Saints and the Primordial, Hierarch, or even Quasi-Saint levels.

Currently, the acknowledged strongest in Taoist Heaven are only at the Daluo Mystic Immortal level, excluding the Three Pure Ones. During Sun Wukong's havoc in the Heavenly Palace, Yang Jian's power had already surpassed Quasi-Saint to reach the Hierarch level, and now, five hundred years later, Yang Jian became Primordial, a step away from proving his Sainthood.

This explains why Yang Jian can stand apart from Heaven, heed no orders, while the Jade Emperor can do nothing to him.

"Hehe, it's simple because I'm also at the Primordial level. Yet, it's not the time to show my power, so I invited you. Now isn't the best time to wage war with Buddhism," Sun Wukong chuckled to Yang Jian.

"I didn't expect you, monkey, five hundred years ago, barely at Quasi-Saint, after five hundred years beneath the Five Elements Mountain, to reach Primordial. If Tathagata hadn't sealed you under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years, you'd likely be a Saint by now. Your aptitude is truly terrifying," Yang Jian said with a smile, as the third eye on his forehead lit up brilliantly.