"So, what are your thoughts? Feel free to share them!"
Since I'm just idling around anyway, I might as well find something to do and, incidentally, test the limits of the world's laws.
For example, if the original plot is changed, how will Heaven respond?
Moreover, the storyline of Journey to the West is also interesting.
The incident began when Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, held a Water and Land Dharma Assembly, which attracted eminent monks from all over the country. Among these monks, he selected Master Chen Xuanzang to be the master of the assembly, which made him famous.
Later, he encountered Guanyin descending to earth and learned that Buddhism has Mahayana and Hinayana aspects.
Therefore, Li Shimin decided to bestow the title of Imperial Brother upon Chen Xuanzang and send him to the Western Paradise to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, which led to the subsequent series of events.
So why did Li Shimin want to seek Buddhist scriptures?
However, Judge Cui of the Underworld, after resurrecting Li Shimin, told him that holding the Water and Land Dharma Assembly had two great benefits: 1. All the bad things he had done in the past could be corrected! 2. It would encourage people to do good, ensuring that his descendants would be numerous and his country would be stable forever.
This means that, firstly, evil is evil! All the evil deeds that Li Shimin committed in the past, such as forcing his father to kill his brothers and harming his younger brothers, pacifying sixty-four bandit camps, annihilating seventy-two bandit groups, and killing countless people in his southern and northern expeditions, so that countless wronged souls cried out for justice, could all be changed.
Judge Cui told him that as long as the Water and Land Ritual was held, the countless wronged and wandering ghosts would be delivered from suffering and he would no longer be held responsible.
Secondly, by holding a water and land ceremony, one can set an example, take the lead in doing good deeds, and persuade everyone in the world to do good and stop doing evil. Only in this way can future generations prosper, the country be stable forever, and the dynasty remain unchanged for ten thousand generations.
Li Shimin was immediately excited. Since there were so many benefits, why not take advantage of it?
Therefore, as soon as he returned to the mortal realm, he began to organize the Water and Land Dharma Assembly.
So what if history were changed, allowing the new dynasty to last for hundreds of years instead of dying young, thus nipping the Buddhist Journey to the West plan in the bud?
So how should this so-called eastward transmission of Buddhism proceed?
To be honest, Xiao Ning was quite looking forward to it.
"Cultivation...enjoying wealth and luxury..."
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang found himself in a difficult position.
Wang Mang was naturally envious of the opportunity to cultivate himself.
With boundless strength, able to move mountains and fill seas, live on wind and dew, abstain from grains, fly through the sky and escape into the earth, ride the clouds and mist, live forever and have long life...
Who wouldn't want to possess such extraordinary abilities?
Now, this opportunity is right before our eyes, within easy reach.
But worldly riches are also quite appealing!
He wielded absolute power, had a harem of concubines, and his word was law; he could do whatever he pleased...
As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality!
Wang Mang had enjoyed decades of wealth and luxury, and he had no desire to lose it.
"Boss, is it impossible to have both fish and bear's paw?"
After much deliberation, Wang Mang found himself unable to choose between the two options, so he tentatively asked.
Xiao Ning shook his head and said, "You little rascal, you're really greedy. Since ancient times, one cannot have both worldly wealth and immortal freedom. Since the time of the Human Emperor Xuanyuan, the Jade Emperor, the supreme ruler of the Three Realms, has decreed that human emperors are not allowed to cultivate. I can't help you with that!"
The emperors of the mortal realm have already reached the pinnacle of human power. If they were allowed to cultivate further, the mortal realm would gradually become a world ruled by one family, and perhaps before long, it would threaten the rule of the Heavenly Court.
Therefore, the Jade Emperor issued an edict forbidding the human emperors in the lower realms from cultivating, and those who disobeyed the order would have their entire families exterminated!
This is information that Xiao Ning learned from the Heavenly Dao.
"Oh...is that not allowed?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang felt a pang of disappointment.
"Actually, it's not impossible. I have a solution that's not a perfect one, but it carries a tiny bit of risk. It just depends on whether you're willing to try it."
Just as Wang Mang was feeling disappointed, Xiao Ning, stroking his smooth chin, said thoughtfully.
"A solution? The boss means..."
Wang Mang's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said.
Xiao Ning looked up at the outside of the palace, as if he could see the Heavenly Palace in the heavens above. He pointed a finger and created a barrier that surrounded the entire Weiyang Palace.
Then he said, "If the Jade Emperor forbids emperors from cultivating, then they can cultivate after abdicating, or that way they can exploit a loophole in the Heavenly Laws!"
"What do you think, kid?"
This was an idea that suddenly popped into Xiao Ning's head.
After all, the Jade Emperor's decree only stated that the emperor could not cultivate, but it did not say that the retired emperor could not cultivate.
Therefore, when Wang Mang asked this question, Xiao Ning shared his previous conjecture, thinking that perhaps doing so could avoid the punishment of the Heavenly Laws!
"Boss, this is a great idea! This is brilliant!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang's mind raced. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was worth a try. He excitedly said, "Boss, please let me try! I'm not afraid of hardship or fatigue. As long as I can achieve immortality, I'm willing to do anything!"
"Alright then, you should first reorganize the Great Xin Kingdom. Once the country is stable, you can abdicate in peace and pass the throne to your son. Then I will teach you the path of cultivation!"
Xiao Ning naturally wouldn't refuse. In any case, the plan to challenge the bottom line of the Heavenly Dao of this world by using Wang Mang, this poor guinea pig, as an experiment had already been planned. Adding a few more variables wouldn't matter much.
"Hehe, that's wonderful! You're so kind to me, boss! I don't know how to repay your great kindness!"