Volume 4: The Revelation of All Secrets – Chapter 412: Deception and Trickery

When Zhenwu saw Wukong and Hou Tu enter, he came down to greet them with a joyful expression. Yet Wukong paid no attention to him, focusing instead on the immobile Phoenix.
The Phoenix, Xiangliu, Zhenwu, and the Qilin had been entangled for tens of thousands of years. This conflict arose out of nowhere, seemingly without reason, yet it had pushed Zhenwu and the Qilin to the brink. Wukong had long wondered what the Phoenix truly wanted. Thinking that this day might reveal that secret, he felt somewhat excited.
After the four sat down, Zhenwu glanced at the Phoenix and said, “Elder, shall I speak about this matter or shall you?”
Wukong was greatly surprised. How could Zhenwu address the Phoenix as an elder? Where did that come from?
One was the leader of all fish, the other the leader of all birds—they were clearly peers. How could there be a distinction between them? The Phoenix simply nodded slightly at Wukong and said, “I’ve long heard of you, Wukong, but it’s better to meet in person.”
Wukong replied, “You’re too kind, Elder.”
The Phoenix said, “My son Dapeng owes you much for your guidance, as he didn’t go down the wrong path. It’s me who should thank you.”
Wukong said, “Dapeng is my brother. We’re as close as brothers. Why should you be polite?”
The Phoenix sighed and said, “I have two sons. At first, I thought the peacock had unparalleled talent and would achieve great things, but things turned out otherwise.”
Wukong was puzzled. Dapeng hadn’t achieved anything remarkable either. What did the Phoenix mean by this? So he asked, “Elder, why not speak plainly?”
The Phoenix said, “As you all know, I am the leader of all birds, right?”
Wukong nodded. That was something everyone knew. The Phoenix continued, “But what you don’t know is that I was the leader of all birds in the previous era, and I have nothing to do with this current era.”
Ah? Wukong was shocked. He had never thought of that. No wonder Zhenwu called the Phoenix an elder. Then… where was the leader of all birds in this era?
The Phoenix said, “Among the kings of the five categories—the Ancestral Dragon, the Qilin, Xiangliu, and the Phoenix—there is only one in each era. Since I’ve arrived, there will be no other Phoenix in this era.”
Wukong asked, “Did you also hide in the Creation Furnace to survive the trials of each era?”
The Phoenix shook his head and said, “This time, you’re wrong.”
Wukong was utterly confused. Besides the Creation Furnace, what else could survive the trials of each era?
The Phoenix’s face always carried a sorrowful expression. On his noble, jade-like face seemed to lie eternal confusion and hesitation. He continued, “I was able to survive the trials of each era because, at the end of the previous era, I perfected the divine powers of the Phoenix, allowing me to rise from oblivion in the chaos.”

Wukong suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, “Is your innate divine power the Nirvana?”
This time it was the phoenix who was surprised. She asked Wukong in return, “How do you know about Nirvana?”
Wukong realized he had spoken carelessly. He had learned about the phoenix’s Nirvana from books from later generations. Though he had heard the term Nirvana before, he knew little about it, only that it was related to rising from death.
Wukong pretended to be confused and said, “I’ve forgotten which book I read it in.” He then asked, “What is so extraordinary about the Nirvana power that it can withstand the power of chaos?”
The phoenix replied, “Nirvana… is like a flame going out, like wind dispersing. It is essentially nothing at all. The power of chaos cannot affect it.”
Wukong was deeply impressed. If what the phoenix said was true, then she was the first person to have overcome the calamity of the Age of Transformation without relying on any external aid. Even Buddha needed the Furnace of Creation to get through it. There was probably no one else in the world with such ability, of course, excluding those from the School of Creation.
Wukong asked, “Since you can overcome the calamity of the Age of Transformation, nothing else in the world can trouble you. With all due respect, why do you help Buddha?”
The phoenix smiled bitterly and said, “Most people in the world think I am Buddha’s accomplice, right?”
Wukong, Hou Tu, and Zhen Wu all remained silent. Since the phoenix and Xiang Liu were inseparable, wouldn’t that be acting as an accomplice to the villain? Anyone would think so.
The phoenix said, “Buddha and I are just in a deal.”
Wukong frowned and asked, “Elder, what else do you desire?”
The phoenix pondered for a moment before asking, “Do you like this heaven and this earth?”
Wukong was stunned. Like it? Dislike it? He had never thought about it in such terms before. At that moment, Hou Tu asked, “You don’t like it?”
The phoenix replied calmly, “The heaven is not truly heaven, the earth is not truly earth. How can there be anything to like?”
Hou Tu smiled and nodded, “I thought only I had such thoughts. Hearing your words today feels like hearing sweet music from the heavens.”
Wukong looked at Hou Tu and said, “Sister once said, ‘There is a heaven beyond heaven.’ Is this what you mean?” Hou Tu replied, “Exactly. It’s just that having lived underground for so long, I gradually sensed something wrong with this place. That’s why I deduced that there must be a heaven beyond this one.”
Wukong secretly admired them. These two were also remarkable talents in the world. He came from a later era, with a broader perspective and imagination than those in this world, which led him to conclude that Buddha needed to leave this world. Yet these two, despite being in confusion, still reached this correct conclusion—truly admirable.
The phoenix looked at Hou Tu and said, “You understand the earth, I understand the heaven. Apart from you and me, I fear no one else can see through this.”

Wukong shook his head and said with a smile, “Your words are mistaken, senior. How could Tathagata fail to see through things?”
The Phoenix replied, “Of course he knows. If it weren’t for his desire to leave, why would he go to such lengths to manipulate the world?”
Wukong asked, “What kind of deal did you have with Tathagata? Could you tell me?”
The Phoenix said, “Do you know that Tathagata has three forms?”
Houtu and Zhenwu were both stunned, but only Wukong nodded. The Phoenix continued, “The current ruler of the world is actually the weakest of them all. You surely know that as well?”
Wukong replied, “I know a little about it.” Sensing something hidden in the Phoenix’s words, he asked, “Have you seen Tathagata’s three forms?”
The Phoenix shook her head and said, “I’ve only seen two—Tathagata, the World-Honored One, and the Vairocana Tathagata.”
Wukong was both surprised and delighted. He thought the Phoenix, like Randeng, had only seen Tathagata and Maitreya Bodhisattva, but she had actually seen Tathagata’s third form. Randeng had said that Tathagata’s third form was the most powerful—one known as Vairocana Tathagata.
Wukong asked, “Where did you see him? And where is Vairocana Tathagata now?”
The Phoenix replied, “I saw him in the Creation Furnace. Vairocana Tathagata is still in the Creation Furnace right now.”
Wukong was puzzled. Still in the Creation Furnace? That very furnace that had survived the calamity of the previous era was now being used in heaven to refine the heavens. Tathagata, the Three Pure Ones, and the Jade Emperor’s consort had all survived there. Could it be that Vairocana Tathagata was in heaven?
The Phoenix continued, “For him, changing his dwelling place is nothing unusual.” Wukong murmured in thought. It seemed certain that Vairocana Tathagata was in the Creation Furnace inside the Stupa Tower. At this thought, dark clouds gathered in his mind. The Stupa Tower was connected to the Buddhist hell. Vairocana Tathagata must be practicing some terrifying skills there. He had endured for countless years just to emerge one day—once he did, the world would be in danger!
The Phoenix said, “When I first met Tathagata, the World-Honored One, his cultivation was low, and he wasn’t qualified to speak with me. But as he gradually improved and awakened, I suddenly realized that what I wanted had answers with him.”
Wukong asked, “Does he know the method to transcend heaven and earth?”
The Phoenix nodded firmly and said, “Exactly!”
Wukong then asked, “What about the Great Five Elements Spirit Blood Formation?”
The Phoenix was stunned for a moment before saying with a bitter smile, “It was all destroyed by you.”
Wukong felt embarrassed and said, “I thought it was Tathagata’s scheme, not realizing it had something to do with you.”
The Phoenix replied, “It’s destroyed, so it’s destroyed. We two were just playing along.”

Wukong asked, “I see. So the deal is this: Tathagata helps you build the Great Five Elements Spirit Blood Formation to escape this world, while you help Tathagata gather the rulers of the five elements and use the Phoenix’s blood for him, right?”
The Phoenix replied, “You already know everything.”
Zhenwu said, “Wukong is truly clever. It’s just that the Phoenix has always held back and never really intended to capture me or the Qilin, which is why things have been going back and forth for tens of thousands of years.”
The Phoenix said, “It’s not that I’m arrogant. If I really wanted to capture you two, it wouldn’t take much effort. But Tathagata’s actions have made me increasingly suspicious, so I’ve been half-hearted.”
Wukong asked, “Has the elder been under Tathagata’s spell? And what role does Xiangliu play?”
The Phoenix replied, “Xiangliu is a disciple of Bodhisattva Nili, so he certainly has no ulterior motives. I was under Xiangliu’s spell many years ago. After tens of thousands of years, I no longer care much about it.”
“Back then, the Peacock mistook me for being coerced by Tathagata’s schemes. In anger, it swallowed Tathagata. It was I who split open the Peacock’s back to free Tathagata.”
Wukong was puzzled. “Why was that?”
The Phoenix replied, “The World Honored One is light in weight; killing him would be pointless. Although the Peacock is highly skilled, it doesn’t think things through carefully and was ultimately deceived by Tathagata into the Avici Hell.”
Wukong hadn’t expected such a story. But how could the Peacock trust Tathagata? What promise did Tathagata give it? Are all the Bodhisattvas in the Buddhist hells deceived in this way?
Wukong asked, “Since the elder came here today, aren’t you afraid Tathagata will find out?” The Phoenix revealed some details at this moment, and Wukong also wanted to know the reason. If he really wanted to uncover Tathagata’s secrets, why not wait until everything was clear before turning against him?
The Phoenix said, “At first, Tathagata coveted the bodies of the rulers of the five elements. But now he’s too insecure and doesn’t care much about it anymore. My Great Five Elements Spirit Blood Formation has been completely ruined. It’s nearly impossible to gather the people of the five elements again. This deal will actually end without success.”
Wukong said, “Tathagata giving up on this has something to do with the elder. If the elder doesn’t help, there’s no one else suitable to capture Uncle Qilin and Emperor Zhenwu. Tathagata will have to find another way.”
The Phoenix said, “Now that I think about it, Tathagata used the Great Five Elements Spirit Blood Formation to lure me into serving him, but it might also be a trick. Only the name of the Great Five Elements Spirit Blood Formation is known; no one has seen whether it’s real or fake. But dozens of liters of Phoenix blood are required, and there’s no room for negotiation.”
Wukong suddenly understood. No wonder the Phoenix wasn’t helping. It turned out that Tathagata and the Phoenix had suspected each other from the start. How could this plan succeed?