Lu Fan was a bit numb.
He was a Transmigrator, having arrived in this world three hundred years ago.
Initially, he thought this was an ordinary Xuanhuan continent, and with a bit of foresight and unremitting effort, he finally cultivated to become an Immortal after much hardship.
Who would have thought he'd butt heads with a bunch of bald donkeys.
Lu Fan's life philosophy was about achieving a clear Heart-Nature, never bowing his head to anyone, so he was naturally not one to shy away from trouble.
As it turned out, the other side had deep connections and directly reported it to the Heavenly Court.
It wasn't until his hands and feet were bound by Immortal-Binding Ropes, kneeling on this chilling Execution Platform, listening to the discussions of the surrounding Immortals, that he suddenly realized.
Sun Wukong, Nezha, Li Jing...
This was the Primordial World, and the timeline had already reached after Journey to the West!
His proud Earth Immortal cultivation was probably not even as good as a single Heavenly Soldier from the siege of Flower-Fruit Mountain in front of these gods and Buddhas who could destroy heaven and earth at will.
If not for the Heavenly Court having been peaceful for a long time, with nothing major happening, his small matter wouldn't have attracted so many powerful beings to watch.
Well, now it's over.
Completely over, with no chance of a comeback.
The Immortal Caves, Formations, and stand-ins he had left behind in the Mortal world were utterly useless under this level of power suppression.
What's the point of even trying?
A dead end.
Just as Lu Fan's Heart-Nature was like dead ashes, and he was contemplating whether it was more dignified to die standing or kneeling, a mechanical prompt sounded in his mind.
"Life Editor System activated."
Lu Fan's Heart-Nature skipped a beat.
System?
Why come neither early nor late, but precisely at this moment?
Why not wait until my corpse is cold before coming to offer me incense?
"System, what are you for?"
Lu Fan asked in his mind.
"This System can freely edit the host's life resume."
"Rule One: Edited content must not directly conflict with real history known to the world."
"Rule Two: Edited content cannot directly change reality, nor can it directly provide the host with cultivation or Magic Treasures."
Lu Fan's brows furrowed tightly.
What kind of broken rules are these?
Not being able to conflict with real history meant he couldn't fabricate a Dao Ancestor relative or Pangu Bloodline identity for himself out of thin air; forcibly claiming connections was useless.
Not being able to increase strength meant he couldn't rely on the System to gain power, break free from these Immortal-Binding Ropes, or overturn this Execution Platform.
This System... it's completely useless!
In despair, his gaze subconsciously swept over the Immortals watching.
His sight passed over the solemn-faced Immortal Officials, over the majestic Buddhas, and finally, settled on a figure.
It was a monkey clad in golden armor, with a cynical smile on his face, but a pair of golden eyes stared unblinkingly at him.
Handsome Monkey King...
Great Sage the Equal of Heaven...
Victorious Fighting Buddha...
Sun Wukong!
Lu Fan's heart suddenly leaped.
Got it!
Can't change real history known to everyone, right?
Then I can make up some unofficial history!
How wild it gets, that's up to me!
...
Above the sea of clouds, the atmosphere grew even more solemn.
From the ranks of the Western Religion, a Bodhisattva slowly walked out.
He was clad in a cassock of seven treasures, with a benevolent face, and a halo of Buddha light behind his head; it was Pure Thought Bodhisattva.
He first made a respectful bow towards the Lingxiao Palace where the Jade Emperor resided, then his gaze fell on the Execution Platform, on the kneeling young man in green robes.
"Your Majesty, fellow Immortals." Pure Thought Bodhisattva spoke, his tone calm, like a grand bell, clearly reaching the ears of all Immortals, "This fiend, named Lu Fan, was originally a Loose Immortal. Ten years ago, he wantonly destroyed several temples of my Western Religion in Jambudvipa and insulted the golden statues of my Buddhist sect, committing grave sins."
"My Buddha is merciful and, considering the difficulty of his cultivation, merely suppressed him at the foot of Spirit Mountain, ordering him to listen to Buddhist scriptures day and night, hoping he would turn over a new leaf and repent. Who would have thought that after ten years, this fiend not only showed no gratitude but instead harbored resentment, secretly cultivated, and then, a month ago, acted again, escalating his actions, destroying seven of my Buddhist temples, and even injuring a Protector Arhat of my sect!"
Pure Thought Bodhisattva's tone finally revealed an uncontrollable rage: "Such a stubborn and perverse individual, whose Heart-Nature has already become demonic, if not severely punished, will surely become a great menace to the Three Realms! Today, bringing him to the Execution Platform is to cut off his immortal root and destroy his Divine Soul, as a warning to others!"
His words were righteous and stern, and the Buddha light intensified by several points because of it.
All the monks of the Western Religion lowered their brows, chanting Buddhist names, and an invisible pressure converged towards the center of the Execution Platform.
The Immortal Officials on the Heavenly Court's side, however, had varied expressions.
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing pressed his hand on his Magic Treasure Pagoda, his eyes looking at his nose, his nose at his Heart-Nature, showing no expression.
Taibai Jinxing stroked his beard, a shrewd glint in his cloudy old eyes, exchanging a knowing look with several civil officials beside him.
The Lei Department Generals, even more so, stood with folded arms, a faint curve on their lips.
"Heh, this kid has some of Old Sun's spirit from back then."
Sun Wukong whispered to Nezha, his golden eyes full of interest.
Nezha held his Fire-tipped Spear and snorted: "If it were me, I probably couldn't wait ten years."
Many of the Heavenly Court's divine generals showed expressions of watching a good show.
In the past century, the Western Religion had greatly flourished, and although the Heavenly Court was the orthodox power of the Three Realms, much of its prestige had been overshadowed.
Now, seeing the Western Religion suffer a setback, and even being made to look bad by an unknown Loose Immortal, everyone felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Pure Thought Bodhisattva naturally also noticed the subtle change in the surrounding atmosphere.
He turned to the kneeling Lu Fan and sternly questioned: "Lu Fan! My Buddha gave you ten years to repent, why did you not reform but instead escalated your actions! Do you admit your guilt?"
On the Execution Platform, Lu Fan, who had been silent, finally slowly raised his head.
Under his disheveled black hair was a clear yet exceptionally resolute face.
His lips were cracked, and his face was dusty, but his eyes shone astonishingly bright.
It was a light of unyielding spirit.
"Guilt?"
"What guilt do I have?"
He straightened his spine, bound by the Immortal-Binding Ropes, and looked directly at Pure Thought Bodhisattva, speaking loudly: "You forcibly suppressed me, subjecting me to demonic chants day and night, thinking you could make me kneel and submit? My cultivation, Lu Fan, is about achieving a clear Heart-Nature, and I uphold my original Dao Heart! What you have done, in my eyes, is no different from evil demons. My Heart-Nature yearns for justice, why should I surrender to evil demons!"
At these words, the entire scene fell silent.
Even the howling wind of the heavens ceased at this moment.
On the Western Religion's side, a layer of frost appeared on the faces of all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats.
The benevolent expression on Pure Thought Bodhisattva's face froze for a moment, then was replaced by immense rage, and the Buddha light behind his head fluctuated violently, almost transforming into a raging fire that would incinerate everything.
"Demonic words to mislead the masses! Even at death's door, you dare to slander my Buddha!"
"Stubborn and unrepentant! You deserve to be executed!"
However, on the Heavenly Court's side, suppressed chuckles could be heard.
"Interesting, truly interesting."
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a stubborn bone."
"Heart-Nature yearns for justice, never surrendering... Tsk tsk, with words like that, where will those people from the Western Religion put their faces?"
Sun Wukong was practically applauding: "Excellent! Excellent! Well said! What kind of merciful nonsense, Old Sun never believed it back then!"
Nezha's lips also curved upwards, and looking at the ashen faces of the Western Religion's followers, he felt a surge of satisfaction.
One had once stirred up the East Sea and returned his bones to his father; the other had once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and been suppressed for five hundred years.
What they admired most was this kind of unyielding pride.