I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Pigsy shrank back and slunk away to fetch water.

Sha Wujing stood by, silently adding firewood.

His transformation remained a mystery to Wukong.

The way he threw it by the stream yesterday was so resolute, it was as if he had become a completely different person.

Normally, this junior brother is most focused on the journey to the West, carrying his load as if it were nothing, and is not afraid of demons.

But today… Wukong, concealed, circled behind Sha Wujing and whispered, “Junior brother, why is this?”

Sha Wujing was startled. He turned around but saw no one. He only felt the wind rustling past his ears.

He murmured softly, "Brother Monkey, is that you? Don't ask about this matter..."

The journey to the West is long, and each person has their own hardships.

Upon hearing this, Wukong felt even more suspicious, but could only hide and retreat.

As the days went by, the thatched hut became a makeshift training ground.

Tang Sanzang burned incense and kowtowed every day, praying for the Buddha to appear.

The disciples outwardly served him, but secretly harbored their own ulterior motives.

When Pigsy was slacking off, Monkey woke him up with a whack on the head: "Fool, if you keep sleeping, Master will really get angry!"

Pigsy complained, "Brother Monkey, it's all because of your sleepiness that I overslept..."

Wukong glared at him: "Shut up! Don't give yourself away."

Sha Wujing became increasingly silent, his eyes wandering as he carried water, as if he were preoccupied with something.

On the fifth day, a sudden downpour occurred, and flash floods roared.

The thatched hut was teetering on the verge of collapse, and Tang Sanzang was soaked to the bone, yet he refused to move: "Buddha, your disciple Tang Sanzang is here! The safety of the Three Realms is at stake, I beg you to show yourself!"

Wukong panicked and plucked a hair to turn into an umbrella to shield him from the rain, advising, "Master, let's go into the shed to take shelter."

The Buddha is compassionate and will not stand idly by and watch someone die.

But Tang Sanzang shook his head: "I swear I will not give up! If the Buddha does not appear, how can the Three Realms be at peace?"

At that moment, Wukong felt guilty: his master was stubborn, but for the sake of all living beings; he, Wukong, was cunning, but for his own protection.

Why are Pigsy and Sandy here? After the rain stopped, the roof was leaking, and the disciples were busy repairing it.

Pigsy complained incessantly: "This awful weather, even my ears are getting moldy."

When Sha Wujing was repairing the shed, his finger was pricked by a bamboo splinter, and blood seeped out, but he ignored it.

Wukong watched and sighed inwardly: Who is the winner in this game? Master is blinded by lies, foolishly waiting for Buddha; we three brothers each have our own secrets and distrust each other.

The journey to obtain the scriptures should have been a time of concerted effort, but now information is like a fog, obscuring the sky and the sun.

On the tenth day, the sun shone brightly. Tang Sanzang had lost weight and his eyes were sunken, but he still insisted: "Wukong, your master dreamed of the Buddha."

He said, "I understand," but I don't believe him! I must see it for myself.

Unable to dissuade him, Wukong could only continue to lie: "Master, perhaps Buddha is testing our sincerity."

Let's keep waiting.

But deep down he was filled with regret: if only he had known this would happen, he should have gone to Mount Ling truthfully back then.

Pigsy steals wild fruit and is caught by his master, who punishes him by making him kneel and chant sutras; the mystery surrounding Sandy grows deeper and deeper, and Monkey tries to explore it several times, but is always stopped by that calm gaze.

Deep within Mount Ling, in the misty Leiyin Temple, the Sage Zhunti sat serenely beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, a Seven Treasures Tree in his hand gently swaying, its branches shimmering with golden light, illuminating the entire hall as if in a dream.

His deep eyes, which always carried a sharp insight into the secrets of heaven, were now slightly narrowed as he gazed at the kneeling Buddha below.

The Buddha, draped in a golden robe, had a kind face, yet his brows betrayed a solemnity. He held a jade slip in his hand, his voice low and respectful.

"Master, Tang Sanzang and his disciples had such an extraordinary encounter in the Ancestral Dragon Abyss."

The two ancient treasures, the Ancestral Dragon Pearl and the Ancestral Dragon Spear, fell into his hands. Even more unbelievable was that Tang Sanzang's cultivation level leaped to the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal! Such an opportunity could not be explained by ordinary favors from the Heavenly Dao.

The disciple has instructed Ananda and Kasyapa to investigate secretly, but they have found no trace of external force.

Upon hearing this, Zhunti's Seven Treasures Tree paused slightly, and the lotus flowers in the pool trembled, radiating layers of golden waves.

He slowly rose, his robe sleeves fluttering, and the hall was instantly filled with a whirlwind of sound, with faint chanting echoing through the air.

"Peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal? Hmph, this boy was originally a mortal. How could he have reached this level in just two years? The Ancestral Dragon Abyss is an ancient relic and a forbidden area of ​​the Dragon Clan. How could it easily bestow treasures? Tathagata, you and I both know that the demon Jiang Wang has been lying low in Chang'an since the Investiture of the Gods, secretly stirring up trouble in the Three Realms."

This journey to the West should have proceeded smoothly, but a sudden change occurred—clearly his doing!

The Buddha lowered his head slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

“What Master said is absolutely right.”

Jiang Wang is a man of deep cunning, whose schemes are like a spider web; the slightest disturbance will turn the situation into a trap.

However... this disciple is dull-witted and has not seen any signs of direct intervention.

The Journey to the West team has been at a standstill for more than two years. Tang Sanzang and his disciples are in seclusion in Zulongyuan, seemingly with no intention of continuing their journey eastward.

Could it be..."

"Is it what?"

Zhunti sneered and waved the Seven Treasures Tree. The void in the hall distorted, and a picture of light and shadow appeared: In the vast desert, a simple thatched hut stood, and Tang Sanzang sat cross-legged in it, his body surrounded by golden light. Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing surrounded him behind him, each of them looking tired but also a little wary.

"Judging from this situation, the Journey to the West has already deviated from the right path."

Jiang Wang is definitely using this to buy time, refine the Chaos Pearl in his hand, and spy on the fortune of my Buddhist sect! He doesn't know that I have already set up the Heavenly Net Formation. In seven years, when the cycle of heaven turns, he will surely perish on his own.

For now, we should remain still and avoid alerting the enemy.

Let Tang Sanzang fend for himself; if he's Jiang Wang's bait, we won't take the bait!

Upon hearing this, the Buddha clasped his hands and nodded.

"Your disciple obeys."

However, the fate of Journey to the West concerns the Three Realms; if this continues…

"It doesn't matter."

Zhunti waved his hand to dispel the light and shadow, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Jiang Wang thinks my Buddhist sect has fallen into a trap? What a joke! His little tricks are nothing but a clown in the eyes of a sage."

The order was issued to seal off the void surrounding Mount Ling, and any abnormality was to be regarded as a conspiracy.

Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye. I'm eager to see how he turns the tables!

Inside the Thunder Sound Temple, the sound of the temple bells rang out, and Zhunti's laughter echoed, yet it carried an undeniable chill.

He firmly believed that everything was Jiang Wang's scheme, and that the adventure in Zulongyuan was nothing more than a carefully woven illusion to lure the Buddhist sect into a trap.

Little did he know that at this moment in Chang'an, Jiang Wang, whom he regarded as a great enemy, was frowning over another matter.

In a secluded courtyard hidden deep in a bamboo forest on the eastern outskirts of Chang'an, Jiang Wang stood with his hands behind his back in a pavilion, gazing at the western horizon.

The night breeze carried a hint of autumn chill, and his handsome yet slightly pale face showed signs of fatigue.

After two years of seclusion, he appeared to be living a carefree life, but in reality, he was refining the Chaos Pearl day and night. That treasure of the origin of chaos contained endless mysteries, but it required a massive amount of experience points to gradually fuse with it.

Moreover, the next three stages of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique were already blocking his way, like an insurmountable chasm. He urgently needed to restart the Journey to the West quest to obtain that endless torrent of experience. "Damn it, how come the Journey to the West has been stalled for more than two years?"

Jiang Wang muttered to himself, tapping lightly on the railing with his fingers, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

He was originally a transmigrator who came with a system and relied on mission experience points to gradually ascend to the top of the Three Realms.

But now, for some unknown reason, the pilgrimage team has retreated to the Ancestral Dragon Abyss, with no one to escort them and no demons to cause trouble. The mission chain has broken, and he is as anxious as a trapped beast.

"Guanyin...she is the key."

The Bodhisattva knew the truth that I had transformed the real Tang Sanzang into a crab. If she were released, the Journey to the West would surely be restarted.

Those in the Buddhist community fear me like a tiger and will not act rashly. I only need to use a clever trick to stir up trouble through her.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang's lips curled into a sly smile.

He plucked a strand of hair, placed it in his palm, and the power of chaos quietly surged within it.

The strand of hair instantly transformed into a handsome young man, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate features, wearing a blue robe and a jade pendant at his waist. He looked harmless, yet carried a hint of innocence and naivety.

"Boy, you are my incarnation."

Remember, your mission is to deliver the Quasi-Saint Divine Pill to Ancestor Fuxi. Along the way, you must display greed—stealing even one pill will be your weakness.

The boy blinked and bowed respectfully: "Master, rest assured, I will not fail you."

His voice was clear and crisp, carrying the unique vigor of a young man, but little did people know that within this body lay a wisp of Jiang Wang's divine sense, enough to cope with any change.

Jiang Wang nodded and took out a purple-gold gourd from his sleeve. The gourd mouth was slightly open, and a faint fragrance wafted out from inside.

That was an ancient divine object, with its own space, capable of containing all things.

He quietly took Guanyin Bodhisattva—the Bodhisattva he had imprisoned for two years who remained unyielding—into the vessel, and then placed nine quasi-saintly pills inside. The pills glowed brightly and exuded spiritual energy.

Go, young man.

Remember, greed is the bait, and Guanyin is the fish.

With the Journey to the West rebooted, my experience points are flowing in endlessly!

The boy took the gourd, straightened his back, and transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for the northwest.

Jiang Wang watched them leave, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes: "Buddhist sect, do you think I don't know that the Journey to the West has gone astray? Ha, this time, I only need to give you a gentle push to throw you into disarray."

In the desolate northwest, amidst swirling sandstorms, an ancient road winds its way like a dragon.

The young man rode his horse, a gourd tied to his waist. He appeared focused, but in reality, he could remotely control Jiang Wang with a mere thought.

He traveled a long and arduous journey, avoiding human habitation, until he reached the foot of a desolate mountain, at which point it was already dusk.

Wildflowers bloomed in the mountains, and streams babbled. Suddenly, the young man reined in his horse, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and a glint of greed flashed in his eyes.

—That was a scenario pre-planned by Jiang Wang.

"Oh my, this Quasi-Saint Divine Pill smells so good. My master isn't here, so who would know I've secretly eaten one?"

The boy muttered to himself, uncorked the gourd, and a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air.

He stretched out his finger, reached into the gourd, and pretended to pick out a pill. He brought it close to his nose and took a deep sniff, a look of ecstasy on his face.

"Just one, just one, it's so tempting!"

Just then, the space inside the gourd trembled slightly, and a golden light suddenly appeared! The figure of Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared. She had been imprisoned for two years, and although most of her magical power was sealed, she had always remained dormant and waiting for an opportunity, relying on her Bodhisattva nature.

At this moment, the boy's "flaw" was seen.

Bi Xian was about to appear; how could she miss it? A flash of golden light, and she transformed into a streak of light, bursting out of the gourd and soaring straight into the sky! "Demon! Your schemes will ultimately fail to deceive the heavens!"

Guanyin gave a delicate shout, her voice clear and melodious like the cry of a phoenix, and lotus flowers bloomed all around her, radiating auspicious light.

Without giving it much thought, she flew straight east, her destination Mount Ling.

Behind him, the boy appeared "panicked".

He cried out, "Oh no! The Bodhisattva inside the gourd has escaped! What are we going to do?"

He feigned panic, looked around, and then slapped his forehead, "Never mind, anyway, the master didn't say anything about not being able to make any mistakes."

Having said that, he put away the gourd and continued on his way, his "greed" gone.

Her appearance changed instantly, and she returned to her innocent self.

As Guanyin flew by, my heart was filled with turmoil.

During her two years of imprisonment, she witnessed the real Tang Monk being transformed into a crab by Jiang Wang and sunk to the bottom of the river; that scene haunted her like a nightmare.

She intended to head straight for Mount Ling, but on the way, she caught a glimpse of a thatched hut in the desert below.

A bonfire blazed in front of the tent, and four figures sat around it—it was the pilgrimage team! Her heart skipped a beat. She descended from the cloud and looked closely. She saw Tang Sanzang sitting cross-legged in the center, golden light emanating from his body, his aura immense—he was actually at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm! "Elder…Elder actually possesses such cultivation?"

Guanyin murmured in a daze, then moved lightly with her lotus steps and landed in front of the thatched hut.

Sun Wukong was the first to notice. His fiery eyes swept over the area, and his monkey hair stood on end: "Bodhisattva?! You... what are you doing here?"

He leaped up, brandishing his golden cudgel. Pigsy and Sandy were alerted, but Tang Sanzang opened his eyes and saw Guanyin. Overjoyed, he burst into tears: "Bodhisattva! Your disciple greets you! It's been two years. How have you been?"

Guanyin suppressed the turmoil in her heart and returned the greeting with her palms together: "Elder, you flatter me."

The poor monk was trapped by a demon, but has just escaped his snare.

Unexpectedly, the elder was found here unharmed, and... his cultivation had greatly improved—a cause for celebration!

Her gaze swept over the three of them. Sun Wukong scratched his monkey head and chuckled, "Bodhisattva, you have no idea how much suffering we, master and disciple, have endured these past two years! First, the Black Wind Mountain Demon King caused trouble, then we encountered the Dragon Soul of the Ancestral Dragon Abyss, which is protected by countless treasures. As soon as the elder went into seclusion, he reached the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm! I, Old Sun, was so exhausted from protecting him that my legs went weak!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy grunted and grumbled, "That's right! That idiot digs for treasure every day, while we fight demons every day. We finally escaped the abyss, only to find that the journey to the West is cut off."

The master said, "Wait for the Bodhisattva to come and take us away," but we waited and waited, and there was no sign of him!

Sha Wujing nodded, silently adding firewood, his eyes filled with the vicissitudes of life.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang rose and helped Guanyin sit down, his eyes glistening with tears: "Bodhisattva, this extraordinary encounter is truly a gift from heaven."

Within the Ancestral Dragon Abyss, not only are there the Ancestral Dragon Pearl protecting the body and the Ancestral Dragon Spear suppressing the soul, but there is also a passage leading directly to the Dragon Realm! That interdimensional passage reveals a void rift; if it is not sealed, it may lead to the invasion of the Dragon Clan into the Three Realms, bringing calamity to all living beings.

Although my cultivation has improved, I am still unable to handle this alone. Therefore, I entrust the Bodhisattva to convey my message to the Buddha, requesting the swift dispatch of a powerful expert to suppress this evil!

Upon hearing this, Guanyin was greatly shaken.

An interdimensional passage? This is a matter of life and death for the Three Realms! She thought the Journey to the West was over, but who knew that the team not only did not disband, but also had such an opportunity.

Seeing her deep in thought, Sun Wukong said impatiently, "Bodhisattva, you have been trapped for two years and know nothing about what is happening outside."

We, master and disciple, set off from Chang'an. In the battle of Black Wind Mountain, the Demon King was defeated and fled. Later, we entered the Ancestral Dragon Abyss for the Dragon Soul Trial. The elders attained enlightenment, and I, Old Sun, also gained some of the wondrous uses of the Fiery Eyes.

In short, these past two years have been filled with turmoil, yet we've always had benefactors—no, I mean, divine favor! Now that the Bodhisattva has returned, can the Journey to the West be restarted?

Guanyin nodded and forced a smile: "Amitabha, I will certainly not fail the elder's request."

The Journey to the West's destiny has not yet ended. This matter concerning the passage is of great importance, so I will immediately return to Mount Ling to report to the Buddha.

She rose, her lotus throne appearing before her, her gentle gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Please rest assured, everyone. This humble monk will be right back."

Sun Wukong saw him off outside the shed, his monkey eyes full of anticipation: "Take care, Bodhisattva! I, Old Sun, am waiting for you to lead the way and continue our journey to the West!" (End of Chapter)