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

It turns out that there was something fishy about those bananas; it was a trick set up by that scoundrel Jiang Wang to ruin their journey to the West.

Wukong smashed that thing to pieces with one blow, and Jiang Wang's mission was completely ruined.

Jiang Wang's face turned pale and then red, his teeth grinding together, as if he wanted to pounce on the monkey and fight him to the death.

But he had the system with him. The thing flashed coldly and transmitted a message: "Mission failed. Teleported to the Chechi Kingdom Palace. Hiding and awaiting departure."

Continue with the plan targeting Tang Sanzang, abolish his cultivation, and halt the journey to the West.

Jiang Wang gritted his teeth, transformed into a wisp of black smoke, and disappeared into the beams and pillars of the Chechi Kingdom's palace, hiding himself completely.

He thought to himself, "I can't be reckless this time. I have to start with that bald monk master."

Three years later, another ruthless attack will be launched, first crippling his foundation and causing his cultivation as a Great Luo Golden Immortal to vanish into thin air.

Hmph, while we're at it, we'll refine some "root-removing incense" and head straight for Mount Ling, turning the world upside down! At the same time, Sun Wukong, along with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, took advantage of the darkness to sneak into the Sanqing Temple in Chechi Kingdom.

The Sanqing Temple was built in a magnificent and resplendent style, with incense burning brightly. Inside, it enshrined the three deities Yuanshi Tianzun, Taishang Laojun, and Lingbao Daozun, who stood high above, majestic and awe-inspiring.

Wukong narrowed his eyes, a mischievous grin spreading across his monkey face: "Second Brother, Third Brother, let's put on a grand show today! I, Old Sun, will transform into Yuanshi Tianzun, and you two will become Taishang Laojun and Lingbao Daozun. Let the three of us have a good time!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy's eyes lit up, and he twitched his nose: "Master said we are not allowed to fool around, Eldest Brother, aren't you leading your brother astray? But... the offerings are piled up like a mountain, and I, Old Pig, am tempted just by the smell."

Okay, okay, I'll do it with you!

Sha Wujing, being steady in nature, nodded: "Eldest brother, second brother, since we're here, we'll do as you say."

I, Old Sha, will transform into the Spirit Treasure Daoist Venerable and guard the back.

The three hit it off immediately, shook their bodies, and transformed into statues of gods, standing upright in the hall.

Wukong transforms into Yuanshi Tianzun, with silver hair and beard, holding the Hunyuan Pearl; Bajie transforms into Taishang Laojun, leaning on a cane, with a furnace appearing and disappearing behind him; Sha Wujing transforms into Lingbao Daozun, with faint sword energy and radiant treasure light.

It looks exactly like the real thing.

The palace was filled with offerings, including fruit platters, melons, wine cups, and pastries—everything imaginable.

The three men pounced on their prey like hungry tigers, using monkey claws, pig trotters, and sand paws in unison, sweeping everything away like a whirlwind.

Wukong was chewing on a peach, Bajie was gulping down wine in his arms, and Sha Wujing was leisurely munching on cakes.

Only the pile of bananas caught Wukong's eye. He glanced at it, his monkey eyes narrowing. "Keep it! There's something strange about this stuff. I, Old Sun, will keep it as proof."

Pigsy let out a burp and said happily, "Brother Monkey is brilliant! We're full and satisfied!"

Sha Wujing wiped his mouth: "Second Brother, keep your voice down, don't give anything away."

Just as they were enjoying their meal, a series of light footsteps approached.

The young Taoist priest, Xiao Ling'er, returned home in a daze to retrieve his fallen handbell.

He pushed open the temple door and, by the moonlight, saw that the statue seemed to have been moved, and the offerings were empty except for a small mountain of bananas.

Little Bell rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things, and muttered, "Oh dear, could it be a mouse that has become a spirit?"

Suddenly, a "clucking" sound came from the corner of the hall.

A muffled laugh came from Pigsy, who couldn't hold back his joy.

He was startled, and the bell fell to the ground, jingling loudly: "A ghost...a ghost!"

Little Bell was terrified and ran away as fast as she could, heading straight for the meditation room of the three national teachers in the back hall.

"Tiger Power Immortal! Deer Power Immortal! Sheep Power Immortal! Something terrible has happened! The Sanqing Palace is haunted!"

Little Bell knelt down with a thud and cried out.

The three national advisors, who were meditating, all opened their eyes upon hearing this.

Tiger Power Immortal, a burly man with trembling tiger whiskers, slapped the prayer mat and said, "What's the matter? The Three Pure Ones are above, how can demons be allowed to cause trouble!"

The Great Immortal Deer Power was as thin and long as a deer, with antlers peeking out from behind him. He squinted and said, "It must be those monks on their pilgrimage who are causing trouble."

"Let's go, light the lanterns and go see!"

The most clever of them all, with his curved horns, nodded and said, "Go quickly and return quickly, lest you disturb the patriarch's peaceful cultivation."

The three lit lanterns and led their group of young Taoist priests in a grand procession to the Sanqing Hall.

The temple doors were wide open, the lights flickered, the statue of the god remained seated, but the offerings had been completely swept away, leaving only a lonely pile of bananas.

Tiger Power Immortal stepped forward and sniffed the air. The aroma of wine and fruit lingered. He exclaimed in surprise, "The offerings are much less! Could it be... that the true forms of the Three Pure Ones have descended to enjoy the offerings?"

The Great Immortal Lu stroked his chin: "That makes sense! Our ancestral master is merciful and has shown his power!"

The Great Immortal Yang Li circled the statue. In the lamplight, the statue's eyes seemed to blink. He rubbed his eyes and said, "My two senior brothers, this is a blessing from heaven for our temple. Quickly burn incense and kowtow!"

The Taoist priests knelt down and worshipped, the smoke from the incense rising. The three national teachers were even more excited. Tiger Power Immortal kowtowed and said, "Grandmaster, your disciple Tiger Power begs for a drop of holy water to relieve the drought in Chechi Kingdom!"

Deer Power Immortal chimed in, "We beg the Ancestral Master for mercy and to bestow upon us sweet rain!"

Immortal Yangli clasped his hands together and said, “Grandmaster, you are merciful. We disciples are willing to forever uphold the Daoist tradition!”

The "statues" in the hall

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was delighted and thought to himself: Good heavens, they want holy water? I, Old Sun, will provide it right away! He cleared his throat, transformed into the voice of a celestial being, and said loudly: "Your sincerity is commendable, and the holy water is readily available! Quickly bring large vats, sand basins, and flower vases, then leave the hall, close the door, and wait."

Remember, do not peek within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!

The three national teachers were overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly directed the young Taoist priests to bring over their belongings: a large celadon jar, a gold-rimmed sand basin, and several painted vases, which were then placed in front of the hall.

Tiger Power Immortal bowed and said, "As the Ancestral Master commands!"

The Taoist priests withdrew, and the temple doors slammed shut.

The door slammed shut, and all was silent outside, except for the sound of hearts pounding like drums.

Inside the hall, the three brothers were so embarrassed by their laughter that their faces turned red.

Wukong's monkey eyes darted around: "Second Brother, Third Brother, the holy water is here! I, Old Sun, will take a dip first!"

After saying that, the monkey shook itself, and its urine poured into the large vat with a splash, steaming hot.

Pigsy straightened his back and said, "I, Old Pig, am here to liven things up!"

Pig urine poured down like a waterfall, filling the sand basin, and the pungent, fishy smell assaulted the nostrils.

Although Sha Wujing was composed, he smiled helplessly: "Eldest brother, second brother, I, Old Sha, will not fall behind anyone."

The sandy urine was long and thin, filling the vase.

The three of them worked for a long time, filling the jars, basins, and bottles to the brim with golden liquid. Wukong even sprinkled some monkey hair into them to create a fake aura of immortality.

Pigsy exclaimed happily, "Brother Monkey, this holy water... it's delicious!"

Sha Wujing shook his head: "Second Brother, don't talk nonsense, let's retreat quickly!"

Outside the door, a stick of incense had burned out.

The three imperial advisors pushed open the door and entered. Inside the hall, they saw jars, basins, and bottles filled with clear, shimmering liquids that seemed to glow.

Tiger Power Immortal stepped forward and sniffed: "The Ancestral Master's Holy Water is incredibly potent!"

He picked up the large jar, took a big gulp, and felt the salty taste in his throat. He frowned slightly, but forced a smile and said, "Sweet as honey!"

Unsuspecting, the Deer Power Immortal picked up the sand basin, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp: "I am deeply grateful for the grace of my Ancestral Master!"

The Great Immortal Sheep approached the vase, his sheep nose twitched, and his expression changed drastically: "This...this smell is wrong! It's fishy and pungent, could it be..."

Before the words were finished, a loud "boom" resounded from the top of the palace.

With a whoosh, the three brothers appeared: Wukong brandished his golden cudgel, Bajie wielded his nine-toothed rake, and Sha Wujing carried his crescent shovel, all laughing loudly.

"Hahaha! You three idiots, you drink my monkey urine, taste my pig urine, and savor my sand urine! Holy water? Holy my foot!"

Wukong's laughter was like thunder.

Pigsy slapped his belly and exclaimed, "That's great! I've been holding this in for so long!"

Sha Wujing cupped his hands in greeting: "Three national teachers, you flatter me." The three national teachers were dumbfounded. Tiger Power Immortal spat out his drink, Deer Power Immortal gagged repeatedly, and Sheep Power Immortal's eyes widened: "Demon monkey! You are so audacious as to blaspheme the Three Pure Ones!"

Chaos erupted inside the hall as the Taoist priests grabbed their weapons and chased after the three brothers. The brothers fought and retreated, when Wukong smashed open the roof of the hall with his staff and, along with Bajie and Sha Wujing, soared into the sky.

During his escape, Wukong turned around and shouted, "I, Old Sun, am Sun Wukong, the pilgrim from the East! If you have the guts, come and challenge me to a duel!"

The next morning, the pilgrimage team entered the palace together to exchange the official documents.

The King of Chechi Kingdom, wearing a golden crown and jade robe, sat upright on the dragon throne. Upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "The Dharma Master has come from afar; I will certainly take care of him."

As the document was being written, three imperial advisors burst into the hall in a flurry. Tiger Power Immortal, his beard and hair trembling, cried out, "Your Majesty! Those fiends under the command of that pilgrim monk infiltrated the Sanqing Temple last night, killing my Taoist priests, releasing my Buddhist monks, and disrupting the ancestral hall! We beg Your Majesty to intervene!"

Deer Power Immortal added fuel to the fire: "They transformed into the true forms of the Three Pure Ones, defiling my holy water and insulting my lineage!"

The Great Immortal Yang Li's horns trembled: "Your Majesty, if this grudge is not avenged, how can the reputation of Chechi Kingdom be preserved?"

The king was startled and looked at Tang Sanzang: "Master, this matter..."

Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together and said, "This humble monk does not know; let my disciples explain."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong stiffened his head and said, "Complain? Last night, I, Old Sun, went to the Sanqing Temple for a stroll, ate some offerings, and drank some wine."

Kill the Taoist priest? Release the monk? Nonsense! Those three shamans claim to be national advisors, yet they're superstitious about idols, begging for urine as holy water—utterly shameful!

Pigsy curled his snout and said, "That's right! I, Old Pig, haven't touched a drop of their dirty water!"

Sha Wujing lowered his head: "What my elder brother says is absolutely right."

The three national teachers were furious. Tiger Power Immortal shouted, "You demon monkey! If you've got the guts, let's have a duel! Three rounds to decide the winner. The first round is praying for rain. My Taoist sect can summon wind and rain. What can you monks do about it?"

Wukong's eyes lit up: "Let's bet! I, Old Sun, agree! Praying for rain? A piece of cake!"

Upon seeing this, the king quickly said, "Granted! The competition will be held in three days at the training ground outside the city."

"The winner takes all, the loser gets out of Chechi Kingdom!"

Both sides withdrew, but the aftershocks lingered in the hall. The pilgrimage team temporarily stayed at the inn. The three brothers were secretly pleased, while Jiang Wang sneered from among the beams and pillars: "The real show is just beginning."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The training ground outside the city was packed with people, banners fluttered in the wind, and the king himself came to watch the battle.

In the first rain-praying contest, the Taoist priests set up the altar early, with Tiger Power Immortal as the chief officiant and Deer Power and Sheep Power as assistants.

Incense smoke rose, talismans danced in the air, and the Taoist priests chanted in unison: "May the heavens be clear and the earth be blessed, and may rain fall freely!"

But the weather was not cooperating; although dark clouds gathered, not a drop of rain fell.

Tiger Power Immortal's forehead was covered in sweat: "May the Ancestor protect us..."

Wukong chuckled to himself, then shook his monkey hair, which transformed into countless fine raindrops that silently sprinkled onto the altar.

But he deliberately veered off course, and the raindrops pelted the Taoist priests' heads, causing them to scatter in panic and leaving the altar soaked.

"Haha! Why is your rain only drenching yourself?"

Wukong appeared with a loud laugh, and with a wave of his golden cudgel, the wind whipped up clouds, and a real downpour of sweet rain nourished the fields.

The people cheered: "The divine monk has manifested his power!"

The three national teachers, looking utterly defeated, admitted their mistake: "The second round is meditation at Yuntai Mountain! Whoever enters a meditative state first wins!"

Wukong nodded: "Alright! My master is as steady as Mount Tai while meditating!"

The second competition, Yuntai meditation, is a unique method of meditation in Chechi Kingdom.

A nine-story cloud platform needs to be built, reaching into the clouds. The upper platform is made of precious wood, and those who sit on it must meditate for three days and three nights to see the true essence.

The king ordered that craftsmen be summoned immediately to build it.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's heart stirred, and the system flashed: "The opportunity has arrived."

Transform into a carpenter, infiltrate the cloud platform, embed the Great Luo Tranquil Wood into the highest platform, forcing the seated person to forget themselves and the world, only to awaken after three years.

Regarding Tang Sanzang, disregard his vigilance.

Jiang Wang disguised himself as an old carpenter, dressed in gray clothes and with a white beard, and mingled into the carpenters' team.

His craftsmanship was superb; his chisel work was swift and precise, and he specifically chose the core piece of wood from the highest platform.

When no one was paying attention, he secretly embedded the Great Luo Tranquil Wood. This wood was an ancient divine object; touching it would trap one in an illusion, causing one to forget oneself and the world around them, making it difficult to escape even with high cultivation.

Jiang Wang smirked: "Bald monk, you can't escape this time."

The Cloud Terrace is built, nine stories high, with jade steps and golden tiles, and a fragrant breeze blowing.

Altars were set up around the training ground, with monks and Taoists seated separately. Tang Sanzang and Deer Power Immortal ascended the Cloud Platform together.

Tang Sanzang, dressed in flowing white robes, sat cross-legged in the center of the highest platform, opposite the Deer Power Immortal.

The bells and drums sounded in unison, and the competition began.

The two closed their eyes and entered a meditative state, their breathing gradually stabilizing.

Off the field, Sun Wukong stared intently with his monkey eyes: "Master's composure is profound; there will be no danger for three days."

Pigsy, munching on an apple, said, "Brother, I'm worried those three hairy gods might cheat."

Sha Wujing nodded: "Let's observe the situation."

The three national teachers were smug: "Junior Brother Luli's Zen skills are unparalleled; he will surely defeat that bald monk!"

At first, everything was calm.

Above the cloud platform, shrouded in mist, Tang Sanzang's heart was as still as water, and his Zen understanding deepened.

The Deer Power Immortal also entered a state of enlightenment, and his antlers began to glow with spiritual light.

But after an incense stick had burned, a strange change suddenly occurred.

The highest platform, Da Luo Jing Xin Wood, quietly exerts its power; its grain, like a net, seeps into the meridians of the seated person.

Deer Power Immortal was the first to be hit. His body stiffened, his eyes closed, his breath became faint, and he was doomed.

Tang Sanzang had already reached the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, and the Ancestral Dragon's inheritance within his body was faintly awakening, with golden light protecting his body. However, the Tranquil Heart Wood was extremely insidious and directly attacked his soul.

He frowned slightly, barely managing to hold on for a moment, but ultimately succumbed to the temptation and slowly drifted into a state of complete absorption.

The bell tolled melodiously in the stands, and as the three days drew to a close, the two remained motionless.

Jiang Wang hid behind the craftsmen and squinted to observe them closely.

He had initially thought Tang Sanzang was just an ordinary monk, but upon closer inspection, he discovered that Tang Sanzang's dantian was perfectly formed, his aura was powerful, and he was at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm! Even more astonishingly, there was a dragon's roar hidden within the golden core, and the phantom of the scales inherited from the Ancestral Dragon roamed around him. Magical treasures appeared and disappeared around him, including a jade pendant and a whisk, both of which were ancient artifacts.

Jiang Wang was shocked: "This bald monk... actually has the bloodline of the Ancestral Dragon? No wonder the system keeps failing!"

He secretly calculated: Three years later, this person will wake up with even greater cultivation.

We must plan carefully. First, we should destroy its roots, then refine the root-removing incense, and go straight to Mount Ling to destroy the foundation of Buddhism.

"Hmph, Journey to the West? I'll make it end in disaster!" A commotion erupted in the training ground. The king frowned: "Both have entered deep meditation; how can the victor be determined?"

Seeing that Lu Li was not moving, the three imperial advisors exclaimed with delight, "My junior brother has won!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong slammed his staff down and shouted, "Nonsense! My master's willpower is even stronger; there's something sinister about this cloud platform!"

Pigsy snorted, "That's right! Something smells off to me!"

Sha Wujing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the outcome will be clear in three days."

The king nodded: "Let's wait and see."

A storm was brewing in the arena, and the pilgrimage team became increasingly wary. Jiang Wang retreated with a cold smile, and dark clouds began to gather.

The three brothers stood guard below the cloud platform. Wukong clenched his monkey paws tightly: "Second brother, third brother, I, Old Sun, feel that something is not right."

The waters of Chechi Kingdom run deep!

Pigsy nodded: "Elder Brother, I, Old Pig, also think those three imperial advisors have shifty eyes." (End of Chapter)