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

"Oh? Going to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures?"

Jiang Wang's smile deepened, "That's quite a story."

I wonder what misfortune befell the three of you that has trapped you here for fourteen years?

Pigsy, being the most impatient, spoke first: "We've been tricked! We're trapped here. If we step outside a hundred miles, a lightning tribulation will descend from the sky, and we'll never be able to get out."

"There must be some blind and powerful being deliberately setting a trap for us!"

As he spoke, he glared indignantly at Jiang Wang, seemingly suspecting that Jiang Wang was involved in the matter.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang feigned surprise and said, "Is that really true? A heavenly tribulation descends, trapping someone for fourteen years? That's truly peculiar."

He walked slowly to the three people, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He lightly tapped his folding fan, and a barely perceptible ray of spiritual light emanated from it, probing the energy fluctuations around him.

After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and said thoughtfully, "Indeed, this place is shrouded in a powerful restriction. This restriction is connected to the laws of heaven and earth and controls the lightning tribulation. It is indeed extraordinary."

"Can you discern the origin of this restriction?"

A glimmer of hope flashed in Tang Sanzang's eyes, and he quickly asked, "Please enlighten us, benefactor, on how to break this restriction and leave this place."

Jiang Wang shook his head and said, "This restriction is extremely ingenious, combining the laws of space and the laws of lightning. The person who set up this restriction must have unfathomable cultivation, which is definitely not something an ordinary expert could do."

Although I could discern some clues, I couldn't easily decipher them.

The hope in Tang Sanzang's eyes shattered instantly, and his face was filled with disappointment.

Pigsy couldn't help but curse, "What! I thought you were so capable, but it turns out you can't even solve this."

Then why did you even come to join in the fun!

Jiang Wang was not angry and said gently, "Although I cannot easily break this restriction, I can see that this restriction is not meant to take your lives, but only to trap you here."

Moreover, the power of this restriction is slowly weakening, and it will likely dissipate on its own soon.

"Really?"

Tang Sanzang was overjoyed and quickly asked, "Is what you say true? Will this restriction really dissipate on its own? How long will it take?"

"This is certainly true."

Jiang Wang said, "This restriction relies on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to maintain itself. The person who set it up obviously did not continuously inject spiritual energy. Now that the spiritual energy is exhausted, the power of the restriction will naturally gradually weaken."

In my opinion, this restriction will completely dissipate in three years at most, at which point the three of you will be able to leave this place and continue your journey westward.

Sha Wujing frowned and said, "Is what you say believable? We have been trapped here for fourteen years and have never noticed any sign that the power of this restriction has weakened."

He still harbored some doubts; Jiang Wang's words were too coincidental, forcing him to be cautious.

Jiang Wang laughed and said, "The three of you have been trapped here for many years and have long been accustomed to the power of the restriction, so it is naturally difficult for you to notice the subtle changes."

As an outsider, yet extremely sensitive to the power of laws, I was able to perceive this subtle change.

If the three of you don't believe me, try going outside a bit further, and you'll find that the power of the lightning tribulation is somewhat weaker than it was a decade or so ago.

Upon hearing this, Pigsy was somewhat tempted and said, "Is it really weaker? I'll go give it a try!"

As he spoke, he got up and started to walk out.

"Second Brother, don't be rash!"

Sha Wujing quickly grabbed him, saying, "What if what you say is not true, and you are injured by the lightning tribulation again? Wouldn't that be a loss that outweighs the gain?"

Pigsy stopped and looked hesitantly at Sandy, then at Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang smiled and said, "Don't worry, benefactor, I have no ill intentions."

"If you don't believe me, I can accompany this pig benefactor on his journey. If he encounters any danger, I can lend a helping hand."

Tang Sanzang pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll have to trouble you, benefactor."

"Pigsy, be careful in your actions, and don't be reckless."

"Understood, Master!"

Pigsy nodded, picked up the Nine-Toothed Rake, and followed Jiang Wang out of the forest.

Sha Wujing stood guard beside Tang Sanzang, his eyes fixed on their backs, ready to lend a helping hand at any moment.

The two traveled at high speed and covered dozens of miles in no time.

As Pigsy walked, he kept an eye on his surroundings, feeling uneasy.

He still vividly remembers the feeling of being struck by lightning back then.

“Benefactor Jiang, we’re almost within a hundred miles, we should slow down.”

Pigsy stopped and said somewhat nervously.

Jiang Wang nodded and walked slowly forward side by side with Zhu Bajie.

As the two approached the hundred-mile boundary, the sky gradually darkened, the clouds churned, and the faint sound of thunder could be heard.

"I'm coming!"

Pigsy's expression changed, and he quickly gripped his nine-toothed rake, preparing to defend himself.

Jiang Wang looked up at the sky, a knowing glint in his eyes.

A purple bolt of lightning gathered from the clouds, carrying immense power, and struck down towards the two of them.

The power of this lightning bolt is indeed much weaker than it was more than ten years ago. The lightning tribulation that could easily injure Zhu Bajie back then has now lost 30% of its power.

"Be careful, benefactor!"

Pigsy shouted loudly, raised his nine-toothed rake, and swung it at Lei Mang.

The golden rake shadow collided with the purple lightning, producing a loud bang. The lightning scattered and transformed into countless tiny electric snakes, striking the surrounding trees and instantly turning them into charred remains.

Pigsy was jolted backward, his arm slightly numb, but he was not injured.

"It's definitely much weaker!"

Pigsy's eyes lit up with joy, and an excited expression appeared on his face. "Benefactor Jiang, you're right, this tribulation lightning has really weakened!"

Jiang Wang smiled and said, "I told you, I wouldn't lie to you."

This tribulation lightning will continue to weaken, and in three years, it will be nothing to fear.

He raised his hand and waved it, sending out a beam of azure light that dispersed all the scattered electric snakes.

The two turned back, and Pigsy ran excitedly to Tang Sanzang, saying, "Master, Master! What Benefactor Jiang said is true, the lightning tribulation really has weakened. I just took one head-on and wasn't injured!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang finally felt relieved, a long-lost smile appeared on his face, and he put his hands together and said, "Amitabha, well done, well done."

Thank you for informing me, benefactor. This has greatly relieved my mind.

Jiang Wang said, "It's just a small favor."

The three of you can rest assured and wait here. After three years, you can continue your journey westward.

"I wonder why your eldest disciple, Sun Wukong, is not here? I've heard that Sun Wukong possesses great supernatural powers and is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. With him here, he could surely be of great help."

Upon hearing the mention of Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang's smile vanished instantly, replaced by worry. He said, "Alas, Wukong went out alone to explore a way out, but he has never returned since, and it has been fourteen years."

This humble monk does not know where he is now, or whether he is well.

"Oh? Sun Wukong has disappeared?"

A meaningful glint flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes, and he feigned surprise, saying, "That's strange. With Sun Wukong's supernatural powers, ordinary powerful beings couldn't possibly trap him. Why did he disappear for fourteen years? Did something unfortunate happen to him?"

"No way!"

Tang Sanzang quickly said, "Wukong is incredibly powerful, possesses an indestructible body, and has fiery eyes; he will surely be alright."

He must have encountered some difficulties, which is why he hasn't returned yet.

Jiang Wang smiled and said, "What Benefactor Tang said is absolutely right."

Sun Wukong was born a stone monkey, blessed with good fortune, and would certainly not easily encounter misfortune.

Perhaps he was delayed by something, and he will appear on his own once the three break the seal and continue their westward journey.

He paused for a moment, then said, "I travel around the world, so I can help the three of you keep an eye out for Sun Wukong's whereabouts."

If you encounter him, tell him about your situation and ask him to come and join you as soon as possible.

"Thank you, benefactor!"

Tang Sanzang felt a warmth in his heart and quickly thanked him, "If you can find Wukong, this humble monk will be eternally grateful."

"It was just a small favor."

Jiang Wang said, "I have other matters to attend to and cannot stay here any longer."

This is a communication jade talisman. If the three of you encounter any danger, you can crush the talisman, and I will sense it and come to your aid.

He took out a blue jade talisman from his bosom and handed it to Tang Sanzang.

The jade talisman was as smooth and warm as jade, with intricate patterns engraved on it, faintly radiating a spiritual light.

Tang Sanzang accepted the jade talisman with gratitude in his heart and said, "Thank you for your generous gift, benefactor."

This humble monk will certainly keep it safe.

Jiang Wang nodded, exchanged a few more words with the three of them, then turned and left, his figure gradually disappearing into the woods.

Only after Jiang Wang's figure had completely disappeared did Sha Wujing slowly speak, "Master, this Jiang Wang's origins are unknown and unfathomable. If we trust him too easily, we may be in danger."

Tang Sanzang pondered for a moment and said, "This humble monk knows."

However, this person spoke eloquently, could discern the clues of the restriction, and even gifted us a communication jade talisman, so he didn't seem to have any ill intentions.

Moreover, what he said was verified; the lightning tribulation had indeed weakened.

Perhaps he really did come to help us.

Pigsy said, "Master is right! I think that Jiang Wangren is quite good. He not only told us that the restriction would dissipate, but also helped us keep an eye out for our eldest brother's whereabouts."

Maybe he really is a good person.

Sha Wujing said no more, but still had some doubts in his heart, and silently guarded Tang Sanzang's side.

He always felt that Jiang Wang was too mysterious, and that he seemed to be hiding some secret, which might be related to their predicament.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang left the location of Tang Sanzang and his companions, his figure vanishing instantly. When he reappeared, he was already atop a mountain a thousand miles away.

He stood atop the mountain, gazing at the distant horizon, gently waving his folding fan, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing..."

Jiang Wang muttered to himself, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, "The journey to the West should be full of excitement. If it were all smooth sailing, it would be boring."

"Trapping you for fourteen years is merely adding another chapter to this long journey to the West."

It turns out that the restrictions that trapped Tang Sanzang and his group were set up by Jiang Wang.

Back then, he expanded the prehistoric land and changed the length of the Journey to the West in order to disrupt the Buddhist sect's plans.

Fearing that Sun Wukong might become too powerful and resolve the tribulations along the way prematurely, they set up this restriction to trap Tang Sanzang and his companions here, delaying their journey to the West and giving Sun Wukong enough time to grow, making this epic Journey to the West even more interesting.

“Sun Wukong devoured the Six-Eared Macaque and merged with its original power, which indeed improved his cultivation level considerably, but it is still not enough.”

A glint of light flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes, "He needs more tempering to break through his shackles before he can become the true Great Sage Equal to Heaven."

As for Guanyin…

Before he could finish speaking, he sensed a faint aura rushing from the east, which was none other than Guanyin, who was on her way to search for the pilgrimage team.

Jiang Wang's smile deepened as he said, "You came quickly, didn't you?"

Since you're so worried about your mount, I'll give you a chance to "take good care" of Tang Sanzang and the others.

After saying that, he moved and disappeared from the spot again, concealing his tracks, leaving only a gentle breeze that swept across the mountain peak.

At this moment, Guanyin was rushing eastward, extremely anxious, constantly searching for any trace of the pilgrimage team.

She concealed all her presence and moved with incredible speed, quickly traversing thousands of miles to reach a mountain forest.

"Strange, why are there such peculiar energy fluctuations here?"

Guanyin stopped, her brows furrowed, sensing the atmosphere around her.

A powerful restrictive force permeates this mountain forest, a fusion of spatial and lightning laws, making it extremely strange.

A thought struck her, and she vaguely felt that this restriction was related to the disappearance of the pilgrimage team.

She walked slowly into the forest, cautiously exploring to avoid triggering any restrictions.

As she went deeper, she gradually sensed three familiar presences: Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.

"It really is here!"

Guanyin was overjoyed and quickened her pace, heading towards the direction from which the aura was coming.

Before long, they saw Tang Sanzang and his two companions sitting on the blue stone.

"Amitabha Buddha, how have you three benefactors been?"

Guanyin spoke, her voice gentle, still dressed as a human woman.

Upon hearing the sound, Tang Sanzang and his companions quickly turned around to look.

Upon seeing Guanyin's appearance, Tang Sanzang's eyes flashed with surprise. He quickly stood up, put his hands together, and said, "Amitabha, who is this benefactor?"

He did not recognize Guanyin's true identity, but felt that the woman in front of him had an extraordinary temperament and a faint sense of compassion about her.

Guanyin smiled and said, "Elder Tang, don't you recognize me? I am Guanyin of the South Sea. I have come here to search for the whereabouts of the three of you."

As she spoke, a flash of spiritual light appeared around her, and she returned to her original Dharma form.

She wore a Vairocana hat and a necklace, and held a willow branch and a vase. Her face was solemn, compassionate and dignified, and she radiated a faint golden light, which inspired awe in all who beheld her.

"It was Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

Tang Sanzang and his companions were startled and immediately knelt down to pay their respects, saying, "Disciple (this humble monk) greets Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

"Please rise, all three of you."

Guanyin raised her hand, and a soft golden light helped the three of them up. Her gaze fell on Tang Sanzang, and she asked, "Elder Tang, why are you trapped here? And where is Wukong?"

Tang Sanzang stood up, sighed, and told Guanyin everything he had experienced over the past fourteen years.

From being trapped here and blocked by the lightning tribulation, to Sun Wukong's disappearance, and then to his encounter with Jiang Wang, everything was recounted in detail without any concealment. (End of this chapter)