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

The Heavenly Soldier Commander looked at Jiang Wang and said in a serious tone: "After sealing his inner demons, the ancient great beings hid their life's cultivation and treasures in the secret chamber on the top floor of the Secret Realm Tower, which is the ninth floor."

The treasure trove contained not only countless rare and precious materials, but also a truly peerless martial arts manual, more than a hundred times stronger than the "Nine Extremes Primordial Technique".

However, to open the secret chamber, one must abandon the practice of the "Nine Extremes Primordial Chaos Technique"; otherwise, the secret chamber will never open.

Jiang Wang understood; it seemed that there was such a hidden secret in the ninth level.

He looked at the Heavenly Army Commander and said calmly, "How can I trust you?"

The Heavenly Soldier Commander raised his hand, and a golden ball of light flew out from his body and landed in Jiang Wang's hand.

"These are fragments of my memory, which record how an ancient powerful being sealed away his inner demons and hid his treasure. Once you read them, you will know that what I say is true."

Jiang Wang took the ball of light and integrated it into his mind.

Countless images flooded his mind. Just as the Heavenly Soldier Commander had said, the Nine Extremes Primordial Chaos Technique was a technique to seal away inner demons. After practicing it, one would be entangled by inner demons. And the secret chamber on the ninth floor of the Secret Realm Tower did indeed contain the treasures and peerless techniques of ancient powerful beings.

"It seems what you said is true."

Jiang Wang looked at the Heavenly Soldier Commander and softened his tone, "Thank you for informing me."

The Heavenly Army Commander smiled, his tone gratified: "It's good that you understand."

I will now open the passage to the ninth floor for you. Take care of yourself.

After saying that, the Heavenly Soldier Commander raised his hand and waved, and a golden gate appeared in the center of the hall, leading to the ninth floor.

Jiang Wang nodded and turned to walk towards the portal.

As soon as he stepped through the portal, he found himself in a vast space. In the very center of the space stood a stone platform, upon which lay an ancient black book, the "Nine Extremes Primordial Chaos Technique."

Behind the stone platform, there was a tightly closed stone door, covered with mysterious runes, which was clearly the secret chamber mentioned by the Heavenly Soldier Commander.

Jiang Wang stepped forward, looking at the "Nine Extremes Primordial Technique" on the stone platform, without the slightest lingering affection in his eyes.

He raised his hand and, following the method in the fragments of the Heavenly Soldier Commander's memory, formed a hand seal towards the stone gate.

Runes lit up, the stone door slowly opened, and a rich spiritual energy, carrying an ancient Daoist charm, surged out of the secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, rare and precious materials were displayed. On the stone platform in the very center, there was a golden ancient book that radiated a dazzling light. It was the peerless cultivation technique left behind by an ancient great master, the "Primordial Creation Technique".

Jiang Wang stepped forward, picked up the "Primordial Creation Manual," and was overjoyed.

He could sense that this cultivation technique contained immense power, far more refined than any technique he had ever seen before.

Just as he was about to look at the cultivation manual, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

"Little Tu, I never thought you actually found the secret room."

The Supreme Elder's voice came through, tinged with a sinister tone, "It seems that the Heavenly Soldier Commander has told you all the secrets."

Jiang Wang turned around, looked at the Supreme Elder, and said in an icy tone: "So you really came."

It seems you intended to use me from the very beginning, to let me be consumed by my inner demons, and then to control me.

The Supreme Elder smiled, his tone sinister: "Not bad."

If I want to dominate the primordial world, I need a powerful fighting force.

You are exceptionally talented and are the best candidate.

I thought you would obediently cultivate the Nine Extremes Primordial Technique, but I didn't expect you to see through my scheme.

"Since that's the case, then I'll have no choice but to personally intervene and force you to cultivate!"

After saying that, the Supreme Elder's spiritual energy surged, and he rushed towards Jiang Wang, his palms gathering dense spiritual energy with a sharp gust of wind.

Jiang Wang sneered, his body shrouded in a mixture of black light and spiritual energy, and holding the "Primordial Creation Technique," he stepped forward to meet the Supreme Elder.

Upon hearing this, Guanyin was completely unsettled. She raised her hand to adjust the beads on her forehead, her voice filled with disbelief and urgency as she said to Tang Sanzang, "Elder, are you joking? That mischievous monkey Wukong, though unruly, is a man of his word. When I enlightened him to protect you on your journey to the West, he would risk his life rather than break his promise. How could he have been gone for fourteen years without a trace?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang sighed heavily, clasped his hands together, and looked distressed. He said, "How could this humble monk dare to deceive the old man? When he asked me for leave back then, he was very earnest. He said that he had something of great importance to do, which concerned his very life, and that he would definitely return within a month and would not let my master and me wait any longer."

Seeing that he knew his mistakes and was willing to correct them, I agreed. But who would have thought that this wait would last for fourteen years!

Bajie, who was under the eaves, suddenly opened his droopy eyelids, his fat face full of resentment, and interrupted in a gruff voice: "That's right! That monkey was driven away by Master back then. If it weren't for Guanyin Bodhisattva—oh no, if it weren't for Elder Guanyin's mediation, how would he have had the chance to come back? As a result, as soon as he agreed to return to the team, he turned around and ran away. These fourteen years have really made my old pig suffer!"

Guanyin turned to look at Bajie and saw that his body was flabby and loose, his clothes were tattered, and his face was covered with dust. It was clear that he had indeed had a hard time in the past fourteen years. Her tone softened and she asked, "Bajie, tell me, in these fourteen years, have you all been trapped here like this? Have you never had the slightest chance to travel west?"

Bajie curled his lip, spat on the ground, and said with increasing dissatisfaction, "That's why we're stuck here! Master was unwilling to give up at first and insisted on taking me and Brother Sha on our way. But we had only gone three miles when the weather changed. A strong wind whipped up sand and gravel, making it impossible for us to open our eyes. Even the horse was so frightened that it was jumping around and couldn't move at all!"

Sha Wujing, who was washing the soot off his face, stopped what he was doing when he heard this. He turned around, his face still wet and looking a bit disheveled. He bowed to Guanyin and said, "What you said is true, Elder. Brother Bajie is right."

That time, we pressed on despite our fears, but before we had gone far, a torrential downpour began, accompanied by thunder. The rain was so heavy it seemed to threaten to engulf the entire world. We took shelter under a tree and narrowly escaped being struck by lightning. It was only thanks to our master's sincere chanting of sutras that the downpour subsided slightly.

Guanyin frowned even more, her fingertips twirling slightly as she whispered, "Strange, strange! The journey to the West is the will of Heaven. You four, master and disciples, are all destined to be chosen. How could you be hindered by natural disasters? Although Wukong's absence has an impact, it shouldn't prevent you from moving an inch. There must be something fishy going on here."

Tang Sanzang walked to the doorway, looked eastward, his eyes filled with anticipation and helplessness, and said, "This humble monk also knows that this matter is strange."

Over the past fourteen years, we have tried countless times. Whether setting out by day or traveling at night, as soon as we ventured more than ten miles from this thatched hut, disaster would inevitably strike—a bolt of lightning, a fierce wind, a blizzard, or dense fog. No matter how hard we struggled, we could only be driven back. Over time, we dared not try again.

"There's something even stranger!"

Pigsy suddenly stood up, patted his belly, and exclaimed, "Back in Gao Village, I, Old Pig, had some skills. Though not as powerful as that Monkey King, I could still summon wind and rain. But here, my magic is completely useless! Every time I try to use magic to ward off natural disasters, it only brings even more intense calamities. Eventually, I dared not try anymore." Sandy quickly echoed, his tone tinged with fear, "Yes, old man, I feel the same way."

"I was originally the Curtain-Raising General, in charge of raising the curtain of the Heavenly Court's Lingxiao Palace. My demon-subduing staff was a divine weapon, but here, it has become incredibly heavy, I can't even swing it, let alone subdue demons, eliminate evil, or ward off natural disasters."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin's doubts deepened. She stepped outside the thatched hut and looked up at the sky. She saw that the once clear sky now had a faint wisp of black mist swirling in the eastern horizon. Although it was not obvious, it carried an eerie aura, completely different from the malevolent aura of Wukong when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, yet even more sinister.

Do you know what Wukong asked for leave about back then?

Guanyin turned around, her gaze falling on Tang Sanzang, and asked in a serious tone.

Tang Sanzang pondered for a moment and slowly said, "He spoke vaguely at the time, only saying that his original power was damaged and he needed to go to a secluded place to find something to repair his original power. He also said that the thing was related to whether he could break through his current realm and whether he could protect me and successfully obtain the scriptures."

The humble monk pressed him for details about the location and the object, but he refused to elaborate, only saying that the matter was dangerous and could not be disclosed to avoid implicating the three of us, master and disciple.

"Damaged primal power?"

Guanyin murmured softly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, "Wukong was transformed from a stone monkey, born of heaven and earth, with an incomparably profound origin. Even when he was suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha for five hundred years, his origin was not damaged. How could his origin be damaged suddenly? Could it be that when he made a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace, he left behind some hidden danger?"

Bajie scoffed and said, "Hidden danger? I think he's just making excuses to slip away! That monkey has always been wild and unruly. How could he willingly follow Master to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures and be subject to so many restrictions? He's probably already run back to Flower Fruit Mountain to be the Monkey King again, leaving the three of us, master and disciples, to the winds!"

"Bajie, stop talking nonsense!"

Tang Sanzang sternly rebuked, "Although Wukong is unruly, he is by no means an ungrateful person."

Although I drove him away back then and he harbored resentment, he never truly left. If it weren't for him, I would have been harmed by that White Bone Demon long ago.

His departure this time, lasting fourteen years, must have been due to some extremely difficult situation; it certainly wasn't a deliberate escape.

Sha Wujing quickly added, "Yes, Brother Bajie, Master is right."

My eldest brother has always been loyal and righteous. Back in the time at Liusha River, if it weren't for his help, I wouldn't have been able to convert to Buddhism and follow our master on the pilgrimage.

He must have encountered some difficulties to be unable to return on time.

Bajie curled his lip and said unconvinced, "Difficulties? What difficulties could he possibly have? He has fiery eyes, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, seventy-two transformations, and the somersault cloud. Within the Three Realms, there are very few who can trap him! In my opinion, he just doesn't want to come back and is deliberately hiding from us!"

Guanyin waved her hand, stopping the argument, and said in a serious tone, "Bajie, don't make rash judgments."

I know Wukong's character better than you do. Although he is mischievous, he values ​​his promises and keeps his word. Moreover, the journey to the West is both his tribulation and his opportunity, and he will never give up easily.

His departure fourteen years ago, and the fact that he has left you three trapped here, must mean something terrible has happened.

"misfortune?"

A hint of worry flashed in Tang Sanzang's eyes, and he quickly asked, "Old man, could it be that Wukong... he has encountered some misfortune?"

Guanyin shook her head and said, "It's hard to say."

Wukong is immortal; unless his soul is scattered, he will never die easily.

However, the black mist lingering on the eastern horizon was too eerie. I could vaguely sense a powerful force within it, neither demonic, nor immortal, nor Buddha, but rather like a kind of... malevolent energy beyond the Three Realms. Wukong's disappearance might be related to this black mist.

"A malevolent aura beyond the Three Realms?"

Sha Wujing's expression changed, and his voice trembled slightly, "Old man, what is that? Could it be the legendary Chaos Qi?"

"It is not the energy of chaos."

Guanyin slowly said, "The chaotic energy is the original energy at the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth. Although it is domineering, it has no malevolence. However, this black energy is deeply malevolent and carries a malicious intent that is deliberately targeting the pilgrimage team."

I suspect that someone is secretly plotting against you three, deliberately trapping you and your disciples, and kidnapping Wukong, all with the aim of sabotaging your journey to the West.

Upon hearing this, Pigsy panicked, his fat body trembling slightly. He said, "Someone...someone is secretly causing trouble? Who is so bold as to disrupt the journey to the West? Aren't they afraid of being punished by the Buddha and the Jade Emperor?"

"A person with such ability who dares to openly sabotage the pilgrimage to the West is no ordinary person."

Guanyin's gaze grew increasingly solemn. "Within the Three Realms, there are very few who can silently abduct Wukong, trap the three of you with natural disasters, and release such eerie black energy."

I did think of someone, but he disappeared years ago and shouldn't have reappeared.

Tang Sanzang quickly asked, "Old man, who are you thinking of? If we can find this person, perhaps we can find Wukong and solve the mystery of why we, master and disciple, are trapped."

Guanyin pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This person is named Jiang Wang. He was a great being in ancient times. He once created the world together with Pangu and Nuwa. His cultivation was unfathomable, far surpassing all the immortals and Buddhas in the Three Realms."

However, back then, because he was dissatisfied with the injustice of Heaven's will and openly defied Heaven's will, he was sealed in the depths of chaos by the Great God Pangu, and billions of years have passed since then. Logically speaking, he shouldn't be able to break free of the seal.

"Jiang Wang?"

Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.

Although they were merely mortal monks and immortals banished to the mortal realm, they had heard of Jiang Wang's legend and knew the terror of this ancient power. When he defied the Heavenly Dao, the Three Realms trembled, and immortals, Buddhas, demons, and monsters were all wary of him. If it weren't for the intervention of the Great God Pangu, the Three Realms would probably have been destroyed long ago.

Bajie swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he said, "Old...old man, you mean it's that ancient powerful being Jiang Wang? He...he really broke free of the seal? If it's him, then the three of us, master and disciples, and Wukong, are all under his control?"

"Hard to say."

Guanyin said, "I'm just guessing."

When Jiang Wang was sealed away, he swore an oath that if he ever broke free, he would overthrow the Heavenly Dao and destroy the Three Realms. The Journey to the West, however, is the will of the Heavenly Dao, intended to save all living beings and resolve the calamities of the Three Realms. If Jiang Wang truly breaks free, it is only natural that he would sabotage the Journey to the West, kidnap Wukong, and imprison you all. (End of Chapter)